Measure for Measure
October 21
November 27, 2022
CST's Courtyard Theater
by William Shakespeare
directed by Henry Godinez
★★★★ Immersive & vibrant...its Cuban setting is immensely vivid, specific & universal
Chicago Sun-Times
A major achievement... the work of a mature director; a personal capstone. Highly entertaining!
Chicago Tribune
“Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.” Celebrated director Henry Godinez brings Shakespeare’s searing play to vivid life amidst the glamour, music, and sensuality of 1950s Cuba, just before Fidel Castro seizes power. Havana is the carefree playground of the rich, the famous—and the corrupt—while a revolution brews. As the city sinks into moral disrepair, the Duke hands power to Angelo, who zealously enforces an archaic statute of chastity. When Isabel comes to plead for mercy for her condemned brother Claudio, the depths of raw power’s depravity are shockingly revealed.
Arrive early to immerse yourself in the sultry world of the play, as the Courtyard Theater transforms into a dazzling Havana nightclub. Enjoy performances of mambo, bolero, and Afro-Cuban jazz in a mood-setting prologue to the production.
Projected Spanish Translation: Tuesday, November 15 • 7:30 p.m.
captioned by c2
Open Captioning: Wed, November 16 • 1:00 & 7:30 p.m.
captioned by c2
ASL Duo-interpretation: Fri, November 18 • 7:30 p.m.
interpretation by Elizabeth Bartlow Breslin (CI/CT), Shelia Kettering (CI/CT)
Audio Description: Sun, November 20 • 2:00 p.m.
described by Jason Harrington
More to Explore
A Conversation with the Director
“In the world of our play, Mistress Overdone’s brothel is really a nightclub, where you can find beautiful girls, beautiful boys—whatever the movie stars and rich people are looking for.”
Read More
A Scholar’s Perspective
“It depicts a society on the cusp of revolution. The laws are so strict that those in power violate the very laws they are tasked to uphold and consequently fear enforcing them on others.”
Read More
The Players
Creative Team
Henry Godinez Director
Rasean Davonté Johnson Scenic & Projection Designer
Raquel Adorno Costume Designer
María-Cristina Fusté Lighting Designer
André Pluess Sound Designer
Richard Jarvie Hair & Make-up Designer
Orbert Davis Music Director/Arrangements/Composition
Jorge Amado Molina Co-Arrangements & Composition
Melissa Blanco Borelli Movement Designer
Lia Mortensen Verse Coach
Sarah Scanlon Intimacy Director
Maya Vinice Prentiss Fight Choreographer
Maria de Los Angeles Torres Dramaturg
Hamid Dehghani Assistant Director
Aly Easton Access Coordinator
Alyssa Mohn Associate Scenic Designer
Michael Commendatore Associate Projection Designer
Joseph E. Disbrow Associate Sound Designer
Meike Schmidt Assistant Lighting Designer
Parker Langvardt Projection Programmer
Bob Mason Casting Director
Jinni Pike Production Stage Manager
Shannon Golden-Starr Assistant Stage Manager, through October 16
Elisabeth Schapmann Assistant Stage Manager, beginning October 16
Cast
Debo Balogun Barnardine
Kierra Bunch Francesca
Kidany Camilo Espuma
Andrés Enriquez Claudio
Alejandra Escalante Mariana
Joe Foust Elbow
Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel Isabel
Kevin Gudahl Duke
Elizabeth Ledo Pompey
Gregory Linington Lucio
Sándor Menéndez Abhorson
Felicia Oduh Julietta
Adam Poss Angelo
Ana Santos Mistress Overdone
Robert Schleifer Provost
Lanise Antoine Shelley Escalus
Ajax Dontavius Understudy
Tina El Gamal Understudy
Dani Goldberg Understudy
Sonia Goldberg Understudy
Jalbelly Guzmán Understudy
Joseph Aaron Johnson Understudy
Michael Joseph Mitchell Understudy
Jeff Parker Understudy
John Payne Understudy
Laila Rodriques Understudy
Arik Vega Understudy
Helpful Resources
Tickets $35–$92
Run Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
(no intermission)
Masks are highly recommended. We strongly encourage patrons to wear a face mask during their time at the Theater. Protocols are always subject to change based on evolving guidance. Learn more ►