Cast Announced for The Gift Theatre's RICHARD III at Steppenwolf's Garage

The Gift Theatre kicks off its 15th anniversary season in March 2016 with artistic director and ensemble member Michael Patrick Thornton starring in William Shakespeare's Richard III directed by Jessica Thebus (Sex with Strangers, Steppenwolf). The Gift's Richard III will be in Steppenwolf's Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St) and runs March 3 - May 1, 2016. Press opening is Monday, March 7. www.steppenwolf.org

"We are so proud to have been a supporter of The Gift from their earliest days, and so thrilled, now, to be a small part of this boldly innovative production. The Garage has always been a place where we can push our own artistic boundaries, pursue new interests, and deepen our relationship with those companies whose work challenges and inspires us. We are so excited to welcome our friends and colleagues at The Gift into our home and to provide for them a platform for their next, bold artistic leap," shared Steppenwolf Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro.

In collaboration with lead production sponsor The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, The Gift will re-define what disability and Shakespeare's infamous villain can look like.

On April 23, a Live Periscope Stream of Richard III will take place on the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's shuffling off this mortal coil, allowing anyone with a Twitter account to experience the live stream by following The Gift at @TheGiftTheatre. Additional special one-night events scheduled throughout the run include an Audio Description and Touch Tour on Sunday, March 27 beginning at

2 p.m.; Open Captioning on Sunday, April 3 at 3:30 p.m.; and Come Closer on Sunday, April 24 at 3:30 p.m. with individual tickets priced at $50 for the performance, a post-show cast conversation, drinks, and themed appetizers.

Shakespeare's Richard III starring Thornton, directed by Thebus, was originally set to be produced by Next Theatre Company in January 2015 before the theater announced its closing in 2014.

"So many of our ensemble members at The Gift met each other through Steppenwolf," Thornton said. "The Gift launched our first production ever after the 2001 School at Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf Theatre has left an indelible impression on The Gift, and so, for the first production of our 15th Anniversary Season, it's a privilege and honor to return, in a way, home."

The Gift celebrates their 15th Anniversary after the unprecedented success of the 2015 Season, which included the world premieres of David Rabe's Good For Otto (now in its second extension through February 7), Gift co-founder William Nedved's Body + Blood and Naperville native Mat Smart's The Royal Society of Antarctica, which received the 2015 Jeff Award for New Work.

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