PlayMakers Laboratory Celebrating the power of children's imaginations since 1997

Events and Announcements

Fancy Schmancy is rescheduled for July 18th

With much thought and conversation, we have decided to reschedule our annual Fancy Schmancy Gala to July 18th, 7:00 PM. The safety of our patrons, teaching-artists, board members and staff are our top priority and concerns related to the novel COVID-19 virus spreading has led us to our decision. Tickets previously purchased for April 4th event will be honored for the new date. We truly appreciate your advocacy to arts education, and we look forward to seeing you at the event this summer.

REGISTER HERE

We Changed Our Name!

With much excitement, we are pleased to announce that as of October 15th, 2019 we are now known as Playmakers Laboratory. This change follows a year-long journey of engaging discussion and reflection among board members, staff, company members, and outside stakeholders. While our name is changing, our creative writing residencies in Chicago Elementary Schools and our long-running public revue, That’s Weird, Grandma will remain unchanged as they represent the cornerstones of our mission. We look forward to our continual growth and evolution as an Arts Education non-profit, committed to celebrating the power of students’ imaginations in Chicago.

Learn More About Our Name Change

What is PlayMakers Laboratory?

A PlayMakers Laboratory teacher with child authors in a classroom
1

PlayMakers Laboratory teaches creative writing workshops to students aged 7-13 in Chicago Public Schools and in our after-school program at Loyola Park.

PlayMakers Laboratory actors in a public performance
2

PlayMakers Laboratory actors and musicians adapt student-written stories into sketches and songs, which are performed for the schools and later for the public.

Smiling kids in the audience at Celebration of Authors
3

The students are celebrated and their voices are championed throughout Chicago.

Learn more about PlayMakers Laboratory