PROGRAMS & WORKSHOPS
Chicago Public School Residency
OVERVIEW
Summer Intensive
6 weeks: 4 days/week, 5 hours/day
Ages 14-20
The summer intensive at Free Street is the start of a two-year training opportunity to work with professional artists. Free Street workshops are free, and teens can earn a stipend through After School Matters.
Fall to Spring Ensemble
38 weeks: 3 days/week, 2 hours/weekday, 4 hours/Saturdays
Ages 14-20
Continued training for summer youth and introduction for new youth. The ensembles create three new performances for public audiences each season. Participants develop a strong creative foundation and knowledge of ensemble theater building.
THEATER RESIDENCIES
Chicago Public Schools
Year-Round
Ages 14-20
Act/Write Free Street partners with the Fiction Writing Department at Columbia College. Free Street’s acting practice merges with Columbia College’s Story Writing Workshop technique.
Arts Literacy Free Street partners with Public Education. Physical warm-up, opening up the voice and every acting exercise leads to writing. Free Street has been actively engaged in the public school classroom since 1975.
Breaking Borders A Free Street Partnership with Metropolis Performing Arts Center of Arlington Heights. This cooperation brings together a suburban and a city public school. Theater and writing workshops include exchanges of students to each school.
Chicago Park District
Year-Round
Ages 5-13
Park Play at Pulaski Park 5-12 year olds discover new ways to play using theater. Workshops are set-up through the Chicago Park District for their after school programming.
UPSIDEDOWNSCHOOL
6 weeks: 5 days/week, 7 hours/day
Ages 5-10
A summer arts camp led by master teaching-artists who combine elements of theater, music, dance and visual art to explore the sciences. Best practices from early childhood and creative arts development are combined to encourage young kids to rely on their natural sense of play and curiosity.
