Cast Set For THE NACIREMA SOCIETY at the Goodman Theatre

Goodman Theatre’s 2023/2024 Season—Susan V. Booth’s first to curate as new Artistic Director—begins with works by Pearl Cleage, Atlanta’s first Poet Laureate and Booth’s longtime creative collaborator and friend.

The season opening production, The Nacirema Society directed by Lili-Anne Brown, appears in the Goodman’s 856-seat Albert Theatre with a cast including Chicago powerhouses E. Faye Butler, Ora Jones, Tyla Abercrumbie, Demetra Dee and more; details below. 

The Nacirema Society is the centerpiece of a citywide salute to Ms. Cleage—including events that offer other entry points to the award-winner’s body of work produced in partnership with Black Ensemble Theater, Congo Square Theatre, Definition Theatre, ETA Creative Arts Foundation, MPAACT and Remy Bumppo Theatre Company (more details about the Pearl Cleage Festival to be announced later this month). In addition, Booth announced a season programmatic change: the new musical comedy Female Troubles—music by Curtis Moore, lyrics by Amanda Green and book by Gabrielle Allan and Jennifer Crittenden—has been rescheduled from Spring 2024 to January 2025 (appearing as part of the 2024/2025 Season) due to scheduling conflicts. A new musical project for Spring 2024 will be announced this week.

Booth tapped famed Chicago-based artist Lili-Anne Brown to direct the season opener, Cleage’s The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at a Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years.

“This play is unexpected and joyous,” said Lili-Anne Brown. “It reminds us that no matter what is happening in the world—wars, disasters, revolutions—people are still getting married, coming of age, celebrating milestones. We're still living life. I'm so thrilled to dig into this hilarious little slice of life with this amazing powerhouse cast."

Brown’s cast for the Chicago premiere production is led by E. Faye Butler as the matriarch of Alabama’s aristocratic family, joined by Tyla Abercrumbie (Alpha Campbell Jackson), Demetra Dee (Gracie Dunbar), Eric Gerard (Bobby Green), Sharriese Hamilton (Marie Dunbar), Ora Jones (Catherine Adams Green), Jaye Ladymore (Janet Logan), Felicia Oduh (Lillie Campbell Jackson) and Shariba Rivers (Jessie Roberts). Understudies for this production include Diana Coates (Janet Logan/Marie Dunbar), Jabari Khaliq (Bobby Green), Gabrielle Lott-Rogers (Alpha Campbell Jackson), Tania Richard (Jessie Roberts/Catherine Adams Green), Shariba Rivers (Grace Dunbar), Kianna Rose (Gracie Dunbar) and Aja Singletary (Lillie Campbell Jackson).

It's 1964 Montgomery, Alabama, and the Nacirema Society prepares for its annual introduction of six elegant African-American debutantes to a world of prosperity, privilege and social responsibility. This centennial year, the Society's grande dame, Grace Dunbar, will have nothing less than perfection for her granddaughter Gracie's debut. And with young love brewing, old family skeletons rattling, national media attention abounding and a blackmail plot bubbling…what would dare go awry? The Nacirema Society appears September 16 – October 15, 2023 in the 856-seat Albert Theatre; opening night is Tuesday, September 26. Tickets ($25 –$90, subject to change) are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Society or by phone at 312-443-3800. The Goodman is grateful for the support of JP Morgan Chase & Co. (Lead Corporate Sponsor) and Allstate (Major Corporate Sponsor).

The creative team includes Lorenzo Rush, Jr. (Assistant Director); Arti Ishak (SDCF Directing Observation); Arnel Sancianco (Set Design); Samantha Jones (Costume Design); Jason Lynch (Lighting Design); Stephanie Farina and Willow James (Sound Design); Greg Geffrard and Sheryl Williams (Intimacy).

Casting is by Lauren Port, CSA and Rachael Jimenez, CSA. Dramaturgy by Gabrielle Randle-Bent. Nikki Blue is the Production Stage Manager and Joan McCarty is the Stage Manager.

Pearl Cleage is currently the Distinguished Artist in Residence at Atlanta’s Tony Award winning Alliance Theatre. Her new play Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous, had its world premiere as a part of the theatre’s 50th anniversary season in 2019 and recently completed a successful run at Hartford Stage. Both productions were directed by Susan V. Booth. Her other plays premiered at the Alliance include What I Learned in Paris, Blues for an Alabama Sky, and Flyin’ West. Cleage’s latest play Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard was commissioned by Ford Theatre’s Lincoln Legacy Project and will be produced at Ford’s Theatre in the fall of 2023. Her first of 8 novels, What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day, was an Oprah Book Club pick and spent nine weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Ms. Cleage currently serves as Atlanta’s first Poet Laureate.

Lili-Anne Brown (Director) is a native Chicagoan who works as a director, actor and educator. She has performed in, directed and produced many award-winning shows, both local and regional. Goodman credits include I Hate It Here, School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play and the world premiere of Ike Holter’s Lottery Day. She is the former Artistic Director of Bailiwick Chicago, where she focused programming on Chicago-premiere musicals and new play development with resident playwrights. She is a member of SDC, AEA, SAG-AFTRA and is represented by William Morris Endeavor. lilbrownchicago.com

In conjunction with this production, a Chicago-wide celebration of Pearl Cleage will be produced in partnership with Congo Square, Definition Theatre, ETA Creative Arts Foundation, Ma'at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre (MPAACT) and Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, to offer other entry points to the award-winner’s body of work. Details to come for the Pearl Cleage Festival.

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