On Thursday night at Navy Pier’s Chicago Shakespeare Theater, hundreds of high school and college students from the Chicago area experienced a memorable evening with renowned actor Sir Ian McKellen. The event showcased McKellen’s remarkable talent as he intertwined stories from his iconic movie roles with powerful Shakespearean performances, highlighting the richness of theater and film to a young audience.
McKellen Blends Pop Culture and Shakespeare on Stage
The actor delighted the crowd with anecdotes from his famous roles in X-Men and Lord of the Rings, while delivering stirring Shakespearean monologues. At one point, McKellen skillfully performed both roles from the famed balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet, captivating students with his versatility and command of the material.
This special engagement was connected to a fundraising event set for the following night at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater located at 600 E. Grand Ave., Navy Pier, underscoring the theater’s commitment to community arts and education.
Longstanding Friendship Helps Bring McKellen to Chicago Stage
The actor’s relationship with the local theater runs deep; Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Artistic Director Edward Hall and McKellen share a long history traced back to Hall’s father, Sir Peter Hall, the founder of England’s Royal Shakespeare Company. Kimberly Motes, CST’s executive director, explained the origins of the event’s concept:
So [Edward Hall] has known [McKellen] a long time and asked him if him would come over and help promote Shakespeare in America … [McKellen] said he would love to come and he wanted to do a performance for young people. It was his idea, because he does a lot of work with young people,
Kimberly Motes, Executive Director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater
The theater then invited teachers from prior programs to bring their students, resulting in a broad representation of young participants from various Chicago public and private schools, as well as universities and youth arts organizations.
McKellen’s Free Gift to Chicago’s Young Theater Fans
Kimberly Motes emphasized the generosity behind McKellen’s visit, explaining that the actor volunteered his time without compensation:
Ian is doing this completely free,
Kimberly Motes, Executive Director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater
This is his gift to our theater and Chicago, and it’s been thrilling having him here this week.
Kimberly Motes, Executive Director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater
The audience included students from 22 high schools such as Steinmetz, Senn, Taft, Morgan Park, and Lincoln Park; three universities; and members of the Steppenwolf Theatre’s Young Adult Council, Goodman Theatre’s Youth Arts Council, and Artists Breaking Limits and Expectations (A.B.L.E.).
Opening With Literary Magic: Gandalf and Middle-earth
McKellen began the evening by reading a passage from The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. His recitation included Gandalf’s famous line “You Shall Not Pass,” instantly igniting enthusiasm among the student crowd.
Engaging with the audience personally, McKellen asked,
Before it was made into all those movies, did you know that ‘Lord of the Rings’ was actually a book?
Ian McKellen, Actor
Embracing Chicago’s Arts Scene During His Visit
While in the city, McKellen enjoyed exploring Chicago’s cultural offerings, including attending a rehearsal of the Joffrey Ballet, a highlight that added to his appreciation of the local arts community. He expressed his affection for the city succinctly:
My three favorite words: Theater! Shakespeare! Chicago!
Ian McKellen, Actor
A Passion Ignited in Youth, Fulfilled on Stage and Screen
McKellen shared stories from his childhood in a pre-television era, recalling how live theater performances inspired his lifelong dedication to acting. At only eight years old, he witnessed his first Shakespeare play, a moment that planted the seed for his illustrious career:
I wanted to see how it was all done,
Ian McKellen, Actor
During his academic years at Cambridge, McKellen appeared in 21 plays over three years, cementing his resolve to pursue acting professionally. His career later expanded into television and film, with his greatest fame arriving in his 60s through roles such as Magneto in the X-Men series and Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Humor and Honesty About His Career’s Highs and Lows
McKellen acknowledged both his critical successes and less celebrated projects, referencing the poorly received 2019 adaptation of Cats with lighthearted humor:
Do tell me you never saw it,
Ian McKellen, Actor
The actor, now 86, revealed his ongoing engagement with new projects, including a recent call to film in New Zealand for an upcoming movie where he and Patrick Stewart will face off against Robert Downey Jr. in the X-Men/Avengers crossover titled Doomsday.
When pressed for details about Doomsday, McKellen playfully dodged the question:
I’m not allowed to tell you the plot of ‘Doomsday,’ which is just as well because I didn’t understand it.
Ian McKellen, Actor
Shakespeare Remains at the Heart of the Evening
Despite his blockbuster fame, McKellen kept returning to Shakespeare, captivating students with soliloquies from plays like Hamlet, Macbeth, and Richard II. He drew attention to lesser-known details, such as the fact that the word “balcony” never appears in the famous Romeo and Juliet scene, much to the crowd’s amazement. Performing both Romeo and Juliet’s parts, McKellen earned loud applause for his skillful portrayal.
During the Q&A, McKellen answered numerous questions about his film work, sharing that his favorite line from Lord of the Rings was slightly altered during filming:
I got the line wrong; it was supposed to be ‘You can not pass!’
Ian McKellen, Actor
He also noted his favorite scene from the X-Men movies involving Magneto’s dramatic act of separating the Golden Gate Bridge, even demonstrating Magneto’s distinctive hand movements using a tennis ball on a string used in filming.
Engaging Directly with Students on Stage
Highlighting the interactive nature of the event, McKellen invited students to join him onstage for a performance. A rush of young participants eagerly climbed up until stage space limited further entries. The students collaborated with McKellen to enact a battlefield scene from Henry V, embodying fallen soldiers with impressive energy.
A Poignant Finale Reflecting on Humanity and Compassion
Concluding the event, McKellen recited the powerful monologue “The Strangers’ Case” by Thomas More, a speech that resonates with current issues around immigration and compassion. The words left a profound impression on the audience:
“Imagine that you see the wretched strangers
Their babies at their backs and their poor luggage
Plodding to the ports and coasts for transportation
As that you sit as kings in your desires …
This is the strangers’ case
And this your mountainous inhumanity.”
Bridging Popular Culture and Classical Theater for Chicago’s Youth
Kimberly Motes reflected on McKellen’s approach to connecting with young audiences, noting how his celebrated roles serve as access points to introduce more traditional and challenging works like Shakespeare:
That’s part of his career. It was thrilling when he began the evening with a ‘Lord of the Ring’ moment, and it’s wonderful. I think he sees all those [pop-culture moments] as entry points
Kimberly Motes, Executive Director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Through this visit, McKellen not only entertained but inspired a new generation to appreciate the enduring power of theater and storytelling, promising continued enthusiasm for Shakespeare and dramatic arts in Chicago’s educational communities.
