TOGETHER IN ISOLATION
TOGETHER IN ISOLATION
When the pandemic brought an abrupt halt to live theatre programs and productions, CYS kept our young artists engaged and our community connected virtually through our Together in Isolation series.
August, 2020
The Romeo & Juliet Project brought together 27 artists from across the country to read, discuss, and perform the world’s most famous love story during a time of isolation.
Featuring young artists and alumni of the CYS Ensemble alongside esteemed professional Shakespeare actors, The Romeo & Juliet Project made its YouTube premiere on August 30, 2020 for virtual audiences free of charge, and was re-released in February of 2021 as part of Chicago’s Re-imagined Chicago Theater Week! Read about the cast and contributing artists here, and… Watch Manon’s interview with actor, (and R & J Project cast member), Peter Jacobson here!
July, 2020
Although the COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible for us to offer our annual, six-week Summer Shakes Intensive, CYS’s Lead Teaching Artist, Evey Reidy led summer students through a virtual, week-long scene study class focused on Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Check out the (Short) Summer Shakes scenes here!
In this short video, the 2019/'20 CYS Ensemble pays tribute to one of our heroes: Sir Patrick Stewart, and his #ASonnetADay project with their very own version of Shakespeare's Sonnet 29.
May, 2020
Throughout the month of April, CYS celebrated The Bard's birthday by posting daily Shakespeare content on our Facebook page. #OurDailyBard posts included blasts from CYS's past, Bard facts and trivia, links to Shakespeare performances, and more!
And… on the Bard's actual birthday, (April 23rd), CYS posted our first-ever VIRTUAL Shakespeare performance, a project conceived by and featuring members of the 2019/'20 CYS Ensemble (AKA The Pandemic Players).
April, 2020
CYS's Together in Isolation series was made possible in part by grants from the following funders:
and by the generous contributions of individual donors. Learn more.