Writers Theatre, Inc.

Writers Theatre extends its mission beyond the stage and into the classroom through arts-focused, academics-based educational programming. The two flagship initiatives are "The MLK Project: The Fight for Civil Rights" and the Novel Series Study Plan.

The MLK Project: The Fight for Civil Rights
The MLK Project: The Fight for Civil Rights is a touring solo performance that follows a Chicago student’s search for identity and self-discovery as she examines the American Civil Rights Movement, weaving together poetry, hip-hop and history as it encourages students to explore the themes of civil and human rights. In 2013, The MLK Project performed 38 times during January and February, reaching 43 different schools (90% of which were in underserved communities of Chicago, including three in juvenile correctional facilities), five community organizations, and a total of 8,137 students. Nearly 45,000 students have been served since the tour’s inception in 2007.

The Novel Series Study Plan (NSSP)
The Novel Series Study Plan, an in-school residency program, was co-designed by WT’s Director of Education and the Literature and Writing Magnet Cluster of Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Teaching Artists partner with classroom teachers in grades 4 – 8 to create student-driven literature residencies, consisting of four “corners,” each delving into different aspects of the novel’s characters, plot, and themes: Writing, Vocabulary, Discussion, and Theatre exercises. During the 2012-13 school year, Writers Theatre conducted Novel Series residencies in 27 classrooms at nine different schools, reaching approximately 720 students. Approximately 92% of participating students came from low-income backgrounds.

In addition to its mainstage productions, WT supports the creation of new work through its innovative Literary Development Initiative (LDI), which was launched in 2004 with the goal of developing the next generation of classic plays and creating an “artistic home” to support and nurture the master playwrights of the future. Through this initiative, WT has previously debuted five world-premiere productions. The LDI also supports further development of already-premiered works by giving them a crucial second or third production, including the 2012/13 Season’s The Letters, which received additional time and resource to refine the script. WT has four projects currently under commission through the LDI.