Criss Henderson News

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces the cast and creative team for the summer family musical production of Peter Pan - A Musical Adventure at the Theater's home on Navy Pier, June 27-August 19, 2018. Based on J.M. Barrie's beloved tale about the boy who wouldn't grow up, this heartwarming musical dazzles with a score written by George Stiles and lyrics by Anthony Drewe-the award-winning songwriting duo behind Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's smash hit Mary Poppins and the Olivier Award-winning Honk! Amber Mak takes the helm as the production's director and choreographer in this newly updated version by Elliot Davis based on the book by Willis Hall.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater celebrated GALA 2018 on Friday, June 8, 2018, raising $1.6 million for the Chicago Shakespeare in Classrooms and Communities initiatives-which include the Tony Award-winning Theater's nationally recognized education programs and free citywide Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces the cast and creative team for the summer family musical production of Peter Pan - A Musical Adventure at the Theater's home on Navy Pier, June 27-August 19, 2018. Based on J.M. Barrie's beloved tale about the boy who wouldn't grow up, this heartwarming musical dazzles with a score written by George Stiles and lyrics by Anthony Drewe-the award-winning songwriting duo behind Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's smash hit Mary Poppins and the Olivier Award-winning Honk! Amber Mak takes the helm as the production's director and choreographer in this newly updated version by Elliot Davis based on the book by Willis Hall.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater welcomes back Ireland's Druid theatre company-"one of the world's greatest acting ensembles" (The Guardian)-with its critically acclaimed production of Samuel Beckett's masterpiece, Waiting for Godot. Staged by Tony Award-winning director Garry Hynes, the production will be presented for a limited engagement in the Courtyard Theater as part of WorldStage at Chicago Shakespeare, May 23-June 3, 2018.

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. Made possible by production sponsor BMO Harris Bank, 25 performances of Shakespeare's timeless classic A Midsummer Night's Dream, adapted and directed by the Theater's founder and artistic director Barbara Gaines, will tour free for all to 18 neighborhood parks across the City, July 25-August 26, 2018.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater welcomes back Ireland's Druid theatre company-"one of the world's greatest acting ensembles" (The Guardian)-with its critically acclaimed production of Samuel Beckett's masterpiece, Waiting for Godot. Staged by Tony Award-winning director Garry Hynes, the production will be presented for a limited engagement in the Courtyard Theater as part of WorldStage at Chicago Shakespeare, May 23-June 3, 2018.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater  (CST) announces the cast and creative team for the theatrical event of the season: Macbeth, adapted and directed by Teller (of Penn & Teller) and Aaron Posner-the celebrated creative duo behind CST's The Tempest, winner of the Jeff Award for Best Production in 2015. Starring Ian Merrill Peakesas Macbeth and Chaon Cross as Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare's psychological thriller immerses audiences in a world of dark magic and ambition, delving into the twisted psyches of the ultimate power-hungry couple.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the cast and creative team for Mary Stuart, Peter Oswald's electrifying new take on the famously bitter rivalry between Mary, Queen of Scots, and her cousin Elizabeth I, Queen of England. The two fiercely independent women at the center of the showdown are portrayed by acclaimed actresses K.K. Moggie as Mary and Kellie Overbey as Elizabeth. Award-winning director Jenn Thompson, former artistic director of The Actors Company Theater (named Company of the Year by The Wall Street Journal), stages the production in CST's Courtyard Theater, February 21 April 15, 2018.

January 4, 2018 Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) continues the 2017/18 Season with a full line-up of productions through June 2018.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) begins rehearsals for Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream a 75-minute abridgment of William Shakespeare's riotous tale of mismatched love among mischievous fairies, young lovers and an amateur theatrical troupe of local workers. Directed and adapted by Jess McLeod and featuring a power-packed ensemble cast, this production will bring the magic to life for 1,000 students each day in the innovative, new venue The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare during its six-week run. Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream will be performed for the public on Saturdays February 3 March 10, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

International theatre, acoustic and digital design consultancy Charcoalblue will open their new Chicago studio in January in response to a growing portfolio of projects currently underway in the city and surrounding regions.

Next week, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) brings together more than 300 high school students from 47 public, private and parochial schools across the region for this year's Chicago Shakespeare Slam. A series of Saturdayworkshops and regional preliminary bouts throughout the fall culminate in a raucous and fun-filled Finals Bout on Monday, December 11 at 6:00 p.m. on CST's Courtyard Theater stage. Emcees warm up the crowd and an onstage DJ drops beats as nine teams perform, cheered on by a full house of fellow participants, classmates and friends. This year's Finals Bout performances will be overseen by a star-studded panel of judges (special guests to be announced).

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) begins rehearsals next week for the stirring drama Red Velvet, staged by Broadway and Chicago director Gary Griffin and starring celebrated Shakespearean actor Dion Johnstone.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces a World's Stage production in its soon-to-be-completed new venue, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare: Teatro Linea de Sombra's evocative Amarillo, October 17-29, 2017. Devised by one of Mexico's most celebrated and forward-thinking ensembles and directed by Jorge A. Vargas, Amarillo will be the largest international theatrical event of the inaugural Chicago International Latino Theater Festival - Destinos (d?-stee-noce).

Major Latino theater companies from Latin America, the Caribbean and around the city will be showcased at DESTINOS (d?-stee-noce), the first Chicago International Latino Theater Festival, an ambitious month-long festival of 'First voice' plays and panels presented by Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA), September 29 - October 29, 2017. 

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) Artistic Director Barbara Gaines stages Shakespeare's raucous comedy The Taming of the Shrew with a powerhouse, all-woman cast-setting up a witty and thought-provoking debate on politics, power, and love. Framed as a performance by a band of Suffragettes with additional dialogue by Second City's Ron West, The Taming of the Shrew launches Chicago Shakespeare's 2017/18 Season in the Courtyard Theater, September 16-November 12, 2017.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) opens its new, innovative third theater on Navy Pier, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, with the inaugural performance James Thierr e's The Toad Knew on September 19.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) opens its new, innovative third theater on Navy Pier, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on September12 and the inaugural performance -- James Thierr e's The Toad Knew -- on September 19. Introducing a new trend in theatrical architecture, The Yard combines adaptive reuse with innovation in flexible design.

Back by popular demand, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the highly anticipated return of the cheeky holiday classic Q Brothers Christmas Carol, from hip-hop sensations the Q Brothers Collective and developed with CST Creative Producer Rick Boynton. After three wildly successful runs in 2013, 2014, and 2015 to sold-out houses, the raucous and irreverent musical event now takes the stage of the Theater's innovative third venue, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, November 21-December 31, 2017.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) Artistic Director Barbara Gaines stages Shakespeare's raucous comedy The Taming of the Shrew with a powerhouse, all-woman cast-setting up a witty and thought-provoking debate on politics, power, and love. Framed as a performance by a band of Suffragettes with additional dialogue by Second City's Ron West, The Taming of the Shrew launches Chicago Shakespeare's 2017/18 Season in the Courtyard Theater, September 16-November 12, 2017.