Chicago Shakespeare Theater
among 37 international companies in London for
Globe Theatre's 37-play "Globe to Globe" festival
Celebration for London 2012 Cultural Olympiad
presents Shakespeare's canon in 37 languages
Chicago—September 26, 2011—Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London announced today that Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) will be among the 37 international companies who will come together for an unprecedented 37-play "Globe to Globe" festival, a multi-lingual presentation of Shakespeare's entire canon for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Beginning on Shakespeare's birthday, April 23, 2012, the Globe will present each of Shakespeare's plays in a different language over six weeks.
Adding a new World's Stage presentation to its 25th Anniversary Season lineup, Chicago Shakespeare brings to the Globe an original CST commission and world premiere, The Q Brothers' Othello: The Remix, presented in American hip-hop. The Globe Theatre's production of Henry V will be the only other production presented in the English language. Additional languages and companies span six continents, including: the National Theatre of China's Richard III; Belarus Free Theatre's King Lear; from Bangladesh, Dhaka Theatre's The Tempest; Compañia Nacional de Teatro Mexico'sHenry IV: Part 1; a Zulu presentation of Venus & Adonis from South Africa's Isango Theatre; the National Theatre of Greece's Pericles; The South Sudan Theatre Company's Cymbeline; and from Kyoto, Japan, Chiten's Coriolanus. Performances of Othello: The Remix begin May 5, 2012, and are presented by Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Richard Jordan Productions. Tickets go on sale in October 2011 at globetoglobe.shakespearesglobe.com/.
Othello: The Remix will be a fresh urban take on William Shakespeare's tragedy, spun out and lyrically rewritten over original beats. The production is being devised by The Q Brothers in collaboration with CST Creative Producer Rick Boynton, who was also instrumental in the creation of The Q Brothers' award-winning CST commission Funk It Up About Nothin'—which received rave reviews in its world premiere at Chicago Shakespeare and subsequent international tour. Other acclaimed CST exports to the United Kingdom include the Olivier Award-winning Pacific Overtures at London's Donmar Warehouse and Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Complete Works Festival. These productions are emblematic of Chicago Shakespeare Theater'sWorld's Stage initiative to present Chicago Shakespeare's work to international audiences in addition to bringing the world's finest productions to CST. Since the inception of the World's Stage Series in 2000, CST has hosted more than 30 international companies, from the Chekhov International Theatre Festival (Russia) to The Farber Foundry (South Africa); one step at a time like this (Australia) to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (United Kingdom).
Celebrating its 25th Anniversary this season, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) is a leading international theater company, known for vibrant productions that reflect Shakespeare's genius. Recipient of the 2008 Regional Theatre Tony Award, Chicago Shakespeare's work has been recognized internationally with three of London's prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards, and by the Chicago theater community with 55 Joseph Jefferson Awards for Artistic Excellence. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson, CST is dedicated to producing extraordinary classic productions, new works and family fare; unlocking Shakespeare's work for educators and students; and serving as Chicago's cultural ambassador through its World's Stage Series.
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International programming at Chicago Shakespeare Theater is supported, in part, by the Julius Frankel Foundation.