Barbara Gaines (Artistic Director) is the founder of Chicago Shakespeare Theater, where she has directed more than 30 of Shakespeare’s plays. Her work has been honored with Jeff Awards for Best Production (Hamlet, The Tale of Cymbeline and King Lear) and for Best Director (The Tale of Cymbeline and King Lear). In 2005, Ms. Gaines was awarded the prestigious Honorary OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in recognition of her contributions strengthening British-American cultural relations. She received the 2007 Public Humanities Award from the Illinois Humanities Council this spring, and is the recipient of the 2004 Spirit of Loyola Award. Ms. Gaines serves on the Shakespearean Council of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London and is a Life Trustee of Northwestern University. She is a member of the Cultural Affairs Advisory Board for the City of Chicago and has served on panels for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Criss Henderson (Executive Director) has produced Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s past 18 seasons. Under his leadership CST has become one of the city’s major cultural attractions, offering more than 600 performances each season for an audience of 250,000 annually. He has been honored at The Kennedy Center as Arts Administrator of the Year; was recognized among the top 40 business people under the age of 40 in Crain's Chicago Business; and was named, along with Artistic Director Barbara Gaines, one of the Chicagoans of the Year by Chicago Tribune arts and entertainment writers. Mr. Henderson also serves as president of the Producers’ Association of Chicago area Theaters and on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Arts Alliance and the League of Chicago Theatres. Mr. Henderson is director of the MFA/Arts Leadership Program, a two year graduate-level curriculum in arts management training created through a joint partnership between Chicago Shakespeare Theater and The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Rick Boynton (Creative Producer) oversees CST’s New Classics program, in addition to focusing on current and future artistic planning and production. The former Artistic Director of The Marriott Theatre from 2000 to 2005, Mr. Boynton returned to CST where he had previously served as the Casting Director and Associate Artistic Director for five years. A multiple Jeff Award-winning actor, he was Camille in the 2006 production of A Flea in Her Ear (Jeff Award, After Dark Award) and has starred in numerous shows in Chicago and across the United States. As Casting Director and Associate at Jane Alderman Casting, his projects included: the television series Early Edition, Missing Persons, The Untouchables and ER; numerous films including While You Were Sleeping and Hoodlum, as well as casting for many national tours. He has lectured at his alma mater, Northwestern University, and is the former Vice-President on the board of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre.

Gary Griffin (Associate Artistic Director), in his tenure at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, has directed Passion, A Flea in Her Ear, A Little Night Music, Sunday in the Park with George, Pacific Overtures, The Herbal Bed, Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream and Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet. Broadway directing credits include The Color Purple (11 Tony Nominations including Best Musical) and The Apple Tree (Tony Nomination for Best Musical Revival). Off Broadway credits include: Saved (Playwrights Horizons); The Apple Tree, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Pardon My English, The New Moon (Encores) and Beautiful Thing. Tour credits include the national tour of The Color Purple.  London credits include Pacific Overtures at the Donmar Warehouse (Olivier Award-Outstanding Musical Production and Olivier Award nomination for Best Director). His regional credits include work with the Old Globe, McCarter Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Signature Theatre and Hartford Stage. Chicago credits include work with Court Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Apple Tree Theatre, Writers' Theatre, The Marriott Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Pegasus Players and Famous Door Theatre.  He has received eight Joseph Jefferson Awards for directing.

Marilyn Halperin (Director of Education and Communications) joined Chicago Shakespeare Theater's staff in 1992, where she has been responsible for developing the Theater's diverse education programming for students, teachers and lifelong learners. Under her administration and guidance, Team Shakespeare has evolved into one of the most respected curriculum-integrated, arts-in-education programs in the country. Working with a team of professional educators and teaching artists, Ms. Halperin has created professional development seminars and materials that have helped shape the way that Shakespeare is being taught in classrooms throughout the Midwest. Ms. Halperin has also developed programs for CST's theater-going adult audiences, utilizing the rich academic and artistic communities of Chicago. She has spearheaded the Theater's programs serving people with disabilities, including both sign-interpreted and audio-described performances. As the Theater's Director of Communications, Ms. Halperin is responsible for broadly overseeing a standard of excellence throughout Chicago Shakespeare's publications. She served previously for many years as a museum volunteer director at The Morton Arboretum. Ms. Halperin holds a master's degree in clinical social work from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Mary Jo Lamparski (Chief Advancement Officer) joined Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2006 with more than 25 years experience in fundraising for nonprofit institutions. As the Chief Advancement Officer, she oversees all fundraising activities for the Theater and plays a leadership role in the development and execution of strategic long-range plans. Prior to joining Chicago Shakespeare, Ms. Lamparski was the Vice President for Institutional Advancement for Erikson Institute. At the University of Chicago Medical Center, Ms. Lamparski was instrumental in planning and executing the first comprehensive development programs for both the women’s and children’s hospitals. She also worked at the Children’s Memorial Medical Center and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Ms. Lamparski is affiliated with several professional development organizations including Chicago Women in Philanthropy and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Bob Mason (Artistic Associate/Casting Director)has been casting director at Chicago Shakespeare Theater since 2000, where his classical credits cover more than two-thirds of Shakespeare’s canon, including numerous productions with Artistic Director Barbara Gaines. Other CST productions of note include a quartet of Stephen Sondheim musicals (Pacific Overtures, Sunday in the Park with George, A Little Night Music and Passion) directed by Gary Griffin, as well as Rose Rage: Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3 (director Edward Hall) and The Molière Comedies (director Brian Bedford). Additional Chicago casting credits include: the Sondheim/Hal Prince premiere of Bounce (Goodman Theatre and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts) and productions for Northlight Theatre, Northwestern University’s American Music Theatre Project and the Chicago mounting of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Prior to casting, Bob enjoyed a 15-year career as a Jeff Award-winning Chicago actor and singer, and has been a visiting educator for the School at Steppenwolf and Northwestern University.

Christopher Mannelli (Deputy Director) oversees Chicago Shakespeare Theater's operations, including contracts, company management, guest services, events and special projects. Prior to moving to Chicago, Mr. Mannelli was the Managing Director for HotCity Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri, an award-winning midsized professional theater. In this capacity, Mr. Mannelli was instrumental in the company’s financial and programmatic growth, which included educational outreach programs, new play initiatives and several high profile collaborations with other arts organizations. He has also served as Education Director for The International Theater Collective and HotHouse Theatre, and has toured nationally and internationally as an actor, musician and musical director. Mr. Mannelli holds a bachelor’s degree in Opera Performance and Theater from the SUNY Geneseo School of Performing Arts and holds a master of fine arts degree in Arts Leadership from DePaul University.

Linda Orellana (Director of Finance) joined Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s staff in 2000. As Director of Finance, she oversees the Theater’s compliance to all related IRS regulations as well as State and City taxing authorities. In leading a four-person finance department, Ms. Orellana is responsible for maintaining strong internal controls over the Theater’s assets; access to risk exposure and insurance coverage; and preparing daily, monthly, and yearly financial records. A registered CPA with 20 years of nonprofit accounting experience, Ms. Orellana previously held a lead finance position at the Dr. William M. Scholl College.

Chris Plevin (Production Manager) has been with Chicago Shakespeare Theater since 2003. As head of the production department, he oversees all CST and international productions and directs the long term planning of the scenery, lighting, costumes, wigs, sound, properties, and special effects departments. Previously, he spent three seasons as the Production Manager for another Chicago theater company, Uma Productions, and worked on the Steven Sondheim musical Bounce at the Goodman Theatre. Mr. Plevin has spent two seasons as the production manager of the National High School Institute at Northwestern University where he was also an instructor and mentor in the stage management program. He has worked as a stage manager for Collaboraction and as a Project/Event Manager for both Fusion 5 Productions and Current Events International. He has been a speaker for various production and design process classes at Northwestern University and Columbia College. Mr. Plevin is a graduate of Northwestern University.

Alida Szabo (Director of Audience Development) has headed up Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s marketing, advertising, media relations, and promotions activities since 1998. Prior to joining the Theater, Ms. Szabo was a consultant in program development, marketing, and media services for such clients as the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Chicago Park District, Columbia College, and Walt Disney’s Theatrical Division. She spent seven seasons as Director of Audience Development for The Goodman Theatre and served two Chicago mayors in the Office of Special Events. Ms. Szabo was associated with several of Chicago’s prominent off-loop theater groups, including MoMing Dance and Arts Center and St. Nicholas Theater Company. She has been a speaker at several area universities and an adjunct lecturer for Roosevelt University’s masters program in Public Administration. In addition, Ms. Szabo has been a panelist and advisor to the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council, Chicago Cultural Center Foundation, and the Chicago Dance Coalition among other arts groups. She also currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Morrison-Shearer Foundation, a position she has held since 1987. Ms. Szabo holds a master's degree in urban affairs from Roosevelt University.

Michael Wood (Director of Planning and Program Development) joined Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2001. As Director of Planning and Program Development, Mr. Wood is responsible for overseeing the integration of new programs into the Theater’s long-term plans and helps guide the communications and public relations needed to advance these initiatives and uphold the company’s good community standing. During his tenure at the Theater, strategic additions have been made to the company’s education outreach efforts, as well as its international programming and arts leadership and management training initiatives. Mr. Wood is a graduate of Colorado College and holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy.