Court Theatre (Chicago)


Court Theatre is a professional theatre company located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, where it was established in 1955. Court Theatre is affiliated with the University of Chicago, receiving in-kind support from the University and operating within the larger University umbrella. Court Theatre puts on five plays per season, which are attended by over 35,000 people each year, in addition to various smaller performance events such as play readings.

History

Charles Newell has been Artistic Director since 1994. In 2018, Angel Ysaguirre joined Court Theatre's leadership as Executive Director.
In 2010, Court Theatre established itself as the Center for Classic Theatre at the University of Chicago. As explained on the theatre's website, through this position, Court Theatre is "dedicated to the curation of large-scale, interdisciplinary theatrical experiences". Court Theatre has used the University as a resource in many ways, including through the development of new translations and adaptations of classic texts, receiving dramaturgical assistance from expert faculty, and hosting events related to the theatre's programming throughout the University's campus and the greater Hyde Park area. Court Theatre also provides resources for the University as well, including by exclusively providing numerous internships to University of Chicago students as well as maintaining a number of University affiliates on their Board of Trustees.
Court Theatre's upcoming 2017–18 season will consist of five productions: Five Guys Named Moe by Clarke Peters, directed by Ron OJ Parson; The Belle of Amherst by William Luce, directed by Sean Graney; All My Sons by Arthur Miller, directed by Charles Newell; Guess Who's Coming to Dinner by Todd Kreidler, directed by Marti Lyons; and the Asolo Repertory Theatre/Arena Stage/Pasadena Playhouse Production of The Originalist by John Strand, directed by Molly Smith.