Chicago Shakespeare Theater Announces 08-09 Season

With 10 newly-imagined and classic works throughout the coming year, fierce rivals and witty fools collide on stage in the Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s ninth season on Navy Pier.

It all starts in the summer with a hip-hop re-imagining of Much Ado About Nothing (June 25-August 3) created by GQ and JQ, the creators of The Bomb-itty of Errors. The summer season will continue with Willy Wonka (July 8-August 17) featuring music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.

The fall season starts with Peter Shaffer’s award-winning drama Amadeus (September 6-November 9) which explores the tumultuous lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his jealous rival, Antonio Salieri. Sean Graney will direct Christopher Marlowe’s The Troublesome Reign and Lamentable Death of Edward II, King of England, with the Tragical Fall of Proud Mortimer (October 1-November 9).

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (November 25-December 7) gets a new twist this month with a cast of 23 actors, dancers, martial arts experts, musicians and street acrobats from across India and Sri Lanka, performing in eight different languages with half performed in English. Macbeth (December 31-March 8) will open the new year with Ben Carlson playing the lead role.

Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night’s Dream, (January 24-March 7) is a 75-minute abridgment of Shakespeare’s comedy that introduces young people, their families, and those new to Shakespeare to the theatrical skill of CST’s resident playwright.The world Stage Series continues with Sweet William (February 3-22) by Michael Pennington. Additional productions in Chicago Shakespeare’s World Stage Series will be announced in the coming months.

For more information call 312-595-5600 or visit www.chicagoshakes.com.