Ian McKellen Brings Gandalf, Magneto to Navy Pier Students

Sir Ian McKellen traded his Gandalf staff and Magneto cape for a simple stage Thursday night, captivating hundreds of Chicago-area students with tales from Middle-earth, Marvel comics and the Globe Theatre.

The actor performed at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier for students from 22 high schools, including Chicago Public Schools campuses Senn, Taft, Steinmetz, Morgan Park and Lincoln Park. McKellen donated his performance free of charge.

‘Ian is doing this completely free,’ said 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.’

McKellen opened by reading from ‘The Fellowship of the Ring,’ delivering Gandalf’s famous ‘You Shall Not Pass’ line before quipping to the crowd: ‘Before it was made into all those movies, did you know that ‘Lord of the Rings’ was actually a book?’

The performance mixed Hollywood blockbuster stories with classical theater. McKellen played both Romeo and Juliet in the balcony scene.

The actor also referenced his role in the poorly received 2019 ‘Cats’ adaptation, telling students, ‘Do tell me you never saw it,’ which drew big laughs.

McKellen’s connection to Chicago Shakespeare Theater runs through Artistic Director Edward Hall, whose father Sir Peter Hall founded England’s Royal Shakespeare Company and was McKellen’s longtime friend.

‘[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,’ Motes said.

Beyond the high school students, the audience included college students and members of youth councils from Steppenwolf Theatre, Goodman Theatre and A.B.L.E. (Artists Breaking Limits and Expectations).

McKellen told the crowd he was enjoying his Chicago visit, which included watching a Joffrey Ballet rehearsal. ‘My three favorite words: Theater! Shakespeare! Chicago!’ he said.

McKellen will appear at a Friday night fundraising benefit for the theater at 600 E. Grand Ave.