In the Grove
a nature play for toddlers and their caregivers
Co-Created with Eleanor Kahn and Katie Norregaard (Miss Katie Sings)
Welcome to the Grove, where plants and creatures and children all grow together. Through songs, play, and story, little ones and their grown-ups will discover the forest around them and explore the ways we are all connected.
In the Grove is bilingual (English/Spanish) multisensory play with music inspired by the ecology of Chicago’s southeastern wetlands. It was presented as part of the Earth Arts Festival in June 2023.
Commissioned by Friends of the Forest Preserves and produced by Filament Theatre. Supported by E(Art)h Chicago.
Madeline Long, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
"My family had a magical experience at in the grove. It’s a rare thing to find a creative and inviting space with no agenda where kids of all ages are engaged. The play planted seeds in my daughter’s mind that continued to blossom for weeks following the show in the form of questions and observations—and even a pair of binoculars she made from toilet paper rolls to mimic ones she saw in the play. "
Creative Team and Production History
Co-Created by Eleanor Kahn, Katie Norregaard, and Julie Ritchey
Script and Direction by Julie Ritchey
Music and Lyrics by Katie Norregaard (Miss Katie Sings)
Environment Design by Eleanor Kahn
Workshop: Eggers Grove, September 2022
World Premiere: E(art)h Festival, May 2023
Available for script licensing or production touring.