The Shakespeare Project of Chicago

Richard II Heads for the Libraries

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago announced Shakespeare's Richard II as the first play of its 17th season of free public performances. The history play will be performed as a theatrical reading at the Newberry Library in Chicago on the morning of Oct. 22, at the Wilmette Public Library in Wilmette, Ill., that afternoon, and at the Highland Park Public Library in Highland Park, Ill., on the afternoon of Oct. 23.

An introductory prologue to the play will be given 15 minutes prior to each performance and a discussion with the actors, creative team, and audience members will follow the reading.

Directed by Artistic Director Peter Garino, the reading will feature David Skidmore in the title role supported by a cast that features Weston Blakesley, Nicholas Dargis, Tony Dobrowolski, Matthew Fahey, Peter Garino, Susan Gosdick, James, Krag, Richard Marlatt, Mary Michell, Corliss Preston, Dan Rodden, Stephen Spencer, Fredric Stone, and Kendall Zwillman. The production team includes George Zahora (sound design), Gail Rastorfer (assistant director), and Regina Schwartz (dramaturge).

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. The Shakespeare Project of Chicago has been providing free performances of the works of William Shakespeare and other great dramatists to Chicago area audiences since 1995. The Project's presentations place an artistic emphasis on the language of the plays and leverage the talents of professional actors, members of Actors' Equity Association. The company's educational programs bring The World in Words to high schools and universities through abbreviated adaptations of Shakespeare's plays and interactive actor-led workshops. Further information is available at www.shakespeareprojectchicago.org.

October 2, 2011

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