Chicago Shakespeare Theater 2023-24 season: Sufjan Stevens’ ‘Illinois,’ Paralympian Katy Sullivan and ‘Seinfeld’ star Jason Alexander

Amid an ongoing search for new artistic and administrative leadership, Chicago Shakespeare Theater returns to large-scale producing on Navy Pier next season with a new music-theater work based on Sufjan Stevens’ 2005 concept album “Illinois,” an appearance by Paralympian and Tony Award nominee Katy Sullivan in “Richard III” and a star-turn by the “Seinfeld” actor Jason Alexander.

“Twelfth Night” (Oct. 25 to Nov. 26 in the Courtyard Theater): A new take on Shakespeare’s romantic comedy from the Chicago-based director Tyrone Phillips.

“Islander” (Nov. 29 to Dec. 17 in the Upstairs Theater): The theater’s WorldStage Series comes back to life, albeit at a reduced scale, with a staging of this new folk-inspired musical from Scotland. It’s a mythic piece about a young girl left behind on a remote Scottish island. Conceived and directed by Amy Draper, the show has music and lyrics by Finn Anderson and a book by Stewart Melton. It was well received off-Broadway last year in a limited engagement.

“Illinois” (Jan. 12–28, 2024, in the Yard at Chicago Shakespeare): Based on Stevens’ album filled with references to the Land of Lincoln, the piece is by Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury (“Fairview”). Now conceived as a dance-theater piece and orchestrated for three musical voices, it will have a workshop-style production this summer at Bard College. The show is a high-profile project likely to attract a younger audience, given Peck’s chops and the fevered enthusiasm for the album, a collage of Midwest Americana. The announced cast for the Bard production includes several veterans of the Steven Spielberg film version of “West Side Story,” which Peck choreographed.

“Richard III” (Feb. 2 to March 3, 2024, in the Courtyard Theater): With Sullivan in the title role, it’s directed for Chicago by the British director Edward Hall.

“Judgement Day” (April 23 to May 26, 2024, in the Yard at Chicago Shakespeare): Alexander stars as a corrupt lawyer in Rob Ulin’s comedy, directed by Broadway’s Moritz von Stuelpnagel. “Judgement Day” was well received in a virtual staging at Barrington Stage in 2021, where it also starred Patti LuPone, prior to the much-loved star announcing she was giving up her Equity card.

“The Enigmatist” (May 29 to June 30, 2024, in the Upstairs Theater): An immersive experience “of puzzles and illusion” from David Kwong.

Chicago Shakes also said its Short Shakespeare student series will return in 2024 with “Romeo and Juliet,” directed by the rising Chicago director Mikael Burke, plus a yet-to-be-announced collaboration with the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance for Destinos next fall, and other education programs and community initiatives.

The family musical this summer will be a short version of “Beauty and the Beast” (July 14 to Aug. 20 in the Courtyard Theater), directed by Amber Mak, music by Alan Menken, and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. And Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks returns with free performances in Chicago Park District parks in July and August, directed by Tor Campbell.

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com