CHICAGO — Chicago Shakespeare Theater announced its 2026-27 season on Friday, including the world premiere of a new imagining of “Romeo and Juliet” told through the music of Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, with book and direction by Bradley Bredeweg.

Chicago Shakespeare’s 40th slate on Navy Pier begins with a revival of “Play On!” (Sept. 11 to Oct. 18 in The Yard), a musical inspired by Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” set to the songs of Duke Ellington, directed by Sheldon Epps. “Play On!” was previously seen at the Goodman Theatre in 1998.

Later in the fall, artistic director Edward Hall will utilize a company of 14 actors to produce both “The Winter’s Tale” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in rotating repertory in the Courtyard Theatre between Oct. 13 and Jan. 3, 2027, a first for the company.

Next winter, Northwestern University professor Henry Godinez will helm “Romeo y Julieta,” a bilingual English and Spanish adaptation of Shakespeare’s most bankable title. Karen Zacarías and Godinez are credited with the adaptation, slated for Jan. 26 to March 24, 2027, in the Courtyard Theatre.

The season also includes a reprise engagement of the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit “Illinoise,” based on the Sufjan Stevens album and directed and choreographed by Justin Peck. That show had a pre-Broadway world premiere at CST in 2024 and will return Feb. 9 to March 14, 2027, in The Yard.

The season continues with a likely pre-Broadway whodunit staged in partnership with La Chanze Productions, titled “Reunion in Bartersville” penned by Celeste Bedford Walker, directed by Jerry Dixon and staged in The Yard from April 11 to May 9, 2027. The piece, which had an industry reading in 2024 in New York, is set among a group of senior citizens at their 50th high school class reunion.

Finally, the world premiere of “Heartbreakers,” the “Romeo and Juliet” adaptation using the rock catalog of Grammy-winners Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, is slated for May 4 to June 6, 2027, in CST’s small Upstairs Studio, likely creating a hot ticket. That’s to be developed in partnership with Gigi Pritzker’s production company, Madison Wells Live.

More information about the 40th anniversary season, including subscriptions is available at 312-595-5600 and www.chicagoshakes.com

Comedy show at Steppenwolf

In separate Chicago theater news, Steppenwolf Theatre has announced that it will present “Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares” a one-woman comedy show from the Broadway star Laura Benanti. The piece, which is kicking off a national tour and features both personal storytelling and songs co-written by Benanti and Todd Almond with direction by Annie Tippe, will play five performances August 6-9 in Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St. Tickets ($79-$125) are now on sale at 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org

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