Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Encyclopedia
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) 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 and family oriented programming concentrated in the summer. By summer 2005, the theater had garnered 36 Joseph Jefferson awards
and three Laurence Olivier Awards
. In 2008, it was the winner of the Regional Theatre Tony Award
.
founded CST in 1986, when it began performances on the roof of the Red Lion Pub in the city's Lincoln Park neighborhood
. In 1999, the company received permission to build its permanent home: a two-venue facility at Navy Pier
.
Productions at CST include works from the Shakespearean canon
as well as other plays and musicals. In addition to its own original productions, CST also hosts touring productions from other theatres.
The Chicago Shakespeare Theater is part of the Shakespeare Theatre Association of America
(STAA).
In 1997, CST announced its plans to move from the Ruth Page to a new facility located at Navy Pier
, a place better known for its family attractions and in fact the most popular tourist attraction in the Midwest. The move was accompanied by a public relations blitz, which even involved Mayor Richard M. Daley
naming April 23, 1997 Shakespeare Repertory Day. The company began a large-scale capital campaign to finance the move, and finally opened its year 2000 season in its new, state-of-the-art facility. Since then, CST has grown from the third-largest theater company in Chicago to the third-largest in the entire Midwest, at a rate 400% faster than the industry growth trend.
, which houses its box office, administrative offices, and performance venues. The first performance at this facility was Eric Idle
reading from his novel
, The Road to Mars
.
The 510-seat Courtyard Theater which is the primary production venue for CST has features state-of-the-art technology and acoustics, together with a versatile thrust stage and deep proscenium, create a flexible performance space. A second theater, the 200-seat black box "Upstairs" space, is devoted to smaller but still-popular productions such as The Second City
's smash hit, Romeo and Juliet Musical: The People Vs. Friar Laurence, The Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet.
Navy Pier
Navy Pier is a long pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. It is located in the Streeterville neighborhood of the Near North Side community area. The pier was built in 1916 at a cost of $4.5 million, equivalent to $ today. It was a part of the Plan of Chicago developed by architect and...
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 and family oriented programming concentrated in the summer. By summer 2005, the theater had garnered 36 Joseph Jefferson awards
Joseph Jefferson Awards
The Joseph Jefferson Awards are given annually by a volunteer non-profit committee to acknowledge excellence in theatre in the Chicago area. Founded in 1968, the awards are given in tribute to actor Joseph Jefferson...
and three Laurence Olivier Awards
Laurence Olivier Awards
The Laurence Olivier Award is presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre. Named after the renowned British actor Laurence Olivier, they are given for West End shows and other productions staged in London...
. In 2008, it was the winner of the 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...
.
Background
The company's present artistic director Barbara GainesBarbara Gaines (director)
Barbara Gaines is an American theatre director, impresario, and actress. She is the founder and current Artistic Director of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.-Life and career:...
founded CST in 1986, when it began performances on the roof of the Red Lion Pub in the city's Lincoln Park neighborhood
Lincoln Park, Chicago
Lincoln Park, is one of the 77 community areas on Chicago, Illinois North Side, USA. Named after Lincoln Park, a vast park bordering Lake Michigan, the community area is anchored by the Lincoln Park Zoo and DePaul University...
. In 1999, the company received permission to build its permanent home: a two-venue facility at Navy Pier
Navy Pier
Navy Pier is a long pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. It is located in the Streeterville neighborhood of the Near North Side community area. The pier was built in 1916 at a cost of $4.5 million, equivalent to $ today. It was a part of the Plan of Chicago developed by architect and...
.
Productions at CST include works from the Shakespearean canon
Shakespeare's plays
William Shakespeare's plays have the reputation of being among the greatest in the English language and in Western literature. Traditionally, the 37 plays are divided into the genres of tragedy, history, and comedy; they have been translated into every major living language, in addition to being...
as well as other plays and musicals. In addition to its own original productions, CST also hosts touring productions from other theatres.
The Chicago Shakespeare Theater is part of the Shakespeare Theatre Association of America
Shakespeare Theatre Association of America
The Shakespeare Theatre Association of America was established to provide a forum for the artistic and managerial leadership of theatres whose central activity is the production of Shakespeare's plays; to discuss issues and share methods of work, resources, and information; and to act as an...
(STAA).
History
CST was founded as the Chicago Shakespeare Workshop by current Artistic Director Barbara Gaines in 1986, a name which was changed a year later to the Chicago Shakespeare Repertory and finally in 1999 to Chicago Shakespeare Theater. It performed its first twelve seasons in residency at the Ruth Page Theater, where it performed titles ranging from better-known Shakespeare plays such as Hamlet and King Lear as well as lesser-known titles such as Troilus and Cressida and Timon of Athens. Although the theater was critically lauded for its innovative approach to classic works, it was limited by the age and spatial restrictions of the Ruth Page Theater and began looking for a new performance space in the late 1990s.In 1997, CST announced its plans to move from the Ruth Page to a new facility located at Navy Pier
Navy Pier
Navy Pier is a long pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. It is located in the Streeterville neighborhood of the Near North Side community area. The pier was built in 1916 at a cost of $4.5 million, equivalent to $ today. It was a part of the Plan of Chicago developed by architect and...
, a place better known for its family attractions and in fact the most popular tourist attraction in the Midwest. The move was accompanied by a public relations blitz, which even involved Mayor Richard M. Daley
Richard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
naming April 23, 1997 Shakespeare Repertory Day. The company began a large-scale capital campaign to finance the move, and finally opened its year 2000 season in its new, state-of-the-art facility. Since then, CST has grown from the third-largest theater company in Chicago to the third-largest in the entire Midwest, at a rate 400% faster than the industry growth trend.
Facilities
Chicago Shakespeare Theater has, since the year 2000, been in residence in a new, seven-story, 75000 square metres (807,293.3 sq ft) facility on Chicago's Navy PierNavy Pier
Navy Pier is a long pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. It is located in the Streeterville neighborhood of the Near North Side community area. The pier was built in 1916 at a cost of $4.5 million, equivalent to $ today. It was a part of the Plan of Chicago developed by architect and...
, which houses its box office, administrative offices, and performance venues. The first performance at this facility was Eric Idle
Eric Idle
Eric Idle is an English comedian, actor, author, singer, writer, and comedic composer. He was as a member of the British comedy group Monty Python, a member of the The Rutles on Saturday Night Live and author of the play, Spamalot....
reading from his novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
, The Road to Mars
The Road to Mars
-Plot summary:Told from the point of view of Professor Bill Reynolds, a scholar in the fictitious discipline of 'micropaloentology', this novel is set in the 24th and 25th Centuries, when the solar system has been colonised...
.
The 510-seat Courtyard Theater which is the primary production venue for CST has features state-of-the-art technology and acoustics, together with a versatile thrust stage and deep proscenium, create a flexible performance space. A second theater, the 200-seat black box "Upstairs" space, is devoted to smaller but still-popular productions such as The Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
's smash hit, Romeo and Juliet Musical: The People Vs. Friar Laurence, The Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet.