The CTU Strike is OVER!

The Chicago Teachers Union announced on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012 that they have voted to end their strike. Therefore, students are expected to report to their schools and attend all classes on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. This includes the Advanced Arts Education Program at Gallery 37! We're looking forward to seeing you all in class! By the way, Sept. 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Here's a link to help you: http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html. Read up me hearties! Yo ho!

Walgreens Expressions

Congratulations to Tyler, an AdvancedArts honors theatre arts student! Tyler was one of 6 Walgreens Expressions Finalists for Illinois and won 2nd place for his poem on HIV/AIDS titled "The Circle of Life/Death." We're SO very proud!

Tyler discussd his inspiration for the piece in the winter 2011 issue of True Star magazine. Click below to read the article on page 43:

http://issuu.com/angeldamico/docs/tswinter2011

This is the second year in a row that the theatre class has had a finalist in this category. Last year the class also has a finalist in the video category as well.

Great job!

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Okay, so the "holiday" season may be over, but Valentine's Day is just around the corner and it's the start of Chinese New Year, so maybe this picture is being posted just in time!

Our annual Winter Showcase was held in December and all of our students did a fabulous job. The theatre students performed an original short play titled "The Spirit of Christmas." All of the students contributed to the writing of the script and its production.

"The Spirit of Christmas" takes a comedic look at the holiday season and its emphasis on gift-giving rather than the true meaning of the holidays - being with loved ones, sharing with one another, and appreciating life's little pleasures. The main character, Girl, gets hit on the head at a store as she fights with other customers over a television. In her unconsciousness, she ends up seeing Santa and his broken sleigh. Rudolph's nose stopped lighting up, so a new South Pole reindeer, Joswe, has to guide the sleigh. Although Joswe doesn't speak English, he has a G.P.S., so they'll get to where they need to go. However, Santa's elves need to help get the sleigh moving, which they reluctantly do once The Spirit of Christmas, a fairy-like character, convinces them to assist Santa so the wishes of little girls and boys all over the world can be answered. When Girl awakes, she tries to explain to everyone she sees that the stuff at stores isn't important. Of course, they think she's crazy and a granny walks off with the last 52" TV.

Congrats to all for another fabulous production!