Chicago Shakespeare Presents The Madness of George III 4/13-6/12

?Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents the thrilling story of a monarch's struggle for control over his mind and government with The Madness of George III. Masterfully written by Alan Bennett, the Laurence Olivier and Tony Award-winning playwright of The History Boys, the production's title role of King George III is performed by three-time Tony Award nominee Harry Groener. Penny Metropulos returns to direct the production after staging CST's The Two Gentlemen of Verona in 2000. Chicago Shakespeare Theater's The Madness of George III runs from April 13 to June 12, 2011, in CST's Courtyard Theater. Tickets are $44-$75 with special discounts available for groups of 10 or more. All patrons receive a 40% parking discount at Navy Pier garages. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com/madness.

In The Madness of George III, Alan Bennett deftly condenses one of the most politically charged periods of Great Britain's history into a surprisingly heartfelt human story about loss-of mind, body and power. As King George III descends into madness and is forced to submit to his doctors' myriad eighteenth-century medical treatments, his personal and political affiliations are threatened. At the core of Bennett's story of royal intrigue are the King's relationships with his devoted Queen Charlotte and closest advisors-which endure even as he struggles to remain in control of his own person and government.

Making his Chicago Shakespeare debut as King George III is Harry Groener, whose impressive array of Broadway credits includes George in Sunday in the Park with George; Bobby in Crazy For You, which received the Tony Award for Best Musical; King Arthur in Spamalot; Will Parker in Oklahoma!; and Munkustrup in the multiple Tony Award-winning production of Cats. In addition to his success on Broadway, Groener has worked extensively in TV and film, and at acclaimed regional theaters across the country, such as the Mark Taper Forum, Long Wharf Theatre, the Old Globe Theatre, the Alley Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre.

A celebrated writer for the screen and stage, Alan Bennett's play The History Boys won three Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Play, and six Tony Awards including Best Play. Bennett received an Academy Award nomination for his cinematic adaptation of The Madness of George III. Titled The Madness of King George, the film won the Academy Award for Best Art Direction, and starred the late Nigel Hawthorne as King George III and Helen Mirren as Queen Charlotte.

Director Penny Metropulos returns to Chicago Shakespeare after staging CST's critically acclaimed production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona in 2000. In her 19 seasons at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF), where she served as Associate Artistic Director, her credits have included The Comedy of Errors, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, As You Like It, The Tempest, The Night of the Iguana, The Good Person of Szechuan and Death of a Salesman. In addition to her extensive repertoire at OSF, Metropulos has staged productions across the country at esteemed regional theaters, including the Guthrie Theater, Arena Stage, Intiman Theatre and three seasons at California Shakespeare Festival.

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