Anti-Racism & Inequality Class Series

Chicago Dramatists is working to take action against the inequality that has so firmly established itself in the theatre community with regards to race, gender, sexuality, and ability. We are working every day to improve our own theatre space by providing new opportunities to underrepresented voices while also developing courses to help educate our staff, patrons, and artists in the hopes of creating a wholly inclusive theatre community. To that end, all classes in this series will be offered for free by application. Read below to see what courses we have available in the current term.

You can donate to help support this program by clicking here.


Summer 2022

The Power of Our Stories – An LGBTQIA Workshop
4 Wednesdays 6:00pm – 9:00pm CT
June 29 – July 20
Instructor: Kurt Jolly

Join us in pride month and beyond for the next FREE four week course specifically for queer creators! Workshop your stories with other creators, and gain helpful writing exercises to unlock the power in your storytelling!

Class Description

Join us for a 4 week workshop for Queer creatives that will dive into the power of our stories! Taking the shape from stories in your life, this workshop will guide you with unique writing exercises and activities that will help harness your creative energy and focus individual writing goals. We will also be sharing in a group setting what it is like as queer creatives, and work on becoming a stronger community by sharing our unique stories with each other. In the weeks you will explore what you want to share, create memorable scenes and characters, workshop these writings, and work creatively in a shared safe space for queer creatives.

Teacher Bio

Kurt Jolly (he/him) is a Queer Chicago-based writer, director, and interactive artist. He has a diverse experience in many artistic avenues: art education, on the stage, behind the writing desk, and behind the camera. Like his name, he looks to find the joy and happiness in the world while also acknowledging its darkness. He has a Masters in Education and Leadership, and has studied at the Harold Ramis Film School at The Second City Chicago. One of his comedic pilot screenplays was selected as a semi-finalist in the Teen Movie Contest from Powederkeg (Paul Fieg) and ColorCreative (Issa Rae/Deniese Davis), and his latest short film “GlitterLand” was accepted into various film festivals around the country, and will be featured on ImageUnion TV.

Course Details

Session DatesJun 29
Jul 06, 13, 20
Experience LevelThis course is open to all LGBTQIA+ writers, ranging from beginner to advanced.
Available DiscountsFree Course

This free class is being offered as a part of our Anti-Racism & Inequality Free Class Series, and is part of our continued commitment to stand alongside those fighting for social justice, and against inequality.

In accordance with the instructor’s vision for this course, this class will be open to students who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.


Spring 2022

Telling Your Truth with Comedy (Online)
4 Wednesdays 6:00pm – 9:00pm CT
May 11 – Jun 08
Instructor: Dionna Griffin-Irons

Dive into simple scenic exposition, 4 W’s (Who, What, Where, and Why), and share your creative impulses with a variety of fun, creative risks – including impromptu scenes, creating unforgettable characters, and crafting unapologetic rants from the comfort of your home!

Please note: this class is free. Due to a glitch in the system it may appear in the initial link that it is a paid course. We are working to correct this and appreciate your patience.

Class Description

Telling our truth is one of the bravest acts we can do moment to moment, especially for writers. We need to give ourselves permission to say the thing that we fear so that it has no power over us. –Dionna Griffin-Irons

All writers run up against the fear and doubt that keep us from telling our stories, especially when writing about personal experiences. All too often we play it safe (or don’t play at all!) on the page. We stay in our heads instead of exploring the infinite possibilities of where truth lives – in our bodies and in relation to others.

Telling Your Truth is an immersive online experience that allows writers to experiment with low stakes improvisation and guided peer discussion, to reveal the high stakes truth on the page. Taught by one of Second City’s best mentors, Dionna Griffin-Irons’ TYT delves into simple scenic exposition, 4 W’s (Who, What, Where and Why), as writers share their creative impulses with a variety of fun, creative risks – including impromptu scenes, creating unforgettable characters, and crafting unapologetic rants from the comfort of their home!

Breaking the pattern of solo writing, writers will interact and connect in a variety of exercises that fuel memory, truth, and spontaneity. Classes consist of lectures, personal storytelling, writing prompts, and weekly discussion of excerpts from favorite contemporary writers and satirists. A portion of class time is devoted to experiential discovery from improvisation with peers. Interactive breakout rooms will be used for peer-to-peer feedback and improvised exercises.

Teacher Bio

Dionna Griffin-Irons is a multifaceted producer, writer, and advocate for Diversity and Inclusion. Her work has been instituted at the legendary Second City comedy theatre in the U.S. and Canada. As a Second City Detroit alumna with 20+ years of experience as a performer, producer, and facilitator, Dionna has taught 200+ workshops at colleges, women’s shelters, corporate boardrooms and worked with the United States Embassy in Norway and Latvia introducing improv as a tool for social change. Her inclusion work has appeared in Diversity Journal publication, on NPR, ABC, NBC, and American Theatre magazine (2019) along with numerous academic posts including a 2015 TEDx at the University of Chicago. Her 2014 published work can be found in Rowan/Littlefield’s anthology “Women, Writing and Prison”. @dionnagironsdionnagriffinirons.blog

Course Details

Session DatesMay 11, 18, 25
Jun 08
NO CLASS ON JUN 01
Experience LevelBeginner, Intermediate, Advanced
NotesApplications due Apr 30 at 5:00pm CT.
APPLY NOW

This free class is being offered as a part of our Anti-Racism & Inequality Free Class Series, and is part of our continued commitment to stand alongside those fighting for social justice, and against inequality.

In accordance with the instructor’s vision for this course, this class will be open to students of diverse, multicultural backgrounds, including students who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, those who are Deaf/disabled, and folks who are committed as white allies, with top preference given to underrepresented voices.

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