Barbara Gaines (director)
Encyclopedia
Barbara Gaines is an American theatre director, impresario
, and actress. She is the founder and current Artistic Director of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater
.
in 1968, she worked as an actress in New York City and Chicago. She also taught Shakespeare classes for actors in Chicago before founding the Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) in 1986. With the company she has directed more the 30 plays by William Shakespeare
; productions which have garnered more than 35 Joseph Jefferson Awards (3 times for Gaines personally as Best Director) and 3 Laurence Olivier Awards. In 2008, the company was awarded the prestigious Regional Theatre Tony Award
.
Outside of her work with CST, Gaines is currently a member of the Shakespearean Council for the Globe Theatre
in London. She has also served on panels for the National Endowment for the Arts
, is a member of Chicago's Cultural Affairs Advisory Board, and is a Life Trustee of Northwestern University. In 2005 she was named an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Her other honours include honorary doctorates from Dominican University
and Lake Forest College
, the Spirit of Loyola Award from Loyola University Chicago
, and the Public Humanities Award from the Illinois Humanities Council. She recently directed the Lyric Opera of Chicago
's 2010 production of Giuseppe Verdi
's Macbeth
.
Impresario
An impresario is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays or operas; analogous to a film producer in filmmaking, television production and an angel investor in business...
, and actress. She is the founder and current Artistic Director of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Chicago Shakespeare Theater is a non-profit, professional theater company located at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. Its more than six hundred annual performances performed 48 weeks of the year include its critically acclaimed Shakespeare series, its World's Stage touring productions, and youth...
.
Life and career
Gaines grew up in the suburbs of New York City and is the daughter of a film director. After graduating from Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in 1968, she worked as an actress in New York City and Chicago. She also taught Shakespeare classes for actors in Chicago before founding the Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) in 1986. With the company she has directed more the 30 plays by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
; productions which have garnered more than 35 Joseph Jefferson Awards (3 times for Gaines personally as Best Director) and 3 Laurence Olivier Awards. In 2008, the company was awarded the prestigious Regional Theatre Tony Award
Regional Theatre Tony Award
The Regional Theatre Tony Award is a special non-competitive Tony Award given annually to a regional theatre company in the United States. Initially presented in 1948 to Robert Porterfield of the Virginia Barter Theatre for their Contribution To Development Of Regional Theatre, the Regional Theatre...
.
Outside of her work with CST, Gaines is currently a member of the Shakespearean Council for the Globe Theatre
Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and was destroyed by fire on 29 June 1613...
in London. She has also served on panels for the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
, is a member of Chicago's Cultural Affairs Advisory Board, and is a Life Trustee of Northwestern University. In 2005 she was named an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Her other honours include honorary doctorates from Dominican University
Dominican University
Dominican University may refer to:* Dominican University of California, an independent university of Catholic heritage located 12 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County, California...
and Lake Forest College
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest College, founded in 1857, is a private liberal arts college in Lake Forest, Illinois. The college has 1,500 students representing 47 states and 78 countries....
, the Spirit of Loyola Award from Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
, and the Public Humanities Award from the Illinois Humanities Council. She recently directed the Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. It was founded in Chicago in 1952, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox, Nicolà Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, with a season that included Maria Callas's American debut in Norma...
's 2010 production of Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
's Macbeth
Macbeth (opera)
Macbeth is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi, with an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave and additions by Andrea Maffei, based on Shakespeare's play of the same name...
.