IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Workshop space is limited, so make sure you enroll ASAP. Read through all of the information on this page carefully so that you do not accidentally miss important information. This year, workshops will be taking place on Google Meet. You will receive a confirmation email from Ms. Nagel and information for virtually joining your workshop when your enrollment has been finalized. Please do not be late! We want you to have the fullest experience possible, and that starts with your prompt arrival.
TUESDAY WORKSHOPS
YOUNG CHICAGO AUTHORS
"Through creative writing, Young Chicago Authors helps young people from all backgrounds to understand the importance of their own stories and those of others, so that they can pursue the path they choose and work to make their communities more just and equitable." Photo & bio credit: youngchicagoauthors.org 
E.G. VOSS
"E.G. Voss is a nearly 30-year veteran police detective sergeant having investigated everything from the mundane to murder. Additionally, Voss also serves as an instructor in several criminal justice disciplines teaching active-duty police officers, college students, and academy cadets. Voss is the author of the thrilling historical fiction Murder Made series, which includes the novels Murder Made Casual, Murder Made Necessary, Murder Made Political, and 2 Days in the Woods: Murder Found. For a lighter side of policing, Voss is also the author of the non-fiction book, How to Deal with the Police: Without Ending up Wearing Orange Jammies. For young adult and adults alike, Voss is also the author of the supernatural thrillers, Mabel Stewart and the Death’s Hand, and Mabel Stewart and the Wolf’s Cane, the first two adventures in the new, exciting series, Mabel Stewart." Photo & bio credit: E.G. Voss |
Date:
4/6/21 Time: 2:30 PM Location: Google Meet Date:
4/13/21 Time: 2:30 PM Location: Google Meet |
IDIOT CHIMNEY
The Idiot Chimney is made up of Gabe Greenspan and Ryan Bowers, two men who have been repeatedly told they are “adults” and “can’t just play the Mario Kart demo at Target if they’re not planning to buy it.” They met as members of the sketch group Red Hot Poker at Yale University, and then formed this sketch duo after moving to Los Angeles in 2014. You can see more of them on their YouTube channel, or at live shows in Los Angeles and festivals throughout the country (you know, when live shows aren’t illegal anymore)." Photo & bio credit: Idiot Chimney |
Date:
4/20/21 Time: 2:30 PM Location: Google Meet |
REGIE GIBSON
Literary performer, Regie Gibson, has lectured & performed widely in the U.S., Cuba & Europe. Representing the U.S. in Italy, Regie competed for & received both the Absolute Poetry Award in Monfalcone & The Europa in Versi Award in LaGuardia di Como. He’s a Brother Thomas Fellow & has received two Live Arts Boston Grants to develop his first play, The Juke: A Blues Bacchae in which he intersects the ancient Greek tragedy with African-American spiritual & musical culture. Regie has served as a consultant for the NEA’s “How Art Works” commission & the “Mere Distinction of Color”: a permanent exhibit at James Madison’s Montpelier home focusing on American slavery & the U.S. constitution. He has composed texts for The Boston City Singers, The Mystic Chorale, the Handel+Haydn Society, & has featured with the Lexington Symphony. He’s an actor & creator of The Shakespeare Time-Traveling Speakeasy— a theatrical, literary-concert focusing on the life & works of William Shakespeare. He serves on the boards of the New England Poetry Club & Grub Street Writers & teaches at Clark University." Photo & bio credit: Regie Gibson |
Date:
4/27/21 Time: 2:30 PMLocation: Google Meet |
WEDNESDAY WORKSHOPS
SAM WELLER
Two-time Bram Stoker Award-winner. Authorized biographer of legendary writer Ray Bradbury. Energetic and engaging public speaker. Sam Weller's book, The Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury (William Morrow) was a national bestseller and winner of the 2005 Society of Midland Authors Award for Best Biography. The companion book, Listen to the Echoes: The Ray Bradbury Interviews, was published by Melville House/Stop Smiling Books in 2010. Sam is the former Midwest Correspondent for Publishers Weekly magazine. His personal essays have appeared in the Paris Review, on the National Public Radio Program All Things Considered, Slate magazine and others. He is a regular blogger for the Huffington Post.. Weller is a frequent lecturer on the life and legacy of Ray Bradbury. He has given over 350 talks worldwide. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Creative Writing at Columbia College Chicago. Photo & bio credit: samweller.net 
COURTNEY KOTLOWSKI
Courtney is an award-winning writer, playwright and published author. She founded Serendipity Theatre, Chicago (now Second Story). Her plays have been performed in every major city with performances at the New York Fringe Festival, Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, Strawdog Theatre, Second City LA, and the Victory Gardens Theatre. Courtney has also performed in small theatres throughout Chicago and professionally at the Goodman and Steppenwolf theatres. She has voiced many radio and TV spots and received a best actress nomination for her performance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Courtney is the author of the Gnat & Corky Series. There are currently four titles published in the Gnat & Corky Series: Addison the Light Catcher, Ken the Keeper, Will It and From Malena with Love. The Spring of 2021, Courtney’s fifth book, “The Lady Bug Club”, is set be published. Photo & bio credit: Courtney Kotlowski |
Date:
4/7/21 Time: 2:30 PM Location: Google Meet Date:
4/14/21 Time: 2:30 PM Location: Google Meet |
JASON HARRINGTON W/CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER
"Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson, Chicago Shakespeare has redefined what a great American Shakespeare theater can be—a company that defies theatrical category. This Regional Tony Award-winning theater’s year-round season features as many as twenty productions and 650 performances—including plays, musicals, world premieres, family programming, and presentations from around the globe. The work is enjoyed by 225,000 audience members annually, with one in four under the age of eighteen. Over the summer, the company tours a professional production of Shakespeare’s work, free for all, to neighborhood parks across the city. In 2017 the Theater unveiled The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare with its innovative design that has changed the shape of theater architecture. Together with the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater and the Thoma Theater Upstairs, The Yard positions Chicago Shakespeare as the city’s most versatile performing arts center." Photo & bio credit: chicagoshakes.com |
Date:
4/14/21 Time: 2:30 PM Location: Google Meet |
MARY SOMERS MCDONOUGH
A 15 year media professional specializing in the creative development of on-air promotion for broadcast news, cable, unscripted, and syndicated television. She is able to inspire, lead, and execute creative marketing for a wide range of programming - everything from the morning show LIVE! With Kelly & Michael, to NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt and TODAY, to unscripted reality such as Tori & Dean, to true crime series Snapped and Killer Couples, to special event promotion for the Olympics and presidential elections. She is a skilled writer, producer, and editor who thrives in fast-paced environments but still fosters creative and collaborative storytelling. Currently writing and producing campaigns for TODAY and NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, she is in the daily news trenches, living by the 24-hour news cycle and meeting tight deadlines, sometimes with only a matter of hours from brief to delivery. Previously, she led the charge as the creative director of Oxygen’s upfronts, leading in-house teams and external production houses and freelancers to produce all video content for the upfront and affiliate presentations. Before that, she could be found leading the creative marketing for LIVE!, guiding the new voice of a post-Regis show while also directing Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan to execute her scripted jokes in front of a live studio audience. She also launched creative campaigns for Oxygen’s network rebrand, and cut her teeth at NBC News during the rebrand of TODAY with Meredith Vieira in the anchor chair. She is also a glutton for all things pop culture, lives to read TV and movie recaps, is on at least 5 wait lists at the library at all times, and has the Wilhelm scream of NBC News Marketing." Bio & Photo Credit: Mary Somers McDonough |
Date:
4/21 Time: 2:30 PMLocation: Google Meet |
THE CHALK GIRL
"Beth has been drawing since her mom placed a crayon in her hand. Over the years, she picked up passions for drawing, painting, animation, special effects makeup, and fabrication. She earned a B.A. in Film/Video with a concentration in Traditional Animation from Columbia College Chicago. In 2010 “The Chalk Girl" was born from a custom-made position at Six Flags Great America and lasted for five summers. In April of 2016, Beth signed up for Heroes & Villains Fan Fest in Chicago on a complete whim. Without even knowing how they would transport the completed pictures home, Beth and her husband improvised their way through the weekend. Lucky for them, guests thoroughly enjoyed the chalk art. About a month after the convention, Beth and her husband took a leap of faith and began a business called "The Chalk Girl." Photo & bio credit: adventuresofchalkgirl.com |
Date:
4/28/21 Time: 2:30 PMLocation: Google Meet |