Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier

Chicago Shakespeare Theater, a Regional Tony Award recipient, was founded in 1986 and is located on Chicago’s Navy Pier. It is celebrated for its bold and innovative year-round season, which includes plays, musicals, world premieres, family productions, and theatrical presentations from around the globe. The Theater presents up to twenty productions and 650 performances annually, earning numerous national and international awards. It is recognized as Chicago’s leading presenter of international work and has toured its productions to five continents. With a commitment to education and community engagement, Chicago Shakespeare Theater reaches students, teachers, and lifelong learners through its extensive programming. One in four audience members is under the age of eighteen, underscoring its dedication to welcoming the next generation of theatergoers. In 2014, First Lady Michelle Obama honored the Theater for its arts-in-literacy programs. Its campus features the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, and the Thoma Theater Upstairs, making it a cultural hub that invites active and critical conversations with the work of William Shakespeare.