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 Jujuan D., Burnham Anthony
Podcasts
That's Weird, Grandma
When Mariah Carey woke up on her birthday, she was very excited because I was there and she said Jujuan Jujuan come here did you give me a present then I said yah I gave you a ring and a new shoes. She was like Jujuan I like you then I gave her a ring and the new shoes. And Mariah Carey woke up and it was a dream.
By Jose T., 3rd Grade, Washington Irving
That's Weird, Grandma
One day a magician came into my house and turned me into a Jaguar. I ran so fast I bit the magician’s butt and he went crying to his mom and he said I don’t want to be a magician.
By Jocelyn M., 4th Grade, Columbia Explorers Academy
True Stories
That's Weird, Grandma
Once when me and my family went to magic waters. That place is called that because there is a lot of pools. There every kind of pools. Like tall, small, big and dark. But when me and my family went to eat lunch we ate like a good meal. It wasn’t big or small. But when we got to go to the waves pool with my cousin. She reacted that she was drowning. Then I called my mom and dad. And they said “What!” Then they ran. And then my cousin she was laughing. And my parents said, “We are not going to bring you next time OK. Because that is not a joke.” I sad. But I did have a lot of fun, That is all.
By Maria M., Columbia Explorers Academy
That's Weird, Grandma
Long, long ago in Aug 1985. In England at a big studio. A dance teacher named Marrian was teaching men to dance at a big clean mansion. Other dancers were going to perform too. But the teacher was kind of mean. She’s going to make them wear hats and dresses. So while she was teaching her old mean friend told her, “I bet I’m going to win first place but your going to win last place”. So she laughed at her when she left. So Marrian taught the men as hard as she can. All she wanted to do was win. One of the men said that she’s selfish. Months later it was the last day to practice. At the ceremony people asked why are they wearing dresses. But when the dance was over, they were going to announce the winner. And the winner was Marrian’s team.
The End.
By Matthew S., Dewey School
That's Weird, Grandma
Little Richard was the king of rock. Then Shaft wanted to fight Little Richard and Little Richard beat him then Shaft attacked then Little Richard’s cheerleaders Janis, Dana, Kelly, Anna and Susie started cheering:
go team go Little Richard is the Best. He was born in the west. One, two, three, four.
By Enriques, Amonte, Royaleisha, Kiersten, Kristian, Cemone, Tashaye, Tiara, Yashica, Earl, Washington School
That's Weird, Grandma
Once upon a time there was a little silly bunny who lived in a zoo, until he saw a little fish who lived in a zoo. Then he wonders should he got to see if he was comfortable. Then the little silly bunny tried to hop out of his cage to see the fish. HE finally got out, so he made friends with the fish. The fish got angry at the pretty little bunny. The silly bunny went back home. The fish got angry again, he got grumpy. He went to bunny and apologized. So the little fish and the silly bunny were friends, and the little bunny always made good jokes. The End
By Aaron H., 3rd Grade, Gale School
Arguments
That's Weird, Grandma
I believe that at all restaurants They should have a kid meal with toys.
1. Restaurants should have kid meals because kids will want kid meals
2. because adults won’t have to pay much
3. kid meals have toys kid likes toy
By Eduardo A., 4th Grade, Columbia Explorers Academy
Dialogues
That's Weird, Grandma
Setting: In the Smelly Jungle
Characters: Abe, Bird
Bird: This jungle smells like poo.
Abe: Yeah I know it does.
Bird: I’d rather be on space than being here.
Abe: Hey I don’t want to go.
Bird: Why.
Abe: Because I’m married and have three babies.
Bird: Cool I am gonna get married too.
The End
By Estevan M., Cleveland School
That's Weird, Grandma
If I were the president of the united states of America, I would, all the girls would like me. Then I ruled.
By Zoi R., Lincoln Park Words@Play Program
Poems
Songs
That's Weird, Grandma
Other Venues
TOTL 2005
If chocolate was free
I would jump around and say
Whoopee!!!
I would grow the chocolate
for you and me so we can eat.
If you come and marry me,
free chocolate you will see!