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The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare

Chicago is now home to one of the most flexible theater venues in the world. The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare introduces a new trend in theater architecture to the city, with audience capacities ranging from 150 to 850. The dynamic design features nine mobile audience “towers” that can be arranged in a wide variety of ways. With each visit, you will come to “expect the unexpected” as the relationship between audience and actor is redefined by the vision of each production’s creative team. This season’s shows in The Yard highlight the versatility of this innovative new venue—from its largest proscenium configuration or a unique cabaret-like environment to an intimate thrust stage with runway aisles. The three-theater campus, encompassing our Courtyard Theater, Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare, and The Yard, now enables us to offer more productions, extend runs of successful shows, and significantly increase our service to students.

See the Bold, New Space
Browse images of Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s innovative, third theater space: The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, designed by Charcoalblue and Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture.

Critical acclaim for The Yard
“The greatest new theater in the world. There will be great work done here for all, given Chicago Shakespeare’s fantastic commitment to bring us the best of the world of performance.”

See The Yard Transform
Watch how Navy Pier’s former Skyline Stage was redesigned into a forward-thinking, new venue and how its nine mobile towers are creating a space that reconfigures with each production.

Watch The Yard In Action
Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson introduce our third year-round performance venue and illustrate how it will create a radically new, adaptable performance arena.


“State of the Imagination” Theater
The innovation doesn't stop at the versatile playing space. Chicago Shakespeare leaders introduce the cultural community to the flexible venue at the 2019 Tessitura Learning & Community Conference.

GALA 2017
On June 9, 2017 450 guests celebrated the Theater’s 30th Anniversary and had a first look at our state of the imagination theater, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare.

Ribbon Cutting Celebration
Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s closest family of donors, artists and civic leaders unveiled The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare and celebrated this truly first-of-its-kind venue on September 12, 2017.

Construction Launch Celebration
Donors to the Our City, Our Shakespeare Campaign and civic leaders “left their mark” on a structural steel beam for The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare on September 8, 2016.

 

   

 

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