Criss Henderson

Read the full list of 2024 Drama League Nominations! Nominations include Cabaret, Merrily We Roll Along and more.

Chicago Shakespeare is welcoming new artistic and executive leadership, who are set to bring fresh ideas, innovation, and creativity to the theater scene. Prepare to be amazed by the exciting changes happening at Chicago Shakespeare.

As summer comes to a close, many regional theaters are preparing to get their new seasons started - for many, this season still carries with it a lot of risk - some of the shows in their season are still shows they had intended to do at some point during the pandemic, and segments of the audience are still hesitant to return to their seats.

Criss Henderson, who has steered Chicago Shakespeare Theater from a fledgling start-up theater in 1990 through 33 years of expansive growth, award-winning productions, and nationally recognized education and community engagement programming, has announced that he will be stepping down from his executive director role at the end of 2022.

The Lucky Star, produced by Douglas Denoff & Beth Goldsmith, The Directors Company, and 59E59 Theaters will conclude its limited engagement on Sunday, June 12 as originally planned. The production began previews on April 26, 2022, and opened May 5, 2022 in Theatre A. 

Find out this year's nominees and winners for Drama League Awards. The 2022 Awards will recognize eligible Broadway and Off-Broadway (non-virtual only) productions that began preview performances between March 16, 2021, and April 23, 2022.

The Drama League today announced the 2022 Drama League Awards Nominees and we've got all the nominations for for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, Outstanding Direction of a Play, Outstanding Direction of a Musical, and the much-coveted Distinguished Performance Award.

Thirty-six years after founding Chicago Shakespeare Theater and paving the way for the Tony Award-winning company to become one of the nation’s leading theaters, Barbara Gaines has announced her plan to step down as Artistic Director in 2023.

The League of Chicago Theatres shared today that a growing coalition of more than 65 performing arts venues and producers across Chicagoland have agreed upon Covid-19 Vaccination and Mask Requirements for audiences through the end of 2021.

New York Theatre Barn will host a free live stream of the 30th installment of its virtual New Works Series on Wednesday, November 18th, 2020 at 7PM EDT, featuring excerpts from the new musicals It Came From Outer Space and Broken Ground.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced today that Brooke Flanagan, who previously worked at Steppenwolf for seven years, will return to the organization in the role of Executive Director and will become the first woman to hold the title in Steppenwolf's 45-year history.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces today the cast and creative team for the North American Premiere production of The King's Speech, beginning September 12 in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare. Writer David Seidler brings the remarkable true story that inspired the Academy Award-winning film back to the stage in a new production of the play, directed by Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award-winner Michael Wilson. Following the play's North American premiere in Chicago, the production is slated for engagements at other theaters across the country.

The fan-favorite musical SIX, about the six ex-wives of Henry VIII, has taken London by storm, and is now playing its U.S. debut in Chicago before heading to Cambridge, Massachusetts' A.R.T. Is Broadway next for this show?

Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, and Boeing partner to present the annual citywide summer tradition, Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks.

 Chicago Shakespeare Theater brings together 300 high school students and their teacher coaches from 40 public, private, and parochial schools across the region for this year's Chicago Shakespeare Slam. A series of Saturday workshops and regional preliminary bouts throughout the fall culminate in a spirited, fun-filled Final Bout on Monday, December 10 at 6:00 p.m. on the stage of The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare. Emcees warm up the crowd and an onstage DJ drops beats as nine teams perform, cheered on by a full house of fellow participants, classmates, and friends.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announced today that after 20 years of service to the Theater, Director of Audience Development Alida Szabo will be stepping down from her role at the end of the year.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater  announces the highly anticipated return of the raucous and irreverent holiday tradition Q Brothers Christmas Carolto The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, November 20-December 30, 2018.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents Big in Belgium-Chicago, a series of three acclaimed theatrical events representing the next wave of boundary-pushing European theater. Featured productions include a sweeping tribute to 2,500 years of oration, an engaging examination of free will-and the manipulation of it-in political elections, and a chilling look at tragedy and terror through the eyes of children. Curated by Chicago Shakespeare, Richard Jordan Productions, and David Bauwens, Big in Belgium-Chicago will be presented in the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare, beginning with BigMouth on September 12, 2018. All Big in Belgium productions are performed in English.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents Big in Belgium-Chicago, a series of three acclaimed theatrical events representing the next wave of boundary-pushing European theater. Featured productions include a sweeping tribute to 2,500 years of oration, an engaging examination of free will-and the manipulation of it-in political elections, and a chilling look at tragedy and terror through the eyes of children. Curated by Chicago Shakespeare, Richard Jordan Productions, and David Bauwens, Big in Belgium-Chicago will be presented in the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare, beginning with BigMouth on September 12, 2018. All Big in Belgium productions are performed in English.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces the cast for the North American premiere of Jessica Swale's exuberant new comedy Nell Gwynn, September 20-November 4, 2018. The music- and dance-filled play took London audiences by storm when it debuted at Shakespeare's Globe, followed by a celebrated run on the West End. Director of the original London production, Christopher Luscombe, helms the new Chicago Shakespeare production. Star of Broadway and the West End Scarlett Strallen appears as Nell; Chicago leading actor Timothy Edward Kane performs the role of King Charles II.