KING JOHN Will Come to Chicago This Summer
Reji Simon and Kseniya Janyan star in the production at United Church of Rogers Park
Circuit Theatre Company has announced its Summer 2026 production of William Shakespeare's King John, directed by Circuit Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Korey Pimental.
This bold new staging reexamines one of Shakespeare's most politically charged and rarely produced histories, exploring power, legacy, nationalism, and the human cost of political ambition.
Running June 25th-July 10th at United Church of Rogers Park. Circuit's King John distills Shakespeare's epic into a fiery 90-minute performance, centering the collision between personal grief and public power.
The production features an ensemble cast: Reji Simon as King John, Kseniya Janyan as Philip The Bastard, Courtney Feiler as The Dauphin/Others, Matthew Benenson Cruz as Cardinal Pandulph/Others, Jesús Barajas as Prince Arthur/Others, Victoria Angelina Cruz as Constance/Others, Alexander Coronado as King Philip/Others, Sabine Wan as Queen Eleanor/Others, and Alejandra Tamez as Lady Blanche/Others, and understudies Ethan Perry, Dontaye Albert, Haven Sifuentes-Denson, Amir Smith, and Aly Easton.
Often overlooked in the Shakespeare canon, King John offers an unsettlingly timely portrait of political instability, disputed leadership, and the weaponization of truth.
Founded by Sam Luis Massaro and currently co-led by Em DeMaio, Circuit Theatre Company is committed to expanding and diversifying the classical canon through electrifying, ensemble-driven theatre that challenges both artists and audiences with bold storytelling. Circuit has partnered with Expand the Canon and Ball State University, and has produced four staged readings of works by femme playwrights. King John marks the company's second full production.
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