More than 1,000 local and international artists will participate in a yearlong arts festival in 2016, celebrating the vibrancy, relevance, and reach of Shakespeare 400 years after the playwright’s death in 1616. Spearheaded by Chicago Shakespeare Theater and with support from MacArthur, Shakespeare 400 Chicago will involve collaboration between more than 60 Chicago institutions to present a diverse array of work across artistic disciplines to highlight Shakespeare’s inspiration of playwrights, painters, poets, composers, and choreographers. International artists from Australia, Belarus, China, India, Mexico, South Africa and more will participate in several events planned for the year. Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Public Libraries, and the Chicago Park District will also highlight Shakespeare’s work in free programming for students and families.
