O'Neill Exploration Is A Success, Attendance Over 50,000

Three countries, six theater companies, fourteen plays and programs, sixty-one days and an audience numbering nearly 50,000 defined "A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century" and marked an unprecedented success for Goodman Theatre. Artistic Director Robert Falls curated the ambitious eight-play selection of O'Neill's early works that appeared on both of the Goodman's stages January 7 - March 8: the 856-Albert and the 400-seat flexible Owen, which was transformed seven times, custom-designed for the visiting companies. The Exploration offerings performed at a grand total of 90% of capacity-alone, Falls' Broadway-bound production of Desire Under the Elms achieved 95% of capacity.

"I am overwhelmed with pride, delighted and inspired by the popular and critical response to this epic creative endeavor honoring my favorite playwright," said Artistic Director Robert Falls. "Our Exploration has restored what I believe was the original impact and experience of Eugene O'Neill's plays, revitalizing the excitement and awe they received when first produced, oftentimes polarizing audiences. He remains our contemporary playwright."

Adds Executive Director Roche Schulfer, "The enthusiasm and support with which the incredible artistry of the O'Neill Exploration was met has been extraordinary. We are grateful for the support of audiences from corporate, foundation and individual sponsors to trustees, subscribers and single ticket buyers-each of whom contributed to and shares in our success."

The Associated Press deemed Falls "an O'Neill specialist" noting the playwright "still has an uncanny ability to grab headlines and spark debate among theater critics." Critics who witnessed the Exploration's offerings hailed them "utterly riveting" (The New York Times on Goodman Theatre's Desire Under the Elms); "one of the most remarkable theater performances you are likely to experience in a long time," (Chicago Sun-Times on Companhia Triptal's Bound East for Cardiff); "four riveting stars...revelatory and superbly performed," (Chicago Tribune on Toneelgroep Amsterdam's Rouw Siert Electra); "utterly astonishing, even genius," (New City on The Wooster Group's The Emperor Jones); "an immensely powerful expression, and particularly resonant now," (The Daily Herald on The Hypocrites' The Hairy Ape); and "(Director Greg) Allen's metadramatics genuinely illuminate the play-and its writer," (Chicago Tribune on The Neo-Futurists' Strange Interlude).

UBS was the lead sponsor of "A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century," Motorola was the Corporate Sponsor Partner and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council were the Sponsor Partners. Additional support was provided by the Consulate General of the Netherlands. Individual Exploration Sponsors include Richard and Mary L. Gray; Anne and Burt Kaplan; M. Ann O'Brien; and Merle Reskin. Allstate was the Corporate Sponsor Partner and The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation was the Production Sponsor of Desire Under the Elms. Individual sponsors for Desire Under the Elms were Joan and Robert Clifford; Marcia S. Cohn; Patricia Cox; Leon and Joy Dreimann; Ruth Ann M. Gillis and Michael McGuinnis; Carol Prins and John H. Hart; and Alice and John J. Sabl.

International and National Highlights
New York's famed Wooster Group, known world-wide for its groundbreaking experiments in theater performance, launched the O'Neill Exploration January 7 - 11 with their radical interpretation of The Emperor Jones directed by Elizabeth LeCompte, featuring Kate Valk as Emperor Brutus Jones. The production took Chicago by storm; all five of the performances in the Owen Theatre ran at 100% capacity. "It was an honor to bring our work to the Goodman for the first time," said LeCompte, a founding member of The Wooster Group, under whose direction more than 40 works for theater, dance and media were created. "We had great fun meeting the cast of Desire Under the Elms and watching an early rehearsal."

In its first appearance outside of their native Brazil, Companhia Triptal presented three of four Sea Plays-Zona de Guerra, Longa Viagem de Volta Pra Casa and Cardiff-to unanimous critical praise over three weeks, spanning January 14 - 31. Director André Garolli's unprecedented use of the Owen Theatre involved inviting audiences to join the company backstage; altogether, actors and audience then moved upstairs into Goodman Theatre's Polk Rehearsal Hall, where the highly physical production's action continued.

The Netherlands' Toneelgroep Amsterdam, presented Rouw Siert Electra (Mourning Becomes Electra) in a sold-out run, February 25 - 28. "I would like to thank Goodman Theatre and Robert Falls for the invitation, and for being a warm host," said director Ivo Van Hove. "It was courageous to invite Rouw siert Electra (Mourning Becomes Electra) because it is one of my most extreme productions, and I am happy that it got such good public and critical acclaim. Those good reviews were noticed in Holland, and we were congratulated! I hope we can continue our collaboration, and that Toneelgroep Amsterdam can build up a long term relationship with the Chicago audience."

Chicago's Companies

Robert Falls' production of Desire Under the Elms was the centerpiece of the Exploration, enjoying an extended run in the Albert Theatre January 17 - March 1. Falls' cast-including stage and screen stars Brian Dennehy (Goodman's Death of a Salesman, Long Day's Journey Into Night), Carla Gugino (Entourage, Spy Kids, Sin City) Pablo Schreiber (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Awake and Sing!), Boris McGiver (The Wire) and Daniel Stewart Sherman (Broadway's Cyrano de Bergerac)-will reprise their roles for a Broadway production next month at the St. James Theatre. The 13-week limited engagement begins April 14 and opens April 27.

Chicago's famed The Hypocrites joined the Exploration with a dynamic new take on The Hairy Ape, running February 7 - 21 in the Owen-in which the audience seating tiers became the actors' playing space, transformed into the various strata of an ocean liner. Local actor Chris Sullivan commanded the title role in a performance Time Out Chicago deemed "a virtuosic one-man storm." Said Director Sean Graney, "For The Hypocrites to be included among the most interesting international theater makers was a big honor for us. Bob Falls encouraged me to take huge risks with O'Neill in this production, and the entire Goodman staff stood behind those choices. It was a very rewarding experience."

Concluding the Exploration was The Neo-Futurists' unique interpretation of the rarely-performed Strange Interlude, directed by Greg Allen and his Chicago cast in a 5-1/2 hour sold-out marathon event. Three months of rehearsal resulted in a limited three performance run,

March 6 - 8. "I've had a wonderful time meeting the international actors and directors from Brazil and the Netherlands; they were so friendly and honored by the whole event," said Allen. "Coming from a company where I pretty much do anything I want under my own authority with very little support, the Goodman has offered a wonderful environment which supports the artists' vision to the hilt. This was a tremendous opportunity for a company like The Neo-Futurists, and we are very thankful for the chance to premiere this show on a national stage."

Still ahead in Goodman Theatre's 2008/2009 season is Magnolia by ReGina Taylor, directed by Anna D. Shapiro (March 14 - April 19 in the Albert); Ghostwritten by Naomi Iizuka, directed by

Lisa Portes (April 4 - May 3 in the Owen); Rock ‘N' Roll by Tom Stoppard, directed by Charles Newell (May 2 - June 7 in the Albert); The Crowd You're In With by Rebecca Gilman, directed by Wendy C. Goldberg (May 23 - June 21 in the Owen); and Boleros for the Disenchanted by José Rivera, directed by Henry Godinez (June 20 - July 26 in the Albert).

 

The new 2009/2010 season-to be announced later this week-begins September 2009.

 

Named the country's Best Regional Theatre by Time magazine (2003), Goodman Theatre is a leader in the American theater, internationally recognized for its artists, productions and educational programs since its founding in 1925. Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer's forward-thinking leadership has earned the Goodman unparalleled artistic distinction, garnered hundreds of awards-including the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre (1992)-and moved dozens of plays from Chicago to stages in New York and abroad. Central to its commitment to the reinvestigation of classics and development of new plays and artists is the Goodman's Artistic Collective, including Brian Dennehy, Frank Galati, Henry Godinez, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, ReGina Taylor and Mary Zimmerman. The largest not-for-profit theater in Chicago, the Goodman moved in 2000 into a brand new state-of-the-art complex which houses two principal theaters: the 856-seat Albert Ivar Goodman Theatre and the 400-seat flexible Owen Bruner Goodman Theatre. Board Chairman is Shawn M. Donnelley and Karen Pigott is President of the Women's Board. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre. Kraft Foods is the Principal Sponsor of the Goodman's free Student Subscription Series.