CHICAGO PREMIERE
Shakespeare
in Love
April 15
June 11, 2017
at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
based on the screenplay by Marc Norman + Tom Stoppard
adapted for the stage by Lee Hall
directed by Rachel Rockwell
Shakespeare
Production Sponsor
Uniformly well-acted… a warm, enjoyable night at the theater.
Chicago Tribune
One of the finest plays seen on a Chicago stage this year!
ChicagoCritic.com
The Play
Young playwright Will Shakespeare is stuck. He is overdue in finishing his latest play—a half-baked mess of a comedy called Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter. He finds his muse in Viola de Lesseps, who is driven to do anything—even disguise herself as a man—to fulfill her dream of performing onstage, where no women are permitted. Surrounded by familiar players, including Queen Elizabeth herself, backstage antics collide with onstage dramas. Will and Viola’s passionate, forbidden love affair goes on to inspire Shakespeare’s masterpiece—the most romantic tragedy ever written.
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Critical Acclaim
"The Chicago production finds the emotional depth that made the film so great."
-Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
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The Story
Meet Will Shakespeare, poet for hire, who longs for a muse struggles with his new comedy, Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter.
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Q&A with the Director
Rachel Rockwell on plotlines paralleling real life, portraying historical figures, and creating Shakespeare's world.
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The Players
Creative Team
Marc Norman Original Screenplay
Tom Stoppard Original Screenplay
Lee Hall Adaptor
Rachel Rockwell Director
Scott Davis Scenic Designer
Susan E. Mickey Costume Designer
Robert Wierzel Lighting Designer
Ray Nardelli Sound Designer
Richard Jarvie Wig & Make-up Designer
Neil Bartram Composer / Music Director
Eva Breneman Dialect & Verse Coach
Jo Cattell Associate Director
Cast
Nathaniel Braga Sam / Ensemble
Scott Danielson Lambert / Wabash / Ensemble
Jerre Dye Sir Robert de Lesseps / Tilney / Ensemble
Fred Geyer Adam / Boatman / Ensemble
Dennis William Grimes Wessex / Ensemble
Alana Grossman Kate / Ensemble
Jake Helm John Webster (alternating)
Ron King Ralph / Ensemble
Jeff Kurysz Peter / Frees / Ensemble
Ryan McBride Robin / Ensemble
Kate McGonigle Viola de Lesseps
Andrew Mueller Nol / Ensemble
Michael Perez Kit Marlowe
Ron E. Rains Fennyman
Linda Reiter Queen Elizabeth / Molly / Ensemble
Nick Rehberger Will Shakespeare
Catherine Smitko Nurse / Ensemble
Luigi Sottile Ned Alleyn
Timothy D. Stickney Burbage
Matthew Uzarraga John Webster (alternating)
Larry Yando Henslowe
Additional Sponsors
Media Sponsor
Costume design supported by Razny Jewelers
Shakespeare in Love is presented in the Jentes Family Auditorium.