We have visited Chicago Shakespeare Theatre for the past 10 years and have been consistently blown away by the quality, professionalism, and innovation in the productions. We recently returned from seeing Artistic Director Barabara Gaines brilliant production of "Macbeth" in January 2009. Over the years we have seen "The Tempest", "Julius Caesar", "Measure for Measure", "A Little Night Music", "Othello", "Troilus & Cressida", "The Comedy of Errors", and "Amadeus". All were wonderful, but we especially love any production directed by Barbara Gaines.

Having visited many theatre companies around the world who specialize in the works of William Shakespeare (including the Royal Shakespeare Company in England and The Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada) I can honestly say that the work of The Chicago Shakespeare Theatre eclipses them all. The productions at CST are always intelligent, innovative, relevant, and full of clarity. Clear line readings, diction, and characterization really makes Shakespeare's plays easily understood by a modern audience. Incredible actors, directors, and designers really create magic in the beautiful and intimate Courtyard Theatre on Navy Pier. Shakespeare's words really become exciting and alive in the hands of the staff at CST.

The CST staff is the most polite and welcoming I have ever experienced at a theatre. Upon entering the lobby we were welcomed by the staff and upon leaving the theatre after the performance we were thanked for coming and wished a safe journey home. I have never experienced that level of care for an audience at another theatre. We LOVE Chicago Shakespeare Theate and are so thankful for a place of this caiber being only a 4 hour drive from our home.

Take a chance on Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, you will be blown away by the experience.

Let me preface this review by admitting that "Amadeus" is one of my favorite films and W.A. Mozart is my favorite composer.
I had, of course, heard of the play "Amadeus", but I'd never had the opportunity to see it onstage.
After finding out it was at the Shakespeare Theater (at Navy Pier) I logged on to buy tickets. I got a discount for becoming a member of WFMT (a $40 expense), but then I only had to pay $27.50 per ticket, a full 50% off!

After reading stellar review after stellar review, I was excited out of my mind.

I had never been to the Shakespeare Theater, but I was most impressed. A small, intimate, beautiful space, the farthest seats from the stage are just nine rows back and the balcony is just twenty feet above the floor. The lobby is gorgeous and provides spectacular views of the skyline and Lake Michigan.

Those who have seen the film know that Salieri, the protagonist, tells his story to a priest who has come to visit him in a mental hospital. In the play, Salieri uses the old opera trick to manifest his audience: he conjures you, who are, of course, not yet born. (Keep in mind, it's the late 18th Century.)

This charming and effective act begins 2.5 hours of one of the best stage productions I have ever seen.

Robert Sella as Salieri is a delightfully evil sabateur who at once makes you love and hate him.
You feel pain for him because he suffers from such an inferiority complex - you really do.
Yet he disgusts you as he works to bring to earthly ruin his musical rival.

Robbie Sublett overcomes what must have been a temptation to play the "movie" Mozart. His Mozart is no buffoon - he is filthy and crass, to be sure, but he aches throughout, and it shows. This is a much more complex character than Tom Hulce played in the film. (And I love the Tom Hulce "Mozart", too.)

The rest of the cast is just as engaging.
Salieri's "venticelli" threaten to steal many a scene with humor, and Danielle Brothers ("Teresa Salieri") is magnificent without ever uttering a line.

Though the understandably shorter-than-short pieces of Mozart the audience gets to hear will leave a fan of the composer longing for more, they are glorious.

The words of the play moved me more than I would have suspected. Salieri's loving descriptions of Mozart's music are other-worldly. His observations that no one "gets it" but him move the audience to sympathy. Salieri, the "patron saint of mediocrity" is, ultimately, anything but mediocre. While the world criticizes Mozart's music as "too this" or "not enough that", only the great Salieri is attuned enough to know that this is once-in-a-lifetime perfection.

The final ten minutes of the play are alternately heartbreaking, maddening, and hysterical. The ending, because it is live, is much more effective than the film's end, which is fantastic itself.

As Salieri spoke his absolution, I felt strangely grateful for his "blessing", and I sort of nodded to myself in agreement with this character. I felt drained and simultaneously energized, and that is a strange sensation. I wanted to run through Navy Pier shouting "GO SEE THAT PLAY!", and I also wanted to curl up with the 25th Symphony and be alone.

I intend to go back before this production leaves the Shakespeare, and I intend to visit the Shakes for future shows. (Edward II is next on the schedule.)
There are many great theaters in Chicago, but none which feels quite like this one.

The Shakespear Theater was amazing. If you think that the shakespear stories are toally not worth it, they are. I saw taming of the shrew a year or so ago, and I wasn't really into this whole shakespear thing, but after that play I love it. The theater feels 3D and you feel like your up close and personal with the actors and actersses. You feel like you're on stage, and you actually will understand the story! It's so afforable! it's a great price!

My husband and I spent a few days in Chicago to see some of the sights.
Being from rural Iowa, we had no idea where we were going or how to get there once in the city. We were fascinated with the city and all it had to offer. Knowing how busy and populated the city is we expected to experience anything but down-home friendliness. Boy were we wrong. Everyone was extremely helpful and friendly not only with directions and suggestions but also went out of their way to assist us with ease of transportation. We had such a great time at Navy Pier and thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent there overlooking Lake Michigan and had a gorgeous sunset cruise on Windy, the 109 ft sailboat. We were impressed with the people and all the attractions Chicago has to offer. Although we love the quiet country life here in Iowa we are now planning another trip back to the city with our children to see the sights we didnt get to see on this trip. Now that we know a little bit more about the attractions and how to get there we will no doubt have a great time again. Our hats are off to the people of Chicago. That includes the waiters, waitresses, vendors and all of the kind people who are the heart and soul of Chicago.