Press Room
Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces tickets on sale now for
ILLINOISE
A new kind of musical based on Sufjan Stevens’ acclaimed concept album
With music and lyrics by Sufjan Stevens
Story by Tony Award winner Justin Peck and Pulitzer Prize winner Jackie Sibblies Drury
Directed and choreographed by Justin Peck
Now slated to debut January 28–February 18, 2024
Chicago—October 30, 2023—Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces that tickets for Illinoise are on sale today. Previously scheduled to debut earlier in January under the title Illinois, this new kind of musical based on Sufjan Stevens’ acclaimed concept album is now slated to be presented in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, January 28–February 18, 2024, with a new title that references a song from the album, “Come On! Feel the Illinoise!”
Illinoise transforms Grammy and Academy Award-nominated Stevens’ landmark album into a genre-bursting theatrical experience that inspires hope. With a story crafted by Tony Award winner Justin Peck (New York City Ballet, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story) and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury (Fairview), and original choreography by Peck, Illinoise glows around a campfire as virtuosic dancers, singers, and a live band take you on a mighty journey. Following a premiere presentation at the Fisher Center at Bard College in summer 2023, Illinoise will mark its official press opening at Chicago Shakespeare on Navy Pier, the gateway to the state alongside Lake Michigan. The production was originally commissioned, developed, and produced at the Fisher Center at Bard, is a co-commission of the Fisher Center at Bard, Park Avenue Armory, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Southbank Centre, TO Live, and the Perelman Performing Arts Center, and is produced in association with ArKtype/Thomas O. Kriegsmann.
In addition to Stevens, Peck, and Drury, the creative team includes Music Director and Supervisor Nathan Koci, Music Arranger and Orchestrator Timo Andres, Scenic Designer Adam Rigg, Lighting Designer Brandon Stirling Baker, Sound Designer Garth MacAleavey, Costume Designers Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung, Props Designer Andrew Diaz, Mask Designer Julian Crouch, Associate Director and Choreographer Adriana Pierce, Associate Music Director Sean Forte, Production Stage Manager Rick Steiger, Production Manager Brian Freeland, Executive Producer Nate Koch, General Management by NVK/Jenna Ready and Joanna Pisano, and Booking Agent ArKtype/Thomas O. Kriegsmann.
Single tickets start at $41 for performances beginning January 28 and are on sale now, with special discounts available for groups of 10 or more. For more information, visit www.chicagoshakes.com/illinoise.
Press Photos
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Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces new leadership: Internationally acclaimed director Edward Hall as Artistic Director and prominent arts leader Kimberly Motes as Executive Director.
Edward Hall photo by Joe Mazza – Bravelux.
Kimberly Motes photo by Dani Werner Photography.
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