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.
PlayMakers Laboratory is sponsored in part by
The Chicago Community Trust,
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events,
The Crown Family Philanthropies,
The Field Foundation,
The Mardi Gras Fund,
The Paul M. Angell Foundation,
The Polk Bros Foundation,
The Siragusa Family Foundation,
And generous Individuals like you!
By Shamiyah P., Learn Campbell Campus
That's Weird, Grandma
Once there was a man eating dessert, drinking coffee and listening to music and someone was trying to take a picture of the man and the man did not want his picture taken and the man was trying to eat but hey took a picture of him. His name is Bob Roy and Bob was just trying to eat. He just came from work and he wanted to eat. They should ask can I take a picture of you. Bob might have said yes or he might have said no. Bob might have been a celebrity. THE END.
By Lucero G., Avondale-Logandale School
That's Weird, Grandma
One day Lisa was in her kingdom milkshake. She loved going to the dungeon. so one day she found a key. So two days later she finds a door she tries the key and it works!! So when she opens it she finds her father dead and a note it says death to us part. So she shows this to her mother and the mothe says this is a wedding vowe. And she the mother says we never took wedding vowes! The daughter is surprised. When she look’s through her dad’s old stuff she finds a picture of him with a girl in a wedding dress and him. so when she shows this to her mother. But the mother is washing a knife with human blood! To be continued. THE END.
By Xitlaly G., Loyola Park After-School Program
That's Weird, Grandma
Celebration of Authors
Once there was a girl who cried blodd. And her name was ocean. She had
a special key that let her enter all the mountain tops. But her
boyfriend Blue broke up with her and she went to the mountain tops and
she started to cry but she cried blood. She tried to hold it in
because she thought she would fall out of the mountain tips she down
stairs and she went somewhere with her friends so they could calm her
down but then her friend said “Blue just texted me this message” but
her friends didn’t know she cried blood. She cried blood, everybody
saw her and started running out of the restaurant. She was so sad she
ran back to her mountain top. Then she saw Blue, and she cried more
blood and she couldn’t see him and then Blue pushed her down the
mountain top then Blue started crying blood. But little did he know
that her spirit was still there. Now she waits to see Blue in her
mountain top so she could push him. THE END.
By Reece, Isabella, Sydney, Mack, Johnny, Hough Street Elementary
That's Weird, Grandma
Celebration of Authors
Once there was a turkey named Yawny who lived in a barn. He slept all of the time. It was the day before thanksgiving and farmer Bob was rounding up all of the turkey. He saw yawny sleeping and decided to pick him up. Yawny woke up suddenly and was startled by Farmer Bob. He flapped his wings and jumped out of farmer Bob’s hands. Farmer Bob chased him til nightfall. And when it was dark, Farmer Bob tripped on a rock and Yawny got away. THE END.
By Cadence M., Kinzie Elementary
That's Weird, Grandma
Celebration of Authors
One day in a science lab there was a new animal created by the scientist Darlene Reyes. The new creature was a chicken and a man. The chicken-man’s name is Chip and Chip loved to act. He even got a role in a movie. The movie was called Charlotte’s Web and he was Charlotte. Chip loved acting so much he decided
THE END.
By Ceyanne S., Super 7 Program at Cather Elementary
That's Weird, Grandma
Celebration of Authors
Once upon a time there was three boys named Jamal, Haceane, and Andre. They were all brothers who went to Monster High. They all had a group of friends and they each liked someone. Haceane like Roxy Whaaaaa. Jamal like Diana What the what. Andre like Riannah as much as a puppy dog and kitties. But they could not get married because they were too young. So, a few years later on one hot sunny day, like Arizona hot, they all got married and it was as big as a hotdog (a real dog) and lived happily ever after. Then one day they got mad and to be continued…..THE END.
By Zaniya, Sy’mone, Zariah, & Aniya, Super 7 Program at Cather Elementary
That's Weird, Grandma
Celebration of Authors
Bob was a car salesman. He washed and sold cars. Bob had friends named Ronald, Monica, and Michelle. Bob and his team were making sure the car was in good condition. They noticed that the cars were scratched and were not waxed right. Monica and Michelle said, “These cars are so messy.” Michelle said, “Let’s clean them up.” So they got Bob to help clean all the cars and make them great. So the cars were clean and they sold them all out and threw a big party and danced to Hit the Quan. The End. P.S. Nobody knows where the cars went. THE END.
By Freddie H., Dewey School of Excellence
That's Weird, Grandma
Celebration of Authors
Once upon atime there was a ordinary lady sitting in her chair when she went in her house she got some lemonaid and she came back out and as soon as she put the glass to her mouth the glass said “HOLD ON!! The lady stops and looks around no one to be seen she goes Back to Drinking her lemonaid But the glass said it again “Hold on”!! She looks at the glass and says “Why?” Because I can grant U three wishes” The glass exclaimed. You can ok I wish I was a ninja and I wish I had one Billion dollars and she wished she had powers the wish came true and she lived the best life ever. THE END.
By Kodifa H, Andreona D, Cordell H, Juawain J, Brandon B, DeVante and Ayona R., Dewey School of Excellence
That's Weird, Grandma
Once upon a time there was a dog named Scorpio. Scorpio lived in a big house and had a friend named Brad. Scorpio was really strong and had laser eyes. One day Scorpio tired to kill Brad with his laser eyes and eat him for dinner. Because he liked eating people. But Brad could fly and run super fast. So Brad gave Scorpio a squeaky toy and some dog food. He ate the dog food and they were friends. THE END.
By Jaerell E., Loyola Park After-School Program
That's Weird, Grandma
Hello my name is Jerry. I’m a walking and talking goat. I grew up in a farm where it was fun. Then one day, I decided to talk like the farmer. I only understood his actions. Then one day, a green goo appeared out of the farm grounds. I decided to take a look, but I did a dumb (good) move by slipping in to it. This however affected me, by making me into a one of a kind goat. I’m probably the first goat to do this. Hurrah! But yes, it’s true (probably). Ok I’m going to sign out of this tape recorder thing! THE END.
