The Q Brothers' OTHELLO: THE REMIX Returns as Highlight of Shakespeare 400 Chicago Tonight

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents a highlight of Shakespeare 400 Chicago -The Q Brothers' 90-minute hip-hop adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy, OTHELLO: THE REMIX, spun out and lyrically rewritten over original beats.

Developed by hip-hop sensations GQ and JQ with CST Creative Producer Rick Boynton, this production has toured widely since its world premiere at Shakespeare's Globe as part of the 2012 London Cultural Olympiad. It returns after playing to sold-out houses of multi-generational audiences in Edinburgh, London, Australia, Germany, South Korea and Poland.

OTHELLO: THE REMIX is presented in the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare, tonight, April 12, through May 8, 2016.

OTHELLO: THE REMIX returns in April, the month of Shakespeare's birthday and the anniversary of his death, an exciting contribution to Shakespeare 400 Chicago. The yearlong festival is spearheaded by Chicago Shakespeare Theater, inviting the city's world-class institutions and leading artists from around the globe to interpret and reimagine Shakespeare's work in 850 events on stages and in museums, parks, schools, neighborhoods and even restaurants across the city throughout 2016.

The Q Brothers' OTHELLO: THE REMIX has captivated audiences globally and garnered acclaim and multiple honors-including Edinburgh's Musical Theatre Matters Award for Best New Musical Theatre Show and the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Ensemble. Most recently, The Q Brothers' production traveled to Australia's Arts Centre Melbourne, to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates with Art for All, and to New Zealand for the Auckland Arts Festival. It now returns to Chicago Shakespeare, where the production previously enjoyed a twice-extended twenty-week run in 2013.

OTHELLO: THE REMIX is written, directed and composed by The Q Brothers, GQ and JQ, siblings born and raised in Chicago. The production is one of three collaborative "ad-rap-tations" with Creative Producer Rick Boynton. The Daily Telegraph (UK) gave it five stars and called it "a triumph from beginning to end." It comes "Highly Recommended" by the Chicago Sun-Times and was praised as "well-paced, sophisticated and very funny" by The Guardian. The cast of this critically acclaimed production includes Postell Pringle as Othello, with GQ, JQ and Jackson Doran filling multiple roles and DJ Clayton Stamper spinning from the turntable.

The award-winning design team includes Scenic and Costume Designer Scott Davis, Lighting Designer Greg Hofmann-with original lighting designs by Jesse Klug -- and CST's resident Wig and Make-up Designer Melissa Veal. Directed by GQ and JQ, OTHELLO: THE REMIX is presented in association with Richard Jordan Productions.

More information on the production at www.chicagoshakes.com/othello_the_remix.

OTHELLO: THE REMIX is presented in the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare, April 12-May 8, 2016. Tickets start at just $35 and as little as $20 for anyone under age 35 through Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Box Office at 312.595.5600 or online at www.chicagoshakes.com.

Shakespeare 400 Chicago explores Shakespeare's enduring legacy across languages and disciplines including theater, dance, literature, music, cuisine and spectacle. The yearlong international arts festival brings together the city's resident world-class institutions, and welcomes leading artists from around the globe to celebrate, interpret and reimagine Shakespeare's work. Upcoming highlights include: the Art Institute of Chicago's Supernatural Shakespeare exhibit (April 11-October 10); Chicago Symphony Orchestra's performances of Berlioz's Romeo and Juliet (April 7-9) and Falstaff (April 21-26); Northwestern University Alice Kaplan Institute for the Humanities and Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art's screening of the 1974 Othello adaptation Catch My Soul (April 22); Northwestern University Alice Kaplan Institute for the Humanities' presentation of the interactive Shakespeare video game Play the Knave, created by University of California Davis Professor Gina Bloom and the ModLab (April 28); Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Art Institute of Chicago's concert CSO at the AIC: A World of Characters (May 1); and Chicago Shakespeare Theater's debut of Tug of War: Foreign Fire, the first of a two-part, six-play Shakespeare history cycle directed by Artistic Director Barbara Gaines (May 12-June 12).

Chicago Shakespeare Theater is a global theatrical force, known for vibrant productions that reflect Shakespeare's genius for storytelling, language and empathy for the human condition. Throughout 2016, CST is spearheading the international arts and culture festival, Shakespeare 400 Chicago, a citywide celebration of the playwright's 400-year legacy. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson, CST is dedicated to creating extraordinary production of classics, new works and family programming; to unlocking Shakespeare's work for educators and students; and to serving as Chicago's cultural ambassador through its World's Stage Series. CST serves as a partner in literacy to Chicago Public Schools, working alongside English teachers to help struggling readers connect with Shakespeare in the classroom, and bringing his text to life on stage for 40,000 students every year. And each summer, 30,000 families and audience members of all ages welcome the free Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour into their neighborhoods across the far north, west and south sides of the city. Reflecting the global city it calls home, CST is the leading producer of international work in Chicago, and has toured its plays abroad to Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Canada/North America and the Middle East.

Pictured: Jackson Doran (Cassio), GQ (Iago) and JQ (Loco Vito) listen to Postell Pringle (Othello) debut a new track featuring Desdemona. Photo by Michael Brosilow.

To post a comment, you must register and login.