Shakespeare Coming To Parks Across Chicago
(CBS) -- It's time for Chicagoans to experience "Shakespeare in the Park"....every park.
On Sunday, hundreds of Chicagoans of all ages will gather at the newly created Steelworkers Park for a free 75-minute performance of Shakespeare's Greatest Hits, kicking off Chicago Shakespeare's family-friendly Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks program, which will bring free, professional theater to 18 Chicago parks in every area of the City through August 16.
Dottie Bris-Bois is project manager for Chicago Shakespeare In The Parks. She tells WBBM that the actors love the challenge and privilege of bringing Shakespeare to audiences all over the city, for free.
"We're really bringing this production to the people in a way that's accessible in every sense of the word," Bris-Bois said.
And she says, young or old, theater lovers or not, most everyone still finds Shakespeare to be timeless.
"It's amazing that these words were penned 400 years ago and still ring true."
Theater officials say the South Chicago neighborhood has rallied around the performance—highlighting local restaurants and artists at the event and renaming businesses in celebration of Shakespeare.
In Shakespeare's Greatest Hits, Shakespeare's memorable characters come to life in a unique and surprising mash-up of scenes from his most celebrated plays—from Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth to The Taming of the Shrew and As You Like It.
In addition to Steelworkers, other Chicago Park District parks to be visited during the Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour include: Tuley Park, Humboldt Park, Loyola Park, Columbus Park, Gage Park, Piotrowski Park, Hamilton Park, Frank J. Wilson Park, Garfield Park Conservatory, Dvorak Park, Welles Park, Riis Park, Marquette Park, Ridge Park, Eckhart Park and Washington Park.
Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks, the nation's largest urban Shakespeare tour, is made possible by a partnership between the City of Chicago, the Chicago Park District, Boeing and production sponsor BMO Harris Bank. Since its inception in 2012, over 50,000 Chicagoan have experienced the free performances.
For more information, visit www.chicagoshakes.com/plays_and_events/parks2015.