This my second review of Chicago Dramatists and Mary Ruth Clarke, six months and two more Screenwriting classes after my first review, and if I could give them MORE than five stars I would. The greatest thing that happened to me last year, almost right at this time, was that Second City cancelled their Screenwriting class due to lack of enrollment. I looked around for somewhere else to take the class (which is not easy in Chicago!) and found Chicago Dramatists, Screenwriting 1, and Mary Ruth Clarke, who is one of the best teachers I have ever had. If professors in law school were as clear, direct and helpful as Mary Ruth, maybe I would have paid more attention. All I can tell you is this: Last year I started that class with a 284-page script, which was insane, but in my defense I had no idea what I was doing, I just had a story to tell. Mary Ruth diagnosed my problem in the first session (Screenwriting classes are cheaper and a lot more fun than therapy!). I took Screenwriting 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 - this went from January to November, with breaks in-between. This November I tackled my 284 maxi-series of a story, and as of today it's down to 140 pages. If this script was in Weight Watchers, it would be considered a very successful member. I still have 30 more pages to reach my goal of 110, which is generally considered the correct length. These last 30 pages may kill me, but I could have never gotten this far without Mary Ruth's Screenwriting classes, and if she's available, I'll ask for her help to finish it. If you think you have a story to tell, sign up to Mary Ruth's classes at Chicago Dramatists. It's a wonderful place, and I am very grateful for them,. read more

Ooooh I loved seeing Mouseland by The Runaway Lab Theatre last weekend!!!! This is a surprisingly large space with comfy seating and a cool pre- and post-show gathering space/lounge. The acoustics were amazing and I LOVED the music!! The live band was off the charts fantastic!! I'd go to see them in concert any day. Tickets were only $20 per person. We got cheap metered street parking, too. This was so fun and I enjoyed it even more than the big fancy theatres downtown. Gender-neutral bathrooms appreciated, thank you! I can't wait to come back for another event here. read more

See all

*This is a review of their Playwriting program* I had a good idea for a play so I wanted to take a class to get feedback and learn about the proper structure. I thought taking a class at Chicago Dramatist would be a good solution. I was wrong. The class took place on six Saturdays for three hours. I wasn't impressed with the first class but I told myself to give it another chance. But when the instructor was still going over the very basics for week 2, I wasn't too happy. I found myself quite bored. And the fact that we couldn't use any current material for the assignments was frustrating. I really just wanted to develop my idea that I had. I honestly think that I should have never signed up for this class and just picked up a book - which I eventually did. $265 versus free from the library? I'm going to go with the book from the library. I'm involved in several other artistic activities and I paid the most money for a class here and received the least value. Highly disappointed and would not recommend the Essentials 1 course. read more

I've seen two plays at Chicago Dramatists in recent months: "BLIZZARD '67" (a dramatic storytelling about the infamous snowstorm of that year) and "I AM GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD" (a young man who dreams of working for Goldman Sachs ends up oversleeping the day of his interview and his life takes a sad turn). I thoroughly enjoyed "Blizzard" but I'm kind of on the fence about "IAGTCTW." What I do love about Chicago Dramatists is that in both plays, the City plays a central role in the storytelling. In fact, in "Blizzard" it may as well have been the fifth character. It's also worth noting that Chicago Dramatists features new, original plays, by largely undiscovered playwrights. Uncharted territory, if you will. It's an intimate venue, but still very much provides a true theater experience. The lobby waiting area is elegant and it has a bar, and the staff is engaging and polite. I fully support the live theater community in Chicago. We have so much talent in our town and little theaters like this highlight the fertile creative ground that regularly draws reviewers from New York to our vital theater scene. After all, the play's the thing. read more

I love moms. I love 90's nostalgia. And I love live theater. So when a friend wanted us to schlep to see The MOMS: Fannypackin' Heat I said "okeydokey artichokey!" The play was winsome and cute. Moments where a plot point, costume, and quip resonated with the audience were rampant. Lots of head nods and chuckles as we recognized a bit of out parents or ourselves. The theater is intimate. Or a mom would say...cozy and comfy. The actors come out after and chat with the audience so you feel like family, it's a great touch. And they sell beer, wine, sodie pops, and snacky snax lots of hospitality.(no doggies allowed in the house) Put on your mom jeans, ugly sweaters or pleated dockers and see this show which runs until 12/29 or any of the other programs! Feel the love. read more

While all the cool kids and their plus ones were enjoying themselves at Mars Gallery for the yelp night. I and my band of rejects (Ralphy pants & Jackfruit Jassira) decided to hit up a free play (preview show) at the Sideshow Theatre. Adding another storefront theatre to my list is never a problem in my book and free how can you pass it up. Being a fairly new theatre house (2007) I think that they will do well for themselves. It's your basic small stage and maybe 40+ seats, but at least they have a fairly large waiting area. My biggest problem were the seats, whoever said that they were comfortable was lying!!! We all were twisting and turning to the point our chairs were squeaking louder then the actor's voices. At least the theatre was clean. As for the play "Everything Freezes Another Winter's Tale", an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Winter's Tale, it was a complex in the telling of multiple stories within one big story but not so in-depth that you can't follow or understand the big picture. It's marked as a comedy as the original but I really feel that it is everything except. Like Shakespeare's play it had intense psychological drama playing more on expressions then words, running in circles, a little supernatural occurrence, and then ends with love. Don't get me wrong you laugh at a line or two, plus Jackfuit and I saw a little plumbers crack and couldn't stop laughing like children. I understand that we went preview showing but the actors were deep in character and gave a FANTASTIC performance. My only quarrel is that the play ran way too long, the first half could be cut up dramatically but the second half was very moving. But I am sure that they have worked out all of the bugs. I would recommend seeing it before it leaves in April read more

Chicago Dramatists - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friend lives roughly two blocks from this theater and I have been wanting to see a play here, since the summer. Well, finally the time arrived and my friend and I saw Blizzard '67. The space is intimate and the seats remind me of an "old school" movie theater. Does that matter?!? Not a bit. Especially, if all the performances are as entertaining as Blizzard '67. The story was intriguing and the dialogue was witty. Also, the characterization was spot-on. Other perks of the theater?? Besides a few tasty snacks and beverages offered, there are a few cocktail and wine choices as well. As we were leaving, the actors came out and talked to the theater goers. The snack man/bartender said, "bye," too. It was nice to be acknowledged on the way out. What another great theater in the Windy City! read more

Went to a Saturday staged-reading session & was delighted! The staff was down to earth & the venue intimate. We stayed for the discussion after. Our fellow audience members were respectful to other's opinions even when they disagreed. Can't wait to see a full production here! Parking is a pretty challenging in the area, so plan to get there in plenty of time for the great spot-hunt! read more

There's not a lot of places you can go in Chicago if you're interested in taking playwriting classes without getting into a program at one of the universities. Believe me, I've looked. Luckily, there's Chicago Dramatists. I've taken the playwriting fundamentals course twice now, with two different instructors, and it's absolutely worth the money. They give their instructors a lot of freedom to teach how they want to teach, and so you get a different experience each time you take a class. And it will be a good experience, since the instructors are working playwrights who also teach at local universities, and have had their plays produced. In the Fundamentals course, which is an introductory level class, you'll find students with a range of talent. Some are actually pretty good, some are beginners. If you're a beginner, don't be nervous. The environment is very supportive. Taking a class is a great way to develop your "tools", and a good framework to get you to just sit down and write. For a unique theater experience, they offer a Saturday afternoon series, where playwrights workshop a play in progress. It's fun to see a staged reading and give your feedback, and it's a cheap (like $5) way to have a fun Saturday afternoon. Now I've got to quit writing Yelp reviews, so I can go back to working on my play. It's good. I'm going to win a Pulitzer. read more

This is a nice, intimate theatre. I went the see "How I Became an Interesting Person" recently which was a great play and very well done. The employees at the theatre are nice and generally helpfully. The streets in the area are a little confusing but a plus about this theatre is that they have a free parking lot about 1/2 a block away. The only big (yet minor) issue I have with the place is the coffee in the lobby is not the greatest. I'll definitely be back for another production. It's a nice theatre for a night out. read more

Very low key group of thespians. I've lived in Chicago all of my life and hadn't heard of this place until an unexpected bus ride (due to a train derailment last summer) with one of their regulars. I'm hard up on remembering her name, but that's me digressing. I bought a couple tickets for the opening night of "Water," just to do something different on a Friday night. The tickets were very easily purchased online, and included free parking. If you don't know the area, free parking is a big plus. Walking in, I immediately realized that this group is a very tight-knit group. People were milling about saying hello and striking up conversations like they had know each other since a previous life. That's particularly good when you walk into the theatre, and realize there's only room for about forty. (On a side note, the chairs are really, really comfortable.) The set was almost perfect, in walking that thin line between engineering and art. The play, I can't really comment on. I'm not a guy who watches plays, so all I'll say is I wasn't bored. The actors were believable in their roles, though I think after a little time in the roles they'll be much more. (The intimacy of it all really accentuated the first night foibles.) But I'll bring everything back to this one basic fact: this was a great time. The show was enjoyable, not too heavy on the wallet (student discounts available), and this venue makes use of a very under utilized and under appreciated asset of Chicago, it's thespians. read more

Whatever it is you are writing, Mary Ruth Clarke at Chicago Dramatists will make it better! This is my second 5-star review for Mary Ruth Clarke's Screenwriting classes at Chicago Dramatists. When I wrote my first review here, I had just completed 1.0, and finally felt like I had the direction I needed to edit a script which has the potential to be a lot of fun, but is waaaaaaay too long. Since then I have taken her Screenwriting 2.0 and I am now in the middle of the third series of classes. My script is taking on the structure it needed and I get terrific tips, guidance, suggestions, and feedback., and critique Mary Ruth Clarke is making a big difference in my work, and I know that I would be lost without this class. I have become a big fan of Chicago Dramatists too. The staff is very helpful and I think that the teachers have a lot to offer anyone who studies with them. They offer a great selection of writing classes, and for the amount of help and attention the students get, I feel that they charge extremely reasonable rates for their classes and workshops. . Back to Screenwriting, I promise you that you will love this class! The class size is kept small, so Mary Ruth can give your script a lot of attention. Every session is split between a short lecture which is always well-prepared, studying a real script to see examples of exactly what Mary Ruth is talking about, and then everyone shares different parts of their own script with the class. Everything you give to Mary Ruth to read, she returns with comments and suggestions, and lots of EDITS! Mary Ruth also shares a lot of her own insights into the business of movie making with the class, which comes from experience. I hope that there is a Screenwriting 4.0 in my future! read more

Screenwriting 2.0 at Chicago Dramatists is the second class I've taken with Mary Ruth and she has so much to share -- she's organized, interesting, lively. I'm plugging along with my first screenplay (although I've written plays) and learning things about storytelling I never thought of. She's a good mentor and guide, and a caring critic, always inspiring us to do our best. June F. read more

I have had Mary Ruth Clarke for Screenwriting 1.0 and 2.0. She also provided script notes for my feature and evaluated some of my screenplay concepts. Even though I've been writing screenplays for about three years, I've learned so much from taking Mary Ruth's class and the notes she gave on my feature and shorts really helped make them better. I love the she can see things in my scripts and concepts that I miss. She is an excellent instructor and if you really want to take your writing to another level, I highly recommend her. read more

i'll make a full disclosure here: my father's the President of the Board of Directors at Chicago Dramatists, and is actively involved in their workshops as an aspiring playwrite. that being said, i'm not recommending you read HIS plays (ugh). i'm also placing this review in a bit of context: i'm a 28 year old single guy who spends far more time in bars than in theaters, and my dad usually has to drag me to the few shows he can convince me to join him at...a number of which have been painfully boring. he even got me to the opera once, which i haven't forgiven him for. in short...this is a theater review from a non-theater guy. chicago dramatists is (one of) the best kept artistic secrets in chicago. i say that because they've up until recently had a very difficult time cultivating an audience significantly populated with young adults...most of their frequenters have been seeing their shows for 20+ years. nevertheless, the material they bring to the stage is phenomenal, engaging, and most importantly highly entertaining. their artistic director, russ tuterow, is a genius of selection and consistently finds work that audiences love. i'm sure it helps to have a vibrant commnunity of writers and actors using their workshops and weekend classes to hone their skills! dollar for dollar it's some of the best theater in town. that's the thing...it's easy to get tickets, cheap, and makes going to see a play far less of a production than it would be at major theaters around town. it's an indie/non-profit kind of experience, with a small theater, friendly staff, and usually the actors will meet you right outside the theater after the performance. i've seen most of their productions (thank you, dad) and then usually try to get friends to come back to the best ones. 'a steady rain' was one of the best plays i saw there, and it's the first play in CD's history to get commercially produced. you can go see it now at the Royal George Theater. read more

cheap fringe theatre. we saw "intelligent design of jenny chow". props to the dramatist for mounting a play where a coupla of white people start spitting out lines of unintelligible Mandarin Chinese with live/instant translation. my question remains: why use 2 Korean girls for clearly Chinese roles? were there no China-woman interested in playing these parts? Or am i totally missing the point? I'd totally give my $ (for tickets and for donation) to this troupe. read more

Really cool venue with what seems like a great story or stories behind it. We had a great time at "Lucindas Bed." The last play I went to was Little Shop of Horrors several years ago. I forgot how much fun plays are. Looking forward to Everything Freezes! Really had an enjoyable night and we will be back very soon! read more

Mary Ruth's guidance is invaluable for an aspiring screenwriter. The two most fundamental things I learned from her were, first, how to organize the basic structure of the script, not as a straightjacket but as an understandable framework in which to fit my story; and second, how to always look for ways to turn dialogue into action -- how to show it instead of say it -- with great examples and spot on feedback. Highly recommended! read more

Mary Ruth Clark's Screenwriting class offered amazing insight into the techniques of screenwriting, i.e. the way to format and create a piece of work, but even more gave each student an in-depth and concise study in the means of balancing the visual demands of a movie with the more theatrical ergo incorrect usage of dialogue, showing and correcting so many of the mistakes novice screenwriters usually demonstrate as they head into the rough and choppy waters of bringing internal thoughts onto the paper. read more