Chicago Shakespeare Theater - Courtyard Theater (Chicago, IL)
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre presents Richard III. The classic story of a deformed king whose nefarious schemes lead him to the throne and threaten the safety of England was Shakespeare's first great stage success, and remains wildly popular. Helen Hayes Award-winning actor Wallace Acton plays the title role.
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The last date listed for Richard III was Sunday November 22, 2009 / 6:00pm. (view all dates)
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We attended Saturday night when an understudy was playing Richard III and were afraid we'd be disappointed. However, the understudy was great - funny and expressive and pulled the audience into the play. Lady Anne and the Duchess of York were particularly wonderful. It was my first time at the Shakespeare Theatre and outside of being chilly (dress warmly) because of the mist used as part of the backdrop for most of the play, it was great!
We absolutely loved the play. The main actor - who plays Richard, is just phenomenal, hands down one of the best performances I've seen in a long time. Shakespearian English is NOT easy by any means, but the play is done so well and the characters are so lively and vivid that at times you forget that you are listening to something this difficult. It's just really well done. My favorite part was the way the ghosts of the dead appeared to Richard in his dream...beautiful! And the hard rock music that was included between the scenes, just brilliant!
First Shakespeare theate experience and my expectations have been exceeded!
Brilliant actors and actressess, Wallace Alton was wonderful.
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Chicago Shakespeare Theater is prominently located on Navy Pier, the Midwest's most-visited destination. It's a seven-story, glass curtain-walled structure, housing a courtyard theater and an upstairs theater, affording panoramic vistas of the Chicago skyline.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) kicks off the 2009/10 Subscription Series with Richard III, William Shakespeare’s tale of a brilliant, scheming hunchback who murders and seduces his way to the English throne. The production will be staged by Chicago Shakespeare Theater Artistic Director Barbara Gaines with Helen Hayes Award-winner Wallace Acton in the title role.
Shakespeare’s first great stage success, and one of his most enduring, Richard III has entertained audiences around the world for centuries. As the final chapter of the playwright’s sweeping chronicle of the English Wars of the Roses, Richard III dramatizes the life of one of the most diabolical and manipulative, yet charming and witty villains in Shakespeare’s canon. Embittered by his own physical deformities, the power-hungry Richard will stop at nothing to gain control of England, seducing and murdering his way to the throne.
Since its stage premiere in 1592 with Shakespeare’s colleague Richard Burbage in the title role, audiences worldwide have been fascinated by Richard III. The American tradition of translating Shakespeare’s works to film began with André Calmettes and James Keane’s 1912 silent version of Richard III— believed to be the oldest known complete surviving film made in America. The play continued to be referenced in films such as Neil Simon’s 1977 comedy, The Goodbye Girl, in which Elliott, performed in the film by Richard Dreyfuss, is cast in a production of Richard III and is asked to perform an outlandish stereotype of the title character. Al Pacino explored the complexity and the physicality of the title character in his 1996 documentary, Looking for Richard.
“Richard is one of Shakespeare’s most brilliant characters,” says Artistic Director Barbara Gaines. “As he seduces us as his audience, we become complicit in his crimes. He plays with us, toys with us, manipulates us. We know we’re being manipulated but it’s such an enjoyable ride and he’s such an interesting character that we don’t care.”
Chicago Shakespeare Theater offers a broad spectrum of theatrical experiences year-round, engaging and entertaining audiences from all walks of life and from around the world. The plays of William Shakespeare form the core of the company's work, complemented by other dramatic works -- from traditional classical theater to new classics that resonate with Shakespeare's timeless insights into the human condition. CST's World's Stage Series brings international theatrical productions to Chicago, presenting new cultural expressions and experiences. For family audiences, CST Family presents abridged Shakespeare productions and classic musicals for all ages.
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