Casting Complete For 15th Annual New Stages Festival

Casting is complete for the three "developmental productions" featured in Goodman Theatre's 15th annual New Stages Festival-a free celebration of new works by some of the country's finest established and emerging playwrights. These three plays, which are staged in repertory following two weeks of rehearsal, include There's Always the Hudson by Paola Lázaro-Muñoz, directed by Jess McLeod; Felons and Familias by Sandra Delgado, directed by Marcela Muñoz; and Graveyard Shift by Korde Arrington Tuttle, directed by Danya Taymor. Developmental productions are designed by Kevin Depinet (Set), Noël Huntzinger (Costumes for There's Always the Hudson and Graveyard Shift), Birgit Rattenborg Wise (Costumes for Felons and Familias), Jesse Klug (Lights) and Richard Woodbury (Sound).

Full cast lists are included below. The New Stages Festival runs September 19 - October 7 in the Owen Theatre; to reserve FREE tickets, call 312.443.3800, visit GoodmanTheatre.org/NewStagesFestival or the box office (170 N. Dearborn). For more information about "Industry Professionals Weekend," visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Professionals.

In addition, four one-time-only staged readings appear during the final weekend of the festival ("Professionals Weekend"), including The Wizards by Ricardo Gamboa, directed by Azar Kazemi (October 5 at 10:30am); Between Covers by Sarah Schulman, directed by Wendy C. Goldberg (October 5 at 2pm); Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle (October 6 at 10:30am), directed by Vivienne Benesch; and Cressida on Top by Paula Vogel, directed by Shana Cooper (October 6 at 2pm).

Since New Stages' inception, more than 80 plays have been produced as a developmental production or staged reading. More than 60% of all plays developed in New Stages have received a world premiere production at the Goodman or another leading U.S. theater. The 2018/2019 Season features five world premieres that originated in New Stages-We're Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time by David Cale, Lady in Denmark by Dael Orlandersmith, How to Catch Creation by Christina Anderson, Twilight Bowl by Rebecca Gilman and Lottery Day by Ike Holter.

The Goodman is grateful for the generosity of its New Work sponsors, including: the Time Warner Foundation, Lead Support of New Play Development; the Pritzker-Pucker Family Foundation, Major Support of New Play Development; the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Major Support of New Work Development; the Glasser and Rosenthal Family, Support of New Work Development; and the Joyce Foundation, Principal Support for Diverse Artistic and Professional Development.

Casting for 2018 New Stages Festival Developmental Productions

There's Always the Hudson
By Paola Lázaro-Muñoz, directed by Jess McLeod
A Developmental Production; appears in repertory (September 19 - October 6)

Lola and T met years ago in group therapy, where they set a far-off deadline to be happier...or else. With that deadline suddenly approaching-tomorrow at 4:30am-they'll meet on the George Washington Bridge for one last chance to turn the world upside down. Two half-broken souls are out for revenge on everyone who has ever hurt, stolen from, or otherwise wronged them in this foul and fearless adventure.

CAST:

Charin Alvarez....................Isabela
Rinksa Carrasco..............Lola
Eddie Martinez................Ernesto/Antonio
Steve Pickering................Ruddy
Neil Tyrone Pritchard.......T
Bradley Grant Smith........Chase/Scott
Rebekah Ward.................Angie/Madeline

Felons and Familias
By Sandra Delgado, directed by Marcela Muñoz
A Developmental Production; appears in repertory (September 21 - October 7)

Like millions of Americans, Clara's days are consumed with juggling work and family. Recently divorced with a tween-age daughter and an ageing father, she finally has something to look forward to: a trip to Europe. In preparation, Clara, who immigrated to the U.S. as a child, decides to apply for full citizenship. When her application is flagged, an unfathomable series of events threaten to force her from the only home she's ever known.

CAST:
Katie Barberi....................Vega/Chava
Donovan Diaz...................Ruben
Raul Romero Lira..............Papi
Katherine Navigato............Stella
Monica Orozco..................Clara
Luigi Sottile......................David

Graveyard Shift
By Korde Arrington Tuttle, directed by Danya Taymor
A Developmental Production; appears in repertory (September 23 - October 7)

When an exciting job offer materializes, Janelle relocates to Texas and moves in with her partner, Kane. Meanwhile, a small-town police officer's life is thrown into flux when the co-worker he's romantically involved with decides to leave town. When their worlds collide, Janelle and Kane experience firsthand how dangerous power can be. An unflinching but big-hearted look at how we navigate a world full of fear, Graveyard Shift is inspired by real events.

CAST:
Japhet Balaban..................Brian
Meighan Gerachis...............Trish
Aneisa Hicks......................Janelle
Al'Jaleel McGhee.................Kane
Tyler Meredith.....................Elise

ABOUT Goodman Theatre

AMERICA'S "BEST REGIONAL THEATRE" (Time magazine), Goodman Theatre is a premier not-for-profit organization distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and civic engagement. Led by Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the theater's artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres in the past three decades), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics (celebrated revivals include Falls' productions of Death of a Salesman and The Iceman Cometh). Goodman Theatre artists and productions have earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards, over 160 Jeff Awards and many more accolades. In addition, the Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson's "American Century Cycle;" and its annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this season, has created a new generation of theatergoers. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production partner with local off-Loop theaters and national and international companies by providing financial support or physical space for a variety of artistic endeavors.

Committed to three core values of Quality, Diversity and Community, the Goodman proactively makes inclusion the fabric of the institution and develops education and community engagement programs that support arts as education. This practice uses the process of artistic creation to inspire and empower youth, lifelong learners and audiences to find and/or enhance their voices, stories and abilities. The Goodman's Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of such programming, most offered free of charge, and has vastly expanded the theater's ability to touch the lives of Chicagoland citizens (with 85% of youth participants coming from underserved communities) since its 2016 opening.

Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago's cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family's legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth's family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation of the new Goodman center in 2000.

Today, Goodman Theatre leadership also includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Brian Dennehy, Rebecca Gilman, Henry Godinez, Dael Orlandersmith, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor, Henry Wishcamper and Mary Zimmerman. David W. Fox, Jr. is Chair of Goodman Theatre's Board of Trustees, Denise Stefan Ginascol is Women's Board President and Megan McCarthy Hayes is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.

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