February 13-April 5, 2026
Best enjoyed by Ages 2-102!
Pull back the curtains and step into a fort-building wonderland—our Cargill Stage is filled with old sofas, crazy lampshades, towering towers of cardboard boxes, and theatrical elements designed for creative play.
Build the tallest fort, the longest fort, or tons of cozy little forts. Design a castle, a neighborhood, or maybe even a whole city. Your imagination leads the way in this interactive experience.
As you build, you’re gradually immersed in an evolving sensory world of sound and light, while gentle, nearly invisible facilitation supports connection and collaboration—allowing relationships, stories, and shared play to emerge naturally.
*Wear your favorite socks! This is a shoes-off experience.*
*Because of the interactive nature of this experience, we strongly recommend a minimum age of 2 years for the safety and comfort of all guests.*
Conceived and Directed by Julie Ritchey
Created in Collaboration with Eleanor Kahn, Jeffrey Levin, Christian Libonati, Andrew Marikis, and Carley Walker
Set Design by Eleanor Kahn
Sound Design by Jeffrey Levin
Lighting Design by Joel Zishuk
Original Lighting Design by Carley Walker
Facilitation Design by Andrew Marikis
Originally produced by Filament Theatre at 4041 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL under Founding Artistic Director Julie Ritchey and Founding Managing Director Christian Libonati. www.filamenttheatre.org
CTC’s 2025-2026 Season artwork generously donated by Treat & Company
“For Forts‘ young audience, it was an opportunity to work their imaginations overtime and build connections. Emma ran covert ops as a secret agent, and Leah, age 9, built a palace. Maddie, age 11, appreciated an invitation from some new friends to army-crawl through their ‘super cool fort.’”
–Chicago Reader
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is FORTS?
The experience runs for 60 minutes. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to the designated start time to enjoy activities with your guides.
How can a 5-year-old and a 50-year-old enjoy the same experience?
When was the last time you had the chance to build, create, and explore? Rediscover your inner child by taking a moment to unplug and play. And of course, young people are experts at playing so FORTS! is a great opportunity to let the young ones in your life lead the way. Want to leave the kids at home? Check out our 21+ Nights.
Do children need to be accompanied by an adult?
To ensure a safe and supportive experience for everyone, at least one adult must accompany every three children.
Can we exchange our tickets?
Exchanges are available for a $5 per ticket fee.
When will the Ticket Office be open?
The Ticket Office will be open 30 minutes before the designated start time.
What concessions will be available?
For most performances, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be available 30 minutes before and up to 15 minutes after the experience in the outer lobby.
At specifically designated 21+ times, beer and wine will also be available for purchase. No personal alcoholic beverages may be brought in.
Are food and drinks permitted in the experience area?
For most performances, food and beverages will not be allowed in the experience area. All personal belongings including shoes, coats, and any food and beverages can be stored in the attended foyer outside the experience area.
At specifically designated 21+ times, drinks may be brought into the experience area and placed in a designated, monitored area inside.
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The 2025-2026 Season
Go, Dog. Go! • Ve Perro ¡Ve!
January 20–February 22, 2026
Best for younger audiences!
UnitedHealth Group Stage
Dogs are everywhere! Roller-skating, playing baseball, driving race cars, and speaking—in Spanish and English! Sing along with this bilingual spectacle that makes no sense (and TOTAL sense) at the same time!
Forts! An Interactive Experience
February 13–April 5, 2026
Best for All Ages!
Cargill Stage
An interactive experience! Imagine you’re surrounded by towering towers of cardboard boxes in the coolest attic you’ve ever seen. What will you build? In Forts! you make it all happen.
Dinosaur World Live
March 3–April 5, 2026
Best Enjoyed by Everyone 3 and Up!
UnitedHealth Group Stage
Dinosaurs take over CTC! This extraordinary experience has wowed kids and adults all over the world. Careful: you never know who (or what!) you’ll run into after the show…
The Wizard of Oz
April 21–June 14, 2026
Best for All Ages!
UnitedHealth Group Stage
It’s not every day that a wild tornado whizzes over your head, or the world magically shifts from black and white to technicolor! Don’t miss this grand spectacle, featuring songs from the classic film.
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