Return of Chicago Shakespeare’s summer musical, a cornerstone of the Theater’s rich tradition of family programming
Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Catch this “Tale as Old as Time” on Navy Pier for 75 minutes of summer fun
July 14–August 20, 2023
Wednesdays 11:00 a.m., Thursdays–Saturdays 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00 p.m.
Chicago—March 23, 2023—This summer, Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents a 75-minute stage adaptation of the Academy Award-winning film and Tony Award-winning stage musical Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, directed and choreographed by Amber Mak. Dazzling production numbers, including the title song and the showstopping "Be Our Guest," will fill the Courtyard Theater, introducing young audiences to the magic of live theater. The production runs July 13–August 20, 2023, with performances on Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m., Thursdays–Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
With beloved music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and a book by Linda Woolverton, this “tale as old as time” promises to be the perfect outing for audiences of all ages at Chicago Shakespeare’s home on Navy Pier. Filled with lovable characters and enchanting settings, this enduring fairytale recounts the story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end, and he will be transformed into his former self. But time is running out. If those lessons aren’t learned soon, the Beast and his household will be doomed for all eternity.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is directed and choreographed by Amber Mak, one of Chicago’s most sought-after musical theatre directors. Mak’s Chicago Shakespeare credits include directing and choreographing the 75-minute Peter Pan, A Musical Adventure in 2018, and choreographing the American premiere of Nell Gwynn. In addition to multiple productions at Marriott Theatre and Drury Lane, she has directed frequently at Aurora’s Paramount Theatre, where she was the New Works Development Director for many years. Her Paramount credits include the recent acclaimed production of The Sound of Music, Rock of Ages, Hairspray, The Wizard of Oz (for which she received a Jeff Award nomination for Best Director), Disney’s The Little Mermaid, and choreographing the world premiere, The Secret of My Success.
This production marks the return of the Theater’s summer family musical. For multi-generational family audiences, Chicago Shakespeare offers a theatergoing experience of the highest quality, introducing live performance to young hearts and minds and sparking a lifelong interest in the arts. The Theater has engaged hundreds of thousands of young people over the years through musicals in the summer, abridged productions of Shakespeare plays, and Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks performances in partnership with neighborhood arts organizations across the city.
For more information, visit chicagoshakes.com/beauty or connect with us on social media at @chicagoshakes or #cstBeauty.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast runs July 14–August 20, 2023, in the Courtyard Theater. The production is best enjoyed by audiences ages 5 and up. Single tickets ($26 Children age 12 & under; $42 Adults) are on sale now. Special discounts available for groups of 10 or more. For more information, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater’s website at www.chicagoshakes.com.
Disney's Beauty and the Beast is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com.
ABOUT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER
Regional Tony Award-recipient Chicago Shakespeare Theater produces a bold and innovative year-round season—plays, musicals, world premieres, family productions, and theatrical presentations from around the globe—alongside nationally recognized education programming serving tens of thousands of students, teachers, and lifelong learners each year. Founded in 1986, the Theater’s onstage work has expanded to as many as twenty productions and 650 performances annually. Chicago Shakespeare is dedicated to welcoming the next generation of theatergoers; one in four of its audience members is under the age of eighteen. As a nonprofit organization, the Theater works to embrace diversity, prioritize inclusion, provide equitable opportunities, and offer an accessible experience for all. On the Theater’s three stages at its home on Navy Pier, in classrooms and neighborhoods across the city, and in venues around the world, Chicago Shakespeare is a multifaceted cultural hub—inviting audiences, artists, and community members to share powerful stories that connect and inspire. www.chicagoshakes.com.
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