Goodman Theatre Welcomes Students to Free General Theatre Studies Program

Goodman Theatre's Education and Community Programs welcomes 80 students from Chicagoland public, private and parochial schools as participants in General Theatre Studies (GTS), the free six-week intensive introduction to the theater arts. GTS provides 14 to 19 year old students the hands-on opportunity to engage with and learn from local professional theater mentors, including Bobby Biedrzycki, Amanda Delheimer, Kevin Douglas, Khanisha Foster, Tony Sancho and Paul Whitehouse.

New this summer, GTS also involves members from Goodman's GeNarrations program - a writing workshop for senior citizens based on themes raised by the Goodman's mainstage productions.

Participants engage in all elements of the theater - both on stage and behind the scenes - and the program culminates in a free showcase of the participants' work July 29 and 30 on the Owen stage. For more information or to make a reservation, call 312.443.3800 ext. 1432.

Generous support of GTS is provided, in part, by AT&T Foundation and Quarles & Brady LLP. Additional Education and Community Engagement gifts partially allocated to GTS are provided by the Helen Brach Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, The Irving Harris Foundation and Carlson Wagonlit Travel. Principal support of Artistic Development and Diversity Initiatives is provided by The Joyce Foundation.

"This is truly my favorite time of year - when students from all over Chicago choose to spend their summers exploring different aspects of both the theater and themselves at the Goodman," said Willa J. Taylor, Director of Education and Community Engagement. "Pairing these youth with members from our GeNarrations program allows our students to learn about the power of narrative and the affect of theater on people of all ages. By sharing their stories with each other and the community they are privy to the powerful effect the theater arts are able to have in an individual's everyday life."