Reimagining Shakespeare’s Hamlet live on the James Lumber Center stage

A photo of the Hamlet performance Published April 08, 2026

To be or not to be at the College of Lake County (CLC) James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts on April 11 for this year’s Play On!, for that, is the question. Through Play On!, CLC students get a chance to put on an entirely student-run production and showcase their abilities as actors, directors, stage managers, designers and technicians.

For this year's showcase, students will perform one of the most iconic and influential plays there is: Hamlet. But don’t expect the usual telling of this Shakespearean classic. This version of Hamlet will be a re-imagining, full of relatable content, comedic twists and drama that’ll have you on the edge of your seat until the curtains close.

When Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, comes home from college to attend his father’s funeral, he finds his mother remarried to his uncle and a spine-chilling apparition seeking revenge. Twists and turns that make this version of Hamlet all the students’ own include a shortened script and more focus on lesser-represented characters like Ophelia.

Opening night will be 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1. Other showtimes include 2 p.m. Sunday, April 12 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16 through Saturday, April 18.

“I was worried that a lot of the lines would lose their meaning, but that isn’t the case. Bobby Weichmann, who plays Hamlet said. “I think it’s a lot more palatable for today’s audiences.”

Play On! will be a theatrical adventure for both students and audience members alike. This stunning performance is sure to elicit a few laughs, chuckles and gasps of awe along the way.

If you were enraptured by the classic Shakespearian motifs coming alive on screen during this year’s emergent film of “Hamnet,” imagine the magic of seeing those same timeless themes brought to life on stage, right here at CLC.

Performance Information

  • 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11
  • 2 p.m. Sunday, April 12
  • 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16 through Saturday, April 18

All performances are at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts Studio Theatre 19351 W. Washington Street Grayslake, IL, 60030

Ticket Information

Tickets are $11 for the general public and $9 for CLC students, seniors and military members. Tickets are two for $12 on Saturday, April 11 and Thursday, April 16. Tickets are available online at jlcenter.clcillinois.edu, in person at the JLC Box Office, 19351 W. Washington St. Grayslake, Illinois, 60030, Monday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by calling (847) 543-2300. To avoid ticket scams, only purchase tickets through the website of the official JLC ticket vendor: Etix.