Our Workshops

Dear Viola Project Friends,

Autumn has flown by! We were so impressed with your portrayals of foreboding and vindictive ghosts, the complex characters of King Lear and your work in A Shakespeare Family Christmas! We cannot wait to share our new series of workshops exploring Shakespeare's world with you. We hope you'll join us for daring swordplay, transforming movement, a live performance of Taming of the Shrew, Will's birthday party and our annual moms and daughters workshop. We are excited to see you in 2012!

Workshop in action

Take one workshop or all five!

  1. Early bird discounts are available from December 5th-December 15th
  2. Sign up for all five workshops for $300 (a $375 value)
  3. Sign up for an individual workshop for $75

Note: Taming of the Shrew workshop includes a ticket to Chicago Shakes

All workshops will be held at City Lit, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr from 10am-4pm.

We can't wait to make theatre with you!

Signing up early helps us run a great
workshop.  The early bird discount is
our way of saying thanks!

Announcing Our Winter/spring Season

By the Sword / Fight!

Jan 21st 10am-4pm
Fight for honor, for survival, or just for fun with this one-day workshop on Shakespeare's most contentious characters. Learn the basic techniques of stage combat and use them safely in scenes from your favorite action-packed plays. Punch, pull, strike and stab... create the illusion of vicious conflict while working in perfect harmony.

Style and Status

Feb 11th 10am-4pm
What does it mean to walk in Richard III's shoes? How do you move as a mischievous sprite or a stubborn mortal? Find out how to put the word to the action and the action to the word in this day long workshop exploring transformation and physicality.

Taming of the Shrew with Chicago Shakes

(Sold Out)

March 10th 10:30am-4:30pm
Kate is a shrew: strong willed, opinionated, and kind of violent. Petruchio is a player: lewd, crude and out to snag a rich wife. When they meet, it's hate at first sight! Join the Viola Project and Chicago Shakespeare for a raucous round of boys vs. girls. We'll start the day with CST's Short Shakespeare production of "The Taming of the Shrew" down at Navy Pier, then head back up to City Lit to create our own version! Workshop price includes ticket and transportation. Drop off will be at Navy Pier, pick up will be at City Lit!

Bardic Birthday Bash

April 21st 10am-4pm
Love the plays? It's time to thank the playwright! Join the Viola Project for a celebration of William Shakespeare's 448th birthday! We'll get together a birthday package to send to Stratford, England and work on your favorite characters, sonnets and songs. There will be cake!

Moms of Avon III

May 12 12pm-4pm
Mothers and daughters, acting together! Our hit event is back for a third year! Celebrate the Saturday before Mother's day with a unique bonding experience- a half-day, just-the-girls Shakespeare workshop. Price of workshop includes both mother and daughter.