Criss Henderson News

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) names Deborah Vandergift to the newly created position of General Manager.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the cast and creative team for the Chicago premiere of Mike Bartlett's new West End and Broadway sensation King Charles III, directed by Gary Griffin as part of the Theater's 30th Anniversary Season.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) culminates Artistic Director Barbara Gaines' Tug of War with Civil Strife, where family divisions launch a country into civil war through Shakespeare's Henry VI, Parts 2 and 3 and into his notorious tragedy Richard III.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG) announces the 2016 Round 4 Cycle A recipients of the Leadership U[niversity]-Continuing Ed program.

The Old Globe presents the West Coast premiere of Paul Gordon's delightfully romantic new musical SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, developed with Rick Boynton and presented in association with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, where it was commissioned and had its world premiere in April 2015.

The Old Globe presents the West Coast premiere of Paul Gordon's delightfully romantic new musical SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, developed with Rick Boynton and presented in association with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, where it was commissioned and had its world premiere in April 2015.

The Old Globe has announced the complete cast and creative team for the West Coast premiere of Paul Gordon's delightfully romantic new musical SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, developed with Rick Boynton and presented in association with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, where it was commissioned and had its world premiere in April 2015.

On the occasion of the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare's legacy in 2016, Chicago Shakespeare Theater  (CST) prepares to begin an epic theatrical endeavor-Artistic Director Barbara Gaines' Tug of War, which distills six Shakespeare histories into two action-packed dramas. Adapted and directed by Gaines as the Theater's centerpiece of the yearlong Shakespeare 400 Chicago festival, the Tug of War saga traces the injustice and intrigues of war from the perspectives of both kings and common soldiers through two, six-hour marathon productions-Foreign Fire (Edward III, Henry V and Henry VI, Part 1) in the spring and Civil Strife (Henry VI, Parts 2 and 3 and Richard III) in the fall. Featuring some of Chicago's most celebrated actors, the dynamic ensemble cast of 19 performs over 100 characters throughout the electrifying drama. The musicality of Shakespeare's text is complemented with live music performances ranging from Bach and the blues, to contemporary pop and folk anthems. Songs from P!nk, Pete Townshend and Tim Buckley are accompanied onstage by a band of ensemble members on electric guitar, cello, keyboard, ukulele and percussion. Tug of War: Foreign Fire debuts on the Courtyard Theater stage for a limited run of only 18 performances, May 12-June 12, 2016.

On the occasion of the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare's legacy in 2016, Chicago Shakespeare Theater  (CST) prepares to begin an epic theatrical endeavor-Artistic Director Barbara Gaines' Tug of War, which distills six Shakespeare histories into two action-packed dramas. Adapted and directed by Gaines as the Theater's centerpiece of the yearlong Shakespeare 400 Chicago festival, the Tug of War saga traces the injustice and intrigues of war from the perspectives of both kings and common soldiers through two, six-hour marathon productions-Foreign Fire (Edward III, Henry V and Henry VI, Part 1) in the spring and Civil Strife (Henry VI, Parts 2 and 3 and Richard III) in the fall. Featuring some of Chicago's most celebrated actors, the dynamic ensemble cast of 19 performs over 100 characters throughout the electrifying drama. The musicality of Shakespeare's text is complemented with live music performances ranging from Bach and the blues, to contemporary pop and folk anthems. Songs from P!nk, Pete Townshend and Tim Buckley are accompanied onstage by a band of ensemble members on electric guitar, cello, keyboard, ukulele and percussion. Tug of War: Foreign Fire debuts on the Courtyard Theater stage for a limited run of only 18 performances, May 12-June 12, 2016.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) celebrated the global impact of Shakespeare with GALA 2016 at the Theater's home on Navy Pier on the 400th Anniversary of his death-April 23, 2016-a date which also marked the playwright's 452nd birthday.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents a highlight of Shakespeare 400 Chicago -The Q Brothers' 90-minute hip-hop adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy, OTHELLO: THE REMIX, spun out and lyrically rewritten over original beats.

On the heels of announcing the Theater's expansion with an innovative performance venue known as The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare and in the midst of a full calendar of programs around the yearlong Shakespeare 400 Chicago celebration, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson share the line-up for the Theater's 2016-17 Season. The twenty productions range from works inspired by Shakespeare and world premieres to standout performances by artists from around the globe.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents a highlight of Shakespeare 400 Chicago -The Q Brothers' 90-minute hip-hop adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy, OTHELLO: THE REMIX, spun out and lyrically rewritten over original beats.

Chicago Shakespeare Artistic Director Barbara Gaines, Executive Director Criss Henderson and Board Chair Sheli Z. Rosenberg were joined by Navy Pier, Inc. CEO Marilynn Gardner and Board Chair William J. Brodsky as well as Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today to announce the creation of an innovative performance venue, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare. Construction on the theater begins this spring; Chicago Shakespeare plans to stage its first production in The Yard in the 2017-18 Season.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents Shakespeare's intimate tragedy of heartbreak and revenge, OTHELLO. Staged by UK award-winning director Jonathan Munby, the production features James Vincent Meredith in the title role as the Moor. Munby imagines Shakespeare's tale in the landscape of a modern-day military base amid the searing themes of revenge, prejudice and passion. Featured in the yearlong Shakespeare 400 Chicago celebration, OTHELLO is presented in CST's Courtyard Theater, tonight, February 18, through April 10, 2016.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) welcomes Oxford Playhouse's stirring SANCHO: AN ACT OF REMEMBRANCE, starring celebrated Royal Shakespeare Company actor Paterson Joseph, as a part of the yearlong Shakespeare 400 Chicago celebration.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) welcomes Oxford Playhouse's stirring SANCHO: AN ACT OF REMEMBRANCE, starring celebrated Royal Shakespeare Company actor Paterson Joseph, as a part of the yearlong Shakespeare 400 Chicago celebration.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) welcomes Cheek by Jowl and Moscow Pushkin Drama Theatre's internationally acclaimed production of William Shakespeare's MEASURE FOR MEASURE to kick off the line-up for the yearlong Shakespeare 400 Chicago celebration.

The Bard is back! Shakespeare 400 Chicago today announced the festival line-up for 2016, featuring 850 events on stages and in museums, restaurants, parks, schools and neighborhoods across Chicago.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) welcomes Cheek by Jowl and Moscow Pushkin Drama Theatre's internationally acclaimed production of William Shakespeare's MEASURE FOR MEASURE to kick off the line-up for the yearlong Shakespeare 400 Chicago celebration.