Children's Theater of Madison
Ross Zentner
Secrets of the chocolate factory
"Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka" has some sweet moments, but some of the magic is lost in this Children’s Theater of Madison production for young audiences. Read more
Sensory-friendly stages
Theater can be intense, and sometimes overwhelming for people on the autism spectrum. That’s why Children’s Theater of Madison continues its tradition of accessibility with sensory-friendly stage productions. Read more
Tom Klingele
Cross-cultural exploration
“Tibet Through the Red Box” is a visually stunning cross-cultural exploration by Children's Theater of Madison. Read more
Space to grow
Leaders of Children’s Theater of Madison and Madison Youth Choirs are ecstatic about the $20 million pledge from Pleasant Rowland that will launch the state-of-the-art Madison Youth Arts Center. Read more
Ross Zentner
Onstage delights
And the award for best categories goes to … Isthmus theater critic Gwendolyn Rice, who looks back at an exciting year on Madison stages — from “best big musical in a small space” to “best use of a sandwich as a dramatic device.” Read more
Tom Klingele
“Some pig!”
The Zuckerman’s farm animals steal the show in Children’s Theater of Madison’s “Charlotte’s Web.” Read more
Tom Klingele
Mostly magic
A wonderfully engaging Clare Arena Haden narrates “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane,” a story about a toy rabbit who learns to love. Read more
Tom Klingele
True immortality
Children’s Theater of Madison presents a magical regional premiere of the musical “Tuck Everlasting.” The cast is led by a luminous Malea Niesen, playing a homebound girl seeking adventure. Read more
Tom Klingele
Tradition with a twist
It’s a Christmas miracle: Children’s Theater of Madison manages to honor the classic story of “A Christmas Carol” without resorting to stale cliches. And Tiny Tim (8-year-old Azélie Klingele) will break your heart. Read more
Tom Klingele
Exuberant romp
Despite a thin movie-based plot, Children’s Theater of Madison’s production of “Madagascar” is a creative and energetic romp. Read more
Dan Myers
Reaching across time
Children’s Theater of Madison doesn’t quite succeed in connecting the lives of Golda Meir and a young African American girl in “To the Promised Land.” But the play features a fantastic lead performance by Laetitia Hollard. Read more
Whimsical and witty
Children’s Theater of Madison scores a hit with “Seussical,” an imaginative romp with the characters that populate the books of the beloved children’s author. Read more
Tom Klingele
Nuanced and poignant
Children’s Theater of Madison presents a nuanced version of the holiday classic “A Christmas Carol.” Shakespearean veteran David Daniel brings a surprising tenderness to the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. Read more
Laura Kwait Glazer
Girls making history
It’s not just a slick advertisement for expensive dolls: Children’s Theater of Madison’s remount of “American Girls Revue” is a strong piece of theater, with plenty of important lessons for girls growing up today. Read more
Tom Klingele
A beautiful classic
Children’s Theater of Madison closes its 50th anniversary season with a powerful and relevant production of the American classic “To Kill a Mockingbird.” It runs at the Overture Center’s Playhouse through May 22. Read more
Dan Myers
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
Children’s Theater of Madison presents an endlessly inventive and magical production of “The Wizard of Oz,” starring a promising Edgewood student as Dorothy. Read more
Adam Brown
Bedtime for bunny
In “Goodnight Moon,” Children’s Theater of Madison does a magnificent job stretching a simple bedtime story into a full show, riffing on classic elements and adding plenty of entertaining song-and-dance numbers. Read more
Adam Brown
Romping with an ogre
Children’s Theater of Madison opened its 50th anniversary season with the exuberant “Shrek the Musical.” It’s a tuneful romp into an alternative universe where an ugly misfit and a feisty heroine choose to live happily ever after. Read more
Tom Klingele
Bunny love
A stuffed animal learns what it is to be real in Children’s Theater of Madison’s “The Velveteen Rabbit.” Read more
Tom Klingele
Fairy Magic
I had the pleasure of witnessing children’s theatre in its element – with an audience full of children. Children’s Theater of Madison, in partnership with Theatre LILA, brings full, theatrical magic to the stage in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Read more
