This summer, the NHSI is offering 2 new virtual options for students interested in writing! Both offerings are available to all high school students, 9th-12th grade.

View all the details and application here!

Writing Action with Laura Schellhardt

Summer Session: June 15 – July 5, 2025

What makes a scene active instead of passive? What differentiates dynamic dialogue from banter? How can you create theatre that compels an audience to lean forward instead of sit back? In this course with Northwestern faculty member Laura Schellhardt, writers will pull techniques for creating active theatre from plays, literature, and everyday conversations, and apply those techniques to scenes, one act plays and monologues of their own.

Playwriting Workshop with Ian Merrigan

Summer Session: July 7-11, 2025

Back by popular demand! NHSI Playwriting Faculty Ian Merrigan will guide students through a fast paced, online playwriting process. Email correspondence will begin about a week before the workshop with guided brainstorming assignments and material to read. We will then hit the ground writing and finish our 5-day intensive with a first draft of a 10-minute play. Schedule will include one 60 to 90-minute group Zoom session per day, optional office hours with the instructor for additional feedback and notes, and committed, personal writing time.