Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents “Hymn,” playing through May 25 in the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater. Legendary Chicago director Ron OJ Parson leads a powerhouse Chicago cast and creative team to bring this deeply resonant tribute to male friendship to the stage, starring Chiké Johnson and James Vincent Meredith. Playwright Lolita Chakrabarti has transposed her play to the South Side of Chicago following an acclaimed premiere at London’s Almeida Theatre, hailed by The Standard as a “Rich and moving ode to male friendship.”
Two men from two very different neighborhoods meet as strangers, but before long—they’re singing the same tune. Benny is a loner anchored by his wife and children. Gil longs to fulfil his potential. They form a deep bond, but as cracks appear in their fragile lives, they start to realize that true courage comes in different forms.
Set on Chicago’s South Side and brimming with the sounds of R&B, gospel, and house music, this soulful play takes an honest look at love, faith, and friendship in all of life’s beautiful complexities.
Chiké Johnson plays Benny, making his Chicago Shakespeare debut. Johnson is a company member of Remy Bumppo Theatre and has worked on many stages in Chicago and around the country, including Broadway credits Time to Kill and Wit.
James Vincent Meredith plays Gil. Meredith returns to Chicago Shakespeare with credits, including the title role in Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure, and Julius Caesar. He is a Steppenwolf ensemble member with 19 credits including John Proctor in The Crucible and most recently Noises Off. His Broadway credits include The Book of Mormon, The Minutes, The Skin of Our Teeth, and Superior Donuts.
Ron OJ Parson is the co-founder and former artistic director of Onyx Theatre Ensemble, a resident artist at Court Theatre, and an ensemble member at TimeLine Theatre. In 2022, he received the Zelda Fichandler Award from the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation and was recognized as the Chicago Tribune’s Chicagoan of the Year for Theater. He has won three Jeff Awards for directing for Relentless at TimeLine Theatre, and Blues for an Alabama Sky and Fences at Court Theatre.
Other credits include East Texas Hot Links, The Lion In Winter, Arsenic and Old Lace, Two Trains Running, King Hedley II, Radio Golf, Five Guys Named Moe, among others.
“I’ve long admired the work at Chicago Shakespeare, during my theater journey here in Chicago,” said Parson. “I am truly honored to be working on Hymn by world-renowned playwright Lolita Chakrabarti. As my journey continues, what better play than a play about brothers, family, love, faith, and hope. What the world needs a lot of. Peace.”
CST artistic director Edward Hall said, “In my brief time in Chicago, it has not taken me long to get acquainted with the work of the brilliant Ron OJ Parson. Both Lolita and I felt he was the missing piece in this delicate jigsaw, and I am deeply happy that the play resonated so powerfully with him. This will be Ron’s Chicago Shakespeare debut, and I am delighted to be welcoming the director of such a huge and important body of work into our company.”
Lolita Chakrabarti won the Olivier Award for Best New Play for her adaptation of Yann Martel’s novel Life of Pi, which later went on to a Tony Award-winning Broadway run and a national tour. Her adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel Hammer premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the West End last year. Chakrabarti’s debut play Red Velvet enjoyed an acclaimed run at CST in 2017.
“I wanted to write a story of two Black men who find love with each other—a familial, platonic love,” says Chakrabarti. “My own male friends have often surprised me with their sensitivity, femininity, fussiness, insecurities, fun, kindness, and warmth—the list goes on. Hymn was born out of my desire to tell a different story. To reframe this play for Chicago is very exciting indeed, and I believe it will lend itself beautifully to this city’s rich culture.”
Parson is a celebrated director who’s always outstanding his mark on incredible live theatre productions.
I have seen him up North at the Writers Theatre for East Texas Hot Links and then in Hyde Park for August Wilson’s Radio Golf. His projects are always a treat, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater is easy to reach at Navy Pier.
More information is available at chicagoshakes.com/hymn.
Elaine Hegwood Bowen, M.S.J., is the Entertainment Editor for the Chicago Crusader. She is a National Newspaper Publishers Association Entertainment Writing’ award winner, contributor to “Rust Belt Chicago” and the author of “Old School Adventures from Englewood: South Side of Chicago.” For info, Old School Adventures from Englewood-South Side of Chicago (lulu.com)