From the United Kingdom: Shakespeare’s Globe Get the Steppenwolf Black Card 6 Credits to use however you want. 3 levels to fit any budget. steppenwolf.org/membership • 312-335-1650 —The Merry Wives of Windsor CHICAGO SHAKEPEARE THEATER Welcome DEAR FRIENDS, We’ve just launched our 30th Anniversary Season at Chicago Shakespeare and could not think of a better way to celebrate than the current scope of work on our stages and in the community. As we write, our production of Twelfth Night is touring, free for all, to nineteen Chicago neighborhoods; rehearsals have just begun for Part Two of Barbara’s epic history cycle, Tug of War; and today, our yearlong international festival—Shakespeare 400 Chicago—welcomes the incomparable Jonathan Pryce as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice from Shakespeare’s Globe. We are excited to continue our relationship with this renowed theater, where Barbara has long served on The Globe Council. The Merchant of Venice marks the third time a Globe production has toured to CST’s stages, beginning in 2003 with its “original practices” production of Twelfth Night, starring Academy Award-winner Mark Rylance as Olivia, and again in 2014 with its ambitious world-circling tour of Hamlet, presented in 197 countries. In 2014, CST’s World’s Stage series welcomed Kneehigh’s production of Tristan and Yseult directed by Emma Rice, now the Globe’s artistic director. The sole North American theater invited to participate in the 2012 Cultural Olympiad “Globe to Globe” festival, CST debuted on the Globe’s stage with its production of Othello: The Remix, created with the Q Brothers. This continuing cultural exchange is a highlight of the Theater’s mission to bring the world’s great theater artists to Chicago and Chicago Shakespeare to the world. Over the course of 2016, we will continue to present offerings from the UK, as well as China, India, Mexico and Poland. Here’s to the season ahead! n Barbara Gaines Criss Henderson Steve Solomon Artistic Director Executive Director Chair, Board of Directors Carl and Marilynn Thoma Endowed Chair 4 Summer 2016 | The Merchant of Venice www.chicagoshakes.com 5 INTRODUCING THE YARD AT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE The Yard will be Chicago Shakespeare’s third stage. Together with its two existing performance spaces, The Yard will amplify the Theater's artistic vision and community impact. Introducing a new trend in theater architecture to Chicago, the design features a series of mobile “towers” that allow for The Yard to be configured in a variety of shapes and sizes, with audience capacities ranging from 150–850. www.chicagoshakes.com/yard www.chicagoshakes.com 7 KING LEARSALUTE TO SPONSORS Chicago Shakespeare Theater is proud to recognize the partnership of our leading contributors, whose visionary support ensures that Shakespeare lives in Chicago today and for generations to come. MAJOR SEASON SUPPORTERS Raymond and Judy McCaskey Burton X. and Timothy R. Schwertfeger Sheli Z. Rosenberg and Gail Waller The Harold and Mimi Carl and Steinberg Charitable Trust Marilynn Thoma LEAD SPONSORS Allscripts Joyce Chelberg Anna and Robert John W. and Allstate Insurance Exelon Livingston Jeanne M. Rowe Company Food for Thought National Endowment The Shubert Paul M. Angell Family Catering for the Arts Foundation Foundation ITW Sheila Penrose and Starwood Hotels Ernie Mahaffey and Resorts A. N. and Pearl G. Jan and Bill Jentes Barnett Family Polk Bros. Foundation Strategic Hotel JLL Foundation Peter and Alicia Pond Capital, Inc. KPMG LLP BlueCross BlueShield Richard W. Porter of Illinois and Lydia S. Marti ENDOWED FUNDS Mary and Nick Babson Fund The Malott Family Student Access Fund to Support Chicago Actors Ray and Judy McCaskey Education Chair The Chicago Music Theatre Endowment Pritzker Foundation Team Shakespeare Chicago Shakespeare Theater Fund Fund at The Chicago Community Trust The Segal Family Foundation Student The Davee Foundation World’s Stage Fund Matinee Fund The Hurckes Fund for Carl and Marilynn Thoma Artisans and Technicians Artistic Director Chair Kirkland & Ellis Audience Enrichment Fund Gayle and Glenn R. Tilles Music Fund Anstiss and Ronald Krueck Stage Design The Sheldon and Bobbi Zabel Fund Bard Core Program For more information about how you can support our work on stage, in the community and around the world, please contact Brooke Flanagan, Director of Institutional Advancement, at 312.595.5581 or [email protected]. CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER About CST CST is a global theatrical force, known for vibrant productions that reflect Shakespeare’s genius for storytelling, language, and empathy for the human condition. Throughout 2016, CST is spearheading the international arts and culture festival, Shakespeare 400 Chicago, a yearlong, citywide celebration of the playwright's 400-year legacy. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson, CST is dedicated to creating extraordinary productions of classics, new works and family programming; to unlocking Shakespeare’s work for educators and students; and to serving as Chicago’s cultural ambassador through its World’s Stage Series. CST serves as a partner in literacy to Chicago Public Schools, working alongside English teachers to help struggling readers connect with Shakespeare in the classroom. His words are brought to life on stage for 40,000 students from across the midwest every year. Each summer, 30,000 families and audience members of all ages welcome the free Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour into their neighborhoods across the far north, west and south sides of the city. Reflecting the global city it calls home, CST is the leading producer of international work in Chicago, and has toured its plays to Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Canada/North America and the Middle East. CST is proud to take an active role in empowering the next generation of literate, engaged cultural champions and creative minds. The Theater’s tradition of excellence and civic leadership has been honored with numerous national and international awards, including the Regional Theatre Tony Award, three Laurence Olivier Awards, and eighty total Joseph Jefferson Awards. CST’s work with Chicago Public School students and teachers was recognized by the White House in 2014 with the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. Among its many international engagements, CST participated in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 2006 Complete Works Festival and was selected to represent North America at the Globe to Globe festival as part of London’s 2012 Cultural Olympiad. n BOARD OF DIRECTORS Steven J. Solomon* Stewart S. Hudnut Richard W. Porter Chair William R. Jentes* John Rau Eric Q. Strickland* Jack L. Karpw Nazneen Razi Treasurer John P. Keller Ingrid Razny Lance Richards Frank D. Ballantine Christie B. Kelly Richard A. Kent Glenn R. Richter* Brit J. Bartter* Sheli Z. Rosenberg Thomas L. Brown Barbara Malott Kizziah Chase Collins Levey John W. Rowe* Allan E. Bulley III Robert Ryan Patrick R. Daley Anna Livingston Renetta E. McCann Carole B. Segal Brian W. Duwe Harvey J. Struthers, Jr. Philip L. Engel Raymond F. McCaskey* Robert G. McLennan Sheila G. Talton Jeanne B. Ettelson Marilynn J. Thoma* Kevin Evanich Jess E. Merten Robert Moore Gayle R. Tilles Harve A. Ferrill William J. Tomazin Sonja H. Fischer Madhavan Nayar Christopher O’Brien Donna Van Eekeren Richard J. Franke Priscilla A. (Pam) Walter* Barbara Gaines* Dennis Olis* Mark S. Ouweleen* Ray Whitacre C. Gary Gerst* Ava D. Youngblood M. Hill Hammock* Carleton D. Pearl Judith Pierpont * denotes Executive Committee Kathryn J. Hayley members Criss Henderson* Paulita A. Pike win memoriam Stephanie Pope SAVE UP TO 25% CHOOSE A CLASSIC PACKAGE OR CREATE YOUR OWN London’s The Guardian raves, “a bold, magnificent venture” TUG OF WAR: CIVIL STRIFE HENRY VI, PARTS 2+3 RICHARD III by William Shakespeare adapted + directed by Barbara Gaines Olivier Award-winner for Best New Play in 2015 KING CHARLES III by Mike Bartlett directed by Gary Griffin The Bard’s witty satire on young love LOVE’S LABOR’S LOST by William Shakespeare directed by Marti Maraden Chicago Premiere based on the Oscar-winning film SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE based on the screenplay by Marc Norman + Tom Stoppard adapted for the stage by Lee Hall directed by Rachel Rockwell ...AND MUCH, MUCH MORE! Including productions from China, India, Mexico and Poland SUBSCRIBE TODAY for the best seats and FREE exchanges! 312.595.5600 • chicagoshakes.com BARBARA GAINES CRISS HENDERSON Artistic Director Executive Director Carl and Marilynn Thoma Endowed Chair RICK BOYNTON, Creative Producer GARY GRIFFIN, Associate Artistic Director presents SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE’S THE MERCHANT OF VENICE written by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE directed by JONATHAN MUNBY Designer Composer MIKE BRITTON JULES MAXWELL Choreography Fight Director LUCY HIND KATE WATERS Lighting Designer Sound Designer Associate Director OLIVER FENWICK CHRISTOPHER SHUTT KEVIN BENNETT Originally produced by Dominic Dromgoole SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMING SHAKESPEARE 400 CHICAGO LEAD SPONSORS All photography and other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. If we can help accommodate you during your visit, please speak with our House Manager. The performance will run approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes with one intermission. www.chicagoshakes.com 11 SUMMER + FALL 2016 HIGHLIGHTS AT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE AND AROUND THE CITY BELGIUM from CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE Pritzker Military Museum & Library Theater Zuidpool’s SHAKESPEARE AND MACBETH