Children's Creative Process at the Heart of Creativity Workshop Sponsored by Creative Education Foundation.

CHICAGO -- You've said it before. "Think outside the box." We've all said it a hundred times. The phrase is said so often, that using it is an indication that you're no longer, well, thinking outside the box. Essentially, it means to look at something from a perspective outside your normal scope. Much easier said than done.

That's why the Creative Education Foundation is collaborating with Child's Play Touring Theatre to host "Creating From Scratch," a workshop on the creative process on Wednesday, November 17, 2004. Chicago-based Child's Play Touring Theatre will be on hand to demonstrate their unique approach to creating and adapting children's theatre right on the spot as well as give a child's perspective on creativity.

"Children are creative engines," says Child's Play director, Darrell Barber. "We work with kids everyday and I'm always amazed at their open, honest, unencumbered ability to problem solve. It's a game for them. Child's Play has developed exercises to make writing fun and engaging for children. Now, as an adult, if you can find the fun in the creative process then problem solving becomes invigorating and not stressful. Our goal with this workshop is to get creative and to laugh a lot."

"This workshop has a wide range of appeal because these techniques have a multitude of applications," says CEF member, Doug Stevenson. "It's not just for writers or actors or artists of any kind. Business people will have the opportunity to, not only learn new strategies for creating, but also network with some of the most creative people in Chicago. And on top of all that, it's for a great cause."

"Creating From Scratch" will take place Wednesday, November 17, 2004 from 7:00pm to 10:30pm at Rhythm Chicago located at 1108 W. Randolph Street.

The cost is a $25 tax-deductible donation.

Register by emailing [e-mail].

The event is limited to 120 registrations and proceeds will benefit a nonprofit, Child's Play Touring Theatre.

Chicago CEF: The Creative Education Foundation is an international organization, which promotes applied imagination by educating about creativity, creative problem solving, ideation, innovation and team building. For over 50 years CEF has hosted the most distinguished and longest running creativity conference in the world, the annual CPSI (Creative Problem Solving Institute) meeting. CPSI 2005 in St. Paul, Minnesota is in its planning stages now -plan on being there (www.cpsiconference.com). Since its founding by Alex Osborn, the creator of "brainstorming," it has fulfilled its mission by bringing creative process insight and enhanced imagination to people, organizations, business and cultures the world over. Chicago's CEF Affiliate was formed recently to do creative programming in our town, and has had several events, including recent Juice on the Loose and Catch Creativity events held at Catalyst Ranch, DePaul University, and the Chicago Cultural Center. Our Adopt-a-School program matches corporate ideation consultants with local schools to bring deliberate creative process into the educational system.

See www.creativeeducationfoundation.org

Child's Play Touring Theatre: This year Child's Play celebrates 25 years of serving and fostering the creativity of children. An award-winning ensemble, which tours the U.S., they also focus on Chicago Public schools where children are most at risk. Through their creative writing and theatre workshops, Child's Play has helped thousands of children tap their creativity, find their voice and put their lives and their unique stories on the written page. The company then creates theatrical, musical pieces out of these very personal, often comical and sometimes poignant stories, bringing them to life on stage to the delight of audiences of children and adults across the country. Countless lives have been transformed and many wells of creativity would not have been tapped were it not Child's Play.

See www.cptt.org

For information: www.creativeeducationfoundation.org or contact Gregg Fraley at [e-mail].

For information: www.cptt.org or contact June Podagrosi at [e-mail]

Phone: [phone]