Chicago Shakespeare Theater – Clef Notes Chicagoland Journal for the Arts

Who doesn’t love a dazzling musical? There’s nothing like a live production with all of your favorite songs, winsome choreography, eye-popping sets and just sheer fun oozing out of each and every side of the stage in front of you. So when Chicago Shakespeare Theater announced it would be bringing back its popular summer musical after a two-year absence — and with Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, no less — there was no doubt it would be a hit. Yet this production has even more to cheer about because leading the cast in the titular role of Belle will be Aurora native Audrey Hare. Based in New York City, Hare attended Benet Academy in Lisle, majoring in Music Theatre. She went on to pursue the same study at Baldwin Wallace University, graduating with a Bachelor of Music in 2020.

Chicago-Shakespeare-Theater-Bard-Celebration

Spring 2023 Theater

Chicago Shakespeare Theater to Honor 459th Birthday of the Bard with Wide Slate of Events

March 30, 2023 Oscar Peterson Barbara Gaines, Chicago Shakespeare Theater

As the world celebrates William Shakespeare’s 459th birthday this year, Chicago Shakespeare Theater will honor the Bard with multiple events throughout the month. The theater will honor the legacy of its founding artistic director, Barbara Gaines, with the Spirit of Shakespeare Award, which will be presented at a fundraising event at the Theater’s home on Navy Pier on Monday, April 24, 2023. On April 23, the theater will invite Chicago to join in celebration of Shakespeare’s birthday with the premiere of TO BE, a free streaming event featuring performances from artists across disciplines and across the city. Also, the theater announces added performances of Gaines’ final production as artistic director, The Comedy of Errors, now extended through April 23.

Theater

Chriss Henderson to Step Down as Executive Director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater

August 2, 2022 Oscar Peterson Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chriss Henderson

Chriss Henderson who has steered Chicago Shakespeare Theater from a fledgling start-up theater in 1990 through 33 years of expansive growth, award-winning productions, and nationally recognized education and community engagement programming, has announced that he will be stepping down from his executive director role at the end of 2022.

Autumn 2021 Theater

All We Need is Shakespeare

October 16, 2021 Leslie Price Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Shakespeare, The Beatles

Peace, love and Shakespeare – Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) is bringing all three to their Beatles’ infused adaptation of As You Like It, set in the swinging sixties. It’sCST’s first indoor performance of the 2021-2022 season and it’s inspired by the Fab Four’s unforgettable canon. As You Like It will take audiences back to the 1960s in both song and style while reimagining one of Shakespeare’s most delightful and lyrical comedies.