Chicago Shakespeare Theater News

In celebration of their 30th Anniversary, Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents the legendary musical LES MISERABLES, now running through June 8, 2014. Check out a first look below!

Tonight, April 10, TheatreSquared will launch its first mainstage Shakespeare production with the playwright's signature drama, Hamlet, starring Grant Goodman. The production is helmed by director Sean Patrick Reilly and features a professional cast including T2 associate artistic director Amy Herzberg.

Route 66 Theatre Company is pleased to present the Chicago premiere of Cicada, by Jerre Dye, directed by Route 66 Theatre Company's Associate Artistic Director, Erica Weiss. This coming of age ghost story deeply rooted in the life of a small southern family on the verge of transformation plays today, April 9 - May 25, 2014 at Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N Lincoln Avenue in Chicago.

In celebration of their 30th Anniversary, Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, will present the legendary musical LES MISERABLES, opening tonight, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. and running through June 8, 2014.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents Henry V, directed by Christopher Luscombe, from April 29-June 15.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Alan Ayckbourn's science fiction comedy Communicating Doors. Eleven plays penned by Alan Ayckbourn have been produced by the Alley, including the American premiere of Henceforward, directed by Ayckbourn, in 1987 and House & Garden in 2002. Alan Ayckbourn has been inducted into the American Theatre's Hall of Fame, received the 2010 Critics' Circle Award for Services to the Arts, became the first British playwright to receive both Olivier and Tony Special Lifetime Achievement Awards and was knighted in 1997 for services to the theatre.

The Hypocrites are pleased to announce their 2014-15 Season, beginning in August 2014 with the world premiere of ALL OUR TRAGIC, an unparalleled twelve-hour theatrical adaptation that combines all 32 surviving Greek tragedies into a single epic narrative, adapted and directed by Founding Artistic Director Sean Graney*. Audiences may experience ALL OUR TRAGIC at a single twelve-hour marathon performance (with ample breaks for food and beverage) or through shorter installments spread over multiple weekends.

Patrick Rains presents the critically acclaimed New York premiere of My Mother Has 4 Noses, a musical play written and performed by renowned singer/songwriter Jonatha Brooke and directed by Jeremy B. Cohen. My Mother Has 4 Noses began previews Off-Broadway on February 14th and opened on Thursday, February 20, 2014. The limited engagement will play through Saturday, April 19th at The Duke on 42nd Street, 'a New 42nd Street project' (located at 229 W 42nd Street, between 7th & 8th Avenues).

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents the World Premiere of the new drama SALVAGE by Joseph Zettelmaier, running now through April 27, 2014. The highly anticipated production is directed by Jeff Award nominee and First Folio Theatre favorite Alison C. Vesely. Scroll down to see some photos from opening night!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater brings the humor and magic of Dr. Seuss to life onstage this summer in the Broadway musical comedy Seussical for young audiences and their families. Directed by Scott Weinstein with musical direction by Michael Mahler, Seussical will be performed July 5 through August 17 in CST's Courtyard Theater.

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents the World Premiere of the new drama SALVAGE by Joseph Zettelmaier, running now through April 27, 2014. The highly anticipated production is directed by Jeff Award nominee and First Folio Theatre favorite Alison C. Vesely. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

In celebration of their 30th Anniversary, Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, will present the legendary musical LES MISERABLES, previewing tonight, March 29, opening Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. and running through June 8, 2014.

The Gift Theatre has announced that Kareem Bandealy will star as Othello and artistic director and ensemble member Michael Patrick Thornton will play villainous Iago in its production of William Shakespeare's tragedy Othello, directed by Jonathan Berry (Dirty). This marks The Gift Theatre's first Shakespeare production ever mounted in its intimate 40-seat theater and Berry's Shakespearean directorial debut.

Theatre 20's highly-anticipated production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Company will play the Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs from June 21 to July 13, 2014. Artistic Board Chair Adam Brazier today announced the creative team and revealed that the role of 'Robert' will be played by Theatre 20 Founding Artist Dan Chameroy.

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents the World Premiere of the new drama SALVAGE by Joseph Zettelmaier. SALVAGE previews today, March 26, opens March 29 and runs through April 27, 2014. The highly anticipated production is directed by Jeff Award nominee and First Folio Theatre favorite Alison C. Vesely.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today casting for William Shakespeare's epic Henry V, directed by celebrated British director Christopher Luscombe in his Chicago debut. In a rousing finale to the 2014 season, the play that inaugurated Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 1986 on the rooftop of Lincoln Park's Red Lion Pub comes to the Courtyard Theater for the first time. Shakespeare's powerful history play explores the consequences of war and the capacity of language to inspire and transform. Leading the troops as the charismatic, young monarch is Harry Judge in the titular role. Henry V will be performed in CST's Courtyard Theater April 29 through June 15, 2014.

On April 10, TheatreSquared will launch its first mainstage Shakespeare production with the playwright's signature drama, Hamlet, starring Grant Goodman. The production is helmed by director Sean Patrick Reilly and features a professional cast including T2 associate artistic director Amy Herzberg. As Hamlet begins, the king has been poisoned by his own brother, who now claims the throne and queen. Visited by his father's ghost, Prince Hamlet learns of his uncle's treachery - and vows revenge. TheatreSquared's original production is on stage from April 10 through May 4, 2014, at Walton Arts Center's Nadine Baum Studios in Fayetteville (505 W. Spring Street). Tickets range from $15-36 ($10/under 30) and are on sale now via the Walton Arts Center Box Office by calling (479.443.5600) or visiting theatre2.org.

Profiles Theatre announces an extension for their Midwest premiere of Cock by Mike Bartlett, directed by Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox. The production opened February 20, 2014 and will extend for an additional seven weeks through May 25, 2014. Original cast members Eleni Pappageorge, Christopher Sheard and Jake Szczepaniak continue their roles with Torrey Hanson joining the cast beginning April 10, 2014. Performances are held at The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway.