FREE: 25 Performances of The Comedy of Errors in 19 Chicago Parks July 18 – August 18, 2019

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FREE FOR ALL

Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks

The Comedy of Errors

Announcing 25 Performances in 19 Parks, 

July 18 – August 18, 2019

 Photo by Daniel Ribar

Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows, we've adored Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks since its inception. Bring a picnic, kids, dogs, friends, and catch the words that have shaped our world for over 400 years, in the great outdoors. The bard's a blast under the stars and this is a great way to introduce the kids to the joy of live theatre. Highly recommended! 

Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, and Boeing partner to present the annual citywide summer tradition, Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks. Made possible by production sponsor BMO Harris Bank, 25 performances of Shakespeare’s hilarious classic The Comedy of Errors, directed by David H. Bell, will tour free for all to 19 neighborhood parks across Chicago in the city’s most expansive arts-in-communities initiative, July 18–August 18, 2019.

“Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks gives residents the chance to experience the thrill and magic of live theater in their own backyard,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Theater is essential to the cultural fabric of Chicago and with 25 performances throughout our neighborhoods, there's always a seat waiting for you.”

The Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour of The Comedy of Errors kicks off at Polk Bros Park on Navy Pier with three performances: Thursday, July 18 through Saturday, July 20—all beginning at 7:00 p.m.


Parks scheduled to be visited, rain or shine, include:

Thursday, July 18 at 7:00 p.m. | Polk Bros Park at Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave.)
Friday, July 19 at 7:00 p.m. | Polk Bros Park at Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave.)
Saturday, July 20 at 7:00 p.m. |  Polk Bros Park at Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave.)
Tuesday, July 23 at 6:30 p.m. | Garfield Park (100 N. Central Park Ave.)
Wednesday, July 24 at 6:30 p.m. | Gage Park (2411 W. 55th St.)
Thursday, July 25 at 6:30 p.m. | Kelvyn Park (4438 W. Wrightwood Ave.)
Friday, July 26 at 6:30 p.m. | Eckhart Park (1330 W. Chicago Ave.)
Saturday, July 27 at 6:30 p.m. | Loyola Park (1230 W. Greenleaf Ave.)
Sunday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m. | Loyola Park (1230 W. Greenleaf Ave.)
Tuesday, July 30 at 6:30 p.m. | Columbus Park (500 S. Central Ave.)
Wednesday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m. | Tuley Park (501 E. 90th Pl.)
Thursday, August 1 at 6:30 p.m. | Dvorak Park (1119 W. Cullerton St.)
Saturday, August 3 at 6:30 p.m. | RiverEdge Park, Aurora (360 N. Broadway St.)
Sunday, August 4 at 6:30 p.m. | Ellis  Park (3520 S. Cottage Grove Ave.)
Tuesday, August 6 at 6:30 p.m. | Frank J. Wilson Park (4630 N. Milwaukee Ave.)
Wednesday, August 7 at 6:30 p.m. | Frank J. Wilson Park (4630 N. Milwaukee Ave.)
Thursday, August 8 at 6:30 p.m. | Humboldt Park (1301 N. Sacramento Ave.)
Friday, August 9 at 6:30 p.m. | Humboldt Park (1301 N. Sacramento Ave.)
Saturday, August 10 at 6:30 p.m. | Ridge Park (1817 W. 96th St.)
Sunday, August 11 at 6:30 p.m. | Calumet Park (9801 S. Ave. G)
Wednesday, August 14 at 6:30 p.m. | Ogden Park (6500 S. Racine Ave.)
Thursday, August 15 at 6:30 p.m. | Piotrowski Park (4247 W. 31st St.)
Friday, August 16 at 6:30 p.m. | Welles Park (2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.)
Saturday, August 17 at 6:30 p.m. | Welles Park (2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.)
Sunday, August 18 at 6:30 p.m. | Ping Tom Memorial Park (1700 S. Wentworth Ave.)

“We are proud to partner with Chicago Shakespeare Theater to bring free Shakespeare to our beautiful neighborhood parks,” said Chicago Park District Superintendent and CEO Michael P. Kelly. “This beloved theatre experience is truly a highlight of the Year of Chicago Theatre and one of Night Out in the Parks' must-see theatre performances coming to parks citywide this summer."

The citywide tour is made possible by a renewed civic, cultural, and corporate partnership between Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, Boeing, and production sponsor BMO Harris Bank. Since the inception of the Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks program seven years ago, more than 130,000 Chicagoans have taken advantage of free performances in their communities.

"The Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks program has become a local symbol for increased access to and participation in the arts," said John Blazey, Vice President of Boeing Global Engagement. "This unique partnership among city agencies, community-based organizations, local artists, and neighborhood residents is a powerful example of how support of the arts helps to bring vitality to our communities by engaging families and building connections with one another."

Photo by Liz Lauren.

David Casper, U.S. CEO, BMO Financial Group said, “In celebration of the Year of Chicago Theatre, BMO Harris Bank is proud to continue its sponsorship of Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks. This summer's production of The Comedy of Errors is a wonderful story that has entertained audiences for more than four hundred years. Chicago Shakespeare Theater shares our commitment to ensuring that great theater is accessible to all, and we look forward to partnering with them in bringing this production to neighborhoods across the city.”

Throughout the tour, a specially equipped truck will roll into each park, a stage will unfold and actors will perform a 75-minute production of The Comedy of Errors. Staged and adapted by Jeff Award-winning director and choreographer David H. Bell,  the story unfolds when Antipholus and his lifelong servant Dromio find themselves in Ephesus as they search the world over for a twin, lost in infancy. Everywhere they go in this foreign land, complete strangers insist that they’re best of friends. Is everyone here quite mad? Mistaken identities abound, as one bewildering day in Ephesus makes for hilarious complications—and a bewitching theatrical experience.

The Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks The Comedy of Errors cast includes Will Allan (Dromio of Syracuse), Amira Danan (Adriana), Meghan Murphy (Aemilia/Courtezan), Andrea San Miguel (Luciana), Drew Shirley (Egeon/Luce/Dr. Pinch), Alec Silver (Dromio of Ephesus), Laurence Stepney (Duke), and ensemble members Wesley Daniel, Nathaniel Elfant, and Max Fabian. Additional casting to be announced. Joining Bell on the creative team is Scenic Designer Scott Davis, Costume Designer Theresa Ham, Projections Designer Mike Tutaj, Sound Designer Christopher M. LaPorte, Wig and Make-up Designer Richard Jarvie, Assistant Director Eli N. Newell, and Verse Coach Ross Lehman.

In addition to the tour stops in Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks will share Shakespeare with a one-night-only performance in Aurora at RiverEdge Park (360 N. Broadway St.) on Saturday, August 3, 2019, at 6:30 p.m.

Partnering with the Chicago Park District, Chicago Shakespeare Theater is offering ASL-interpreted performances at six of the eighteen Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour stops:

Sunday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m. | Loyola Park (1230 W. Greenleaf Ave.)
Saturday, August 10 at 6:30 p.m. | Ridge Park (1817 W. 96th St.)
Sunday, August 11 at 6:30 p.m. | Calumet Park (9801 S. Ave. G
Thursday, August 15 at 6:30 p.m. | Piotrowski Park (4247 W. 31st St.)
Saturday, August 17 at 6:30 p.m. | Welles Park (2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.)
Sunday, August 18 at 6:30 p.m. | Ping Tom Memorial Park (1700 S. Wentworth Ave.)

Sign-interpreting the performances are Elizabeth Bartlow Breslin and Will Lee. Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks will also offer an audio-described performance on Sunday, August 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Frank J. Wilson Park (4630 N. Milwaukee Ave.) for audience members who are blind or have low vision, in which a describer provides a description of visual elements of the production transmitted through headphones. Assistive-listening devices are available for all performances.

For more information on Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks, visit www.chicagoshakes.com/parks.

Photo by Michael Litchfield.

ABOUT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson, Chicago Shakespeare has redefined what a great American Shakespeare theater can be—a company that defies theatrical category. This Regional Tony Award-winning theater’s year-round season features as many as twenty productions and 650 performances—including plays, musicals, world premieres, family programming, and presentations from around the globe. Chicago Shakespeare is the city’s leading presenter of international work, and has toured its own productions across five continents. The Theater’s nationally acclaimed arts in literacy programs support the work of teachers, and bring Shakespeare to life on stage for tens of thousands of students annually. Each summer, the company tours a free professional production to neighborhood parks across Chicago. In 2017 the Theater unveiled The Yard, which, together with the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater and the Thoma Theater Upstairs, positions Chicago Shakespeare as Chicago’s most versatile performing arts center.

ABOUT 2019 YEAR OF CHICAGO THEATRE
Chicago Shakespeare Theater is proud to be part of the 2019 Year of Chicago Theatre, presented by the City of Chicago and the League of Chicago Theatres. To truly fall in love with Chicago, you must go to our theatres. This is where the city bares its fearless soul. Home to a community of creators, risk-takers, and big hearts, Chicago theatre is a hotbed for exciting new work and hundreds of world premieres every year. From Broadway musicals to storefront plays and improv, there’s always a seat waiting for you at one of our 200+ theatres. Book your next show today at ChicagoPlays.com.

Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tours Shakespeare’s hilarious classic The Comedy of Errors, directed by David H. Bell, FREE FOR ALL to 19 neighborhood parks across the city, July 18–August 18, 2019. Photo by Julie Stanton. 

GIVEAWAY: WIN 4 Tickets ($120) To Yes Ma’am Circus' 12th Night: If Circus be the Food of Love, Play On! at Theater Wit June 20 – June 30, 2019

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

Yes Ma’am Circus presents 

12th Night: 

If Circus be the Food of Love, Play On! 

**The production is family friendly (no swearing, nudity, or gore) and runs approximately 2 hours including a 15-minute intermission.**

ChiIL Mama's thrilled to partner with Yes Ma’am Circus on an excellent ticket giveaway for our readers. How can you beat the bard's classic with a circus arts twist?! We'll be out for the press opening and we're excited to give you the chance to WIN tickets too.

Enter Below for your chance to 

WIN 4 tickets ($120 value) 

To Yes Ma’am Circus' 12th Night: 

If Circus be the Food of Love, Play On! 

at Theater Wit June 20 – June 30, 2019. 

Winner's choice of dates/times throughout the run (pending availability) June 20-23, and 27-30 at Theater Wit. Sunday shows are matinees at 2:30, all others are at 7:30. Enter through midnight May 31st. 


Tickets are currently available to purchase through Theater Wit.

Yes Ma’am Circus presents 12th Night: If Circus be the Food of Love, Play On! This new look at Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy features dazzling circus acts, gender-bending cast and characters, and a hefty dose of comedy. The play has been adapted from the original for time and circus needs by the Yes Ma’am cast and is directed by Yes Ma’am Executive Director Amancay Kugler.

  Photos by Peter Serocki 

When twins Viola and Sebastian are separated at sea, each assumes the other is dead. They both make their way to Illyria, where Viola disguises herself as a man and finds employment with the local Duke. Hilarity ensues as Viola (now Cesario) is sent off to woo the Duke’s love interest, Countess Olivia, who soon falls in love with Cesario, who is fast falling in love with the Duke. Meanwhile the clowns of Olivia’s household create their own romantic plots and pranks, and Sebastian wanders through town, creating a chaotic series of mistaken identities and misunderstandings, all wrapped up in a drama-filled final confrontation.

This hilarious adaptation of Shakespeare’s 12th Night incorporates much of the original text, and adds in shadow puppetry, clowning, and aerial acrobatics. 

  Photos by Peter Serocki 

The complete cast includes:
Founding Members:
Amancay Kugler (Director), Maggie Karlin (Sebastian & Feste, Puppet Master), Athena Giles (Antonio), Matthew Kugler (Duke Orsino), Myriam Bloom (Graphic Designer)
New Company Members:
Foxy Grandpa (Maria), Scott M. Priz (Malvolio), Kathleen Hoil (Viola), Kristi Taff (Countess Olivia)

  Photos by Peter Serocki 

Now in our 2nd season, Yes Ma’am Circus strives to meld traditional circus acts with contemporary theater practices. Our creative drive is for plot-based, character-focused works that use circus to further the narrative. We are excited to grow as a company with 12th Night and look forward to seeing what the future brings as we further our reach in Chicago.

Cast for Paradise Lost Show.  Photo by Johanna Vargas

12th Night: If Circus be the Food of Love, Play On! Runs Thursday, June 20 – Sunday, June 30 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Press opening is Thursday June 20 at 7:30 PM. Regular performance times are Thursday- Saturday 7:30 PM and Sunday 2:30 PM. Tickets are $30 (discounts available for seniors, students, and industry members) and may be purchased through the Theater Wit Box Office. 

Special VIP tickets are available for a limited time only through Kickstarter

ENTER HERE for your chance to 

WIN 4 tickets ($120 value) 

To Yes Ma’am Circus' 12th Night: 

If Circus be the Food of Love, Play On! 

at Theater Wit June 20 – June 30, 2019

Giveaway for 4 tickets, valued at $120 total. Show runs June 20-23, and 27-30 at Theater Wit. Sunday shows are matinees at 2:30, all others are at 7:30. Enter through midnight May 31st. 

ENTER HERE

Disclosure: ChiIL Mama's thrilled to partner with Yes Ma’am Circus on an excellent ticket giveaway for our readers. Thanks to Yes Ma’am Circus for providing complimentary tickets for our giveaway and review purposes. As always, all opinions are my own.

FREE Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks Performs Romeo and Juliet In 18 Parks Through August 27th

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST), the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District and Boeing partner to present the annual citywide summer tradition, Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks. 




This free summer series is a family favorite of ours! We've gone every year. It was also my great pleasure to catch this Chicago Shakespeare production in particular with my teens and we highly recommend it. For fans of doomed love, teen angst, timeless classics and rockin' sword fights, this one's for you. Pack a picnic, bring your lawn chairs, friends, family, and neighbors, and come bask in the genius of the bard's words for free!

Made possible by production sponsor BMO Harris Bank, 25 performances of Shakespeare’s timeless classic Romeo and Juliet, adapted and directed by Marti Lyons, tour to 18 neighborhood parks across the Chicago, now through August 27, 2017. 

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List for fabulous, free, Family Friendly, Theatre Fun!

Join us for one of our city’s favorite summer traditions! Now in its sixth year, the FREE FOR ALL Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour heads out for another summer. This free 75-minute abridged production of Romeo and Juliet is coming to neighborhood parks across the north, west and south sides of the city. At each tour location, a specially equipped truck rolls into the park, a stage unfolds, and a company of professional actors shares Shakespeare’s story of star-crossed lovers with families and neighbors of all ages.

The feud between the Capulets and Montagues divides a city. From these two proud families, Romeo and Juliet fall in love. Can these star-crossed lovers bring peace to Verona?

Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tours Shakespeare’s timeless classic Romeo and Juliet, adapted and directed by Marti Lyons, FREE FOR ALL to 18 neighborhood parks across the city, July 26–August 27, 2017. Photo by Chuck Osgood.

The citywide tour is made possible by a renewed civic, cultural and corporate partnership between Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, Boeing and BMO Harris Bank. Since the inception of the Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks program six years ago, more than 100,000 Chicagoans have taken advantage of free performances in their communities.

OPENING: Love’s Labor’s Lost at Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

Love’s Labor’s Lost

Shakespeare's exuberant romantic comedy staged by Marti Maradenas part of Chicago Shakespeare's 30th Anniversary Season

Tonight, we'll be back at one of our frequent favorites, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, for the press opening of Shakespeare’s playful romantic comedy Love’s Labor’s Lost, staged by acclaimed director Marti Maraden as part of the Theater’s 30th Anniversary Season. Four gentlemen foreswear love and worldly pleasures for scholarly pursuits, only to be put to the test by the arrival of four beautiful ladies from the French Court—and the ensuing hysterical misadventures. Called one of the 101 greatest plays of all time and “the first full flowering of [Shakespeare’s] genius” by The Guardian critic Michael Billington, Love’s Labor’s Lost highlights the playwright’s witty wordplay in a joyful celebration of love. Maraden sets the production in the decadent courts of the eighteenth century and the Age of Reason. Featuring a stellar comedic cast, Love’s Labor’s Lost is presented at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, now through March 26, 2017.

The king’s plan is put to the test by the arrival of the winsome Princess of France (Jennie Greenberry) and her gentlewomen (at back, Jennifer Latimore)—and the ensuing hysterical misadventures in Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s production of Love’s Labor’s Lost, directed by Marti Maraden, February 7–March 26, 2017. Photo by Liz Lauren.

FREE Theatre In The Parks: Midsommer Flight Presents Shakespeare's As You Like It 7/9-8/28

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar

MIDSOMMER FLIGHT ANNOUNCES CAST FOR 

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S 

AS YOU LIKE IT, 

A FREE OUTDOOR PRESENTATION 

IN FOUR CHICAGO PARK LOCATIONS, 

JULY 9 – AUGUST 28

 MidsommerFlight_MuchAdo -- Meredith Ernst as Viola, Nick Loumos as Orsino, and Kanome' Jones as Olivia. Photo credit: Zack Whittington.

Midsommer Flight Returns to Lincoln Park, Rogers Park’s Touhy Park and Schreiber Park and Lincoln Square’s Gross Park to Present Free Shakespeare Productions in 2016, Perfect for the Whole Family

Midsommer Flight kicks off its fifth season this summer with the delightful comedy As You Like It, presented outdoors in four Chicago parks. Dedicated to presenting high quality, accessible productions of Shakespeare’s plays, Midsommer Flight is a proud arts partner with the Chicago Park District.

 The 2016 summer production of As You Like It is directed by Midsommer Flight’s Founder and Producing Artistic Director Beth Wolf.  As You Like It runs July 9 through August 28, Saturdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. 

MidsommerFlight -- Audiences enjoy Macbeth in 2015. Photo credit: Beth Wolf

The performance schedule is:

· Lincoln Park: July 9-10 and August 27-28, located on N. Stockton Drive behind the Lincoln Park Cultural Center at 2045 N. Lincoln Park West. 

· Rogers Park: July 16-17 and 23-24 at Touhy Park, 7348 N. Paulina St., in the southeast grove along Paulina St.

· Rogers Park: July 30-31 and August 6-7 at Schreiber Park, 1552 W. Schreiber Ave., in the field at the corner of Bosworth Ave. and Schreiber Ave. 

· Lincoln Square: August 13-14 and 20-21 performances are at Gross Park, 2708 W. Lawrence Ave., at the north end of the park along Gunnison St. 

All performances will be presented free of charge (donations gratefully accepted). In addition, live music will be presented 30 minutes prior to each performance. Music programming varies with each venue, with specific performers being announced at a later date. Audiences are encouraged to come early and bring a picnic to enjoy this free programming.  For more information visit www.midsommerflight.com.

Midsommer Flight’s As You Like It features a cast of 15 and original music. When Rosalind is banished by the evil Duke, she and her cousin Celia set out to the Forest of Arden to make a new life, disguised for safety as a brother and sister. As fate would have it, Orlando, whom Rosalind loves, also flees the evil Duke to the Forest of Arden. But disguised as a boy, Rosalind cannot reveal herself to him. Will true love win out? With joyful music, hilarious comedy, and some of the most famous lines ever penned by Shakespeare, As You Like It is sure to delight audiences this summer.

MidsommerFlight_MuchAdo2 -- Alex Mauney as Feste. Photo credit: Tom McGrath

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The cast features Midsommer Flight ensemble members: Adam Habben (Touchstone) and Elizabeth Rentfro (Jaques), the company also welcomes returning guest artists Margaret Kellas (Audrey), Ian Michael Minh (Oliver, Lord, Musician), and Erick Rivera (Amiens).  Newcomers to Midsommer Flight include Emily Demko (Rosalind), Charlee Cotton (Celia), Eric Duhon (Orlando), and more.

The full cast features (in alphabetical order): Charlee Cotton (Celia), Emily Demko (Rosalind), Eric Duhon (Orlando), Richarsd Eisloeffel (Silvius), Adam Gianforte (Le Beau, Lord/Musician, Jaques de Boys), Sonia Goldberg (Corin, Lady at Court), Adam Habben (Touchstone), Margaret Kellas (Audrey, Lady at Court), Maggie Miller (Adam, Oliver Mar-text), Ian Michael Minh (Oliver, Lord/Musician), Alexis Randolph (Phebe, Lady at Court), Elizabeth Rentfro (Jaques), Erick Rivera (Amiens), Shane Roberie (Charles, Lord/Musician), and James Sparling (Duke Frederick, Duke Senior).

Production staff includes Beth Wolf (Director), Robin Waisanen (Stage Manager), Kristina McCloskey (Assistant Director), Beth Laske-Miller (Costume Designer), Elizabeth Rentfro (Music Director/Composer), and Chris Smith (Violence Designer).

MidsommerFlight -- Audiences enjoy Macbeth in 2015. Photo credit: Beth Wolf

ABOUT MIDSOMMER FLIGHT

Midsommer Flight is a Chicago theatre company dedicated to producing outdoor performances of Shakespeare’s plays. After the company’s well-received inaugural production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2012, the Chicago City Council honored Midsommer Flight with a resolution praising “the Midsommer Flight theater troupe on their dedication to bringing the arts to underserved communities.”  The company incorporated as a not-for-profit in the state of Illinois in early 2013, and has since produced Romeo and Juliet (2013), Much Ado About Nothing (2014), Macbeth (2015) and Twelfth Night (2015).

Midsommer Flight’s As You Like It written by William Shakespeare and directed by Midsommer Flight’s Founder and Producing Artistic Director Beth Wolf, July 9 through August 28, Saturdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. The performance run will begin and end at Lincoln Park, with performances on July 9-10 and August 27-28, located on N. Stockton Drive behind the Lincoln Park Cultural Center at 2045 N. Lincoln Park West. 

Additional performances will tour to three other park venues. July 16-17 and 23-24 performances are at Touhy Park, 7348 N. Paulina St., in the southeast grove along Paulina St. July 30-31 and August 6-7 performances are at Schreiber Park, 1552 W. Schreiber Ave., in the field at the corner of Bosworth Ave. and Schreiber Ave. August 13-14 and 20-21 performances are at Gross Park, 2708 W. Lawrence Ave., at the north end of the park along Gunnison St. All performances will be presented free of charge (donations gratefully accepted). In addition, live music will be presented prior to each performance. Audiences are encouraged to come early and bring a picnic to enjoy this free programming.  For more information visit www.midsommerflight.com.

Shakespeare 400 Chicago Style

A celebration 

400 years in the making

1,000 artists. 850 events. 120 sites across Chicago.

Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows we've been lifelong lovers of Shakespeare. We love his witty wordplay and endearing, enduring characters that have forever altered the course of our language and our very society. This year we've hit the milestone of four hundred years since Shakespeare’s death in 1616, and Chicago's celebrating in a big way with 850 events slated for the year, which will entertain more than 500,000 Chicagoans and visitors to our City! We're elated to be on board to help spread the word. Check back early and often for the full scoop, early warnings, and photo filled recaps and reviews.

Shakespeare 400 Chicago invites you connect with new cultures, engage your mind and discover endless inspiration fueled by one extraordinary playwright. Chicago Shakespeare Theater kicked it all off in January as Moscow’s leading actors took the stage in Measure for Measure for 6 shows only. Measure for Measure You’ll soon find the courageous artists of Belarus Free Theatre in town with a heartrending King Lear, while the voices of Chicago a cappella illuminate the musicality of sonnets and soliloquies. Ignite the imagination of children in your life at an interactive concert of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Symphony Center. From Belarus: Belarus Free Theatre KING LEAR February 5–14, 2016 Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare And that’s just the beginning. In February, the first dates and dishes will be revealed for Culinary Complete Works, everyday household objects rise beyond their station for (In) Complete Works: Table Top Shakespeare at the Museum of Contemporary Art, and Othello will be vividly realized through both theater and dance at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the Hamburg Ballet's engagement at Harris Theater. The Theatre School at DePaul PROSPERO'S STORM January 14–February 20, 2016 DePaul's Merle Reskin Theatre All year, the festival will shine a spotlight on the best international and Chicago talents. There’s so much to enjoy—come play your part! Explore More Shakespeare+Chicago: An unlikely pairing, perhaps? Perhaps. But Chicago is no novice when it comes to shape-changing events. Our city’s first quadricentennial dates back to 1893 and the World’s Columbian Exposition. Galvanizing and inspiring a city to become more than it was, the exposition reshaped a boomtown, known already for risk-taking, determination and, yes, audacity. Read More Browse the Shakespeare 400 Chicago catalog This global celebration is made possible by an unprecedented collaboration of Chicago institutions. Shakespeare will come to life across disciplines, through inspirational acts of theater, dance, music, spectacle and more. Flip through the full catalog online, or download a copy to keep handy. There's something for everyone! Browse catalog

Shakespeare 400 Chicago is a yearlong international arts festival in 2016 celebrating the vibrancy, relevance and reach of Shakespeare. As the world commemorates the four hundred years since Shakespeare’s death in 1616, Shakespeare 400 Chicago will engage more than 500,000 Chicagoans and visitors to our City through 850 events. Spearheaded by Chicago Shakespeare Theater and with leading support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and Pritzker Military Museum & Library, this quadricentennial celebration is anticipated to be the world’s largest and most comprehensive celebration of Shakespeare’s enduring legacy.

SAVE THE DATE: Pericles at Chicago Shakespeare Theater Nov 30th

Act Out:  Chicago Theatre openings, closings, reviews, giveaways, ticket sale dates and more. Chi, IL Live Shows on stage and on our radar.

Pericles

by William Shakespeare

directed by David H. Bell

November 30, 2014 – January 18, 2015

in Chicago Shakespeare's Courtyard Theater

Here at ChiIL Live Shows we make it a point to catch everything we can at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. They do a phenomenal job with Shakespeare and with other playwrights new and old. Highly recommended. 

Ben Carlson again treads the boards of Chicago Shakespeare's stage following turns as Macbeth, Hamlet (Jeff Award, Best Actor) and the outrageously funny Frank in The School for Lies. Chicago Tribune hails "few can match him…one of North America’s best classical performers." In Shakespeare's most fantastical tale, Pericles embarks on a tempest-tossed quest in search of adventure, wealth and family. As he travels to parts unknown, our hero is confronted by villains, pirates, goddesses and kings. In the end, he discovers an essential truth—the renewal of love and life itself.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Previews
Sunday, November 30 at 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 7 at 2:00 p.m.

Weekday Performances

Tuesdays
December 16, 23 at 1:00 p.m.
December 2, 23, 30; January 6, 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesdays
December 10, 17; January 7 at 1:00 p.m.
December 3, 10, 17, 31; January 7,14 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursdays
January 8 at 1:00 p.m.
December 4, 11, 18; January 8, 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Weekend Performances

Fridays
December 5, 12, 19, 26; January 2, 9, 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays
December 13, 20, 27; January 3, 10, 17 at 3:00 p.m.
December 6 at 7:30 p.m.
December 13, 20, 27; January 3, 10, 17 at 8:00 p.m.

Sundays
November 30; December 7, 14, 21, 28; January 4, 11, 18 at  2:00 p.m.
December 28; January 4, 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets: $48–$78

www.chicagoshakes.com

Box Office: 312.595.5600
Group Sales: 312.595.5678 (groups of 10 or more) 

The Merchant of Venice With Oscar Winner F. Murray Abraham #BroadwayinChicago

It's not too late to see The Merchant of Venice.   ChiIL Mama checked out opening night on the 15th and it was an absolute treat to see Oscar winner, F. Murray Abraham, in action as Shylock.   There were some compelling choices in costuming and set design which fused the old and new, to give this staging a contemporary look without sacrificing the flow and beauty of Shakespearean language.   Timeless themes of racism, greed, revenge, love, parental control and loss of control, lust and fidelity were all skillfully brought forth.

I spent intermission talking with an English teacher/mom who brought her two children (7 & 11) for their first taste of live Shakespeare.    The kids were hangin' in there, but The Merchant of Venice is conceptually a lot to handle (even for many of the so called "adults" in the audience).   It's not as accessible or kid friendly as A Midsummer Nights Dream or Macbeth, with bright costumes, sword fights, witches and mythical creatures.

I had debated bringing one or both of my kids, and narrowly decided not to.   Hers were so close in age to mine that I wanted to get their take on things.   Her 7 year old daughter was a bit bored and confused and basically said she was having trouble following the plot, which I think would have happened with my 2nd grade daughter, too.   Yuppies in suits and grown ups talking and talking are challenging to 7 year olds, even when they're speaking modern English.

Their 11 year old son was enjoying the hip hop, gangster archetype of Launcelot Gobbo, played by Jacob Ming-Trent.   He also liked the gold, silver and lead "caskets", set up as a test for Portia's suitors, which were reinvented as 3 silver Mac Book Pro Computers.   As each potential husband chose one, a large screen sprang to life on the wall with graphics and an ominous booming voice.   

We had a great chat about introducing Shakespeare to kids through some fantastic children's books by Bruce Coville, including his version of A Midsummer Night's Dream.   He also includes Shakespearean themes and references without the language barrier, in his Magic Shop series.   

I also highly recommended Chicago Shakespeare Theatre to them.   We just took both of our kids to see their Short Shakespeare production of Macbeth, and it was a hit with everyone.   They abridged it, for a shorter run time a fast pace, but did not compromise the original language or intent.    You can check out our review HERE.

This particular family spent 8 hours on Amtrak to spend spring break in Chicago, and were making the most of their theatre immersion vacation.   The day before, they'd been to Ethan Frome at Lookingglass Theatre.

My kids' first live Shakespeare was an outdoor production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, two years ago, which they adored.   Everyone sat outside on a grassy hill, and a friend of ours was in the cast.   We prepped by reading several kid friendly versions of the story before hand, so the kids knew the plot line and wouldn't be lost and frustrated.   That way they could ask questions during the books and not interrupt the play with loud protests of "I don't get it."   It was a pleasurable introduction where setting and the outrageous costumes made grasping the line by line dialogue less crucial.

Of course, every child matures with different timing and every parent has their own meter for what they are comfortable taking their kids to and what they think their children can handle.   Certainly there are great teachable moments in The Merchant of Venice about racism, classism, revenge, sexism, logic and wit.

Older children will also catch the hints of homosexuality, threats of infidelity and cross dressing.   They may get a kick out of learning that back in the playwright's day, all the actors were men, so the turnabouts  Shakespeare is renowned for were even more convoluted.   Shakespearean plays are full of men, playing women, pretending to dress as men.   I'd be less concerned, personally, with tweens or teens picking up on inappropriate innuendos and actions than with the difficult language factor.   

It's a fine line between taking kids to things that they may not love, but that are educational for them, and boring them out of interest in things.   I'm all for not condescending or dumbing things down for kids.   It's a mind expanding experience for a child to see Oscar winning performers, while sitting in red velvet seats, among gold gilt trappings, even if some of the show goes over their heads.   I have absolute admiration for parents who want to bring the full experience of live theatre in an ornate downtown theatre to their children.

I've seen a number of "modernized" productions of various works by Shakespeare and some certainly work better than others.    I think this one's a bit challenging for younger children, but enjoyed it myself.   All of the actors were a pleasure to watch.   The set design and costume choices made classic characters intriguing and relevant, recast as today's power elite.   Check it out through March 27th.

Dates : March 15, 2011 - March 27, 2011

From the acclaimed Theatre for a New Audience, the first U.S. theatre to be invited to the Royal Shakespeare Company, comes Shakespeare's tragicomedy following command runs Off-Broadway and in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Starring Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham in his riveting portrayal of Shylock, and directed by Darko Tresnjak (former Artistic Director, Old Globe), the play has been arousing controversies for centuries with raucous and gentle comedy, tender poetry, and its struggle with mercy and justice. In this riveting update, religion, race and sexuality collide with love, family and justice and the currency of society and humanity has never been so changeable.

Ticket prices are $25 to $80. 

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