Barbara Gaines is an American theatre director, impresario, and actress. She is the founder and current Artistic Director of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Life and career

Gaines grew up in the suburbs of New York City and is the daughter of a film director. After graduating from Northwestern University in 1968, she worked as an actress in New York City and Chicago. She also taught Shakespeare classes for actors in Chicago before founding the Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) in 1986. With the company she has directed more than 30 plays by William Shakespeare; productions which have garnered more than 35 Joseph Jefferson Awards (3 times for Gaines personally as Best Director) and 3

Laurence Olivier Award The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply the Olivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre in London at an annual ceremony in the capital. The awards were originally known as ...

s. In 2008, the company was awarded the prestigious Regional Theatre Tony Award. She directed the Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2010 production of

Giuseppe Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto to a provincial family of moderate means, receiving a musical education with the h ...

's ''

Macbeth ''Macbeth'' (, full title ''The Tragedie of Macbeth'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those w ...

''. In 2016, Gaines adapted and directed ''Tug of War'', a 2-part series based on Shakespeare's history plays. Outside of her work with the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Gaines is currently a member of the Shakespearean Council for the

Globe Theatre The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, on land owned by Thomas Brend and inherited by his son, Nicholas Brend, and gra ...

in London. She has also served on panels for the National Endowment for the Arts, is a member of Chicago's Cultural Affairs Advisory Board, and is a Life Trustee of Northwestern University.

Other awards

In 2005, she was named an honorary

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

. Her other honours include honorary doctorates from Dominican University and Lake Forest College, the Spirit of Loyola Award from

Loyola University Chicago Loyola University Chicago (Loyola or LUC) is a private Jesuit research university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1870 by the Society of Jesus, Loyola is one of the largest Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Cathol ...

, and the Public Humanities Award from the Illinois Humanities Council.

External links

Wall Street Journal, June 4 2012

Listing as one of Chicago Magazine's 100 Most Powerful Chicagoans, March 2012

Video interview, Charlie Rose, April 2 2012

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaines, Barbara Living people American theatre directors American women theatre directors Honorary Officers of the Order of the British Empire Northwestern University School of Communication alumni Year of birth missing (living people)