FREE: 25 Performances of The Comedy of Errors in 19 Chicago Parks July 18 – August 18, 2019

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Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks

The Comedy of Errors

Announcing 25 Performances in 19 Parks, 

July 18 – August 18, 2019

 Photo by Daniel Ribar

Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows, we've adored Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks since its inception. Bring a picnic, kids, dogs, friends, and catch the words that have shaped our world for over 400 years, in the great outdoors. The bard's a blast under the stars and this is a great way to introduce the kids to the joy of live theatre. Highly recommended! 

Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, and Boeing partner to present the annual citywide summer tradition, Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks. Made possible by production sponsor BMO Harris Bank, 25 performances of Shakespeare’s hilarious classic The Comedy of Errors, directed by David H. Bell, will tour free for all to 19 neighborhood parks across Chicago in the city’s most expansive arts-in-communities initiative, July 18–August 18, 2019.

“Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks gives residents the chance to experience the thrill and magic of live theater in their own backyard,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Theater is essential to the cultural fabric of Chicago and with 25 performances throughout our neighborhoods, there's always a seat waiting for you.”

The Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour of The Comedy of Errors kicks off at Polk Bros Park on Navy Pier with three performances: Thursday, July 18 through Saturday, July 20—all beginning at 7:00 p.m.


Parks scheduled to be visited, rain or shine, include:

Thursday, July 18 at 7:00 p.m. | Polk Bros Park at Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave.)
Friday, July 19 at 7:00 p.m. | Polk Bros Park at Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave.)
Saturday, July 20 at 7:00 p.m. |  Polk Bros Park at Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave.)
Tuesday, July 23 at 6:30 p.m. | Garfield Park (100 N. Central Park Ave.)
Wednesday, July 24 at 6:30 p.m. | Gage Park (2411 W. 55th St.)
Thursday, July 25 at 6:30 p.m. | Kelvyn Park (4438 W. Wrightwood Ave.)
Friday, July 26 at 6:30 p.m. | Eckhart Park (1330 W. Chicago Ave.)
Saturday, July 27 at 6:30 p.m. | Loyola Park (1230 W. Greenleaf Ave.)
Sunday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m. | Loyola Park (1230 W. Greenleaf Ave.)
Tuesday, July 30 at 6:30 p.m. | Columbus Park (500 S. Central Ave.)
Wednesday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m. | Tuley Park (501 E. 90th Pl.)
Thursday, August 1 at 6:30 p.m. | Dvorak Park (1119 W. Cullerton St.)
Saturday, August 3 at 6:30 p.m. | RiverEdge Park, Aurora (360 N. Broadway St.)
Sunday, August 4 at 6:30 p.m. | Ellis  Park (3520 S. Cottage Grove Ave.)
Tuesday, August 6 at 6:30 p.m. | Frank J. Wilson Park (4630 N. Milwaukee Ave.)
Wednesday, August 7 at 6:30 p.m. | Frank J. Wilson Park (4630 N. Milwaukee Ave.)
Thursday, August 8 at 6:30 p.m. | Humboldt Park (1301 N. Sacramento Ave.)
Friday, August 9 at 6:30 p.m. | Humboldt Park (1301 N. Sacramento Ave.)
Saturday, August 10 at 6:30 p.m. | Ridge Park (1817 W. 96th St.)
Sunday, August 11 at 6:30 p.m. | Calumet Park (9801 S. Ave. G)
Wednesday, August 14 at 6:30 p.m. | Ogden Park (6500 S. Racine Ave.)
Thursday, August 15 at 6:30 p.m. | Piotrowski Park (4247 W. 31st St.)
Friday, August 16 at 6:30 p.m. | Welles Park (2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.)
Saturday, August 17 at 6:30 p.m. | Welles Park (2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.)
Sunday, August 18 at 6:30 p.m. | Ping Tom Memorial Park (1700 S. Wentworth Ave.)

“We are proud to partner with Chicago Shakespeare Theater to bring free Shakespeare to our beautiful neighborhood parks,” said Chicago Park District Superintendent and CEO Michael P. Kelly. “This beloved theatre experience is truly a highlight of the Year of Chicago Theatre and one of Night Out in the Parks' must-see theatre performances coming to parks citywide this summer."

The citywide tour is made possible by a renewed civic, cultural, and corporate partnership between Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, Boeing, and production sponsor BMO Harris Bank. Since the inception of the Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks program seven years ago, more than 130,000 Chicagoans have taken advantage of free performances in their communities.

"The Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks program has become a local symbol for increased access to and participation in the arts," said John Blazey, Vice President of Boeing Global Engagement. "This unique partnership among city agencies, community-based organizations, local artists, and neighborhood residents is a powerful example of how support of the arts helps to bring vitality to our communities by engaging families and building connections with one another."

Photo by Liz Lauren.

David Casper, U.S. CEO, BMO Financial Group said, “In celebration of the Year of Chicago Theatre, BMO Harris Bank is proud to continue its sponsorship of Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks. This summer's production of The Comedy of Errors is a wonderful story that has entertained audiences for more than four hundred years. Chicago Shakespeare Theater shares our commitment to ensuring that great theater is accessible to all, and we look forward to partnering with them in bringing this production to neighborhoods across the city.”

Throughout the tour, a specially equipped truck will roll into each park, a stage will unfold and actors will perform a 75-minute production of The Comedy of Errors. Staged and adapted by Jeff Award-winning director and choreographer David H. Bell,  the story unfolds when Antipholus and his lifelong servant Dromio find themselves in Ephesus as they search the world over for a twin, lost in infancy. Everywhere they go in this foreign land, complete strangers insist that they’re best of friends. Is everyone here quite mad? Mistaken identities abound, as one bewildering day in Ephesus makes for hilarious complications—and a bewitching theatrical experience.

The Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks The Comedy of Errors cast includes Will Allan (Dromio of Syracuse), Amira Danan (Adriana), Meghan Murphy (Aemilia/Courtezan), Andrea San Miguel (Luciana), Drew Shirley (Egeon/Luce/Dr. Pinch), Alec Silver (Dromio of Ephesus), Laurence Stepney (Duke), and ensemble members Wesley Daniel, Nathaniel Elfant, and Max Fabian. Additional casting to be announced. Joining Bell on the creative team is Scenic Designer Scott Davis, Costume Designer Theresa Ham, Projections Designer Mike Tutaj, Sound Designer Christopher M. LaPorte, Wig and Make-up Designer Richard Jarvie, Assistant Director Eli N. Newell, and Verse Coach Ross Lehman.

In addition to the tour stops in Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks will share Shakespeare with a one-night-only performance in Aurora at RiverEdge Park (360 N. Broadway St.) on Saturday, August 3, 2019, at 6:30 p.m.

Partnering with the Chicago Park District, Chicago Shakespeare Theater is offering ASL-interpreted performances at six of the eighteen Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour stops:

Sunday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m. | Loyola Park (1230 W. Greenleaf Ave.)
Saturday, August 10 at 6:30 p.m. | Ridge Park (1817 W. 96th St.)
Sunday, August 11 at 6:30 p.m. | Calumet Park (9801 S. Ave. G
Thursday, August 15 at 6:30 p.m. | Piotrowski Park (4247 W. 31st St.)
Saturday, August 17 at 6:30 p.m. | Welles Park (2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.)
Sunday, August 18 at 6:30 p.m. | Ping Tom Memorial Park (1700 S. Wentworth Ave.)

Sign-interpreting the performances are Elizabeth Bartlow Breslin and Will Lee. Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks will also offer an audio-described performance on Sunday, August 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Frank J. Wilson Park (4630 N. Milwaukee Ave.) for audience members who are blind or have low vision, in which a describer provides a description of visual elements of the production transmitted through headphones. Assistive-listening devices are available for all performances.

For more information on Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks, visit www.chicagoshakes.com/parks.

Photo by Michael Litchfield.

ABOUT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER
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. Chicago Shakespeare is the city’s leading presenter of international work, and has toured its own productions across five continents. The Theater’s nationally acclaimed arts in literacy programs support the work of teachers, and bring Shakespeare to life on stage for tens of thousands of students annually. Each summer, the company tours a free professional production to neighborhood parks across Chicago. In 2017 the Theater unveiled The Yard, which, together with the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater and the Thoma Theater Upstairs, positions Chicago Shakespeare as Chicago’s most versatile performing arts center.

ABOUT 2019 YEAR OF CHICAGO THEATRE
Chicago Shakespeare Theater is proud to be part of the 2019 Year of Chicago Theatre, presented by the City of Chicago and the League of Chicago Theatres. To truly fall in love with Chicago, you must go to our theatres. This is where the city bares its fearless soul. Home to a community of creators, risk-takers, and big hearts, Chicago theatre is a hotbed for exciting new work and hundreds of world premieres every year. From Broadway musicals to storefront plays and improv, there’s always a seat waiting for you at one of our 200+ theatres. Book your next show today at ChicagoPlays.com.

Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tours Shakespeare’s hilarious classic The Comedy of Errors, directed by David H. Bell, FREE FOR ALL to 19 neighborhood parks across the city, July 18–August 18, 2019. Photo by Julie Stanton.