Writers Theatre Inc

Educational Programming:WT Education has steadily rebuilt program capacity in the three years since returning to in-person programs. In the 2023-24 school year, the Residency Programs and Student Matinees fully recovered pre-pandemic student reach and we aim to continue the expansion of these core outreach programs with an emphasis on increasing access for students with limited, inequitable access to arts education and live theatre experiences. WT Education expanded its reach to serve 3,078 students across programs and introduced new on-site engagement initiatives to connect the art onstage with the larger community. RESIDENCY PROGRAM In the 2023-24 school year, The Novel Series served approximately 660 CPS students in 28 classrooms. WT Education plans to serve 30 classrooms across 8-9 schools in the upcoming 2024-25 school year and is currently working with the organization, Communities in Schools-Chicago to identify 2-3 new school partners with an aim to further diversify student reach.STUDENT MATINEESIn the 2023-24 school year, WT Education hosted 1,457 students across 23 schools, including 5 new school partners, with 7 Student Matinee performances for EURYDICE, MANUAL CINEMA'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL and THE BAND'S VISIT. Plans for the upcoming 2024-25 Season include 7 Student Matinee performances with the potential to welcome 1,520 students to our state-of-the-art theatre center next year. WT Education has established a goal to reach more school partners by limiting repeat visits from schools in the next school year. ONSITE CREATIVE LEARNINGFrom family playtime to school break adventures, WT Education has a full slate of enriching programming for young people and families. Approximately 500 members of the community engaged in our onsite creative learning opportunities including camps, Wake Up Words Family Playtime, and engagement events around our mainstage productions.

Literary Development Initiative:Since 1992, Writers Theatre has produced 33 world premieres: 11 plays, 16 adaptations and 6 musicals. In 2004, WT launched the Literary Development Initiative (LDI) to revisit classic works, adapt celebrated literature for the stage and usher forward today's most innovative voices as the classics of the future. The LDI hosted two workshops in the 2023-24 Season, both of which concluded with a public reading: EDGARDO OR WHITE FIRE by Cary Perloff on Saturday, March 16, 2024, and Hershey Felder's newest composer piece, RACHMANINOFF AND THE TSAR on Monday, May 6, 2024. RACHMANINOFF AND THE TSAR will premiere at South Coast Repertory in 2025.