Chicago Shakespeare’s Rowe Lifelong Learning Series encompasses our growing audience enrichment programs. Engagement with scholars, artists, and the Theater’s staff provide thoughtful points of entry—and those who wish to dig deeper will enjoy another lens through which to understand the plays on our stages, and the art-making behind them.
A team of scholars presents free pre-performance lectures on select Saturday and Sunday matinees. These half-hour talks by scholars examine the play through the a historical context, as well as the interpretive choices made by the director, design team and acting ensemble.
Upcoming:
Backstage Tours
This intergenerational experience is engaging for all learners. Whether you’re a long-time subscriber, or seeing Shakespeare for the first time, the Backstage Tour is for you. This exclusive tour, led by a member of our skilled Production team, will give you the inside scoop on the theater’s impressive architecture, the technical aspects that bring our shows to life, and the wide spectrum of roles backstage.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
Saturday, February 14 *SOLD OUT*
Saturday, February 28 *SOLD OUT*
Post Show Discussions
These entertaining and informative discussions are offered following certain Wednesday matinees, and after Saturday matinee performances of our Shakespeare Abridgement. Audience members have the opportunity to discuss the play, the production, and more with cast members directly following their performance.
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February 7, 2026
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February 14, 2026
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February 21, 2026
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February 28, 2026
Adult Learning Programs
Hamnet Adaptation Workshop with Lolita Chakrabarti
Wed, February 11, 2026 | 5:30 PM
Courtyard Theater
Lolita Chakrabarti is back! This season we are thrilled to welcome acclaimed playwright and actor back to Chicago Shakespeare to share her adaptation of Maggie O’Farrells novel, Hamnet. We invite you to join Lolita for a special in-person workshop on Wednesday, February 11! Lolita will give us a look into her process for adapting works from the page to the stage. Lolita has adapted other critically acclaimed work for world stages including Life of Pi and Invisible Cities. This free event open to Hamnet ticket holders, is a wonderful compliment to the production you will see in partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company on The Yard stage.
Capacity for this workshop has been reached.
Please make sure if you have registered for this workshop that you also have a ticket to Hamnet.
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