Kate Danziger

First Folio Theatre’s Board of Directors has announced that Founding Executive Director David Rice will be stepping down in the spring of 2024. In conjunction with that decision, the Board has also determined that First Folio will cease operations at the end of the 2023-2024 season.

 As a way to help address the absence of live theater performances, First Folio Theatre will offer a streaming video recording of the award-winning Cymbeline: A Folk Tale with Music, directed by Michael Goldberg. Adapted from Shakespeare's romance by David Rice with original music and lyrics by Michael Keefe and David Rice, this production was recorded live during a 2013 performance on First Folio's outdoor stage. The show will be streaming on the Vimeo video service June 3 a?" 14. With an original bluegrass/gospel score played by the cast members themselves, Cymbeline is just the tonic folks need in these difficult times.

First Folio Theatre has released the following statement regarding upcoming performances: 

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83.) has announced the expansion of its administrative staff, with the hiring of Melanie Keller as Associate Artistic Director, Kate Danziger as Managing Director, and Katie Cora Johnson as Director of Audience Relations. In their new capacities, each professional will assist in developing and growing the theater with each of their unique experiences.

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83), will present the rollicking World Premiere of SHAKESPEARE'S CYMBELINE: A FOLK TALE WITH MUSIC, previewing tonight, June 19, opening Saturday, June 22 at 8:15 p.m., and running through July 21, 2013.

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83), will present the rollicking World Premiere of SHAKESPEARE'S CYMBELINE: A FOLK TALE WITH MUSIC, previewing June 19, opening Saturday, June 22 at 8:15 p.m., and running through July 21, 2013. This wondrous new version of the timeless Shakespearean folk tale has been moved to Civil War Appalachia and includes 10 original songs featuring beautiful bluegrass melodies. SHAKESPEARE'S CYMBELINE: A FOLK TALE WITH MUSIC is adapted by First Folio Theatre's Executive Director and Jeff Award-nominee, David Rice, with Music and Lyrics by Rice and Michael Keefe (First Folio's Resident Composer). Michael Goldberg (The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night's Dream at First Folio Theatre) directs the "Shakespeare Under the Stars" production, which concludes First Folio Theatre's smash hit 2013 season. It will appear on the outdoor main stage situated on the scenic slopes of the historic Mayslake Peabody Estate.

An original production by First Folio Theatre's Executive Director David Rice, THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY, recently opened and runs through November 4th, directed by Michael Goldberg and stars Christian Gray as 'Edgar Allan Poe'. Watch the video below for a behind-the-scenes look at the actors after their opening night performance!

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY, an original play by Executive Director David Rice. This critically acclaimed production first premiered in 2006 and sold out the entire run. The riveting tale of life and death, love and heartbreak runs through November 4. Check out photos from the show's opening night celebration below!

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents THE MADNESS OF Edgar Allan POE: A LOVE STORY, an original play by Executive Director David Rice. This critically acclaimed production first premiered in 2006 and sold out the entire run. The riveting tale of life and death, love and heartbreak opens tonight, September 29 at 8 p.m. and runs through November 4.

First Folio Theatre presents THE MADNESS OF Edgar Allan POE: A LOVE STORY, an original play by Executive Director David Rice. This critically acclaimed production first premiered in 2006 and sold out the entire run. The riveting tale of life and death, love and heartbreak opens Saturday, September 29 at 8 p.m. and runs through November 4. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY, an original play by Executive Director David Rice. This critically acclaimed production first premiered in 2006 and sold out the entire run. The riveting tale of life and death, love and heartbreak previews tonight, September 26, opens Saturday, September 29 at 8 p.m. and runs through November 4. THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY is directed by Michael Goldberg (Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night's Dream at First Folio) and stars Christian Gray as 'Edgar Allan Poe' (A Moon for the Misbegotten at First Folio Theatre, A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane Theatre, and Richard II at Writers' Theatre).

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY, an original play by Executive Director David Rice. This critically acclaimed production first premiered in 2006 and sold out the entire run. The riveting tale of life and death, love and heartbreak previews September 26, opens Saturday, September 29 at 8 p.m. and runs through November 4. THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY is directed by Michael Goldberg (Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night's Dream at First Folio) and stars Christian Gray as 'Edgar Allan Poe' (A Moon for the Misbegotten at First Folio Theatre, A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane Theatre, and Richard II at Writers' Theatre).

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY, an original play by Executive Director David Rice. This critically acclaimed production first premiered in 2006 and sold out the entire run. The riveting tale of life and death, love and heartbreak previews September 26, opens Saturday, September 29 at 8 p.m. and runs through November 4. THE MADNESS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE: A LOVE STORY is directed by Michael Goldberg (Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night's Dream at First Folio) and stars Christian Gray as 'Edgar Allan Poe' (A Moon for the Misbegotten at First Folio Theatre, A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane Theatre, and Richard II at Writers' Theatre).

First Folio Theatre, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83, begs the question, "Are you afraid of ghosts?" with its production of Henry James' psychological thriller THE TURN OF THE SCREW. In this stage adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher, two actors, led by Director Alison C. Vesely, bring all of James' eccentric characters and spine-tingling moments to life; further heightened by the theaters intimate setting within a remote West Suburban Estate. Now in its 15th season of bringing high quality performances of Shakespeare and other classics to the Chicagoland suburbs, First Folio Theatre will preview THE TURN OF THE SCREW on March 28th, open on March 31 and run through April 29th.

First Folio Theatre, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83, now in its 15th season of bringing performances of Shakespeare and other classics to the Chicagoland suburbs presents the Chicago Premiere of Paul Slade Smith's side-splitting and bawdy comedy UNNECESSARY FARCE directed by Alison C. Vesely.

First Folio Theatre, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83, presents the hit one-woman show TEA AT FIVE written by Matthew Lombardo.