Goodman Theatre News

Rising stars playwright korde arrington tuttle and director Danya Taymor reunite for the world premiere production of graveyard shift, following its appearance as a developmental production in the Goodman's 2018 New Stages Festival. Featuring an ensemble cast of five, graveyard shift is an unflinching but open-hearted look at how we navigate a world full of fear, loosely inspired by the legacy of Sandra Bland. Casting note: Debo Balogun replaces previously announced actor Kyle Vincent Terry, who has left the production. 

Rising stars playwright korde arrington tuttle and director Danya Taymor reunite for the world premiere production of graveyard shift, following its appearance as a developmental production in the Goodman's 2018 New Stages Festival. Featuring an ensemble cast of five, graveyard shift is an unflinching but open-hearted look at how we navigate a world full of fear, loosely inspired by the legacy of Sandra Bland. Casting note: Debo Balogun replaces previously announced actor Kyle Vincent Terry, who has left the production. Full casting is below.

The Second City's knockout show She the People is back at it again in 2020! The all-female, all-funny show directed by Carly Heffernan welcomes back returning ensemble members Carisa Barreca, Alex Bellisle, Katie Caussin, Sayjal Joshi, and Emma Pope with new cast member Lachrisa Grandberry joining. Other creative team members include Mary Mahoney (Music Director/Original Music/Sound Designer) and Abby Beggs (Lighting Designer/Stage Manager).

Artistic Director Mark Clements and Executive Director Chad Bauman are thrilled to announce Milwaukee Repertory Theater's 2020/21 Season with 15 productions across four venues in the Patty & Jay Baker Theater Complex. 

Steep Theatre is extending the run of Isaac Gomez' The Leopard Play, or sad songs for lost boys through March 14, adding eight more chances to catch this heart-wrenching and powerful play.

An enduring member of the Marvel universe (both cinematic and TV) as Agent Phil Coulson, Clark Gregg will be making his Los Angeles stage acting debut in his long-time friend David Mamet's new play THE CHRISTOPHER BOY'S COMMUNION. Slated for an eleven-performance run at the Odyssey beginning February 13, 2020; this cast includes: Fionnula Flanagan, Dominic Hoffman, William H. Macy, David Paymer, Rebecca Pidgeon and John Pirrucello. I managed to catch Clark for a quick phoner.

It's 2050 and Andres Salazar is running for office. In an America where Latinos are now considered part of the racial majority, he has tough decisions to make. Will identifying himself as a Mexican American help or hinder him on Election Day? Will denying part of his identity be worth the potential political benefits?

Goodman Theatre announced today it will premiere Good Night, Oscar, starring Emmy Award-winning actor and producer Sean Hayes (Broadway's Promises, Promises, NBC-TV's Will & Grace) as erstwhile character actor, pianist and wild card Oscar Levant.

Huntington Theatre Company presents the Boston premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Sweat. This Tony Award-nominated play by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage is directed by Kimberly Senior (Disgraced on Broadway). Sweat began performances at the Huntington Avenue Theatre (264 Huntington Avenue, Boston) on Friday, January 31, 2020 and runs through Sunday, February 23, 2020. The official press opening night was Wednesday, February 5, 2020. Tickets are now available.

Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls has announced casting for his upcoming revival of Molly Sweeney by Brian Friel. In assuming the title role, Chicago favorite Kate Fry returns to the Goodman, following her recent appearance in Falls' production of The Winter's Tale. Joining Fry are stage and screen star Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey), who returns to the Goodman following his triumphant appearance in last season's St. Nicholas by Conor McPherson, and Chicago's Christopher Donahue (Oedipus Rex at Court Theatre, Moby Dick at Lookingglass).

The Second City has announced the addition of Adam Archer to its 108th Mainstage revue as he takes over the roles of former ensemble member Andrew Knox. Archer steps on to the historic stage with dynamite cast members Mary Catherine Curran, Sarah Dell'Amico, Asia Martin, Jordan Savusa, and Adam Schreck.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women playwrights.

Goodman Theatre has announced casting for two upcoming Chicago premiere productions in its 2019/2020 Season. Jocelyn Bioh's School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play comes to the Goodman following its acclaimed off-Broadway engagement in a new production directed by Lili-Anne Brown (Lottery Day); and American Mariachi, directed by Goodman Resident Artistic Associate Henry Godinez in a co-production with Dallas Theater Center, featuring live mariachi music on stage. School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play appears March 7 - April 12, 2020; tickets ($20-$70) are on sale now. American Mariachi appears April 25 - May 31; tickets ($20-$70) go on sale February 28 at 10am. Both productions appear in the 856-seat Albert Theatre. For tickets, visit GoodmanTheatre.org, call 312.443.3800 or purchase at the Goodman Theatre box office (170 N. Dearborn).

Go ahead a?" take the apple. Founding artistic director Ron Sossi directs a revival of The Serpent by Jean-Claude van Itallie a?" winner of the 1969 Obie award and arguably the most successful ensemble work ever created a?" as part of the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble's 50th Anniversary a?oeCirca '69a?? Season. Sossi previously directed the West Coast premiere exactly 50 years ago, in the spring of 1970, as the second production ever at the then brand-new Odyssey Theatre. The Serpent opens on March 7 at the Odyssey's current home in West L.A., where performances will continue through May 3.

La Jolla Playhouse is pleased to launch its 2020 Performance Outreach Program (POP) Tour production: Emily Driver's Great Race through Time and Space, by A.A. Brenner and Gregg Mozgala, directed by National Disability Theatre (NDT) Co-Executive Directors and Playhouse Artists-in-Residence Talleri A. McRae and Mickey Rowe. The production will tour schools throughout San Diego County January 29 a?" March 27.  Commissioned by the Playhouse, this world-premiere play for young audiences will also have four public performances on February 29 and March 1 at 1:00pm and 3:00pm at La Jolla Playhouse. Tickets are available at LaJollaPlayhouse.org or (858) 550-1010.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (or ADA) National Disability Theatre launched a school tour in partnership with La Jolla Playhouse reaching 25,000 students.

Currently in previews, a?oeUntil the Flooda?? will open at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre on Wednesday, January 29 at 8 p.m. Written and starring Dael Orlandersmith and directed by Neel Keller, a?oeUntil the Flooda?? will continue through February 23. 

How Does Theatre Mirror Society? will be explored along with drawing on the panelists' experiences and perspectives on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Topics of the 17th annual Theatre Forward Broadway Roundtable will include an open-ended dialogue about opportunity, access, education and social justice. Panelists all share a passion for the power of storytelling and how it reflects and influences our world.

Lisa Loomer's ROE offers a timely exploration of the history behind the 1973 Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade and the ongoing political debate around abortion and a women's right to choose. While Loomer's text is not necessarily nuanced in the way that it presents the argument around abortion, ROE does consider both sides of this divisive issue. The play is perhaps most compelling in its capacity to pull back the curtain around the original Roe v. Wade case and reveal the case's history. ROE centers on two critical women, the lawyer Sarah Weddington, who was only in her mid-twenties when she brought this case before the Court, and Norma McCorvey, the plaintiff under the pseudonym 'Jane Roe.' Before I saw this play, I had never heard these women's names before. But now, thanks to Loomer's work, I won't soon forget them. For Loomer interestingly not only presents both sides of the United States' debate over a woman's right to choose but also puts forth Sarah and Norma's two differing perspectives on the events that transpired before and after Roe v. Wade was decided.

Performances begin on January 24 for a?oeUntil the Flooda?? at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre. Written and starring Dael Orlandersmith and directed by Neel Keller, a?oeUntil the Flooda?? will continue through February 23. The opening is set for January 29.