Here’s to an incredible year—thank you, Chicago!

In 2016, the citywide celebration Shakespeare 400 Chicago marked four centuries of the playwright’s rich legacy since his death in 1616. Throughout the yearlong festival, 1.1 million people took part in 863 events across 231 locations across the city, presented by 60 local cultural and creative organizations. International artists from 12 countries traveled 116,112 miles to make Chicago their stage, where they performed the Bard’s work in 11 languages.
 

Book
Re-living the yearlong celebration
Experience the depth and breadth of this yearlong citywide festival in 2016 through this essay book. Reflect upon programs across disciplines, throughout our city, and from around the globe.
Theater
From Russia: Cheek by Jowl
+ Pushkin Theatre, Moscow
January 27–31, 2016
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Theater
From Belarus: Belarus Free Theatre
February 5–14, 2016
Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare
Cuisine
All Year Long
Restaurants Across Chicago
Thought
Experience the depth and breadth of the festival in this collection of essays reflecting upon the many programs, throughout our city and from around the globe.
Theater
The Theatre School at DePaul
January 14–February 20, 2016
DePaul's Merle Reskin Theatre
Music+Theater
Chicago Symphony Orchestra + Chicago Shakespeare Theater
February 13, 2016
Symphony Center
Music
Shakespeare a cappella +
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
February 13–21, 2016
Across Chicagoland
Theater
From the United Kingdom:
Oxford Playhouse
February 17–21, 2016
Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare
Theater
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
February 18–April 10, 2016
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Opera
Lyric Opera of Chicago
February 22–March 19, 2016
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Dance
From Germany:
Hamburg Ballet
February 23 + 24, 2016
Harris Theater
Libraries
Pritzker Military Museum & Library
All Year Long
Pritzker Military Museum & Library
Theater
From the United Kingdom: Tim Etchells +
Forced Entertainment
February 25–27, 2016
MCA Stage
Music
Rockefeller Chapel
February 26 + 27, 2016
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel
Broadcast
Network Chicago WTTW Channel 11 / WFMT 98.7 FM
All Year Long
WTTW Channel 11 + WFMT 98.7 FM
Theater
From the United Kingdom: Filter Theatre in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company
March 1–13, 2016
Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare
Theater
The Gift Theatre Company, in association with Steppenwolf Theatre Company + The Rehabilitation Institution of Chicago
March 3–May 1, 2016
Steppenwolf's Merle Reskin Garage Theater
Theater
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
March 5–April 9, 2016
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Thought
Logan Center for the Arts
Richard Strier
March 6, 2016
Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts
Thought
Illinois Humanities + Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Michael Sandel
March 21, 2016
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Film
The Gene Siskel Film Center
April 1–6, 2016
The Gene Siskel Film Center
Music
From the United Kingdom
April 5, 2016
Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago
Libraries
Chicago Public Library
All Year Long
Library branches across the city
Music
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
April 7–9, 2016
Symphony Center
Exhibit
Art Institute of Chicago
April 11–October 10, 2016
Art Institute of Chicago
Theater
The Q Brothers
April 12–May 8, 2016
Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare
Music
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
April 14–24, 2016
Symphony Center
Improv
The Improvised Shakespeare Company
All Year Long
The iO Theater
Music
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
April 21–26, 2016
Symphony Center
Cinema
Northwestern University Alice Kaplan Institute for the Humanities + Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art
April 22, 2016
Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art
Gaming
Northwestern University Alice Kaplan Institute for the Humanities
April 28, 2016
Northwestern University
Music
Chicago Symphony Orchestra + Art Institute of Chicago
May 1, 2016
Art Institute of Chicago
Music
The Civic Orchestra of Chicago
May 13, 2016
Symphony Center
Theater
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
May 17–June 12, 2016
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Theater
Artists Breaking Limits + Expectations
May 28, 2016
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Theater
From the United Kingdom: Tim Crouch
June 2–5, 2016
Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare
Thought
Basic Program of Liberal Arts Education for Adults + Graham School
Joseph Alulis
June 3, 2016
Claudia Cassidy Theater Chicago Cultural Center
Thought
Chicago Humanities Festival + Chicago Shakespeare Theater
June 6, 2016
Music Box Theatre
Music
Yo-Yo Ma with Musicians from Chicago Symphony Orchestra
June 12, 2016
Symphony Center
Theater
Steppenwolf Theatre Company + Second City Theatricals
June 25–26, 2016
Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Theater
David Carl's
July 12–17, 2016
Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare
Thought
University of Chicago’s Basic Program of Liberal Arts Education for Adults + Graham School
Cynthia Rutz
July 14–August 18, 2016
Gleacher Center
Theater
Chicago Shakespeare Theater + Chicago Park District + Boeing
July 14–August 14
Neighborhood parks across Chicago
Music
Grant Park Music Festival
July 24 + 26, 2016
Columbus Park Refectory + South Shore Cultural Center
West Side Story at Millennium Park
Film
Millennium Park Film Series
August 2, 2016
Millennium Park, Pritzker Pavilion
Shakespeare's Globe's Merchant of Venice
Theater
From the United Kingdom: Shakespeare's Globe
August 4–14, 2016
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Macbeth from Theater Zuidpool
Theater
From Belgium:
Theater Zuidpool
August 21–22
Thalia Hall
Workshop
Summer 2016
Library branches across the city
Thought
University of Chicago’s Basic Program of Liberal Arts Education for Adults + Graham School
Adam Rose
August 31–September 14, 2016
Gleacher Center
Thought
University of Chicago’s Basic Program of Liberal Arts Education for Adults + Graham School
Claudia Traudt
September 1–15, 2016
Gleacher Center
Theater
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
September 15–October 9, 2016
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Songs of Lear
Theater
From Poland:
Song of the Goat
September 15–18, 2016
Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare
Thought
University of Chicago’s Basic Program of Liberal Arts Education for Adults + Graham School
Cynthia Rutz
September 20–December 6, 2016
Gleacher Center
Thought
University of Chicago’s Basic Program of Liberal Arts Education for Adults + Graham School
Zoë Eisenman
September 21–December 7, 2016
Online
Enamorarse de un Incendio from Foro Shakespeare
Theater
From Mexico:
Foro Shakespeare
September 22–24,2016
Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare
Creating Shakespeare
Exhibit
The Newberry
September 23–
December 31, 2016
The Newberry
Shakespeare in the Criminal Justice System
Thought
September 24, 2016
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Thought
University of Chicago’s Basic Program of Liberal Arts Education for Adults + Graham School
Elliot Krick
September 24–December 10, 2016
Gleacher Center
Thought
University of Chicago’s Basic Program of Liberal Arts Education for Adults + Graham School
Claudia Traudt
September 26–December 5, 2016
Gleacher Center
Piya Behrupiya (Twelfth Night)
Theater
From India: Company Theatre Mumbai
September 27 + 29, 2016
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
The Revenge of Prince Zi Dan (Hamlet)
Theater
From China:
Shanghai Jingju Theatre
September 28 + 29, 2016
Harris Theater
Equivocation in 1606
Thought
The Newberry + Chicago Shakespeare Theater
James Shapiro
September 29, 2016
The Newberry
Thought
University of Chicago’s Basic Program of Liberal Arts Education for Adults + Graham School
Cynthia Rutz
October 7, 2016
Claudia Cassidy Theater
undreamed shores
Theater
From Australia:
one step at a time like this
October 7–23, 2016
Navy Pier
Thought
The Newberry + Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Peter Holland
October 13, 2016
The Newberry
Dance
The Joffrey Ballet
October 13–23, 2016
Auditorium Theatre
Cuisine
North Coast Brewing Co.
All Year Long
Shops, Bars + Restaurants across Chicago
Thought
University of Chicago Arts
David Bevington
October 15, 2016
Smart Museum of Art University of Chicago
Bloody, Bold and Resolute
Gaming
The Diletanttes + CH Distillery
October 19, 2016
CH Distillery
Theater
Georges Bigot + Theatre Y
October 19–December 4, 2016
Chopin Theatre
Exploring Cultural Identity: Shakespeare on Stage
Thought
Logan Center for the Arts
Aaron Todd Douglas
October 26, 2016
Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts
Speed-Reading Shakespeare
Thought
Logan Center for the Arts
Michael Witmore
October 30, 2016
Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts
Opera
Chicago Opera Theater
November 5–13, 2016
The Studebaker Theater
Victorian American Shakespeare
Thought
Glessner House Museum
November 6, 2016
Glessner House Museum
Slam
Chicago Shakespeare Theater + Chicago Youth Shakespeare
All Year Long
Locations across Chicagoland
The Complete Deaths
Theater
From the United Kingdom: Spymonkey
November 30–
December 11, 2016
Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare
Thought
University of Chicago’s Basic Program of Liberal Arts Education for Adults + Graham School
Katia Mitova
December 2, 2016
Claudia Cassidy Theater
Cabaret
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
December 5, 2016
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
The Man, The Myth, The Works: The Challenge of Celebrating Shakespeare
Thought
The Newberry + Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Coppélia Kahn
December 8, 2016
The Newberry
The Winter's Tale
Theater
From the United Kingdom: Cheek by Jowl
December 14–21, 2016
Chicago Shakespeare Theater