Our Education Mission
Bramble Education seeks to provide theatremakers with the tools to find and develop their own artistic voice. By offering a wide variety of classes and instructors, we empower students to direct their energy toward the skills and experiences that most inspire them. Our educators promote collaboration between diverse artists, exploration of new ideas and techniques, accessibility, and ensemble building. We strive for all of our students to continuously hone their skills, thrive in ensemble environments, and enrich the larger theatre community.
Bramble Education Program
UPCOMING CLASSES
All classes take place at the Bramble Arts Loft (located at 5545 N. Clark Street, 2nd Floor in Andersonville) unless noted otherwise.
New Play Dramaturgy
July 2 to 30, 2025 on Wednesdays 7-10pm and Saturdays 12-3pm (no class July 5)
$349
Deadline to register: June 30, 2025
Taught by Bramble ensemble member Dan Washelesky
From the first draft to a locked script, new plays often go through a tumultuous journey. In this process, a new play dramaturg seeks to provide the playwright with clarity, support, and constructive criticism in order to help them write the best version of their play. Through a mix of theoretical discussion and practical application, this course prepares students to serve as a developmental dramaturg, providing them with a philosophy of new play dramaturgy, tools for script analysis, and strategies for building a productive relationship with playwrights.
No prior experience necessary. This class is ideal for emerging to mid-career dramaturgs as well as directors, playwrights, actors, and other theatremakers with an interest in the new play development process.
Payment plans are available upon request.
Questions? Email education@brambletheatre.org.
Dan Washelesky (they/he) is a Chicago-based director, dramaturg, playwright, theatre administrator, and teaching artist. They completed their M.A. in Theatre and Performance Studies at Washington University in St. Louis. Dan is the Managing Director of Bramble Theatre Company and previously served as Managing Director at The Passage Theatre, Director of New Play Development at Valiant Theatre, and Head of Dramaturgy at First Run Theatre. He has served as developmental dramaturg on two plays by Rajiv Joseph (Dakar 2000 at Manhattan Theatre Club and Describe the Night at Steppenwolf Theatre). Other credits include: Steppenwolf Theatre (The Children, The Rembrandt, Lindiwe, workshop of La Ruta), Paramount Theatre (An Act of God), Bramble Theatre Company (Evil Perfect, Festival of Unfinished Work), Silk Road Cultural Center & Stage Center Theatre (Black Bear Island), The Passage Theatre (The Miscellany, Happy Birthday Mars Rover, Spirits to Enforce), Valiant Theatre (First Called, The Reverend Dr. Paul(i) Murray), Pride Arts Center (Dex & Abby, Afterglow), Eclectic Full Contact Theatre (Richard III), St. Louis Actors’ Studio (Blackbird), and First Run Theatre (Prometheus’ Dream, Bird’s Nest).
What people are saying about Dan…
“My favorite element of the class was how “salon”-style the class was structured. We were dealing with subject matter that can be very theoretical, so hearing everyone’s different points of view and how they were interpreting the information really made things leap off the page. It made the overall feeling much more collaborative than a simple lecture. There was so much information that I’ve already begun incorporating into daily practice, but I think my biggest take away was feeling so much more directionally intentional when it comes to new play development.”
“I had the absolute best time collaborating with Dan on a reading of my play at Bramble Theatre Co - I was NOT confident about the script going into rehearsals, and he helped me shape and polish it into a play I’m now incredibly proud of. He’s such a talented dramaturg, any playwright would be lucky to work with him!”
“I can’t imagine writing my plays without Dan Washelesky’s insights. His keen instinct for storytelling and structure is unmatched.”
“Dan Washelesky’s Dramaturgy Class is a MUST for theatre makers! In addition to demystifying the often intimidating umbrella of dramaturgy, Dan focuses on the art of giving feedback with curiosity and encouragement, and without ego. As a director and choreographer, my natural instinct is to offer ideas and solve problems. This class allowed me to intentionally practice taming that instinct in order to support the creative voice and exploration of the playwright. It was an invaluable experience, and I am a better theatre maker and collaborator because of it.”
Introduction to Playwriting with Alex Lubischer
June 2 to July 28, 2025, Mondays from 7-10pm
SOLD OUT - if you’re interested in being the first to know about future classes, please email education@brambletheatre.org
Due to popular demand, we have added an additional class this summer on Mondays starting June 2. Only two slots remaining!
Through a series of weekly writing exercises inspired by the freshest, most inventive plays of the 21st Century, aspiring playwrights will add skills to their storytelling tool belt while writing the first act of a full-length play. Students in the workshop will study plays by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Annie Baker, Rajiv Joseph, and Alistair McDowall—to name a few—paired with storytelling theory from Sarah Ruhl, Zadie Smith, Simon Stephens, and more. The course asks writers to read like thieves, not like academics: does the play move you? Could you use this structure/technique in your own plays? What is your play doing to its audience? How?
This class is ideal for brand new playwrights: folks who have never written a play but want to try and who have a love of writing. It's also great for beginning-to-emerging playwrights who have written a play or two but have yet to receive a rigorous education in the craft of playwriting. Theatre artists in other disciplines (directors, actors) who want to try their hand at playwriting have also loved this class.
Alex Lubischer is a queer Midwestern writer, born and raised on a farm in Nebraska. He holds an MFA in Playwriting from Yale. He lives by the lake in Chicago with his dog. His plays include BOBBIE CLEARLY (Roundabout Theatre Company, Steep Theatre, Jeff Award Winner: Outstanding New Play), PIVOT (Yale School of Drama, GPTC New Play Conference 2024), YOU DESERVE TO BE HERE (Goodman Playwrights Unit commission; Roundabout Theatre Laura Pels commission, The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting - Longlist), DO WASPS HAVE DESIRES? (Milwaukee Repertory Theater), WEIRD KIDS (Haven Chicago), THE QUONSETS (Yale Cabaret, co-written with Majkin Holmquist), and SURVEY NO. 5 (House of International Theatre, Copenhagen). Lubischer was the 2017/18 Tow Foundation Playwright-in-Residence at Roundabout Theatre Company. He has developed new work at Playwrights Horizons, Atlantic Theater Company, Page 73, The Orchard Project, SPACE on Ryder Farm, Victory Gardens Theater, First Floor Theater, The Understudy, and Actors Theatre of Louisville. He has been a semifinalist for the P73 Playwriting Fellowship and a three-time finalist for the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference. He teaches playwriting at DePaul University and the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.