Bring the family to the Oak Park Festival Theatre to see “The African Company Presents: ‘Richard III’” July 28-September 1 and stay at the nearby and affordable Best Western Plus Chicago Hotel at Hillside!
“The African Company Presents: ‘Richard III’” is a must-see production, loosely based on the true story of the African Grove Theatre, founded by a black man in New York City in 1821. Slaves and free black citizens flocked to see the works of William Shakespeare.
After moving and changing its name, the African Company found itself renting a theatre next to the Park Theatre run by famed actor Junius Brutus Booth. The African Company and the Park Theatre produced Shakespeare’s “Richard III” on the same night!
“When the sun rises, these actors put on masks, playing the parts of maids and waiters that society has cast them in. But when the sun goes down, this groups of artists finds their voice along with their feelings as they discover themselves in Shakespeare’s poetry. And they are not alone, their production of RICHARD III performs with such artistry and passion it attracts white and black audiences alike, is critically acclaimed, and has the theatre filled to overflowing six days a week. That is, until a prominent white company rents the theatre next door to open their own production of Richard – and is determined to shut down the African company’s show at any cost. It is a behind the scenes story like no other – funny, uncompromising and uniquely American.” Oak Park Festival Theatre
The Oak Park Festival Theatre is located at 167 Forest Park Avenue in beautiful Austin Gardens. You can picnic and bring your own adult beverages. For tickets to see “The African Company Presents: ‘Richard III’”, go online to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-african-company-presents-richard-iii-tickets-42849023583?ref=ebtn and follow the prompts.
Best Western Plus Chicago Hotel at Hillside, just minutes away from Art dans la Rue, offers free shuttle service to and from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. The hotel offers affordable, comfortable rooms, a breakfast bar and restaurant and much more. The hotel is pet friendly and offers AAA rates.