Nilo Cruz, Regina Taylor and More Featured In Goodman Theatre's New Stage Series, 12/11 - 12/20

Brand-new plays from six contemporary, diverse voices of the American theater come together for two weekends in Goodman Theatre's 2009 New Stages Series, December 11 - 20, 2009. The series of script-in-hand staged readings takes place in the Goodman's Owen Theatre and is open to the public.

For its seventh year, the New Stages Series includes the newest work by acclaimed playwright, director, actor and Goodman Theatre Artistic Associate ReGina Taylor; Pulitzer Prize-winner Nilo Cruz (Anna in the Tropics, 2003); Kia Corthron, whose work has appeared at Manhattan Theatre Club, Mark Taper Forum and Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival of New American Plays; Minneapolis-based playwright Carlyle Brown, whose work has been commissioned by the Goodman, Actors Theatre of Louisville and Arena Stage; Chicago playwright Rohina Malik, known for her work with Teatro Vista, 16th Street Theater, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble and Live Bait Theater; and award-winning playwright Thomas Bradshaw, whose latest play The Bereaved at Wild Project in New York opened to critical and popular acclaim in September.

The Goodman's New Stages Series has provided the first look at nearly 35 new plays, many of which have gone on to receive world-premiere productions at the Goodman-including the 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winning Ruined by Lynn Nottage and the upcoming The Long Red Road by Brett C. Leonard (February 13 - March 14, 2010). Several others have been produced at theaters across the country, including Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons, New York's The Public Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, American Theatre Company and Geffen Playhouse. A complete list of these productions is available upon request.

The New Stages Series is supported in part by generous grants from the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust and the Glasser and Rosenthal Family. The Davee Foundation is the major contributor toward research and development of new work at the Goodman. Prince Charitable Trusts is a Gold Benefactor supporter of the Goodman Theatre's Endowment for New Work. New work at the Goodman is also made possible in part by the Lester and Hope Abelson Fund for Artistic Development. The Series is also made possible by Goodman World Premiere Season Sponsors Randy and Lisa White, and M. Ann O'Brien, and New Works Season Sponsors: Julie and Roger Baskes; Joan and Robert Clifford; Patricia Cox; Eva and Michael Losacco; Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Foundation; Karen and Richard Pigott; Alice Rapoport and Michael Sachs, Sg2; Shaw Family Supporting Organization; and Orli and Bill Staley.

2009 New Stages Series: (Plays, dates and artists subject to change)

Rain
By Goodman Theatre Artistic Associate ReGina Taylor
Friday, December 11 at 7pm

Laced with humor, Rain is a moving portrait of family, motherhood and the ties that bind one generation to the next.

The Color of Desire
By Nilo Cruz
Directed by Wendy C. Goldberg
Saturday, December 12 at 7pm

First seen as part of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's 2009 National Playwrights Conference, this new play by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Nilo Cruz is a vibrant and poetic exploration of the lost love affair between America and Cuba.

The Bugs of the Pigs in the Lions
By Kia Corthron
Directed by Goodman Theatre Resident Director Chuck Smith
Sunday, December 13 at 7pm

In the wake of the Patriot Act, one woman struggles to balance the disadvantages of censorship with the advantages of privacy.

Dartmoor Prison
By Carlyle Brown
A Goodman Theatre Commission
Directed by Marion McClinton
Friday, December 18 at 7pm

During a period of time when millions of Africans are enslaved, African American seaman and former boxer Richard Crafus, known as 'King Dick,' is forced to question the meaning of freedom and patriotism.

Yasmina's Necklace
By Rohina Malik
Directed by Goodman Theatre Resident Artistic Associate Henry Godinez
Saturday, December 19 at 7pm

Longing to shed his cultural identity, Abdul Samee does everything in his power to turn his back on his heritage-but begins to learn that a tree without roots cannot stand for long.

Mary
By Thomas Bradshaw
A Goodman Theatre Commission
Directed by Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls
Sunday, December 20 at 7pm

A darkly comic new play by provocative young writer Thomas Bradshaw that tackles race, sexuality, religion and the devastating nature of hate.

Tickets are free, but reservations are required: 312.443.3800 or through the Goodman Box Office (170 N Dearborn St).  For more information, click here.

Currently playing at the Goodman are Animal Crackers, book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, music and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, directed by Henry Wishcamper (September 18 - October 25, 2009 in the Albert); Stoop Stories written and performed by Dael Orlandersmith, directed by Jo Bonney (September 12 - October 11, 2009 in the Owen).

Upcoming in the 2009/2010 Season are Brian Dennehy in the Broadway-bound double-bill of Hughie by Eugene O'Neill, directed by Robert Falls and Krapp's Last Tape by Samuel Beckett, directed by Jennifer Tarver (January 16 - February 21, 2010); the world premiere of A True History of the Johnstown Flood by Rebecca Gilman, directed by Robert Falls (March 13 - April 18, 2010); The Good Negro by Tracey Scott Wilson, directed by Chuck Smith (May 1 - June 6, 2010); The Sins of Sor Juana by Karen Zacarías, directed by Henry Godinez (June 19 - July 25, 2010) which launches the Goodman's fifth Latino Theater Festival (offerings TBA). Offerings in the Owen Theatre include High Holidays, by Alan Gross, directed by Steven Robman (October 31 - November 29, 2009) and The Long Red Road by Brett C. Leonard, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman (February 13 - March 14, 2010).

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-including the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre (1992) and Pulitzer Prizes for Ruined by Lynn Nottage and Glengarry GLen Ross by David Mamet-and 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.