Chicago Shakespeare Theater Announces Upcoming Season Productions 8/21-11/22

Ilotopie's Water Fools (Fous de Bassin) Chicago Shakespeare Theater's World's Stage Series

August 21?22, 2009 at the east end of Navy Pier 9:15 p.m.

CST's World's Stage welcomes Ilotopie, a French troupe which specializes in the creation of waterborne theatrical wonders. The acclaimed company has performed on the Thames in London, the River Seine in Paris and will make their American debut with Water Fools (Fous de Bassin) off the east end of Navy Pier. Chicago's aquatic front yard will be transformed into a world where cars drive on water, heads burst into flames and a 12-foot-tall lady glides by on a penny-farthing.

Richard III
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Barbara Gaines

September 23?November 22
Opening: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

Artistic Director Barbara Gaines kicks off the season by directing Richard III one of Shakespeare's most enduring successes. Richard, the brilliant hunchback and witty manipulator, seduces and murders his way to the English throne in the Bard's epic history of this most fascinating and engaging villain.

CPS Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream
By William Shakespeare
Directed and Adapted by Kirsten Kelly

Friday, October 23, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.

CPS Shakespeare! is Chicago Shakespeare Theater's annual Chicago public high school production, fully staged in CST's Courtyard Theater. This year, a 24-person ensemble of teachers and students?representing eight high schools from across the city?will perform a 60-minute adaptation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Druid's The Walworth Farce
By Enda Walsh
Chicago Shakespeare Theater's World's Stage Series

October 28?November 1, 2009 Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare
Opening: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.

CST hosts Druid, one of Ireland's premier theater companies, with their acclaimed production of Enda Walsh's tragic comedy, The Walworth Farce. This biting social commentary disguised as a traditional high farce played to sold out houses at London's National Theatre and garnered an Edinburgh Fringe First Award.

Peter and the Wolf
By Sergei Prokofiev
In association with The Chicago Chamber Musicians

Saturday, November 14, 2009 and Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

The Grammy-nominated Chicago Chamber Musicians present their ninth annual collaboration with CST presenting Peter and the Wolf. Written by Sergei Prokofiev, the production is an interactive concert designed to introduce families with children ages four and up to the joys of live performance. Between shows performers are available for autographs and pictures in the Theater's lobby, while young musicians demonstrate and answer questions about the featured instruments.

American Airlines is the official airline of Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

ComEd is the official lighting design sponsor of Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Land O'Frost is a proud sponsor of the 2009/10 Subscription Series at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Programming Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare is made possible through generous support from Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

Mainstage artistic productions in the Courtyard Theater are supported, in part, through a generous leadership grant from the McCormick Foundation.