“I have learned that deep down inside, we all have a clown. We all can learn to be 10X the person we are while remaining the person we are. I learned that I can be so much more open, and can truly speak publicly without fear. I know who I can really be, the true me. There are so many nice people in the world, tall and short, dark, light, south and north siders. Now in this ensemble we are all one, something that is hard to accomplish.”

–Junior, Gage Park High School

“Five years after participating in the pilot year of CPS Shakespeare! I am back in a program that I consider one of the most important educational programs in history. The discussions we have regarding the text are a teacher’s dream. The students dig so deeply into the text and find such subtle, new ways of looking at certain lines. There is no aspect of my point of view regarding the reading of Shakespeare that has not been completely changed. There is no other way to connect so deeply to the characters. The text must be viewed with an eye sharper than any standardized test can measure.”

–Teacher, Al Raby School for Community & Environment

“I think what made me do this and devote so much to it is my love for theater. Theater has saved my life. I particularly enjoyed the family dinner. I got to show my mom new places and things. I also got to introduce her to new friends that I hope to keep. I also really liked the audition process. It felt professional and respectful. I want to express myself through my character. I want people to see the real me.”

–Senior, Taft High School

“My students’ ability to use whatever challenges they face outside these walls to propel themselves into this unknown world with such bravery and openness is astonishing. As a teacher, there is nothing that informs my practice better than my time at CST. There has never been a time when I walk into this building one way and walk out the same. I’ve learned that everything is possible, that I am justified in feeling optimistic about every child, and that I need to search out every opportunity for myself and my students to grow and participate in the world.”

–Teacher, Gage Park High School

“Because I’ve done this program twice prior to this year, it was a no-brainer to return. This program has become a part of my life and coming back was like going home during summer break from college: Chicago Shakespeare Theater is my home. William Shakespeare is the king of all that is playwriting and poetry. It’s always amazing to me when I think about how long ago his plays and poems were written and yet we are here in the 21st century still learning from his work.”

–Senior, Phillips Academy High School

“I participated in this program last year and its transformational power brought me back. This experience has whole-heartedly changed my point of view about reading Shakespeare. I feel so much better prepared to bring Shakespeare to my students, and it was honestly the only reason I was confident enough to direct our school’s first Shakespeare play last spring. It is a joy to follow this same journey as the students do and take part in a process where there is no “expert.” I love to take part in scenes with students from different schools and experience how easily they encourage and support each other.”

–Teacher, Multicultural Academy of Scholarship

Back to CPS Shakespeare!