Due to popular demand, Court Theatre, under the continuing leadership of Charles Newell, Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director, and Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, extends the first show of its 2021/2022 Season, The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, by William Shakespeare. Specifically conceived for a smaller audience and co-directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell and Gabrielle Randle-Bent, Othello features Kelvin Roston Jr., in the titular role. Othello now runs October 8 – December 5, 2021, at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. The press opening is Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 7:30pm.
Extension performances begin November 26, 2021 and follow Court Theatre’s normal performance schedule. There are no performances the Wednesday or Thursday of Thanksgiving week.
Othello—the noble general, husband, scholar, and traveler—fights for his life, right to love, and position in society. When Othello’s closest confidant objects to his actions, their brotherhood is shattered, provoking a series of tragic events for Othello and everyone around him.
Co-directors Charles Newell and Gabrielle Randle-Bent helm this theatrical examination of humanity and tragedy in Shakespeare’s fraught and famous work. Through scenic design that place audiences in the middle of the action, this telling grapples with how complex notions of race, gender, and complicity at the heart of the play’s murderous events speak to a world on the brink of change.
In addition to live performances, a digital version will be available to stream on-demand.
Othello is sponsored by Michael Charles Litt.
In addition to Kelvin Roston, Jr. (Othello), the cast of Othello includes Sheldon Brown (Cassio), Amanda Drinkall (Desdemona), Sean Fortunato (Brabantio/Montano), Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel (Emilia), Erik Hellman (Roderigo), Timothy Edward Kane (Iago), Karissa Murrell Myers (Duke) and Darren Patin (Bianca).
The creative team includes John Culbert (scenic design), Raquel Adorno and Gregory Graham (co-costume design), Keith Parham (lighting design), Andre Pluess (sound design), Erin Kilmurray (movement design), and Jocelyn Prince (dramaturgy). Erin Albrecht is the Production Stage Manager.
Individual tickets start at $46 and are available at the Court Theatre box office (5535 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago), by calling (773) 753-4472, or online at www.CourtTheatre.org.
About the Artists
Charles Newell (Co-Director) is the Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director of Court Theatre. He was awarded the SDCF Zelda Fichandler Award, “which recognizes an outstanding director or choreographer who is transforming the regional arts landscape through singular creativity and artistry in theatre.” Charlie has been Artistic Director at Court Theatre since 1994, where he has directed over 50 productions. He made his Chicago directorial debut in 1993 with The Triumph of Love, which won the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Production. Charlie’s productions of Man of La Mancha and Caroline, or Change have also won Best Production Jeffs. Other directorial highlights at Court include All My Sons, The Hard Problem, Man in the Ring; One Man, Two Guvnors; Satchmo at the Waldorf; Agamemnon; The Secret Garden; Iphigenia in Aulis; M. Butterfly; The Misanthrope; Tartuffe; Proof; Angels in America; An Iliad; Porgy and Bess; Three Tall Women; Titus Andronicus; Arcadia; Uncle Vanya; Raisin; The Glass Menagerie; Travesties; Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; The Invention of Love; and Hamlet. Charlie has also directed at Goodman Theatre (Rock ‘n’ Roll), Guthrie Theater (The History Cycle, Cymbeline), Arena Stage, John Houseman’s The Acting Company (Staff Repertory Director), the California and Alabama Shakespeare Festivals, Juilliard, and New York University. He has served on the Board of TCG, as well as on several panels for the NEA. Opera directing credits include Marc Blitzstein’s Regina (Lyric Opera), Rigoletto (Opera Theatre of St. Louis), Don Giovanni and The Jewel Box (Chicago Opera Theater), and Carousel (Glimmerglass). Charlie was the recipient of the 1992 TCG Alan Schneider Director Award, and has been nominated for 16 Joseph Jefferson Director Awards, winning four times. In 2012, Charlie was honored by the League of Chicago Theatres with its Artistic Achievement Award.
Gabrielle Randle-Bent (Co-Director) is a performance scholar, director, and dramaturg currently based in Chicago. She has a B.A. in Drama from Stanford University and an M.A. in Performance as Public Practice from The University of Texas at Austin. She has worked as a dramaturg, producer, and director across the United States, including Off-Broadway and internationally on three continents. In Chicago, she has worked with Sideshow Theatre Company, Chicago Dramatists, Victory Gardens Theater, and Oracle Theatre. She is a second year PhD student at Northwestern University in The Interdisciplinary PhD in Theatre and Drama.
Sheldon Brown (Cassio) is a graduate of Emerson College and happy to return to the Court stage where his previous credits include Oedipus Rex and Man In The Ring. His other credits include This Bitter Earth and Time Is On Our Side at About Face Theatre, A Wonder In My Soul at Victory Gardens Theatre, The Shipment at Red Tape Theatre, and 1980 with Jackalope Theatre and more. He also has numerous credits in Boston including The Grand Inquisitor, directed by Peter Brook through ArtsEmerson. His film credits include Cicada ( NewFest Audience Award, OutFest, BFI Film Festival, Frameline Film Festival), and The Canyonlands.
Amanda Drinkall (Desdemona) was most recently seen in Bernhardt/Hamlet at The Goodman Theatre, where her credits include: Venus in Fur, A Winter’s Tale, Measure for Measure, Continuity, and Ah, Wilderness! Other Chicago credits include: Mary Page Marlowe (Steppenwolf Theatre-World Premiere); King Charles III (Chicago Shakespeare); Sheltered (Alliance Theatre); White Guy on the Bus, Funnyman, By the Water (Northlight); Southern Gothic (Windy City Playhouse); Significant Other (About Face); Dutchman (American Blues); Pygmalion (Oak Park Festival); Rest (Victory Gardens), Great Expectations (Strawdog); The Last Train to Nibroc (Haven Theatre-Jeff Award-Best Actress); and more than 20 shows with The Back Room Shakespeare Project, where she is a Partner. Television & Film credits include: The View From Tall, Chicago Med, and Bobby & Iza. Ms. Drinkall holds a BFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is represented by Gray Talent Group.
Sean Fortunato (Brabantio/Montano) last appeared at Court as Gallimard in M. Butterfly. Credits include: Miss Trunchbull in Matilda (Drury Lane Theatre); Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf, The Diary of Anne Frank, Hedda Gabler, The Real Thing, Travels with My Aunt (Writers Theatre); Joseph in Book of Joseph, King Charles III (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); 2666, Measure For Measure (Goodman Theatre); and work at Northlight Theatre, TimeLine Theatre, Theatre at the Center, Remy Bumppo Theatre, Marriott Theatre, About Face Theatre, Peninsula Players, Intiman Theatre, Old Globe Theatre, and The Duke on 42nd, NY. TV/Film: Antoon Dumini in Fargo (FX); Chicago PD, Chicago Med, Chicago Fire (NBC); and The Merry Gentleman. Sean has received eight Joseph Jefferson nominations and an After Dark Award.
Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel (Emilia) is an award winning actor based in Chicago. She is thrilled to return to Court Theatre’s stage, where she was last seen in Electra. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Cruz received her degree in acting from the Universidad del Salvador. She is an ensemble member at Teatro Vista where she was seen in Hope: Part II of a Mexican Trilogy, The Abuelas, La Havana Madrid and i put the fear of mexico in ’em. Other selected Chicago credits include: Twelfth Night & Measure for Measure (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (Lookingglass Theatre) the critically acclaimed Lela & Co. (Steep Theatre), which earned her a Jeff Award for Performance in a Principal Role–Play, You on the Moors Now (The Hypocrites) and The Compass (Steppenwolf Theatre Company). TV/Film credits include: Fargo (FX), Chicago Med (NBC), The Chi (Showtime), Empire (Fox), and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. She is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA and is represented by Stewart Talent.
Erik Hellman (Roderigo) returns to Court where he was previously seen in The Mousetrap, Harvey, One Man, Two Guvnors, The Misanthrope, Proof (Jeff Nom.), Comedy of Errors, The Mystery of Irma Vep (Jeff Nom.), Titus Andronicus, and Arcadia among others. Other recent credits include Lindiwe, Familiar, and The Burn at Steppenwolf; Smart People and Marjorie Prime at Writer’s Theatre; Miss Bennet (Jeff Nom.) and Lost In Yonkers at Northlight Theatre; Taming of The Shrew and The Madness of King George III at Chicago Shakespeare, and Luna Gale at the Goodman. Film/TV work includes The Dark Knight, Walden, Boss, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, The Good Fight, Mrs. America, Fargo, and the upcoming series 61st St.
Timothy Edward Kane (Iago) is pleased to return to Court for his fourteenth production having most recently appeared in An Iliad. Other Chicago credits include Buried Child, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and Arms and the Man (Writers); Faceless, Lost in Yonkers, and She Stoops to Conquer (Northlight); Blood and Gifts (TimeLine); The North Plan (Steppenwolf Garage) and 23 productions at Chicago Shakespeare including Tug of War: Civil Strife, and Henry IV Parts 1 & 2 (CST & RSC). Regional credits: The Mark Taper Forum, Notre Dame Shakespeare, Peninsula Players, and the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. TV: Chicago Fire (NBC), Chicago P.D. (NBC), and Empire (FOX). Mr. Kane is married to actress Kate Fry with whom he has two sons and he is an Assistant Professor at Loyola University Chicago.
Karissa Murrell Myers (Duke) is a hapa Filipino-American theatre artist based in Chicago. As a performer, Karissa has worked at a number of regional theatres including Goodman Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, Remy Bumppo, & House Theatre of Chicago. TV work includes The Big Leap, Chicago Med, Chicago PD, Electric Dreams, and The Exorcist. She has an MFA in Performance from University of Hawaii at Manoa, a BA in Theatre Arts from Boise State University, and is a graduate of The School at Steppenwolf. SAG-AFTRA member. Represented by Gray Talent Group.
Darren Patin—AKA Chicago Drag Queen, Ari Gato (Bianca) is making his Court Theatre debut. Darren has recently Associate Directed Kinky Boots at the Paramount Theatre and appeared in shows with Porchlight Music Theatre, Raven Theatre, and Lifeline Theatre. As Ari, they have graced the stages of North Halstead, Steppenwolf, and Black Girl Magic. They serve as the Co-Head Chair of Artists/Entertainers for the Chicago Black Drag Council, a group formed to help create safe spaces for Black people in the Chicago queer scene.
Kelvin Roston, Jr. (Othello) Court credits: Oedipus Rex (Oedipus), King Hedley II (King Hedley), Five Guys Named Moe (4-Eyed Moe), Seven Guitars (Floyd Barton), Porgy and Bess (Jim/Crown), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Sylvester). Chicagoland: Congo Square, Paramount, Marriott-Lincolnshire, Goodman, ITC, Eta, Writers, Black Ensemble, Timeline, Northlight, Steppenwolf. Regional: The Black Rep (St. Louis, MO), Fulton (Lancaster, PA), New Theatre (Overland Park, KS), MSMT (Brunswick, ME), Baltimore Center Stage (Baltimore, MD), Mosaic (Washington DC), Apollo (New York, NY). International: Orb (Tokyo, Japan), Festival Hall (Osaka, Japan). Television: Chicago Med, Chicago PD, South Side, KFC, Instant Care, Ace Hardware. Film: Get a Job, Princess Cyd, Breathing Room. Awards: Jeff Award, 3 BTA Awards, 2 Black Excellence Awards, NAMI Award. AEA, Paonessa Talent.
Fact Sheet / The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice
Title: The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice
By: William Shakespeare
Co-Directed by: Charles Newell and Gabrielle Randle-Bent
Dates: Previews: October 8 – 15, 2021
Press Opening: Saturday, October 16, 2021 at 7:30pm
Regular Run: October 17 – November 21, 2021
Extension: November 26 – December 5, 2021
*There are no performances on Wednesday or Thursday of Thanksgiving week.
Schedule: Wed/Thurs/Fri: 7:30 p.m.
Sat/Sun: 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Location: Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.
Tickets: $46-$58 previews
$56-$76 regular run
$35-$50 streaming option
Box Office: Located at 5535 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago; (773) 753-4472 or www.CourtTheatre.org.
Subscription and Ticket Information
Subscriptions are available for purchase now by calling the Court Theatre Box Office at (773) 753-4472, or by visiting Court’s website at CourtTheatre.org.
COVID-19 Response
Re-Opening Policy: All visitors to Court Theatre must provide proof of vaccination. By exception, visitors who are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons or due to a sincerely-held religious belief may provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the event start time, or proof of a positive COVID-19 test taken 14-90 days before the date of the performance with affirmation that you are not experiencing any symptoms. This accommodation also applies to children under 12 who are currently unable to be vaccinated. University of Chicago students, faculty, other academic appointees, postdoctoral researchers, and staff subject to the University’s vaccine requirements may demonstrate proof of compliance by presenting their UChicago ID at entry.
All visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask while at Court Theatre.
Court Theatre is the professional theatre of the University of Chicago, dedicated to innovation, inquiry, intellectual engagement, and community service. Court endeavors to make a lasting contribution to classic American theatre by expanding the canon of translations, adaptations, and classic texts. The theatre revives lost masterpieces; illuminates familiar texts; explores the African American theatrical canon; and discovers fresh, modern classics. Court engages and inspires its audience by providing artistically distinguished productions, audience enrichment activities, and student educational experiences. In all of this work, we are committed to recognizing, addressing, and eradicating racism, as we strive to better serve our South Side community.