Storytown

If you’re seeking a show that’s kid-friendly, funny and very Chicago, we suggest putting IO’s Storytown at the top of your list. Children stay entertained and engaged every step of the way in this hour-long improvised play, one of many children’s productions to hold a Saturday morning residency at the legendary IO theater.

While nearly all children’s theater strives for comedic bits and audience participation, Storytown tops the traditional, scripted approach for a few reasons. First of all, the casual and cozy vibe at IO allows for every child to participate quite often, without making an embarrassing big deal of it.

The narrator begins by allowing any child who wants to head backstage and pick out ridiculous costumes for the actors. Next, artists invite the kids on stage to help draw the scenery. Throughout the story, pretty much every few minutes, children answer questions, give suggestions, or get up onstage to play. And yes, at the show we attended, everyone got a percussion instrument to bang around.

Storytown also stands apart from other children’s theater because it’s fully improvised. No familiar fairy tales or high-gloss production, just pure creativity. We watched kids beam as the grown-ups on stage performed songs based on their own suggestions. And the cast of trained improvisers made witty choices that amused the adults in the house just as much as the kids.

At just $5 and centrally located, Storytown could well become a weekly family tradition; or just keep it up your sleeve for visiting friends and family. Besides all the fun, it’s the perfect way to introduce young kids to one of Chicago’s favorite art forms.