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Peter Garino

BIO

Peter Garino is an actor, director, producer and playwright. He is a founding member of The Shakespeare Project of Chicago where he has served as artistic director since 2010. He recently directed and co-adapted (with James Richard Goeser) The Californian Incident for The Project. This past season, he appeared as Marcus Andronicus in Titus Andronicus and as Helicanus in Pericles, Prince of Tyre. He also directed The Roaring Girl in May 2019. He adapted and directed The Project's holiday show this past season, A Selection of English Christmas Carols/A Baker Street Christmas Caper. Last season, he directed Much Ado About Nothing and played the Duke of Florence in Women Beware Women and Duke Senior and Duke Frederick in As You Like It. He also directed John Kishline's Dream Upon Avon and Rowan Williams' Shakeshafte for The Shakespeare Project. Previous appearances with The Project include Boyet/Anthony Dull in Love's Labour's Lost,

Sir Thomas Erpingham and the Duke of Burgundy in Henry V and Tackleton in Charles Dickens' The Cricket on the Hearth. Peter directed the Chicago premier of Tom Stoppard's Darkside (Incorporating The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd). Other appearances for The Project include the Bard in Cymbeline, Camillo in The Winter's Tale, the title role in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Lord LaFew in All's Well That Ends Well and Antonio in The Merchant of Venice. Other directing credits for The Shakespeare Project include: King John, Cardenio, The Revenger's Tragedy, King Lear, The Fair Maid of the West, The Reign of King Edward III, A Woman Killed With Kindness, Othello,The Tempest, Richard II, Measure For Measure, Antony and Cleopatra, The Importance of Being Earnest, A Woman of No Importance, Pericles (1996 and 2008), The Taming of the Shrew, 2 Henry IV, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and his own adaptations of Shakespeare's sonnets and songs, My Name Is Will, and The Rape of Lucrece. Other appearances with The Project include Friar Laurence/Lord Capulet in 50-Minute Romeo and Juliet, Agamemnon in Troilus & Cressida, George Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Cardinal Wolsey in Henry VIII, Lord Stanley in Richard III and many others. Peter has worked with the Steppenwolf and Organic Theatre
companies, the Body Politic, Pegasus Players and with the Oak Park Festival Theatre and Illinois Shakespeare Festival (three seasons). Peter attended the National Shakespeare Conservatory and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting from Illinois State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Hofstra University, New York. He is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association, and SAG/AFTRA.

News


ANTONY & CLEOPATRA to Close Shakespeare Project of Chicago's Season With Free Shows
by Stephi Wild - Jun 12, 2026

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago will present free staged readings of ANTONY & CLEOPATRA at multiple Chicago-area venues, directed by J.R. Sullivan with Nick Sandys and Rebecca Swislow in the title roles.
THE WITCH Free Performances Will Be Presented By Shakespeare Project Of Chicago
by Marissa Faith Curley - Apr 19, 2026

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago will present free theatrical readings of Thomas Middleton's THE WITCH at multiple Chicago-area library venues, directed by artistic director Peter Garino.
Shakespeare Project of Chicago Will Present DEAR RHODA at Local Libraries
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 19, 2026

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago will present DEAR RHODA, a historical play exploring a poignant love story set in the 1920s, with free performances scheduled for March 20, 22, and 23 at various Chicago-area libraries. The play, directed by Peter Garino, features a trunk of letters that unveil the long-distance romance between Rhoda Katz and Jerry Nedwick, set against the backdrop of Chicago's bohemian underground. The cast includes notable characters portrayed by local actors, with live music
Shakespeare Project Of Chicago to Present Free Performances Of RICHARD II
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 26, 2026

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago will present free theatrical readings of Richard II, a historical tragedy by Shakespeare at various Chicago-area venues. Directed by Richard Shavzin, the play explores themes of power, betrayal, and the consequences of misrule.
ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL to Open Shakespeare Project Of Chicago 31st Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 17, 2025

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago will kick off its 2025-26 Theatrical Reading Season with free performances of Shakespeare's comedy of mis-matched marriage, determination and redemption ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. Learn more!
Shakespeare Project of Chicago Will Bring Free Performances of KING LEAR
by Emmy Rice - Jun 8, 2025

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago wraps up its 30th Anniversary Theatrical Reading Season with free performances of Shakespeare's great tragedy King Lear, running June 13 through June 21 at six Chicago-area venues.
Free Performances Of THE TEMPEST Come to Shakespeare Project Of Chicago
by Stephi Wild - Apr 4, 2025

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago continues its 30th Anniversary Theatrical Reading Season with free performances of Shakespeare's swan song romance THE TEMPEST.
Shakespeare Project Of Chicago Presents Free Performances Of THE WINTER'S TALE
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 20, 2025

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago continues its 30th Anniversary Theatrical Reading Season with free performances of Shakespeare's comedy of jealousy and redemption, THE WINTER'S TALE, running Feb. 21, 22, 25 and 25 at four Chicagoland venues.
Shakespeare Project Of Chicago to Open 30th Anniversary With MEASURE FOR MEASURE
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 14, 2024

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago will celebrate its 30th anniversary with free performances of MEASURE FOR MEASURE, exploring themes of power and corruption in four Chicagoland venues.
Shakespeare Project Of Chicago Will Perform THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
by Stephi Wild - Jun 14, 2024

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago will continue its return to live, in-person performances of its namesake playwright with free theatrical readings of THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. Shakespeare's first comedy, a farce of mistaken identities, directed by Peter Garino, The Project's artistic director, runs June 15 and 17 at two Chicagoland venues.
Shakespeare Project Of Chicago to Present Free Performance Of TIMON OF ATHENS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 8, 2024

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago will resume Shakespeare theatrical readings at the Newberry Library in Chicago with TIMON OF ATHENS, in a free performance March 9.
Night 2 of THE BARD'S BIRTHDAY BASH Celebrates Shakespeare's Influence with Artists & Authors
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 9, 2021

HarkJournal.com founder Michael Van Osch, and author of the new book Teaching HAMLET As My Father Died, Erica Cantley, will host the second of three zoom events that bring together a diverse group of accomplished artists, authors, and entrepreneurs who have been inspired by William Shakespeare's work, in one way or another, to bring their own creativity to life.
HarkJournal.com to Host Shakespeare Birthday Events Featuring Artist and Author Stories
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 12, 2021

HarkJournal.com founder Michael Van Osch, and author of Teaching HAMLET As My Father Died, Erica Cantley, will host a 3-night zoom event that brings together a diverse group of accomplished artists, authors, and entrepreneurs who have been inspired by William Shakespeare’s work, in one way or another, to bring their own creativity to life.
Virtual Theatre This Weekend: January 23-24- with Jessica Vosk, Chita Rivera, and More!
by Nicole Rosky - Jan 23, 2021

Broadway might be dark, but that doesn't mean that theatre isn't happening everywhere! Below, check out where you can get your daily fix of Broadway this weekend, January 23-24, 2020.
Virtual Theatre Today: Thursday, January 21- with Will Chase, Danielle Brooks and More!
by Nicole Rosky - Jan 21, 2021

Today (January 20) in live streaming: an Inauguration Day special with the Chaos Twins and more!
Virtual Theatre Today: Wednesday, January 20- with The Chaos Twins and More!
by Nicole Rosky - Jan 20, 2021

Today (January 20) in live streaming: an Inauguration Day special with the Chaos Twins and more!
Shakespeare Project Of Chicago Presents Streaming Performances Of NEWS FROM GRAVESEND
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 14, 2021

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago continues its Virtual Enrichment Season with NEWS FROM GRAVESEND: THE WONDERFUL YEAR, adapted from the writings of Thomas Middleton and Thomas Dekker by Regina Buccola, streaming Jan. 15, 20, 21 and 23, 2021.
Shakespeare Project Of Chicago Presents Free Performances Of ROMEO AND JULIET
by Stephi Wild - Feb 16, 2020

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago continues its 25th Theatrical Reading Season with free performances of Shakespeare's romantic tragedy ROMEO AND JULIET, running Feb. 21-27, 2020, at eight Chicago-area venues.
Shakespeare Project Of Chicago Presents Free Performances Of RICHARD III
by Stephi Wild - Jan 10, 2020

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago continues its 25th Theatrical Reading Season with free performances of Shakespeare's RICHARD III, running Jan. 10-17, 2020, at nine Chicago-area venues.
Shakespeare Project Of Chicago Premieres New Holiday Comedy CHRISTMAS COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR
by Stephi Wild - Dec 10, 2019

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago is celebrating the holidays by presenting a special world-premiere production of a new comedy, CHRISTMAS COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR, by George Zahora. The production runs Dec. 10, 13 and 14, 2019, at three Chicago-area venues.

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