Chicago Shakespeare Remounts Funk It Up About Nothin 1/21-2/13

?Chicago Shakespeare Theater's (CST) Funk It Up About Nothin'-an exuberant "hip-hoptation" of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing-thrills audiences Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare from January 21 through February 13, 2011, before embarking on an Australian tour from February 23 through April 2, 2011. Co-creators and Directors GQ and JQ (The Q Brothers) premiered the show at Chicago Shakespeare in 2008, and return with their smash-hit rhythms and rhymes for the 2011 performances, following an engagement at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater on January 8 and 10. Funk It Up About Nothin' is produced by Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Merrigong Theatre Company and Richard Jordan Productions. Tickets for the Chicago performances of Funk It Up About Nothin' January 21 through February 13, 2011, Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare are $25-$30 with special discounts available for groups of 10 or more. All patrons receive a 40% parking discount in Navy Pier garages. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com/funk.

Commissioned by Chicago Shakespeare, Funk It Up About Nothin' was developed by The Q Brothers in collaboration with CST Creative Producer Rick Boynton. Receiving local and international acclaim in 2008, the show garnered the Joseph Jefferson Award for Outstanding Ensemble and took home the Dress Circle Award for Best Musical Production in its subsequent run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. This year, following its engagements at Joe's Pub and Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Funk It Up About Nothin' launches an Australian tour at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre in Wollongong, New South Wales, marking Chicago Shakespeare's Australian debut. Among other venues, Funk It Up About Nothin' will also appear at Carriage Works' Platform 3 Hip Hop Festival in Sydney.

The production's extended life abroad is emblematic of CST's World's Stage initiative to present Chicago Shakespeare's best work to international audiences in addition to bringing the world's finest productions to CST. Funk It Up About Nothin' joins the ranks of acclaimed CST exports such as the Olivier Award-winning Pacific Overtures at London's Donmar Warehouse and Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2, Chicago Shakespeare's debut at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Born and raised in Chicago, Funk It Up About Nothin' Co-creators and Directors The Q Brothers started their professional careers in the Off Broadway hit The Bomb-itty of Errors. G and three of his friends, who were studying at New York University's Experimental Theatre Wing, adapted Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors into modern rhyme while J made the beats. Along with other Bomb-itty collaborators, the twosome wrote and starred in MTV's hip-hop/sketch comedy TV show Scratch and Burn, now a cult classic. The Q Brothers also worked together on the film Just Another Story for Showtime: G wrote, directed and performed a starring role, and J created the score and original soundtrack. G's screen credits include the movies Drumline, Taxi, I Think I Love My Wife, What's the Worst That Could Happen, and Werner Herzog's Rescue Dawn, in addition to prominent roles in Boston Public (Fox), Numbers (CBS) and Johnny Zero (Fox). J produced the solo hip-hop album Foul Mouth Poet under his moniker J.A.Q., as well as other albums including Smashing (The Grommits); The Good Thief (Postell); Panty Tart Rodeo and 15 Fingers (Them vs. Them); and The Retar Crew's eponymous debut and sophomore follow-up Return of The Retar. Along with Funk It Up About Nothin' cast members Jackson Doran and Postell Pringle, the Q Brothers are members of the Chicago-based comedic rap group The Retar Crew. GQ and JQ last came together for The Feel Good Album of the Year-an uncategorizable hip-hop album crossing heavily into jazz, rock, R&B and electronica.

The cast of Funk It Up About Nothin' features GQ as Leonato, Don John and Dingleberry, and JQ performing the roles of Benedick and Borachio. Rounding out the ensemble are Jackson Doran as Claudio/Judge, Jillian Burfete as Hero/Lil Boi, Postell Pringle as Don Pedro/Verges, Ericka Ratcliff as MC Lady B/Big Jon and Adrienne Sanchez as DJ.

The design team for Funk It Up About Nothin' includes Scenic Designer Brian Sidney Bembridge, Costume Designer Debbie Baer, Lighting Designer Toby Knyvett, Sound Designer James Savage, Wig and Makeup Designer Melissa Veal and Properties Master Chelsea Meyers.

For more information about the return engagements of Funk It Up About Nothin' and its Australian tour, please visit Chicago Shakespeare Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com/funk.

International productions coming to Chicago for CST's World's Stage Series:
From Ireland: Druid Theatre Company's The Cripple of Inishmaan March 16-27, 2011, in CST's Courtyard Theater; and Give Me Your Hand March 20 and 27, 2011, Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare
From Scotland: National Theatre of Scotland's Black Watch March 29-April 10, 2011, at Chicago's Broadway Armory

 

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