OUR Message
This is the most critical developmental period in your child’s life. Let your child find their voice
Theatre uses spoken words and energy to express what one wants. Unfortunately, today's young children have grown up in a world ruled by social media, a medium that can encourage hiding, comparison, falseness, and isolation. Using verbal communication skills cannot be practiced from behind a device. Theatre is an experience that promotes the value of working together. It connects students to the importance of reading, cooperation, the expression of imagination, and learning to be flexible and responsive to each other. Theatre can significantly increase a child's academic performance. It allows a story to jump off a page. Children's Theatre Co. focuses on building skills such as teamwork, concentration, body control, memorization, improvisation, and more. Most importantly, we teach the value of connecting the head to the heart--to express mood, emotion, instinct, and independence.
WHY CTC?
Children's Theatre Company allows ALL children to enter a world of imagination and possibility
CTC's Five C's
Confidence
Communication
Communication
Confidence is just a state of mind, yet it has a significant effect on how your child sees the world... and how the world sees your child. Our classes encourage children to draw on their inner resources to share and learn about themselves and their classmates. They'll also develop an enriched vocabulary and a more colorful imagination.
Communication
Communication
Communication
Communication It is at the heart of all human relationships. We use a fun, modern, and humorous approach, ideal for boosting children's confidence and communication skills - establishing focus and giving shy children a chance to shine. Articulation, dynamics, and clarity are at the heart of our curriculum. These skills are essential for good communication and give children confidence in social situations or reading aloud.
Concentration
Communication
Concentration
Concentration is a habit... and the sooner you start, the better! We believe the most enjoyable way for children to learn is through play. Musical theatre improves a child's attention by focusing on concentration and listening fun and imaginative way. This helps your child develop the qualities necessary for future success.
Coordination
Coordination
Concentration
Coordination, posture, and poise all benefit from physical, creative self-expression. Learning new dances, singing, and acting helps children explore what their bodies can do without being judged. The benefits include greater self-assurance, improved posture, and absolute confidence in physical activities. We teach dance and movement in all of our classes.
Community
Coordination
Community
Community is a feeling of fellowship with others due to sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals. It's essential to pay attention to the impact social isolation has on our youth.
Meet our directors
Margo Lerner-Proeh - Founder
Margo started her career at a young age as a child actress appearing in multiple national commercials, print ads and television programs. She has been a member of SAG-AFTRA for 38 years. Margo founded the Children's Theatre Company (formerly The Lake Forest Children's Co.) in 1993 and she switched her focus to follow her true passion of educating and inspiring young talent. As a creator, writer and producer of dramatic programs, Margo is recognized as a specialist in children’s theatre. She advocates for empowerment and building confidence and authenticity through life skills education. With over 25 years of expertise, Margo has created nationally recognized programs that transform lives. She started teaching at The Gorton Center in Lake Forest, Eileen Boevers Center for The Performing Arts/Apple Tree Theater in Highland Park, The Winnetka Community House and The Principal Scholars Program at the University of Illinois Chicago Campus. With years of experience teaching musical theatre and more than 1000s of shows later the company has now expanded to locations in Highland Park, Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Chicago, Elgin, Oak Park/River Forest, Vernon Hills, District 214, and Norridge. The Children's Theatre Co. is also a program provider for After School Matters. Margo also founded and produces the Chicago Youth Dance Exhibition.
Amy Walkan - Program Director
Amy started acting as a young child in New York. She filmed a variety of commercials and trained in New York City at The Children’s Playhouse. In High School Amy made the traveling troupe The Gingerbread Players as the only child in an adult troupe. They performed throughout the Tri-state area. She then went on to the University of Wisconsin where she continued to hit the live stage. After college Amy began to pursue entertainment marketing at Ticketmaster. The performance bug would t go away, so Amy joined The Children’s Theater Company in 1996. She enjoys giving children the opportunity she was given in the performing arts. Amy teaches all ages and disciplines at CTC
Gabrielle Garza – Instructor
Gabrielle is an actress and musician raised in Naperville, IL. She grew up watching old movie musicals like “Funny Girl” and “Hello Dolly” and instantly fell in love with musical theatre. After attending Emerson College and receiving her BFA in Musical Theatre, she moved to New York City to pursue her dream. Shortly after she booked the role of
Anna in the Tony award winning musical “Spring Awakening”. She had the pleasure of working with the original creative team including Michael Mayer, Bill T. Jones, Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, and exploring the country
touring with this ground breaking and provocative show. After returning to New York, she also had the pleasure of working with Joe Mantello on the workshop production of Dogfight at Second Stage. After taking a break from acting, Gabrielle was fortunate enough to dive back into work with the Tony award winning theatre company Deaf West in LA on their unique production of “Spring Awakening” featuring deaf actors. She played a swing and understudied all the female roles having to learn American Sign Language and the guitar. After many years in NYC and LA, it was time to return home to Chicago. When not auditioning or teaching, she also sings in the cover band “Uptown Shakedown”. She is happy to be a part of The Children’s Theatre team and hopes to inspire confidence and a love of the performing arts in her students.
Olivia Graham - Social Media Director
Sydney Feldman- Instructor -
"Coming back to The Children’s Theatre Company to instruct after being a student many years ago filled me with so much joy! I loved being able to give back to a program that gave me so much as a child. I had a great time working with a group of young performers as we explored the beauty of creating theatre together!”
Justin J Bell- Instructor -
Carly Wilensky
As a first-timer at the children's theater company this summer, I'm thrilled to be able to combine my love for theater with my passion for teaching. Having grown up participating in theater myself, it's been a blast to create lesson plans for my Apache students. Nothing beats the satisfaction of seeing young minds flourish and develop their creativity and imagination.
