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A free virtual event for Shakespeare’s Birthday!
Watch with ASL Interpretation
In this virtual program, join artists from across our city in celebrating the power of the arts to reach beyond the page or the stage and forge a path for a brighter future. Soar to the heights of the Theater’s catwalks and peek backstage for dazzling musical performances. Venture to Chicago parks and classrooms to hear timeless words spoken anew. Through song, poetry, and boundless creativity, all the world becomes a stage—and we rejoice in what it means TO BE together in this journey.
ACOUSTIC SONDHEIM FROM ELERI WARD
Enjoy a special performance from the sensational Eleri Ward, whose debut indie-folk Sondheim album A Perfect Little Death was hailed by Forbes as “a harmonious marriage of musical theater and indie folk music, with hauntingly beautiful arrangements.”
MUSICAL PERFORMANCES FROM CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE
featuring Missy Aguilar, Jerica Exum, Jacquelyne Jones, Evan Tyrone Martin, Liam Oh, and Sawyer Smith
with
Bobby Everson, Charles Heath, Karl Montzka, Dave Saenger, and Chuck Webb
ADDITIONAL APPEARANCES BY
One of Shakespeare's most famous speeches is performed by A.B.L.E. Ensemble, which creates theater and film projects for, with, and by individuals with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Los Pleneros de Don Segundo from Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center performing original plena music about the Afro-Puerto Rican experience in Humboldt Park.
Multi-hyphenate artist Noelle Klyce offers a stirring spoken word performance from Tuley Park.
EVENT CO-CHAIRS
Binta Niambi Brown
Allan E. Bulley III
Sheila Talton
Bob Wislow
RECOGNIZING
Carole B. Segal
Spirit of Shakespeare Award for Distinguished Leadership
Sponsorships of TO BE fuel the Theater’s nationally acclaimed arts in literacy and community engagement programs. Each year, these initiatives connect Chicago Shakespeare with over 600 neighborhood partners across the North, West, and South Sides of the city, and support the work of teachers, bringing Shakespeare to life for tens of thousands of students.
TO BE LEAD CONSORTIUM
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TO BE HOST COMMITTEE
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TO BE BENEFACTORS
Janet and Craig Duchossois
Exelon
Guidehouse | Chris and Erin O'Brien
KPMG | Bill and Charlene Tomazin
Latham & Watkins, LLP | Neal and Jennifer Reenan
The Andrew and Joan McKenna Foundation
Jim and Molly Perry
Ropes & Gray | Paulita Pike
Steve and Robin Solomon
Catherine M. and Frederick H. Waddell
Pam and Doug Walter
TO BE PATRONS
Brayton and Pim Alley
The Brodsky Family in Memory of Doug Bris‑Bois
Thomas L. and Cairy S. Brown
Joan Hall
Linda and Dennis Myers
Perkins Coie
Susan and Bob Wislow
TO BE DONORS
Adams Family
Philip Alphonse
Ariel Investments
Wade and Rebecca Bacon
Susan and Stephen Baird
Philip and Janice Beck
Mr. and Mrs. Abram Bluestein
Mr. and Mrs. Norman Bobins, The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation
Rita Dragonette
Kevin and Joan Evanich
Sean and Susan Gallagher
John Gilligan
Tim and Lyn Hannahs
Kathryn Hayley and Mark Ketelsen
Christie Hefner
Hamilton and Traci Hill
Adam and Denise Hoeflich
PJH & Associates, Inc.
Ubong Ituen
John and Judy Keller
Jay and Silvia Krehbiel
Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel and John H. Krehbiel
Karen and Liam Krehbiel
Neil Kujawa
Mark Levine and Andrea Kott
Chris and Carol Lind
Renetta and Kevin McCann
Heather McWilliams and Fred Fischer
Julian Oettinger
Jason and Jackie Peltz
Raino Family
Mark and Nancy Ratner
Nazneen and Sal Razi
Jack and Goldie Wolfe Miller Fund