Chicago Shakespeare Theater News

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today the acting company and creative team for Shrek The Musical, the Theater's annual summer family musical, directed and choreographed by Rachel Rockwell with music direction by Michael Mahler, July 13-September 1, 2013 in CST's Courtyard Theater. Based on the Academy Award-winning DreamWorks film and the book by William Steig, CST's 75-minute production ofShrek The Musical will take audiences on an unconventional fairy-tale adventure with everyone's favorite ogre. The production features two Jeff Award-winning actors: Michael Aaron Lindner as the lovable ogre Shrek and Summer Naomi Smart in her CST debut as the spunky Princess Fiona. In support of Mayor Emanuel's Summer of Learning Program, special activities will be offered in conjunction with Shrek The Musical for students to earn a "Bard Badge."

Broadway veteran and Saturday Night Live favorite, Ana Gasteyer, brings her unique comic wit and style to the stage in her show of songs and stories. The comedy superstar dons a dress and works her hardest to keep the evening elegant with her powerhouse vocals showcased in Broadway ditties, standards and more. Gasteyer fronts a swinging ensemble in an evening that promises to be classy, brassy and sassy or jazzy, quirky and tear-jerky depending on world events and/or her hair frizz factor.

STAGES ST. LOUIS is thrilled to announce, due to unprecedented demand,Always... Patsy Cline will add Sunday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m. to its original production schedule.Always... Patsy Cline had the largest advance of any production in the history of STAGES' 27 years and continues to SELL OUT performances on a daily basis. The audience is clamoring to return to see the production for a second time and is stopping the show with thunderous applause with numbers like 'Crazy,' and 'Lovesick Blues.'

JEFF BLUMENKRANTZ and BRETT RYBACK to Co-Star in Second Stage Uptown's MURDER FOR TWO

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's (CST) Othello: The Remix, the 90-minute hip-hop adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy, spun out and lyrically rewritten over original beats, has been extended a second time through July 27, 2013. Written, directed and with music by the Q Brothers, Othello: The Remix is receiving rave reviews from audiences across Chicago, playing to sold-out houses and nightly standing ovations. The high energy, cross-genre production is stimulating theater attendance from under-represented audiences in Chicago with noticeable increases in multi-generational and culturally diverse audiences. The production continues to break records for Chicago Shakespeare's longstanding CST for $20 program, which offers $20 tickets for CST productions to students and young professionals under the age of 35. Following the extended run of the American premiere in Chicago, Othello: The Remix will return to London (where the production first performed last fall as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad's 'Globe to Globe' festival at Shakespeare's Globe). The three-week engagement at London's Unicorn Theatre will take place September 11-28, 2013. Chicago Shakespeare's full 2013 summer programming schedule also includes: Piccolo Teatro di Milano's Inner Voices from June 25-29; Shrek The Musical from July 13-September 1; Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks performing The Comedy of Errorsfrom July 26-August 25.

Aux Dog Theatre Nob Hill presents The Bicycle Men for one weekend only! The show runs July 18-20, on Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7.30pm, with a special late night show on Saturday at 10pm.

STAGES ST. LOUIS celebrates music legend and cross-over sensation Patsy Cline, today, May 31 through June 30 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood. The touching true story, Always... Patsy Cline combines humor, heartache and 27 of Patsy's most unforgettable hits, such as 'Crazy,' 'Walkin' After Midnight,' 'Sweet Dreams,' and more.

Theater Wit has announced it will present a special encore presentation this summer of its critically acclaimed 2007 smash hit Thom Pain (based on nothing) by Will Eno.

Million Dollar Quartet announces that this Saturday, May 26, 2013 marks the official date at which it becomes the longest-running musical production in Chicago's history. With 1,949 performances and 5 smash years in Chicago, the Tony Award-winning rock 'n' roll musical has surpassed both Wicked and Pumpboys and Dinettes, setting a new record for the longest running Broadway musical in Chicago.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents Pal Joey, book by John O'Hara, music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, April 20 - May 26, at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. Directed by Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Director, Michael Weber with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck (reuniting with Weber for the first time since their collaboration on Porchlight's triumphant production of Assassins) and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier, Pal Joey stars Adrian Aguliar, 'Joey Evans,' Susie McMonagle, 'Vera Simpson,' Laura Savage, 'Linda English,' Matt Orlando, 'Ludlow Lowell' and Sharriese Hamilton, 'Gladys Bumps.'

To conclude its 45th season, Berkeley Repertory Theatre welcomes back a pair of acclaimed collaborators: Sarah Ruhl and Les Waters, the creators of Eurydice, Three Sisters, and In the Next Room (or the vibrator play), return to Berkeley Rep with another tale of love and longing in Dear Elizabeth.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) joins the Italian Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago to commemorate the Year of Italian Culture in America with the World's Stage presentation of Inner Voices, a co-production with Italy's first and best-established theater Piccolo Teatro di Milano, June 25-29, 2013 in CST's Courtyard Theater.

Million Dollar Quartet announces that this Saturday, May 26, 2013 marks the official date at which it becomes the longest-running musical production in Chicago's history. With 1,949 performances and 5 smash years in Chicago, the Tony Award-winning rock 'n' roll musical has surpassed both Wicked and Pumpboys and Dinettes, setting a new record for the longest running Broadway musical in Chicago.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's our annual Summer Musical Theater Guide! This week, Part One: Chicagoland. Check out 'The Jungle Book,' 'Kiss Of The Spider Woman,' 'Next To Normal,' 'The Color Purple,' 'Spelling Bee,' 'Cabaret' and a whole lot more!

Greek mythology meets burlesque, puppetry, and a modern Americana score in the latest original piece from acclaimed ensemble Liars & Believers, creators of last year's gritty hit, 28 Seeds. Minnie's Menagerie, a peculiar Depression-era sideshow, is raking it in with the help of Daedalus's whimsical technology. But when Daedalus's son falls in love with Minnie's daughter, the star attraction, their passion and plans to escape threaten to bring it all crashing down.

The Judas Redux team (led by Executive Producers Julia Albain and Corey Lubowich of Team StarKid fame) announces casting for a new production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by Stephen Adly Guirgis, and directed by Julia Albain. The Last Days of Judas Iscariot will be presented at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont in Chicago, for 18 performances, August 23 - September 8, 2013. The Press Opening is scheduled for Sunday, August 25 at 6:00 p.m.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today the expanded Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks program as part of the City's "Night Out in the Parks" initiative.Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST), the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District and leaders of Chicago's corporate community partner to expand the Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks program, after its inaugural success in 2012. The citywide tour of The Comedy of Errors travels to neighborhood parks across Chicago, FREE FOR ALL, July 25-August 25, 2013. From Humboldt Park to Garfield and Loyola Park to South Shore, this summer's Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks will break down barriers to arts participation and give Chicagoans direct access to their City's cultural resources by bringing 27 free Shakespeare performances into 18 different neighborhood parks.