Chris returns to The Shakespeare Project of Chicago this fall to play Touchstone in As You Like It.
It marks his fifth Shakespearean role with the company and his fifth outing in the play. The production also reunites him with director J. R. Sullivan for the first time since Wit at Milwaukee Rep in 2001—when Chris was an intern, in real life and in the play.
As the clown, or more specifically the fool, he plays opposite Sarah Strasser as Rosalind, Jodi Gage as Celia, Stephen Spencer as Jaques, and (perhaps most crucially) Lydia Berger Gray as Audrey.
The cast also features Matt Bowdren (Charles and Martext), Kayla Carter (Phoebe and Le Beau), Jeff Christian (Oliver), Peter Garino (Dukes Senior and Frederick), Shane Kenyon (Orlando), Megon McDonough (Amiens), Khnemu Menu-Ra (Silvius and Dennis), Daniel Millhouse (Jaques de Boys), and Henry Michael Odum (Adam and Corin).
The production features music and sound design by George Zahora and music for Shakespeare’s songs by Megon McDonough. Devri Chism is the assistant director and dramaturg.
Chris made his Shakespearean debut with As You Like It when he played the 2nd Court Lord and William during his freshman year at SMU. As an intern at American Players Theatre, he played the 1st Court Lord and Jaques de Boys. For the Velvet Willies, he played Jaques, Le Beau, and took another shot at William. In the surrealist Stratford production, he played the 2nd Court Lord (again), 2nd Forest Lord, and an Alsatian guard. For the Project, his other Shakespeare roles have been Berowne, Philip the Bastard, Leontes, and Mark Antony (Julius Caesar).
As You Like It runs October 20-25. Regular patrons should please note: the usual Sunday show in Highland Park has been moved to Wednesday evening. See www.shakespeareprojectchicago.org for details.
Image courtesy The Shakespeare Project of Chicago.
