​Practical Theatre Company Celebrates Shakespeare’s Birthday April 23

Evanston, IL — The Practical Theatre Company, known for their improvisational comedy revues, will light 459 candles on Shakespeare’s birthday cake on April 23 at 8 p.m. at Studio5 in Evanston. Of course, the Evanston Fire Department would never allow that, but the PTC’s celebration of William Shakespeare’s life and work will be a raucous, somewhat off-color, and yet ultimately respectable tribute to his work. The show features scenes, speeches, sonnets, drinking songs, and lots of insults and cursing, from some of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies and tragedies — as well as original PTC sketches inspired by the Bard and his magnificent work. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $25 for cabaret table seating.

The evening is hosted by PTC comedy veteran Victoria Zielinski, whose Northwestern Master’s degree qualifies her to be what she calls, “a faux Shakespearean scholar.” She has performed in Shakespeare’s plays and her life-long love of the Bard of Avon inspired this one-time-only event. It should be known that she occasionally affects a fake English accent to rival Madonna’s.

“I’ve always loved how Shakespeare’s work reveals the universality of human emotions. It’s amazing to me that a guy who lived five centuries ago still speaks to us today,” Zielinski says. “I hope audiences will come to this show to laugh, to shed a tear — and to see how much damn fun Shakespeare can be. Not to mention the acres of free parking!”

On this night, Practical Theatre members Zielinski, Paul Barrosse, and Dana Olsen are delighted to be joined on stage by award-winning playwright and actor Tom Mula, as well as beloved Chicago actor Richard Henzel and actress and choreographer Bea Rashid, founder of Dance Center Evanston.

Some of the Shakespearean scenes and speeches that will be performed include:

· A scene from The Taming of the Shrew – Performed by Zielinski and Barrosse

· Hamlet’s advice to the actors from Hamlet and Prospero’s monologue from The Tempest – Performed by Tom Mula

· “The 7 Ages of Man,” from As You Like It – Performed by Richard Henzel

· King Henry’s “Band of Brothers” speech from Henry V – Performed by Barrosse

· A speech from Othello – Performed by Zielinski

· Plus, a lively ensemble recitation of famous Shakespearean lines – especially cursing – including phrases the Bard invented that have become parts of our everyday speech.

Olsen will join the cast to perform some original comedy sketches based on Shakespeare, and Steve Rashid will perform drinking songs from Shakespeare’s plays, if he can remember them!

All attending will get a party hat and a slice of birthday cake to celebrate the Bard’s birthday in style.

The Practical Theatre Company was originally founded by Barrosse, Brad Hall and a group of fellow Northwestern University students in 1979, with a goal of performing improvisational comedy and new plays. After leaving Northwestern, the company produced a string of successful comedy shows in Chicago throughout the 1980s, and several of its members catapulted to fame when they were hired by Saturday Night Live for the 1982 season.

After a two-decade hiatus, The Practical Theatre Company reunited in 2010 when Barrosse, Zielinski, and Steve Rashid began doing shows together in Los Angeles and Chicago. The trio later joined with Olsen, a fellow Northwestern alum, to perform a series of holiday comedy shows at Studio5. Olsen is a screenwriter best known for writing The ’Burbs, and George of the Jungle.

Tom Mula is an award-winning playwright, actor, and director, best known for his novel, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol. Richard Henzel is known for his embodiment of Mark Twain and is a veteran Chicago-based actor who has performed at Steppenwolf, the Marriot Lincolnshire, and many, many more. Bea Rashid is the founder of Dance Center Evanston and the Evanston Dance Ensemble and is the co-owner of Studio5, along with her husband, Steve Rashid, a well-known composer and jazz pianist.

Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase at all shows.

Tickets are on sale now at https://www.studio5.dance/calendar.

EVENT DETAILS

April 23, 8-10 p.m.

The Bard’s Birthday

Victoria Zielinski hosts a unique celebration of Shakespeare’s birth with readings from his plays and sonnets — and original comedy sketches inspired by The Bard of Avon. Tom Mula, Richard Henzel, Paul Barrosse and Dana Olsen will join Victoria onstage to perform selections from the greatest body of literary work in the English language. Come celebrate the 459th birthday of the incomparable William Shakespeare with an evening of classic poetry, drama — and of course, comedy!

Tickets: $20 for general admission, $25 for cabaret seating

Tickets at: https://www.studio5.dance/