Act/Write is in it's 7th year as a collaboration between Free Street and the Fiction Writing department at Columbia College Chicago, under the auspices of the Office of Community Arts Partnerships (OCAP) at Columbia.Free Street has used theater practices to successfully generate material in a wide range of programs over the last 35 years. Fiction Writing Department teachers are trained in speaking and writing exercises drawing upon the acclaimed Story Workshop approach originated by John Schultz.

Our primary goals as collaborators are to improve oral and written skills of students, find a hybrid of our two philosophies, create a book of writing and student photography, and find joy in our work.


Act/Write Books
Creation Irritable ©2005
The Few, The Proud, The Strange ©2004
Odanrot ©2003
Split Second ©2002
Shape of a Shadow ©2001
Eaten by the Desk Monster ©2000

The Act/Write program is funded in part by the Illinois State Board of Education's 21st Century Community Learning Center Program, Bank One, and Learn and Serve America. Act/Write is a partnership of the Office of Community Partnerships at Columbia College Chicago and the Chicago Public Schools in collaboration with Free Street and the Fiction Writing Department of Columbia College Chicago.