The Theatre School > Creative Root

Creative Root

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Dream Grow Thrive

​​​At Creative Root, we do a lot of growing.

You can think of us as a mighty forest.

​Filled with magic, wonder, and a whole lot of characters.

But a forest isn’t a forest without its trees.

Every single one, no matter how big or small, rambunctious or quiet, plays an important part in the forest’s special power.

Which is why we believe that to grow strong as a community, we have to take care of everyone,
so every tree, every seed, and every flower, can become their best, silliest, most creative self.

We’re gonna move our bodies.

We’re gonna use our imaginations.

And we’re gonna get growing! ​

The Theatre School's newly launched Creative Root education 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. 

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Join us for Creative Root's Summer Camp!

Creative Root is offering  in-person summer camp experiences this year exploring the worlds of Oz! and Neverland! Each session will dive into these classic worlds and the characters that inhabit them while learning about the tools of theater! Our first week, we'll work on ensemble building through theater games and exercises while we also create our own theatrical adaptation of the story. Our second week, we'll bring our story to life through rehearsals and design elements focusing on props, costumes and shaping what our world looks like. Each experience is unique to its ensemble and how they envision their story together. Our in-person camp will have a compilation of scenes and photos/video of day-to-day camp life that the ensemble would like to highlight.  There will be NO in-person performances this year due to Covid restrictions. All culminating projects will be recorded and shared with families after the conclusion of each camp session.

In-Person camps will be held at The Theatre School, or outside on the its Lincoln Park DePaul Campus with reserved spaces. In-Person camps will follow DePaul's Covid guidelines including masks and social distancing protocols. For more information on our Covid guidelines, follow this link:  https://resources.depaul.edu/coronavirus/guidance/health-safety-practices/Pages/default.aspx​

Please note that registration for our online camps has closed. 

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 programming!

SESSION ONE: OZ! 

Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my! Grab onto the tail of a twister this summer, and let it whisk you away to one of literature’s most wonderous places—The Land of Oz! Campers will trek down the yellow brick road —from Munchkinland to the Emerald City—embodying some of L. Frank Baum’s most beloved characters!

Ages 6-9 and Ages 10-14, Drop off 9:15am, Pick up 2:45pm
(Due to holiday, this camp session starts on Tuesday. No before or after care will be offered this year)
$600 (Early Bird, ends June 1st); $625 (Full Price)

Sprouts (Ages 6-9) – 9:15am - 2:45pm
Teaching Artist: Liv Shine
Group limited to 12 students, masks and social distancing will be required
SIGN UP FOR SPROUTS  

Sprigs (Ages 10-14)— 9:15am - 2:45pm (REGISTRATION CLOSED FOR AGES 10-14)
Teaching Artist: Jaime Raglow
Group limited to 12 students, masks and social distancing will be required
SIGN UP FOR SPRIGS  

SESSION TWO: NEVERLAND! (July 19-30)

Take the second star to the right and head straight until morning and you'll land on the isle of  Never Never Land—where the boundaries of imagination don't exist, and adventures are never far between. As you trek from the Maze of Regrets to the Croc's Grotto, create new stories inspired by J.M. Barrie's most famous characters—from Peter & The Lost Boys to Hook & Tinkerbell—or even make up new ones along the way!

Ages 6-9 and Ages 10-14, Drop off 9:15am, Pick up 2:45pm
(No before or after care will be offered this year)
$600 (Early Bird, ends June 1st); $650 (Full Price)

Sprouts (Ages 6-9), 915-245pm
Group limited to 12 students, masks and social distancing will be required
Teaching Artist: Jaime Raglow
SIGN UP FOR SPROUTS  

Sprigs (Ages 10-14), 915-245pm
Group limited to 12 students, masks and social distancing will be required
Teaching Artist: Liv Shine
SIGN UP FOR SPRIGS  

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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.

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