Free pop-up performances and activities across north, west, and south sides of Chicago
“If music be the food of love, PLAY ON!” Shakespeare’s joyful comedy Twelfth Night is brought to vibrant new life with 22 free pop-up performances and activities in green spaces, neighborhood festivals, and events across the city as part of Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s (CST) Shakes in the City initiative. Director Tyrone Phillips, a first-generation Jamaican American, reimagines the story in the Caribbean isles, infused with the music and playful spirit of Carnival. Separated from her twin brother in a shipwreck and washed ashore in an unfamiliar land, the spirited Viola disguises herself as a man to work for charming Duke Orsino—and finds herself in the middle of a love triangle of hilarious mistaken identities. Enjoy this immersive 45-minute pop-up performance and engage with artists in hands-on activities inspired by play.
Shakes in the City—a new evolution of Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks launched in 2012—is part of CST’s longstanding commitment to creative community engagement with free and accessible programming for audiences of all ages in neighborhoods across Chicago.
Director Tyrone Phillips shared: “I couldn’t be more excited to work on this new chapter of CST’s community programming and partner in its reimagining. Chicago is my home, and I love creating here. This is a city that gets what it means to be a human, what it means to be a neighbor, and to bring this warm and joyful play that is fundamentally about community directly to people across the city in this new way is really special.”
“Launching Shakes in the City with Tyrone Philips helming such a talented company is a truly exciting proposition,” said CST artistic director Edward Hall. “Free pop-up Shakespeare will bring a new reach to our community work as we wrap around neighborhoods and festivals and prove that there is no environment in which we can’t play.”
Come PLAY this summer!
Sat, Jul 20, 6:00
Polk Bros Park (front of Navy Pier) 600 E. Grand Ave Streeterville
Sun, Jul 21, 6:00
Polk Bros Park (front of Navy Pier) 600 E. Grand Ave Streeterville
Tue, Jul 23, 6:00
In partnership with Definition Theatre, Mamie Till‑Mobley Park Advisory Council and Jackson Park Conservancy
6401 S. Stony Island Ave Woodlawn
Wed, Jul 24, 7:00
Lot Jams @ Community Laundromat 3701 W. Lawrence Ave Albany Park
Fri, July 26, 6:00
Ping Tom Park Memorial Park before “Movies in the Parks: Paw Patrol” 1700 S. Wentworth Ave Chinatown
Sat, Jul 27, 12:15
Words of Wonder Literary Fest Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center 10201 S Cottage Grove Ave Pullman
Sat, Jul 27, 3:00
Wicker Park Fest Milwaukee Ave from North Ave to Ashland Ave Wicker Park/Bucktown
Sun, Jul 28, 4:15
Fiesta Del Sol Cermak Rd. from Ashland Ave to Morgan St
Pilsen
Tue, Jul 30, 6:00
Rosenblum Park before “Movies in the Parks: The Color Purple” 7547 S. Euclid Ave South Shore
Wed, Jul 31, 6:00
South Shore Cultural Center before “Movies in the Parks: The Wiz” 7059 S. South Shore Dr South Shore
Thu, Aug 1, 6:00
Piotrowski Park 4247 W. 31st St South Lawndale
Fri, Aug 2, 6:00 *
Ellis Park before “Movies in the Parks: Wish” 3520 S. Cottage Grove Ave Douglas
* ASL Interpreted
Tue, Aug 6, 6:00
Austin Town Hall Park 5610 W Lake St
Austin
Wed, Aug 7, 6:00
Garfield Park Conservatory’s Wild Wednesdays 300 N. Central Park Ave Garfield Park
Thu, Aug 8, 2:30
Welles Park’s Back to School Party 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave Lincoln Square
Fri, Aug 9, 5:15
Bronzeville Summer Nights 4400 Cottage Grove Bronzeville
Sat, Aug 10, 6:00
Kelvyn Park 4438 W. Wrightwood Ave Hermosa/Belmont-Cragin
Wed, Aug 14, 6:00
Murray Park before “Movies in the Parks: Soul” 1743 W. 73rd St West Englewood
Thu, Aug 15, 6:00
West Pullman Park 401 W. 123rd St West Pullman
Sat, Aug 17, 1:30 *
THE P.L.A.N. at Garfield Park 100 N. Central Park Ave Garfield Park
* ASL Interpreted
Sun, Aug 18, 2:30
Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest 1358 W. Morse Ave. Rogers Park
Gallery: Shakes In the City
Gallery: Shakes In the City
Shakes in the City: Twelfth Night, directed by Tyrone Phillips, offers free pop-up performances and activities in public spaces across the north, west, and south sides of Chicago through August 15. The ensemble cast includes Jamaque Newberry, Ernest Bentley, Charence Higgins, Tafadzwa Diener, Juwon Tyrel Perry, Yaw Agyeman, Weléla Mar Kindred, Dennis William Grimes, and Robert Hunter Bry. Photo by Ty.Optix.
Long lost twins Sebastian (Juwon Tyrel Perry) and Viola (Charence Higgins) reunite. Photo by Ty.Optix.
Juwon Tyrel Perry, as Feste, interacts with the crowd. Photo by Ty.Optix.
Ernest Bentley as Orsino. Photo by Ty.Optix.
Shakes in the City: Twelfth Night is a perfect summer outing for all ages! Photo by Ty.Optix.
Viola, in disguise as Cesario (Charence Higgins) reluctantly duels with Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Dennis William Grimes), backed up by Sir Toby Belch (Yaw Agyeman) and Feste (Juwon Tyrel Perry). Photo by Ty.Optix.
Shakes in the City: Twelfth Night is a dog-friendly experience—just ask director Tyrone Phillips!
Before select performances, teaching artist Sadira Muhammad leads Afro-Caribbean dance lessons for all skill levels. Photo by Ty.Optix.
Shakes in the City: Twelfth Night is presented in parks and other public spaces across Chicago through August 15. Photo by Ty.Optix.
The cast of Shakes in the City: Twelfth Night brings Shakespeare’s comedy to life, infused with music and dance. Photo by Ty.Optix.
Artists
Yaw Agyeman
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE: Twelfth Night. CHICAGO: Titanic (Court Theatre); Ohio State Murders (Goodman Theatre). REGIONAL: Guthrie Theater, Asolo Repertory Theater, The Acting Company, Crossroads Theater. TELEVISION: Chicago Fire (NBC). EDUCATION: BFA in theater, University of Minnesota; MFA in theater, Wayne State University.
Ernest Bentley
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE: Debut. CHICAGO: Titanic (Court Theatre); Ohio State Murders (Goodman Theatre). REGIONAL: Guthrie Theater, Asolo Repertory Theater, The Acting Company, Crossroads Theater. TELEVISION: Chicago Fire (NBC). EDUCATION: BFA in theater, University of Minnesota; MFA in theater, Wayne State University.
Robert Hunter Bry
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE: Debut. CHICAGO: Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, City Lit Theater Company, Redtwist Theatre, First Folio Theatre, Collaboraction, Midsommer Flight, ShawChicago. REGIONAL: Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Michigan Shakespeare Festival, Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre. FILM: The Fabulists, Zombie, Painbroker. EDUCATION: BS in acting, Illinois State University.
Tafadzwa Diener
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE: Debut. CHICAGO: A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre); Sound of Music, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Marriott Theatre); Anything Goes (Porchlight Music Theatre); Rock of Ages (Mercury Theater); 1919 (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); An Educated Guess (Definition Theatre); MotherFreakingHood (Venus Cabaret). REGIONAL: Ragtime, Pirates of Penzance (Utah Shakespeare Festival). FILM: Chicago PD. EDUCATION: BFA in acting, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is represented by Big Mouth Talent.
Dennis William Grimes
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE: Emma, Shakespeare in Love, Julius Caesar. CHICAGO: A Disappearing Number, Danny Casolaro Died for You, Frost/Nixon (TimeLine Theatre Company); 1984, The Book Thief (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre); She Stoops to Conquer (Northlight Theatre); Moonlight and Magnolias (Fox Valley Repertory); The Busy World Is Hushed (Next Theatre Company); Lips Together, Teeth Apart (Eclipse Theatre Company); Rabbit (Stage Left Theatre); Pride and Prejudice (Lifeline Theatre); The Master and Margarita (Strawdog Theatre Company). REGIONAL: Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Indianapolis Repertory Theatre, Riverside Theatre in the Parks, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre, Illinois Shakespeare Festival. FILM: Night Shift (Defiant Studios); The Letter: A Lovecraftian Tale (Chiaravalle and Associates); Black Box (ConeArts). TELEVISION: Night Sky (Amazon); Empire (FOX); Chicago Fire, Chicago PD (NBC); The Girlfriend Experience (Starz); Betrayal, Detroit 187 (ABC). EDUCATION: B.S. in theater, Illinois State University.
Charence Higgins
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE: Debut. CHICAGO: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead (Court Theatre); brother sister cyborg space (Raven Theatre); Describe the Night (Steppenwolf Theatre Company). REGIONAL: American Players Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Theater at Monmouth, Baltimore Center Stage Theatre, New Stage Theatre. DESIGN: hair and makeup designer at Theatre at Monmouth (2021 season). FILM: Main Event; A Tale of Two Labs; Soul Damage. EDUCATION: MFA in acting, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; B.S. in speech communication and theatre, Jackson State University. AWARDS: Southeastern Theatre Conference Denise Halbach Award (2021), National Society of Arts & Letters Acting Competition Finalist (2019)
Weléla Mar Kindred
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE: Debut. CHICAGO: director and supporting actress in Elastic Mind (The Greenhouse Theater); Ensemble in Black Nativity (Goodman Theatre); Calpurnia in To Kill a Mockingbird (Chopin Theater). REGIONAL: director of Intimate Apparel (St. Croix Falls Festival). LOS ANGELES: Orange County Black Actors Theater, Lorraine Hansberry Players, Santa Monica Playhouse. PARIS: lead dancer and choreographer in Minotaur (Compagnie ACTA); Nuit Blanche Festival, Le Générateur Festival. FINLAND: Helsinki Youth Theater Festival. GHANA: Chalé Wote Festival. FILM: Corridor, Heart of the City. TELEVISION: Hype Williams Tribute (MTV); Call to Glory (ABC). EDUCATION: BFA in performance and cinema, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Acting Studio Chicago, HB Studios New York, Joel Hall Dance Center, Homer Bryant Ballet, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, La Ménagerie de Verre, Centre National de la Danse. FELLOWSHIP: Body Politics in Theater New York University / Harvard / Johannesburg University. AWARDS: Nominated for Best Director of Elastic Mind by The Chicago Reader 2022.
Jamaque Newberry
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE: Debut. CHICAGO: The Island (Court Theatre); Party at The Pantheon (Factory Theater); Judy’s Life Work (Definition Theatre). REGIONAL: Merry Wives of Windsor, The Brother Size, Our Town, A Raisin in the Sun, Sense and Sensibility (American Players Theatre). EDUCATION: MFA in acting for stage and film, Northern Illinois University.
Juwon Tyrel Perry
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE: Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks production of The Hero Within, To Be 4/23, 2021 and 2023. CHICAGO: Gospel at Colonus (Court Theatre); Dreamgirls (Paramount Theatre); Sister Act (Geva Theatre); Spring Awakening (Porchlight Music Theater); Beautiful, the Carole King Musical, James and the Giant Peach, Madagascar (Marriott Theatre); Ragtime (Music Theatre Works); Ragtime (Griffin Theater). REGIONAL: Dreamgirls (North Carolina Theatre). EDUCATION: BFA, Columbia College Chicago; Black Box Acting Academy. @juwontyrelperry.
Sonia Goldberg
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE: Corduroy, Measure for Measure. CHICAGO: CHICAGO: Pippin (Music Theater Works); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oak Park Festival Theatre); American Psycho (Kokandy Productions); Songs for Nobodies (Northlight Theatre); Once Upon a Mattress (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre); Wake Up, Brother Bear! (Chicago Children’s Theatre); The Man Who Was Thursday (Lifeline Theatre); I Am Going to Die Alone and I Am Not Afraid (Prop Thtr); As You Like It, Twelfth Night (Midsommer Flight); The Snow Queen (Filament Theatre). REGIONAL: King Lear, Twelfth Night (Montana Shakespeare in the Parks). EDUCATION: BA in theatre, Butler University; Certificates from LAMDA and The Moscow Art Theatre School.
Beth Laske-Miller
Production Designer
Maurilio Rodriguez
Dresser
Beth Laske-Miller
Production Designer
Maurilio Rodriguez
Dresser
Tyrone Phillips
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE: Twelfth Night, I, Cinna; dramaturg for Romeo and Juliet; associate director for Hamlet, Red Velvet; actor in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, King Charles III, Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks A Midsummer Night’s Dream. CHICAGO: An Octoroon, A Doll’s House, Genesis, The Brothers Size (Definition Theatre); George Orwell’s 1984 (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); Father Comes Home from the Wars (Goodman Theatre). REGIONAL: Assassins, A Christmas Carol, A Raisin in the Sun, understudy in The Mountaintop, Clybourne Park (Milwaukee Repertory Theater). FILM: Gimmick, Boss, Divergent, Fare Thee Well. TELEVISION: The Red Line (CBS); Chicago Justice (NBC); McDonald’s Mario-Kart Happy Meal commercial; DiGiorno’s Don’t Settle commercial. EDUCATION: BFA in acting, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign; Shakespeare’s Globe. Phillips is the founding artistic director of Chicago’s Definition Theatre. He was selected as one of Newcity Stage’s “Players 2019: The Fifty People Who Really Perform for Chicago.”
Robert Reddrick
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE: Chicago Twelfth Night, Shakespeare in the Parks The Hero Within. CHICAGO: Pump Boys and Dinettes (Porchlight Music Theatre); Women of Soul (The Mercury Theater); Will the Circle Be Unbroken (Steppenwolf Traffic Series); Project! (Free Street Theater). DRUMMER: Guys and Dolls, Raisin!, Caroline or Change (Court Theatre). AWARDS: seven-time recipient of Black Theater Alliance’s Best Music Director, Joseph Jefferson Production–Revue for You Can’t Fake the Funk (Black Ensemble Theater), Joseph Jefferson Production Musical–Large for Caroline or Change (Court Theatre). Reddrick has been the resident Music Director at the Black Ensemble Theater since 2009.
Max Fabian
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE: Judgment Day, Comedy of Errors. CHICAGO: : Turret (A Red Orchid Theatre); Into the Woods, Little Shop of Horrors (Paramount Theatre). STUNT COORDINATION: Soldier Survivor Sinner Saint, Best In The World, The Big Audition. EDUCATION: BFA, Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Fabian holds the Advanced Actor Combatant certification with Fight Directors of Canada from Rapier Wit in Toronto, Ontario
Sadira Muhammad
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE: Debut. CHICAGO: The Tragedy of King Christophe (House Theater of Chicago); Passport of Movement Across the African Diaspora (Chicago Public Schools); Rooted Reflections – Haiti (Chicago Park District); dance artist in residence (Rootwork Gallery); After- School Matters showcase (South Region); Rooted Reflections – Orisha (Westside Congregation); Rooted Reflections – West Indian Ritual (Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center); Black Women’s Choreographic Showcase (Beverly Arts Center). INTERNATIONAL: Haiti, Jamaica, Barbados. EDUCATION: ten seasons Dance Africa Chicago training workshops with twenty companies of artists across the diaspora. Muhammad is interim Artistic Director of West Indian Dance Theater, serves as Adjunct Faculty of Dance at Governors State University, and has been a guest lecturer at Columbia College Chicago and DePaul University. Her work is Afro-Cultural dance as story and replication of historical, traditional, and customary lifestyles. Muhammad’s trajectory in the dance studio and on stage is to project history through dance and claim the power of healing. Her solo body of work, The Things We Carried/ Carry, is a movement monologue on narratives across the Diaspora.
Katrina Herrmann
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE: The Comedy of Errors, All’s Well That Ends Well, As You Like It. CHICAGO: The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Lookingglass Theatre Company); Seussical, Rock of Ages (Drury Lane Theatre); Mary Page Marlowe (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); The Hundred Dresses, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Chicago Children’s Theatre); Kill Floor, The Royale, Sons of the Prophet (American Theater Company); Juno (TimeLine Theatre Company). REGIONAL: The King’s Speech (National Tour); Diana the Musical, Queens, The Cake, At the Old Place (La Jolla Playhouse); The Garden, Twisted Melodies (Baltimore Center Stage). OFF BROADWAY: The Flick, Kin, The Whale, The Big Meal, The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World, The Burnt Part Boys, Circle Mirror Transformation (Playwrights Horizons); Close Up Space (Manhattan Theatre Club); In the Wake (Public Theater). EDUCATION: BFA in stage management, DePaul University; MBA, Adams State University.
Gianni Carcagno
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE: Short Shakes! Romeo & Juliet. CHICAGO: POTUS, No Man’s Land (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); Boulevard of Bold Dreams, Trouble In Mind, Campaigns, Inc, The Chinese Lady (TimeLine Theater); The Choir of Man (Apollo Theater Chicago); Blues in the Night, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Nunsense (Porchlight Music Theatre). EDUCATION: BA, Loyola University Chicago.
Shakes in the City is made possible with support from Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks, National Endowment for the Arts, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, and Peoples Gas Community Fund.