Chicago Shakespeare Theater News

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, continues its landmark 30th anniversary season with the winner of 'Best Play' at the 2012 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Awards, THE GAME'S AFOOT, previewing August 28, opening Thursday, September 4 at 8 p.m., and running through October 19, 2014. The cast is led by Derek Hasenstab (Broadway National Tour of The Lion King; The Foreigner and I Hate Hamlet at Drury Lane Theatre; Oedipus Complex at the Goodman Theatre; and Sunday in the Park with George at Chicago Shakespeare Theater) as 'William Gillette' and nine-time Jeff Award-winner Alene Robertson (National Tour of Annie, Mame at Drury Lane Theatre, and The Full Monty and Hello, Dolly! at Marriott Theatre) as 'Martha Gillette.' THE GAME'S AFOOT is written by Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor, The Fox on the Fairway, Crazy for You, and Moon Over Buffalo) and directed by Drury Lane Theatre Artistic Director William Osetek (Young Frankenstein and next to normal at Drury Lane Theatre).

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST), the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District and Boeing partner to present the annual citywide summer tradition, Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks. This summer, 26 performances of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream travel to 18 neighborhood parks across Chicago, FREE FOR ALL, today, July 18-August 17, 2014.

The Gift Theatre's contemporary production of Othello, starring Kareem Bandealy as Othello and artistic director and ensemble member Michael Patrick Thornton as villainous Iago, began previews on July 10. Directed by Jonathan Berry (Dirty), this marks The Gift Theatre's first Shakespeare production ever mounted in its intimate 40-seat theater and Berry's Shakespearean directorial debut. Othello runs tonight, July 17-August 24 at The Gif.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Seussical' splashes, 'The Beverly Hillbillies,' 'Clemente' and 'Hansel & Gretel' bow, 'Hank Williams' returns, 'Charlie Brown' takes a hike, plus 'Reefer Madness' at Mayne, Bill Larkin at Davenport's and showtunes at Ravinia. Plus:'Titanic' arrives as 'The Last Ship' sails!

Jackalope has announced the full casting for the extension of its hit production of Ike Holter's Exit Strategy, running July 30 - August 29, 2014 at Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N Broadway. Tickets are available via www.jackalopetheatre.org.

Pittsburgh CLO has announced the Pittsburgh Premiere of the Off-Broadway sensation Murder For Two, October 22-January 18 at the CLO Cabaret. Everyone is a suspect in this exciting production where classic musical comedy meets Agatha Christie. In this witty and winking musical homage to old-fashioned murder mysteries, TWO performers play THIRTEEN ROLES -- not to mention the piano.

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83), presents Shakespeare's classic comedy THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR on its outdoor main stage situated on the scenic slopes of the historic Mayslake Peabody Estate. THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR opened last Saturday, July 12 at 8:15 p.m., and runs through August 10, 2014. Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic and enjoy First Folio Theatre's annual 'Shakespeare under the Stars' production, directed by Jeff Award nominee Nick Sandys. BroadwayWorld has photos from last weekend's opening festivities below!

LA Opera will soon present the first full-scale production in this century of John Corigliano's grand opera buffa, one of the most acclaimed operas of our time. Extravagantly scaled, gloriously tuneful, supremely touching and yet uproariously entertaining, The Ghosts of Versailles turns history on its head as love attempts to alter the course of destiny. Running February 7- March 1, 2015, the production will feature direction by Tony winner Darko Tresnjak.

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83), presents Shakespeare's classic comedy THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR on its outdoor main stage situated on the scenic slopes of the historic Mayslake Peabody Estate. THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR opens tonight, July 12 at 8:15 p.m., and runs through August 10, 2014. Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic and enjoy First Folio Theatre's annual 'Shakespeare under the Stars' production, directed by Jeff Award nominee Nick Sandys. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's (CST) Producers' Guild announced today CST's inaugural Family Gala, Seussapalooza today, July 12, 2014, 11:00 a.m. at the Theater's home on Navy Pier.

First Folio Theatre presents Shakespeare's classic comedy THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR on its outdoor main stage situated on the scenic slopes of the historic Mayslake Peabody Estate. THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR opens Saturday, July 12 at 8:15 p.m., and runs through August 10, 2014. Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic and enjoy First Folio Theatre's annual 'Shakespeare under the Stars' production, directed by Jeff Award nominee Nick Sandys.

Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre opens the Tony and Academy Award winning musical, The King and I, tonight, July 9 in Winchester, VA. Set against the backdrop of 19th century Siam, Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I explores the conflicted relationship between King Mongkut of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher hired by the King as part of his plans to modernize his country. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83), presents Shakespeare's classic comedy THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR on its outdoor main stage situated on the scenic slopes of the historic Mayslake Peabody Estate. THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR opens Saturday, July 12 at 8:15 p.m., and runs through August 10, 2014. Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic and enjoy First Folio Theatre's annual 'Shakespeare under the Stars' production, directed by Jeff Award nominee Nick Sandys. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) brings the humor and magic of Dr. Seuss to life onstage this summer for young audiences and their families in the Broadway musical comedy Seussical. Playful, energetic and full of whimsy,Seussical engages the imagination with clever lyrics and melodies, unforgettable characters and the colorful world ofDr. Seuss. Seussical is written by the Tony Award®-winning team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, whose works include Ragtime, Once on This Island and the current Broadway production of Rocky, The Musical. Eric Idle ofMonty Python and Spamalot fame co-conceived the musical. Directed by Scott Weinstein with musical direction byMichael Mahler, Seussical will be performed July 5 through August 17 in CST's Courtyard Theater. Every performance features special opportunities for audiences to interact with the actors for one-on-one conversations and photo opportunities. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, CST partners with the Chicago Children's Museum (CCM) to offer hands-on craft activities in CST's Lobby. Check out a first look below!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) brings the humor and magic of Dr. Seuss to life onstage this summer for young audiences and their families in the Broadway musical comedy Seussical. Playful, energetic and full of whimsy, Seussical engages the imagination with clever lyrics and melodies, unforgettable characters and the colorful world of Dr. Seuss. Seussical is written by the Tony Award®-winning team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, whose works include Ragtime, Once on This Island and the current Broadway production of Rocky, The Musical. Eric Idle of Monty Python and Spamalot fame co-conceived the musical. Directed by Scott Weinstein with musical direction by Michael Mahler, Seussical will be performed July 5 through August 17 in CST's Courtyard Theater. Every performance features special opportunities for audiences to interact with the actors for one-on-one conversations and photo opportunities. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, CST partners with the Chicago Children's Museum (CCM) to offer hands-on craft activities in CST's Lobby. Check out highlights below!

The Gift Theatre's contemporary production of Othello, starring Kareem Bandealy as Othello and artistic director and ensemble member Michael Patrick Thornton as villainous Iago, begins previews this Thursday, July 10. Directed by Jonathan Berry (Dirty), this marks The Gift Theatre's first Shakespeare production ever mounted in its intimate 40-seat theater and Berry's Shakespearean directorial debut. Othello runs July 17-August 24 at The Gift, www.thegifttheatre.org

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83), presents Shakespeare's classic comedy THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR on its outdoor main stage situated on the scenic slopes of the historic Mayslake Peabody Estate. THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR previews tonight, July 9, opens Saturday, July 12 at 8:15 p.m., and runs through August 10, 2014. Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic and enjoy First Folio Theatre's annual 'Shakespeare under the Stars' production, directed by Jeff Award nominee Nick Sandys.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater brings the humor and magic of Dr. Seuss to life onstage this summer in the Broadway musical comedy Seussical for young audiences and their families. Directed by Scott Weinstein with musical direction by Michael Mahler, Seussical will be performed July 5 through August 17 in CST's Courtyard Theater.