Chi Children's Theatre Announces Houdini Box Illustrated Essay Contest

In Chicago Children's Theatre's upcoming world premiere of Brian Selznick's The Houdini Box, a young boy named Victor has the good fortune to meet his hero, the magician Harry Houdini. They meet entirely by accident, but because of this chance encounter, Victor learns a secret that changes his life.

In order to offer children, families, students and teachers a fantastic chance to engage with this world premiere play and to expand children's reading, writing, and critical thinking capabilities, Chicago Children's Theatre is sponsoring a Who's Your Hero? illustrated essay contest connected to its much anticipated live stage adaptation of The Houdini Box. Performances are Jan.24-Mar. 4, 2012 at Chicago's Mercury Theatre, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, followed by a suburban run Mar. 14-24 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. For tickets and show information, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

Children up to 15 years old are encouraged to write a fictional story of 500 words or less describing what might happen if, like Victor, they were lucky enough to meet their real-life hero. Celebrity judge Brian Selznick, author and illustrator of The Houdini Box, Wonderstruck and The Invention of Hugo Cabret, now the Golden Globe-nominated best picture Hugo, and a team of Chicago Children's Theatre artists and education staff will be looking for answers to the following questions within each essay:

* Why is this person your hero?
* Where do you meet?
* What does your hero say or give to you?
* How does this change your life?

In addition, since much of the attraction of Selznick's books lies in his beautiful, detailed pencil sketch illustrations (examples above), entrants are asked to create and submit a companion illustration that shows the most important moment in your story. Draw, color, sketch, paint, collage - create the picture by hand, digitally, or however you want! The deadline to enter is 5 p.m. (CST) Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. Entries may be submitted in one of three ways:

Online - submit your entry via the Chicago Children's Theatre website:
chicagochildrenstheatre.org/storycontest

Via email - either embedded (preferred) or as an attachment. Send to:
storycontest@chicagochildrenstheatre.org

Or submit via snail mail or delivery to:

Chicago Children's Theatre
Administrative Offices
1464 N. Milwaukee Avenue, 2nd Floor
Chicago, Il 60622

Entrants to The Houdini Box Who's Your Hero? illustrated essay contest must be 15 years or younger as of Feb. 17, 2012. Limit one entry per person. Comprehensive show study guides including complete contest information and rules are already being sent to schools, libraries, book stores and children's retailers throughout Chicagoland. Or, download a show study guide via The Houdini Box show page on Chicago Children's Theatre's website, http://chicagochildrenstheatre.org/shows/the-houdini-box.

Five winners will be personally notified and announced on Chicago Children's Theatre's website the week of Feb. 27, 2012. One Grand Prize winner will receive a prize package including one copy each of The Houdini Box, The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck, all signed by author/illustrator Brian Selznick, one party package of 10 tickets to CCT's Houdini Birthday Bash at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, Saturday, Mar. 17 at 2 pm., and one $250 "Box of Magic" from Magic Inc., 5082 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. Four First Prize winners will be awarded one copy of the book The Houdini Box, autographed by Brian Selznick, and four tickets to the Houdini Birthday Bash on Mar. 17 at 2 pm at the North Shore Center in Skokie.

Note: receipt of entries will not be acknowledged. For complete contest rules, visit
chicagochildrenstheatre.org/storycontest