Peter Brook Directs Samuel Beckett's

Fragments

At Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Now through February 9, 2008

Chicago—January 31, 2008—Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) concludes the 2007/08 World's Stage Series with Fragments, marking the return of legendary director Peter Brook's work to the CST stage. Fragments is based on texts of preeminent playwright Samuel Beckett: "Rough for Theatre I," "Rockaby," "Act Without Words II," "Neither," and "Come and Go." Bringing the texts to life is a renowned international cast, featuring artists whose diverse credits include one thing in common—their association with the United Kingdom's Théâtre de la Complicité. The American premiere and only U.S. engagement of Fragments is Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare now through Saturday, February 9, 2008.

Fragments was presented in French in October 2006 at Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord in Paris, and was redirected in English at London's Young Vic Theatre in September 2007. The cast includes Italian director, actor, movement director, teacher and Complicité co-founder Marcello Magni; Olivier Award-winner, actor and director Kathryn Hunter—who also appeared in Harry Potter: The Order of the Phoenix; and Dutch performer, writer, actor and Olivier Award-winner Jos Houben. Mr. Brook's assistants are Lilo Baur and Marie Hélène Estienne. Lighting design is by Philippe Vialatte.

Fragments has received critical acclaim in France and London. The Sunday Times declared, "Both Beckett and Brook have an aura of unapproachable, irreproachable saintliness, but here the director's brisk, common-sense attitude is a good antidote. Bare, beady-eyed, unflinching and painfully funny, this is Beckett as it should be done, even if it's not always Beckett as Beckett said it should be done."

Peter Brook has redefined theater for audiences around the world through four decades of groundbreaking work, including The Tragedy of Hamlet and Le Costume, staged at CST in 2001 and 2002. Throughout his career—beginning as the youngest director in history of the Stratford-upon-Avon Festival, to the founding of the International Centre of Theatre Research, to his history-making adaptations of A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Mahabharata—Brook continues to explore, innovate and fascinate.

Fragments is the 20th international production in CST's World's Stage Series—the only one of its kind in Chicago, connecting with international artists and developing ongoing relationships with Chicago artists. Sharing the World's Stage concludes with two programs specifically designed to connect Chicago artists with international guests: a special performance of Fragments for Chicago-area theater students followed by a discussion with the Company, and an invited workshop with the Company for Chicago theater professionals.

Performances of Fragments are scheduled now through Saturday, February 9, 2008, Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare. The performance schedule is: February 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m., with 2:00 p.m. matinees on February 3 and 9. Tickets are $46 Tuesday through Thursday and $56 Friday through Sunday. A limited number of cushions are also available at each performance for $15. For further information and to purchase tickets, call the Chicago Shakespeare Theater Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com.

International programming at Chicago Shakespeare Theater is supported, in part, by the Julius Frankel Foundation and The Rhoades Foundation.

American Airlines is the official airline of Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

ComEd is the official lighting design sponsor of Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Programming Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare is made possible through generous support from Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

Anna Marie Wilharm
Public Relations Assistant
awilharm@chicagoshakes.com
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
312.595.5633

Cathy Taylor
cathy@cathytaylorpr.com
Cathy Taylor Public Relations
773.564.9564

Chicago Shakespeare Theater
on Navy Pier
800 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

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