Chicago Shakespeare Theatre Presents THE TAMING OF THE SHREW 4/14-6/6

Starting tomorrow, April 14, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) opens THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. Shakespeare's comedy, running thru June 6, is staged by London's Bush Theatre Artistic Director Josie Rourke, and incorporates new scenes written by one of America's leading dramatists, Neil LaBute. Designing costumes and scenery for the contemporary and Renaissance settings of the production is British designer, Lucy Osborne who, along with Rourke, returns to CST following last season's production of TWELFTH NIGHT. 

Fast moving, bawdy and full of wordplay, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW continues to be one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies in which the fortune-seeking Petruchio arrives in Padua looking to marry into money. After hearing about the fiery Katharina, he sets his sights on taming her for her dowry. Meanwhile, her younger sister Bianca is being wooed by a crowded field of colorful suitors and is eager for Katharina to be wed since her own marriage depends on it.

Unique to this production is the addition of new framing scenes written by award-winning playwright Neil LaBute. The new frame replaces Shakespeare's seldom-produced Christopher Sly Induction a prologue in which a nobleman plays an elaborate practical joke on the town's drunken tinker, introducing some of the play's themes and setting up the story for a troupe of actors to perform The Taming of the Shrew. Director Josie Rourke invited LaBute, best known for his piercing, thought-provoking work, to re-imagine this framing device from a contemporary perspective. Taking a cue from Shakespeare's Induction, LaBute's scenes introduce a twenty-first century Acting Company to perform THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. As they rehearse the production, members of the cast respond to issues that Shakespeare's play evokes in their own lives.

Neil LaBute is an award-winning American writer and director for both the stage and film recognized on both sides of the Atlantic for taking on challenging themes. LaBute recently directed a remake of Death at a Funeral which opens in movie theaters nationally on Friday, April 16. Some of LaBute's critically acclaimed plays include: REASONS TO BE PRETTY and IN THE COMPANY OF MEN. Mr. LaBute has premiered plays at New York's Public Theater, MCC Theater and Donmar Warehouse in London, among others. He is the author of several fictional pieces that have been published in The New Yorker and The New York Times, Harper's Bazaar and Playboy. A collection of his short stories called "Seconds of Pleasure" was published by Grove/Atlantic in October 2004

Director Josie Rourke returns to CST following her critically acclaimed production of TWELFTH NIGHT last season. A celebrated director of both classical and contemporary theater, Rourke was appointed Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre in 2007. Her 38-year-old company focuses on the development and presentation of new plays, including works by David Eldridge, Catherine Johnson, Conor McPherson and Neil LaBute. Rourke has held positions at the Donmar Warehouse, Sheffield Theatres and the Royal Court, and has directed a number of critically acclaimed productions.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW welcomes back to CST some of Chicago's well-known comedic performers, as well as newcomers to Chicago Shakespeare's stage. Making her CST debut in the role of Katharina is Bianca Amato, who holds a number of credits in leading theaters across the country, including The Guthrie Theater, Signature Theatre, BAM and The Public Theater. Also new to CST is Ian Bedford, whose regional credits include performances at Shakespeare Theatre Company, La Jolla Playhouse and the Mark Taper Forum, and who will be playing the role of Petruchio in Rourke's production. CST veterans include Sean Fortunato as Hortensio; Mike Nussbaum as Gremio; Brian Sills as Tranio and Larry Yando as Baptista. Also returning to CST is Stephen Ouimette as Grumio, a twenty-year veteran of Stratford Shakespeare Festival, who played the role of Oliver in the hit Canadian television series Slings and Arrows. The cast of The Taming of the Shrew is rounded out by Katherine Cunningham as Bianca; William Dick as Stage Manager; Mary Beth Fisher as Director; Alex Goodrich as Biondello; Marc Grapey as Vincentio; Erik Hellman as Lucentio; Steven Pringle as Pedant; Matthew Sherbach as Curtis; Karen Janes Woditsch as Widow and ensemble members Tim Gittings and Terry Hamilton.

Scenic and Costume Designer Lucy Osborne returns to CST following her collaboration with Rourke on last season's TWELFTH NIGHT. In the European tradition, Ms. Osborne is designing both scenery and costumes for this production, which will span LaBute's contemporary scenes and the lush world of the Italian Renaissance in Shakespeare's story of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. Last season she received a Joseph Jefferson Award for creating the dreamlike world of Ilyria on CST's Courtyard Stage. Ms. Osborne's extensive theater credits include US productions of ARTEFACTS (from The Bush Theatre) and SOME KIND OF BLISS (from Trafalgar Studios, London) both presented at the 2008 Brits Off Broadway Festival at Theater 59E59. Some of her New York and UK credits include 2000 FEET AWAY (Bush Theatre); SHADES (Royal Court); TIMING (Kings Head, London); WHEN ROMEO MET JULIET (BBC); MACBETH (Edinburgh Lyceum/Nottingham Playhouse); CLOSER (Northampton Theatre Royal); and RICHARD III (Cambridge Arts Theatre).

The production team for The Taming of the Shrew also includes Lighting Designer Philip S. Rosenberg; Sound Designer Lindsay Jones; Wig and Makeup Designer Melissa Veal; Properties Master Chelsea Meyers and Fight Choreographer Matt Hawkins.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's The Taming of the Shrew runs April 14 through June 6, 2010 in the Courtyard Theater located at 800 East Grand Avenue on Navy Pier, Chicago, IL. Tickets are $55–$75 and may be purchased by calling Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Box Office at 312.595.5600 or by visiting the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com. For a complete performance schedule, click here.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW has received support from a competitive grant opportunity administered by the National Endowment for the Arts, using funds from the American Recovery Act of 2009. 

Land O'Frost is a proud partner of Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Subscription Series.

American Airlines is the official airline of Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

ComEd is the official lighting design sponsor of Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Programs in conjunction with performances of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW include:

Pre•Amble: half-hour introductory lectures on THE TAMING OF THE SHREW presented by scholars will take place 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/16, 5/23, 5/30 at 1:00 p.m. and 4/17, 5/1, 5/8 5/15, 5/22, 5/29 at 2:00 p.m. Admission is free and reservations are not required.

Post-show discussions follow each Wednesday 1:00 p.m. performance. Admission is free. No reservations are required.

The audio-described performance for patrons with visual impairments will be held on Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. Patrons should reserve a headset when purchasing tickets in advance. "Access Shakespeare" tickets are $27.

The duo sign-interpreted performance for patrons with hearing impairments will be held on Friday, May 28, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. Patrons should request the specific seating area when purchasing tickets in advance. "Access Shakespeare" tickets are $35. 

Ticket Prices  

Tue, Wed, Thu $55  

Fri $68  

Sat, Sun Mat $75  

Sun Eve $55