for nearly a decade, bringing it back from near-bankruptcy through a renewed emphasis on new work. Hall founded the all-male ensemble-based Propeller Theatre in 1997 and toured their productions throughout Asia and the United States. He is slated to directWhile Hall brings the international perspective, Motes’s background seems to dovetail nicely with Chicago Shakes’s emphasis on family programming and community outreach.
Two artists with connections to Chicago Shakespeare died July 6. Deborah Acker , the longtime production stage manager for the company whose tenure stretched back to the Ruth Page years, died at age 69. Actor and teacher Jeffrey Carlson, who performed there twice but who found his longtime teaching partner Susan Hart through Chicago Shakespeare, died at age 48.
Sound designer and composer Lindsay Jones, who created the sound and music for many Chicago Shakespeare productions, says, “What Deb really excelled at was being able to work under incredible pressure and make everyone feel like they were supported and everything is calm and is going to be OK. She managed to have a great sense of humor about it while she did that.