CHICAGO YOUTH SHAKESPEARE
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    • in their own words
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cys productions

2019/'20 Season
​Our 2019/'20 Ensemble production of Richard III featured the work of 14 youth actors and 4 contributing youth artists. The show ran for 3 weeks at Raven Theatre. Subsequent touring performances were cancelled due to Covid-19. 
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Click to view the production program.
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Enama Samuels as Lady Anne
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CYS kicked off the Season with King Lear, our first staged reading featuring CYS youth artists alongside esteemed professional Shakespeare actors. Directed by Louis Fantasia, the one-night-only event played to a sold-out audience at The Edge Theatre on Chicago's north side. 
Picture
Click to view the production program.
View Artist Bios Here!
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In rehearsal with David Lively as King Lear.
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Edgar, (played by Luke Steadman) leads his blinded father Gloucester, (played by Demetrios Troy) to the cliffs of Dover

Summer Shakes, 2019
Twelfth Night was our 2019 Summer Shakes production, with performances and community outreach events at Raven Theatre, The School of Theatre & Music at UIC, and Adventure Stage Chicago. 
Picture
Click the image to view the production program.
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Siah Berlatsky (Malvolio) reads a letter from his lady, Olivia.

2018/'19 Ensemble

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Set on a modern day college campus, CYS's Othello examined issues of systemic racism, sexism, and abuse, through a contemporary lens that spoke directly to young adults. ​Following each of the performances, audiences engaged with the Ensemble in a some amazing conversations about race, gender inequality, and the impact of theatre and the arts on issues of social justice.
Othello's relevance TODAY
Study Guide
Cast Quotes
Production Program

2018 Summer Shakes

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An original, devised production combining texts from over 15 Shakespeare plays. ​Ticketed & community outreach performances at Raven Theatre, The School of Theatre & Music at UIC, and Adventure Stage Chicago. Click the image to view the production program.
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2017/'18 Ensemble

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Performances & community outreach events at The Joffrey Ballet's Black Box Theatre, The Old Town School of Folk Music, and the Addison Public Library. ​Artistic collaborations with percussionist, Peter Ferry, student media artist, Taylor Feld, and visiting teaching artists, Lawrence Grimm and Samuel Taylor. Click the image to view the production program
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Israel Terrell as Ariel
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Catherine Wilson as Caliban

2017 Summer Shakes

Picture
Click to view the production program.
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Maiya Swedberg (Conrade), Nico Olszanski (Watchman), Brandon Lozano (Dogberry), Antoinette Pompe Van MeerderVort (Antonia), and Haley Seda (Sexton) performing at Indian Boundary Park.

2016/'17 Ensemble

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Ticketed performances at Theatre Wit; community outreach events at The Arts Club of Chicago and LaSalle Language Academy (CPS). ​Artistic collaborations with LTAB poets, Ireon Roach and Victor Musoni. Click the image to view the production program.
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Horatio (Kiara Rivera) with a dying Hamlet (Freedom Martin)
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Hamlet (Freedom Martin) ponders his mother's "hasty" marriage to his uncle.

2016 Summer Shakes

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Our summer production of The Comedy of Errors held performances and community outreach shows at Stage 773 Theater and Noble Street College Prep (CPS)​. Click to view the production program.
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The Dromios: Oskar Westbridge and Simon Cohen

2015/'16 Ensemble

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Ticketed performances at Center on Halsted's Hoover-Leppen Theatrer | ​Community outreach shows at Hefferan Elementary School (CPS) and Kelvyn Park High School (CPS). Click on the image above to view the production program.
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Karla Corona (Titania) with fairies: Kiara Rivera, Coda Marcus, Gabriel Girson, and Tori Okabi

2015 Summer Shakes

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Ticketed performances at Center on Halsted's Hoover-Leppen Theater | ​Community outreach shows and events at Roe Elementary School (CPS) and Unity Park, Logan Square. Click on the image above to view the production program.
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Mari'jae Moore (Julius Caesar) at Center on Halsted

 2014/'15 Ensemble

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Ticketed performances at Gorilla Tango Theatre and Charnel House | Community outreach shows and events at Lakeview High School (CPS) and Theodore Roosevelt High School​ (CPS). Click on the image above to view the production program.
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Freya Trefonides (Juliet) and Nina Sachs (Romeo)

2014 Summer Shakes

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Ticketed performances at The Hairpin Arts Center ​| Community outreach shows and events at Wrigley Square at Millennium Park, Unity Park in Logan Square, Piccolo Theatre, and The Admiral on the Lake. Click on the image above to view the production program.
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Jesse Granato (Touchstone) and Sophia Carlin (Celia)

2013/'14 Ensemble

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Ticketed performances at The Lincoln Park Cultural Center ​| Community outreach shows and events at Phoenix Military Academy (CPS) and Urban Prep Academy, Englewood (CPS). Click on the image above to view the production program.
Picture
Our very first CYS Ensemble!

2019/'20 Ensemble

​Our 2019/'20 Ensemble production of Richard III featured the work of 14 youth actors and 4 contributing youth artists. The show ran for 3 weeks at Raven Theatre. Subsequent touring performances were cancelled due to Covid-19. 
Picture
Click to view the production program.
Picture
Enama Samuels as Lady Anne
Picture
Picture
Click to view the production program.

Picture
A one-night-only event at The Edge Theatre, King Lear featured youth artists and alumni of CYS alongside professional Shakespeare actors in our first staged reading.
Production Program
View Artist Bios Here!
Picture
David Lively as King Lear
Picture
Edgar, (played by Luke Steadman) leads his blinded father Gloucester, (played by Demetrios Troy) to the cliffs of Dover

2019 Summer Shakes

Picture
Twelfth Night was our 2019 Summer Shakes production, with performances and community outreach events at Raven Theatre, The School of Theatre & Music at UIC, and Adventure Stage Chicago. Click the image to view the production program.
Picture
Siah Berlatsky (Malvolio) reads a letter from his lady, Olivia.

2018/'19 Ensemble

Picture
Set on a modern day college campus, CYS's Othello examined issues of systemic racism, sexism, and abuse, through a contemporary lens that spoke directly to young adults. ​Following each of the performances, audiences engaged with the Ensemble in a some amazing conversations about race, gender inequality, and the impact of theatre and the arts on issues of social justice.
Othello's relevance TODAY
Study Guide
Cast Quotes
Production Program

2018 Summer Shakes

Picture
An original, devised production combining texts from over 15 Shakespeare plays. ​Ticketed & community outreach performances at Raven Theatre, The School of Theatre & Music at UIC, and Adventure Stage Chicago. Click the image to view the production program.
Picture

2017/'18 Ensemble

Picture
Performances & community outreach events at The Joffrey Ballet's Black Box Theatre, The Old Town School of Folk Music, and the Addison Public Library. ​Artistic collaborations with percussionist, Peter Ferry, student media artist, Taylor Feld, and visiting teaching artists, Lawrence Grimm and Samuel Taylor. Click the image to view the production program
Picture
Israel Terrell as Ariel
Picture
Catherine Wilson as Caliban

2017 Summer Shakes

Picture
Click to view the production program.
Picture
Maiya Swedberg (Conrade), Nico Olszanski (Watchman), Brandon Lozano (Dogberry), Antoinette Pompe Van MeerderVort (Antonia), and Haley Seda (Sexton) performing at Indian Boundary Park.

2016/'17 Ensemble

Picture
Ticketed performances at Theatre Wit; community outreach events at The Arts Club of Chicago and LaSalle Language Academy (CPS). ​Artistic collaborations with LTAB poets, Ireon Roach and Victor Musoni. Click the image to view the production program.
Picture
Horatio (Kiara Rivera) with a dying Hamlet (Freedom Martin)
Picture
Hamlet (Freedom Martin) ponders his mother's "hasty" marriage to his uncle.

2016 Summer Shakes

Picture
Our summer production of The Comedy of Errors held performances and community outreach shows at Stage 773 Theater and Noble Street College Prep (CPS)​. Click to view the production program.
Picture
The Dromios: Oskar Westbridge and Simon Cohen

2015/'16 Ensemble

Picture
Ticketed performances at Center on Halsted's Hoover-Leppen Theatrer | ​Community outreach shows at Hefferan Elementary School (CPS) and Kelvyn Park High School (CPS). Click on the image above to view the production program.
Picture
Karla Corona (Titania) with fairies: Kiara Rivera, Coda Marcus, Gabriel Girson, and Tori Okabi

2015 Summer Shakes

Picture
Ticketed performances at Center on Halsted's Hoover-Leppen Theater | ​Community outreach shows and events at Roe Elementary School (CPS) and Unity Park, Logan Square. Click on the image above to view the production program.
Picture
Mari'jae Moore (Julius Caesar) at Center on Halsted

 2014/'15 Ensemble

Picture
Ticketed performances at Gorilla Tango Theatre and Charnel House | Community outreach shows and events at Lakeview High School (CPS) and Theodore Roosevelt High School​ (CPS). Click on the image above to view the production program.
Picture
Freya Trefonides (Juliet) and Nina Sachs (Romeo)

2014 Summer Shakes

Picture
Ticketed performances at The Hairpin Arts Center ​| Community outreach shows and events at Wrigley Square at Millennium Park, Unity Park in Logan Square, Piccolo Theatre, and The Admiral on the Lake. Click on the image above to view the production program.
Picture
Jesse Granato (Touchstone) and Sophia Carlin (Celia)

2013/'14 Ensemble

Picture
Ticketed performances at The Lincoln Park Cultural Center ​| Community outreach shows and events at Phoenix Military Academy (CPS) and Urban Prep Academy, Englewood (CPS). Click on the image above to view the production program.
Picture
Our very first CYS Ensemble!

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641 W Lake Street Suite 200
Chicago, IL 60661
​
info@chicagoyouthshakspeare.org
​ 773.675.9592

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 ​​© Chicago Youth Shakespeare 2021. All Rights Reserved. ​
  • who we are
    • about
    • meet the team >
      • board of directors
      • staff
    • community & arts partners
    • contributors
    • contact >
      • opportunities
  • what we do
    • the ensemble
    • Summer Shakes
    • CYS In-Schools
    • the training
    • past programs >
      • battle of the bard
  • why we do it
    • the Bard & the [teenage] Brain
    • in their own words
  • what's up next
  • watch us
  • read
    • bard blog
    • press
  • donate