Chicago Shakespeare's Macbeth Embarks on 5 Week Tour of Midwest Schools

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's (CST) Short Shakespeare! Macbeth embarks on a five-week tour of Midwest schools from March 7 to April 8, 2011, following its critically-acclaimed run on CST's Courtyard Theater stage. A 75-minute abridged production of William Shakespeare's Macbeth adapted and directed by David H. Bell, the production will visit 25 schools during its tour, bringing Shakespeare's work to life for students across Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. For more information about Short Shakespeare! Macbeth visit Chicago Shakespeare Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com/shortshakespeare.

Chicago Shakespeare's Short Shakespeare! productions are designed for students, teachers, parents-and anyone with children in their lives to introduce young people to the timeless works of Shakespeare and the magic of live theater. Short Shakespeare! productions are a central component of the Theater's Team Shakespeare program, one of the nation's largest providers of performing arts-in-education theater programming. In addition to in-house student matinees of Short Shakespeare! productions, the annual Midwest school tour is an integral part of Team Shakespeare's commitment to reach nearly 50,000 students annually, introducing Shakespeare's legacy to a new generation of theatergoers.

A theatrical, percussive world of swords, sound and the supernatural make Macbeth one of William Shakespeare's most spellbinding plays-and CST's 75-minute abridged production, Short Shakespeare! Macbeth, provides a perfect introduction to his work. When Macbeth and his wife hear of the haunting witches' prophecy that they will soon rule the land, they move to plot the murder of the King. Greed, torment and evil pave the Macbeths' path toward destruction, ultimately proving all of the witches' divinations true. Heralded as "clever fun" by the Chicago Tribune, Short Shakespeare! Macbeth is the perfect opportunity for educators to introduce their students to this iconic work.

Director and Adaptor David H. Bell returns to Chicago Shakespeare Theater for Short Shakespeare! Macbeth, where his recent CST credits include The Three Musketeers and the Short Shakespeare! productions of The Comedy of Errors, Macbeth and The Taming of the Shrew. Additional CST directing credits include the full-length productions of As You Like It, The Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado About Nothing and The Comedy of Errors. Bell's extensive work as a director, choreographer and writer at a host of Chicago theaters has earned him ten Joseph Jefferson Awards. Internationally, he has staged productions in London, Paris, Berlin, Zurich, Vienna and for the Barcelona Olympics. As associate artistic director for Atlanta's ALLIANCE THEATRE, Bell directed numerous productions including The Grapes of Wrath, Art, Romeo and Juliet, Hot Mikado, The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, One Last Summer, Once on This Island, Falsettos and Boys from Syracuse. Bell is the recipient of a Helen Hayes Award, two National Endowment for the Arts Playwriting Fellowships and a nomination for London's prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for Hot Mikado. He is an Associate Professor of Music Theater at Northwestern University.

The talented ensemble of Short Shakespeare! Macbeth is led by Lynn Robert Berg, making his CST debut in the title role. Berg's regional credits include King Lear, Romeo and Juliet and Henry V at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Bell's production also includes several veteran CST actors, including Lesley Bevan, who gave a Jeff Award-nominated turn as Emilia in CST's Othello, performing the role of Lady Macbeth. Additional actors returning to Chicago Shakespeare are Jeffrey Baumgartner as Duncan, Ethan Deppe as Percussionist, Ben Huth as Murderer 1, Glenn Stanton as Murderer 2 and Andrew Truschinski as Angus/Witch 2. The ensemble for Short Shakespeare! Macbeth is rounded out by Bernard Balbot as Porter, Nicholas Harazin as Malcolm, Mike McNamara as Banquo, Eric Parks as Ross/Witch 3, Patrick Sarb as Macduff and Dorcas Sowunmi as Lady Macduff/Witch 1.

Joining Bell's production team for Short Shakespeare! Macbeth are Scenic Designer Scott Davis, Costume Designer Ana Kuzmanic, Lighting Designer Lee Keenan Sound Designer James Savage, Composer Ethan Deppe, Wig and Make-up Designer Melissa Veal, Properties Master Chelsea Meyers and and Verse Coach David Turrentine.

About Team Shakespeare

Since its establishment in 1991, Team Shakespeare has served more than 1 million students and teachers-making Chicago Shakespeare Theater one of the nation's largest providers of performing arts-in-education theater programming. As part of CST's commitment to Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the Theater has developed two successful programs targeting at-risk youth: Bard Core and CPS Shakespeare! Bard Core, a professional development seminar offered annually to CPS teachers, explores how the skills of theater practitioners link directly to best practices in literacy, offering practical reading strategies and exercises for CPS students. A number of Bard Core teachers go on to participate in CPS Shakespeare!, which brings together a citywide cast of CPS high school teachers and students to stage an adapted Shakespeare production in CST's Courtyard Theater each fall. Throughout the year, free weekend workshops are offered to teachers looking to innovate their lesson plans, with an upcoming Chicago Shakespeare production used as a central touchstone. Additionally, CST reserves more than 100 professional Shakespeare matinees for student audiences-and the Theater's annual Short Shakespeare! production, an abridgment of a Shakespeare classic, conducts a five-week tour each spring to public, private, parochial, urban and rural schools throughout the Midwest. Reaching nearly 50,000 students annually, Team Shakespeare is part of CST's commitment to lifelong learning, introducing Shakespeare's legacy to a new generation.

About Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Recipient of the 2008 Regional Theatre Tony Award, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) offers a broad spectrum of theatrical experiences year-round, engaging and entertaining audiences from all walks of life and from around the world. CST has garnered acclaim under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson, including 55 Joseph Jefferson Awards and three Laurence Olivier Awards. The Theater has experienced record growth since moving to its current, state-of-the-art facility on Navy Pier in 1999, and will celebrate its 25th Anniversary next season.

The 38-play canon of William Shakespeare forms the core of CST's work and Subscription Series, complemented by other dramatic works-from traditional classical theater to new classics that resonate with Shakespeare's timeless insights into the human condition. Through a 48-week season encompassing more than 600 performances, Chicago Shakespeare leads the community as the largest employer of Chicago actors. CST also contributes to an international community of creative exchange through its World's Stage Series, which affords Chicago audiences prime opportunities to experience the cultural and artistic traditions of some of the world's iconic theater troupes as well as sending some of CST's best works abroad. Chicago Shakespeare is committed to making theater an expansive, ever-changing and lifelong relationship. For family audiences, CST Family presents abridged Shakespeare productions, timeless fables and fairy tales, interactive music concerts and world-premiere musical theater created with families in mind. CST's education outreach program, Team Shakespeare, has served over 1 million students and teachers throughout the Midwest, introducing the Bard's legacy to a new generation.

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