Gas For Less @ Goodman Theatre

Goodman Theatre's intimate Owen Bruner Theatre becomes a North Side family-owned fill-up station for the world premiere of Gas For Less by Brett Neveu, directed by Dexter Bullard. Originally commissioned by Northlight Theatre and included in the Goodman's 2007 New Stages Series, Gas For Less explores issues of generational conflict and urban evolution as seen through the eyes and experiences of five memorable denizens of the community—portrayed by Kareem Bandealy, Robert Breuler, Nathan Davis, Rian Jairell and Ernest Perry Jr. Gas For Less runs May 24 - June 22; opening night is June 2 at 7pm. Tickets are $10 - $38. 

"Gas For Less is a poignant Chicago story containing all of the elements that have earned Brett rave reviews from critics and audiences alike: fascinating characters, savage wit and humor, and dramatic situations which are both immediately recognizable and dramatically resonant," said Artistic Director Robert Falls. "I've wanted to bring this young writer to the Goodman for a long time, and I'm thrilled that he has chosen Dexter Bullard—who counts among his directorial successes Tracey Letts' play Bug, which received extraordinary acclaim both in Chicago and New York—to direct this world premiere production."

Gas For Less is more than a gas station to Anthony (Rian Jairell) and his tough Croatian grandfather, Art (Robert Brueler). Their family business was once a rowdy North Side Chicago hangout where neighbors from all walks of life—African American, Puerto Rican, Croatian and Pakistani—came together to watch the Bears over coffee and Camel cigarettes. But the neighborhood is changing and gentrification threatens small mom-and-pop shops. Now the pumps are out, the coffee is burnt and the customers are scarce. And things only get worse when a sudden act of violence occurs at the station. The daunting question becomes: can the gas station be saved—and is it even worth saving?  "It's about letting go of the station, and letting go of his dreams of it being something that it can't really be again," said playwright Brett Neveu, who drew his inspiration for the play from real-life Chicagoan Phil Berman, and his North Side gas station of the same name, formerly located at Lincoln and Berteau Avenues. "That station represented Chicago to me, and now it's gone."
 

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