Project Location/Destination: In town
Faculty Leaders: Frank Schneider & Freddie Swinson
Dates: Sunday, March 12 - Friday, March 17 (Please note project begins on Sunday, March 12)
Cost: $540
Special Considerations:
See below.
Objective
Students will learn to write, stage, and produce a 10-minute play based on their experiences watching local theatre and interacting with local theatre artists.
Description
Students will spend the week immersed in theatre. During the days, participants will engage with Chicago theatre artists in a process of creating a short work, designing technical elements to support the work, and staging the work. To support the work we will go see several plays and discuss what we can learn from them, and how we can apply these lessons to our work. We will also try to arrive at an answer to the question of what defines “Chicago” theatre.
Student Requirements and Expectations
This project will include a play Sunday night and other evening requirements. Families will be responsible for getting students home from the evening performance venues.
Students will be required to attend day and evening workshops and plays, sometimes on the same day. It is probable that some days will be longer than 8 hours, with a meal included.
Students will be expected to fully participate in all aspects of writing, staging, and performing in a 10-minute play, which will be performed for a public audience.
About the Faculty
Mr. Schneider grew up watching Chicago theatre, and was in New York when Steppenwolf hit Broadway, and Chicago theatre became a thing. He has spent years watching, participating in, and talking about Chicago theatre and what makes it different and special.
Ms. Swinson is a Michigan native who moved to Chicago in June of 2021. This is her second year teaching math at the upper school, and her eighth year of teaching overall. Ms. Swinson has always had a passion for theater, starting with children’s productions at church, to school performances in middle and high school, as well as some community theater experience. She very much enjoyed Theatre in Chicago for Project Week last year, and is very excited to offer it to students again!
Special Considerations
COVID vaccination required - Some Theatres require proof of vaccination against COVID for admission. Students may need to provide this proof to be admitted to some of the shows we will see. Therefore proof of vaccination is required to participate in the Theatre in Chicago Project Week. Please contact the project leaders or school nurses with any questions or concerns. Although we have not solidified which theatres we will visit throughout the week many have COVID requirements similar to the following:
Equipment requirements: laptop/tablet - Students will all need a laptop for in class work as well as pen/pencil and paper.
Scheduling (In town) - This project will have time commitment outside of the Monday-Friday (8 a.m. - 4 p.m.) typical school week. Please note that there is an expectation that students are able to attend the whole time the project is running.
Transportation considerations: CTA - Students will take the CTA with faculty.
Transportation considerations: Not meeting at Latin: Students may meet faculty leaders or be dismissed from a location other than Latin.
Students will be performing for a public audience