A virtual event held on April 23, 2021, supporting Chicago Shakespeare’s nationally acclaimed arts in literacy and community engagement programs.
To mark Shakespeare’s birthday, this special evening of performance—broadcast from the Theater’s rooftop—celebrates the power of the arts to inspire, heal, and unite us.
An immortal line from a poet 400 years ago beckons us still today: “To be, or not to be.” Our city has greatly suffered—but its spirit remains unshakeable. Through song, poetry, dance, and spoken word, this virtual celebration urges us all... to be. To be bold. To be daring. To be a force for positive change.
A CONVERSATION WITH COMMON
The globally renowned rapper, actor, and Chicago community advocate joins Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Event Co-Chair Binta Niambi Brown for a lively city-side chat.
MUSICAL PERFORMANCES FROM CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER’S ROOFTOP
featuring
Susan Moniz and Joriah Kwamé
with
Jovan Landry, Ariana Burks, Lucy Godínez, Alexa Xioufaridou Moster, Juwon Tyrel Perry, Brandon Pisano, Sawyer Smith, plus Briana Arthur and Taylor Ramos of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, and Kimi Hayes, Charles Heath, Dan Peters, Charlotte Rivard-Hoster, Chuck Webb, and Tahirah Whittington
SPECIAL MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson performs “Words” from the new musical adaptation of The Notebook, making its upcoming debut at Chicago Shakespeare.
ADDITIONAL APPEARANCES BY
Jose "iasEL" Gonzalez, Izaiah Harris, and Move Me Soul Dance Company
EVENT CO-CHAIRS
Binta Niambi Brown
Linda K. Myers
Jane DiRenzo Pigott
RECOGNIZING
Sheli Z. Rosenberg
Spirit of Shakespeare Award for Distinguished Leadership
Sponsorships of TO BE 4/23 fuel the Theater’s nationally acclaimed arts in literacy and community engagement programs. Each year, these initiatives connect Chicago Shakespeare with over 600 neighborhood partners across the North, West, and South Sides of the city, and support the work of teachers, bringing Shakespeare to life for tens of thousands of students.
TO BE 4/23 LEAD CONSORTIUM
TO BE 4/23 HOST COMMITTEE
TO BE 4/23 BENEFACTORS
The Dombalagian Family
Ann Drake
Guidehouse | Chris and Erin O’Brien
Barbara and Keith Kizziah
Latham & Watkins, LLP | Neal and Jennifer Reenan
Chase Levey
Jim and Molly Perry
The Raino Family
Thomas A. Reynolds
Ropes & Gray LLP | Paulita Pike
Jamie and Sara Star
TO BE 4/23 PATRONS
Brodsky Family Foundation
Greg and Marcy Carlin
Equity LifeStyle Properties
Equity Residential
Sylvia Neil and Dan Fischel
Julian Oettinger
Sheila Penrose and Ernest Mahaffey
Perkins Coie LLP
Stephen and Linda Smith
Philip and Becky Tinkler
Ventas, Inc.
Jack and Goldie Wolfe Miller
TO BE 4/23 DONORS
Wade and Rebecca Bacon
Mr. and Mrs. Abram Bluestein
Mr. & Mrs. Norman Bobins, The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation
Linda and Peter Bynoe
Citi Private Bank
Michael W. Cusick
Eileen Dordek and Chris Landgraff
Pamela Forbes Lieberman
Constance and David Freedman
Paul and Susan Freehling
Sean and Susan Gallagher
Bill Glader
Joe and Madeleine Glossberg
Dr. Larry Goodman and Ms. Michelle Goodman
Jason W. Gordon
Stephanie and Adam Grais
Grant Park Music Festival
Jack and Sandra Guthman
Jeff and Renee Hall
Joan M. Hall
Christie Hefner
Thomas Heneghan
Hamilton and Traci Hill
Denise and Adam Hoeflich
Patricia J. Hurley
Neil Kujawa
Mark Levine and Andrea Kott
Chris and Carol Lind
Andrew and Kate MacNally
Mark Ouweleen and Sarah Harding
Jason and Jackie Peltz
The Pritzker Traubert Foundation
Cindy Sobel and Matt Greiner
Asha Spencer
David Stone
Pam and Russ Strobel
Brian and Beth Swanson
Christina Tchen
Pam and Doug Walter
Susan and Bob Wislow
Hilary Wolfe
Elizabeth Yntema and Mark Ferguson