Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Chicago Shakespeare Theater Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson have announced CST's 2008/09 Season. In 10 newly-imagined and classic works throughout the coming year, fierce rivals and witty fools collide on stage in the Theater's ninth season on Navy Pier.

The 2008/09 season of rivalry and revelry begins in June 2008 and runs through June 2009 as follows:

Much Ado About Nothing
June 25 – August 3, 2008, Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare
The world premiere of the hip-hop musical adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing created by GQ and JAQ, the team whose past work includes the international success, The Bomb-itty of Errors, kicks off the summer at Chicago Shakespeare. Developed in a series of workshops at Chicago Shakespeare, this production showcases a cast of rap and hip-hop MCs playing multiple roles, setting rhyme and rhythm to a DJ's tracks. Shakespeare's love of wit and wordplay translates perfectly to this modern take on Shakespeare's classic comedy. After its summer run on Navy Pier, CST will present the work at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

Willy Wonka
July 8 – August 17, 2008, Courtyard Theater
The summer line-up also includes CST's production of the family musical Willy Wonka, based on the 1971 musical film version of Roald Dahl's classic children's novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, featuring music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. The CST production of Willy Wonka, directed by Joe Leonardo, is the first stage production of the theatrical adaptation of the film, following its development at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Willy Wonka and his band of Oompa Loompas lead the sweet-natured Charlie Bucket and four other Golden Ticket winners on the tour of a lifetime through a mysterious candy-maker's fantastical factory. Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka features many memorable songs—including "The Candy Man," "I Want It Now!" and "Pure Imagination."

Amadeus
September 6 – November 9, 2008, Courtyard Theater
Kicking off the fall theater season, CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin returns to Chicago Shakespeare to stage Peter Shaffer's award-winning drama, and brings us into the tumultuous lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his obsessively jealous rival, Viennese court composer Antonio Salieri. Overcome with envy of Mozart's divinely inspired music, Salieri believes God has bestowed genius upon an "unmannered fool" and sets out to destroy his rival and take revenge upon an uncaring God. The original Broadway production received five Tony Awards, including Best Play, and its subsequent film adaptation garnered eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

The Troublesome Reign and Lamentable Death of Edward II, King of England, with the Tragical Fall of Proud Mortimer
October 1 – November 9, 2008, Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare
Chicago director Sean Graney brings the audience into the action in a ‘promenade staging' of Christopher Marlowe's The Troublesome Reign and Lamentable Death of Edward II, King of England, with the Tragical Fall of Proud Mortimer. Audience members are invited to take part in the production by moving with actors freely about the performance space, or to witness the interactive performance in seating above the action. Promenade tickets will be offered for $20. This exploration of power and persuasion by William Shakespeare's greatest contemporary rival playwright marks a double theatrical debut at CST—for both Marlowe and Graney. 

CPS Shakespeare!
October 24 – 25, 2008, Courtyard Theater
CPS Shakespeare!, one of CST's landmark arts-in-education programs, takes to the stage of the Courtyard Theater with two public performances—the capstone of an intensive four week workshop, creating an ensemble of students and their teachers from each of Chicago Public Schools' five designated geographic districts. This 60-minute adaptation of one of William Shakespeare's classic plays is directed by Kirsten Kelly.

A Midsummer Night's Dream
November 25 – December 7, 2008, Courtyard Theater
A Midsummer Night's Dream, part of Chicago Shakespeare's World Stage Series, combines the astonishing skills of 23 actors, dancers, martial arts experts, musicians and street acrobats from across India and Sri Lanka, performing in eight different languages with half performed in English. Directed by Tim Supple, this Dream—commissioned by the British Council and produced over a two-year period—is a bold, revelatory production that caused a sensation across India, and performed to sold-out houses at the Royal Shakespeare Company and London's Roundhouse. Chicago audiences will now be able to experience this production during its limited two-week engagement at CST.

Macbeth
December 31, 2008 – March 8, 2009, Courtyard Theater
CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines opens the New Year with a production of Macbeth—the first production of the "Scottish Play" in her distinguished career. Written at the height of Shakespeare's dramatic powers, Macbeth is infused with superstition, ghosts and madness. Returning to CST in the title role is Ben Carlson, featured classical actor at the Shaw and Stratford Shakespeare Festivals of Canada. Carlson made his Chicago debut in CST's 2006 production of Hamlet for which he received the Jeff Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. December 31, 2008 – March 8, 2009, Courtyard Theater.

Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream
 January 24 – March 7, 2009, Courtyard Theater
Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Amanda Dehnert, introduces over 30,000 students to Shakespeare and is performed for the public on seven consecutive Saturday mornings in an interactive theater experience. This carefully crafted 75-minute abridgment of Shakespeare's comedy introduces young people, their families, and those new to Shakespeare to the theatrical genius of CST's resident playwright. A question-and-answer session with the entire cast follows—an open forum for audience members to communicate with the actors and share their questions with other families. Saturdays,

Sweet William
February 3 – 22, 2009, Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare
The World Stage Stage Series continues with Sweet William, Michael Pennington's large-spirited, one-man show—an homage to Shakespeare that looks at his life and his work, side-by-side. Part biography, part analysis and part performance, Sweet William reflects on Pennington's long international experience as a leading Shakespearean actor—a career that has spanned more than 40 years, with leading roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and his own award-winning English Shakespeare Company. Having spent over 20,000 hours onstage performing Shakespeare, Pennington sets out to celebrate the life and work of this global cultural icon.

Additional productions in Chicago Shakespeare's World Stage Series will be announced in the coming months.

Twelfth Night
March 29 – June 7, 2009, Courtyard Theater
The 2008/09 Season concludes with the Chicago debut of British director Josie Rourke staging Twelfth Night, Shakespeare's fairytale comedy set in the make-believe kingdom of Illyria. Shipwrecked twins set into relentless motion this tale of mistaken identity and unlikely love. Josie Rourke has held positions at the Donmar Warehouse, Sheffield Theatres and the Royal Court, and directed King John for the Royal Shakespeare Company. She is Artistic Director of The Bush Theater—London's 36-year-old company that presents new plays and develops new writers. Recently, Rourke made headlines when she successfully led the artistic community in a charge to restore Arts Council England funding to theaters.

Tickets are now on sale for all productions including subscription packages comprised of Amadeus, Macbeth and Twelfth Night starting at $120.00.

For further information on Chicago Shakespeare Theater productions and to purchase tickets, call the Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com.