Press Room

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