Chicago Avenue Project

Since 1996, the Chicago Avenue Project (CAP) has brought local youth together with the Twin Cities’ best adult playwrights, actors, and directors to create and produce original plays. In addition, CAP partners with neighborhood schools providing arts-integrated curriculum.  

During CAP’s day school programming, youth engage in immersive in-role experiences and explore creative expression through scene creation, poetry, and puppet making. Their experience culminates in a celebratory sharing of their work on the Pillsbury House + Theatre stage.  

The after-school program focuses on theatre creation through mentorship. During acting semesters, the young people and their adult acting mentors star in 10-minute plays written just for them by adult playwrights. During playwriting semesters, the young people and their adult playwriting mentors write 10-minute plays that are performed by adult actors. The result is original theatre that is heartwarming, hilarious, and infused with the brilliance of young minds.   

The project is not about teaching youth to perform, though they do learn acting—nor is it about teaching them how to write plays, though they learn that, too. The Chicago Avenue Project gives every child—no matter their circumstances—the opportunity to discover that they have a lot of creativity and value to offer.