Barbara Gaines News

The Q Brothers' Othello: The Remix, presented by John Leguizamo, written, composed and directed by GQ and JQ and developed with Rick Boynton, will play its final performance on Sunday, January 15th, 2017.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the cast and creative team for the world premiere of The Book of Joseph, a new play by award-winning playwright Karen Hartman chronicling three generations of the Hollander family in a sweeping story that spans history from occupied Poland to present-day America. Directed by CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and developed with Creative Producer Rick Boynton, The Book of Joseph debuts in the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare, January 29-March 5, 2017.

Alison C. Vesely, Artistic Director and Co-Founder of First Folio Theatre, passed away Friday at the age of 59 of ovarian cancer.

The Chicago Premiere of playwright Matty Selman's "Uncle Philip's Coat" will run at the Greenhouse Theater Center (2257 N. Lincoln Ave) Nov. 27 - Dec. 31. Directed by Elizabeth Margoliusand starring Gene Weygandt (best known as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in "Wicked" in Chicago and on Broadway), "Uncle Philip's Coat" follows Matty on his humorous and heartfelt journey of personal discovery, sparked by his inheritance of a tattered coat from his eccentric Russian-Jewish immigrant uncle Philip. 

Shakespeare 400 Chicago, the yearlong festival marking the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death, will wrap up a dynamic year of programming with a full calendar of events in December, having inspired an estimated 1.1 million people to take part in 863 events at 231 locations across the city of Chicago.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the cast and creative team for the Chicago premiere of Mike Bartlett's new West End and Broadway sensation King Charles III, directed by Gary Griffin as part of the Theater's 30th Anniversary Season.

Greenhouse Theater Center will continue its popular Solo Celebration! series with the Chicago premiere of UNCLE PHILIP'S COAT, Matty Selman's hilarious and heartbreaking show about a Jewish man's search for his place in his family's history, starring veteran Broadway and Chicago actor and three-time Jeff Award-winner Gene Weygandt.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) joins forces with Chicago Youth Shakespeare (CYS) to engage 350 high school students from 40 public, private and parochial schools across the region in the first annual Battle of the Bard (BOTB)-inaugurated as part of the yearlong Shakespeare 400 Chicago.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the debut of a new collaboration with acclaimed artistic collective one step at a time like this entitled undreamed shores, a solo pedestrian micro-journey along Navy Pier. The coincidence of Shakespeare's legacy celebration, Shakespeare 400 Chicago, and Navy Pier's Centennial Anniversary in 2016 has inspired CST's third partnership with the Melbourne-based artists, who astonished audiences and critics alike with the large-scale urban journeys Since I Suppose (2014) and en route (2011). Now shifting their focus to a walk along the Theater's home on the shores of Lake Michigan, the new commission takes the shape of a contemplative voyage led by a voice-guided soundscape, which explores the possibility of discovering new perspectives in our everyday world. Specially crafted to be enjoyed by one person at a time, undreamed shores premieres in a limited engagement, October 7-23, 2016-with availability for only 200 travelers.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) names Deborah Vandergift to the newly created position of General Manager.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the cast and creative team for the Chicago premiere of Mike Bartlett's new West End and Broadway sensation King Charles III, directed by Gary Griffin as part of the Theater's 30th Anniversary Season.

The Chicago Premiere of playwright Matty Selman's "Uncle Philip's Coat" will run at the Greenhouse Theater Center (2257 N. Lincoln Ave) Nov. 27 - Dec. 31. Directed by Elizabeth Margoliusand starring Gene Weygandt (best known as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in "Wicked" in Chicago and on Broadway), "Uncle Philip's Coat" follows Matty on his humorous and heartfelt journey of personal discovery, sparked by his inheritance of a tattered coat from his eccentric Russian-Jewish immigrant uncle Philip. 

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) culminates Artistic Director Barbara Gaines' Tug of War with Civil Strife, where family divisions launch a country into civil war through Shakespeare's Henry VI, Parts 2 and 3 and into his notorious tragedy Richard III.

The Old Globe presents the world premiere of Steve Martin's new play METEOR SHOWER, an adult comedy, marking his welcome return to the Globe following the great success of Bright Star. It will be directed by Gordon Edelstein in a co-production with Long Wharf Theatre, where Edelstein serves as Artistic Director (and no, he is not related to Barry).

This past week I saw two different musicals that have taken their inspiration from classic Jane Austen novels and, while completely different in size and scale, both have considerable merits. The first is in San Diego where Paul Gordon's to-die-for new musical SENSE AND SENSIBILITY is gracing the stage at The Old Globe.

The Old Globe presents the West Coast premiere of Paul Gordon's delightfully romantic new musical SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, developed with Rick Boynton and presented in association with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, where it was commissioned and had its world premiere in April 2015. CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines returns to the show as director of the Globe production. SENSE AND SENSIBILITY will play now through August 14, 2016 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Old Globe presents the West Coast premiere of Paul Gordon's delightfully romantic new musical SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, developed with Rick Boynton and presented in association withChicago Shakespeare Theater, where it was commissioned and had its world premiere in April 2015. CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines returns to the show as director of the Globe production. SENSE AND SENSIBILITY will play now through August 14, 2016 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Old Globe presents the West Coast premiere of Paul Gordon's delightfully romantic new musical SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, developed with Rick Boynton and presented in association with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, where it was commissioned and had its world premiere in April 2015.

Chicago will be treated to a wealth of Shakespeare in September 2016, as the yearlong Shakespeare 400 Chicago celebration marking 400 years of the playwright's enduring legacy continues into the fall.

The Old Globe presents the West Coast premiere of Paul Gordon's delightfully romantic new musical SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, developed with Rick Boynton and presented in association with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, where it was commissioned and had its world premiere in April 2015.