Chuck Smith News

In celebration of Black History Month, Goodman Theatre presents its first-ever on-site art expo—Hidden Gems: A Celebration of African American Artists & Art—in conjunction with the major revival of Gem of the Ocean by August Wilson, directed by Chuck Smith.

Goodman Theatre kicks off the new year with a major revival of August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean—nearly two decades after the play premiered on the same stage.

Tony Award-winner Robert Falls marks 35 years as Goodman Artistic Director—a position from which he will step down at season’s end—by directing the world premiere of Rebecca Gilman’s Swing State, his sixth play by his longtime collaborator, in the Owen Theatre.

Resident Director Chuck Smith, who served as the original production's dramaturg, directs a cast of seven—featuring Sharif Atkins (Citizen Barlow), Sydney Charles (Black Mary), Lisa Gaye Dixon (Aunt Ester), Gary Houston (Rutherford Selig), Kelvin Roston, Jr. (Caesar), A.C. Smith (Eli) and James A. Williams (Solly Two Kings).

The Goodman announces its six-project line-up of the 17th annual New Stages Festival, running December 1-19.

After more than three decades leading creative operations for one of America’s largest theaters, Tony Award-winner Robert Falls is ending his tenure as Artistic Director of Goodman Theatre. Today, Falls announced his intention to step down next summer at the completion of the current 2021/2022 Season.

Local Black-owned theatre company Kennie Playhouse Theatre is collaborating with Nashville Shakes to produce August Wilson's Jitney, which runs August 12-22 at oneC1TY in Nashville, and September 16 and 17 at Williamson County Performing Arts Center at Academy Park in Franklin, TN. 

Five-time Grammy Award-winning bassist Victor Wooten has joined the creative team of August Wilson's JITNEY, opening Nashville Shakespeare's annual Summer Shakespeare Festival. Wooten, also a songwriter and record producer who was ranked among the Top 10 Bassists of All Time by Rolling Stone Magazine, will compose original music for the show.

It’s a summer “homecoming” for Goodman Theatre audiences! On July 30, Chicago’s theater since 1925 will resume live, in-person performances following a 16-month COVID-19 pandemic period of darkened stages.

In an effort to share knowledge, resources and strengthen the infrastructure of the Black theatre landscape in the United States, the country's independent Black theatre building owners, including Black Ensemble Theater, have forged a new alliance.

In an effort to share knowledge and resources, and strengthen the infrastructure of the Black theatre landscape in the United States, seven of the country’s freestanding, independent Black theatres – including Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe – have forged a new alliance.

The Old Opera House Theatre Company will present the winning entries in the 2021 New Voice Play Festival. 

The African American Arts Alliance (AAAA) will host the 20th annual Black Excellence Awards, an evening celebrating Black artists, Black voices, and Black stories across artistic disciplines, on November 10, 2020 at 7pm. The 2020 virtual celebration will honor selected awardees who have exhibited artistic excellence.

The reading will be live on Friday, September 18, 2020 at 7pm, and features Tony Award winner Deanna Dunagan and Artistic Affiliate Camille Robinson.

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces a?oeThe Rooma??, a brand-new reading series that brings original work, plays in development, and new stories to Chicago audiences.

THE MIDNIGHT GOSPEL composer Joe Wong, Stephen Merritt and director Chuck Smith are Tom Needham's special guests on WUSB's SOUNDS OF FILM.

From June 2 to 30, Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre will present 'Tuesdays in June 2020: Rapping with the Artists & Play Readings,' a program of seven live-streamed discussions and play reading events featuring distinguished artists who have done formative and influential work at New Federal Theater.

Today, Goodman Theatre makes available for online streaming its production of Jocelyn Bioh's School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play directed by Lili-Anne Brown, while performances are suspended to mitigate spread of COVID-19.

The 4th Annual International Stage It! 10-Minute Play Festival has announced the winners for this year's publication, now in it's fourth volume. The unique competition began with open submissions in October, garnering 346 plays from around the world, and a unique adjudication process. The top 25 plays have been selected for publication in Stage It! 4: 10-Minute Plays. The book is released in conjunction with the Festival weekend, March 20-22, where many of the plays will be produced.

Lil Armstrong. The Woman Behind Louis Armstrong's Success. A Story Worth Telling.