Harris Theater Virtual Stage

Through our commitment to artistic excellence, collaboration and inclusion, the Harris Theater’s Engagement + Education Programs seek to deepen understanding of the arts and our world. We inspire people of all ages and communities, and nurture the next generation of artists and audiences.

ENGAGEMENT + EDUCATION PROGRAMS:

  • Access Tickets Program | Promoting access to the arts for Chicago residents of all ages, communities, abilities, by providing underwritten performance tickets across 36 Community Partner organizations. In the 2022/23 Season, we provided over 600 Access Tickets to our Community Partners. 
  • Arts Education Partnerships | Connecting Chicago’s most gifted young musicians and dancers with the master artists appearing on the Harris stage through master classes, artist talks, and performance opportunities.
  • Enrichment Activities | Programming audience-focused touchpoints, which encourage interaction, reflection, and connection with incredible art and strengthening their relationship to the works presented on the Harris stage.

If your organization would like to partner with the Harris Theater, please contact Braxton Crewell, Manager of Partnerships and Engagement, at bcrewell@harristheaterchicago.org.

Mavin Khoo, of Akram Khan company, teaches a combination from Akram Khan’s XENOS to students at Chicago Academy for the Arts.
Picture of Mavin Khoo, Akram Khan Company, and students from Chicago Academy for the Arts.
Company members, Rikki, Rika, Glory, and Kallum, of Bangarra Dance Theatre led a masterclass with students from Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts).
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center artists, Stella Chen, Ani Kavafian, Paul Neubauer, and David Requiro guided a group of students from Music Institute Chicago in individual masterclasses.
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center artist, Stella Chen, working with a student from Music Institute of Chicago.
Students from Ballet Chicago were led in an hour-long repertory class by Claire Barret, company member of English National Ballet.
Claire Barrett, of English National Ballet, and Ballet Chicago students after an hour-long masterclass.
Families from USO Illinois enjoying a pre-show pizza party before the Family Series matinee of Flip Fabrique
Families from USO Illinois enjoying a pre-show pizza party before the Family Series matinee of Flip Fabrique.
Conductor Dinis Sousa and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique musicians work with an ensemble of Merit School for Music and CMPI students.
Conductor Dinis Sousa and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique musicians work with an ensemble of Merit School for Music and CMPI students.
Conductor Dinis Sousa and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique musicians after working with an ensemble of Merit School for Music and CMPI students.
Spektral Quartet guided a string quartet of Music Institute of Chicago students in an hour-long masterclass.
Spektral Quartet and a quartet of Music Institute of Chicago students after a masterclass.
Mavin Khoo, of Akram Khan company, teaches a combination from Akram Khan’s XENOS to students at Chicago Academy for the Arts.
Picture of Mavin Khoo, Akram Khan Company, and students from Chicago Academy for the Arts.
Company members, Rikki, Rika, Glory, and Kallum, of Bangarra Dance Theatre led a masterclass with students from Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts).
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center artists, Stella Chen, Ani Kavafian, Paul Neubauer, and David Requiro guided a group of students from Music Institute Chicago in individual masterclasses.
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center artist, Stella Chen, working with a student from Music Institute of Chicago.
Students from Ballet Chicago were led in an hour-long repertory class by Claire Barret, company member of English National Ballet.
Claire Barrett, of English National Ballet, and Ballet Chicago students after an hour-long masterclass.
Families from USO Illinois enjoying a pre-show pizza party before the Family Series matinee of Flip Fabrique
Families from USO Illinois enjoying a pre-show pizza party before the Family Series matinee of Flip Fabrique.
Conductor Dinis Sousa and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique musicians work with an ensemble of Merit School for Music and CMPI students.
Conductor Dinis Sousa and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique musicians work with an ensemble of Merit School for Music and CMPI students.
Conductor Dinis Sousa and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique musicians after working with an ensemble of Merit School for Music and CMPI students.
Spektral Quartet guided a string quartet of Music Institute of Chicago students in an hour-long masterclass.
Spektral Quartet and a quartet of Music Institute of Chicago students after a masterclass.
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Mavin Khoo, of Akram Khan company, teaches a combination from Akram Khan’s XENOS to students at Chicago Academy for the Arts.

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Picture of Mavin Khoo, Akram Khan Company, and students from Chicago Academy for the Arts.

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Company members, Rikki, Rika, Glory, and Kallum, of Bangarra Dance Theatre led a masterclass with students from Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts).

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Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center artists, Stella Chen, Ani Kavafian, Paul Neubauer, and David Requiro guided a group of students from Music Institute Chicago in individual masterclasses.

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Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center artist, Stella Chen, working with a student from Music Institute of Chicago.

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Students from Ballet Chicago were led in an hour-long repertory class by Claire Barret, company member of English National Ballet.

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Claire Barrett, of English National Ballet, and Ballet Chicago students after an hour-long masterclass.

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Families from USO Illinois enjoying a pre-show pizza party before the Family Series matinee of Flip Fabrique

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Families from USO Illinois enjoying a pre-show pizza party before the Family Series matinee of Flip Fabrique.

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Conductor Dinis Sousa and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique musicians work with an ensemble of Merit School for Music and CMPI students.

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Conductor Dinis Sousa and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique musicians work with an ensemble of Merit School for Music and CMPI students.

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Conductor Dinis Sousa and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique musicians after working with an ensemble of Merit School for Music and CMPI students.

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Spektral Quartet guided a string quartet of Music Institute of Chicago students in an hour-long masterclass.

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Father wears a black coat and son wears a yellow jacket, sitting in a blue wheelchair, smiling for the camera.
Engagement Spotlight

Bounce Children's Foundation

To kick-off 2023, we want to shine a light on our incredible community partner, Bounce Children's Foundation. Through their five branches of programming, including Bounce Bash, Bounce It Forward, Bounce Back Kits, Bounce Academy, and Bounce Net, the organization transforms the lives of chronically ill children, and their families, shifting all from surviving to thriving. Through our years of partnership, we have loved inviting Bounce families to our PNC Family Series, connecting them to artists like Spektral Quartet, and this season we only hope to deepen our partnership in our shared mission to serve the Chicago community. For more information about Bounce Children's Foundation, please check out their website.

Visit their website
Two young girls at a info table for Aspire
Young CMS musician playing the strings next to Bruce Adolphe as "Leaping Leopold"
Image of the Harris Theater bar set-up for the PNC Family Series performance, "CMS Leaping Leopold."
Several audience members clapping at a performance
Two young children learning about instruments at the instrument petting zoo by Merit School of Music instructor.
Mother and daughter visiting the instrument petting zoo in the HT Lobby.
Bruce Adolphe as "Leaping Leopold" performing next to a young CMS musician playing the piano.
Mother and two young children smiling at the camera in the HT Lobby.
Families using coloring books in the HT Lobby.
Mother and daughter watching a performance.
Young CMS musician with Bruce Adolphe as "Leaping Leopold."
Two young girls at a info table for Aspire
Young CMS musician playing the strings next to Bruce Adolphe as "Leaping Leopold"
Image of the Harris Theater bar set-up for the PNC Family Series performance, "CMS Leaping Leopold."
Several audience members clapping at a performance
Two young children learning about instruments at the instrument petting zoo by Merit School of Music instructor.
Mother and daughter visiting the instrument petting zoo in the HT Lobby.
Bruce Adolphe as "Leaping Leopold" performing next to a young CMS musician playing the piano.
Mother and two young children smiling at the camera in the HT Lobby.
Families using coloring books in the HT Lobby.
Mother and daughter watching a performance.
Young CMS musician with Bruce Adolphe as "Leaping Leopold."
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Two young girls at an info table for Aspire Chicago.

Photo by Michelle Reid.

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Young CMS musician playing the violin next to Bruce Adolphe as "Leaping Leopold."

Photo by Michelle Reid.

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Image of the Harris Theater Bar set-up for the PNC Family Series performance, "CMS Leaping Leopold!".

Photo by Michelle Reid.

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Several audience members clapping during the performance.

Photo by Michelle Reid.

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Two young children learning about instruments at the instrument petting zoo by a Merit School of Music instructor.

Photo by Michelle Reid.

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Mother and daughter visiting the instrument petting zoo in the HT Lobby.

Photo by Michelle Reid.

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Bruce Adolphe as "Leaping Leopold" performing next to a young CMS musician playing the piano.

Photo by Michelle Reid.

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Mother and two young children smiling for the camera in the HT Lobby.

Photo by Michelle Reid.

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Families using coloring sheets in the HT Lobby.

Photo by Michelle Reid.

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Mother and daughter watching "CMS Leaping Leopold!".

Photo by Michelle Reid.

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Young CMS musician performing with Bruce Adolphe as "Leaping Leopold!".

Photo by Michelle Reid.

“I know the students were inspired… I can see some modeling of the behavior of the musicians and can also see they view the musicians as role models which will help them set goals. I’ve already seen it in the lessons. This is changing lives!”

- Merit School of Music Instructor
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Current Community Partners

All About Dance
ASPIRE
Ballet 5:8
Ballet Chicago
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Bounce Children’s Foundation
Boys & Girls’ Club of Chicago
CDF Lab Artists
Chicago Academy for the Arts
Chicago Ballet Arts
Chicago High School for the Arts
Chicago Light House
Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras
Child Link
Cool Classics!
Curie Metro HS
Deborah’s Place
Emcee Skool
Gary Elementary School
Heartland Alliance
Intrinsic Schools
ITW Speer Academy
Jazz Institute of Chicago
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
Joel Hall Dancers and Center
La Rabida Children’s Hospital
Lurie Children’s Hospital
Mercy Home
Merit School of Music
Mitchell Elementary
Music Institute of Chicago
My Block My Hood My City
Nettelhorst Fine & Performing Arts School
Renaissance Court Senior Center
Ronald McDonald Lurie House
Shirley Ryan Ability Lab
St. Leonards Ministries
Teen Arts Pass
Uniting Voices
University of Chicago
USO of Illinois
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School