The best children’s shows place a high premium on audience interaction, unlike the opera or traffic court. Rustle up some kid-friendly fun with this deal to see The Houdini Box, presented by the Chicago Children’s Theatre at the Mercury Theater. The box office opens one hour before and doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Choose between the following options:

• For $18, you get one youth ticket for main-floor seating (a $30 value, including all ticketing fees).
• For $24, you get one adult ticket for main floor seating (a $41 value, including all ticketing fees).
  
  

For either ticket option, choose from the following performances:

• Friday, February 24, at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, February 25, at 11 a.m.
• Sunday, February 26, at 11 a.m.
• Saturday, March 3, at 11 a.m.
• Sunday, March 4, at 11 a.m.
  
  

Chicago Children’s Theatre continues its mission to deliver inspiring theatrical experiences for all ages with its production of The Houdini Box, which was recently acclaimed as “utterly beguiling, immensely inventive” by the Chicago Sun-Times and heralded as one of the top 10 shows to watch for in early 2012 by Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune. Penned by author Brian Selznick, whose The Invention of Hugo Cabret inspired Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated film Hugo, The Houdini Box whisks theatergoers through the colorful, music-packed adventure of the play’s star, Victor. Spellbinding tricks, onstage musicians, and Broadway’s finest puppet thespians blend seamlessly with a live cast, unfurling the story across elaborate sets as the protagonist relentlessly chases his dreams of being a magician. Following the show on February 24, audiences will receive an extra dose of wonder during a performance by magician Brett Schneider, who captivates with stunning illusions and by screaming at a tub of margarine until it turns into actual butter.