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 Antonio C., Avondale-Logandale Elementary
Dialogues
Holidays
Winter Holidays
That's Weird, Grandma
Setting: Tokyo
Characters: Antonio and Angel
Antonio: On Christmas evening there is snow. You could go skating. If you have a Christmas tree you and your family could decorate it and there are presents.
Angel: He Antonio, today you want to come to my house to open my present. Bring your presents.
Antonio: Yes, I can[‘t?] wait for Christmas to come. Fanile [Finally?] Christmas came. I [am] going ton Angel’s house.
Angel: Antonio you are just in time to open our present.
Antonio: I forgot my present. I will be back.
Angel: did you get your presents?
Antonio: Yes it’s 12:00 [o’clock].
Angel: It’s time to open the presents.
Antonio: Merry Christmas Angel.
Angel: Merry Christmas Antonio.
By Israel M., Little Village Academy
Holidays
Winter Holidays
That's Weird, Grandma
One day it was one more day for Christmas we wanted to see santa so we had a plan. When it was Christmas we sleep in a room where it was close to the living room. Then santa came. We saw him and grab a big bag. And we were so quiet then we kicknap him then we took all the present and put it on the tree then we put the deers on the garage. When it was the morning our parents said how we got deers we told that santa gave it to us and left. When we open the presents we got nerf gun, Playstation games, Wii Games, X box games, Nintendo Games and Gameboy games it was cool then it was July so then we let Santa go he was so hot he went in Airplane home. We got in trouble. We couldn’t play video game for 2 months. Instead we play soccer and blow up fireworks. The End.
By James H., Paderewski
That's Weird, Grandma
One day when I was in school it was lunch time and we had the most disgusting lunch of all it was broccoli and milk and all of a sudden a man had yelled you should not be giving these kids only broccoli and milk! And he said: “I’m the King of Lunch!” And we cheered for him and he had servants throw the broccoli away and made an all you can eat buffet and the two lunch ladies went to jail for starving kids and the day was saved. The End.
By Princess M., New Sullivan Elementary
True Stories
That's Weird, Grandma
When I was just a little girl my mama used to tuck me into bed. Then she will read me a story. It’s always about a princess who can’t find her prince and in up with a creature. She said I will dream my own dreams. I will slay my own dragon. I will retell my story. I don’t want to be like Cinderella wanting some body to come and set me free. I will reclaim my story. In the dungeon. I have a stepsister and she is locked in her room by her mom. The End
By Kasandra P., Columbia Explorers Academy
Spanish
That's Weird, Grandma
Una ves una bailarina que se llama Maria. Maria eva un a gran bailarina y su maerta se llama Alejandra. Un dia llegaria el campoinato pero Maria se torcia el pie y no podia bailar la maertra Alejandra le hablo a Maria poi telefono la maestra Alejandra le dijo a Maria que porque no llegaba al campionato si al guien te cubre no ganasas y note daran el premio. Maria le dijo a la maestra Alejandra tengo una idea nesesito que vengas a mi casa maestra Alejandra. La maestra Alejandra llego ala casa de Maria. Mire maestra Alejandra pongase esta mascara de mi. La maestra bail y gano el premio y la maestra Alejandra se lo dio a Maria.
English translation:
Once there was a ballerina named Maria. Maria was a great ballerina and her teacher was named Alejandra. One day the great championship would come but Maria twisted her foot and was not able to dance. The teacher Alejandra called Maria on the phone and asked Maria why she was not going to the championship, and that if someone did not cover her,she would not win and would not get the prize. Maria told teacher Alejandra I have an idea, I need you to come to my house. The teacher Alejandra arrived at Maria’s house. Look teacher Alejandra put this mask of me on. The teacher danced and won the price and then the teacher gave the prize to Maria.
By Joshua I., Harold Washington Elementary
True Stories
That's Weird, Grandma
In the summer time last year just about before the school year was over there was this girl named Diana [note from the typist: all i’s in ‘Diana’ written with a heart as the dot on the i] that I sorta had a crush on she smelled like fresh fruit or flowers she was like a dream come true so total hot that she could almost hypmatize me to do or give her something. I had the most scariest gang of rough friends ever even the 8th graders were horrified of us we were vicious like a swarm of wild sharks. Diana had the most prettiest friends and all of my friends go out with them but I got beauty and brains. One day something changed completely after we had art and washed our hands Diana walk in and turn off the lights and frenched me WOW tolito! Man she could kiss so could I ♥
By Nia H., Loyola Park After-School Program
Songs
That's Weird, Grandma
Arranged by Company Member Jeff Trainor
New Jersey, New Jersey Big Ocean New Jersey, New Jersey Better get some sun tan lotion Never thought I would have this much fun I have the silly potion Waiting to be cast on you, New Jersey Hey Hey Hey better get some sun tan lotion. The End
By Vermani A., Columbia Explorer’s Academy
Dialogues
That's Weird, Grandma
Characters: Ant and Chicken Setting: in the bowl
Once upon a time there was an Ant in the bowl and the ant was scared because he was in the bowl and then the Ant heard somebody sleeping.
Ant: Who was sleeping (scared)
Chicken: Me. (excitedly) (comely)
Ant: Oooooh…can you sleep quietly. (seriously)
Chicken: Ok, I’m sorry (seriously)
Ant: Ok…just keep sleeping (seriously)
Chicken: Why
The End.
By Katelyn P., Columbia Explorers Academy
Dialogues
That's Weird, Grandma
D: Mom can I go to my friend’s house (excitedly)
M: no
B: Ha ha ha (on ground)
D: But why I’ll come back. (mad face)
M: Because you didn’t clean your room.
D: But you want me to clean every day. (mean face)
B: I clean my room (evil face)
M: I’m proud of you (happily)
D: Nobody asks you.
M: Watch your adito.
D: But I don’t want to.
B: oh no don’t say that
M: you’re grounded and I was going to let you go but your growned.
D: But Mom
M: no buts
D: please mom
M: NO!!!!!
D: Your so mean (cry face)
M: I feel bad (gilty face)
B: Don’t let her go.
M: Who ask you
B: You sound like my sister goush
M: Oh yeah I should not said that. I’m sorry.
B: That’s OK
D: Mom I’m sorry
M: It’s OK. Sit lets talk.
D: Okay!
B: Can I stay.
M: Get out
B: Okay gesh!
M: I’m sorry to
D: It’s okay
M: You could go to your friends house.
D: Thank you thank you you’re the best mom ever.
The end
By Deshaun D., Learn Campbell Campus
Arguments
That's Weird, Grandma
My first reason is that we need to stop eating sugar
Another reason is we need to get active
Another reason is we need to get away from technology
Also we could eat the food pyramid
Finally it helps grow our bodies
In conclusion I believe that we should jump off the couch and eat healthy!!!!!!
