It's certainly a time and place to be immersed in nostalgia.
The family-friendly attraction "The Dr. Seuss Experience" is running through Jan. 2, 2022, at Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave.
It's certainly hard to miss the attraction, which occupies 25,000 square feet and the first floor of where Macy's used to be.
The multisensory experience will transport guests into the pages of the stories and allow them to interact with the characters that are part of the fabric of popular culture. From The Cat in the Hat to Horton Hears a Who! and The Lorax as well as other timeless favorites, visitors will encounter and enjoy these classic treasures in a whole new way. Chicago will also debut an all-new mind-bending feature crafted by world-renowned artist Michael Murphy, who is known for works that meld perception and perspective in unique ways. Other parts include everything from a room with truffula trees to the balloon maze (which this writer coined "baby's first escape room").
One of the tour guides, Jon Stewart (and, yes, that's his actual name) told Windy City Times that, for many families, going through the rooms is "an emotional experience." When asked what his favorite part of the attraction is, Stewart responded that it's the Circus McGerkus carousel in the front window. "I sometimes ride it and wave to people outside. It's so much fun," he said.
During the slower days, there's even a storytime session with Dr. Seuss' characters.
Regarding the patrons, Stewart said the vast majority of them are families, with parents and grandparents wanting to pass their knowledge of Dr. Seuss to their (grand)children. When asked if there are adults who come solo, he said, "That's pretty rare, actually."
Kilburn Live, a global live entertainment company, and Dr. Seuss Enterprises partnered to bring the experience to Chicago—and families will certainly appreciate it.
For more about "The Dr. Seuss Experience" and to get tickets, visit www.experienceseuss.com .
—Andrew Davis
