Sister, Soldier, Self-Preserver: Writing Through Storms (Spring 2021)

Sister, Soldier, Self-Preserver: Writing Through Storms (Spring 2021)

Jun 03 - Jul 15
6:00pm - 9:00pm Central Time

Instructor: Kimberly Dixon-Mays

Apply Here!

A playwright’s choice to write what’s on their mind can feel like choosing between re-living trauma personally, or fulfilling their responsibility as artists. And the workshop experience – so important to developing new work – can amplify this complexity. These dynamics can feel especially true right now, particularly for underrepresented populations.

This workshop is designed for Black playwrights who are Female, Femme identifying, Non-binary, and/or identify as women, to explore strategies for writing, with a balance of both self-care and their own larger artistic mission. Using plays from the Black female canon and elsewhere as inspiration, participants will be guided through discussions and generative exercises to develop new pages. 

This free class is being offered as a part of our Racism and Inequality Free Class Series. Chicago Dramatists is offering this course free-of-charge to up to 8 Black playwrights who are Female, Femme identifying, Non-binary, and/or identify as women. Students will be chosen by a simple application process via the link above.

Tutterow Fellow Kimberly Dixon-Mays is a poet, playwright and performer. She has earned degrees in theater, gender and ethnic studies, and has held teaching assistantships, and attended numerous workshops and residencies. She has seen first-hand how workshop environments of safety and community can be transformative for writers.

Classes will be held via Zoom. Instructors will send out Zoom invites one day before class begins. We encourage students to set up a Zoom account for themselves before class if they have not already to ensure when class begins you are able to jump straight into the art!