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 by Lanesha R, Daisha S, and Shari S, Willa Cather Elementary School & Super 7 After-school Program
Once upon a time there were skunks with no home. Their names were Ms. Star, beauty, and Joseph. He’s a new born. The skunks went into some body’s house to find some food to eat.. They were successful. They found it in the basement. They ate dog food. One skunk, Ms. Star, ate first, then the rest. Afterwards they went out the chimney and went down and got some more food the bathroom door was cracked open! To be continued…
By by Diana E, Avondale-Logandale School
One day a girl go to pick up flowers she live in the “oceano” a little away from the water she say oh no I forgot some water to the “flores” and she go to the “oceano” and she pick water to the “flores” she love to paint she paint the “flores” and she put that paint in a box when she “Mario” a worker “destroyeron” the house and they found the paint they say who is this picture is of Venus a girl “Mexicana” her mom name asis the “pintura” they put that paint in a “museo” the “pintura” is now famous. Paint it was about (French 1898-1903) is call that pain so flowers in the museum St. Petersburg of the Art Institute of Chicago. The End
By by Sarronda L, Jaleesa W, and Anaya G, Dewey Elementary Academy of Fine Arts
Characters: NJ, CA, RA
Setting: A Bubble gum party
NJ: Lets have a bubble gum party
RA: Whatevs
CA: (ok) I’m there
NJ: I got all this bubble gum.
RA: I’m eating purple gum now and I’m turning purple.
CA: look at the ceiling it gum is floating.
NJ: look I am pink like bubble gum
RA: I am purple like the juice ohh la la
CA: I’m blue girls lets sing in our bubble gum out fit.
NJ: Let’s sing starships.
RA: hit it.
CA: give me a beat.
The End
By Nia H, Loyola Park After-school Program
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 by Graciela V, Columbia Explorers Academy
Once a day a humpback whale come to my house it was my birthday party. A humpback whale eat cake. Then my mom was scare of the humpback whale. The humpback whale was playing games. And he was jump with the people. The humpback whale was doing so much messing the house because they were scared with the people. The End
By by Devion P and Darrin J , Chalmers Specialty Elementary School
Narrator: Hello I’m the Narrator. Once upon a time there was country people. A dad, a brother and another brother a life changing story
Christopher: (Happy) Hey Justin
Justin: (Nervous) What, what Here I come
Dad: Justin stop horse playing on them stairs (country voice)
Justin: Okay Dad I was going to see what Christopher wanted
Dad: Christopher come over here so I can tell yall a story about a ghost of the old time country people
Jessie: Dad I love you and don’t forget the stuff I asked you to tell yall that its my birthday I can cry if I want (crying)
Cowboy 1: (Laughing) I’m going to kill if I don’t get to the gold mine for money, money, and lots more money.
Cowboy 2: (Sad voice) I had to call my sweetheart to break up on her.
Missy: When I get out of here I’m calling the police for love.
Cowboy 1: (Counting) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and oh no I’m not ready to die I got a life to live
Justin: Dad what ever happened to mom because we never seen her in life.
Dad: Well, well your mother’s name was Missy because she was bossy. In 1921 she got kidnapped
Christopher: Dad so last year she got kidnapped. But was we here to see
Justin: (Stomping) I don’t like to be mad in life.
Dad: (country voice) I can’t stand to see kids mad well let me tell the truth. That story I was telling yall is real I took her to a Goldmine and thats where I’m taking you two.
Justin: (falling) No, no, don’t do it I will help you with Gold thats in gold mines
Dad: (Loudly ) yessszz.
Christopher: I will to
Dad: We are here
Christopher: Mommy
Missy:
The End
By Kristian W, LEARN Campbell Campus Elementary School
Once upon a time there was a woman who loved computers and digital things. Her name was Abigale. One day, Abigale’s brother Joshua said “Hey Abigale, I bet you won’t go up to that haunted mansion with digital everything!” “Digitaaaal!!!!!” Abigale said. Then she ran to the digital haunted mansion. But she ran off so fast that she didn’t hear her brother say that there was a mystic face somewhere in there that switches people’s souls with its! So Abigale ran up to the door, opened the door and ran right into the mystic face and they automatically switched souls.
The End
By John, Ruth and Anika, TLC Program at the University of Chicago
Name: Doug
Place in the family: Oldest teenage kid
Secret: He was adopted
Loves: Almost anything that doesn’t have to do with British/English things
Can’t stand: Downton Abbey
Hobby: Training hamsters (he has at least 20)
One thing he likes: The amount of allowance he gets, which is quite a lot.
If he had one wish it would be: That he knew, could write, could understand, could speak, every language ever fluently.
Doug would eat candy and pancakes to his heart’s desire if he could.
Favorite sport: Any sport. He can play sports really good.
Loves to read: Action/adventure
Knows a lot about: Greek myths/Ancient Rome
Age: 13
Date of birth: 2000 September 3rd
Doug Crockmire 12/12/12
Because of what the date is (and my superstitions) I’m hiding in my huge metal box. I’m passing the time by writing in my journal. Max and Violet are off doing some other crazy girl things. Violet is probably watching Downton Abbey, and Max is either watching Downton too, or painting.
½ hour later: Suddenly someone is banging furiously at the door…uh oh…it might be zombies!
No, it’s just Violet and Max, they’re jabbering about things I can’t make head or tails of, something about jewels and our butler I think. They dragged me out of my box and into Mom’s room, oh no..mom’s treasure chest is empty. Violet faints. Dimwitted girl…what a bozo.
After Violet wakes up we spot a tennis ball near the open chest that could mean
Name: Violet
Date of birth: June 6 2004
Where was birth: England of course
What I like to do: Help my mom design clothing. My favorite dress my mom has made for me was a silk purple dress with a bow. Also a pair of shoes to go with it. My favorite dress my mom has made for herself was a dress that was blue silk with blue flowers. Also a hat and shoes to go with it.
My best friend is named Maxine. She loves dress making too. Here is her favorite outfit. She loves the flip flops especially. I also love horse riding with my best horse Navy. He is black with a ½ navy blue ½ violet saddle (I made it with my mother’s help). Another of my winter hobbies is ice skating. I also have a cousin twice removed named Doug but I have little care for him. Oh well, my nosy maid is calling me in so farewell.
I, Violet Crockmire, am watching Downton Abbey. 16th video. My brother and sister are doing things I don’t care about. The video ended suddenly. I was about to get up when Max came with Doug to tell me something about butler Jenkins going upstairs to the laundry mat. I tried telling them there crazy and that the laundry mat was downstairs. But they wouldn’t listen. So I said “I have to change”. But they wouldn’t even let me change. So at this point I was getting the idea that they were crazy! But when I got upstairs my dear mom’s treasure chest was empty! At that point BLACKOUT! I woke up in a minute though. But when I woke up there was a tennis ball in the chest. Now me, my brother, and sister know that the maid plays tennis. We interrogated the maid but her alibi was Patty Jane (she was playing tennis with her). We suddenly saw Butler Jenkins on horseback so me and max got our horses mine named Navy, Doug on his new fangled motorcycle but enough of that now. Max jumped on Butler Jenkins. But I was too into getting Butler Jenkins horse.
Hello my name is Maxine but you can call me Max. I was born on 1111 and I am now 13 years of age. My best friend is my younger sister. I like playing football (the british kind), riding my horse, Ginger, and playing table tennis. I collect bottle caps, and coins from around the world.
I have a brother a sister and of course a mum and a dad. I like my sister a lot but my brother Dug is just plain annoying. My biggest adventure was when I got lost in the wood with my sister, her horse, and Ginger.
I was painting in the drawing room, Violet was watching Downton Abbey and Dug was hiding in the cellar in a metal box. I was painting Dug in his box with evil zombies with glowing red eyes. I wasn’t too absorbed in my work so out of the corner of my eye I could see butler Jenkins with a big empty sack I asked him what he was doing but he told me he was going to the laundry room that’s when I began to get a little suspicious, because our laundry room is downstairs.
By Katelyn P, Columbia Explorer's Academy
Dialogues
Characters: Mom, daughter, big brother
Setting: house
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 Ruby G , Avondale-Logandale
Arguments
Yo soy un pescado y yo creo que no resitan cómeme. Yo creo que no me copen en la tiena. Yo creo que no degen que el gato me coma. Yo creo que no me degen morime. Yo creo que no deven comer pescado.
English translation:
“I am a fish and I believe you should not eat me. I believe I should not be kept in a store. I don’t want you to look at me. I don’t want the cat to eat me. I should not be left to die. I believe you should not eat fish.”
