Patrick Clear, Marc Grapey, et al. Set for Goodman Theatre's RACE

Goodman Theatre Resident Director Chuck Smith announces his cast for the Chicago premiere of Race, David Mamet's "intellectually salacious" (Chicago Tribune) portrait of prejudice and social injustice within the judicial system (January 14 &#8211 February 19, 2012). The ensemble cast includes Patrick Clear (King Lear, The Clean House) as Charles; Marc Grapey (Vigils; Dead Man's Cell Phone at Steppenwolf Theatre Company) as Jack; Geoffrey Owens (Opus at Two River Theater Company, Julius Caesar at Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington, DC) as Henry and Tamberla Perry (In the Next Room or the vibrator play at Victory Gardens Theater, Eclipsed at Northlight Theatre) as Susan. Tickets for Race ($25 - $79) go on sale December 2. Mayer Brown is the Corporate Sponsor Partner for Race and WBEZ 91.5 FM is the Media Partner.

"I am thrilled to be directing this particular show because audiences are going to see a David Mamet play done the Chicago way," said Director Chuck Smith. "Mamet does not skirt issues&#8212he hits them right on and is in your face just like Chicago theater is in your face. Having these talented actors bring Mamet's controversial characters to life will be a thrilling ride for the entire Chicago community."

This latest work by Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet ruthlessly examines guilt and oppression via a compelling crime mystery. Two high-profile lawyers&#8212Henry (Geoffrey Owens) who is black, and Jack (Marc Grapey) who is white&#8212are called to defend a wealthy white client Charles (Patrick Clear) who is charged with the rape of an African-American woman. Along with their new hire, Susan (Tamberla Perry), they soon find themselves embroiled in a complex case where blatant prejudice is as disturbing as the evidence at hand. With characteristic bluntness, Mamet leaves nothing unsaid in this no-holds-barred suspense story.

Goodman Theatre, "the leading regional theater in the nation's most important theater city" (Time), is a major cultural, educational and economic pillar in Chicago, generating nearly $300 million in economic impact over the past decade in its  state-of-the-art two-theater complex on North Dearborn Street. Founded in 1925 and currently under the leadership of Artistic Director Robert Falls, "Chicago's most essential director" (Chicago Tribune), and Executive Director Roche Schulfer,  Chicago's oldest and largest not-for-profit resident theater has experienced unprecedented success over the past 10 years  in its downtown facility, welcoming nearly two million patrons to productions and events-including 10 festivals celebrating  playwrights such as David Mamet, August Wilson and Horton Foote, as well as the biennial Latino Theatre Festival-serving  30 percent more students through its Education and Community Engagement programs (including the FREE Student  Subscription Series and other interactive programs) and employing more than 3,000 artists and theater professionals. The Goodman has earned more than 90 awards for hundreds of productions, including the Pulitzer Prize for Ruined by Lynn Nottage-one of 25 new-work Goodman commissions in the last decade. The Chairman of Goodman Theatre's Board of Trustees is Patricia Cox, and Joan Clifford is President of the Women's Board. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of
Goodman Theatre.

Visit the Goodman virtually: watch artist interviews at ExploreTheGoodman.org; catch the latest news and updates on the Goodman's Blog, Goodman-Theatre.Blogspot.com/; like us on Facebook.com/GoodmanTheatre; follow us at Twitter.com/GoodmanTheatre; and peek behind the scenes at YouTube.com/TheGoodmanTheatre.

To post a comment, you must register and login.