Suburban exhibit, Chicago events pay tribute to Shakespeare
During a year marking the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, the premier representation of his legacy will reside temporarily in Lake County.
The Lake County Discovery Museum hosts the Illinois leg of the Folger Shakespeare Library's national touring exhibition "First Folio! The Book That Gave Us Shakespeare," featuring one of the rarest, most valuable books in the English language: the 1623 First Folio containing 36 of his 38 plays.
Of the 750 First Folios believed to have been printed, only 233 survive. The Folger Library's collection, the largest of its kind, contains 82 copies, one of which will be on display Feb. 3 to 28 at the Discovery Museum in Wauconda.
Lake County's large, diverse population coupled with the variety of free programs the museum is sponsoring in conjunction with the exhibition and its partnership with David Adler Music and Arts Center in Libertyville, Harper College in Palatine and The College of Lake County in Grayslake likely factored in the museum's selection as the folio's Illinois host site.
"We're drawing together to provide something really wonderful to raise awareness of the beauty of language, the beauty of Shakespeare's plays," said Katherine Hamilton-Smith, director of public affairs and development for the Lake County Forest Preserve District.
A few miles south, cultural and arts organizations including Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Joffrey Ballet and Chicago Symphony Orchestra - along with ensembles from across the globe - have the same intent.
Sixty local and 20 international organizations are participating in the yearlong Shakespeare 400 Chicago celebration, spearheaded by Chicago Shakespeare Theater in cooperation with the city of Chicago.
Running the gamut from traditional to unconventional, Shakespeare 400 Chicago performances and events (850 and counting) are intended "to find new expressions of Shakespeare that will surprise and delight," said Chicago Shakespeare Theater executive director Criss Henderson. Among them are interpretations from China, India, Belarus and other places. A list of events and performances can be found at shakespeare400chicago.com.
Four hundred years after his death, Shakespeare remains an important part of the cultural fabric, Henderson said.
"Those 38 plays have inspired, provoked, taught and entertained on every continent," Henderson said.
"He was a special man who was able to look at the greater human condition through those characters and talk about our failings and our triumphs and our loves and our losses in ways that few other writers in the English language have."
Area institutions - including colleges and universities, museums, libraries and the Chicago Park District - responded enthusiastically to CST's invitation to participate, said Henderson.
"It's a testament to the great power of Shakespeare, who was not only a great man of the theater but of all art forms," he said.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater will combine six Shakespeare history plays in "Tug of War." Tony Award-winner Jonathan Pryce plays Shylock in the Shakespeare's Globe production of "The Merchant of Venice." And The Gift Theatre and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago redefine disability in "Richard III," produced in association with Steppenwolf Theatre.
The celebration doesn't just play out on stage. North Coast Brewing Co. serves up a new brew named after the character Puck at area bars and restaurants. And 38 Chicago chefs - including Topolobampo's Rick Bayless, Cafe Spiaggia's Tony Mantuano and Blackbird's Paul Kahan - will create dishes inspired by the complete works.
While the plays and other events go on all year, local Shakespeare buffs will have less than a month to visit the 1623 First Folio in Lake County.
The Wauconda museum isn't the first place you'd expect to find a First Folio, says Lake County's Hamilton-Smith. She describes exhibitions like the First Folio as "the spoonful of sugar" that helps attract visitors to the museum.
"We're small in size," Hamilton-Smith said, "but strong in concept."
<h3 class="briefHead">Highlights of Shakespeare 400</h3>
The centerpiece of Chicago's Shakespeare 400 celebration is Chicago Shakespeare Theater's epic "Tug of War." Adapted and directed by artistic director Barbara Gaines, it combines six of William Shakespeare's history plays in two parts. Part 1: Foreign Fire - comprising "Edward III," "Henry V" and "Henry VI, part 1" - runs May 12 to June 12. Part 2: Civil Strife, runs Sept 14 to Oct. 9 and includes "Henry VI, parts 2 and 3 and "Richard III."
<h3 class="briefHead">'Othello' 3 ways</h3>
CST, The Q Brothers (acclaimed for their "ad-rap-tations") and the Hamburg Ballet offer distinct interpretations of "Othello." CST's production, starring James Vincent Meredith in the title role, runs Feb. 18 to April 10. The ballet runs Feb. 23 and 24 and The Q Brothers' "Othello: The Remix" runs April 12 to May 8.
<h3 class="briefHead">Chicago's own</h3>
Lyric Opera's production of Charles Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet," directed by Bartlett Sher, runs Feb. 22 to March 19.
The Joffrey Ballet's "Romeo and Juliet" runs Oct. 13 to 23.
Ricardo Muti conducts CSO performances of Berlioz's "Romeo and Juliet" April 7 to 9, followed by Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Tempest" April 14 to 24 and Verdi's "Falstaff" April 21 to 26. Edwin Outwater conducts child-friendly CSO performances of Mendelssohn's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" on Feb. 13.
<h3 class="briefHead">International companies</h3>
Belarus Free Theatre, which is banned from performing in its own country, stages "King Lear" with projected English translation, Feb. 5 to 14.
The United Kingdom's Filter Theatre delivers a music-infused "Twelfth Night" March 1 to 13. Company Theatre Mumbai performs its Hindi translation of the play Sept. 27 and 29.
Shanghai Peking Opera's "The Revenge of Prince Zi Dan," an interpretation of "Hamlet," runs Sept. 28 and 29.
British ensemble Cheek By Jowl debuts its version of "The Winter's Tale" Dec. 14 to 21.
<h3 class="briefHead">Star turns</h3>
Michael Patrick Thornton plays the title role in The Gift Theatre's "Richard III," March 3 to May 1, in a production in association with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and Steppenwolf Theatre.
Actor/director Tim Crouch stars in "I, Malvolio," his one-man version of "Twelfth Night," June 2 to 5. The British ensemble Spymonkey performs Crouch's "The Complete Deaths," an homage to the 74 characters who expire onstage, Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.
Actor/co-creator David Carl plays Gary Busey in "Gary Busey's One-Man Hamlet," July 12 to 17.
Tony Award-winner Jonathan Pryce plays Shylock in the Shakespeare's Globe production of "The Merchant of Venice" Aug. 4 to 14.
French actor Georges Bigot collaborates with storefront ensemble Theatre Y on "Macbeth" Oct. 20 to Dec. 4.
<h3 class="briefHead">Lighter fare</h3>
Tim Etchells and the pioneering British ensemble Forced Entertainment condense 12 plays, using common household objects to represent characters. "(In) Complete Works: Table Top Shakespeare" runs Feb. 25 to 27.
Northwestern University invites people to "Play the Knave," an interactive Shakespeare video game on April 28.
Improvised Shakespeare Company creates new works inspired by Shakespeare's plots Thursdays through Saturdays at the iO Theater.
'First Folio! The Book That Gave Us Shakespeare'
Runs Feb. 3 to 28 at the Lake County Discovery Museum, 27277 N. Forest Preserve Road, Wauconda. (847) 968-3400 or
lcfpd.org for hours and featured events. Admission $2.50 to $6.
Shakespeare 400 ChicagoPerformances and events take place through December at 120 venues throughout Chicago. (312) 595-5600,
shakespeare400chicago.com. Prices vary.