Don’t miss Chicago’s smashed hit comedy, “Drunk Shakespeare”

For many, the required Shakespeare reading in high school was a low point in the American educational system that left countless children scarred. Whether it was Macbeth blindly fulfilling his prophecy, King Lear watching his empire crumble, or Hamlet's unquenchable thirst for revenge, Shakespeare’s dense soliloquies and Elizabethan vocabulary have scared away young readers for generations.

However, one brilliant theatre troupe has created an ingenious idea to turn the doldrums of literary history into an exhilarating night of laughs and live performance. An idea so obvious many will be kicking themselves for not thinking of it first…Shakespeare…Drunk.

So simple, so eloquent, so much room for potential.

Put on by the Drunk Shakespeare Society, the show is exactly what it sounds like. Each performance, five actors put on an abridged version of a famous Shakespeare play, with a twist: one of the actors takes shots of liquor before and during the show. Chaos and comedy ensue as the cast member gets more and more inebriated, forcing the other actors to adjust on their feet as the show ebbs and flows off script.

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Along the way, guests can expect audience participation, raunchy modern spins on classic quotes, and improv games such as delivering a “Romeo & Juliet” monologue as Jennifer Coolidge. 

According to their website, “Drunk Shakespeare” originated in 2014 at a small Hell’s Kitchen Bar in New York City before expanding to five metropolitan hubs nationwide, including Chicago, Houston, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. 

The Chicago branch debuted in 2019 and performs at the Lion Theatre. Located in a tiny storefront in the loop behind the Chicago Theatre, The Lion is in an intimate speakeasy stage hosting no more than 40-50 audience members at a time. Guests enter through an inconspicuous doorway before being greeted by a cozy bar serving libations cheekily named after famous Shakespeare scenes and themes, such as the “Drowning Ophelia.”

The troupe puts on shows up to seven days a week, depending on the season, with most nights offering two different shows. Each performance typically runs for 90 minutes with cast members rotating on who is the lucky (unlucky?) individual drinking that day. 

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Each performance even offers a specialty “Royal Experience.” For an elevated fee, the royal patrons are seated in special thrones at the head of the stage, given handcrafted crowns, and receive the power to interact with the show, including the commands “Off with his head!” making the actor drink more, or “Pardon the Fool!” letting the actor off the hook (for now). All of this comes complete with a bottle of Champagne and a tray of caviar.

As mentioned, an onsite bar serves craft cocktails, beer and wine before and during the performances, meaning the audience can get in on the raucous action. A small selection of snacks is also available for purchase.

Ticket prices typically range from $30-$80 depending on time, day of the week, and seat location, with the royal experience traditionally going for around $300-$500.  

So whether you're looking for a one-of-a-kind date night out, a fun bachelor/bachelorette party idea, or just a memorable evening with friends, “Drunk Shakespeare” offers one of the most exciting and unique evenings in the city. 

Who knows, it may just even make a Shakespeare fan out of a skeptic or two yet.   

For more information on The Drunk Shakespeare Society and tickets to upcoming shows, visit the organization's official website.