—The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act I, Scene iii THE SCHOOL FOR LIES Contents Chicago Shakespeare Theater 800 E. Grand on Navy Pier On the Boards 8 Chicago, Illinois 60611 A selection of notable CST 312.595.5600 events, plays and players www.chicagoshakes.com ©2012 Point of View Chicago Shakespeare Theater 12 All rights reserved. Director Barbara Gaines and Playwright David Ives ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Barbara Gaines discuss The School for Lies EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Criss Henderson PICTURED, COVER AND ABOVE: Deborah Hay and Ben Carlson, Cast 21 photo by Bill Burlingham Playgoer’s Guide 22 Profiles 23 Scholar’s Notes 34 Ira Murfin celebrates disjunction—and our delight— in The School for Lies www.chicagoshakes.com 3 unforgettable . Hyatt is proud to sponsor Chicago Shakespeare Theater. We’ve supported the theater since its inception and believe one unforgettable performance deserves another. Experience distinctive design, extraordinary service and award-winning cuisine at every Hyatt worldwide. For reservations, call ­­ ­ or visit hyatt.com. HYATT name, design and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. ©2012 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved. HCM29411.01.a_Shakespeare_Ad.indd 1 1/26/12 10:24 AM a messaGe from Barbara Gaines Criss Henderson raymond f. mcCaskey Artistic Director Executive Director Chair, Board of Directors DEAR FRIENDS Welcome to Chicago Shakespeare Theater! Over the years, our artists have delighted audiences with plays that are vibrant, accessible and bold in their exploration of contemporary themes through classical literature. Today’s production has provided our artistic collective with the opportunity to flip this model on its head by producing a modern play viewed through a classical lens. David Ives’s new work, The School for Lies, is a deliciously off-color tribute to Molière’s The Misanthrope, written in the rhyming couplets and iambic pentameter of modern vernacular. This Chicago premiere continues our artistic relationship with Ives, whose 2006 hit adaptation A Flea in Her Ear was commissioned by CST and debuted here through our New Classics initiative. In all aspects of this side-splitting comedy, we see the collision of the modern and classical worlds. The construct of a French Restoration comedy is realized with clever, modern phrases and complex wordplay. Period-appropriate opulence collides with modern edge in the design of the physical world of the play. These seeming juxtapositions are deftly mined by our talented cast, who bring the script to life with spectacularly comedic performances. Reflective of Shakespeare’s complexity of language and genius for storytelling,The School for Lies is the perfect addition to our 2012/13 season. Over the months ahead, our Theater will play host to productions from across the globe through the World’s Stage series, introduce young audiences to the Bard with a 75-minute abridgment of Romeo and Juliet, and mark the CST debut of British director Jonathan Munby with a poignant production of Julius Caesar. We hope you will come back soon to experience more of what Chicago’s home for Shakespeare has to offer. Enjoy the show! American Airlines is proud to partner with Chicago Shakespeare Theater for 20 years of bringing extraordinary productions to Chicago and the world. AmericanAirlines is a mark of American Airlines, Inc. oneworld is a mark of the oneworld Alliance, LLC. © 2012 American Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved. 10061470-7_5x8_4C_Bravo.indd 1 9/19/12 2:36 PM JOB #: 10061470 10061470-7 • American Airlines Duped from M9103-9 by: jm TITLE: SALUTE AD UPDATE – NEW WORLD LOOK PRINT PRODUCER: NORITA JONES Path: Production 3:American Airlines:Jobs:SaluteAds:10061470_ Proof #1 PROJECT MANAGER: DOUG JACKSON Trim: 5"w x 8"h Bleed: None Live: None ART DIRECTOR: BERNARD PARK Page 1 of 1 Date: 9/19/12 SHIP: 9/18/2012 Inks: 4/C Revised by: CPS CheckOut: _________ PUBLICATION & INSERTION DATE: Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 9/24/2012 Agency Approvals: INITIALS DATE Supervisors: INITIALS DATE Proofreader _______ _______ Project Mgr. _______ _______ Copywriter _______ _______ Acct. Sup. _______ _______ Art Director _______ _______ Prod. Mgr. _______ _______ Creative Director _______ _______ Client Approval: INITIALS DATE Account Exec. _______ _______ _______ _______ CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE TheateR About CST Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) is a leading international theater company, known for vibrant productions that reflect Shakespeare’s genius for intricate storytelling, musicality of language and depth of feeling for the human condition. Recipient of the 2008 Regional Theatre Tony Award, Chicago Shakespeare’s work has been recognized internationally with three of London’s prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards, and by the Chicago theater community with seventy Joseph Jefferson Awards for Artistic Excellence. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson, CST is dedicated to producing extraordinary productions of classics, new works and family fare; to unlocking Shakespeare’s work for educators and students; and to serving as Chicago’s cultural ambassador through its World’s Stage Series. At its permanent, state-of-the-art facility on Navy Pier, CST houses two intimate theater spaces: the 500-seat Jentes Family Courtyard Theater and the 200-seat Carl and Marilynn Thoma Theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare. Through a year-round season encompassing more than 600 performances, CST leads the community as the largest employer of Chicago actors and attracts 200,000 audience members annually—including 40,000 students and teachers through its comprehensive education programs. n BOARD OF DIRECTORS Raymond F. McCaskey Stewart S. Hudnut Mark E. Rose Chair William R. Jentes Sheli Rosenberg Mark S. Ouweleen Gregory P. Josefowicz John W. Rowe Treasurer Jack L. Karp Robert Ryan John P. Keller Carole B. Segal Frank D. Ballantine Nancy Kempf Steven J. Solomon Brit J. Bartter Richard A. Kent Kathleen Kelly Spear Thomas L. Brown Barbara Malott Kizziah Eric Q. Strickland Allan E. Bulley III Edward A. (Ted) Langan Harvey J. Struthers, Jr. Patrick R. Daley Chase Collins Levey Eileen Sweeney Philip L. Engel Renetta E. McCann Sheila G. Talton Jeanne B. Ettelson Robert G. McLennan Marilynn J. Thoma Harve A. Ferrill Dennis Olis Gayle R. Tilles Sonja H. Fischer Carleton D. Pearl William J. Tomazin Richard J. Franke Sheila A. Penrose Donna Van Eekeren Barbara Gaines Judith Pierpont Priscilla A. (Pam) Walter Gregory S. Gallopoulos Stephanie Pope Ava D. Youngblood C. Gary Gerst Richard W. Porter Ann Ziegler M. Hill Hammock Steven Quasny In Memoriam Kathryn J. Hayley John Rau John A. (Jack) Wing Criss Henderson Nazneen Razi William L. Hood, Jr. Glenn R. Richter www.chicagoshakes.com 7 entertain with style David Wittig Photography Lifework Images Photography SB Childs Photography Food For Thought is a proud partner of fftchicago.com Chicago Shakespeare Theater. events 847.982.2608 delivered 312.572.7233 WBE/MBE/CHICAGO MSDC Certified The Chicago Chamber Musicians and Target® in collaboration with Chicago Shakespeare Theater proudly present LEAVE IT TO LUDWIG by Bruce Adolphe One weekend only! For Saturday and Sunday ages January 19 and 20, 2013 4 and 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. up! 312.595.5600 Tickets: $15 Children • $20 Adults (12 and under) www.chicagoshakes.com Call or book online today for All performances at the best available seats! Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave. Presenting Sponsor CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE TheateR On the Boards A selection of notable CST events, plays and players THREE ACCLAIMED DIRECTORS CST’S EDUCATION PROGRAMS BRING THE CANON TO LIFE HONORED WITH NATIONAL FOLGER AWARD This spring, the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater will be illuminated with a series Chicago Shakespeare Theater was selected of vibrant Shakespeare productions. In as the 2012 recipient of the Shakespeare February, Julius Caesar takes the stage Steward Award, bestowed by the Folger set against the backdrop of present- Shakespeare Library in Washington, day Washington, DC. On the heels of DC. CST’s Education Department was our nation’s own presidential election, recognized for its innovative teaching of British director Jonathan Munby’s Shakespeare in American classrooms and incisive production runs February service as a partner to Chicago Public 5–March 24. Next, Rachel Rockwell Schools for more than two decades. CST is returns to CST to direct one of the the first arts organization to be a recipient most powerful love stories of all time. of this prestigious national award. On Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet will November 2, the Folger’s Director of captivate student and family audiences Education Robert Young presented the February 19–March 23. Finally, CST’s award, which was accepted by Chicago first-ever staging of Henry VIII arrives Shakespeare’s Director of Education under the helm of Artistic Director Marilyn Halperin and CPS Department of Barbara Gaines. This sordid tale of Arts Education Director Mario Rossero. England’s most notorious king— The premiere of CPS Shakespeare! Hamlet and his wives—comes to life April 30– on the Courtyard Theater stage—featuring June 16. Reserve your tickets today an ensemble of 28 CPS high school at www.chicagoshakes.com. students and teachers—immediately followed the presentation. 10 Winter 2012 | The School for Lies Visit chicagoshakes.com to explore more ideas and stories behind the art on CST’s stages. CST WELCOMES LEADING CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE BRITISH ARTISTS TO CHICAGO SWEEPS THE JEFF AWARDS As part of its commitment to serve as Chicago Shakespeare swept the 44th a global theater reflective of our global Annual Joseph Jefferson Awards that city, Chicago Shakespeare is proud to took place October 15, 2012 with the host two critically acclaimed British top number of honors: eight Jeff Awards artists. In December, renowned character for Artistic Excellence recognizing three actress Miriam Margolyes will present 25th Anniversary Season productions. Six her one-woman show Dickens’ Women of the awards honored CST’s nationally in the Carl and Marilynn Thoma Theater acclaimed Follies, staged by Associate Upstairs.