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Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces Fault, an exciting addition to the 2025/2026 season starring film and television star Enrico Colantoni (English Teacher, Galaxy Quest, Veronica Mars) and Golden Globe winner Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives), and directed by Emmy and Tony Award winner Jason Alexander, who returns to Chicago Shakespeare Theater after 2024's smash-hit Judgment Day. The cast also features Jack Ball (Broadway's The Book of Mormon, Falsettos, Dunsinane). Written by Scooter PietschFault is a wickedly dark comedy, full of blistering humor and searing revelations. All's fair in love and marital warfare as Lucy and Jerry Green go head-to-head after 30 years of marriage in a late-night tangle of lies, ambition, and betrayal. Fault makes the case that being honest with ourselves might just be the trickiest game we play in life and love... but whose fault is that anyways? This world-premiere production runs April 18-May 24, 2026 in The Yard.

Fault replaces the previously announced spring production of Ain't Misbehavin', which has been postponed to a later date.

"We're delighted to have Jason Alexander back at CST to helm this hilarious and thought-provoking new play by Scooter Pietsch, and thrilled to welcome Enrico Colantoni, Teri Hatcher, and Jack Ball to Chicago with a top-rate creative team," shared Artistic Director Edward Hall. "Chicago audiences love a smart comedy, and we're excited to give them the chance to enjoy this entertaining world premiere this spring."

"I remember very well the joys of debuting a brand-new work at CST," shared director Jason Alexander. "That's why I'm thrilled to debut this new play with a superb creative team and a glorious cast for the Chicago audience that made me feel so welcome and appreciated. I can't imagine launching it anywhere else."

"I'm honored to have the world premiere of my play Fault in Chicago," said playwright Scooter Pietsch. "I love to write about edgy and outrageous but relatable subjects, and we are definitely not going to disappoint with this one. Fault is about marriage. The love. The passion. The pitfalls. The booby traps. The fact that no one ever wins an argument. EVER. And to have the brilliant comedic mind of Jason Alexander directing our fabulous actors? On the stage at Chicago Shakespeare? I didn't think I could love Chicago any more than I already do, but yes, I do."

Enrico Colantoni is an actor and director known for portraying Principal Grant Moretti in English Teacher, Mathesar in Galaxy Quest, Elliot DiMauro in the sitcom Just Shoot Me!, Keith Mars on the television series Veronica Mars, Louis Utz on the sitcom Hope & Gloria, crime lord Carl Elias on Person of Interest, Vincent Brambilla on the CBC TV program Allegiance, and Sergeant Greg Parker on the television series Flashpoint. He has also had supporting roles in such series and films as WestworldStation ElevenSUITS LAThe Wrong GuyA.I. Artificial IntelligenceContagionFull FrontalOutstandingHumane and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and guest appearances on Monk, Numb3rs, Party Down, iZombie, Madame Secretary, Stargate SG-1, and Bones. Colantoni has an illustrious theatre background as well, after graduating from the Yale School of Drama, where he received their prestigious Carol Dye Award. He also won a Theatre World Award for his Broadway debut in the original drama Birthday Candles opposite Debra Messing. Colantoni's other notable theatre credits include the premiere of Neil LaBute's The Distance from Here at the Almeida in London, The Merry Wives of Windsor at the New York Shakespeare Festival's Delacorte Theater in Central Park, Arabian Nights at the Manhattan Theatre Club, The Triumph of Love at the Guthrie Theatre, and Dracula at San Diego's famed Old Globe Theatre. He also played the title role in Shakespeare's Macbeth at the Matrix Theater and Uncle Vanya at the Lillian Theatre in Los Angeles.

Teri Hatcher's acting career has spanned movies, television, and stage. She is known around the world for her starring roles in Lois & Clark and Desperate Housewives, for which she won a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy. She starred most recently in the holiday movies, Christmas at the ChaletHow to Fall in Love by the Holidays and the true-life drama The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story, and voiced Muthr in the Apple TV+ animated series WondLa. She showcased her comedic skills hosting a standout episode of Saturday Night Live in 1995 and making her stand-up comedy debut in Showtime's 2021 comedy special Even More Funny Women of a Certain Age. Her feature film credits include The Big Picture, Soapdish, Spy Kids, Tomorrow Never Dies, and the Oscar-nominated animated film Coraline. She starred as Sally Bowles in the 1999 touring company of Cabaret and starred as Morticia Addams in the regional premiere of the musical comedy The Addams Family in 2022. Her first book, a funny and inspiring look at a woman finding balance between family, career and self, entitled Burnt Toast and Other Philosophies of Life, was a New York Times Bestseller in 2006. She is a health advocate and an avid cook, having studied at the world-famous Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, and won The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer and Chopped. Her digital series, #Sandwiched, focuses on being "sandwiched" between caring for aging parents and your own children, and still prioritizing your own self-care. @OfficialTeriHatcher. In September, Hatcher launched Desperately Devoted, a podcast she hosts with her Desperate Housewives TV daughter Andrea Bowen and her real-life daughter Emerson Tenney, bringing fresh perspectives and personal insights to the iconic series. In addition to rewatching the series, the hosts use its themes as a springboard for broader conversations on women's issues, relationships, parenting, sex, identity, and more.

Jack Ball returns to Chicago Shakespeare after appearing in Dunsinane (with The Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre of Scotland). His other stage credits include The Book of Mormon on Broadway, Falsettos (Court Theatre/TimeLine Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (Paramount), Hansel and Gretel (Broadway in Chicago), The Coast Starlight (Milwaukee Rep), and Hit the Wall (Inconvenience). His film and television credits include Chicago P.D., Chicago Fire, Chicago Justice, Somebody, Somewhere, Sirens, Henry Gamble's Birthday Party, An Acceptable Loss, Kill the Monsters, Room Six, and What Rhymes with Magdalena.

Over his acclaimed 50-year career as a Tony Award winning actor and entertainer, Jason Alexander has also maintained a noted career as a director across the multiple mediums of film, television, and theater. On Broadway, he made his directing debut with Sandy Rustin's The Cottage. He served as the Artistic Director of the Los Angeles based Reprise Theatre Company for five years and directed Sunday in the Park with George, The Fantasticks, and Damn Yankees for the companyHe also directed Sam Shephard's The God of Hell, starring Bryan Cranston for the Geffen Playhouse; Neil Simon's Broadway Bound, starring Gina Hecht for the Odyssey Theatre; Karen Zacarias' Native Gardens starring Bruce Davison and Francis Fisher at the Pasadena Playhouse; the world premiere of the musical comedy revue When You're in Love The Whole World is Jewish; the world premiere of The Joy Wheel at the Ruskin Theater;  the production of Steven Levenson's  If I Forget at the Fountain Theater; and the world premiere of Windfall by Scooter Pietsch at Arkansas Repertory Theater and Bay Street Theatre. Most recently, Jason directed the critically acclaimed new production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd for La Mirada Theatre. On television, Alexander directed "The Good Samaritan" episode of the hit sitcom Seinfeld, and other series television episodes including Til Death, Campus Ladies, Franklin and Bash, Everybody Hates Chris, Mike and Molly, Criminal Minds and Young Sheldon. He has directed two feature-length films: For Better or Worse and Just Looking.  His upcoming directing projects include the feature film adaptation of The Cottage (2026). Alexander is a proud member of AEA, SAG, and DGA.

Scooter Pietsch is a playwright and Emmy-nominated composer/songwriter. His play, Windfall, was produced in London (directed by Mark Bell), Bay Street Theater in New York, and Arkansas Repertory Theatre (both directed by Jason Alexander). As a composer and songwriter, Pietsch has written music for over 200 TV shows and movies, some of which include Pretty Little Liars, Burn Notice, All Dogs Go To Heaven, Greek, American Idol, Sex And The City, Deal Or No Deal, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, So You Think You Can Dance, Divorce Court, Sanctuary (starring Margaret Qualley), Van Wilder, Urban Legends, Getting to Know You, Persons Unknown, Run, and The Marrying Man. He's also written hundreds of songs for various artists.

Joining Alexander on the creative team is Scenic Designer Paul Tate dePoo III (The Great Gatsby, Spamalot, The Cottage on Broadway), Costume Designer Mara Blumenfeld (Metamorphoses on Broadway, King Charles III, Sunday in the Park with George, As You Like It, and many more at CST), Lighting Designer Greg Hofmann (Cats, Frozen, Billy Elliot at Paramount Theater, Nell Gwynn, Love's Labor's Lost, Road Show at CST), and Sound Designer Ray Nardelli (Lookingglass Alice at Lookingglass Theatre Company and Off-Broadway, Shakespeare in Love, Sense and Sensibility, The Tempest and more at CST).

CST thanks Principal Production Sponsor Old National Bank for supporting this production.

Tickets (starting at $64) are on sale now. More information at chicagoshakes.com/fault or on social media at @chicagoshakes.

Fault

By Scooter Pietsch
Directed by Jason Alexander
April 18-May 24, 2026
The Yard

PERFORMANCE LISTING

  • Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.
  • Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. (no matinee April 22)
  • Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
  • Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (no matinee April 18)
  • Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Chicago Shakespeare strives to make its facility and performances accessible to all patrons. Accessible seating, assistive listening devices, large-print and Braille programs, and sensory tools are available at every performance. Enhanced performances include:

  • ASL interpreted performance – Friday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. 
    All dialogue and lyrics are translated into American Sign Language by two certified interpreters
  • Audio-described performance – Sunday, May 10 at 2:30 p.m. 

A program that provides spoken narration of a play's key visual elements for patrons who are blind or have low vision.

  • Open captioned performance – Wednesday, May 13 at 1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  
    A text display of the words and sounds heard during a play, synced live with the action onstage.

CREATIVE TEAM

Scooter Pietsch - Writer 

Jason Alexander - Director 

Paul Tate dePoo III - Scenic Designer 

Mara Blumenfeld - Costume Designer 

Greg Hofmann - Lighting Designer

Ray Nardelli - Sound Designer

CAST

Enrico Colantoni - Jerry

Teri Hatcher - Lucy

Jack Ball - Shaun

CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER (CST)

CST is a leading international theater company and the nation's largest year-round theater dedicated to the works of Shakespeare. Under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director Edward Hall and Executive Director Kimberly Motes, the Regional Tony Award recipient is committed to creating vivid, entertaining theatrical experiences that invigorate and engage people of all ages and identities by illuminating the complexity, ambiguity, and wonder of our world. Each year, nearly a quarter of a million people experience CST's artistry through more than 12 productions. With Shakespeare at the heart of the artistic work, CST also produces compelling, contemporary stories from fresh voices of today. CST brings the world to Chicago and sends Chicago out into the world as Chicago's foremost presenter of international theater, and consistent producer of North American and world premieres. Serving more students and teachers than any theater in the city, CST annually welcomes more than 20,000 students to performances and programs like Chicago Shakespeare SLAM, alongside professional development opportunities for teachers. CST activates its campus with three venues: 700-seat The Yard; the 500-seat Jentes Family Courtyard Theater; and the 200-seat Carl and Marilynn Thoma Upstairs Studio. Free programs like Shakes in the City bring performances to parks and community spaces across Chicago's 77 neighborhoods. Shared humanity and unforgettable stories—now THIS is Chicago Shakespeare. www.chicagoshakes.com

Published in Upcoming Theatre

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the cast and creative team for The Merry Wives of Windsor, an endlessly entertaining new take of Shakespeare's most raucous comedy. The secret lives of Windsor wives reveal there is much more to this charming, middle-class English hamlet than meets the eye. Besties Mistress Page and Mistress Ford find themselves the romantic targets of the lewd-but-lovable rogue John Falstaff. In a welcome escape from the drudgery of their day-to-day, they band together to have the last laugh—and get the entire town in on the revelry.

Staged by acclaimed director Phillip Breen, the production stars Chicago favorites Ora Jones and Issy van Randwyck as Mistress Page and Mistress Ford, Chiké Johnson and Timothy Edward Kane as Master Page and Master Ford, and in his Chicago Shakespeare debut, Jason Simon as Sir John Falstaff. The Merry Wives of Windsor also features an exceptionally talented ensemble cast of 22 actors including Sam Bell-GurwitzZach BloomfieldNate BurgerRohan DegalaDylan J. FlemingTeddy GalesColin HuertaCarmelo Kelly, James McCrackenOlivia PryorNick SandysJustice TatumPaul Oakley StovallOlemich TugasBret TuomiNancy Voigts, and Alex Weisman, and runs April 2–May 3, 2026, in the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater, considered one of the world's finest spaces to experience Shakespeare's stories live in performance.

"It's a joy to welcome Phillip Breen and his brilliant take on The Merry Wives of Windsor to CST," shared Artistic Director Edward Hall. "This play, often underrated in Shakespeare's canon, is full of humor and wit, while also diving deep into social commentary that's as relevant today as ever. As the weather warms up, I look forward to welcoming Chicago back to the Courtyard for a wonderful experience at the theater."

"I can't wait to share Shakespeare's funniest, most subversive, and filthiest comedy with Chicago this spring," shared director Phillip Breen stated. "I am thrilled to be making my debut at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, one of the great Shakespeare Theaters in the world, and am hugely looking forward to collaborating with whole team at CST."

In the role of Mistress Page, Ora Jones returns to CST with numerous credits, including Henry VIIIThe Madness of George IIITwelfth Night, All's Well That Ends Well, and most recently The Comedy of Errors. She appeared on Broadway in Matilda the Musical and Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and recent Chicago credits include Amadeus and Noises Off (Steppenwolf Theatre) and The Nacirema Society (Goodman Theatre). As Mistress Ford, Issy van Randwyck returns to CST after appearing as Bottom in Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the subsequent Shakes in the City tour of the same production. She is an Olivier Award nominee with stage credits at the National Theatre, Regents Park Open Air Theatre, in the West End, and more, and film and television credits including The Danish Girl, Blithe Spirit, and Belgravia. In the role of Master Page, Chiké Johnson returns to CST after his Jeff Award-nominated performance in last season's Hymn. Johnson is a company member of Remy Bumppo Theatre and has worked on many stages in Chicago and around the country, including Broadway credits Time to Kill and Wit, and Ashland Avenue and Toni Stone at Goodman Theatre. As Master Ford, Timothy Edward Kane returns to CST after appearing in HamletNell GwynnTug of War, and many more. His recent Chicago credits include AntigoneGospel at Colonus, and Othello at Court Theatre, and Birthday Candles at Northlight Theatre. In the role of Sir John Falstaff, Jason Simon makes his Chicago Shakespeare debut. Simon has appeared in the national tours of Sister Act, The Wizard of Oz, The Producers, Cats!, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Funny Girl, with additional credits at the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center, and the New York Philharmonic.

The company also includes Sam Bell-Gurwitz as Fenton (CST debut, Good Night, Oscar on Broadway), Zach Bloomfield as Nym (CST debut, credits with Shattered Globe Theatre, The Factory Theater, and Oil Lamp Theater), Nate Burger as Dr. Caius (Romeo and JulietLove's Labor's Lost, and more at CST), Dylan J. Fleming as John Rugby (Twelfth Night at CST), Teddy Gales as Bardolph (CST debut, credits at Paramount Theatre, Marriott Theatre, and more), Colin Huerta as Pistol/Ford Servant 2 (Much Ado About Nothing at CST), Olivia Pryor as Anne Page (Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream at CST), Nick Sandys as Sir Hugh Evans (Othello and Romeo and Juliet at CST), Paul Oakley Stovall as Shallow (Twelfth Night, at CST), Olemich Tugas as Simple/Ford Servant 1 (CST debut, credits at Sun Valley Shakespeare Festival and the House Theatre of Chicago), Bret Tuomi as Host of the Garter Inn (Nell Gwynn, Macbeth, Othello, and more at CST), Nancy Voigts as Mistress Quickly (As you Like ItFollies, The Comedy of Errors, and more at CST), and Alex Weisman as Slender (Tug of War, Julius CaesarThe Madness of George III, more at CST). Young performers in the company include Rohan Degala as Robin Page, Carmelo Kelly as William Page, and James McCracken and Justice Tatum as a Windsor boys.

Director Phillip Breen's work has played at: the Citizens, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Birmingham Rep, and Theatre Cocoon Tokyo. He has directed off-Broadway, as well as in the West End, and his work has played all over the UK, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, New York, Los Angeles, the Sydney International Theatre Festival, Adelaide, Canberra, Dubai, and through the streets of Assisi. His eclectic range of work encompasses opera, theatre, comedy, musicals, jazz cabaret, large-scale community theatre projects, new work and classics. He also regularly collaborated with Vivienne Westwood, for whom he directed and co-devised Homo Loquax, her London Fashion Week show in 2019. In 2016 he directed the York Mysteries in York Minster with a community cast of hundreds. In 2025 he directed Peter Mullan as Bill Shankly in his own adaptation of David Peace's Red or Dead in Liverpool, and Natalie Dormer in the UK premiere of his adaptation of Anna Karenina at Chichester. He made his Royal Shakespeare Company debut in 2012 with The Merry Wives of Windsor. This was followed up with a production of Dekker's The Shoemaker's Holiday in the Swan, followed by an award-winning production of Richard Bean's new play The Hypocrite and Vanbrugh's The Provok'd Wife and The Comedy of Errors. He has contributed extended essays on Shakespeare to two books on Shakespeare, and completed his own monograph on The Merry Wives of Windsor, "Walking in A Windsor Wonderland: Some Ramshackle Reflections on Directing Shakespeare's Greatest Comedy."

The creative team for The Merry Wives of Windsor also includes Max Jones (Scenic & Costume Designer), Marcus Doshi (Lighting Designer), Lindsay Jones (Sound Designer), Laura Rook (Assistant Director), and Chelsea Strebe (Assistant Lighting Designer), Matthew Silar (Production Stage Manager), Danny Fender (Assistant Stage Manager), and Tuesday Thacker (Young Performer Supervisor).

Opening is set for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 9.

On Shakespeare's birthday, April 23, Chicago Shakespeare Theater will team up with Illinois' largest independent craft brewery, Revolution Brewing, to host "Drink and Be Merry," a preshow beer tasting and education event, celebrating Falstaff's beverage of choice. More details to be released soon.

More information at chicagoshakes.com/merrywives or on social media at @chicagoshakes.

The Merry Wives of  Windsor

Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Phillip Breen
April 2-May 3, 2026
The Jentes Family Courtyard Theater

PERFORMANCE LISTING

  • Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
  • Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (no matinee April 8)
  • Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.
  • Fridays at 7:00 p.m.
  • Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (no matinee April 4)
  • Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

Chicago Shakespeare strives to make its facility and performances accessible to all patrons. Accessible seating, assistive listening devices, large-print and Braille programs, and sensory tools are available at every performance. Enhanced performances include:

  • Audio-described performance – Sunday, April 26 at 2:00 p.m. 

A program that provides spoken narration of a play's key visual elements for patrons who are blind or have low vision.

  • Open captioned performance – Wednesday, April 29 at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.  
    A text display of the words and sounds heard during a play, synced live with the action onstage.
  • ASL interpreted performance – Friday, May 1 at 7:00 p.m. 
    All dialogue and lyrics are translated into American Sign Language by two certified interpreters

CREATIVE TEAM

Phillip Breen – Director 
Max Jones – Scenic & Costume Designer
Marcus Doshi – Lighting Designer
Lindsay Jones – Sound Designer
Laura Rook – Assistant Director
Chelsea Strebe – Assistant Lighting Designer
Matthew Silar – Production Stage Manager
Danny Fender – Assistant Stage Manager
Tuesday Thacker – Young Performer Supervisor

CAST

Sam Bell-Gurwitz – Fenton
Zach Bloomfield – Nym
Nate Burger – Dr. Caius
Rohan Degala – Robin Page
Dylan J. Fleming – John Rugby
Teddy Gales – Bardolph
Colin Huerta – Pistol / Ford Servant 2
Chiké Johnson – Master Page
Ora Jones – Mistress Page
Timothy Edward Kane – Master Ford
Carmelo Kelly – William Page
James McCracken – Windsor Boy
Olivia Pryor – Anne Page
Issy van Randwyck – Mistress Ford
Nick Sandys – Sir Hugh Evans
Jason Simon – Sir John Falstaff
Justice Tatum – Windsor Boy
Paul Oakley Stovall – Shallow
Olemich Tugas – Simple / Ford Servant 1
Bret Tuomi – Host of the Garter Inn
Nancy Voigts – Mistress Quickly
Alex Weisman – Slender
Sara Mountjoy-Pepka – Understudy

CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER (CST)

CST is a leading international theater company and the nation's largest year-round theater dedicated to the works of Shakespeare. Under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director Edward Hall and Executive Director Kimberly Motes, the Regional Tony Award recipient is committed to creating vivid, entertaining theatrical experiences that invigorate and engage people of all ages and identities by illuminating the complexity, ambiguity, and wonder of our world. Each year, nearly a quarter of a million people experience CST's artistry through more than 12 productions. With Shakespeare at the heart of the artistic work, CST also produces compelling, contemporary stories from fresh voices of today. CST brings the world to Chicago and sends Chicago out into the world as Chicago's foremost presenter of international theater, and consistent producer of North American and world premieres. Serving more students and teachers than any theater in the city, CST annually welcomes more than 20,000 students to performances and programs like Chicago Shakespeare SLAM, alongside professional development opportunities for teachers. CST activates its campus with three venues: 700-seat The Yard; the 500-seat Jentes Family Courtyard Theater; and the 200-seat Carl and Marilynn Thoma Upstairs Studio. Free programs like Shakes in the City bring performances to parks and community spaces across Chicago's 77 neighborhoods. Shared humanity and unforgettable stories—now THIS is Chicago Shakespeare. www.chicagoshakes.com

Published in Upcoming Theatre

“Hamnet,” a stage play adapted by Lolita Chakrabati (known for Life of PI and Red Velvet), and directed by Erica Whyman is in its U.S. debut at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier. This production originated and performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company for its U.S. tour, has generated a lot of excitement, heightened further by the many Oscar nominations for a film by the same title, though it is a very different adaptation of the same book.

Both were drawn from Maggie O’Farrell’s best-selling novel “Hamnet: A Novel of the Plague” speculating on the life of William Shakespeare and his wife and family. The story line delves into the family life of the couple, the first act devoted to William and Agne’s birth families and their love affair and eventual marriage.

The second half revolves around their children, and traces Shakespeare’s ascendancy into the upper echelons of English theater. He draws the attention of the queen, is celebrated on the stage in London for his prolific stage works and his published poetry.

We meet actors Burbage and Kempe. Bert Seymour and Nigel Barrett, who play other roles too, are excellent as the real historic actors who were the definitive contemporary interpreters of Shakespeare’s scripts on stage. (Chicagoans who saw “The Book of Will"  had a thorough introduction in that rendering of the development of the First Folio in the years following Shakespeare’s death.)

At “Hamnet” on Navy Pier, though, there are a few problems with the production that detract from the interesting story. Like “Shakespeare in Love,” which generated a fictional hypothesis about a love affair that inspired the Bard to pen “Romeo and Juliet,” in “Hamnet” it is the death of Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet, that is posited to have fed the emotional plane of “Hamlet.” And that is an intriguing theory, drawn from the book.

6 CST HAMNET KyleFlubacker

Saffron Dey as Judith and Ajani Cabey as Hamnet

“Hamnet” dutifully recounts the marriage of Agnes (she is generally known to us as Anne but historically she was Agnes) and William, she 26 and pregnant, and he just 18. The first child Susanna (Ave Hinds-Jones) was born a few months later, and a few years hence twins—Judith (Saffron Day) and Hamnet (Ajani Cabey)— sprang forth. Historically Hamnet died in 1596; four years later “Hamlet” hits the stage.

The book and play adjust this time frame, to have Shakespeare at work on the debut of “Hamlet” as his son contracts an illness and dies. That’s reasonable creative license, especially in the interest of drama. (Harper's Magazine offers an excellent contrast of the history as it's adapted for "Hamnet.") And the performances are quite excellent. Agnes (Kemi-Bo Jacobs) gives us an intense performance of a character devised to explain her genius husband’s attraction, and perhaps his inspiration by her. William (Rory Alexander is excellent throughout), though the script forces an unlikely maturity at just 18 as he coaches and counsels Agnes toward their marital fate.

What was jarring was the fact that all the actors wear microphones, with a uniformity of volume set by the mixing board, presumably, that is unnatural, especially for Shakespeare. The unfortunate effect was an echo chamber, in Chicago Shakespeare's handsome The Yard which simulates the interior of the original Globe. Also two screens at either side of the stage provided subtitles, which are quickly explained by the diversity of English dialects used by the actors. Some would be unintelligible to American ears without them—but I found myself reading, at the expense of watching the action center stage. Perhaps supratitles as used in opera would have been better.

And it’s probably necessary to comment on the incidental and transitional music, composed by Oğuz Kaplangi. Some pieces were quite lovely, evocations of the late 16th century. But fast-paced scene change music, sometimes with a Latin beat, was overbearing, and the percussion especially excessive. Was it compensating for the slow pace of what was on stage?

And for a play about Shakespeare, why did we hear so little from the subject's original work? The excellence of “Shakespeare in Love” was the celebration and display of many slices from his actual writing that advanced the case for its explanation of the origins of “Romeo & Juliet.” In this Royal Shakespeare company’s “Hamnet,” we’re given just a tiny bit at the end, as Agnes witnesses the play for the first time, a scene meant to tie up and resolve all the loose ends. They loved this in London’s West End, but in Chicago it's just not enough. See if you agree. “Hamnet” runs through March 8 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier.

This review is proudly shared with our friends at www.TheatreInChicago.com

Published in Theatre in Review

Last night, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) welcomed 600 students, young people, and teachers from the Chicago area to a free performance of One Knight Only! Sir Ian McKellen Onstage with Gandalf, Shakespeare, and YOU! The esteemed actor took the stage in The Yard to share his illustrious 60-year career and reprise some of his most iconic roles from Shakespeare and beyond. He also took questions from the audience, and invited participants to share the stage with him at times throughout the evening.

Students and teachers from 22 high schools and three universities across the Chicago area, along with young people from A.B.L.E. (Artists Breaking Limits and Expectations), Steppenwolf Theatre's Young Adult Council, and Goodman Theatre's Youth Art Council, were in attendance.

With two performances of Short Shakespeare! Hamlet running concurrently in the Courtyard Theater alongside the One Knight Only! student performance, CST welcomed nearly 1,700 students in a single day to experience Shakespeare live onstage.

The event, which McKellen generously gifted to CST, recognizes the Theater's commitment to Shakespeare and young people. CST serves more students and teachers than any theater in Chicago, annually providing more than 20,000 students with deeply subsidized tickets to performances and free learning programs. CST is a leader in introducing the next generation to Shakespeare's work, with 83% of student participants reporting that they are experiencing Shakespeare for the first time. CST believes that theater is for everyone and can transform lives, with programs that support the development of young people's crucial skills, including social-emotional competencies, critical literacy, and meaningful collaboration in classrooms and in life. No matter where an individual is on their learning journey, CST fosters a space to explore, absorb, create, and build community through lifelong learning programs. 

"I am immensely grateful to Ian for giving Chicago students such a unique opportunity to spend an evening in his company, which expresses his and our deep commitment to Shakespeare and to future audiences," shared CST Artistic Director Edward Hall. "He shares our belief that it is every young person's right to have access to Shakespeare and to the shared experience of theater."

This performance marked McKellen's first return to Chicago in 40 years.

This evening, McKellen will give a ticketed benefit performance, with all proceeds going to support Chicago Shakespeare Theater's mission.

CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER (CST)

CST is a leading international theater company and the nation's largest year-round theater dedicated to the works of Shakespeare. Under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director Edward Hall and Executive Director Kimberly Motes, the Regional Tony Award recipient is committed to creating vivid, entertaining theatrical experiences that invigorate and engage people of all ages and identities by illuminating the complexity, ambiguity, and wonder of our world. Each year, nearly a quarter of a million people experience CST's artistry through more than 12 productions. With Shakespeare at the heart of the artistic work, CST also produces compelling, contemporary stories from fresh voices of today. CST brings the world to Chicago and sends Chicago out into the world as Chicago's foremost presenter of international theater, and consistent producer of North American and world premieres. Serving more students and teachers than any theater in the city, CST annually welcomes more than 20,000 students to performances and programs like Chicago Shakespeare SLAM, alongside professional development opportunities for teachers. CST activates its campus with three venues: 700-seat The Yard; the 500-seat Jentes Family Courtyard Theater; and the 200-seat Carl and Marilynn Thoma Upstairs Studio. Free programs like Shakes in the City bring performances to parks and community spaces across Chicago's 77 neighborhoods. Shared humanity and unforgettable stories—now THIS is Chicago Shakespeare. www.chicagoshakes.com

Published in Theatre Buzz

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces casting for the US tour of the Royal Shakespeare Company's  Hamnet, based on the best-selling novel by Maggie O'Farrell, adapted by award-winning playwright Lolita Chakrabarti (Life of Pi, Red Velvet, Hymn), and directed by Erica Whyman. A co-production with the RSC and Neal Street ProductionsHamnet pulls back a curtain on the story of the greatest writer in the English language and the woman who was the constant presence and purpose of his life. Hamnet is a love letter to passion, birth, grief, and the magic of nature. The US premiere features Kemi-Bo Jacobs as Agnes and Rory Alexander as William and begins its US premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in The Yard, February 10‑March 8, 2026. The production will then transfer to Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC, from March 17 to April 12, 2026, and American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco from April 22 to May 24, 2026.

Warwickshire, 1582. Agnes Hathaway, a natural healer, meets the Latin tutor, William Shakespeare. Drawn together by powerful but hidden impulses, they create a life together and make a family. When the plague steals 11-year-old Hamnet from his loving parents, they must each confront their loss alone. And yet, out of the greatest suffering, something of extraordinary wonder is born.

The original production of Hamnet played to sold-out audiences in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2023, breaking box office records at the Swan Theatre. It later opened to the biggest box office advance in the Garrick Theatre's history when it transferred to the West End and was hailed as "pure theatre gold" by The Mail on Sunday and "elegant and beguiling" by the Evening Standard.

Kemi-Bo Jacobs plays Agnes. Jacobs' recent stage credits include Coriolanus (National Theatre), The Other Boleyn Girl (Chichester), Ocean at the End of the Lane (West End and National Theatre Tour), All My Sons (Manchester Royal Exchange and UK Tour), Wild East (Young Vic), The Winter's Tale (RSC) and The Sweet Science of Bruising (Southwark Playhouse). Her screen credits include Million Days, The Letter for The King (Netflix), The Great (Hulu), McMafiaThirteen, Delicious, London Has Fallen, The Honorable Woman, Lewis and Doctor Who. Rory Alexander plays William. Alexander can currently be seen starring as a young Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser in the Outlander prequel Blood of My Blood for Starz, and was longlisted for a BIFA for Best Breakthrough Performance for his leading role in Inland opposite Mark Rylance and Kathryn Hunter. He has recently completed filming on Justin Chadwick's latest feature Untamed with Emily Barber and Matthew Steer. Alexander can also be seen playing the role of Boogie in Danny Boyle's Pistol alongside Louis Partridge, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Maisie Williams for FX/Hulu (US) and Disney+(UK). Other notable film and television credits include Element Film's Dark Windows, Dark Game with Ed Westwick, Kenny Swinney in Sky's Then You Run with Leah McNamara, Eric in Amazon's Alex Rider S2 with Vicky McClure, and Netflix's Anxious People.

The cast also includes Troy Alexander (Bartholomew), Nigel Barrett (John/Will Kempe), Haydn Burke (Ensemble), Ajani Cabey (Hamnet), Saffron Dey (Judith), Victoria Elliott (Joan), Heather Forster (Eliza), Thalia Gambe (Ensemble) Karl Haynes (Ned), Ava Hinds Jones (Susanna), Nicki Hobday (Jude), Penny Layden (Mary), Matilda McCarthy (Tilly/Catherina), and Bert Seymour (Burbage/Father John).

"We're delighted to welcome the Royal Shakespeare Company back to Chicago for this moving and illuminating production of Hamnet," shared CST Artistic Director Edward Hall. "The play gives a fascinating window into Shakespeare's life from a new perspective that imagines in such vivid detail what his family might have been like—a valuable new contribution to understanding the family and the writer behind the plays we know and love. And it's wonderful to be welcoming playwright Lolita Chakrabarti back to CST, whose writing so sensitively brings to life the characters in Maggie O'Farrell's beautiful novel."

RSC Co-Artistic Directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey shared, "We are delighted to share casting for the first US tour of Hamnet. It's wonderful to be coming back in 2026 with Lolita Chakrabarti's beautiful adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's best-selling novel, which offers a compelling new perspective on Shakespeare through the eyes of Agnes Hathaway and their children. We can't wait to share this intimate and moving story with US audiences."

Playwright Lolita Chakrabarti added, "Hamnet brings to life the Shakespeare family—William, his sister and their parents, Agnes, his wife, and their three children. You will see why William went to London and discovered the theater, how his family lived without him and how the profound loss of a child gave us one of the most important plays in the western world. Hamnet is a heartwarming and heartbreaking exploration of family, loss, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive."

Director Erica Whyman said, "I am delighted to be revisiting this extraordinary story for US audiences, and to be making this production with a stellar line-up of performers. Kemi-Bo Jacobs and Rory Alexander are bringing Agnes and William alive on the stage with a luminous intelligence and a profound and shocking understanding of the love and loss that shaped their lives. They are joined by a wonderful company bringing a wealth of experience and spirited invention to Lolita's searing adaptation. The play explores Agnes's remarkable spiritual gifts and her relationship with both the natural world and the future with an imaginative theatricality, and audiences should expect beautiful music, movement and sound design on Tom Piper's stunning set. This is, at its heart, an intimate story of family which finds eternal expression on the stage—to see it in the theatre is to bear witness to the astonishing resilience of the human spirit."

Hamnet has sold over a 1.5 million copies worldwide and was named both Waterstones Book of the Year and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award in 2020. The novel also saw Maggie O'Farrell named the winner of the 2020 Women's Prize for Fiction; the UK's most prestigious annual book award celebrating and honouring fiction written by women. As the No. 1 Sunday Times Bestseller in 2021, Hamnet was shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction (2021) and British Book awards 'Fiction Book of the Year' (2021).

The production features set and costume design by Tom Piper, lighting design by Prema Mehta, sound design by Simon Baker, music by Oğuz Kaplangi, casting by Amy  all CDG, and movement by Ayşe Tashkiran.

Tickets (starting at $58) are on sale now.

More information at  www.chicagoshakes.com/hamnet or on social media at @chicagoshakes.

Royal Shakespeare Company and Neal Street Productions

Maggie O'Farrell's

Hamnet

Adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti
Directed by Erica Whyman
February 10-March 8, 2026
The Yard

PERFORMANCE LISTING

  • Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
  • Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. (no matinee February 11)
  • Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.
  • Fridays at 7:00 p.m.
  • Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (no matinee April 18)
  • Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

Chicago Shakespeare strives to make its facility and performances accessible to all patrons. Accessible seating, assistive listening devices, large-print and Braille programs, and sensory tools are available at every performance. Enhanced performances include:

  • Audio-described performance – Sunday, February 22 at 2:00 p.m. 

A program that provides spoken narration of a play's key visual elements for patrons who are blind or have low vision.

  • Open captioned performance – Wednesday, February 25 at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.  
    A text display of the words and sounds heard during a play, synced live with the action onstage.
  • ASL interpreted performance – Friday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m.
    All dialogue and lyrics are translated into American Sign Language by two certified interpreters

TICKETS HERE

CREATIVE TEAM

Lolita Chakrabarti – Playwright
Erica Whyman - Director
Tom Piper - Set and Costume Design
Prema Mehta - Lighting Design
Simon Baker - Sound Design 
Oğuz Kaplangi - Music
Amy Ball, CDG - Casting
Ayşe Tashkiran - Movement 

CAST

Rory Alexander - Will

Troy Alexander - Bartholomew

Nigel Barrett - John / Will Kempe

Haydn Burke - Ensemble

Ajani Cabey – Hamnet

Saffron Dey - Judith

Victoria Elliott – Joan

Heather Forster - Eliza

Thalia Gambe - Ensemble

Karl Haynes - Ned

Ava Hinds Jones - Susanna

Nicki Hobday – Jude

Kemi-Bo Jacobs – Agnes

Penny Layden - Mary

Matilda McCarthy - Tilly / Catherina

Bert Seymour - Burbage / Father John

CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER (CST)

CST is a leading international theater company and the nation's largest year-round theater dedicated to the works of Shakespeare. Under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director Edward Hall and Executive Director Kimberly Motes, the Regional Tony Award recipient is committed to creating vivid, entertaining theatrical experiences that invigorate and engage people of all ages and identities by illuminating the complexity, ambiguity, and wonder of our world. Each year, nearly a quarter of a million people experience CST's artistry through more than 12 productions. With Shakespeare at the heart of the artistic work, CST also produces compelling, contemporary stories from fresh voices of today. CST brings the world to Chicago and sends Chicago out into the world as Chicago's foremost presenter of international theater, and consistent producer of North American and world premieres. Serving more students and teachers than any theater in the city, CST annually welcomes more than 20,000 students to performances and programs like Chicago Shakespeare SLAM, alongside professional development opportunities for teachers. CST activates its campus with three venues: 700-seat The Yard; the 500-seat Jentes Family Courtyard Theater; and the 200-seat Carl and Marilynn Thoma Upstairs Studio. Free programs like Shakes in the City bring performances to parks and community spaces across Chicago's 77 neighborhoods. Shared humanity and unforgettable stories—now THIS is Chicago Shakespeare. www.chicagoshakes.com

THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY (RSC)

The RSC is a leading global theatre company that sparks local, national and international conversations that build connections, create opportunities and bring joy. We passionately believe that great storytelling can change the world, and that theatre offers its own unique form of storytelling: it's live and shared, and transforms a group of strangers into audiences who, together, experience a story come to life in front of their eyes. We collaborate with the most exciting artists to tell the stories of our time, and through a range of programmes we nurture the talent of the future. We perform on three stages in our home in Stratford-upon-Avon, in London and in communities and schools across the country and around the world. Our transformative Creative Learning and Engagement programmes reach over half a million young people each year. www.rsc.org.uk

 

NEAL STREET PRODUCTIONS

Neal Street is one of the UK's most respected production companies, producing film, television and theatre. Founded 2003 by Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris and Caro Newling, it makes distinctive, popular award-winning projects on both sides of the Atlantic. TV includes Call the Midwife, The Franchise, Britannia, Penny Dreadful, The Hollow Crown. Films include Mendes' Empire of Light, 1917 and Revolutionary Road; Hamnet and The Magic Faraway Tree. Currently in development The Beatles project for Sony Pictures - four distinct theatrical feature films about the greatest band in history, conceived and directed by Sam Mendes. Theatre originated by Neal Street includes The Lehman Trilogy, The Motive and the Cue, The Hills of California, Hamnet, Local Hero, The Ferryman, Shrek the Musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Bridge Project 2010 - 2012, Three Days of Rain, The Vertical Hour. West End transfers include The Fifth Step, Walking with Ghosts, The Moderate Soprano, This House, The Painkiller, Merrily We Roll Along, South Downs/The Browning Version, Red, Enron, Sunday in the Park with George, Mary Stuart. The theatre slate is overseen by Newling together with producer, Georgia Gatti. In 2015 Neal Street moved under the umbrella of parent company, All3Media, which is owned by RedBird IMI.

www.nealstreetproductions.com  

Published in Now Playing

"The course of true love never did run smooth." No, wait, that’s from A Midsummer Night's Dream

"I do desire we may be better strangers." Mmmm … closer, but this one’s As You Like It

" Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage".  A worthy sentiment, but it appeared in Twelfth Night, not …

“Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably.” Aha! There we go … Benedick says this to Beatrice during one of their incessant arguments in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. And if you don’t believe me, you can hear it yourself at Chicago Shakespeare Theater – and I very highly recommend you do just that! And don’t dawdle – when I was there last Sunday it was sold out.

A quick-and-dirty rundown of the story:  the beautiful Hero (Mi Kang) has just fallen ass-over-teakettle in love with the courageous young soldier Claudio (Samuel B. Jackson), who reciprocates immediately and enthusiastically. Accompanying Claudio is his senior military officer, Hero’s father Don Pedro (Debo Balogun); also aristocratic soldier and avowed bachelor Benedick (Mark Bedard). Benedick is an Old Family Friend who’s maintained a long-standing verbal battle with Hero’s shrewish [get it? shrewish? nod, nod, wink, wink] cousin Beatrice (Deborah Hay). There’s no questioning the authenticity of their dissension, but from the outset we sense the infatuation lurking just under their squabbles and know that this will be mined for all its chucklesome gold. After all, the most perennial subject of comedy is love, as the Bard knew very well.

Tom Piper does a fabulous job with the set, creating an ethereal fantasy world in the beautiful courtyard of nobleman Leonato (Kevin Gudahl). Lavish garlands festoon balconies and arches, defining the ambience without distracting from the action. A tree stands prominently at stage left and comes into frequent use; there’s even a swing! Several characters have occasion to hide behind its trunk and even up in its branches (clearly a very sturdy piece, that tree). Piper’s choice to design costumes in contemporary style provides another discordance to mirror the ever-present yet ever-changing infighting among the characters.

British actress Selina Cadell directs, exhibiting her long experience with and conspicuous mastery of both Shakespeare and comedy. The story is told cleanly; the pacing is perfect and miraculously the cast has thoroughly conquered iambic pentameter – though a screen displayed open captioning I didn’t need it – every line is intelligible.

The characters interact with the audience throughout. Realism is interchanged with physical comedy, as when Hay ‘hides’ within the audience by shielding her face with a program (and helping herself to her seat-neighbor’s drink!), and Bedard vows ‘I will live a bachelor’ to a member of the audience, shaking his hand on it. Though this physical contact with the characters was limited to the fortunate attenders in front-row seats, the cast regularly invited collusion from the audience as a whole. At one point they convince the audience is to join them in singing ‘hey, nonny’ and there were amazingly few holdouts. I almost never sing along but I did this time!

Bob Mason built a remarkably diverse cast. Between Debo Balogun as Don Pedro, Samuel B. Jackson playing Claudio and Jaylon Muchison taking several comic roles, this production is an excellent showcase for the Black male actors in Chicago.  

Traditionally Shakespeare’s romantic dyads are played by blooming fledgling players –cute kids. Mason choosing fully grown Bedard and Hay as Beatrice and Benedick deepens everyone’s experience. It’s unfair to ask adolescents – kids! – no matter how talented, to develop characters as complex as Hamlet, and inexperienced comediennes fall too easily into Three Stooges-ish slapstick.

It requires a woman well past menarche to fathom Beatrice’s temperament. She’s not so much choosing between different men as she is wondering aloud whether she needs a man at all. She pretty much decides ‘not’, a decision that the majority of modern women can at least understand, if not agree with. A woman must have traversed the estrogen-saturated third and fourth decades of life before she can begin to discern what an equal relationship is, let alone how to construct one.   Beatrice trusts that Benedick will help ease her pain, but it takes a terrific actor to convince the audience to trust him. Benedick in turn must check his Italianate machismo at the door and demonstrate his own vulnerability, not only to Beatrice but to a house full of cynical, overeducated twenty-first century women. Luckily these two actors are exceptionally skilled.

Act Two is markedly darker: Don Pedro’s illegitimate brother Don John (Erik Hellman) is a fellow with an axe to grind. Why? Maybe because he’s illegitimate, a motive as common as it is irrational; any road, his motives are unimportant to the basic story. Suffice to say he has it in for his legit sibling and maliciously chooses to attack him through young Hero. He plots with Borachio (Yona Moises Olivares) and Conrade (Colin Huerta) to disseminate a false story that Hero has been unfaithful to her fiancé Claudio, who’s unfortunately a gullible twit and falls for these unsubstantiated rumors.  

Fortunately, Hero’s suffering is (at least partially) balanced by the clodhopping Dogberry dropping one hilarious malapropism after another. I always have one favorite character (yeah, I’m a bad mom) and in this piece my pick of the litter is Dogberry, particularly as so wonderfully played by Sean Fortunato. Fortunato’s long face and longer body seem custom-designed for the rollicking physical comedy of this wonderful role (though actually he has a phenomenal range). Dogberry’s performance was enhanced by the antics of his constable Verges (Jaylon Muchison), who literally and hilariously dogs Dogberry’s footsteps, resulting in several collisions.

We all know a Dogberry – the nincompoop who sucks up with highfalutin’ speeches that lavishly display he has no clue what the hell he’s talking about. I can’t resist including a quote (no spoiler, promise!) from Dogberry’s account to his boss: “Marry, sir, they have committed false report; moreover, they have spoken untruths; secondarily, they are slanders; sixth and lastly, they have belied a lady; thirdly, they have verified unjust things; and, to conclude, they are lying knaves.” You have to pay attention though, as many of his drollest maxims are far briefer.

Unexpected but welcome was original music composed by Eliza Thompson, with cast members playing accordion, saxophone, drum, flute, banjo, and guitar. Sound designer Nicholas Pope used excerpts of Thompson’s score to indicate the passage of time between scenes, with lighting refinements imbued with the prevailing comedic zeitgeist – though how one makes lighting funny is a mystery to me. Fortunately, light designer Jason Lynch knows how.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is the original romcom and this production channels the spirit of the classic 1940s romantic comedies. Rosalind Russell / Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn / Spencer Tracy stem from Beatrice and Benedict as directly as the Sharks and the Jets are drawn from the Capulets and Montagues. The characters and their adventures are, after all, timeless. With uncanny prescience MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING examines major twenty-first century courtship issues: the disproportionate consequences for women, differentiating between humor and ardor, finding balance in inherently unbalanced relationships, even cyber-bullying! I’m not a Shakespeare scholar but I’m willing to bet the man never so much as sent a text message.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is arguably Shakespeare’s best comedy, and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre delivers just that, secured by the warmth, maturity and phenomenal talent of the cast. It’s good solid unadulterated Shakespeare and, though the physical comedy is uproarious, the shenanigans never overshadow the linguistic magnetism. This production of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is totally irresistible!

VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Running until December 11 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater 800 East Grand Avenue Chicago

Published in Theatre in Review

Lou (Cher Álvarez) and James (Patrick Heusinger) are in their bedroom. They are so focused on each other that they don’t notice the flashing light in the bedroom down the hall. The catch? Lou and James are the only ones in the house. So that leaves the question – who is controlling the flashing lights?

Many of us are familiar with this moment in a horror film. The first scare is crucial and sets us up for what we are about to experience. We may not know exactly what is happening, but we do know that this simple game with the lights suggests that all is not quite normal in this house. Lou and James are not alone, and whether or not we are ready, we are soon going to learn what is keeping them company.

However, this is not a film. This is a horror play, and while the moment provides a similar purpose, you might find that the experience is quite different. Gasps could be heard across the house at this particular performance. Looking around, folks were pointing to fellow audience members – making sure that they too took in the flashing lights. Whispers could be heard, and suddenly, it felt like we were part of the performance. As the scares grew over the course of the piece, reactions only intensified. Audience members shouted, screamed, and even at times tried to warn the characters of what they were clearly missing. Director Felix Barrett and his design team skillfully create what might feel like an immersive experience. As the tension on stage grew, I personally could feel the same happening to the audience surrounding me. To put it simply – we were hooked, and there was no escape until we finally got our answers.

Writing by Levi Holloway, Paranormal Activity follows married couple James and Lou who move from Chicago to London to escape their dark past. We slowly learn that their previous home was haunted, and they assumed that a full ocean could make that go away. However, they soon discover that it’s not always a place that is haunted. Sometimes it’s people, and whether or not they are ready, it’s time to confront their past before it’s too late.

That which truly pushes the experience over the top is the work of Illusions Designer Chris Fisher – along with the collaboration of Associate Illusions Designer Daniel Weissglass and Illusions Consultant Skylar Fox. The stage magic is often hard to grasp with how authentic it feels, and you may find yourself wondering if you even believe what is in front of you – much like the characters on stage.

We witness the couple at the center slowly unravel – particularly James. As with so many horror stories, he begins as a non-believer. As the ghostly interactions become harsher and harder to avoid, we see him question everything he ever knew. Both Álvarez and Heusinger perform quite a feat. As we witness their marriage completely fall apart at the mercy of the hauntings, you might find yourself feeling sorry for the genuine relationship they so clearly set up at the beginning.

With haunting stage magic and a story that takes no prisoners, Paranormal Activity is not just a play – this is an event. Fans of the horror genre will not be disappointed. This is an experience that keeps you guessing from the moment the curtain rises to the last glimmer of light at its conclusion.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Run Time: 2 hours, with intermission

Paranormal Activity runs through November 2 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater – 800 E. Grand Avenue.

Published in Theatre in Review

Walking into the Courtyard Theater for Rome Sweet Rome, you might find it’s impossible not to be taken aback by the design. College Pollard’s Scenic Design astounds – particularly with the large replica Michaelangelo’s sculpture the David at the center. The catch? The statue is featured from behind, giving the audience a prime view of the David’s backside for the entire performance. Especially when combined with Lighting Designer Jesse Klug’s bright, flashing lights and Jax and Composer Jeffrey JQ Qiayum’s invitation to get up and dance to the bumping mix blasting through the speakers, space sets the audience up for two things:

  1. This play clearly takes place in some version of Rome.
  2. Nothing can quite prepare the audience for the event that they are about to experience.

The Q Brothers Collective’s Rome Sweet Rome is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, but with quite a few twists – including a full 90s hip-hop soundtrack and fun, top-notch choreography from Tanji Harper. The production is a party from the moment the lights come up, and looking around at the audience surrounding me at this performance, it was clear everyone was ready to lean in.

Caesar (POS), the charismatic tyrant at the center, carries a strong hold over Rome. He continues to pass increasingly absurd laws out of fear of losing that control. When Caesar makes the decision to outlaw bread, a select group decides it’s time to take action. Cash (Jonathan Shaboo), Brutus (Victor Musoni), and Casca (Danielle Davis) decide to stage a coup and take him down. The question is, will they succeed? Can they bring bread back to Rome before it’s too late?

Janyce Caraballo (center) with the company of Rome Sweet Rome at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, a wild and satirical new “add-rap-tation” of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar from Q Brothers Collective (GQ, JQ, JAX, and POS). September 23-October 19, 2025, in the Courtyard Theater.

It’s not hard to miss the political undertones beneath. A power-hungry ruler at the center who continues to grasp at power in any way he can. This theme is present in the original source material and certainly makes its way into the adaptation. We continue to see history repeating itself. Greedy rulers leave voids for those just like them to take their place – often times more paranoid than the last and grasping even harder at whatever they can.

However, the Q Brothers do their work to carry the story further into today. In a key moment when Brutus turns to the audience and instead, makes it about us. The lights in the audience come up and he pointedly asks if this is what we want. Do we want to murder him? Do we see the trends and do we want to change them?  Musoni certainly builds a chemistry with the audience in this moment, and you might find it’s easy to allow the fourth wall to come down and begin to engage in the dialogue. Though a little on the nose, the message acts as a helpful reminder that these stories are more timely than ever. Perhaps we can all do with a little “on the nose” as we continue to navigate what to do next in this political climate.

Full of a pizazz and a poignant message, Rome Sweet Rome has a little something for everyone. Whether you are a die-hard Shakespeare fan or this is your first time with the material, the Q Brothers make Julius Caesar accessible, and even invite us to take a little accountability along the way.

RECOMMENDED

Rome Sweet Rome runs through October 19, 2025 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. For tickets and information, see the Chicago Shakespeare Theater website.

 

*This review is also shared on https://www.theatreinchicago.com/!  

Published in Theatre in Review

It’s 1982 and Larry Walters approaches his lawn chair. On either side are bags and containers full of various items like Coca Cola and Miller Lite – all meant to add various levels of weight to the contraption. His girlfriend, Carol, gives him a final embrace before he takes his seat. The song “Countdown” begins, and the projections behind Larry start to shift. We see the measurements change as he goes up and up – 1,000 ft. 2,000ft. 3,000ft. 4,000 ft. Larry starts to fly, and all the ensemble surrounding him can do is look up.

42 Balloons is about a lot of things. There is love. Passion. Heartbreak. At the root, this is a story about dreams. How far are we willing to go for our dreams, and at what cost?

Written by Jack Godfrey, 42 Balloons follows Larry Walters (Charlie McCullagh) – a man with a dream to fly in 1982. With the help of his girlfriend, Carol (Evelyn Hoskins), he set out to complete an experiment – what would happen if he attached 42 balloons to a lawn chair and let it soar 16,000 feet above LA? He may have succeeded, but from the moment he lands, he and Carol would find that nothing following quite goes according to plan.

With orchestration and musical supervision by Joe Beighton, the show features a score of 1980s inspired hits that are sure to get stuck in your head for days – as one wants with any musical on the rise. Titles include “Up in the Air,” “Carol’s Soliloquy,” “The Kid and the Chair,” and “Helium.” Director Ellie Coote collaborates with Choreographer Alexandrea Sarmiento to utilize the ensemble throughout – including to help signify time passing. Sarmiento’s work in particular shines, with choreography that highlights the range of skillsets in this group of performers.

You might find that much of the heart of the story is found in the relationship between Larry and Carol – particularly as we see her fight so hard to help his dream come to fruition, even though she does not necessarily agree with it. “Something as Crazy as This” comes towards the end of Act 1. The two have somehow made this happen – they secured the funds and were able to gather all the necessary materials down to the 42 balloons. McCullagh and Hoskins astound with their vocal talents – and that alone is worth the ticket. However, more than that, you might find that the chemistry between the two actors adds a helpful layer of empathy to the story.  Even if you find yourself wondering why the two go to such lengths to help this particular dream come true, it’s easy to see that the love they share is reason enough to keep things moving.

Godfrey’s piece is inspired by a true story – from the dream at the center to the challenges that followed. As you watch the events unfold, you might find yourself siding with some of the critics that pop up along the way. Many found this dream of flight to be crazy and even mocked Larry following the event. The writing does not hold back – and I personally found this journey of the storytelling to be one of the most compelling elements of the experience. Godfrey invites audiences to consider: Why are there are some dreams we accept more than others? What makes a dream “worth it”, and who gets to dictate that? Perhaps in order to earn the heartwarming payoff at the end of this musical, we as audience members have to go on a similar journey as the ensemble surrounding Larry asking themselves the same questions.

Full of heart and astounding talent, 42 Balloons is must-see. I personally am excited to see where this musical goes next.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

42 Balloons runs at Chicago Shakespeare Theater through June 29, 2025. See the Chicago Shakespeare Theater website for more information on tickets.

*This review is also featured on https://www.theatreinchicago.com/

Published in Theatre in Review

Stories that explore the emotional lives of men—especially Black men—are still far too rare on the American stage. Outside the monumental works of August Wilson, narratives that center male vulnerability, intimacy, and connection remain the exception. Lolita Chakrabarti’s Hymn, now playing at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, is a welcome and moving addition to that limited canon.

Originally written for a London audience, Hymn has been thoughtfully reworked by Chakrabarti for an American setting, shifting the story from Bristol, England to Chicago. The transition is seamless—perhaps even revelatory. Under the deft direction of Ron O.J. Parson, the play feels deeply rooted in the cultural and emotional rhythms of its new home.

At the heart of Hymn is the evolving relationship between two middle-aged Black men: Benny, played with warmth and quiet power by Chiké Johnson, and Gil, brought to life with nuance and restraint by James Vincent Meredith. The story begins with a funeral and slowly unfolds into something akin to a spiritual duet. Benny introduces the idea of “sympathetic resonance,” a musical concept describing how sound vibrations can cause another object to vibrate in harmony. It becomes a poetic metaphor for the emotional bond that grows between the two half-brothers as they become a whole.

Though the story is driven by dialogue, it's punctuated by music and movement—moments that feel less like breaks in the action and more like expressions of unspoken truths. As Benny and Gil dance, sing, and joke their way through scenes from their shared and separate pasts, their connection strengthens in ways that are more felt than seen. It’s only as the final notes settle that we fully understand what we’ve witnessed.

The production design roots the story firmly in the present while pulsing with the energy of the hip-hop era that shaped the characters. Rasean Davonte Johnson’s scenic and projection design is sleek, versatile, and evocative, transforming the minimalist set from a church to a boxing ring, a spare bedroom, and even a local eatery effortlessly. Yvonne Miranda’s costume design subtly tracks the characters’ emotional evolution, using clothing as quiet storytelling. Willow James’ sound and composition design doesn’t just support the action—it lives within it, amplifying the emotional beats with a soundscape drawn from the golden age of hip-hop and rap, pulling the audience into the same rhythm that moves the characters.

Hymn is a quiet triumph. It doesn’t shout its themes or offer easy catharsis. Instead, it hums, vibrates, and resonates—an invitation to witness male vulnerability not as spectacle, but as something sacred and human.

Highly Recommended


When
: Through May 25
Where: Chicago Shakespeare Theatre 800 East Grand Avenue in Chicago.
Tickets: $52 - $95
Info:  www.chicagoshakespeare.com

*This review is also featured on https://www.theatreinchicago.com/!

Published in Theatre in Review
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