Press Room

Chicago Shakespeare presents GALA 2017 on June 9, 2017 in support of Theater’s civic and educational initiatives—featuring first look at The Yard and one-night-only performance from Broadway’s Heather Headley & Jessie Mueller 

Casting announced for Madagascar – A Musical Adventure, the DreamWorks animated film brought to life onstage at Navy Pier, July 13–August 27; Rachel Rockwell to direct

Shakespeare in Love directed by Rachel Rockwell extended by popular demand—now playing though June 18

Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tours 25 performances of Romeo and Juliet FREE FOR ALL to 18 neighborhood parks across Chicago, July 26–August 27, 2017.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces 2017/2018 Season—including the introduction of innovative third venue, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare.

Chicago Shakespeare announces summer family musical: Madagascar – A Musical Adventure, based on DreamWorks animated film and brought to life onstage at Navy Pier beginning July 13

Oscar Award-winning film Shakespeare in Love comes to the stage in highly anticipated theatrical event, April 15–June 11

Cast and creative team announced for Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet—Abridgment brings Shakespeare’s classic to life, beginning February 25

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces cast and creative team for Love’s Labor’s Lost—Shakespeare’s exuberant romantic comedy staged by Marti Maraden, February 7–March 26, 2017

World Premiere Chicago Shakespeare commission The Book of Joseph—chronicling one family’s remarkable story spanning occupied Poland to present-day America—directed by Barbara Gaines and featuring Chicago favorite Francis Guinan

December events wrap up Shakespeare 400 Chicago; yearlong festival projected to reach 1.1 million attendees at 863 events

Chicago Shakespeare Theater commission The Q Brothers’ Othello: The Remix opens off-Broadway to rave reviews

350 high school students from across Chicagoland unite in Battle of the Bard Shakespeare slam, inaugurated as part of Shakespeare 400 Chicago. Finals at Chicago Shakespeare set for November 14, 2016

New commission for Shakespeare 400 Chicago and Navy Pier Centennial, undreamed shores—a solo micro-journey from Australia’s one step at a time like this in 3rd Chicago Shakespeare collaboration

Casting announced for Mike Bartlett’s King Charles III—Winner of the 2015 Olivier Award for Best New Play—featuring Downton Abbey’s Robert Bathurst in the title role

New Chairman of the Board of Directors announced—Steve Solomon, Exelon's Vice President of Corporate Relations and Exelon Foundation President; Four additional members elected to the Board

Shakespeare 400 Chicago’s Culinary Complete Works headlines exclusive Grand Cru event at Bon Appétit presents Chicago Gourmet, September 24 & 25, 2016

Culmination of Barbara Gaines' thrilling saga, Tug of War: Civil Strife encompasses Henry VI, Parts 2 & 3 and Richard III as centerpiece of yearlong Shakespeare 400 Chicago celebration

Shakespeare 400 Chicago comes to historic concert venue with Theater Zuidpool's Macbeth from Belgium—Alternative rock concert of the Scottish Play at Thalia Hall, August 21 & 22

“September of Shakespeare” highlights yearlong Shakespeare 400 Chicago festival—featuring artists from China, Poland, Mexico, India, Australia, as well as events and performances spanning theater, music, cuisine and exhibitions

Comedian and improviser David Carl in a riotously funny breakout hit from New York Fringe, David Carl's Celebrity One-Man Hamlet—part of Shakespeare 400 Chicago, July 12–17, 2016

Largest citywide event of Shakespeare 400 Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tours 25 performances of Twelfth Night FREE FOR ALL to19 neighborhood Parks, July 14–August 14, 2016

Celebrated UK theater-maker Tim Crouch in I, Malvolio, a hilarious and thought-provoking rant by Tweflth Night's slandered steward—only 5 performances as part of Shakespeare 400 Chicago, June 2–5, 2016

Thrilling saga of Shakespeare's histories from Barbara Gaines—Tug of War: Foreign Fire including Edward III, Henry V and Henry VI, Part 1—begins limited engagement of only 18 performances on May 12

GALA 2016 on April 23, 2016 raises record $1.4 million in honor of Shakespeare's 400-year legacy, culminated in spectacular fireworks over Lake Michigan

April 23, 2016 marks 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s legacy—Shakespeare 400 Chicago highlights include season’s first spectacular fireworks at Navy Pier, special guest performance by Alan Cumming at Chicago Shakespeare and Riccardo Muti conducting Verdi’s Falstaff

2016-17 Line-up Announced for the Theater's 30th Anniversary Season—Twenty productions ranging from works inspired by Shakespeare and world premieres to standout performances by artists from around the globe

The Q Brothers’ hip-hop adaptation of Shakspeare’s tragedy, Othello: The Remix, returns after world tour to theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare as part of Shakespeare 400 Chicago with performances April 12–May 8

"All Chicago’s a Stage" with Shakespeare 400 Chicago—Yearlong festival marks global celebration of 400-year legacy, with April highlights around Shakespeare’s birthday and anniversary of his death on April 23

Culinary Complete Works line-up announced as part of Shakespeare 400 Chicago celebration—38 of Chicago's most celebrated chefs explore Shakespeare’s 38 plays throughout 2016

Chicago Shakespeare and Navy Pier announce plans to build an innovative, bold theater space on Chicago's lakefront: The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare. "Our City, Our Shakespeare" fundraising initiative for capital, artistic and endowment funds also announced.

Chicago Shakespeare and Navy Pier announce plans to build an innovative, bold theater space on Chicago's lakefront: The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare. "Our City, Our Shakespeare" fundraising initiative for capital, artistic and endowment funds also announced.

Filter Theatre, in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company, presents a raucous, music-infused Twelfth Night as part of Shakespeare 400 Chicago, March 1–13, 2016

Newly abridged Short Shakespeare! Twelfth Night, adapted and directed by Kirsten Kelly, is presented as part of Shakespeare 400 Chicago with public performances Saturdays at 11:00 a.m., March 5–April 9, 2016

Celebrated Royal Shakespeare Company actor Paterson Joseph stars in Sancho: An Act of Remembrance—a chronicle of the daringly determined life of Charles Ignatius Sancho, first British-African to vote—as part of Shakespeare 400 Chicago, February 17–21, 2016

Belarus Free Theatre’s subversive look at power and exile, King Lear, makes its American debut as part of Shakespeare 400 Chicago, February 5–14, 2016

Shakespeare 400 Chicago line-up announced and festival catalog unveiled at British Consul General event; casting for Barbara Gaines’ Tug of War also announced

Cheek by Jowl and Moscow Pushkin Drama Theatre's Measure for Measure kicks off Shakespeare 400 Chicago at Chicago Shakespeare, January 27–31, 2016

Casting announced for William Shakespeare’s Othello directed by Jonathan Munby, a signature production of the Shakespeare 400 Chicago celebration, in CST’s Courtyard Theater February 18–April 10, 2016

Mayor Emanuel announces Largest global celebration of playwright’s 400-year legacy in 2016: Shakespeare 400 Chicago; Will Engage Top Chicago Cultural Institutions in Yearlong International Festival

Mayor Emanuel announces Largest global celebration of playwright’s 400-year legacy in 2016: Shakespeare 400 Chicago; Will Engage Top Chicago Cultural Institutions in Yearlong International Festival

Chicago Shakespeare-commissioned musical Sense and Sensibility makes West Coast Premiere at The Old Globe in production directed by Barbara Gaines  

Student-teacher ensemble from across Chicago neighborhoods presents CPS Shakespeare!, marking tenth anniversary of award-winning arts-in-education program

David Ives hilariously retools a classic in The Heir Apparent, staged by Tony Award-winning director John Rando, in the Courtyard Theater beginning November 29.

Chicago Shakespeare cast recording of the world premiere production of Sense and Sensibility, with book, music and lyrics by Tony-nominated composer Paul Gordon, is now available.

Hip-hop holiday tradition A Q Brothers’ Christmas Carol returns to the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare, November 28, 2015–January 3, 2016.

U.S. premiere of new musical Ride the Cyclone directed and choreographed by Rachel Rockwell begins performances September 29, 2015

Inventive reimagining of Shakespeare’s The Tempest directed by Aaron Posner and Teller and featuring magic from Teller, music from Tom Waits and choreography by Pilobolus begins performances September 8, 2015

Mayor Emanuel announces Largest global celebration of playwright’s 400-year legacy in 2016: Shakespeare 400 Chicago; Will Engage Top Chicago Cultural Institutions in Yearlong International Festival

Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s GALA 2015 Raises $1.2 Million For Chicago Shakespeare in Urban Communities

Disney’s The Little Mermaid staged by Rachel Rockwell takes family audiences “under the sea” July 3–August 16, 2015. 

Nation’s Largest Urban Shakespeare tour Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks brings 26 performances of Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits to 18 neighborhood parks across Chicago, FREE FOR ALL, July 17–August 16, 2015.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater Announces 2015/16 Season: innovative reimaginings of the classical canon, new work developed at CST and the world premiere of Gaines' ambitious Shakespeare history cycle celebrate the playwright’s four-hundred-year legacy