Goodman Theatre's SMOKEFALL Opens Tonight

Goodman Theatre begins its landmark 90th season with an All-New Fall, two months of new American plays, each of which was developed in the theater's new play programs. Tonight, Smokefall -- playwright Noah Haidle's box office record-breaker that debuted last year in the Goodman's smaller Owen Theatre to enormous critical and popular acclaim -- opens on the Albert Theatre mainstage, directed by Anne Kauffman with original company intact, and runs through October 26. A $10 College Night takes place on Wednesday, October 1, including a pre-show pizza party reception with the artists; use promo code COLLEGE (must show valid student ID to redeem).

In addition to Smokefall, the Goodman's All-New Fall includes the world premiere of Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig's The World of Extreme Happiness directed by Eric Ting, through October 12 in the Owen Theatre; the annual New Stages Festival, October 29 - November 16 in the Owen, featuring three developmental productions -- Carlyle by Thomas Bradshaw, Feathers and Teeth by Charise Castro Smith and The Magic Play by Andrew Hinderaker -- plus three staged readings of plays by Sheila Callaghan, Keith Reddin and Tracey Scott Wilson. Finally, the Goodman facilitates a New Play Bake-Off on November 10 in partnership with Chicago Dramatists. Aspiring writers participate in a series of playwriting workshops during the month of October; then, over the weekend of November 8 and 9, writers conceive and write a new play in 24 hours. Up to ten plays will be selected for performance by an ensemble of professional actors.

A calendar of All-New Fall productions and events follows. For tickets and reservations, call 312.443.3800, visit GoodmanTheatre.org/AllNewFall or visit the box office (170 N. Dearborn). Aspiring writers interested in participating in "The New Play Bake-Off" should e-mail ElizabethRice@GoodmanTheatre.org. Visit the Goodman's new anniversary website to see famous faces who've worked at the theater, browse photos of classic productions, read interviews with noted artists and much more at GoodmanTheatre.org/90.

Smokefall's move to the Goodman's larger Albert Theatre mainstage marks only the third time in nine decades in which such a transfer has occurred in order that more audiences can experience an outstanding new play. The original six-member company includes Chicago stage legend Mike Nussbaum as The Colonel, whose performance "just weeks from his 90th birthday...had my chin on the floor" (Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune) was hailed as "miraculous...so emblematic of the play's homage to the life force itself...a rare treat" (Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times). Change is in the air as Violet (Katherine Keberlein) prepares to bring twin boys into the world. Inside her womb, her unborn sons (Guy Massey and Eric Slater) contemplate life after birth, the fragility of love and the meaning of home, while outside her body her world is in transformation: her husband, Daniel (Slater) is making plans of his own, her father The Colonel (Nussbaum) is slipping into senility and her daughter, Beauty (Catherine Combs) has taken a vow of silence. In the third act, one of the twins-now an old man-reflects on his life and family when an unexpected visitor arrives. The design team includes Kevin Depinet (set), Lindsay Jones (sound), Ana Kuzmanic (costumes) and David Weiner (lighting). Joseph Drummond is the production stage manager and Briana J. Fahey is the stage manager. Tanya Palmer is the dramaturg for the production. The Goodman's 2013 world-premiere co-production of Smokefall with South Coast Repertory was hailed as "achingly sad, transcendently lovely" (Chicago Sun-Times) "relentlessly honest and believable" (Chicago Tribune), "one of the best plays of the year" (New City) and "echoing of Wilder with a dram or two of whimsy" (Time Out Chicago).

Pictured: Catherine Combs as Beauty in rehearsal for Smokefall.