An entire theater dedicated to the literary genius of William Shakespeare, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater houses regular plays based on his work. Although it is named as the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, this theater does not have any restrictions and hosts other contemporary plays and musicals as well.

The Shakespeare lovers, they have a number of plays to watch every year. What makes the Chicago Shakespeare Theater a unique place to watch the plays is the one-to-one audience interaction that is conducted before a play and also after the play. Before the staging of each Shakespeare play, a lecture is given for about thirty minutes regarding the historical context of the play and the director's way of perceiving it.

After the play ends, another interactive session follows where audience is given a chance to tell about their feelings and experience. An individual can also ask questions regarding the performance, character portrayal and the scenes used in the play. Those who are the patrons are given an opportunity to indulge into an interactive session with the performers at the backstage during their makeup.

The important plays that have been staged are Romeo and Juliet, As You like It, Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night, and A Midsummer Night's Dream to name a few. A popular on stage event has been a rap adaptation of Much Ado about Nothing, directed by the Q brothers GQ and JQ.

Shakespeare lovers can chill out at the English Pub over a drink prior to a performance, during the intermission and also after the play has ended. They can indulge into conversation with fellow drinkers and discuss a point or two regarding the performances. Chicago Restaurants nearby ensure that the Shakespeare lovers don't go back in an empty stomach once a play has ended.

The Royal Shakespeare Theater (RST) is located on Navy Pier 800 East Grand Avenue. It's housed in a 7 storey glass curtain-walled building that also houses a courtyard theater. It was opened in 1990 and was started after the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in London with a mission of promoting artistic talent in Chicago.

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Overview of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Chicago

It has 2 complementary performance spaces. The largest is the Jentes Family Auditorium that has a sitting capacity of 500. Its design is inspired by the Swan Theater that is also owned by the Royal Shakespeare Company. The audience sits on the 3 sides of the stage which makes interactions between the actors and audience more immediate. The second theater is the Carl and Marilynn Thomas Theater which has a 200 sitting capacity. This stage offers endless flexibility to suit the creative and innovative choices of artists.

Hotels near the Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Drake Chicago hotel at East Walton Place, Hotel Sax Chicago at the heart of downtown Chicago is an entertainment and fitness hotel, Renaissance Chicago Hotel has luxurious Chicago hotel rooms, Indoor pool, rejuvenation centre and lobby court lounge. Wit Hotel is located along the Chicago River.

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Chicago Shakespeare Theater or CST happens to be a theater company which is non-profit and professional. It is situated on the Navy Pier, a popular destination in the city of Chicago, Illinois. It has over 600 annual performances that are performed in 48 weeks of a year. These include Chicago Shakespeare Theater's critically applauded series of Shakespeare, its touring productions of World's Stage as well as its program focusing on youth and the families concentrated during summer season.

1. What are hours of operation of CST box office?

From Tuesday to Saturday the timings of the CST box office are 12 noon to 5 pm while on Sundays it is open from 12 to 4 pm. The box office remains closed on Mondays and its hours of operation are extended on the performance days.

2. Few useful links to Chicago Shakespeare Theater are:

- To buy tickets online visit:

http://www.chicagoshakes.com/main.taf?p=1,10

- To get directions for getting to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater click on:

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- To get all information on parking facilities log onto:

http://www.chicagoshakes.com/main.taf?p=3,1,2

3. Among the theater amenities are

a. The English Pub

Located in one snug corner of the theater's lobby, this Pub is an ideal spot to catch a drink as well conversation. This bar which is full-service, remains open prior to the show, through intermission and for nearly one hour subsequent to downing of curtains.

b. The Dr. Samuel Crowl Bookstall

CST's Bookstall is stalked with different books on the subject of literature, craft as well as people associated with theater.

4. To make Chicago hotel reservation near Chicago Shakespeare Theater you can choose from these hotels:

- Omni Chicago Hotel

http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/Chicago.aspx

- Raffaello Hotel

http://www.chicagoraffaello.com/

- Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown-Lakefront

http://chicagoembassy.com/

- Hyatt Regency Chicago

http://chicagoregency.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

- Seneca Hotel & Suites

http://www.senecahotel.com/

- Inn of Chicago-Magnificent Mile

http://www.innofchicago.com/

- Avenue Hotel Chicago

http://www.avenuehotelchicago.com/

- Affinia Chicago

http://www.affinia.com/

You can get more information on CST by visiting http://www.chicagoshakes.com/