The Chicago Youth Shakespeare Ensemble (CYSE) is our flagship performance company, open to youth artists ages 14-19 from across the Chicagoland area. Representing a variety of communities, ethnicities, cultures, and life experiences, CYSE members create a unique, artistic ensemble fueled by collaboration, innovation, and a diversity of creative approaches and ideas. CYS is committed to providing young artists of all backgrounds with a safe, supportive, and inspiring creative environment, and to ensuring that audiences of all income levels can attend our performances.
At CYS, our mission has always been to make Shakespeare's work accessible and relevant to young artists and young audience members. We also believe in putting teenagers in the driver's seat where they belong. For these reasons, CYS productions are conceived collaboratively by the ensemble members themselves. CYS artistic staff act as facilitators, rather than directors - providing training, guidance, and support throughout the process. The road can be challenging, but O so rewarding.
At CYS, our mission has always been to make Shakespeare's work accessible and relevant to young artists and young audience members. We also believe in putting teenagers in the driver's seat where they belong. For these reasons, CYS productions are conceived collaboratively by the ensemble members themselves. CYS artistic staff act as facilitators, rather than directors - providing training, guidance, and support throughout the process. The road can be challenging, but O so rewarding.
To date, the CYS Ensemble and Summer Shakes Intensive programs have mounted 12 Shakespeare productions, impacting over 4500 participants and audience members under the age of 18. View our production history!
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CYSE productions are made possible in part through generous support from individual donors and the following program partners:
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