Goodman Theatre Presents A TRUE HISTORY OF THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD, 3/13-4/18

Was it natural disaster or man-made greed that led to the loss of 2,200 lives in 1889? Playwright Rebecca Gilman teams up with Tony Award-winning Director Robert Falls for the world premiere of A True History of the Johnstown Flood, an epic theatrical event set against the backdrop of the 1889 floods a disaster more deadly than Hurricane Katrina.

The Goodman commissioned Gilman, an acclaimed Chicago-based writer whose work "reaches the heart and head with equal force" (Time) and has the "ability to shake up a theater audience with the power of her ideas&#8212and words" (Chicago Tribune), for this world premiere about love, money, class struggles and the power of theater to change lives. A True History of the Johnstown Flood runs March 13 &#8211 April 18, 2010 in the Goodman's Albert Theatre. Tickets start at $25. The Edith-Marie Appleton Foundation is the Major Production Sponsor and WBEZ 91.5 FM is the Principal Media Sponsor. The Goodman gratefully acknowledges the Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for Support of New Work Development and Production. Workshop support provided by The Davee Foundation. Additional support provided by the Directors Season Sponsors, World Premiere Season Sponsors, Women Playwright Season Sponsors and Director's Society Sponsors.

"A True History of the Johnstown Flood is one of the most challenging plays I have ever directed at the Goodman, and is certainly one of Rebecca's most ambitious works to date," said Falls, who shares a decade-long collaboration with Gilman (see below for detials). "Panoramic in its breadth of ideas and theatricality, it's an extraordinary social commentary about one of America's first great disasters."

A True History of the Johnstown Flood is "a work of fiction, despite its title," notes Playwright Rebecca Gilman, who found striking parallels to the 1889 disaster in the devastating aftermath of 2005's Hurricane Katrina. "I traced how artists respond to disaster, and asked: what is the role of art in these situations?" The traveling Baxter Family Theater Troupe&#8212siblings James (Stephen Louis Grush), Richard (Cliff Chamberlain) and Fanny (Heather Wood)&#8212has been summoned to perform at the exclusive South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, set on the beautiful man-made Lake Conemaugh in the Allegheny Mountains. Although the troupe's repertoire consists of the romantic trifles typical of the era, James Baxter dreams of a different kind of play, exposing the true struggles of common people. When a violent rainstorm compromises the lake's shoddily constructed dam, the resulting disaster lays bare the tragic inequities of the rigid class system&#8212and paves the way for a seismic change in both theater and society. As previously announced, the cast also features Janet Ulrich Brooks, Sarah Charipar, Cedric Mays, Randall Newsome and Lucas Hall. For bio information, click each artist's name.

For visuals depicting the destruction caused by 20 million tons of water&#8212but not a drop on stage&#8212Gilman and Falls tapped a first-rate design team, including Walt Spangler (Set), Ana Kuzmanic (Costumes), Richard Woodbury (Sound) and James F. Ingalls (Lighting). This team of artists together created Falls' previous large-scale productions of Desire Under the Elms and King Lear (note: the late Michael Philippi designed lighting). "Part of the pleasure of coming to the theater is seeing the work of our incredible designers, who are largely responsible for realizing the physical world of the play," said Falls. Agrees Gilman, "What these artists have created in the scope of their design opens up the play in a way I hadn't imagined."

Rebecca Gilman at Goodman Theatre &#8211 Six Collaborations Over a Decade

"I am fortunate to have the relationship I have with the Goodman. Bob and I share a common language about how we want to make plays. That's unparalleled," said Gilman. "I am thrilled he is directing this play because I was directly inspired by his productions of King Lear, Death of a Salesman and Long Day's Journey Into Night&#8212productions that stand out as three of the greatest experiences I've ever had in the theater. I think Bob is moving in a big, bold, super-theatrical direction that is very exciting."

A True History of the Johnstown Flood marks the sixth collaboration between Goodman Theatre and the award-winning Chicago playwright. Falls first encountered Gilman when he read her 1998 play The Glory of Living (a 2002 Pulitzer Prize finalist that was first produced at Circle Theatre). Soon after, Falls commissioned Gilman to write a new play for the Goodman; she responded with the provocative, hard-hitting Spinning Into Butter (premiered in the Goodman Studio in 1999, directed by Les Waters, was subsequently produced at Lincoln Center Theater in 2000, and most recently made into a feature film starring Sarah Jessica Parker). The show's run was extended three times and led to Gilman's next Goodman commission, Boy Gets Girl (premiered at the Goodman in 2000, directed by the late Michael Maggio), which transferred to New York's Manhattan Theatre Club and was recently named by Time magazine as one of the "Best Theatre Productions of the Decade." Falls later directed both Blue Surge (2001) and Dollhouse (2005)&#8212a modern interpretation of Ibsen's A Doll's House. In 2009, The Crowd You're In With, directed by Wendy C. Goldberg, made its Chicago debut at the Goodman. For images and more information about Gilman and her works at Goodman Theatre, visit the Press Room at GoodmanTheatre.org

Tickets to A True History of the Johnstown Flood start at $25 and are on sale now. Call 312.443.3800, click www.GoodmanTheatre.org or visit the box office (170 North Dearborn). Mezztix are half-price mezzanine tickets available at 12 noon at the box office, and at 10am online (promo code MEZZTIX) day of performance; Mezztix are not available by telephone. 10Tix are $10 mezzanine tickets for students available at 12 noon at the box office, and at 10am online on the day of performance; 10Tix are not available by telephone. Valid student I.D. must be presented when picking up the tickets. Limit four per student with I.D. All tickets are subject to availability and handling fees apply. Discounted Group Tickets for 10 persons or more are available at 312.443.3820.

About Goodman Theatre

Currently playing at the Goodman is: the world premiere of The Long Red Road by Brett C. Leonard, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman (extended through March 21, 2010; Owen Theatre). Still to come in the 2009/2010 Season: The Good Negro by Tracey Scott Wilson, directed by Chuck Smith (May 1 &#8211 June 6; Albert Theatre); and The Sins of Sor Juana by Karen Zacarías, directed by Henry Godinez (June 19 &#8211 July 25, 2010; Albert) which launches the Goodman's 5th Latino Theater Festival (offerings TBA).

Named the country's "Best Regional Theatre" by Time magazine (2003), Goodman Theatre is a leader in the American theater, internationally recognized for its artists, productions and educational programs since its founding in 1925. Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer's forward-thinking leadership has earned the Goodman unparalleled artistic distinction, garnered hundreds of awards&#8212including the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre (1992) and Pulitzer Prizes for Ruined by Lynn Nottage and Glengarry GLen Ross by David Mamet&#8212and moved dozens of plays from Chicago to stages in New York and abroad. Central to its commitment to the reinvestigation of classics and development of new plays and artists is the Goodman's Artistic Collective, including Brian Dennehy, Frank Galati, Henry Godinez, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, ReGina Taylor and Mary Zimmerman. The largest not-for-profit theater in Chicago, the Goodman moved in 2000 into a brand new state-of-the-art complex which houses two principal theaters: the 856-seat Albert Ivar Goodman Theatre and the 400-seat flexible Owen Bruner Goodman Theatre. Board Chairman is Patricia Cox and Karen Pigott is President of the Women's Board. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre.

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