2011 British Consul General Award to Honor Chicago Shakespeare Theater

On the eve of its 25th Anniversary Season, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) has been named a recipient of the 2011 British Consul General Award in recognition of sharing its acclaimed productions abroad and regularly engaging celebrated UK artists through its World's Stage Series. Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson will accept the award at a British-American Business Council, Chicago dinner on September 21, 2011.

Chicago Shakespeare's productions have been seen on some of the UK's most prestigious stages, including CST's acclaimed production of Stephen Sondheim's Pacific Overtures at London's Donmar Warehouse (three Laurence Olivier Awards, 2004); Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 at the Royal Shakespeare Company's inaugural Complete Works Festival in 2006; and Funk It Up About Nothin', which garnered acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Dress Circle Award for Best Musical Production, 2008) and completed a six-week Australian tour this year before making its London debut at Theatre Royal Stratford East.

At its home on Navy Pier, Chicago Shakespeare's productions have been staged by British directing greats, including Terry Hands (Hamlet), Josie Rourke (The Taming of the Shrew and Twelfth Night), Edward Hall (Rose Rage: Henry VI, Parts 1, 2 and 3) and Michael Bogdanov (The Winter's Tale). The Theater's World's Stage presentations have been directed by Peter Brook (The Tragedy of Hamlet, Le Costume and Fragments), Michael Pennington (Sweet William), and Tim Supple (A Midsummer Night's Dream).

Chicago Shakespeare Theater also regularly imports celebrated UK productions for its World's Stage Series. The Theater's presentations include: Shakespeare's Globe Theatre's Twelfth Night, starring Mark Rylance; Simon Callow's solo tour de force The Mystery of Charles Dickens; and The National Theatre of Scotland's acclaimed Black Watch, presented by CST at Chicago's Broadway Armory earlier this year.

Exemplifying Chicago Shakespeare's commitment to working with celebrated UK artists, CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines will direct renowned British film and stage actor Ian McDiarmid in the title role of Shakespeare's Timon of Athens, opening May 2, 2012, as part of CST's 25th Anniversary Season.

The British-American Business Council, Chicago (BABCC) recognizes corporations and/or individuals who have made significant contributions to furthering trade, commerce, civic, philanthropic and cultural relations between the UK and US with its annual British Consul General Award. In addition to Chicago Shakespeare Theater, award recipients this year are the Boeing Company and Laurence Geller, President and CEO of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Established in 1990, the BABCC endeavors to broaden trade and commercial goodwill between the US and the UK and is part of the global BABC?the largest transatlantic business network with 25 chapters and 2500 member companies, including many of the world's largest multinationals based in major business centers throughout North America and the UK.