PlayMakers Laboratory Story Archive
Celebration of Authors is back in 2026; Stay Tuned for More!
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
Plus we will present the Annual Storyteller of the Year Award to author,
and PlayMaker alumni, Mary Winn Heider!
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.
Can’t attend our party? We’ll miss you! Consider donating to support arts education in Chicago. Thank you!
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.
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 Zeondre S., 4th Grade, Dewey
That's Weird, Grandma
My name is Zeondre.
Bingo is my favorite game.
Because when you get done you can call Bingo. You will receive a prize and the prize will be chips and juice.
The End.
By Calvon B. , Tuley Park Words @ Play Program
Poems
That's Weird, Grandma
I’m so good on my birthday I might get an Xbox 360.
I’m sad.
I’m glad.
I’m mad.
I’m bad.
I’m sorry.
I’m small.
I’m tall.
I’m shrug.
I’m long.
I’m Calvon.
I’m Romare.
I’m my dad.
I’m a boy.
I’m markers.
By Alexis S., 4th Grade, Columbia Explorers Academy
That's Weird, Grandma
Once upon a time there lived a bunny named Daisy. Daisy loved to fight bears. So Daisy’s friend Jimmy hated to fight. So one day Daisy saw Jimmy and Daisy said you want to fight. Jimmy said no I don’t cause I am bigger than you. Daisy said it does not matter who is bigger. It does not mean I could not win just because I am small. So then Jimmy and Daisy did fight. And Daisy did win so then Jimmy said I am not your friend no more. Daisy said why just because I won. Jimmy said yeah that’s why. Daisy said come on Jimmy we could fight again.
By Alan B. , 4th Grade, Columbia Explorers Academy
That's Weird, Grandma
I remember one time my mom said “NO ICE CREAM!” and it was a ripoff. But my sister didn’t care. So she took out the bucket of ice cream and made a ice cream sundae. I felt awkward because she always listens to the rules but she didn’t. So then I made one myself. Then I forgot to get the whip cream so I went to the refrigerator and got it. But my sister already finished hers and wanted another one. So she ate mine. Then my mom saw her eat ice cream. So. …she was grounded. She tried to blame it all on me. But it didn’t work. So every time I want to get ice cream she always goes first. And like I said, “rrrriippoooffff.” The End
By Rosemely V., 4th Grade, Columbia Explorers Academy
Dialogues
That's Weird, Grandma
Characters: Orlando B, Supertop Model
Setting: Orlando Florida
Orlando Bloom: Wow pretty ladys. (Sat down)
Supertop Model: Do you like my miny skirt (Showed of)
Orlando: Will you marry me?
Model: yes
Orlando & Model had 100 babys.
Baby 1-100: Whaa!!!
Elizabeth had too change 100 diapers every day
I mean 200 diapers
By Jose H., 4th Grade, Little Village
Dialogues
That's Weird, Grandma
Characters: Layla secret spy, Will talking dog
Setting: Ocean
L: We need to get to the ocean to get the diamond that you told me about. (serious)
W: Okay! But I kinda do not know how to swim. (little nervous)
L: Now at least we’re at the ocean.
W: But how are we I mean you gonna get underwater?
L: I know we can rent a boat. And you are not going with me.
W: What! I don’t know how to swim okay. (serious)
L: But you better tie me to the Boat for I cannot drown.
W: I tide you now dive, dive, dive.
L: Will I found the treasure chest. It is a a a a stuffed dog.
W: I am going to pull you up. Okay. (worried)
L: You lied, you lied it was just a stuffed dog.
W: Ooops! (sad)
By Emmitt B., Berger Park Words@Play Program
Poems
Podcasts
Lemons our Tea
I buy a box
I feel great inside
Lemons I see flying over flowers
Celestial is perfect in the body
Lemons are perfect for us
They sing over the flowers
The Ocean yells over there tea.
Lemons our
Love.
By Sylvia W., 4th Grade, Chalmers
That's Weird, Grandma
Once there were two friends they were the sadest people in Louisville Elementary School there name were Mark and Jake they said “How come other kid get what they want!” And they dreamed of sky diving one day out of the biggest plane in the world. and when they were 14 they got only 2 dollars to go to the store. Mark said “that’s not fare because we got only 2 dollars.” They let 18 years pass By then they reach 20! they made the most money any rich person could ever had. they looked at each other and said a promise to each other they said “we will always be friends.” They bought a plane and a pilot. The strapped themselves on a parachute and they flew down quickly. And the let out the parachute and they landed in an icy river. And they said “we will live forever and they lived forever they did the most fun things they could ever do. And they bought a lot of clothes from the mall on North riverside they bought a million shoes. They lived happily ever after.
By Destiny C., 4th Grade, Chalmers
True Stories
Superheroes
That's Weird, Grandma
My Super hero is my Mom. her powers are too take care of me and her 2 other kids. what happen was she took care of me as I grew up. It’s my point of view because I’m telling people who is my hero and superhero because she’s a nice mom who do things for me like put clothes on my back, and she’s a person who have strong powers by doing stuff like getting me up in the morning, taking me to fun place, and most of all trying to help me get an education.
By Emilio, Loyola Park
Here lies everyone’s favorite person Tikitikitembo Nosarembo Charlie Bary Ruche Pit Pary Tembo. Died at age 5 infinity years old and still young. Killed from somebody you’ll never think would kill him was himself he was a jolly good fella oh he was a jolly good fella and still was young whaa waa waa. Everyone was sad. Kangzilla, Professor Wiggem, Professor Wiggem’s wife with her feet crying. Wait, that’s sweat urgh shalabala ding done. The giant elephant, the senator, and one crying most of all Emilio. So next time you think of a good man think of him when he was young. His favorite was the Dr. Phil speech records and Oprah Winfrey show tapes. How do I know? I’m his father.