CHICAGO: Court Theatre has announced additional changes to its 2020-21 season, including postponing its production of August Wilson’s Two Trains Running until a future season. Additionally, the theatre has announced the free Chicagoland premiere of Theatre for One: Here We Are, a series of digital microplays designed to be experienced one-on-one and written, directed, and performed by artists who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).
“While the coronavirus pandemic continues to pose unique challenges to live performance, Court Theatre remains steadfast in its goal to offer intellectually rigorous artistic experiences to our patrons,” said Charles Newell, Court’s artistic director, in a statement. “Our newly revised season offers patrons several new ways to engage with theatrical narratives while we wait for the widespread rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine.”
The revised season will open with Theatre for One: Here We Are (Feb. 20-March 14). Plays include Before America Was America, by Delanna Studi; Here We Are by Nikkole Salter; What Are the Things I Need to Remember, by Lynn Nottage; whiterly negotiations, by Lydia R. Diamond; Vote! (the black album), by Regina Taylor; Pandemic Fight, by Carmelita Tropicana; Thank You For Coming. Take Care., by Stacey Rose; and Thank You Letter, by Jaclyn Backhaus. Theatre for One: Here We Are‘s creator and artistic director is Christine Jones, with co-artistic director Jenny Koons; each live experience will bring together one actor and one audience member.
Next, Court dips into its archives for its site-specific production of An Iliad (March 3-31), by Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare, based on Homer’s The Iliad translated by Robert Fagles, which was filmed at the Oriental Institute. This production was directed by Charles Newell.
Following will be the previously announced Titanic (Scenes From the British Wreck Commissioner’s Inquiry, 1912) (May 9-30), by Owen McCafferty. Vanessa Stalling will direct this story of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. If health conditions allow, Court will offer limited in-person viewing in addition to offering the production digitally.
The season is currently scheduled to conclude with Shakespeare’s Othello (July 18-Aug. 8), adapted and directed by Newell. If health conditions allow, Court will offer limited in-person viewing in addition to offering the production digitally.
Court Theatre, founded in 1955, is the professional theatre of the University of Chicago and endeavors to make a lasting contribution to classic American theatre by expanding the canon of translations, adaptations, and classic texts.
