The Theatre School > Creative Root

Creative Root

​The Theatre School’s new space for families, schools and communities! 

shake rattle roll class
The Theatre School's newly launched Creative Root program employs a holistic theater arts education strategy that embraces restorative and diverse approaches to learning that center student and community needs. Creative Root​ works to build responsive spaces  to empower young people, educators and intergenerational learners in Chicago with the tools necessary to believe in the power of their own creative voice, to collaborate with others to build strong communities, and to lift up their mind-body-spirit connection. 

During these times of social distancing  due to COVID-19, Creative Root offers remote learning opportunities for children and adults to keep  engaged, connected and creative in their own homes! As part of our mission, Creative Root will incorporate practices of mindfulness and breath into every class session alongside high-quality theatre skills instruction and training.

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Registration for Winter Online Classes Now Open! 

Registration is through our theater box office, so the process will look more like buying a ticket for a show than registering for a class. But we assure you, you’re in the right place! You will select just the START date of your program for the Date and Time, but the registration fee will be for the entirety of the course. Then select "leave my tickets at the box office" at checkout. Please note: there are no discount codes available for Creative Root ​programs at this time. You'll receive further instructions about the class (including your Zoom link, materials needed, and required forms) via email after checking out. Thank you so much for your interest in our online programming!​

Youth Branch

Grab your crayons, put on your dancing shoes and let’s explore! We will get our bodies moving and our imaginations soaring in this super fun, energy-burning movement and art class. Through dance and drawing, we will discover the different ways we can create characters, go on adventures, and tell exciting stories.

10 CLASSES: January 23, 30, February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27
SATURDAYS 9:30-10:15am CST, 45 Minutes Long

Teaching Artist: Jaime Raglow

PROGRAM FEE: $120

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Do you like to have wild dance parties or laugh your head off with your friends? Feeling bored at home, with nothing to do? Are you in the need of some feel-good-fun? This class is sure to spark some joy during these cold winter months. We’ll play theatre games, hold epic dance battles, compete in costume challenges, and make ourselves smile as much as possible every single class.

10 CLASSES: January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28
SUNDAYS 3-3:30pm CST, 30 Minutes Long

Teaching Artist: Dana Murphy

PROGRAM FEE: $100

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Fight the giant, meet the witch, go to the ball, explore the woods, and discover your own creative voice! Once a week, we will leave our ordinary lives behind to step into the shoes of our favorite fairytale characters and become the storytellers of our own tales. In this choose your own adventure format, we’ll use creative storytelling, group movement, music, arts and crafts to bring these stories off the page and into our homes!

10 CLASSES: January 23, 30, February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27
SATURDAYS 10-10:45am CST, 45 Minutes Long

Teaching Artist: Bella Coelho

PROGRAM FEE: $120

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Tired of the same old room you’ve been zooming in? Turn that cardboard box into a pirate ship! Dig through your junk drawer to build a time machine! Transform that old sock into the next Jedi master. Glue and tape your way into a magical new world of your own invention. We’ll build sets, construct puppets, and design props to craft our own epic journeys. The space around us reflects our real life, let’s get creative to make it extraordinary!

10 CLASSES: January 23, 30, February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27
SATURDAYS 11-12pm CST, 60 Minutes Long

Teaching Artist: Micah Figeuroa

PROGRAM FEE: $150

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Is there a musical theatre song you’ve always wanted to perform? Let’s take a deep dive into that dream role and develop the Passion, Power, and Precision required to bring your performance to life by acting the song instead of just singing it. Using character, emotion, and story in both song work and choreography, we will bring all of the fun of the musical theatre stage to your home. 

10 CLASSES: January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28

SUNDAYS 1:30-2:30pm CST, 60 Minutes Long

Teaching Artist: Dana Murphy

PROGRAM FEE: $150

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Adult Series

Ready to let loose your Lucille Ball? Chase your inner Chaplin? No worries, we won’t Buster your Keaton without warming up first! Drawing from the rich history of clowning and physical comedy, we'll develop our sense of play, curiosity, and observation to cultivate joy and laughter in a time when we need it most. 

10 CLASSES: January 23, 30, February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27

SATURDAYS 1-230pm CST, 90 Minutes Long

Teaching Artist: Micah Figueroa 

PROGRAM FEE: $180

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Join us for Dance Contemplaytions, a movement experience in a reflective and supportive environment. We will play a series of dance games, gather observations about physical awareness, and appreciate our authentic expression. Contemplaytions are designed to be self-directed and enjoyed in the company of others. There is no evaluative pressure, it is not skill-based, and above all, the intention is to let loose, have fun and play!

8 CLASSES: February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28

SUNDAYS 10-11:30am CST, 90 Minutes Long

Teaching Artist: Fatima Sowe

PROGRAM FEE: $144

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In a world of screens and social distancing, are you feeling physically disconnected? 

Let’s start off the week by dropping into our bodies through mindful, trauma-informed practices. Explore Tai Chi breathwork, body language vocabulary and psychophysiology to create a personal routine that helps your body speak to you. Walk back into the post quarantine world with confidence, knowing how to treat yourself and others with better listening and greater care.

10 CLASSES: January 25, February 1, 8, 15, 22, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

MONDAYS 630-8pm CST, 90 Minutes Long

Teaching Artist: Micah Figueroa 

PROGRAM FEE: $180

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Ever listen to an audiobook, commercial, radio ad, or movie trailer and think “I could do that!”? Well now you can! In this class we will break down the script, create strong characters, and learn proper microphone technique to develop bold vocal performances.  

10 CLASSES: January 27, February 3, 10, 17, 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Wednesdays 630-730pm CST, 60 Minutes Long

Teaching Artist: Max Fabian 

PROGRAM FEE: $150

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Contact

For questions about Creative Root programming, including  classes, camps, school residencies and community engagement, please contact Mechelle Moe, Director of Creative Root at MMOE1@Depaul.edu. 

Meet the Team

Learn more about the CDD staff and teaching artist team.

2021 Summer Programming

More information about summer programming will be announced this winter. 



     
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