Chicago Shakespeare Theatre News

Chicago Dramatists has appointed six new playwrights to its Resident Playwright program, Artistic Director Russ Tutterow announced today. The new Residents in this 30th anniversary season are Mary Ruth Clarke, Cheryl Coons, Christopher De Paola, Sarah Gubbins, David Scott Hay, and Jon Steinhagen.

Lou Spisto, Executive Producer of the Tony Award-winning Old Globe, is pleased to announce the Theatre's complete 2009 Summer Season.

Fourteen-year-old Stanley Yelnats is convicted for a crime he didn't commit and sentenced to Camp Green Lake-where nothing is green and no lake is in sight. He blames his rotten luck on the Yelnats family curse, which traces back to his 'no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealin'-great-great-grandfather.' Supposedly to build character, the camp boys spend their days digging huge holes under the brutal desert sun. But as Stanley discovers the real reason behind all those countless holes, fate begins to point him toward his true destiny. Join Stanley, Zero, Kissin' Kate, Mr. Sir, the Warden, and other favorite characters from Mr. Sachar's immensely popular novel for a rowdy adventure you won't soon forget.

Arena Stage presents Charles Ludlam's comic masterpiece The Mystery of Irma Vep. This clever, quick-change marathon ransacks literary, cinematic and pop culture as it satirizes everything from Hitchcock's Rebecca and classic horror film The Mummy's Curse to Wuthering Heights and Shakespeare. Arena Stage is excited to welcome back Brad Oscar (Broadway's Spamalot and The Producers, Arena's Cabaret and Damn Yankees) and J. Fred Shiffman (The Arthur Miller Festival, She Loves Me, Cabaret) as they portray all of the characters--men, women and monsters--in this gender-bending 'tour de force.' The Mystery of Irma Vep runs June 6 - July 13 at Arena Stage in Crystal City. The press opening performance is Thursday, June 12 at 8:00 p.m.

Fragments, making its only U.S. stop in their world tour at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, is a well-constructed and very conceptual sixty minutes of theatre. Fans of Samuel Beckett will be tickled with the clever use of his language.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces its sixth annual collaboration with The Chicago Chamber Musicians (CCM) on a program for young audiences and their families. Classical Idol!, an interactive concert that features three, instrumentally distinct chamber music ensembles-each competing for audience applause-gives children ages four and up the opportunity to discover up close the excitement of live performance. The hour-long interactive concerts aretoday and Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 10:00 and 11:30 a.m. at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier

Ana Gasteyer who stars as Fosca and Director Gary Griffin discuss the current production of 'Passion'. Ana and Gary also tell us about their other career highlights including Gasteyer's roles in Wicked, Three Penny Opera and Funny Girl. Griffin reflects on the Color Purple and The Apple Tree.

Passion starring Ana Gasteyer and directed by Gary Griffin at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier is a difficult production to wrap one's head around.

Producers Greg Schaffert and Bud Martin hope to bring this swashbuckling new musical by George Stiles, Paul Leigh and Peter Raby to the Great White Way in the near future. Is the latest adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' classic tale of friendship, lust, heroism and intrigue, currently receiving its New England premiere at the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, Massachusetts, truly one for all?

The Chicago Shakespeare Theatre presents a high-profile new production of Euripides' Hecuba starring Marsha Mason.

Marsha Mason will take on the title role in the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's production of Hecuba from April 26th through June 18th

From March 10th through April 23rd, Anthony Crivello and Linda Hart will star in A Flea in Her Ear at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre