Chicago Shakespeare Theater Announces
Team Shakespeare Corporate Night

Chicago's Top Corporate Leaders Step Up to Support Leading Arts-in-Education Program

Julian High School Teacher Christin Plunkett
to Receive Team Shakespeare MVP Award

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Chicago—November 17, 2009—Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) has announced that Team Shakespeare Corporate Night, an annual fundraiser in support of the Theater's far-reaching arts-in-education program, Team Shakespeare, will be held on March 2, 2010, at Chicago Shakespeare Theater's home on Navy Pier. This year's event is chaired by retired Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Raymond F. McCaskey, Jenner & Block, LLP Partner Robert S. Osborne and Civic Leader Susan R. Patten along with returning Honorary Chair and Chicago's First Lady Maggie Daley. The annual event is a fundraising cornerstone for CST's commitment to students and teachers.

Each year, a dedicated Chicago public school teacher who enhances students' lives day after day in the classroom is honored with the Team Shakespeare MVP Award. This year's recipient is Percy L. Julian High School teacher Christin Plunkett. A participant in this year's CPS Shakespeare! program, Ms. Plunkett will be honored at this year's Team Shakespeare Corporate Night on March 2.

Team Shakespeare serves students and teachers with world-class theater productions, both at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier and on tour to communities throughout the region. One of the country's largest arts-in-education programs offered by a professional theater, Team Shakespeare annually reaches nearly 50,000 students and 1,500 educators from diverse backgrounds through affordable performances, free teaching materials and teacher workshops. A central component to CST's arts-in-education program is CPS Shakespeare! an annual program uniting a citywide cast of Chicago Public high school students and their teachers, who together mount a Shakespeare production on CST's Courtyard Theater stage. On November 2, 2009, the nation was introduced to this one-of-a-kind program and the inspiring achievements of the students and their teachers on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams in a feature segment titled "Making a Difference."

The annual Team Shakespeare Corporate Night showcases Chicago Shakespeare Theater's home on Navy Pier. An elegant three-course dinner catered by Food For Thought will be served throughout the Theater's multi-level lobbies, each offering stunning views of Chicago's skyline. Following dinner, guests gather in the Courtyard Theater for a special command performance of Short Shakespeare! The Comedy of Errors, adapted and directed by David H. Bell, and the presentation of the Team Shakespeare MVP Award. The evening concludes with a dessert and champagne reception where guests mingle with the Short Shakespeare! acting company.

Artistic productions in the Courtyard Theater are supported, in part, through a generous grant from the McCormick Foundation.

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

Principal support for CPS Shakespeare! is provided by Eric's Tazmanian Angel Fund.

Polk Bros. Foundation is the sponsor of Short Shakespeare! The Comedy of Errors.

American Airlines is the official airline of Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

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

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