Write Club

The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave., writeclubrules.com
Anchored by the mad villainy of its host, Ian Belknap, this competition-style reading pits writer against writer in a literary cage match: Each participant writes an essay defending one side of an assigned dichotomy (fight versus flight, land versus sea, nice versus naughty) and reads it live onstage. The series, held the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m., attracts an impressive roster of local playwrights, lit types, actors, and comedians, no doubt in it for the money—proceeds from the show’s $10 admission go to a charity chosen by the winner—and eternal bragging rights.