ShawChicago to Stage James Barrie's Lost Epic SHAKESPEARE'S LEGACY

ShawChicago presents Shakespeare's People, a collection of the Bard's most coveted words, and the American premiere of James Barrie's lost epic, Shakespeare's Legacy. It premiered 100 years ago, was lost, and later uncovered at the University of Chicago library. This one-night performance is part of the Shakespeare 400 celebration in Chicago. It will take place on October 24 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60610.

In Barrie's absurdist comedy, a newlywed couple discovers the location of Shakespeare's best bed, and within in it all the answers to lingering questions: A Key To The Sonnets; his 'real' nationality (Scottish); an autobiography; and lost scripts in the Bard's hand. Within these writings is unearthed the imaginary final confrontation between Queen Elizabeth and Mary, Queen of Scots

In the dead of night, before the dawn of Mary's execution, Elizabeth descends into the dungeons, at Fotheringay, demanding that Mary reveal one last secret: how, after all these years, Mary has kept her beauty. "Freedom to her who tells me what she uses. Death on the block forthwith she refuses," Elizabeth proclaims. In a split second, Mary will have to choose: relent her secret to the English Queen, or go to her grave.

Shakespeare's People will include monologues and scenes from Macbeth, Hamlet, The Taming of the Shrew, King Henry V, and Romeo and Juliet.

Cast Members of Shakespeare's Legacy: Tim Kazurinsky, Marcia Kazurinsky, Mary Michell and Barbara Zahora

Cast Members of Shakespeare's People: Matthew Gall, Melanie Keller, Doug MacKechnie and Richard Marlatt

IF YOU GO:

ShawChicago Theater Company Presents
James Barrie's Shakespeare's Legacy and Shakespeare's People
At Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60610
On October 24, 2016 at 7 PM
Tickets: $60.00 General, $50.00 Senior Citizen, $25.00 Students
Tickets may be purchased at www.shawchicago.org or over the phone at 312-587-7390

Shakespeare's Legacy by Sir James Matthew Barrie, was first produced at Drury Lane Theatre, London, on April 14th, 1916, at a matinee for the benefit of the Young Women's Christian Association for funds to provide hostels, canteens and rest rooms for the munitions and other war works. Twenty-five copies of this play were privately printed by the Clement Shorter for distribution among his friends.

Robert Scogin, ShawChicago's Artistic Director, is celebrating his twenty-second season at ShawChicago, where he has directed more than fifty productions. He was awarded The Chicago Drama League's 2008 Crystal Award, and has appeared on Broadway (Henry V, 1969) and Off-Broadway (Children of the Ladybug, 1967 and Where The Wolves Run, 1972.) He taught and directed Shakespeare and Shaw at the Turkish State Theater Conservatory in Ankara and Konya, Turkey. In March of 2009 he staged the world premiere of his new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts on World Theater Day in Konya, Turkey. Scogin made his Chicago debut at The Goodman Theatre in Much Ado About Nothing. He also starred as Bob Cratchit in the Goodman's original production of A Christmas Carol, a role he repeated for ten years. Other credits with The Goodman include The Tempest and the world premieres of David Mamet's translation of Chekov's The Cherry Orchard and Mamet's own play Lakeboat.

ShawChicago is a professional non-profit theater company founded in 1994 with a mission to present the plays of George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries as concert readings. Operating under Actors' Equity, ShawChicago celebrates its 23rd season, Dysfunctional Family Fun. The company presents special afternoon performances for senior citizens and morning performances for students throughout the Chicagoland area. ShawChicago also offers outreach performances across the city and its suburbs, providing theater to libraries, senior living communities and schools. ShawChicago is the theater company in residence at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts.