Goodman Theatre Adds GOD OF CARNAGE To Upcoming Season, Opens 3/5/2011

Artistic Director Robert Falls announced today that the Chicago premiere of the Tony Award-winning God of Carnage, Yasmina Reza's "savvy and deliciously caustic new comedy of urban ill-manners" (Chicago Tribune) and Broadway sensation, will take place at Goodman Theatre starting March 5, 2011. The triple Tony Award-winning God of Carnage joins six previously-announced plays (see next page)-including four world premieres by Sarah Ruhl, ReGina Taylor, David Henry Hwang and Thomas Bradshaw, as well as: Bernstein's legendary Candide, helmed by Mary Zimmerman and Robert Falls' new production of Chekhov's masterwork, The Seagull. One remaining play is still to be announced.

Subscribe now to save up to 45% over single ticket prices: 312.443.3800. Five-play Albert Theatre subscriptions start at $100 and 3-play Owen Theatre subscriptions start at $57. A Platinum Subscription of all eight plays starts at $157.

In God of Carnage, Alan and Annette's son hits Michael and Veronica's son with a stick, and the two couples meet to discuss the problem over appetizers. What starts as a civilized get-together quickly devolves into a scrappy, laugh-out-loud evening that The New Yorker calls "ninety minutes of sustained mayhem." In unanimous critical praise for its Broadway debut, God of Carnage has been hailed "first class" (The New York Times), "the best play in town!" (New York Post) and "scabrously funny" (USA Today) and earned three Tony Awards (including Best Play) as well as the Outer Critics Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award. The London production won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. The play is currently running on Broadway, slated to close June 27, 2010.

French playwright, actress, novelist and screenwriter Yasmina Reza earned the 1997 Olivier Award and the 1998 Tony Award for Art, which has been produced worldwide and translated into over 30 languages. Her other plays include Conversations After a Burial, Winter Crossing and The Unexpected Man.

Goodman Theatre - Ten Years in the Loop! In 2010/2011, Goodman Theatre's 85th year, Chicago's oldest and largest not-for-profit theater celebrates 10 years in its downtown home at 170 N. Dearborn-and a decade of great achievements. The new facility has led to record growth in all areas of the theater-from supporting its artists as they fulfill their artistic promise; to deepening the commitment to education, diversity and community; to exceeding fundraising expectations-making it possible for the Goodman to provide productions and programs that enrich the quality of life in Chicago. This milestone anniversary marks 10 years of transforming the Loop into a hub of arts and culture, revitalizing Chicago's diverse neighborhoods and positioning this city as one of this country's leading theater communities.

A September 27 Season Opening Benefit launches the milestone season. The evening begins at the Art Institute of Chicago's Modern Wing-the location of the theater's former home of 75 years. Honored will be those who paved the way for the new Goodman and made possible its myriad artistic, economic and community engagement achievements over the past decade. The evening continues with a performance of Candide. For tickets and more information about the Season Opening Benefit, call 312.443.5564. This will be the first in a season-long series of commemorative happenings.

About the Plays and Artists in Goodman Theatre's 2010/2011 Season
All plays, artists and dates are subject to change

IN THE ALBERT THEATRE
Candide
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Book Adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler
Lyrics by Richard Wilbur
Additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein
Directed by Mary Zimmerman
September 17 - October 26, 2010

Tony Award and MacArthur "Genius" Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman's breathtaking new production of Candide is the theatrical event of the season. In addition to the music of Leonard Bernstein, Candide features contributions from the greatest lyricists of the 20th century, from Richard Wilbur to Stephen Sondheim. In this racy musical satire, naive Candide is banished for romancing the Baron's daughter, only to be plagued by a series of absurd hardships that challenge his optimistic outlook of life and love.

Rain
By ReGina Taylor
Starts January 2011
A World Premiere
January 15 - February 20, 2011

Rain is ReGina Taylor's most personal and intimate work to date. Fiercely independent Iris has made a successful life for herself as a journalist in New York City, but when her marriage fails, she begins to unravel. In search of solace, Iris returns to her mother's house in Texas, but her homecoming proves more confounding than consoling when her mother makes a shocking announcement. As long-buried family secrets come to light, Iris must face her past and make some difficult decisions about the future.

God of Carnage
By Yasmina Reza
A Chicago Premiere
March 5 - April 10, 2011

Don't miss the Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation God of Carnage, by Yasmina Reza (Art). When Alan and Annette's son hits Michael and Veronica's son with a stick, the two couples meet to discuss the problem over appetizers. What starts as a civilized get-together quickly devolves into a scrappy, laugh-out-loud evening that The New Yorker calls "ninety minutes of sustained mayhem." In unanimous critical praise for its Broadway debut, God of Carnage has been hailed "first class" (The New York Times), "the best play in town!" (New York Post) and "scabrously funny" (USA Today) and earned the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and three Tony Awards, including Best Play.

Stage Kiss
By Sarah Ruhl
A World Premiere Goodman Theatre commission
April 30 - June 5, 2011

In this quirky new comedy by MacArthur "Genius" Award-winner Sarah Ruhl, art imitates life-or is it the other way around? When ex-lovers HE and SHE are thrown together as romantic leads in an outrageously dreadful melodrama,
they quickly lose touch with reality as the story onstage begins to follow them offstage. Stage Kiss is a hilarious, off-
beat fairy-tale about what happens when lovers share a stage kiss-or when actors share a real one...

- continued -
Chinglish
By David Henry Hwang
Directed by Leigh Silverman
A World Premiere Produced in Association with The Public Theater
June 18 - July 24, 2011

The truth is lost-or concealed-in Chinglish, a new work by Tony Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly). When American businessman Daniel arrives in China hoping to make an important deal, he finds himself enmeshed in a system that he doesn't understand - and is more complex than he ever imagined.

IN THE OWEN THEATRE
The Seagull
By Anton Chekhov
Directed by Robert Falls
October 16 - November 14, 2010

Goodman Artistic Director Robert Falls directs an intimate new production of Chekhov's masterwork The Seagull, whose unforgettable characters reveal the passion and pathos of everyday life. When famed actress Irina visits her family with her young lover Trigorin in tow, they become ensnared in a tragicomic tangle of romance, intrigue and unrequited love. Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience a 20th century masterpiece, interpreted by one of America's outstanding directors-in the Owen Theatre.

Mary
By Thomas Bradshaw
Directed by May Adrales
A World Premiere Goodman Theatre Commission
February 5 - March 6, 2011

Outrageous. Ruthless. Explosive. Named "Best Provocative Playwright" by The Village Voice, Thomas Bradshaw pulls
no punches in his comic absurdist drama Mary. At the height of what Time magazine dubbed "AIDS hysteria" in 1983, college student David invites his boyfriend home to his parents' house in Virginia where nothing has changed since the 1800s-including the slave quarters. Confronting hypocrisy and oppression with exhilarating wit, Bradshaw's incendiary work is "likely to leave you speechless!" (The New York Times).

About Goodman Theatre

Currently on stage is the Chicago premiere of The Good Negro by Tracey Scott Wilson, directed by Chuck Smith (through June 6; Albert Theatre). Hephaestus, a Lookingglass and Silverguy Entertainment production at Goodman Theatre, appears in the Owen Theatre. (For press inquiries, call 773.564.9564). The final production in the 2009/2010 Season is The Sins of Sor Juana by Karen Zacarías, directed by Henry Godinez (June 19 - July 25; Albert Theatre), which launches the Goodman's 5th Latino Theatre Festival-including the U.S. debut of Teatro Buendía, Cuba's acclaimed theater company.

Goodman Theatre has been internationally recognized for its artists, productions and programs since its founding in 1925. Celebrating ten years in the North Loop Theatre District, Goodman Theatre is a major cultural, educational and economic pillar in Chicago. Named the nation's "Best Regional Theatre" by Time magazine, Goodman Theatre has garnered hundreds of awards for artistic achievement and community engagement, including numerous Tony Awards and two Pulitzer Prizes. Under the leadership of artistic director Robert Falls and executive director Roche Schulfer, Goodman Theatre's priorities include new plays, re-imagined classic productions, culturally specific work and musical theater. Over the past thirty years, the Goodman has produced more than 100 world or American premieres. Robert Falls' contemporary versions Death of a Salesman, Long Day's Journey into Night and King Lear have been celebrated nationally and internationally, along with his artistic collaboration with actor Brian Dennehy. Cultural diversity stands at the forefront of the Goodman's mission; over the past two decades, one-third of Goodman productions have featured artists of color (including 21 world premieres) and the Goodman was the first theater in the world to produce all ten plays in August Wilson's 20th Century Cycle. Since 2003, the Latino Theatre Festival has been a biennial celebration of Latin theater companies from Chicago and around the globe. Over the past two decades, the Goodman has produced 25 musical theater works, including 10 world premieres. Each year Goodman's numerous education and community engagement programs, including the highly praised Student Subscription Series, serve several thousand Chicago Public High School students. In addition, for 33 years the annual holiday tradition of A Christmas Carol has led to the creation of a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. Goodman Theatre's leadership includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Brian Dennehy, Frank Galati, Henry Godinez, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, and ReGina Taylor. The chairman of Goodman Theatre's Board of Trustees is Patricia Cox and Karen Pigott is President of the Women's Board. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre.

Visit us virtually! Goodman Theatre proudly celebrates ten years in its home on Dearborn Street-and a decade of great achievements. Visit GoodmanTheatre.org for more information; catch the latest news on the Goodman's Blog; Friend us on Facebook; Follow us on Twitter; and peek behind-the-scenes on the Goodman's You Tube Channel.