Goodman Theatre News

Emmy Award winning actress Jane Lynch will host this year's Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser, which recognizes leadership in the theater community while raising support for the theater's artistic and outreach initiatives, honoring Hollywood legend Carol Burnett and Chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment Jim Gianopulos. Ms. Burnett will receive the Distinction in Theater Award and Mr. Gianopulos will be presented with the Distinction in Service Award by entertainment icon and longtime colleague Warren Beatty. The star-studded event will be co-chaired by Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company Robert A. Iger and his wife, journalist Willow Bay. This irreverent evening of laughter, music and stories, which is sponsored by City National Bank, will be held on Monday June 4, 2012 at the Geffen Playhouse.

The producers of FREUD'S LAST SESSION, the smash hit at the Mercury Theater (3745 N. Southport, Chicago), have announced an extension through July 15th in Chicago.

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the second production and East Coast premiere of Barrymore Award-winning playwright Bruce Graham's newest play The Outgoing Tide, running March 23 through tonight, April 22, at PTC's home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets).

'The Convert' opened last night, April 19 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. The show, written by Danai Gurira and directed by Emily Mann in co-production with McCarter Theatre Center and the Goodman Theatre, is a world premiere production running through May 19. Danai Gurira, Wes Craven, Rutina Wesley, L. Scott Caldwell, Ntare Mwine, Glen Mazzara, Nyambi Nyambi, Deidrie Henry, Kristolyn Lloyd, Mia Barron, Edwina Findley, Lauren Cohan and more attended opening night. Check out the photos below!

Preview performances begin April 21 (Opening Night is May 3) for Robert Falls' major revival of The Iceman Cometh, O'Neill's towering portrait of hope and disillusionment. Led by Tony Award-winning stage and screen star Nathan Lane as Theodore "Hickey" Hickman, the quintessential purveyor and slayer of pipe dreams, the 18-member cast is one of the largest ensembles to take the Goodman stage in recent years.

Ballybeg today announced its debut production, EMPANADA FOR A DREAM, the story of a boy growing up on the Lower East Side, written and performed by Juan Francisco Villa*. Alex Levy will direct six performances to be held at the TBG Studio Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor (between Eighth and Ninth Avenues) from April 21-29, 2012. *Member, Actors' Equity Association. AEA Showcase.

Pine Box Theater Company kicks off its 2012 Season with THE JAMMER by Rolin Jones, directed by Artistic Director Vincent Teninty, playing May 19 - July 1, 2012 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's new production of Theresa Rebeck's WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST, part of the Alley Theatre's New Play Initiative. WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST runs on the Alley Theatre's Neuhaus Stage May 11 through June 12, 2012.

FREUD'S LAST SESSION by Mark St. Germain, now in its second successful year in New York, and currently running at the Mercury Theater (3745 N. Southport, Chicago) will host a birthday celebration in honor of the anniversary of Sigmund Freud's 156th birthday on Sunday, May 6. Following both performances that day, audiences will have the opportunity to meet and greet with the cast members and snack on cupcakes. One lucky audience member will be selected to receive a "Freudian Slip" by Cosabella, courtesy of Chicago's G Boutique.

On the heels of their 2011 Best Production Awards sweep for Small Engine Repair (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, Ovation, and Garland Awards), Rogue Machine have announcesd the first production of their new season. Seen for the first time on the West Coast, Mark Roberts' Where The Great Ones Run, will include an award winning cast of actors led by Jeff Kober from May 26 at Rogue Machine, 5041 Pico Blvd., LA, CA 90019.

Due to high demand for tickets, Goodman Theatre extends Robert Falls' major revival of The Iceman Cometh with six additional performances through June 17. O'Neill's monumental drama is led by Tony Award-winners Nathan Lane and Brian Dennehy. Tickets start at $61 for the added performances (prices are subject to change) and can be purchased at GoodmanTheatre.org, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn).

Danai Gurira's powerful new play, "The Convert," which was commissioned by Center Theatre Group, will be presented at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, April 17 through May 19, 2012. The opening is scheduled for April 19. The world premiere production of "The Convert," a co-production with McCarter Theatre Center and Goodman Theatre, is directed by Emily Mann.

This spring, Berkeley Repertory Theatre concludes its season with another new play, Dael Orlandersmith's BLACK N BLUE BOYS/BROKEN MEN. This world premiere introduces audiences to children and adults forging identities in families fractured by abuse. Each relates a story that transforms these challenges into a celebration of our capacity to survive.

Now in its eighth season, Millennium Park will host free concerts, events, exhibitions and open rehearsals that showcase the very best of Chicago throughout the summer.

Just announced is word that Quiara Alegría Hudes's WATER BY THE SPOONFUL is this year's recipient of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play premiered at the Hartford Stage in October of 2011.

Goodman Theatre and Teatro Vista team up for their second world-premiere production with Fish Men, Puerto Rican playwright Cándido Tirado's new comedic drama about a group of urban chess hustlers drawn together by a shared need to overcome their individual demons. Edward Torres, Artistic Director of Teatro Vista, makes his Goodman directorial debut with this second play of a three-year producing partnership between the Goodman and Teatro Vista, Chicago's first and largest not-for-profit professional Latino theater company. Fish Men runs opening night, tomorrow, April 16, through May 6, 2012, in the Goodman's Owen Theatre. Check out photos of the production below!

The Pearl Theatre Company's production of Eugene O'Neill's A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN plays its final performance tonight, April 15, at New York City Center Stage II. This masterpiece, written in the twilight of O'Neill's illustrious career, follows a moonlight encounter between two lonely souls. The production was directed by J.R. Sullivan.

As the 15th Annual Pacific Playwrights Festival draws near, South Coast Repertory announces the directors for this years' staged readings. They include Evan Cabnet (Warrior Class), Matt Shakman (You Are Here), Meredith McDonough (I And You), Casey Stangl (The Few) and Anne Kauffman (Smokefall).

Team StarKid's latest production, HOLY MUSICAL B@MAN!, an original musical comedy parody from the creative team behind A VERY POTTER MUSICAL, will be available to view on YouTube as of this evening. This superhero-send up features a book by Matt Lang and Nick Lang, original music and lyrics by Nick Gage, with additional music by Scott Lamps.