Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) has a history of accessible performance at its Navy Pier theaters. This week CST brings accessibility to neighborhood parks as part of this year’s Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This program’s beauty is that it brings Shakespeare to eighteen different neighborhoods for free, outdoor performance.
Families often picnic during the Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks productions. CST describes this show as “A magical forest filled with a host of some of Shakespeare’s most comedic characters make A Midsummer Night’s Dream one of his most beloved plays. Jeff Award-winning director David H. Bell has re-imagined this favorite into an acrobatic and riotously entertaining delight for all ages. When young lovers cross with mischievous sprites in the freedom of the woods, a series of mishaps occur and nothing is what it seems. When a troupe of fumbling actors is added to the midst, chaos breaks loose.”
This is the first time CST will bring ASL Duo-interpreted performances to Chicago Shakespeare in the Park as part of its Access Shakespeare commitment. The ASL Duo-interpretation performances are spread across the city with two in each of the South, West and North Chicago Park District regions. And, as with all aspects of the CST show, the ASL Duo-interpreted performance is impressive. Sign-interpreting A Midsummer Night’s Dream are Elizabeth Bartlow Breslin (CI/CT) and Will Lee (NIC). Between them they have interpreted more than forty Chicago Shakespeare Theater productions. The ASL Dou-interpreted shows are at:
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FRANK J. WILSON PARK
Sunday, August 3, 4:00
4630 N. Milwaukee Ave.
HUMBOLDT PARK
Wednesday, August 6, 6:30
1440 N. Humboldt Drive (near the Boathouse)
WELLES PARK
Friday, August 8, 6:30
2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.
RIDGE PARK
Wednesday, August 13, 6:30
9625 S. Longwood Dr.
SOUTH SHORE CULTURAL CENTER
Thursday, August 14, 6:30
7059 S. South Shore Dr.
ECKHART PARK
Sunday, August 17, 4:00
1330 W. Chicago Ave.
The full tour kicks-off this week at Navy Pier’s Gateway Park. For the full list of all eighteen parks being visited this summer, visit www.chicagoshakes.com/parks. No matter where you live in the city or suburbs, this is a unique summer event worth a date on your calendar.
