Henry 4 (Part 1)

It seems like we've barely had time to turn around since the last one, but Stockyards Theatre Project are back with their next production. They're going with a more established playwright this time around, a fellow by the name of William Shakespeare, but they're not doing his Henry 4 (Part 1) straight. Stockyards' mission is "advancing women through theatre arts," so it only makes sense that they'd have some sort of gender-reverse casting going on. And that's exactly what they've done--most (though not quite all) of the male characters have been cast with women. Katie Carey Govier devised the adaptation, which she's calling a "ferocious re-imagining." And if all that's not enough, Francesca's in it, too.

It opens Saturday night at Theatre Building Chicago (although the big press gala is Monday night) and runs Thursday-Sunday until September 4. Stockyards' last production sold out about three-quarters of its performances, so get your tickets while you can. Chicks with broadswords--what more can you ask from a night at the theatre?