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Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces
the highly anticipated return of hip-hop holiday tradition

A Q Brothers’ Christmas Carol

Remixing the Dickens classic in the theater Upstairs, November 28–January 3

Chicago—October 2, 2015—Back by popular demand, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the highly anticipated return of the cheeky holiday classic—A Q Brothers’ Christmas Carol, developed by hip-hop sensations the Q Brothers and CST Creative Producer Rick Boynton. This feisty reinterpretation of the perennial holiday favorite by Charles Dickens enjoyed wildly successful runs in 2013 and 2014 to rave reviews and packed houses, garnering Joseph Jefferson Award nominations for Outstanding New Musical and Outstanding Ensemble. A Q Brothers’ Christmas Carol will be presented in the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare for a limited engagement, November 28, 2015–January 3, 2016. Tickets will go on sale Friday, October 9 at 12:00 p.m.

Written and performed by GQ, JQ, Jackson Doran and Postell Pringle, this tour de rap wrestles the cherished tale from its classic roots with irreverence, an irresistible score and a lot of heart. The story is underscored with beats spun live at the turntables by DJ Super Nova, mashing up everything from reggae and dancehall music, to dubstep and epic rock ballads. Audiences will encounter the story’s signature characters in unexpected forms—from a miserly Ebenezer Scrooge with a penchant for penny-pinching to a Rastafarian Jacob Marley and a rapping Lil’ Tim, the tiniest Cratchit with a slew of maladies. The time-traveling Ghosts take Scrooge on a voyage through the hip-hop ages documenting the evolving musical form.

A Q Brothers’ Christmas Carol marks the third collaboration between Creative Producer Rick Boynton and the Q Brothers, following two Shakespearean “ad-rap-tations”—Funk It Up About Nothin’ and Othello: The Remix. Premiering at Shakespeare’s Globe for the London 2012 Globe to Globe Festival, Othello: The Remix has toured to venues around the world, playing to sold-out houses of multi-generational and culturally diverse audiences in Edinburgh, London, Australia, Germany, South Korea and Poland. Earlier this year, Othello: The Remix travelled to Australia’s Arts Centre Melbourne, Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates with Art for All and to New Zealand for the Auckland Arts Festival.

The award-winning design team includes Scenic and Costume Designer Scott Davis, Lighting Designer Greg Hofmann—with original lighting designs by Jesse Klug—and CST’s resident Wig and Make-up Designer Melissa Veal. Developed with Rick Boynton, A Q Brothers’ Christmas Carol is written by GQ, JQ, Jackson Doran and Postell Pringle with music by GQ and JQ. Directed by GQ and JQ, A Q Brothers’ Christmas Carol is presented in association with Richard Jordan Productions.

Weekday Performances
Tuesdays:
December 15, 22, 29 – 7:30 p.m.

Wednesdays:
December 2, 9, 16, 30 – 7:30 p.m.
December 23 – 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Thursdays:
December 3, 10, 17 – 7:30 p.m.
December 31 – 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Weekend Performances
Fridays:
December 4, 11, 18 – 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays:
November 28; December 5, 12, 19, 26; January 2 – 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Sundays:
November 29; December 6, 13 – 3:00 p.m.
December 20, 27; January 3 – 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

A Q Brothers’ Christmas Carol is presented in the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare, November 28, 2015–January 3, 2016. Tickets are $30–48 and will be on sale beginning Friday, October 9, 2015 through Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Box Office at 312.595.5600.

   

 

Contact Us
 

Hannah Kennedy
Director of Communications
hkennedy@chicagoshakes.com

Emma Perrin
Public Relations & Digital Media Manager
eperrin@chicagoshakes.com
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Media Office
312.667.4957

Cathy Taylor
cathy@cathytaylorpr.com
Cathy Taylor Public Relations
773.564.9564

Chicago Shakespeare Theater
on Navy Pier
800 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

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