I’ve been thinking a lot about the fact that for young adults out there who

A scene from The House Theatre's hit 2007 show, The Sparrow.

 really enjoy theatre, but who might want to see more stories on stage featuring characters like them, there aren’t a ton of options.  Sure, there are children’s theatre companies (and the best children’s theatre is inventive, depthful, whimsical, and true – theatre that all ages can enjoy), and there are a few theatre companies peppered throughout Chicago (like The House Theatre) producing shows for adults and teens alike.  There are even initiatives like Steppenwolf For Young Adults, a program that gives teens a chance to work with professional theatre artists and attend performances of books adapted to the stage.  If you look hard enough there are definitely some cool and exciting theatrical goings-on for young adults out there. 

But that’s the thing: You have to look hard.  I wonder why there aren’t more stage characters who are like Frankie Landau Banks or Marcus (a/k/a W1n5t0n) from Little Brother?  I wonder why there aren’t more stories for young adults on stage as true to freshman year life as Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, as epic and dangerous as A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray, or as inventive and bold as Uglies by Scott Westerfeld?

I’m thinking hard on this because I realized that two of my favorite plays – Stone Cold Dead Serious by Adam Rapp and Four by Christopher Shinn – do tell stories that feature teens as main characters and are as moving, humorous, and compelling as any of the great YA novels we have in The Loft.  And then I realized that there are a lot of excellent YA-plays like these across the drama universe, but it’s rare to find them all in the same place. 

So what if we collected a stack of the best modern (and classic) YA-themed plays at The Loft?  Plays like The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow by

A scene from Jenny Chow.

 Rolin Jones, a play about an 18 year old adopted from China who builds a flying cyborg that she sends to China to find her birth parents?  Beyond being great reads, maybe you’ll want to suggest a few of them to your school theatre department for production or use scenes for acting team.

If there are any plays you think we should have in our (maybe) collection email me - jdapier@cityofevanston.org.   

(Btw - There’s one almost entirely teen-run theatre company in Chicago that is devoted to producing original pieces of theatre written and performed by teens.  It’s called Albany Park Theatre Project and their work is roofless, intense, and stun-stun-stunning.  I only didn’t mention them because I’m saving it for another post.  Stay tuned!).

-Jarrett

Today, Thursday, January 3,  in the Loft: 

Chainmaille Workshop at 12:30!

High School Teen Advisory Board (TAB) meets at 4 pm.

Kick off the new year with these events in the Loft!

Wednesday, January 2 @ 4:30pm: Knitting Workshop
Start the new year by learning a new craft and helping others! We’ll show you how to knit and we will make a baby blanket to donate to Evanston Hospital. There will be a follow-up workshop Wed. January 9 at 4:30.

Thursday, January 3 @ 12:30pm: Chainmaille Workshop
Back by popular demand! Spend some time making cool chainmaille creations.

Friday, January 4 @ 3:00pm: Nintendo Wii and Guitar Hero
Drop-in between 3:00 and 5:00 to play our Wii and PS2!!

Relax in a bean bag chair in the Loft on Saturday (Dec 29) at 2 pm for a screening of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.

When Captain Jack gets taken literally to the end of the world, Will, Elizabeth and Captain Barbossa band together to bring him back in this fun filled adventure. The crew must then employ the help of the nine pirate lords in a final stand against Beckett, Davy Jones and the East India Trade.

And check out our line-up of cool programs next week during winter break! Knitting, Chainmaille, High School TAB, and more gaming!

Wii will rock you over winter break!

Guitar Hero III  and Nintendo Wii in the Loft, Friday, Dec 28, 3-5:30 pm.

and…pull up a bean bag chair for:

Saturday afternoon (Dec 29) movie in the Loft at 2 pm: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.

Evanston teens display their fabulous chainmaille creations at the workshop in the Loft on Saturday, December 8. Thanks to Emma and Ruth for helping to plan and lead this fun and successful event!

For more ideas and patterns, check out this book on Chain Mail Jewelry, by Terry Taylor and David Whyte (Lark, 2006).

Also, check out our programs page for other cool programs, like the Manga: Inking and Toning Workshop and the Knitting Workshop, both on January 2nd!

   What do Beowulf and The Loft have in common?

Chainmaille! (also spelled chainmail, chain mail, and chain maille)

Don’t miss the chainmaille workshop in the Loft this Saturday, December 8, at 2 pm, led by Emma (see her cool creations below). There are limited spaces, so hurry and register at (847) 448-8625! Make holiday gifts for your friends or indulge yourself. Grades 6-12 only!

Leave the workshop with a stretchy chainmaille bracelet or a key chain! Supplies provided.