Fairy Trials Project
 
Circuit Court of Cook County
Office of the Chief Judge
Public Affairs
69 West Washington Street, 33rd Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60602
(312) 603-1928
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday


 
The Fairy Trials Project is an educational series of live interactive plays that introduce audiences to the court and the legal system. In each of the five Fairy Trials, a classic fairy tale is adapted into a courtroom drama in a modern setting. The audience is challenged to help a judge decide what is fair by examining the facts of the case as well as their own values. There are five Fairy Trials: Rumpelstiltskin v. the Queen, In the Matter of Hansel and Gretel, The Kingdom v. Jack, Little Red Driving Hood and In the Matter of Sleeping Beauty. All five plays were written by Mary Scruggs. The plays are directed by Milissa Pacelli, supervisor of the Public Affairs staff of the Office of the Chief Judge which oversees the Fairy Trials Project.
 
The Fairy Trials are performed at schools, medical facilities, senior centers and park districts. Performances also are given at day camps, arts festivals, youth centers, churches and conferences. In addition to live performances, a video tape of Little Red Driving Hood is available that includes a classroom study guide. It was produced jointly by the court and the Illinois Department of Transportation, which funded the production. A video tape of In the Matter of Sleeping Beauty and a classroom study guide, produced solely by the court, also are available.
 
The Fairy Trials actors are students enrolled in work-study programs at Northwestern University and Columbia College. By substituting work-study students for professional actors, the court has been able to reduce the annual operating cost of the project from approximately $500,000 to $100,000, a substantial savings for Cook County taxpayers.
 
The Fairy Trials are produced on a rotating basis during only the summer semester to accommodate the schedules of the work-study students. The Little Red Driving Hood and In the Matter of Sleeping Beauty videos are available for use throughout the year.
 
For a summary of each Fairy Trial, see Fairy Trials Overview.
 
For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions.

 
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