Shakespeare Theater takes “Comedy of Errors” seriously

The list of productions CSSI has worked on with the Chicago Shakespeare Theater continues to grow with the addition of their latest show, “The Comedy of Errors.”

The show transports Shakespeare to the golden age of film as an eccentric group of stage and screen actors gather on a fictional English movie set at the Shepperton Studios in the midst of the London blitz to film the famously farcical play.

CSSI painted the two backdrops for the show, which was designed by Neil Patel. The first backdrop features a beautiful outdoor scene that combines blue sky and water. The other backdrop features a large map of Europe that actors stand in front of when they review scenes they “filmed” in the movie-inside-the-play.

Washington Opera called on CSSI to build set for “Tamerlano”

Theatrical work has been a mainstay of Chicago Scenic’s work for the past 30 years but it’s still a thrill to work with a new client. Building the set for the Washington National Opera’s production of “Tamerlano” and shipping it to Washington, DC’s Kennedy Center was no exception.

The set’s walls were painted with a peeling plaster effect and attached to rolling carts because the show is performed in repertory and needs to be easily moved between the stage and storage. The set featured a full stage ceiling piece which was rigged to fly.