Chicago Shakespeare Theater's World's Stage to Present U.S. Debut from Paris Théâtre de le Ville's Ionesco Suite

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) continues the dynamic World's Stage Series with the U.S. debut of Théâtre de la Ville's Ionesco Suite from Paris, France. Directed by Emmanuel Demarcy-Mota, this absurdist masterpiece celebrates the work of maverick avant-garde playwright Eugène Ionesco with a whirlwind montage encapsulating seven of his plays, brimming with wicked humor and hard-hitting themes. Ionesco Suite will be performed in the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare, October 15-October 19, 2014.

Conceived and directed by celebrated Théâtre de la Ville Artistic Director Emmanuel Demarcy-Mota, the scene for Ionesco Suite is set in a seemingly ordinary dinner party attended by five characters. The gathering descends into an absurdist nightmare, making for a lively rampage against social conventions and a scathing parody of human behavior.

Blouin Artinfo proclaims the production, "both terribly funny and deliciously scary." France'sTouteLaCulture calls Ionesco Suite "extravagant, chilling...Quintessential Ionesco, exactly as it should be."

French-Romanian dramatist Eugène Ionesco pioneered the Theater of the Absurd along with such visionaries as Samuel Beckett, Tom Stoppard and Harold Pinter, creating works that challenged notions of life's meaning and order. The piece combines excerpts from seven of the avant-garde playwright's wildly innovative plays-from the well-known The Bald Soprano andThe Lesson to the more rarely performed Jack, or The Submission and Two for Delirium. When Director Emmanuel Demarcy-Mota staged Ionesco's Rhinoceros ten years ago, he developed a fascination for the playwright's humor and his obsessions with cohabitation and solitude-inspiring him to create Ionesco Suite so that contemporary audiences could discover the work anew.

The illustrious Théâtre de la Ville produces over 100 different shows annually across the vast spectrum of genres, including theater and performance art, contemporary dance, and classical and world music. They have developed new audiences at home and abroad, forming partnerships with theaters in Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Greece, England and the United States.

The 2014/15 World's Stage season continues with a vibrant reinterpretation of Mozart's The Magic Flute from South Africa's Isango Ensemble (September 25-28, 2014). In January, CST hosts two contributions to the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival (January 14-25, 2015): The Table from UK's Blind Summit and FREEZE! from Belgium-based artist Nick Steur. CST presents the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre of Scotland collaboration,Dunsinane, which imagines the aftermath of Shakespeare's Macbeth (February 26-March 22, 2015). The season began with the Shakespeare's Globe production of Hamlet from London and an inventive Australian walkabout theatrical journey, Since I Suppose. Over the past decade, CST has important more than 700 international artists to Chicago.

Ionesco Suite will be presented October 15-19 in the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare. CST's presentation of Ionesco Suite is performed in French with projected English subtitles. Tickets are on sale now for $45-$55 with special discounts available for groups of 10 or more, as well as CST for $20 tickets available for patrons under 35. All patrons receive a 40% discount on guaranteed parking in Navy Pier garages. For more information or to purchase tickets or a season subscription, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com.

Test and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia?	Play the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
How well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends.	Can you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!