Celebration of Authors is sponsored by WINTRUST BANK
Purchase Tickets!
It’s both our annual gala AND a family-friendly, interactive festival!
Silent Auction! Games! Food + Drinks! Open Bar for adult guests! 360 Photo Booth! And of course, LIVE performances of stories written by our students for the 2024/25 School Year!
Attire: Fancy Schmancy where you can come Fancy – dressed to the nines in your best attire. Or you can come Schmancy – with a silly hat or funny outfit that expresses YOU!
You can bid on our amazing Silent Auction Prizes at the event, or remotely from anywhere! Silent Auction items include: A Trip to Mexico with Vidanta Resorts, A Sailing Excursion, An At-Home Dungeons & Dragons Session, Dining Packages, Sports Tickets, Theatre Tickets, and MORE! Stay tuned for a preview and get those bids ready!
This is the most affordable & most FUN Gala in town!
Tickets include food, drinks, a show, and activities for all ages!
Adult Regular Priced Tickets —$75
Youth Regular Price Tickets, ages 4 to 15 —$50
Children 3 years of age and under can attend for FREE
Mary Winn Heider is the author of over 30 books for kids, including THE LOSERS AT THE CENTER OF THE GALAXY, THE UNICORNS WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS, and THE STUPENDOUS SWITCHEROO series, which she co-created with Chad Sell. Mary Winn’s very first novel, THE MORTIFICATION OF FOVEA MUNSON, was based on her time working in a real life cadaver lab, and now that it’s a musical. In a School Library Journal column a few years ago, Betsy Bird wrote, “In an era of information overload, Mary Winn Heider is the author who will lead us through the pandemonium into the light.” Mary Winn’s books have been on state lists, appeared on Bank Street Best Books, received Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection status, been long-listed for the Edgar Award, and landed on Indies Introduce and Indie Next lists.But before all of that, Mary Winn was a company member with Playmakers Lab, where she spent a decade pretending to be a chicken, an astronaut, and a princess, and sometimes, all three at once.
This event is a fundraiser to support PML’s outstanding creative writing programming in partnership with Chicago Public Schools. 100% of the tickets proceeds will support PML classes! For 28 years PlayMakers Laboratory has served Chicago Public School students by providing a creative writing residency program aimed primarily at elementary schools. Our company of over 60 teaching artists utilize creative drama and storytelling to promote literacy and self esteem during our in-school residencies and park district programming. Each year, our programs serve more than 4,000 young people across Chicago. In our 6 week writing residencies, a whopping 88% of students improve writing scores by at least one level over the course of our residencies. Plus, 100% of classroom teachers report that our program supports their student’s writing and improves confidence and self-esteem.
By Shea, Annette, Dequan, Kevin, Robert and Rahkeem, Harold Washington Elementary
Dialogues
Holidays
Winter Holidays
That's Weird, Grandma
Croc the Raccoon: I’m thirsty
Egg Nog: Well, you’re not gonna drink me!
Croc: Oh, yes I am gonna drink you, you crazy egg nog!
EN: I’m not crazy!
Croc: You might not be crazy, but you’re one big ole nog!
EN: Crazy Croc!
Croc: I might be crazy, but I’ve got you in my hand and am gonna drink you in a minute!
EN: Silly raccoon eggnog is for kids!
By Marcel H., Burnham Anthony School
Holidays
Valentine's Day
That's Weird, Grandma
One time there was a man named Maritien that always worked he never made time to do stuff. Until he found this lovely lady name Marie. They had so much stuff in common they had in common was drawing, work all day, play jokes, singing, and soccer, and play very great video games. One day they decided to go on a nice and romantic date were no ones there were they can see a sea a birds flying and fish and boats floating and some wear they could be alone and have a great time. Three weeks after it he wanted them to go on their on boat were there were alone he asked her could he marry her she cried and said yes I will. Two months after that they a real wedding. They had one son and one daughter his name was Mark. Her name was Marian they lived haply ever after until they died. The end.
By Shakyra C., 5th Grade, Chalmers Elementary
That's Weird, Grandma
Other Venues
TOTL 2006
Once upon a time there were 6 guys names Jake, Luke, Nick, Jack, Geoff and BJ. They were all at football camp dancing in the shower. The 2 girls Tina and Jasmine was recording them dancing and put it on everyone website in camp the guys were mad and the 2 girls got in trouble and they got kick out of camp and got sent home from camp. And the guys never ever danced in the bathroom to kung fu music again.
By DeShawn H., Burnham Anthony School
Arguments
Songs
That's Weird, Grandma
1. I liked them before I liked any other chip.
2. When you put cheese on them, it tastes GOOOD.
3. When you put hot sauce and cheese, it tastes fine.
I think Cheetos is nasty
1. Because cheetos got too much cheese.
2. I never tasted cheetos.
3. I only eat my favorite chips-hot crunchy cheese curls.
By Stephanie L., 4th Grade, Columbia Explorers Academy
Holidays
Halloween
That's Weird, Grandma
I believe that on Oct. 31 we can have Halloween projects till 12:00 p.m.
My First reason is because Halloween projects are cool.
My second reason is that every kid has to have a pumpkin to make a pumkin globe.
My third reason is Halloween is cool like chismas.
That’s why I believe that Oct. 31 we can have Halloween projects till 12:00 p.m.
PRO/CON
I believe that Oct. 31 we shouldn’t have Halloween projects till 12:00 p.m.
We’ll be lazy.
We’ll be tired.
By Adrien C., 4th Grade, Little Village Academy
Arguments
That's Weird, Grandma
I am a mad T-Rex. I believe the president should let more people in to the wild. So I can eat them. First I would rip there head off. Then I would use your body as a doll.
By Tyekeasha E., 4th Grade, Dewey Academy
Superheroes
That's Weird, Grandma
I am super jump rope girl. During the day I am a maid. My super power is to jump rope fast. My costume is some boxing shoes. I will not rest until I beat Nick in jump rope. My enemy is Nick. The last time we saw each other we was friends until he said he will beat me in jump rope.
By David J., Tuley Park Words@Play Program
True Stories
Poems
Songs
That's Weird, Grandma
Other Venues
TOTL 2006
Being in the middle is hard
I hate getting beat up by my big brother
And annoyed by my little brother
And always messed with
Sometimes my little brother
Messes up my room
Sometimes
My big brother tears up my posters
So I have to go to the store and buy another one.
I don’t like being in the middle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When my mom goes out
My little and big brothers toture me.
Middle
Middle
Middle
Middle
Middle
Middle
Middle
Middle
I don’t like being in the middle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Treasure T., South Loop School
Poems
Songs
That's Weird, Grandma
I am Foggylogg with a long tail.
I see big birds with purple dots.
I fear lava with jello in it.
I hope one day I can be a fly eater
I am Foggylogg
I am Biggligg Fogglogg’s sister
I think I should fly with birds with purple dots
I cry when Fogglogg eats bugs
I touch anthing nastey
I am Biggligg, Fogglogg’s sister
I am Coggfogg, Fogglogg’s brother
I try to talk to them
I pretend to be a monster
I say to them everyday I love you
I am Coggfogg, Fogglogg’s Biggligg’s brother
By Daviona C., 3rd Grade, Reavis Academy
True Stories
That's Weird, Grandma
Other Venues
TOTL 2006
I remember when I went to the circus it was when I was six years old. The circus was great I saw all kinds of animals and acts. My favorite of the circus was when I saw the elephant because I love the elephant and I love the part when I saw the woman on the rope she spin around on the rope her hair was flying in the air she was spinning fast and she did not even fall of the rope. I saw my favorite actor I ask her can I get her autograph she said yes. I win lots of games at the circus. I bought some cotton candy it was very good. I saw a clown and I saw lots of mime. I really liked the mime too. I was watching the mime about for an hour I like the part when the mime was walking down then stars I was really interested in the mime I took the mimes picture I ask the mime can he teach me how to walk down the stairs but he really was not walking down
