“CHRISTMAS JOY FOR THE SOUL” -Chicago Parent ADAPTED BY TOM CREAMER | DIRECTED BY HENRY WISHCAMPER NOVEMBER 17 – DECEMBER 30 312.443.3800 | GoodmanTheatre.org GROUPS OF 15+ ONLY: 312.443.3820 Major Corporate Corporate Sponsor Partner and Corporate Sponsor Media Partner Sponsor Sensory-Friendly Performance Sponsor Partners NELL GWYNN Contents Chicago Shakespeare Theater 800 E. Grand on Navy Pier On the Boards 8 Chicago, Illinois 60611 A selection of notable CST events, plays, and players 312.595.5600 www.chicagoshakes.com Conversation with the Playwright 10 ©2018 Chicago Shakespeare Theater All rights reserved. Cast 17 ARTISTIC DIRECTOR CARL AND MARILYNN THOMA CHAIR: Barbara Gaines Playgoer's Guide 18 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Criss Henderson PICTURED: Scarlett Strallen Profiles 20 COVER PHOTO BY: Jeff Sciortino ABOVE PHOTO BY: joe mazza A Scholar’s Perspective 32 Part of the John W. and Jeanne M. Rowe Inquiry and Exploration Series FFTCHICAGO.COM Chicago Shakespeare Theater Proud tobeapartner with CARASCO PHOTOGRAPHY Welcome DEAR FRIENDS, We are thrilled to welcome you to Chicago Shakespeare’s 2018/19 Season Opening and Jessica Swale’s quick-witted comedy, Nell Gwynn. The play’s celebrated world premiere at Shakespeare’s Globe and its subsequent run on London’s West End garnered the coveted Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. UK Director Christopher Luscombe returns both to his Nell Gwynn—and to us here at Chicago Shakespeare— assembling an all-star cast for this luminescent play’s North American premiere. As we launch the 2018/19 season, our twentieth year in our artistic home on Navy Pier, our theaters are bustling with work from around the world, fulfilling our mission to serve as a global company reflective of Chicago. While the internationally lauded creative team and cast of Nell Gwynn transports audiences in the Courtyard Theater, our WorldStage series activates our expanded campus with two productions that, like our Theater itself, push theatrical boundaries. On the brink of our own midterm elections, Fight Night arrives from Belgium, offering up a hilarious, thought-provoking examination of free will and politics. From Bogotá, we bring Circolombia, a high-energy circus spectacle, packed with explosive power, raw skill, and pulsating beats. This expansive body of work is just the beginning of a year of bold artistry. In the coming months, you can explore re-imaginings of Shakespeare’s plays, a hip-hop holiday classic, and more breathtaking work from around the globe. And, beyond our work on stage, our education team is working alongside English teachers to boost literacy skills through theatrical techniques in the classroom. Our home for Shakespeare in the twenty-first century is a dynamic, expansive one. You never know what adventure awaits you at your next visit, and we hope to see you here, again and again! n Barbara Gaines Criss Henderson Steve Solomon Artistic Director Executive Director Chair, Board of Directors Carl and Marilynn Thoma Chair www.chicagoshakes.com 5 CHICAGOSHAKESPEARETHEATER Take your seat! Naming a seat in Chicago Shakespeare’s beloved Courtyard Theater offers donors the chance to leave a permanent, lasting mark on all that the Theater has accomplished over the past three decades—and all that is yet to be discovered in the years ahead. To discuss making a seat naming gift, contact Dottie Bris-Bois at 312.667.4965 or [email protected]. CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER CHICAGOSHAKESPEARETHEATER About CST Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson, Chicago Shakespeare has redefined what a great American Shakespeare theater can be—a company that defies theatrical category. This Regional Tony Award-winning theater’s year-round season features as many as twenty productions and 650 performances—including plays, musicals, world premieres, family programming, and presentations from around the globe. The work is enjoyed by 225,000 audience members annually, with one in four under the age of eighteen. Chicago Shakespeare is the city’s leading presenter of international work, and in touring its own productions across five continents has garnered multiple accolades, including the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award. Emblematic of its role as a global theater, the company spearheaded Shakespeare 400 Chicago, celebrating Shakespeare’s legacy in a citywide, yearlong international arts and culture festival, which engaged 1.1 million people. The Theater’s nationally acclaimed arts in literacy programs support the work of English and drama teachers, and bring Shakespeare to life on stage for tens of thousands of their students each school year. Over the summer, the company tours a professional production of Shakespeare’s work, free for all, to neighborhood parks across the city. In 2017 the Theater unveiled The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare—with its innovative design that has changed the shape of theater architecture. Together with the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater and the Thoma Theater Upstairs, The Yard positions Chicago Shakespeare as the city’s most versatile performing arts center. n BOARD OF DIRECTORS Steven J. Solomon* M. Hill Hammock w* Judith Pierpont Chair Kathryn J. Hayley Richard W. Porter* Paulita A. Pike* Criss Henderson* John Rau Treasurer Stewart S. Hudnut Nazneen Razi* William R. Jentes* Sheli Z. Rosenberg w* Frank D. Ballantine John P. Keller w Robert Ryan John Blazey Christie B. Kelly Carole Segal Stephen A. Brodsky Richard A. Kent Eric Q. Strickland* Thomas L. Brown Barbara Malott Kizziah Harvey J. Struthers, Jr. Allan E. Bulley III Chase Collins Levey Sheila G. Talton Clive Christison Anna Livingston Marilynn J. Thoma* Patrick R. Daley Judy Loseff Gayle R. Tilles Brian W. Duwe Renetta McCann William J. Tomazin, Jr. Philip L. Engel w Raymond F. McCaskey w* Donna Van Eekeren Jeanne B. Ettelson Robert G. McLennan Pallavi Verma Kevin R. Evanich Jess E. Merten Priscilla A. (Pam) Walter* Harve A. Ferrill Linda Myers Ray Whitacre Sonja Fischer Madhavan Nayar Richard J. Franke Christopher O’Brien * Denotes Executive Committee Barbara Gaines* Dennis Olis* Members C. Gary Gerst w* Mark S. Ouweleen* w Denotes Former Board Chairs Marguerite H. Griffin www.chicagoshakes.com 7 NELL GWYNN On the Boards ON STAGE IN THE COMMUNITY Beginning this December in the In August, the Illinois Theatre Association Courtyard Theater, lauded director (ITA) recognized Chicago Shakespeare Joe Dowling returns to reimagine Theater’s Education Department at his production of A Midsummer their Red Carpet Gala with a 2018 Night’s Dream, featured in Chicago Award of Honor. Presenting the award Shakespeare’s inaugural season on was ITA President Elect and Chicago Navy Pier. This marks Dowling’s latest Shakespeare’s longtime partner in collaboration on Midsummer with education, Kevin Long. In his remarks, composer and music director Keith Long gave tribute to the Theater’s Thomas. Together, they continue to impact: “So many people in this room explore the play and have built an tonight have been touched by their incredible original score that has evolved incredible work . Now, our students over the past twenty years. The stories are teachers, and they are engaging of royalty, quarrelsome fairies, young their students at Chicago Shakespeare lovers, and a troupe of players are Theater. Chicago Shakespeare’s influence underscored by vibrant music from jazz is profound.” Director of Education and and rock to blues and 50’s doo wop. Communications Marilyn J. Halperin, Dowling explains the production uses along with Education Outreach Manager music, raucous humor, and wondrous Jason Harrington and Learning Programs imagery to examine “those pains that Manager Molly Truglia, accepted the everybody has going from some kind of award with Chicago Shakespeare teenage angst to some sense that we Executive Director Criss Henderson know who we are as people.” and Creative Producer Rick Boynton in attendance to honor them. From left: Chicago Shakespeare Education Department, Molly Truglia, Jason Harrington, and Marilyn J. Halperin; The company of Circolombia; Bentley. photos by Gracie Meier and Roberto Ricciuti. 8 Fall 2018 | Nell Gwynn CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER BEHIND AROUND THE WORLD THE SCENES From Belgium to Bogotá, Chicago Bounding on to the Courtyard stage in Shakespeare hosts seven critically Nell Gwynn in his Chicago Shakespeare acclaimed companies from five debut is the incomparable, inimitable countries in this season’s WorldStage Bentley, who portrays one of King series. The adventure begins with Charles II’s twenty-two beloved Cavalier SKaGeN’s BigMouth, a tour-de-force King Charles Spaniels. This is two-and- performance from Belgium. Then, enjoy a-half-year-old Bentley’s acting debut, two more boundary-pushing Belgian but his cast- and crewmates are all productions: Ontroerend Goed’s supportive of his recent career shift. Fight Night and BRONKS’s Us/Them. “He will have his moment,” promises This fall, experience music- and circus- Nell Gwynn Director (and canine acting infused artistry with Circolombia, the coach) Christopher Luscombe, “It’s very culminating event of Destinos— Chicago exciting to be working with Bentley.” International Latino Theater Festival. In Bentley is a true Cavalier King Charles January, France's Compagnie Non Nova Spaniel, a breed originally known as brings L'après-midi d'un foehn version 1, English Toy Spaniels, later renamed presented as part of the Chicago in honor of the king who hardly went International Puppet Theater Festival. anywhere without one nestled in his The National Theatre of Great Britain’s arms. Charles II's love for humankind’s landmark production of An Inspector best friend went so far that it’s rumored Calls begins in February. Two Pints by he passed an edict decreeing it unlawful Ireland’s Abbey Theatre is installed in to refuse the spaniel's entry to any public Chicago Shakespeare’s lobby Pub, place in his realm. this March. www.chicagoshakes.com 9 POINT OF VIEW A Conversation with the Playwright Visit chicagoshakes.com essica Swale talks to arts to explore more ideas and stories behind the journalist Heather Neill about art on CST’s stages.