University Theater Summer Shakespeare in the Court presents The Tempest

University Theater continues the summer tradition of outdoor Shakespeare performances with this year’s production of The Tempest, directed by Heidi Coleman, the new director of University Theater.

Performances will be held at Hutchinson Courtyard, 5706 South University Ave., at the University of Chicago on Thursday-Sunday, August 1-4 and Thursday-Saturday, August 8-10 at 8 p.m. Rain dates are Tuesday, Aug. 6 and Sunday, Aug. 11. General admission is $15 in advance, $17 at door (students: $5/$7 and seniors: $10/$12). For advance purchase or additional information, call (773)702-3414 or go to www.universitytheater.com.

For 50 years, University Theater’s Summer Shakespeare in the Court has presented live theatrical productions in the University of Chicago’s tree-lined Hutchinson courtyard. On the same stage that launched the internationally renowned Court Theatre in the 1970s, University Theater annually produces outdoor performances of some of Western civilization’s most popular plays. Featuring the talents of University students, children from University Theater’s Summer Drama Workshop, and professional artists from around the country, this community event has become one of Hyde Park’s best-loved traditions.

This year, University Theater is proud to present The Tempest. This highly physical production brings a charged, youthful energy to Shakespeare’s classic tale of power and enchantment. Coleman, the play's director, recently joined the University of Chicago from New York City, where she taught at Columbia University and worked with Anne Bogart and Andrei Serban.

For the first time, the production integrates campers from University Theater’s Summer Drama Workshop. The set, featuring three separate stages, zip lines, swings, and hydraulic lifts, transforms the 100-year-old courtyard into a playground for magic.

University Theater involves over 400 members of the University of Chicago community, produces upwards of 30 different shows, and entertains 10,000 audience members a year. The academic program offers studio theater courses taught by Chicago’s most talented artists. In addition to the Court Theater, University Theater has spawned theater companies throughout Chicago, including the famed Second City comedy troupe. In the last few years, alumni of University Theater have starred on television, designed on Broadway, won a Pulitzer prize for drama, won a Tony for drama, and appeared on professional stages throughout the city. As one of the oldest student-run theaters in the country, University Theater provides students with the unique experience of having artistic control over every aspect of their work.

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