The Shakespeare Project of Chicago to Stage U.S. Debut of SHAKESHAFTE

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago presents the U.S. premiere of Rowan Williams's SHAKESHAFTE, a fantasia of a young Will Shakespeare meeting the Jesuit martyr Edmund Campion. The play, written by the former Archbishop of Canterbury, debuted last year in England and is being presented here by The Project as a theatrical reading.

Shakespeare and the Saint. Set against the backdrop of the English reformation in 1581, we encounter two men: one who has found his calling, the other in search of his.

Peter Garino, Shakespeare Project artistic director, directs Lydia Berger Gray (Margaret Crichlow), Jack Hickey (Thomas Hoghton), Gary Houston (Alexander Hoghton), Peter Eli Johnson (Fulk Gillom), John Kishline (Rob Tomlinson), Chris Landis (Will Shakeshafte), Kim Richard Mowrey (Thomasin), Christopher Prentice (Edward Hastings [Campion]), Grace Smith (Margery Gerrard) and Fredric Stone (Roger Livesey).

The creative team includes George Zahora (music and sound design) and Brynne Barnard (assistant director).

SHAKESHAFTE will have two performances: Sept. 15, 7 p.m., at the Niles-Maine District Library, 6960 W. Oakton St., Niles (registration required, call 847-663-1234); and Sept. 16, 10 a.m., at the Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton. Admission is free and seating is limited.

This performance is partially funded by McGill University, Montreal, and the Niles-Maine District Library.

The Shakespeare Project will kick off its theatrical reading season in October with AS YOU LIKE IT. The season also includes CORIOLANUS; WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN, by Thomas Middleton; and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.