Goodman Theatre Holds Free Student-Performed Showcases for its Summer Youth Programs

More than 60 Chicagoland teenagers will perform in two final showcases at Goodman Theatre to conclude the theater's summer programming-Playbuild Youth Intensive and Musical Theater Intensive-on August 11 and 12 at 7pm. Both programs were offered free of charge and taught over a course of seven-to-eight weeks in the Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement ("the Alice"). This year's theme, "What it Means to be an American," uses Langston Hughes' poem "I too, Sing America" as inspiration. The final performances are scheduled for Friday, August 11 and Saturday, August 12 at 7pm at Goodman Theatre (170 N. Dearborn). Tickets are free but reservations are required; call 312.443.3800. For more information, visit GoodmanTheatre.org/PlaybuildYouthFinal and GoodmanTheatre.org/MusicalTheaterFinal.

Now in its 10th year, PlayBuild Youth Intensive's seven-week curriculum uses all elements in the creation of theater to cultivate participants own voice and potential for creativity through personal history and storytelling techniques. Led by Walter Director of Education and Engagement Willa J. Taylor and 11 teaching artists-Bobby Biedrzycki, Amanda Delheimer, Khanisha Foster, Rashaad Hall, Matthew J. Hernandez, Brandi Lee, AnNa Sung-En Medill, Tony Sancho, Kristyn Zoe Wilkerson, Paul Whitehouse and Vince Williams-more than 600 students have participated in PlayBuild (formerly General Theater Studies) since its inception; approximately 79% of program participants attend public schools, with 50% enrolled in Chicago Public Schools.

The Playbuild final performance also involves one other group from the Goodman's Education and Engagement initiatives. InterGens, youth participants who have previously participated in the Goodman's education programs, create a special piece to open the August 11 performance.

Musical Theater Intensive, now in its second year, is led by acclaimed Chicago-based musical director Doug Peck together with Goodman teaching artists-Breon Arzell, Mark Jacob Chaitin, McKenzie Chinn, Matthew J. Hernandez, Gracie Meier and Darian Tene. The eight-week program is designed for young artists wishing to pursue a musical theater career. The curriculum includes classes and rehearsals and explores musical theater from Hello, Dolly! to Hamilton, and examines the influence of musicals on topical political and social matters.

About the Goodman's Education and Engagement

For three decades, the Goodman has been committed to three core values-Quality, Diversity and Community-and is distinguished by its proactive investment to the productions on stage; making aesthetic and cultural diversity the fabric of the institution; and developing programs that bring Arts as Education to Chicago youth, lifelong learners and audiences. Artist, educator and activist Willa J. Taylor leads the Goodman's educational programs, joined by a team of associates-Adrian Azevedo, Anna Gelman, Brandi Lee and Elizabeth Rice. This commitment is visibly demonstrated by the new Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement at Goodman Theatre (opened Spring 2016), which has broadened and deepened the Goodman's service to its community-efforts that evolved when Robert Falls became Artistic Director in 1986, and have exponentially expanded during the past 10 years under Taylor's leadership. Today, the Goodman offers more than 20 Education and Engagement programs-100% of which are funded by individual contributions-offered year-round and free of charge. Eighty-five percent of the Goodman's youth program participants come from underserved communities. The 30-year old flagship Education program, the School Matinee Series, trains Chicago teachers to use arts strategies in their classrooms for every subject area. For more than 20 years, the Goodman has offered a summer program designed to help Chicagoland high school students find their creative voice. Playbuild Youth Intensive, open to all 14- to 18-year old students in the Chicago metropolitan area, uses personal history and storytelling techniques to validate the voices of its participants and introduces them to all elements of theater creation-both on stage and behind the scenes. The 10-year-old Cindy Bandle Young Critics program helps young women develop the skills and critical literacy necessary to set them on a professional path. Of the 200+ alumni of this program, 100% have enrolled in college. Programs established over the past decade-including GeNarrations, InterGens, Stage Chemistry, Youth Poetry Ensemble, Play 'N 90, Musical Theatre Intensive and a brand new program called NOURISH, in partnership with Michael Rohd and the Center for Performance and Civic Practice-add to the growing array of offerings made possible only through the state-of-the-art LEED-certified Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement.

The Goodman is grateful for the generous support of its Education and Engagement program sponsors. The Goodman Women's Board is the Major Support of Education and Engagement. Michael A. Sachs and Family are Education and Engagement Season Sponsors. The Polk Bros. Foundation is the Principal Foundation Support of the Student Matinee Series, the Crown Family is the Major Support of the Student Matinee Series and Target is the Support of the Student Matinee Series. Aon, CNA, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, Walter E. Heller Foundation, Inteliquet, The Northridge Group, Ogletree Deakins, Dr. Scholls Foundation, Siragusa Family Foundation, Theatre Forward and US Bank are Support of Education and Engagement.

The Walter Family Foundation is Major Support of PlayBuild Youth Intensive, PepsiCo is the Official Nutrition Sponsor for PlayBuild Youth Intensive, BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois and KPMG are Support of PlayBuild Youth Intensive and the Goodman Scenemakers Board is the Sponsor Partner for PlayBuild Youth Intensive.

About Goodman Theatre

America's "Best Regional Theatre" (Time magazine) and "Chicago's flagship resident stage" (Chicago Tribune), Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit organization distinguished by the quality and scope of its artistic programming and civic engagement. Founded in 1925, the Goodman is led by Robert Falls-"Chicago's most essential director" (Chicago Tribune), who marks 30 years as Artistic Director this season-and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, who is celebrated for his vision and leadership over nearly four decades. Dedicated to new plays, reimagined classics and large-scale musical theater works, Goodman Theatre artists and productions have earned hundreds of awards for artistic excellence, including: two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards, nearly 160 Jeff Awards and more. Over the past three decades, audiences have experienced more than 150 world or American premieres, 30 major musical productions, as well as nationally and internationally celebrated productions of classic works (including Falls' productions of Death of a Salesman, Long Day's Journey into Night, King Lear and The Iceman Cometh, many in collaboration with actor Brian Dennehy). In addition, the Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson's "American Century Cycle." For nearly four decades, the annual holiday tradition of A Christmas Carol has created a new generation of theatergoers.

The 2016 opening of the Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement ("the Alice") launched the next phase in the Goodman's decades-long commitment as an arts and community organization dedicated to educating Chicago youth and promoting lifelong learning. Programs are offered year-round and free of charge. Eighty-five percent of the Goodman's youth program participants come from underserved communities.

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 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. Joan E. Clifford is Chair of Goodman Theatre's Board of Trustees, Cynthia K. Scholl is Women's Board President and Justin A. Kulovsek is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.

Visit the Goodman virtually at GoodmanTheatre.org -including OnStage+ for insider information-and on Twitter (@GoodmanTheatre), Facebook and Instagram.