Short Shakespeare! Hamlet at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Under the direction of CST Artistic Director Edward Hall, the production features Chicago Shakespeare favorite Jaylon Muchison in the title role, supported by an accomplished ensemble including Scott Aiello, Joe Foust, Charence Higgins, Beric Orion, Jessica Dean Turner, and Maureen Yasko. Together, they tackle the central questions that have resonated for four centuries: What is right? What is wrong? To be... or not to be?The story follows the young Prince of Denmark as he grapples with devastating loss and fractured relationships. His father is dead, his mother has quickly remarried, and the world he once knew has been shattered. Hall's adaptation offers audiences a chance to see themselves reflected in this ancient story, finding new relevance in Hamlet's struggles with grief and moral uncertainty.
Edward Hall noted, "Hamlet was written at a time of such great uncertainty and turbulence, making this an electric moment to delve back into his story of family, politics, and identity. After my experience directing Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream last year, I relish the opportunity of sharing Hamlet with a young audience that has so much to teach me about the world in which I live."
The production represents a careful distillation of Shakespeare's longest and most complex tragedy. According to CST's Director of Education and Lifelong Learning Nora Carroll, the decision to tackle Hamlet came directly from feedback from school partners. "When we asked our school partners what they wanted out of Short Shakespeare!, we received an overwhelmingly positive response to the play Hamlet," shared CST's Director of Education and Lifelong Learning Nora Carroll. "This feedback felt like an exciting call to action and a creative challenge: how do we distill this complex play into 75-minutes of engaging and thoughtful storytelling? As this is our first abridgement of Hamlet, we've enjoyed reading and re-reading the play (aloud), finding new meaning, asking essential questions, and creating educational resources for the classroom. And now, it's a great joy to be able to introduce this work to young people and witness them, in a room full of their peers, wrestle with themes of love, grief, family, action, and identity."
Muchison brings considerable experience with Chicago Shakespeare to his portrayal of Hamlet, having previously earned acclaim in Henry V, Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Much Ado About Nothing. Scott Aiello takes on Claudius, the uncle whose marriage to Hamlet's mother sets the tragedy in motion, while Joe Foust portrays the well-meaning but ultimately misguided counselor Polonius. Charence Higgins brings depth to Ophelia, caught in the crossfire of court intrigue and family pressure. Jessica Dean Turner plays Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, whose choices drive much of the prince's anguish. Beric Orion and Maureen Yasko, both making their CST debuts, round out the ensemble.
Every performance includes a post-show conversation with the cast, giving audiences an insider's perspective on bringing this enduring story to the stage. These discussions offer theatergoers the opportunity to explore the interpretation choices and discover how the creative team approached condensing Shakespeare's sprawling masterwork into an accessible format.
Beyond the public performances, the production will reach nearly 20,000 students from Chicagoland and surrounding areas through weekday matinees. This educational component reflects Chicago Shakespeare's commitment to arts-in-literacy programming, bringing complex texts to life for students across the region. The theater serves more students and teachers than any theater in Chicago through its award-winning lifelong learning programs, which include professional development opportunities for educators, the Chicago Shakespeare Slam for high school students, and the Bard Core program that trains Chicago Public School teachers in drama-based teaching strategies.
Through initiatives like the $30 Under 30 discounted ticket program, Pre Amble talks, and post-show discussions, Chicago Shakespeare continues to reduce barriers to participation and deepen engagement with Shakespeare's work across all age groups. Last year alone, 473 educators took advantage of professional development opportunities, free workshops, and digital classroom resources offered by the theater.
Short Shakespeare! Hamlet runs January 31 through February 28 in the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.