Chicago Shakespeare Theatre presents World Premiere Commission

Chicago Shakespeare presents the world premiere of The Book of Joseph, a new play by award-winning playwright Karen Hartman that chronicles three generations of the Hollander family. Richard Hollander was devastated when his parents were killed in an accident.

While cleaning out their attic, he discovered a suitcase of letters written in Polish and German during World War II by a family he never knew-his father's mother, three sisters, and their husbands and children-depicting day-to-day life under the most painful of circumstances in occupied Poland. Richard went on to discover that at the time the letters were written, his own father, Joseph, was fighting the United States government to avoid deportation and death.

Chicago Shakespeare, working alongside the Hollander family, has commissioned Karen Hartman to adapt this deeply resonant and historically significant story into a new play that not only paints a compelling portrait of a family torn apart by war, but also shines a light on the immigrant experience across the globe. The production features Francis Guinan as the present-day Richard and Sean Fortunato as his father Joseph. Directed by CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines, The Book of Joseph debuts in the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare, now through March 5, 2017.

Production Photo 1: Richard Hollander (Francis Guinan) glimpses into the past while reading a letter written by his father Joseph (Sean Fortunato) in Chicago Shakespeare Theater's world premiere production of The Book of Joseph, a new play written by Karen Hartman and directed by Barbara Gaines, in the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare, January 29-March 5, 2017. Photo by Liz Lauren.