Melissa Veal News

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today a special performance of Short Shakespeare! The Taming of the Shrew at Benito Juarez Community Academy Performing Arts Center in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood on Saturday, March 24 at 7 p.m. The 75-minute abridged production of Shakespeare's battle of the sexes-presented in English with projected Spanish translation and featuring a prologue by leading members of the Pilsen community-is part of CST's ongoing partnership with Benito Juarez Community Academy (BJCA).

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's (CST) 25th Anniversary Season production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin (CST's Follies, Broadway's The Color Purple) is now playing through April 8, 2012, and features a celebrated company of artists that includes stage and screen actor Ron Orbach as Nick Bottom, former Saturday Night Live funnyman Tim Kazurinsky as Peter Quince, and veteran CST actors Tracy Michelle Arnold as Hippolyta/Titania and Timothy Edward Kane as Theseus/Oberon. Performing the role of Puck is Elizabeth Ledo.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today casting for Short Shakespeare! The Taming of the Shrew, a 75-minute abridged production of Shakespeare's lively battle of the sexes adapted and staged by Jeff Award-winning director Rachel Rockwell.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today casting for its 25th Anniversary Season production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin (CST's Follies, Broadway's The Color Purple) and featuring a celebrated company of artists that includes stage and screen actor Ron Orbach as Nick Bottom, former Saturday Night Live funnyman Tim Kazurinsky as Peter Quince, and veteran CST actors Tracy Michelle Arnold as Hippolyta/Titania and Timothy Edward Kane as Theseus/Oberon. Performing the role of Puck is Elizabeth Ledo.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's (CST) 25th Anniversary Season includes Elizabeth Rex, directed by CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and playing in CST's Courtyard Theater now through January 22, 2012. Set in Shakespeare's time, Timothy Findley's Elizabeth Rex is a fictional drama based on an obscure historical fact: on the eve of the beheading of her court favorite and rumored lover, the Earl of Essex, Queen Elizabeth was entertained with a royal command performance by William Shakespeare and his company. Findley's daring and original play imagines the troubled Queen's impassioned confrontation with an ailing actor-who dares to reveal the woman buried beneath the role of the 'Virgin Queen.'

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today the casting for its 10th annual concert collaboration with The Chicago Chamber Musicians (CCM), Witches, Wizards, Spells and Elves: The Magic of Shakespeare, introducing families and children to the joys of live performance-through music performed by CCM ensemble members, and through the plays of Shakespeare brought to life by CST actors.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today casting for its 25th Anniversary Season production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin (CST's Follies, Broadway's The Color Purple) and featuring a celebrated company of artists that includes stage and screen actor Ron Orbach as Nick Bottom, former Saturday Night Live funnyman Tim Kazurinsky as Peter Quince, and veteran CST actors Tracy Michelle Arnold as Hippolyta/Titania and Timothy Edward Kane as Theseus/Oberon. Performing the role of Puck is Elizabeth Ledo.

Performances begin today for Chicago Shakespeare Theater's (CST) 25th Anniversary Season production of Elizabeth Rex, directed by CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and playing in CST's Courtyard Theater now through January 22, 2012.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's extension of its celebrated 25th Anniversary Season opening production of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's Follies, directed by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin will close today, November 13, 2011, in CST's Courtyard Theater. The production features a company of more than 40 actors and musicians that includes Olivier Award nominees Brent Barrett as Benjamin Stone and Caroline O'Connor as Phyllis Rogers Stone, with Robert Petkoff as Buddy Plummer, Susan Moniz as Sally Durant Plummer and Chicago musical theater favorite Hollis Resnik as Carlotta Campion.

At the gala 43rd Annual Equity Jeff Awards held at Drury Lane Oakbrook on Monday, November 7, 'The Madness of George III,' from Chicago Shakespeare Theater, took top honors for a play in the Large Theatre tier with a total of 5 awards, including Production - Play, Director Penny Metropulos and Principal Actor Harry Groener. In musical categories for large theatres, the Goodman Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company production of 'Candide' won top awards for a musical with 5 statues, including Production - Musical, New Adaptation for Mary Zimmerman, Principal Actor Geoff Packard and Supporting Actress and Actor, Hollis Resnik and Larry Yando. The revisionist team of Director Charles Newell and Music Director Doug Peck of Court Theatre claimed directing honors for large musicals with their new look at 'The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess.'

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today the extension of its celebrated 25th Anniversary Season opening production of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's Follies, directed by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin, now playing through November 13, 2011, in CST's Courtyard Theater

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today that its celebrated premiere comedy Murder for Two-A Killer Musical will be extended into its sixth month through November 27, 2011, Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare. Nominated for four Joseph Jefferson Awards, including Best New Work-Musical or Revue, this 90-minute Agatha Christie-like whodunit musical comes with a surprising twist: one actor plays the inspector, the other plays all 10 suspects, and both play the piano. Created by Joe Kinosian (music/book) and Kellen Blair (lyrics/book), Murder for Two-A Killer Musical currently features Kinosian as the slew of hilarious would-be criminals. Beginning on October 19, Adam Overett will take over for Alan Schmuckler in the role of Officer Marcus Moscowicz.

The Chicago Shakespeare Theater productions of Follies opens today on Navy Pier. Starring in the Chicago production, directed by Gary Griffin, are Hollis Resnik as Carlotta, Brent Barrett as Benjamin, Caroline O'Connor as Phyllis, Robert Petkoff as Buddy and Susan Moniz as Sally.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) begins a partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), CPS Shakespeare!, in which an ensemble of 35 students and teachers from ten CPS high schools will stage an adaptation of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today a partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), CPS Shakespeare!, in which an ensemble of 35 students and teachers from ten CPS high schools will stage an adaptation of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.

The Jeff Awards today announced 185 nominations in 35 categories for Chicago Equity theatrical productions which opened between August 1, 2010, and July 31, 2011.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents the world premiere family musical The Adventures of Pinocchio, which will close on August 28, 2011.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today that, due to popular demand, its celebrated premiere comedy Murder for Two-A Killer Musical will play through October 16, 2011, Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's (CST) premiere comedy Murder for Two-A Killer Musical will close on July 31, 2011.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today a second extension of its celebrated premiere comedy Murder for Two-A Killer Musical. Due to popular demand, the production will play an additional five weeks through September 4, 2011, Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare.