Court Theatre's Tartuffe Plays Free at South Shore Cultural Center Tonight

Court Theatre's acclaimed production of Molière's Tartuffe will receive two admission-free encore performances tonight-Thursday, July 17-18 at 7 p.m. at the South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr. Court Theatre's Artistic Director Charles Newell directs the French classic translated by Richard Wilbur. Reservations are not required and seating is handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Call Court Theatre at 773-753-4472 for more information.

A devilish comedy about the art of deception and the price of misplaced faith, Tartuffe reveals a tale as outrageous as it is insightful. When the cunning imposter Tartuffe wields a pretense of piety to capture the imagination of aging family-man Orgon, the scoundrel succeeds in insinuating himself into the patriarch's home, throwing Orgon's family into utter chaos. As Orgon's foolish infatuation with Tartuffe's fraudulent religious fervor grows, the depth of Tartuffe's deception turns dangerous. Artistic Director Charles Newell combines his signature style with a contemporary approach to breathe new life into this classic comedy.

The production is part of the Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks initiative, which features more than 750 citywide cultural activities this summer, making more than 230 local parks safe havens and hubs of activity.

Tartuffe is presented as part of an ongoing collaboration between the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Chicago Park District. Arts programming in neighborhoods advances the goals of the Chicago Cultural Plan and the Night Out in the Parks initiative. For more information, visit chicagoculturalplan.org and nightoutintheparks.com.

About the Chicago Park District: The Chicago Park District oversees more than 8,100 acres of parkland, 580 parks, 26 miles of lakefront, 10 museums, two world-class conservatories, 16 historic lagoons, 10 bird and wildlife gardens, thousands of special events, sports and entertaining programs, please visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or contact the Chicago Park District at 312/742.PLAY or 312/747.2001(TTY). Want to share your talent? Volunteer in the parks by calling 312/742.PLAY.

About Court Theatre: Now in its 59th season, Court Theatre is guided by its mission to discover the power of classic theatre. Court endeavors to make a lasting contribution to American theatre by expanding the canon of translations, adaptations, and classic texts. Court revives lost masterpieces, illuminates familiar texts, and distinguishes fresh, modern classics. Court engages and inspires its audience by providing artistically distinguished productions, audience enrichment activities, and student educational experiences. Court Theatre is the professional theatre in residence at the University of Chicago continuing to discover the power of classic theatre.

About the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events: The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is dedicated to enriching Chicago's artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. This includes fostering the development of Chicago's non-profit arts sector, independent working artists and for-profit arts businesses; providing a framework to guide the City's future cultural and economic growth, via the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan; marketing the City's cultural assets to a worldwide audience; and presenting high-quality, free and affordable cultural programs for residents and visitors.

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