Goodman Theatre Offers Free Opportunities for Audience Discussions Inspired by MARY, 2/15, 2/21

Goodman Theatre offers two more free opportunities for audiences to engage in dialogue inspired by the themes in Thomas Bradshaw's world-premiere Goodman commission MARY, directed by May Adrales. The Prince Prize- and Guggenheim Fellowship-winning playwright claims that his frequently provocative work is "about stimulating thought and fostering a dialogue. I'm interested in presenting real human beings in all of their complexity." Details about the two new audience events-February 15's 'Airing the Laundry: Stories We Cannot Tell' and February 21's 'God's Love is for All? Homophobia and the Church'-appear below.

Tickets are free, but reservations are required: 312.443.3800 or GoodmanTheatre.org. MARY runs through March 6 in the Goodman's Owen Theatre; tickets are $10 - $42. Albert Goodman/The Edith-Marie Appleton Foundation is the Major Production Sponsor for MARY.

February 15 at 6pm
'Airing the Laundry: Stories We Cannot Tell'
Panelists Coya Paz, Writer/Director/Performer, Shilpa Bavikatte, Producer of Voices of Resistance, the annual South Asian arts festival, Vaun Monroe, Filmmaker/Screenwriter/Director, Rebecca Rugg, Steppenwolf Theatre Dramaturg and Associate Producer.

This panel discusses the taboos artists of color and women often face in the kinds of stories they "can" tell, the types of characters that are "acceptable," and the relatively limited images we see in film, television and on stage. Moderated by Harvey Young, professor at Northwestern University.

February 21 at 6pm
'God's Love is for All?: Homophobia and the Church'

Panelists: Reverend Irene Monroe, Theologian and Coordinator of the African American Roundtable of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry (CLGS) at the Pacific School of Religion, Rabbi Laurence Edwards, Congregation Or Chadash and adjunct faculty member at Catholic Theological Union, Ann Louise Haak, Associate Minister, Lake Street Church (Evanston)

Using MARY as a jumping off point, this panel examines the Biblical references used to justify the discrimination about LGBTQ peoples, provides some historical and contextual background and looks at what people of faith are doing now to make congregations welcoming and affirming. Moderated by Yasmin Nair, Chicago-based writer, activist, academic and commentator.