PLAYBUILD YOUTH INTENSIVE

A FREE four-week theater intensive for students at the Goodman

About the Program ▼

Program Dates ▼

How to Apply ▼

Past Performances ▼

The Goodman’s PlayBuild Youth Intensive is an entirely FREE, four-week program for 14 to 18-year-old students in the Chicago metropolitan area committed to pushing the bounds of creativity, storytelling and performance in theater arts. Held at the Goodman, this program gives students the opportunity to learn a wide range of skills from local industry professionals and devise an original theater production created by the PlayBuild ensemble.

PlayBuild immerses students in the building blocks of live storytelling and performance, refining their skills in:

• Acting
• Playwriting/Creative Writing
• Improv
• Physical Theatre
• Ensemble Work

Designed to validate the voices of its participants, PlayBuild teaches students how to examine their own potential for creativity and use their training to cultivate works of art that emphasizes the importance of civic responsibility and social change.

Program Dates

The 2025 session of PlayBuild will run Mondays through Fridays from 9:30am-5pm at Goodman Theatre. The program begins on Monday, June 23 and will culminate with a final performance on Monday, July 21.

How to Apply

Auditions for the PlayBuild Youth Intensive will take place on Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13 at the Goodman Theatre located at 170 N. Dearborn St.

Each applicant must participate in the following as part of their audition:

· Group Audition

· Wild Card Audition

A group audition is a process in which multiple people perform together (no preparation necessary). A wild card audition is an opportunity to showcase your personality or share something about yourself with the adjudicators. This might include, but is not limited to acting, dancing, juggling, playing an instrument, reciting an original poem, performing a short story, showcasing your favorite hobby and beyond.

Come prepared to move, collaborate with others and take creative risks!

To apply, please fill out the audition form using the link below.

2025 Playbuild Application

Applications close on Friday, March 28.

Please email summerprograms@goodmantheatre.org for future inquires.