Mary Beth Fisher

Review: SWING STATE at Goodman Theatre

What did our critic think of SWING STATE at Goodman Theatre? Rebecca Gilman shows her deftness at writing “slice of life” plays in SWING STATE at Goodman Theatre. In this latest collaboration with outgoing Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls, Gilman introduces four characters at a crossroads in a small town in rural Wisconsin during summer 2021. It’s marketed as a play about the pandemic, and indeed, SWING STATE contains some references to the COVID-19 pandemic, masks, and vaccines. Ultimately, though, SWING STATE is a pure character study with the notions of pandemic and extinction of the human race in the background, and notions of mortality and despair in the foreground. Yes, it’s a post-pandemic play, but really it’s just allowing us to peer into the lives of these characters at a moment in time. That’s not to say that Gilman’s play isn’t moving, but I found the overall execution to not be as overarching as the set-up purports.

SWING STATE at Goodman Theatre Adds Two Performances in Final Week

On the heels of a standing-room-only opening night and wide critical praise for the world premiere of Rebecca Gilman's Swing State—a “riveting, deeply moving, empathy-generating, extraordinary new play (by) a great poet of the upper Midwest” (Chicago Tribune)—Goodman Theatre adds two performances to the final week of Tony Award-winning director Robert Falls' world-premiere production.

Cast Announced for World Premiere of Rebecca Gilman's SWING STATE at Goodman Theatre

Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Rebecca Gilman will mark her 10th production at Goodman Theatre, her longtime creative home, with Swing State—directed by Tony Award-winner Robert Falls in their 6th collaboration over 35 years. Swing State appears October 7 – November 13 in the 350-seat flexible Owen Theatre.

Cast Announced for JERRY'S GIRLS Benefit Performance

Season of Concern, the emergency fund for Chicago theater artists, will present a one-night-only benefit performance of Jerry’s Girls, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, concepts by Larry Alford, Wayne Cilento, and Jerry Herman, direction by Ken-Matt Martin, and musical direction by Nigel D. Robinson.

Season of Concern to Present One-Night-Only Benefit Performance of JERRY'S GIRLS

Season of Concern, the emergency fund for Chicago theater artists, will present a one-night-only benefit performance of Jerry’s Girls, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, concepts by Larry Alford, Wayne Cilento, and Jerry Herman, direction by Ken-Matt Martin, and musical direction by Nigel D. Robinson. 

BWW Review: THE SOUND INSIDE at Goodman Theatre

Broadcast live from Goodman Theatre’s intimate Owen Theatre, THE SOUND INSIDE intrigues because of the twists and turns in Adam Rapp’s script, but also because it combines cinematic-quality streaming with the thrill of live theater. It’s been over a year since I last stepped inside a theater, and now with the first limited run production in its LIVE series, the Goodman has come extremely close to capturing the exhilaration of being live and in the room with theater. Running only for four more performances through Sunday, May 16, THE SOUND INSIDE is indeed a unique and limited-edition experience. 

Photo Flash: THE SOUND INSIDE Opens Tonight at Goodman Theatre

Technology, videography and stage production come together for the new Live series, Goodman Theatre's next step towards resuming in-person performances. Each performance of three new productions-including two Chicago premieres and a major revival-are streamed live online for real-time consumption by audiences at home.

Goodman Theater To Present Live Streamed Productions Of THE SOUND INSIDE, OHIO STATE MURDERS, & I HATE IT HERE

Technology, videography and stage production come together for the new Live series, Goodman Theatre’s next step towards resuming in-person performances. Accessible via multiple video cameras, each performance of three new productions—including two Chicago premieres and a major revival—are streamed live online for real-time consumption by audiences at home.

THE SOUND INSIDE, OHIO STATE MURDERS & I HATE IT HERE to be Presented in New Goodman Theatre Virtual Series

Technology, videography and stage production come together for Goodman Theatre's new Live series. Accessible via multiple video cameras, each performance of three new productions—including two Chicago premieres and a major revival—are streamed live online for real-time consumption by audiences at home.

Season of Concern Announces All-Women Cast of FEFU AND HER FRIENDS

Season of Concern, the emergency fund for Chicago theater artists, is thrilled to announce it will co-produce a virtual production of Fefu and Her Friends, Cuban-American playwright María Irene Fornés' feminist masterwork, in partnership with much-admired Chicago theater artist Mary Beth Fisher.

VIDEO: First Look at A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2 at Berkeley Rep

Berkeley Repertory Theatre presents A Doll's House, Part 2, written by Lucas Hnath and directed by Les Waters, which begins previews on Thursday, September 6 and runs through Sunday, October 21. Individual tickets begin at $30 ($15 if you're under 35) and can be purchased online at berkeleyrep.org or by phone at 510 647-2949 beginning August 12, 2018. Subscription tickets are available now. 

Siblings Vanya (Ross Lehman) and Sonia (Janet Ulrich Brooks) have spent their adult years trapped in mundane lives at their family's cottage, caring for their ailing parents. Meanwhile, their self-involved sister Masha (Mary Beth Fisher), a glamorous movie star, has traveled the world in decadent style. After their soothsayer/cleaning woman Cassandra (E. Faye Butler) warns Vanya and Sonia of impending doom, Masha arrives unannounced, accompanied by her hunky young lover Spike (Jordan Brown), who sparks a friendship with the beautiful girl next door Nina (Rebecca Buller) much to Masha's dismay. When Masha reveals plans that will upend the family, long-repressed resentments bubble over in a weekend full of wild costume parties, voodoo dolls and surprise romance. The creative team includes Charlie Corcoran (sets), Amy Clark (costumes), Robert Perry (lights) andRichard Woodbury (sound). Alden Vasquez is the production stage manager and Neena Arndt is the dramaturg. 

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, presents the world premiere of White Guy on the Bus by Bruce Graham, directed by BJ Jones. The production will run at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, from January 23-February 28, 2015. Check out highlights of the show below!

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Sarah Ruhl's DEAR ELIZABETH, a play in letters from Elizabeth Bishop to Robert Lowell and back again, directed by Les Waters, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street), November 30-December 22. Opening Night is tonight, December 6. The cast of DEAR ELIZABETH is Mary Beth Fisher and Jefferson Mays. Click below to go backstage with the stars, plus watch highlights from the show!

Director Rick Snyder directs a cast 'in which highly skilled stage performers take on roles that allow them to rip the stuffing out of one another, tear up the scenery, stomp on their own vanity and have the time of their lives' (The New York Times) including Mary Beth Fisher (Rock 'n' Roll, The Seagull); Keith Kupferer (Passion Play, The Dark Night); Beth Lacke (Man From Nebraska, Frost/Nixon) and David Pasquesi (Sin, Romance). Click below go behind the scenes of the production!

Director Rick Snyder directs a cast 'in which highly skilled stage performers take on roles that allow them to rip the stuffing out of one another, tear up the scenery, stomp on their own vanity and have the time of their lives' (The New York Times) including Mary Beth Fisher (Rock 'n' Roll, The Seagull); Keith Kupferer (Passion Play, The Dark Night); Beth Lacke (Man From Nebraska, Frost/Nixon) and David Pasquesi (Sin, Romance).Click below to check out a photo shoot with the cast!