THE HOUSE THEATRE OF CHICAGO ANNOUNCES THE 18TH SEASON OF ORIGINAL PLAYS
FEATURING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HIT HOLIDAY PRODUCTION,
THE NUTCRACKER,
A WORLD PREMIERE AND THE CONTINUED SUCCESSFUL OPEN RUN OF
THE MAGIC PARLOUR
The House Theatre of Chicago is proud to announce its productions for the 18th season. The 2019 – 2020 Season will include the 10th anniversary production of The House’s original ballet-free production of The Nutcracker, November 7 – December 29; the world-premiere of Brett Neveu’s Verböten, January 16 – March 8, 2020; Shakespeare’s Henry V, directed by The House’s Artistic Director Nathan Allen, March 19 – May 10, 2020. The Magic Parlour, featuring magician Dennis Watkins, will continue its open run at The Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel. Subscriptions and Tickets may be purchased by calling (773) 769-3832 or by visiting www.thehousetheatre.com. Memberships for the 18th season are now available. To purchase memberships or for more information, please visit www.thehousetheatre.com or call the box office at (773) 769-3832. Single tickets for Season 18 productions go on sale starting August 1. The House’s 18th Season is supported by The MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince. ComEd is the Official Lighting Sponsor of The House Theatre of Chicago. This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. The House Theatre of Chicago’s 18th Season includes: The Nutcracker 10th Anniversary Production Created by Company Members Jake Minton, Phillip Klapperich, Kevin O'Donnell, and Tommy Rapley Based on the story by E.T.A. Hoffmann Direction and Choreography by Company Member Tommy Rapley November 7 – December 29 PRESS OPENING: Friday, Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. Chopin Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division Street Celebrating a full decade of making holiday memories with more than 30,000 audience members, The House brings this wholly original, ballet-free show back for its 10th Anniversary production. Appearing again at the Chopin Theatre, and featuring all new puppets, The Nutcracker is fast-paced, beautifully choreographed, family-friendly, and moving, even for those of us that might be on the Grinch’s side from time to time. This fantastical expansion of the holiday classic centers on young Clara’s journey to save Christmas in the face of grief. With the help of a magical nutcracker, the brave girl risks the darkness, fights the Rat King, and saves her family. A modern holiday tradition weaving together riveting dialogue, astonishing puppetry, original songs, this spellbinding spectacle tells a heartwarming, darkly moving story of magic and hope—a fun outing fit for the whole family. Verböten A story about how punk saves lives Music and Lyrics by Jason Narducy Book by Brett Neveu Directed by Artistic Director Nathan Allen January 16 – March 8, 2020 PRESS OPENING: Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020 at 7 p.m. Chopin Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division Street Production Sponsor: The Poetry Foundation 1983. Chicago. It’s do-or-die for Verböten—a band made up of outsider teens with seriously complex home lives. As they gear up for a show at The Cubby Bear that is sure to change their lives forever, can they keep their parents from destroying the fabric of their self-made punk rock family? With lyrics and music by Verböten’s original guitarist Jason Narducy (Split Single, Superchunk, Bob Mould) and book by Brett Neveu (Odradek, Pilgrim's Progress, Traitor), Verböten is inspired by the true story of Chicago's own young punks. Henry V O For a Muse of Fire By William Shakespeare Directed by Artistic Director Nathan Allen Featuring Company Member Brenda Barrie as Henry, with Company Members Desmond Gray, Michael E. Smith, Kevin Stangler, Kara Davidson, Ben Hertel, Derek Matson, Christine Mayland Perkins, Joseph Steakley, and, as the Chorus, Nathan Allen March 19 – May 10, 2020 PRESS OPENING: Sunday, March 29, 2020 at 7 p.m. Chopin Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division Street As Henry attempts to accomplish the impossible, so does Shakespeare in one of his most demanding works of stagecraft. The House adventures back and forth across oceans for justice, intrigue, romance, and the “alarms and excursions” of the battlefield. Featuring Brenda Barrie as Henry and Nathan Allen as the Chorus, The House entreats you to “let us on your imaginary forces work,” and witness one of Shakespeare’s most compelling examinations of our capacity for leadership. Artistic Director, Nathan Allen, reflects, “A few of us started dreaming about starting a theatre company while studying classical theatre in London. Like Shakespeare’s theatre, the company we imagined would be founded to engage the audience’s imagination in ‘amazing feats of storytelling.’ Nowhere are those founding ideas better described than by Shakespeare himself. And for many in The House’s ensemble, returning to this text feels like returning to the root ideas of our work together.” The Magic Parlour An intimate evening of classic magic starring Dennis Watkins OPEN RUN Fridays at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 4:30, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets: $79 – $89 (and includes wine, beer or soft drink selections) Now on sale through October 2019! The Palmer House Hotel, 17 E. Monroe St. Tickets are available at www.themagicparlourchicago.com Award-winning, third-generation magician Dennis Watkins invites you to his evening of sophisticated tomfoolery in one of the Windy City's most exclusive and long-running entertainment experiences. The Magic Parlour is replete with mind-blowing magic and mind reading to ignite your imagination in an intimate suite at the historic Palmer House Hilton Hotel in downtown Chicago. Guests convene at Potter's Lounge and will be escorted to the private performance venue. The performance lasts approximately 80 minutes. Following select performances of The Magic Parlour, experience Dennis Watkins’ world-class sleight of hand in an even more intimate and exclusive setting with The Encore Room. Limited to 10 guests at a time, The Encore Room also offers guests a unique opportunity to participate in a Q&A with Watkins where they can learn more about his family legacy, his remarkable life in magic, and his work as one of this country’s premier magical entertainers. ABOUT THE HOUSE THEATRE OF CHICAGO The House is Chicago's premier home for intimate, original works of epic story and stagecraft. Founded and led by Artistic Director Nathan Allen and driven by an interdisciplinary ensemble of Chicago’s next generation of great storytellers, The House aims to become a laboratory and platform for the evolution of the American theatre as an inclusive and popular artform. The House was founded in 2001 by a group of friends to explore connections between Community and Storytelling through a unique theatrical experience. Since becoming eligible in 2004, The House has won 24 Joseph Jefferson Awards, became the first recipient of Broadway in Chicago’s Emerging Theater Award in 2007, and was awarded a 2014 National Theatre Company Grant by the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards. The 18th season of original work begins this November and The House will continue its mission to unite Chicago in the spirit of community through amazing feats of Storytelling.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces its 2019/20 Season—featuring an expansive line-up of plays, musicals, new work, and presentations from around the globe to engage one of the broadest audiences of any theater in America today.
North American premiere of THE KING’S SPEECH brings to the stage the remarkable true story that inspired the Academy Award-winning film
Artistic Director Barbara Gaines stages the most famous love story of all time, ROMEO AND JULIET
Jane Austen’s EMMA transformed into enchanting new musical by Tony Award-nominated Paul Gordon
Vibrant, 60s-inspired AS YOU LIKE IT infuses Shakespeare’s comedy with the ageless hits of The Beatles
THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY returns to Chicago for the first time in 25 years
Isango Ensemble’s music-and-dance-filled A MAN OF GOOD HOPE follows a young refugee’s journey through Africa
Director Héctor Flores Komatsu’s devised ANDARES chronicles the lives of indigenous youth in México
Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson create a contemporary new opera BLUE, presented in collaboration with Lyric Opera of Chicago
Summer 2019: THE WIZARD OF OZ engages multi-generational audiences on Navy Pier
FREE Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tours THE COMEDY OF ERRORS to 18 parks across City
Artistic Director Barbara Gaines shared, “At a time in our lives when estrangement and belonging are so entwined into our public discourse, we are looking forward to a season of stories that explore our boundaries—personal, societal, geographic—and how we cross them in order to better understand ourselves, our neighbors, and the world we inhabit. A king is limited by his inability to speak to his nation; two teenagers see beyond the walls erected by their families’ hatred; a young woman can imagine the possibilities of love all around—but not in her own heart; and free spirits leave behind the constraints of society and discover love in unexpected places. Powerful narratives of a Somalian refugee in South Africa and indigenous youth in México both wrestle with defining home and identity. In the communal space that is the theater, we share these stories that bind us together.”
Bold theatricality onstage at Chicago Shakespeare Kicking off the 2019/20 Season is David Seidler’s play The King’s Speech (September 12–October 27, 2019), the remarkable true story about an unlikely bond between a reluctant king and his charismatic subject that inspired the Academy Award-winning film—now brought to life onstage as Seidler first imagined it. Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award-winning director Michael Wilson stages the North American premiere at Chicago Shakespeare. Following its Chicago run, the production is slated for engagements at other theaters across the country. For the first time in her distinguished career, Artistic Director Barbara Gaines directs Shakespeare’s most famous tragic love story, Romeo and Juliet (November 1–December 22, 2019). Set against a modern backdrop of a city torn apart by hate, the star-crossed young lovers defy every boundary forged from their families’ enmity, finding love—and heartbreak. Jane Austen’s beloved novel Emma (January 28–March 15, 2020), featuring one of literature’s most fiercely independent heroines, is transformed into an enchanting new musical by Tony Award-nominated composer Paul Gordon, whose world premiere production of Sense and Sensibility captivated Chicago Shakespeare audiences in 2015. Artistic Director Barbara Gaines directs this deliciously charming romantic comedy. A vibrant, ‘60s-inspired take on As You Like It (May 1–June 21, 2020) infuses Shakespeare’s comedy with the hit songs of The Beatles—lifting the playwright’s timeless verse in beautiful harmony with the immortal music of the “Fab Four.” This high-spirited, music-filled staging is adapted and directed by Daryl Cloran, Artistic Director of Canada’s acclaimed Citadel Theatre. Global conversations and collaborations In April 2020, Chicago Shakespeare is pleased to welcome the renowned Royal Shakespeare Company back to Chicago for the first time in 25 years with a signature production of a Shakespeare play (title to be announced in the coming months). Following Chicago Shakespeare’s performances on the RSC stage in Stratford-upon-Avon as part of the Complete Works Festival, both theaters have sought the opportunity for Chicago audiences to experience the RSC’s work onstage at Chicago Shakespeare—promising to be a theatrical highlight of the spring. This season’s WorldStage series features South Africa’s Isango Ensemble with their acclaimed production of A Man of Good Hope (October 4–13, 2019). Vividly told through music and dance steeped in African traditions, the story follows one young Somalian refugee’s extraordinary odyssey across a continent, and his unfailing hope in the face of adversity. Devised from personal anecdotes, ancestral myths, and traditional art forms, Makuyeika Theatre Collective presents Andares (October 23–27, 2019), directed by Héctor Flores Komatsu, which chronicles the lives of indigenous youth in México—and the realities that they face at the crossroads of modern life and tradition. Translated as “pathways,” Andares is featured as part of the third annual Destinos – Chicago International Latino Theater Festival. Jeanine Tesori, the Tony Award-winning composer of Fun Home and Caroline, or Change, and acclaimed director, playwright, and librettist Tazewell Thompson join forces to create the new opera Blue (June 19–28, 2020), presented in collaboration with Lyric Opera of Chicago in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare. Blue brings audiences into the emotional epicenter as an African-American couple is faced with the sudden death of their son—realizing a mother’s worst fear, and igniting a father’s rage and devastation. Traditions continue throughout Summer 2019 Chicago Shakespeare also announces two productions for Summer 2019. At the Theater’s home on Navy Pier, celebrated director Brian Hill and choreographer Kenny Ingram join forces to bring new life to the timeless musical classic The Wizard of Oz (July 6–August 25, 2019), based on the original 1939 MGM film, for audiences of all ages. Now in its eighth year, the FREE FOR ALL Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour will bring Shakespeare’s riotous The Comedy of Errors (July 18–August 18, 2019), adapted and directed by David H. Bell, to 18 neighborhood parks across the south, west, and north sides in our City’s most expansive arts-in-communities initiative. Engaging students and teachers through Team Shakespeare Chicago Shakespeare’s Team Shakespeare education initiatives serve more than 40,000 teachers and students each year—making it one of the most comprehensive and highly respected arts education programs in the country. Team Shakespeare brings Shakespeare’s work to life in the school curriculum—through live performance, professional learning for educators, comprehensive teaching resources, and opportunities for students to perform Shakespeare. Key Team Shakespeare initiatives include Bard Core, a year-long professional learning seminar that introduces Chicago Public Schools high school English, Special Education, and ESL teachers to drama-based strategies for engaging students—including struggling and reluctant readers, and English language learners—with Shakespeare and other challenging texts. In the annual Chicago Shakespeare Slam, hundreds of high school students and their teacher coaches from public, private, and parochial schools across the region come together to celebrate the power of Shakespeare and their own voices. A series of Saturday workshops and regional preliminary bouts throughout the fall culminate in a spirited, fun-filled Final Bout onstage at Chicago Shakespeare. In addition to weekday matinee performances of the Theater’s full-length productions, Chicago Shakespeare annually presents an abridged 75-minute Short Shakespeare! production, which welcomes 30,000 students during its seven-week run of weekday matinees, followed by a tour to schools across the region. These programs—in concert with the free citywide Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour and summer family musical series—exemplify the Theater’s steadfast commitment to young audiences—which has resulted in one in four audience members being age 18 or under. Access Shakespeare Chicago Shakespeare strives to make its facility and performances accessible to all patrons through Access Shakespeare programming, which offers services designed for individuals with mobility, hearing, or visual impairments for all productions, including the free Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour. In addition to offering assistive-listening devices as well as large-print and Braille programs, the Theater schedules dedicated performances featuring ASL duo-interpretation, open captioning, audio description, and touch tours. Tickets to Access Shakespeare performances are provided at pay-what-you-can rates to ensure that cost does not prohibit participation. Chicago Shakespeare 2019/20 Season Listing The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum | with music & lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg adapted by John Kane directed by Brian Hill | choreographed by Kenny Ingram in the Courtyard Theater | July 6–August 25, 2019 Take an unforgettable journey down the Yellow Brick Road to the magical land of Oz with Dorothy and her trusty pup Toto as they encounter new friends—including Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion—and face unexpected challenges in the musical stage adaptation of the landmark 1939 MGM film. Audiences of all ages will be dazzled by the spectacular setting and charmed by its timeless score, featuring such cherished classics as “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Follow the Yellow Brick Road”—ultimately to discover that there’s truly no place like home.
Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare adapted & directed by David H. Bell on tour to neighborhood parks across Chicago | July 18–August 18, 2019 For the eighth year, Chicago Shakespeare, the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, Boeing, and BMO Harris Bank partner to present the annual citywide summer tradition, Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks, on tour to neighborhood parks across Chicago, FREE FOR ALL. From Hamilton Park and Columbus Park to Loyola Park and Ping Tom Memorial Park, Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks activates communities across the north, west, and south sides of the city. On each stop of the tour, a specially equipped truck rolls into the park, a stage unfolds, and a company of professional actors shares the delight of Shakespeare’s riotous The Comedy of Errors with families and neighbors. Tour details to be announced this spring.
North American Premiere The King’s Speech by David Seidler directed by Michael Wilson in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare | September 12–October 27, 2019 Paralyzed by his stammer and unable to speak to a nation in crisis, King George VI ascends the throne as England stands on the brink of war once again with Germany. Enter Lionel Logue, an Australian migrant with a career path as unexpected as the king’s. The remarkable true story of this unlikely bond between a reluctant king and a charismatic subject that inspired the Academy Award-winning film is now brought to the stage, where writer David Seidler first imagined it.
A Man of Good Hope Isango Ensemble, in co-production with the Young Vic and in association with the Royal Opera, Repons Foundation, X and Y based on the book by Jonny Steinberg directed by Mark Dornford-May a WorldStage Production from South Africa in the Courtyard Theater | October 4–13, 2019 A musical theater spectacle, pulsating with the glorious sounds of this Olivier Award-winning ensemble, is the story of one young refugee’s extraordinary odyssey across a continent. Asad, a Somali with a painful past, miraculous good luck, and a brilliant mind for business, sets off for South Africa—the promised land, where he believes he has found a place of safety. He is mistaken. Acclaimed in New York and London, Isango's 22-member cast tells Asad’s story through song and dance steeped in African tradition of unfailing hope in the face of adversity.
Andares Makuyeika Theatre Collective written and directed by Héctor Flores Komatsu a WorldStage Production from México as part of Destinos – Chicago International Latino Theater Festival in the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare | October 23–27, 2019 Woven from ancestral myths, traditional music and arts, and a three-person narrative, Andares reveals the extraordinary, untold stories of ordinary, humble people who inhabit Mexico’s most remote corners. Created by director Héctor Flores Komatsu from his personal search to know and understand the original cultures of his homeland, Andares is a moving, fierce denunciation against a present that seems intent upon destroying what was once held as sacred.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare directed by Barbara Gaines in the Courtyard Theater | November 1–December 22, 2019 A city, two families, and a hatred so old that no one remembers its cause. Defying every boundary forged from their families’ enmity, Romeo and Juliet fall in love. In a society torn apart by hate, Shakespeare sets his immortal tale of love and senseless tragedy. For Chicago Shakespeare Artistic Director Barbara Gaines, now is the time to direct her first Romeo and Juliet, as Chicago awaits her vision for the most famous love story of all time.
Emma based on the novel by Jane Austen book, music & lyrics by Paul Gordon directed by Barbara Gaines in the Courtyard Theater | January 28–March 15, 2020 Jane Austen’s beloved novel is now a deliciously charming musical, created by Tony Award-nominated composer and lyricist Paul Gordon (Jane Eyre, Sense and Sensibility, Daddy Long Legs). Privileged, pampered, and preoccupied with romance, Emma Woodhouse indulges in her pastime of misguided matchmaking, but is clueless when it comes to her own feelings and a gentleman named Mr. Knightley. As our imperfect heroine learns that love cannot be predicted or channeled, we are swept up by Paul Gordon’s lyrical melodies.
Royal Shakespeare Company engagement A WorldStage Production from the UK in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare | April 2020 In April 2020, Chicago Shakespeare is pleased to welcome the renowned Royal Shakespeare Company back to Chicago for the first time in 25 years with a signature production of a Shakespeare play. Following Chicago Shakespeare’s performances on the RSC stage in Stratford-upon-Avon as part of the Complete Works Festival, both theaters have sought the opportunity for Chicago audiences to experience the RSC’s work onstage at Chicago Shakespeare—promising to be a theatrical highlight of the spring. Title to be announced in the coming months. As You Like It by William Shakespeare adapted & directed by Daryl Cloran conceived by Daryl Cloran and Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival in association with the Citadel Theatre and Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre in the Courtyard Theater | May 1–June 21, 2020 It’s the 1960s, when all you need is love. Free spirits escape a world gone wrong to get back to the land—a place that promises safe harbor from the corrupt ways of the city, but no one is spared here from the hazards of love. The irrepressible Rosalind takes refuge in the forest. So, too, does her love Orlando, with much to learn from the woman of his dreams, now disguised in boy’s garb. This high-spirited, music-filled adaptation infuses Shakespeare’s comedy with the hit songs of The Beatles—lifting the playwright’s timeless verse in beautiful harmony with the immortal music of the “Fab Four.” As You Like It is adapted and directed by Daryl Cloran, Artistic Director of Canada’s acclaimed Citadel Theatre, and originated at Vancouver's Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival.
Blue music by Jeanine Tesori | libretto by Tazewell Thompson directed by Tazewell Thompson in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare | June 19–28, 2020 in collaboration with Lyric Opera of Chicago Blue brings audiences into the emotional epicenter of an African-American family in which the father is a police officer and the son is a politically active teenager. When the son is killed by police, his death realizes the mother’s worst fear, and ignites his father’s rage and devastation. The new opera is inspired by contemporary events and Black literature, including Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me and James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time, and focuses on the joys and sorrows of bringing a child into a world in which African-American families are forced to question if their sons’ lives matter. Blue is a coproduction of Glimmerglass Festival, Washington National Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago.
For information on purchasing tickets, visit www.chicagoshakes.com or call the CST Box Office at 312.595.5600. A variety of flexible season ticket packages will be on sale soon, offering savings over single tickets, and guaranteeing your seat at every production you choose to see. Discounted tickets are available for groups of 10 or more.
ABOUT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson, Chicago Shakespeare has redefined what a great American Shakespeare theater can be—a company that defies theatrical category. This Regional Tony Award-winning theater’s year-round season features as many as twenty productions and 650 performances—including plays, musicals, world premieres, family programming, and presentations from around the globe. Chicago Shakespeare is the city’s leading presenter of international work, and has toured its own productions across five continents. The Theater’s nationally acclaimed arts in literacy programs support the work of teachers, and bring Shakespeare to life on stage for tens of thousands of students annually. Each summer, the company tours a free professional production to neighborhood parks across Chicago. In 2017 the Theater unveiled The Yard, which, together with the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater and the Thoma Theater Upstairs, positions Chicago Shakespeare as Chicago’s most versatile performing arts center.
the World Premiere of Her Honor Jane Byrne by J. Nicole Brooks
and celebrates the return of two favorites
Mary Zimmerman’s new holiday classic The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the signature production Lookingglass Alice by David Catlin
Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows, we're elated to see Lookingglass Theatre Company's upcoming season. We can't get enough of their namesake remounts. Each one of their Lookingglass Alice productions is a visual feast packed with circus feats and stellar story telling. Each time they change it up a bit and we just can't wait to see what's in store this time around. It's a timeless top favorite of our whole family. We also fell in love with The Steadfast Tin Soldier this past holiday season and are so jazzed it's returning. Both are great for all ages and multigenerational theatre going. Make some family memories! We're also eager to catch the World Premiere of Her Honor Jane Byrne, on the cusp of Chicago's mayoral elections for the first black female mayor. It's timely to revisit Chicago's first and only other female mayor. Save the dates.
Lookingglass Theatre Company announces its complete 2019–2020 season lineup, with three shows created by Lookingglass Ensemble Members. From high-flying spectacle, to gorgeous storytelling, and provocative reflections on our city, the season begins with the new holiday tradition The Steadfast Tin Soldier, written and directed by Ensemble Member Mary Zimmerman from the story by Hans Christian Andersen. The World Premiere of Her Honor Jane Byrne, written and directed by Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks, takes a look back at Chicago’s first woman Mayor and how times are different—and exactly the same. Concluding the 2019-2020 season is the return of the signature Lookingglass production Lookingglass Alice, adapted and directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin, from the works of Lewis Carroll, and produced in association with The Actors Gymnasium.
“As an Ensemble, we’ve talked a lot about why humans tell the same stories again and again. I think it’s because as we get older and the world changes, and our viewing point changes, these stories inherently change. They are so deeply human that they continue to resonate with us in different ways,” comments Artistic Director Heidi Stillman. “As we move into our next season, we feel encouraged to tell stories that made us who we are, and stories that will help pave our path into the future.”
Next season will be quintessentially Lookingglass—-shows you couldn’t see anywhere else. Subscriptions to Lookingglass’ 2019-2020 season are on sale now and may be purchased through the box office at (312) 337-0665 or lookingglasstheatre.org.
The Lookingglass 2019–2020 Season up close: The Steadfast Tin Soldier Written and Directed by Ensemble Member Mary Zimmerman From the Story by Hans Christian Andersen November 1, 2019–January 26, 2020 Recommended for Ages 5+
True to his loyal and resolute nature, The Steadfast Tin Soldier returns! Hans Christian Andersen’s story about a little tin soldier who never gives up comes back to Lookingglass for a winter-time curtain call. Ensemble Member Mary Zimmerman (Metamorphoses, Treasure Island) fashions an extravagant and exhilarating spectacle, infused with music and movement. Don’t miss the triumphant return of Chicago’s newest Holiday tradition, The Steadfast Tin Soldier.
“I’m very glad that our little Tin Soldier managed to march his way into the hearts of so many, and that he’ll be coming back again in the Holiday season steadfast as ever. We wanted to make something that was visually and emotionally overpowering—as well as very funny—and do that with no spoken language at all,” says Mary Zimmerman. “People of all ages and from around the world are able to watch the show and feel it all the same, no English required. I think the silence of the characters—and the beautiful music that accompanies their adventures—allows older members of the audience to fall into a private, younger part of themselves; and for children, they are watching something in the manner they are used to: gathering up the story through the intensity of their earnest attention, through their intelligence which has no words.”
World Premiere Her Honor Jane Byrne Written and Directed by Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks February 26–April 12, 2020 Recommended for Ages 13+
Chicago is “The City That Works”—but does it work for everybody? It’s 1981, the city’s simmering pot of neglected problems boils over, and Chicago’s first woman mayor is moving into Cabrini-Green. Is this just a PR stunt, or will it bring the City together? For the next three weeks, residents, activists, media, the “Machine,” and the Mayor herself will collide as the City’s raw truths are exposed. Who will come out on top? Lookingglass Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks creates this smoldering new take on Her Honor Jane Byrne.
J. Nicole Brooks comments, “When you grow up in a city that’s hyper segregated, run amuck with corruption, and political stunts and discord, you have to work hard to love it. I love the city of Chicago. I love the history. I’m fascinated by ethnic clans. I’m curious about patronage, councils, aldermen, and committeemen. Who gets elected and how? Who gets to lead us, and will they actually listen to us? Though I was very little, I can remember when it was announced that Mayor Jane Byrne was moving into Cabrini-Green. Can she stop the violence? Well, no one person can. Here we are decades later, asking the same questions. I hope our audiences walk away with a bit of the past, so they may know how to shape our future.”
Lookingglass is excited to partner with a number of cultural institutions including Chicago History Museum, National Public Housing Museum, Rebuild Foundation, and others as part of the Community Engagement work around the production.
Lookingglass Alice Adapted and Directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin From the Works of Lewis Carroll Produced in Association with The Actors Gymnasium May 13–August 16, 2020 Recommended for Ages 5+
Lookingglass Alice returns for a fantastical trip down the rabbit hole, through the looking glass, and deep into your heart. The New York Times calls this circus-infused adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories “eye-catching entertainment.” This signature Lookingglass production, adapted and directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin (The Little Prince, Moby Dick), has toured the country, enchanting audiences of all ages. Now, after a five-year hiatus, the awe-inspiring production comes back home for a new generation to discover.
David Catlin notes, “If you put Lookingglass DNA under a high-powered microscope, you’d find zinging molecules composed of nonsense, curiosity, and invention. You’d find a pair of black-and-white stripe-y tights, a tardy rabbit in a waistcoat and bowler, a stuttering old soul who believes as many as six impossible things before breakfast, and a fearsome girl named Alice soaring high above our heads and into the heart of wonder. So back we go, to the other side of the Lookingglass, to the utterly essential and glorious nonsense of Wonderland—bring a friend, it’s a little cuckoo in there!”
About the Artists J. Nicole Brooks (Her Honor Jane Byrne playwright and director/Lookingglass Ensemble Member) is an author, actor, director and educator. As a playwright her works for the stage include HeLa, Fedra: Queen of Haiti, Shotgun Harriet, and Black Diamond: The Years the Locusts Have Eaten. As a director she has staged productions of Mr. Rickey Calls A Meeting, Black Diamond, Thaddeus & Slocum: A Vaudeville Adventure, Clash, and Becky Shaw. As an actor she has created original work throughout the US, China and Hungary. As a screenwriter, J. Nicole has a crime drama in development with partner Milauna Jackson. Selected stage credits include: Ike Holter’s Lottery Day, Lookingglass Theatre’s Beyond Caring in association with David Schwimmer and Alexander Zeldin (National Theatre UK), and Immediate Family directed by Phylicia Rashad. In tv-land, J. Nicole has recurring roles as Sgt. Clemmons on Showtime’s The Chi, and as Olivia on Comedy Central’s South Side. Awards and honors include: Black Ensemble Theatre Playwright of the Year, LA Ovation, League of Chicago Theatres, Jeff Award, TCG Fox Foundation Fellowship, 3Arts Make a Wave Grant, NEA Grant, and Black Theatre Alliance. David Catlin (Lookingglass Alice adaptor and director/Founding Lookingglass Ensemble Member) is an, actor, writer, director, and former Artistic Director of Lookingglass. David adapted and directed Moby Dick, which debuted at Lookingglass in summer 2015 (winner of four Jeff Awards including Production—Large), toured nationally, and returned to Lookingglass for the summer of 2017. In 2018, he directed his new adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Alliance Theatre at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. David’s next project, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, will have its world premiere at Lookingglass this summer.
Additional Lookingglass directing credits include: Lookingglass Alice, The Little Prince, Icarus, Black Diamond (co-director), Metamorphosis, Her Name was Danger, the idiot (Jeff Citation for New Adaptation), and West (Jeff Citation for Directing). Regionally, David has directed work at McCarter Theatre, The New Victory on 42nd Street, Arden Theatre, Actors Theater of Louisville, Alliance Theatre, Arena Stage, Syracuse Stage, South Coast Repertory Theatre, and the Getty Villa. Recent Lookingglass acting credits include: Hard Times, The Arabian Nights, Our Town, Argonautika, The Manuscript Found in Saragossa, La Luna Muda, Third Voyage, The Scarlet Letter, The Odyssey, and The Jungle. David has appeared on stage with Actors Gymnasium, Chicago Children’s Theatre/Redmoon, and The House Theatre of Chicago. David’s film work includes Since You’ve Been Gone for Lookingglass/Miramax and Humanoid with Dark Harbor Stories. David is an Artistic Associate with Actors Gymnasium and serves on the acting faculty at Northwestern University.
Mary Zimmerman (The Steadfast Tin Soldier playwright and director/Lookingglass Ensemble Member) is a writer and director and has worked with Lookingglass for more than 25 years. For Lookingglass, she adapted and directed The Odyssey, The Secret in the Wings, The Arabian Nights, S/M, Metamorphoses, Eleven Rooms of Proust (Co-production with About Face Theatre), Argonautika and Treasure Island. Mary is also part of the Goodman Theatre artistic team where she adapted and directed The White Snake, The Jungle Book, Candide, The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci, Silk, Journey to the West, Mirror of the Invisible World and a re-creation of The Odyssey, as well as directing Wonderful Town, Pericles, The Baltimore Waltz, and All’s Well That Ends Well. She has twice directed for the New York Shakespeare Festival in the Park. Regionally, her work has appeared at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Huntington Theatre Company, McCarter Theatre, Arena Stage, and Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C. In New York, her work has appeared at Lincoln Center, Second Stage Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and on Broadway at Circle in the Square Theatre.
In the world of opera, she directed and co-wrote the libretto Galileo Galilei (composed by Philip Glass) that was produced at Goodman Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the Barbican Theatre in London. Additionally, she has directed four operas at Metropolitan Opera in New York City: Rusalka, Lucia Di Lammermoor, La Sonnambula, and Rossini’s Armida, each of which has been broadcast live into movie theatres worldwide. In 1998, Mary received a MacArthur Fellowship and in 2002, the Tony Award for Best Director of a Play for Metamorphoses on Broadway.
Subscriptions Subscriptions are on sale for the 2019-2020 Season. Current subscribers who renew before May 1, 2019 will receive a 5% discount on their 2019-2020 subscription. Performances will be held at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.
Subscribers can choose between a 3-play subscription, 2-play subscription, or two flex pass options: the Gglasspass, or for those under 35, the Madhatter’s Club. For the 2019-2020 season, 3-play subscriptions range from $116–$170, and 2-play subscriptions range from $77–$113. 2-play subscriptions include Her Honor Jane Byrne and Lookingglass Alice.
The Gglasspass is a flex pass available to all ages. For $150, Gglasspass holders receive 3 tickets that can be used in any combination and denomination for any Lookingglass production in the 2019-2020 season.
The Madhatter’s Club flex pass is available to those 35 or younger. The Madhatter’s Club flex pass is $75 and includes 3 tickets that members can use in any combination and denomination for any Lookingglass production in the 2019-2020 season, including Theatre Night Out events.
Lookingglass also offers a 3-play subscription for Accessible performances for $75, and a 2-play subscription for $50 during the 2019-2020 season. Patrons can choose between the Touch Tour/Audio Described performances or the Open Captioned performances.
Subscription benefits include access to the best seats in the house, pre-sale opportunities and savings before single tickets go on sale to the general public, special perks at restaurant partners, unlimited ticket exchanges, discounted parking at 875 N Michigan, Water Tower Place, and Olympia Centre Garage, reduced tuition for Lookingglass’ renowned classes and summer camps, and access to exclusive subscriber-only events. For season subscription and ticket information, call the Lookingglass Theatre box office at (312) 337-0665 or visit lookingglasstheatre.org.
About Lookingglass Theatre Company Inventive. Collaborative. Transformative. Lookingglass Theatre Company, recipient of the 2011 Regional Theatre Tony Award, was founded in 1988 by eight Northwestern University students. Now in its 31st Season, Lookingglass is home to a multi-disciplined ensemble of artists who create story-centered theatrical work that is physical, aurally rich and visually metaphoric. The Company, located in Chicago’s landmark Water Tower Water Works, has staged 68 world premieres, received 151 Joseph Jefferson Award Nominations, and produced work all across the United States. In 2016, Lookingglass received the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions and in 2017, was the recipient of the League of Chicago Theatres’ Artistic Achievement Award.
Lookingglass continues to expand its artistic, financial, and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Artistic Director Heidi Stillman, Executive Director Rachel L. Fink, Producing Director Philip R. Smith, Director of Community Engagement Andrew White, General Manager Michele Anderson, a 24-member artistic ensemble, 23 artistic associates, an administrative staff, and a dedicated board of directors led by Chair Nancy Timmers and President Richard Chapman. For more information, visit lookingglasstheatre.org.
Year of Chicago Theatre Lookingglass is proud to be part of the 2019 Year of Chicago Theatre, presented by the City of Chicago and the League of Chicago Theatres. To truly fall in love with Chicago, you must go to our theatres. This is where the city bares its fearless soul. Home to a community of creators, risk-takers, and big hearts, Chicago theatre is a hotbed for exciting new work and hundreds of world premieres every year. From Broadway musicals to storefront plays and improv, there’s always a seat waiting for you at one of our 200+ theatres. Learn more at chicagoplays.com/year-of-chicago-theatre/.
TO FEATURE A GROUNDBREAKING WORLD-PREMIERE MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF THE OUTSIDERS, BASED ON S.E. HINTON’S NOVEL AND FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA’S FILM, DIRECTED BY LIESL TOMMY
**NEW SEASON INCLUDES WORLD PREMIERES BY LUCAS HNATH AND KORDE ARRINGTON TUTTLE; CHICAGO PREMIERES OF AMERICAN MARIACHI BY JOSÉ CRUZ GONZÁLEZ; BERNHARDT/HAMLET BY THERESA REBECK; LISA LOOMER’S ROE; AND JOCEYLN BIOH’S OFF-BROADWAY HIT SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY**
***ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ROBERT FALLS TO DIRECT A MAJOR REVIVAL OF MOLLY SWEENEY BY BRIAN FRIEL**
Here at ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama, we're beyond excited for Goodman's upcoming season! Some of our favorite directors are back to helm world premieres, Chicago premiers, an off-Broadway hit and more. Don't miss this! Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer announce Goodman Theatre’s new 2019/2020 Season of “Theater That Moves”— three world premiere productions (including a new musical), four Chicago premieres and a major revival of a beloved contemporary classic—on the theater’s two stages (the 856-seat Albert Theatre and 350-seat flexible Owen Theatre). In addition to these eight offerings, which comprise the Goodman Membership, the Goodman will produce its 16th annual New Stages Festival and the 42nd annual production of A Christmas Carol. The 2019/2020 Season begins September 2019 and continues through August 2020. Memberships, including flexible packages, are now available for purchase. Five-play Albert Theatre packages start at just $100. Call 312.443.3800 or GoodmanTheatre.org/1920season. Single tickets will be available for select productions beginning in August. “I am thrilled to share our 2019/2020 Season—a dynamic line-up of plays, each written by and/or featuring a woman protagonist at its heart. These fresh, powerful works of art entertain and delight, challenge and shock, and fearlessly reflect the world around us,” said Robert Falls of the 33rd season he has curated as Artistic Director. Continued Falls, “We open our Albert Theatre season with Bernhardt/Hamlet by Theresa Rebeck, directed by Donna Feore—a wonderful comedy about the great French actress Sarah Bernhardt taking on Hamlet, the most challenging role of her career—in its first production since debuting on Broadway last year. Next, we’ll produce Roe by Lisa Loomer, directed by Vanessa Stalling—a remarkably complex, balanced look at the young women behind the landmark court case. Then, I am excited to direct Molly Sweeney by Brian Friel—a work I’ve long considered one of the most beautiful plays of modern times. An astonishing journey from blindness to sight, it’s a masterwork from the playwright oft described as ‘the Irish Chekhov.’ In Spring 2020, we’ll produce American Mariachi by José Cruz González, directed by Henry Godinez—the funny, heart-warming story of an all-female mariachi band in an era when this was not considered possible. It’s a co-production with Dallas Theater Center, and we are proud to once again collaborate with Teatro Vista and the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance. Finally, we conclude the Albert Theatre line-up on a high note with the world premiere of a thrilling new musical, The Outsiders, adapted from S.E. Hinton’s seminal book and Francis Ford Coppola’s film, with a book by Adam Rapp, music and lyrics by Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance of Jamestown Revival and Justin Levine, with choreography by Lorin Latarro, directed by Liesl Tommy. This story of “haves” and “have-nots” that defined a generation is boldly told anew, for the next generation. Continued Falls, “Our Owen Theatre line-up begins with the world premiere of an innovative, highly personal new play, Dana H. by Lucas Hnath, adapted from interviews with Dana Higginbotham conducted by Steve Cosson, directed by Les Waters. A co-production with Center Theatre Group, this true story is told in Dana’s own words as she recounts the harrowing five months she spent imprisoned by an unstable captor. Next, we’re thrilled to produce a moving new work first seen our New Stages Festival last year, where it played to full houses each night—Graveyard Shift by Korde Arrington Tuttle, directed by Danya Taymor. We conclude the Owen season with the Chicago premiere of School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Lili-Anne Brown—a work that enjoyed enormous critical and popular acclaim in its extended run Off-Broadway. Falls continued, “The season also includes our 42nd annual production of A Christmas Carol, directed by Henry Wishcamper and starring Larry Yando in his 12th turn as Ebenezer Scrooge in the Albert Theatre. And we are proud to present the 16th annual New Stages Festival of new plays, a free first look at projects in development.” About the Productions + Events in Goodman Theatre’s 2019/2020 Season The Goodman is grateful to its 2019/2020 Season sponsors, including American Airlines and Northern Trust Bank, Major Contributors; Mayer Brown LLP, Corporate Sponsor Partner; Time Warner Foundation, Lead Support of New Play Development; The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Major Support of New Work Development, and the Shubert Foundation, Lead Support of General Operations. Dana H. By Lucas Hnath Adapted from Interviews with Dana Higginbotham, Conducted by Steve Cosson Directed by Les Waters September 6 – October 6, 2019 in the Owen Theatre A Co-Production with Center Theatre Group A WORLD PREMIERE “I want to be a part of the world again.” –Dana H. Dana was a chaplain of a psych ward where she met a charismatic patient, an ex-convict searching for redemption. A harrowing true story, Dana was held captive with her life in this man’s hands—trapped in a series of Florida motels, disoriented and terrified—for five months. Told in Dana's own words and reconstructed for the stage by her son Lucas Hnath (A Doll’s House, Part 2, The Christians), “one of the freshest playwriting voices to emerge in the past five years” (The New York Times), this innovative work shatters the boundaries of the art form and our understanding of good and evil. Bernhardt/Hamlet By Theresa Rebeck Directed by Donna Feore September 14 – October 20, 2019 in the Albert Theatre A CHICAGO PREMIERE “It is delightful to undress a man, and find a woman inside.” –Edmond; Act I, Scene II High humor and human drama collide in a rollicking comedy “so clever it uplifts, so timely it hurts” (The New York Times). In 1899, legendary leading lady Sarah Bernhardt’s decision to assume the title role of Shakespeare’s Hamlet left critics and patriarchs aghast and indignant. Laced with forbidden romance and backstage gossip, this behind-the-scenes look at Bernhardt’s most ambitious role is a “dynamic character study” (Variety) of one of the most famous actresses—and infamous divas—in the world.
Roe By Lisa Loomer Directed by Vanessa Stalling January 18 – February 23, 2020 in the Albert Theatre A CHICAGO PREMIERE “You didn’t give a damn about Roe the person—all you cared about was Roe the case!” –Norma; Act II, Scene II Conceived in a pizza parlor and argued in the highest court in the land, 1973’s Roe v. Wade legalized abortion—and is hotly debated still today. The complex young women behind the trial—attorney Sarah Weddington and plaintiff Norma McCorvey (“Jane Roe”)—embark upon separate journeys that mirror the current polarization over the landmark decision. Shocking, humorous and “full of nuance and complexity" (NPR), Roe illuminates the heart and passion that each side has for their cause. Graveyard Shift By Korde Arrington Tuttle Directed by Danya Taymor February 7 – March 8, 2020 in the Owen Theatre A WORLD PREMIERE “Our new life starts tomorrow.” –Kane; Scene VI When she receives the opportunity of a lifetime, Janelle relocates to Texas and moves in with her partner, Kane. Meanwhile, a small-town police officer’s life is thrown into flux when the coworker he's romantically involved with decides to leave town. When their worlds collide, Janelle experiences firsthand how dangerous power can be. Loosely inspired by the legacy of Sandra Bland, Graveyard Shift is an unflinching but open-hearted look at how we navigate a world full of fear. Molly Sweeney By Brian Friel Directed by Robert Falls March 7– April 12, 2020 in the Albert Theatre “And what sort of world did you expect, Mrs. Sweeney?” —Dr. Rice; Act II In this riveting exploration of triumph and loss, master storyteller Brian Friel—“a towering figure of the stage, from Dublin to Broadway” (The Guardian)—reveals the unexpected consequences of a modern medical miracle. Visually impaired since infancy, Molly agrees to a procedure that will restore her sight. But is it she who benefits most—or her ambitious spouse, or her doctor’s career? Robert Falls directs a major revival of this “astonishing, highly entertaining, deeply moving meditation on hope, change and despair” (The New York Times). School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play By Jocelyn Bioh Directed by Lili-Anne Brown March 27 – April 26, 2020 in the Owen Theatre A CHICAGO PREMIERE “Look confident. Be confident. This. Is. Yours.” –Paulina, Part III This biting and buoyant comedy, “ferociously entertaining, as heartwarming as it is hilarious” (The Hollywood Reporter), arrives in Chicago on the heels of a critically acclaimed, extended run Off-Broadway. As the reigning queen bee at Ghana’s most exclusive boarding school sets her sights on the Miss Universe pageant, a new student unexpectedly changes the game. This “gleeful African makeover of an American genre” (The New York Times) spotlights the universal similarities—and glaring differences—of teenage girls around the globe.
American Mariachi By José Cruz González Directed by Henry Godinez April 25 – May 31, 2020 in the Albert Theatre A Co-Production with Dallas Theater Center A CHICAGO PREMIERE “Women mariachis? It’s about time!” –Soyla; Act I, Scene V Familia, amor and tradiciόn are at the heart of this hilarious and heartwarming new comedy about the freedom to dream big. Lucha spends her days caring for her ailing mother, but longs to shake up her 1970s home life. When a forgotten record album sparks her mother’s memory, Lucha and her cousin strike upon a radical idea: to create an all-female mariachi band. Infused with live mariachi music, this “big-hearted, musical tug at the heartstrings” (Denver Post) reveals how music and love can make just about anything possible.
The Outsiders Based on the Novel by S.E. Hinton and Francis Ford Coppola’s Motion Picture Book by Adam Rapp Music and Lyrics by Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Justin Levine Music Supervision, Arrangements and Orchestrations by Justin Levine Choreography by Lorin Latarro Directed by Liesl Tommy June 20 – August 2, 2020 in the Albert Theatre A WORLD PREMIERE “Stay gold.” –Johnny, Act II, Scene XII The story that defined a generation is reimagined in a groundbreaking musical for a new generation. In 1967 Tulsa, Oklahoma, the hardened hearts, aching souls and romantic dreams of Ponyboy Curtis, Johnny Cade and their band of greasers take center stage in a fight for purpose and a quest for survival. Adapted from S.E. Hinton’s seminal book and Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic film, and directed by Tony nominee Liesl Tommy with a book by Pulitzer Prize finalist Adam Rapp, The Outsiders features a score by acclaimed Austin-based rock duo Jamestown Revival and Justin Levine. New Stages Festival October 23 – November 10, 2019 in the Owen Theatre FREE The 16th annual New Stages Festival of new plays includes developmental productions and staged readings. This season’s world-premiere production of Graveyard Shift by Korde Arrington Tuttle emerged from New Stages. Founded in 2004, the New Stages Festival is a celebration of innovative new plays designed to give playwrights an opportunity to take risks and experiment. New Stages offers Chicago theatergoers a first look at dozens of plays, many of which have gone on to become successful full productions—including Noah Haidle’s Smokefall, Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Ruined and more. A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens Adapted by Tom Creamer Directed by Henry Wishcamper November 16 – December 29, 2019 in the Albert Theatre 42nd ANNUAL PRODUCTION Acclaimed Chicago actor Larry Yando returns for his 12th season at Goodman Theatre as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, directed for the seventh year by Artistic Associate Henry Wishcamper. More than 1.5 million theatergoers have attended “the crown jewel of the holiday season” (Daily Herald) since the Goodman established it as an annual offering in 1978—a time when only a handful of U.S. theaters mounted the production. Dickens’ holiday classic is the iconic tale of greedy businessman Ebenezer Scrooge, whose sizable bank account is only matched by his disdain for the holidays. One Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by four ghosts who take him on a spectacular adventure through his past, present and future, helping him rediscover the joys of life, love and friendship.
ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE AMERICA’S “BEST REGIONAL THEATRE” (Time magazine), Goodman Theatre is a premier not-for-profit organization distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and civic engagement. Led by Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics (celebrated revivals include Falls’ productions of Death of a Salesman and The Iceman Cometh). Goodman Theatre artists and productions have earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards, over 160 Jeff Awards and many more accolades. In addition, the Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle;” and its annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, which marks its 42nd production next season, has created a new generation of theatergoers. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production partner with local off-Loop theaters and national and international companies by providing financial support or physical space for a variety of artistic endeavors. Committed to three core values of Quality, Diversity and Community, the Goodman proactively makes inclusion the fabric of the institution and develops education and community engagement programs that support arts as education. This practice uses the process of artistic creation to inspire and empower youth, lifelong learners and audiences to find and/or enhance their voices, stories and abilities. The Goodman’s Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of such programming, most offered free of charge, and has vastly expanded the theater’s ability to touch the lives of Chicagoland citizens (with 85% of youth participants coming from underserved communities) since its 2016 opening. Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation of the new Goodman center in 2000. Today, Goodman Theatre leadership also includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Brian Dennehy, Rebecca Gilman, Henry Godinez, Dael Orlandersmith, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor, Henry Wishcamper and Mary Zimmerman. David W. Fox, Jr. is Chairman of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Denise Stefan Ginascol is Women’s Board President and Megan McCarthy Hayes is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals. ABOUT CENTER THEATRE GROUP Center Theatre Group, one of the nation’s preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles’ leading not-for-profit theater company, which, under Artistic Director Michael Ritchie, programs seasons at the 736-seat Mark Taper Forum and 1600 to 2100-seat Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the 317-seat Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. ABOUT DALLAS THEATER CENTER One of the leading regional theaters in the country and the 2017 Regional Theatre Tony Award® Recipient, Dallas Theater Center (DTC) performs to an audience of more than 100,000 North Texas residents annually. Founded in 1959, DTC is now a resident company of the AT&T Performing Arts Center and presents its Mainstage season at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, designed by REX/OMA, Joshua Prince-Ramus and Rem Koolhaas and at its original home, the Kalita Humphreys Theater, the only freestanding theater designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright. DTC is one of only two theaters in Texas that is a member of the League of Resident Theatres, the largest and most prestigious non-profit professional theater association in the country. Under the leadership of Enloe/Rose Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty and Managing Director Jeffrey Woodward, DTC produces a six-play season of classics, musicals and new plays and an annual production of A Christmas Carol; extensive education programs, including the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award-winning Project Discovery, SummerStage and partnerships with Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts; and many community collaborations.
