Goodman Theatre News

Victory Gardens Theater continues its 42st season with the world premiere of Roz and Ray, written by Karen Hartman and directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. Roz and Ray features Mary Beth Fisher (Roz) and James Vincent Meredith (Ray). This World Premiere runs November 11 - December 11, 2016, with the press performance on Friday, November 18, 2016, at 7:30 pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

It was the most successful show in the history of Chicago's Goodman Theatre, and very soon, New York will get a taste of it too.

Playwrights Foundation and the National Center for New Plays at Stanford begin the 2016/17 Rough Reading Series on October 24 & 25 with early draft  readings of ALL FALL DOWN by Lisa Ramirez (PF Resident Playwright), on Monday, Monday, October 24 - 7:30 pm at Stanford and Tuesday, October 25 - 2:00 pm at Custom Made Theatre in San Francisco.

A spectacular new production of Disney's The Little Mermaid kicks off at The 5th Avenue Theatre this holiday season. Featuring the critically acclaimed work of Director Glenn Casale, this beloved tale of a young mermaid's coming-of-age adventure is told like never before. Previously announced casting includes Seattle's own Diana Huey as Ariel and Matthew Kacergis as Prince Eric, with Broadway's Jennifer Allen as Ursula andSteven Blanchard as King Triton. Melvin Abston, Connor Russell and Jamie Torcellini join the cast as Sebastian, Flounder and Scuttle. The 5th Avenue's production will go on to play engagements in cities including Orlando, Cincinnati,Atlanta and Louisville, among others.

Signature Theatre announced its partnership with TodayTix, the free mobile app that provides on-demand access to last-minute theater tickets, to launch a mobile lottery offering exclusive $25 tickets for every evening performance of Signature Theatre's world premiere production of Disney's Freaky Friday.

The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, by Kristoffer Diaz and directed by Kate St-Pierre, runs at Cockroach Theatre Company October 13 - 30, 2016.

Seattle Repertory Theatre today announced the highly anticipated two-person casting for the world-premiere production, Roz and Ray, a play by local playwright, Seattle Rep Writers Group alumna, and University of Washington Senior Artist in Residence Karen Hartman, with direction from the acclaimed Chay Yew, Artistic Director of Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), announces that Lisa Portes is the recipient of the 2016 Zelda Fichandler Award, which recognizes an outstanding director or choreographer who is transforming the regional arts landscape through singular creativity and artistry in the theatre. The award heralds accomplishment to date and promise for the future, artistic vision, and deep commitment to a region outside of New York. It carries an unrestricted grant of $5,000 to the individual recipient.

Quintessence Theatre Group continues producing progressive classic theatre and launces its seventh season with David Hare's translation of Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children, with original music by Michael Friedman.

Christine Ebersole will make a triumphant return to the Cafe Carlyle on October 11, kicking off what will be her sixth engagement at the legendary Upper East Side venue. Believe it or not, though, the two-time Tony Award winner (42ND STREET, GREY GARDENS) still finds cabaret to be the most intimidating performance capacity for an artist, but simultaneously the most rewarding. Prior to her run of shows, BroadwayWorld had a chance to chat with Ebersole about what it's like to perform in a space so richly seeped in history, as well as how she is able to craft a narrative for each of her concerts that is resonant of the current space in which she finds herself. Additionally, Ebersole divulged her hopes for the future of WAR PAINT, the new musical which she starred in this summer from the creative team behind GREY GARDENS, and what it was like to finally work alongside Patti LuPone, after having known her for 40 years.

THE MALIBU PLAYHOUSE is thrilled to present a world premiere play, LIFE EXPECTANCY: A COMEDY IN THREE TRIMESTERS, written by Catherine Butterfield and directed by Ron West. LIFE EXPECTANCY: A COMEDY IN THREE TRIMESTERS will preview on Thursday, October 6 & Friday, October 7 and will open on Saturday, October 8 and run through Sunday, October 23 at the Malibu Playhouse, 29243 Pacific Coast Highway, in Malibu.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) begins its 2016/17 season with The Burials, a world premiere by acclaimed playwright Caitlin Parrish, directed by Erica Weiss. Inspired by the enduring Greek tragedy, Antigone, the production explores the aftermath of a mass shooting and how one family and one community respond to the tragedy in unique ways. SYA curates numerous workshops, residencies and post-show events to engage both students and adults in the conversation. 

Long Wharf Theatre, in conjunction with the Old Globe in San Diego, presents the world premiere of Steve Martin's Meteor Shower, directed by Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein, running from September 28 through October 23, 2016. The full cast has just been announced!

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) announces the complete cast for The Burials, a world premiere by Caitlin Parrish and the first production of SYA's 2016/17 season.

Destiny of Desire has been called "cheekily charming" (MD Theatre Guide) and "ridiculously funny" (Broadway World) for its fresh take on telenovelas, popular the world over. The latest play by Karen Zacarias, directed by Jose Luis Valenzuela on the Segerstrom Stage, is a co-production with Chicago's Goodman Theatre and is a west coast premiere. Tickets are available now at www.scr.org.

World-class magic meets a human story of love and loss in the world premiere of The Magic Play by Andrew Hinderaker at Goodman Theatre, October 21 - November 20. Critically acclaimed magician, illusion designer and actor Brett Schneider portrays a rising young magician who must take the stage just hours after his partner has left him. Though a good magician must always be in control of his show, The Magician's performance begins to unravel, illuminating his offstage life, which may be as fragile as a house of cards. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!