Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Robert Falls

"A masterpiece"
– Windy City Times

May 4 - June 9, 2019 in Goodman's Albert Theatre

Around 2 hours and 15 minutes with one intermission

"No modern American director is better at making a play's iconic moments pop with fresh irreverence" (Chicago Tribune)

A jealous king accuses his wife of infidelity, setting off a calamitous series of events. But what begins as tragedy evolves, unexpectedly, into a fantastical journey—from wrath to redemption to reconciliation. Following his celebrated productions of King Lear and Measure for Measure, Robert Falls reimagines one of Shakespeare’s most wildly theatrical tales.

 

 

Photo by Tamas Dezso.

Audiences React to Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale

The company of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Robert Falls. Photo by Liz Lauren.

Designing the World of The Winter's Tale with Costume Designer Ana Kuzmanic

Tim Monsion (Old Shepherd) and Will Allan (Clown) in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Robert Falls. Photo by Liz Lauren.

Henry Godinez (Camillo) and Amanda Drinkall (Emelia/Mopsa) discuss working with Robert Falls on Shakespeare.

The company of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Robert Falls. Photo by Liz Lauren.

Director Robert Falls on Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale

Dan Donohue (Leontes), Charlie Herman (Mamillius) and Kate Fry (Hermione) in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Robert Falls. Photo by Liz Lauren.

The company of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Robert Falls. Photo by Liz Lauren.

Costume sketches for Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Robert Falls. Sketches by Ana Kuzmanic.

Costume sketches for Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Robert Falls. Sketches by Ana Kuzmanic.

Season preview

Audiences React to Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale

The company of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Robert Falls. Photo by Liz Lauren.

Designing the World of The Winter's Tale with Costume Designer Ana Kuzmanic

Tim Monsion (Old Shepherd) and Will Allan (Clown) in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Robert Falls. Photo by Liz Lauren.

Henry Godinez (Camillo) and Amanda Drinkall (Emelia/Mopsa) discuss working with Robert Falls on Shakespeare.

The company of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Robert Falls. Photo by Liz Lauren.

Director Robert Falls on Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale

Dan Donohue (Leontes), Charlie Herman (Mamillius) and Kate Fry (Hermione) in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Robert Falls. Photo by Liz Lauren.

The company of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Robert Falls. Photo by Liz Lauren.

Costume sketches for Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Robert Falls. Sketches by Ana Kuzmanic.

Costume sketches for Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Robert Falls. Sketches by Ana Kuzmanic.

Season preview

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Critical Praise

  • "Not dull for a moment"

    - Chicago Tribune

  • A "fabulous Goodman Theatre production"

    - Chicago Sun-Times

  • "Both Goodman and Falls do the Bard proud...you're in for a treat"

    - Windy City Times

  • One "of the most engaging, dramatic interpretations of Shakespeare's work you're likely to see"

    -Newcity Stage

  • "One of the most inventive and playful productions of Shakespeare I've seen"

    - BroadwayWorld

  • "Will have you laughing and crying"

    - Around the Town

  • "Goodman Theatre delivers a The Winter's Tale full of whimsy"

    - BroadwayWorld

  • A "clear-eyed staging"

    - Chicago Tribune

  • "Both accessible and magical"

    - Windy City Times

  • "Embraces ambiguity with gusto, offering a smartly realized and multi-dimensional realization of one of Shakespeare's most cryptic works"

    - Broadway Blog

  • "A masterpiece of storytelling"

    - Windy City Times

  • "Provides a startling masterclass in communicating the clear, concise storytelling of Shakespeare's language"

    - Newcity Stage

  • "Powerful and very extraordinary"

    - Around the Town

  • "The Winter's Tale is a bear of a play; seeing Falls' wrestle with it is worth your time"

    - Chicago Sun-Times

Audience Response

  • This play holds your...attention. The set, costumes, props, and acting are all superb. We highly recommend this play.

    Rich R. via

  • Quite a performance. Made Shakespeare come alive. Don't miss it.

    Linda F. via

  • I saw The Winter's Tale at @GoodmanTheatre last night, and I have SO MANY FEELINGS. Which is exactly the reaction I should have after watching The Winter's Tale. I have to go simultaneously cry and rejoice now.

    Lauren E. via

  • Stunning... I was especially grateful to the cast.

    Wendy B. via

  • Enjoyed last night's performance! Unique Shakespeare play made easy to enjoy with great cast and directorial embellishments.

    Marcia S. via

  • A really different Shakespeare play—both tragedy and comedy. But so well done. Saw it last night and enjoyed it very much!

    Neta J. via

  • It was delightful! The cast is so comfortable and fun to watch. Loved it!

    Debbie R. via

  • Saw this Shakespeare play at the Goodman today—amazing!!

    Catherine F. via

  • An engaging, heartfelt production with great staging, a wonderful, talented ensemble and a story which struggles with jealousy, deception, humor, redemption and love.

    Jim H. via

Artists
  • William Shakespeare

    William Shakespeare Playwright

  • Robert Falls

    Robert Falls Director

  • Will Allan

    Will Allan Clown

  • Cher Álvarez

    Cher Álvarez Nell

  • Chloe Baldwin

    Chloe Baldwin Perdita

  • Xavier Bleuel

    Xavier Bleuel Florizel

  • Josh Carpenter

    Josh Carpenter Dion / Shepherd

  • Christiana Clark

    Christiana Clark Paulina

  • Dan Donohue

    Dan Donohue Leontes

  • Amanda Drinkall

    Amanda Drinkall Emelia / Mopsa

  • Kate Fry

    Kate Fry Hermione

  • Henry Godinez

    Henry Godinez Camillo

  • Charlie Herman

    Charlie Herman Mamillius

  • Nathan Hosner

    Nathan Hosner Polixenes

  • Susaan Jamshidi

    Susaan Jamshidi Mariana / Dorcas

  • Philip Earl Johnson

    Philip Earl Johnson Autolycus

  • Mark Lancaster

    Mark Lancaster Jailer / Bear

  • Gregory Linington

    Gregory Linington Antigonus

  • Tim Monsion

    Tim Monsion Old Shepherd

  • Christopher Sheard

    Christopher Sheard Archidamus / Shepherd

  • Martin Zebari

    Martin Zebari Cleomenes / Shepherd

  • Alan Ball

    Alan Ball Understudy

  • Dee Dee Batteast

    Dee Dee Batteast Understudy

  • Evan T. Coles

    Evan T. Coles Understudy

  • Will Mobley

    Will Mobley Understudy

  • Eric Parks

    Eric Parks Understudy

  • Christian Wilson

    Christian Wilson Understudy

  • Walt Spangler

    Walt Spangler Set Design

  • Ana Kuzmanic

    Ana Kuzmanic Costume Design

  • Aaron Spivey

    Aaron Spivey Lighting Design

  • Richard Woodbury

    Richard Woodbury Original Music, Sound Design

  • Tommy Rapley

    Tommy Rapley Choreography

  • Neena Arndt

    Neena Arndt Dramaturg

  • Briana J. Fahey

    Briana J. Fahey Production Stage Manager

  • Kimberly Ann McCann

    Kimberly Ann McCann Stage Manager

  • Nikki Blue

    Nikki Blue Stage Manager

Talks & Events
  • Drinks & Discussion Events

    Drinks & Discussion Events

    Throughout the run

    Enhance your theater-going experience with one of our Drinks & Discussion Series events! Stay after select performances for a Post-Show Discussion, arrive a bit early to select performances for a PlayTalk Session, or enjoy an Artist Encounter event.

    LEARN MORE

Recommended Reads
  • "The Winter's Tale:" Neither Comedy nor Tragedy

    The Winter's Tale: Neither a Comedy nor Tragedy

    Resident Dramaturg Neena Arndt Explores Genre in the Early Modern Period

    "As citizens of the 21st century, we are accustomed to entertainments which take us to sorrowful depths at one moment and peaks of joy the next. But a Shakespearean audience might not have been as accustomed to such genre-blending."

    READ MORE

  • Clothes "Oft Proclaim the Man"

    Clothes "Oft Proclaim the Man"

    Playbill's Thomas Connors on Robert Falls and Ana Kuzmanic's Shakespearean Collaboration

    "Since 2006, when they first teamed up for a rendition of King Lear starring Stacy Keach, Goodman Artistic Director Robert Falls and Costume Designer Ana Kuzmanic have collaborated on a number of productions. In 2013, they returned to Shakespeare with Measure for Measure and now take on one of the Bard’s more peculiar pieces—the romantic-tragic mash-up, The Winter’s Tale."

    READ MORE

  • Making Meaning of Shakespeare's Title

    Making Meaning of Shakespeare's Title

    New Media Assistant Rebecca Watson Asks "What's in a Name?"

    "Long before the idea of 'fiction' was born, audiences of The Winter’s Tale would be fully prepared to suspend disbelief and embark on a fantastical adventure. There was no need to account for instability of tone, mercurial nature of characters or illogical plot developments, as early modern audiences did not demand realism in their theatrical experiences."

    READ MORE

Accessibility

Join us for any of the following accessible performances.

The Goodman is proud to offer an inclusive range of programs that help make performances accessible to all audiences, including enhanced performances, accessible seating, braille and large print programs, complimentary Assistive Listening Devices and complimentary tickets for Personal Care Assistants and professional caregivers.

Questions? Please contact 312.443.3800 (voice), 312.443.3829 (TTY/TDD) or email Access@GoodmanTheatre.org.

Touch Tour and Audio Described performanceTouch Tour and Audio-Described Performance
Saturday, June 1
12:30pm Touch Tour & 2pm Performance

For reserved seating for this service, use promo AUDIO.

Reservations for the touch tour are available at check-out for no additional charge. For more information, please call the Box Office or email Access@GoodmanTheatre.org.

American Sign Language Interpreted PerformanceAmerican Sign Language-Interpreted Performance
Wednesday, June 5 at 7:30pm

For reserved seating for this service, use promo SIGN.

Open Caption Performance Open-Captioned Performance
Saturday, June 8 at 2pm

For reserved seating for this service, use promo OPEN.

 See All Accessibility Information for The Winter's Tale

Sponsors

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