We have a brand new Small Business Spotlight to share with you and this one is all about supporting and inspiring children to become the best versions of themselves! Two decades ago and just out of college, the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Erica Zuhr and Jacqui Siegel embarked upon a career path that is still going strong today. The founders and owners of the North Shore’s beloved Skyline Children’s Theater have a lot to be thankful for. Celebrating 20 years strong this year, Erica and Jacqui reflect, “over the past two decades we’ve seen tens of thousands of young actors come through the program.” A love for theater and performance is just a small fraction of the impact on Skyline students. When it comes to growth-mindset, Jacqui explains, “These skills that [they] are learning and practicing with Skyline are skills that will transfer to so many aspects of life.”
We couldn’t agree more! In our exclusive interview with Erica and Jacqui, get to know more about these North Shore moms, how they started Skyline Children’s Theater and information about a new school residency program that you can advocate for your school! Welcome, Erica and Jacqui!
Erica and Jacqui!
Hi Erica and Jacqui! Please introduce yourself. Where are you from originally? What city do you live in now? What brought you here?
Jacqui: Hello! I grew up in Deerfield and now raise my family in Northbrook. I love the people and opportunities available for families in this area! I have three sons! My 3rd grader loves all things basketball, baseball, and football. My 7-year-old twins are in 1st grade! They follow in big brother’s footsteps enjoying sports, theater, and art!! They all love Skyline and love coming to work with momma!
Erica: I was born and raised in Chicago, and moved to Park Ridge in High School. I now live in Wilmette. I have been working on the North Shore my entire adult life and always knew I wanted to raise my family here. I have three children. My 6th grader and identifies as an artist. She also loves bass fishing, Taylor Swift, and trying to get us to dine out for every meal. My 5th grader keeps our schedule full with travel soccer (shout out to FC Mirage!), flag football, and basketball. Our four-year-old attends The Goddard School and may be our only future actress! She loves signing, dancing, and gymnastics.
What are one or two fun facts to know about you both?
Jacqui: I LOVE to travel: Trips with my hubby, girlfriend weekends, and MANY with my momma and sister! Another fun fact…my hands have been in commercials!
Erica: In addition to Skyline, I am a school librarian at a school in Northbrook. I am also an aspiring children’s author!
We love a good rec… What are your favorite North Shore places, spaces and eats to frequent?
Jacqui: Top shopping spots: Peachtree Place and Country Classics. Top places to grab a bite: Deerpath Inn, Three Tarts Cafe, and Love’s or Dairy Bar for Ice Cream!
Erica: For family time we enjoy Gilson Beach in the summer. You can find us at Dairy Queen after a big game. Hackney’s, Taco Nano!, Lou Malnati’s, and Ao Sushi are family restaurant favorites. For a date night, we cozy up at EJ’s Place or head to Meier’s Tavern after a game of paddle.
What are you reading and/or watching?
Jacqui: I love reading anything by Freida McFadden – I am HOOKED! Just finished binge watching Emily in Paris, which had me dreaming of being back in Paris and Rome.
Erica: As an elementary school librarian, I mostly read children’s picture books and middle grade novels. Also, my pre-teen daughter and I connect by reading dystopian novels together and then watching the movie. We recently finished Hunger Games, Uglies, and Divergent.
What’s one piece of advice you’ve gotten that’s guided you?
Jacqui: “Nothing great is ever achieved without enthusiasm.” A childhood mentor, Stevi Marks, passed this onto me and it’s something I believe and pass onto students.
Erica: “The only people worth impressing are your five-year-old self and your 85-year-old self.”
Your go to family-friendly dinners… go!
Jacqui: Homemade soups, taco night, baked potato bar and anything Italian!
Erica: Ramen with choose your own toppings, make your own pizza and, of course, breakfast for dinner.
Your mantra?
Jacqui: Work hard…and frequent the SPA!
Erica: The grass is always greener where we water it.
If you could choose one, what is the soundtrack to your life?
Jacqui: Hands down, Broadway Showtunes: Les Mis, Pippin, A Chorus Line and In The Heights, just to name a few. I can never get enough.
Erica: This is a hard question! It would be a mix of songs that remind me of important people, places and events in my life. For example, Sitting on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding reminds me of my dad. And my daughter took her first steps to Mountain Sound by Of Monsters and Men.
It’s time to get down to business! Please introduce Skyline Children’s Theater.
It feels like just yesterday that Skyline began in 2004. Fresh out of college, we were both living and working in the city and trying to navigate the real world. We spent a lot of time reminiscing about the joy theater had brought us throughout our lives. That dream became Skyline, which started at Central School in Wilmette with just six eager young actors. Now, we are celebrating our 20th Anniversary! We currently partner with upwards of 30 locations including park districts, schools, community centers, churches, dance studios and theaters throughout the North Shore, Lake County and the Northside of Chicago. Over the past two decades we’ve seen tens of thousands of young actors come through the program.
We truly believe in the transformative power of theater. It’s so much more than just acting—it’s about building confidence, sparking creativity, and learning teamwork, motivation and commitment. These are the skills that shape lives, and they stick with you long after the curtain closes.
Erica, with your extensive background in education and your passion for innovation and theater arts, how do you integrate your experiences and skills into the programs at Skyline Children’s Theater?
With over 20 years of experience in education, I’m constantly reflecting and evolving in my approach, and that carries over into my work at Skyline. I believe that, like students in a classroom, young actors stay engaged when they feel heard and included. At Skyline, I mentor new staff and collaborate with them to create efficient, dynamic rehearsals that encourage participation and creativity. We focus on giving actors ownership of their roles and empowering them to make creative choices. For example, we often ask actors to help interpret their characters or suggest blocking ideas, which keeps them engaged and fosters a sense of advocacy.
Your notable achievements include parent workshops on Social-Emotional Learning, and launching new initiatives centered around diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and building classroom community. Does your program make a point to incorporate this into programming at Skyline?
Absolutely! At Skyline Children’s Theater, we believe that social-emotional learning and the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion are essential components of every child’s success, both on and off the stage. As both an educator and a parent, I understand how important it is to communicate effectively with families and create strong partnerships to support each child’s growth. We make it a point to incorporate SEL into our programming by focusing on problem-solving, resiliency and celebrate each actor’s unique identity.
We want every actor to feel valued and know that their contributions are essential to the success of a show. We emphasize inclusivity and teamwork, making sure each actor understands their worth and the importance of collaboration. One way we bring these values to life is through regular staff training and ongoing check-ins. For instance, we started this year with sessions on classroom management and community building, ensuring that our staff is well-prepared to foster a positive, inclusive environment.
For our 20th Anniversary celebration, our staff participated in their own show. This gave them the chance to experience the entire process from an actor’s perspective. This experience deepened their empathy and understanding of what our young actors go through, reinforcing the importance of creating a supportive space where everyone’s voice is heard and valued.
Jacqui, your journey from performing in childhood to teaching and now running Skyline Children’s Theater is inspiring. How do your experiences in both the advertising industry and as a drama teacher make an exponential impact on the way you approach your work at Skyline?
Thank you for this! I love bringing the REAL world into my classroom. Sharing stories of my performing as a child, casting and real life industry experiences help the actors realize there is more to this than what is right in front of them. Observe how people communicate with one another and how they tell stories. They can do anything they put their minds to.
I also love to impress upon Skyline students that you don’t have to go on to study acting; these skills that you are learning and practicing with Skyline are skills that will transfer to so many aspects of your life. Skills that Skyline actors learn are not just for children who want to be actors. In fact, I LOVED teaching my athletic 6th, 7th, and 8th graders about how these skills that we learn in theater translate into their everyday lives. For example, how we speak to adults and peers, school activities, interviewing, thinking fast on our feet, knowing how to communicate with others, making eye contact and projecting our voices. These are skills that are transferable to anything we do!
Dream big and nothing great is ever achieved without enthusiasm!
Both of you are not only successful entrepreneurs but also busy moms. How do you balance running Skyline Children’s Theater with your family lives? What advice do you have for other moms looking to pursue their passions while managing family responsibilities?
It definitely takes a village! One of the keys to balancing running Skyline with our family lives has been surrounding ourselves with a strong support system. We’ve built an incredible, woman-led administrative team that helps us bring our vision to life and continuously expand Skyline’s programming. Having each other to lean on is also crucial, as we can share responsibilities and support one another during busy times.
Our families are a big part of the journey too. Our husbands often step in to manage things at home, and our children are actively involved—whether they’re Skyline actors themselves or, in the case of our older kids, helping out with materials, classes and shows! It’s truly a family effort.
For other moms looking to pursue their passions while managing family responsibilities, our advice would be to embrace the support around you. Don’t be afraid to delegate or ask for help. Also, following your dreams and living your passion is not only rewarding for you but is also a powerful example for your children. It shows them firsthand how fulfilling it can be to chase what you love, and it teaches them that hard work and passion can go hand in hand with family life. You can find balance, even if it looks different from day-to-day.
What’s on the horizon for Skyline?
We’re excited to have launched a new school residency program! With this initiative, Skyline can visit your schools for two weeks, working with all students to enhance social-emotional and literacy skills through the power of creative dramatic arts. Our goal is to integrate theater into classrooms, helping students develop confidence, collaboration, and critical thinking while fostering a deeper connection to the curriculum. We’re thrilled to bring this innovative approach to schools and look forward to expanding it to more communities.
Is there anything else you’d like us to know about Skyline?
Skyline Children’s Theater is a place where every young actor belongs.We embrace a non-competitive, no-cut philosophy, ensuring that each actor finds their unique voice. Our focus is always on the actors first—every decision we make is with their growth and experience in mind. We celebrate their strengths by giving each actor their moment to shine, while also encouraging them to step outside their comfort zones and try new things. Every single actor has a named role and performs dances and songs as a collaborative ensemble!
What are your contact details and where do you want people to follow you?
All enrollment info and more about us can be found on our site skylinechildrenstheater.com! You can participate in what Skyline is up to on Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok @skylinechildrenstheater! You’ll see content from our shows, rehearsal season, and some awesome educational content for kids and parents.
