Steve Scott News

Artistic Director Robert Falls proudly announces a diverse line-up-from musical hilarity and classic yarns, to memory pieces and family dramas, to stories with ethnic roots that reflect today's world-in Goodman Theatre's new 2009/2010 season.

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.

Robert Falls proudly names his longtime artistic collaborator Brian Dennehy-two-time Tony and Golden Globe Award winner and six-time Emmy Award nominee-the newest member of Goodman Theatre's Artistic Collective, a diverse group of outstanding American theater artists who make the Goodman their artistic home.

For three weekends, January 14 - 31, Goodman Theatre audiences have the rare opportunity to witness Companhia Triptal Director Andr? Garolli's acclaimed contemporary interpretation of three Eugene O'Neill Sea Plays. Performing for the first time outside their native Brazil, Companhia Triptal presents Homens ao Mar (Sea Plays), consisting of three one-act plays: Zona de Guerra (In the Zone), Longa Viagem de Volta pra Casa (The Long Voyage Home) and Cardiff (Bound East for Cardiff) in limited engagements. First performed in a historic warehouse in Brazil, Companhia Triptal's Sea Plays will transform the Goodman's Owen Theatre into a ship called the S.S. Glencairn, with each play exploring a different incident in the lives of the ship's crew. In conjunction with the Sea Plays, the Goodman also presents two special programs: a Theater Thursday event on January 15 for $30, including a reception, an artistic presentation about the play and tickets to the evening's performance of Zona de Guerra; and Andr? Garolli on the Sea Plays, a free discussion with Director Andr? Garolli and Goodman Theatre Associate Producer Steve Scott.

Today Goodman Theatre becomes the first cultural institution to receive the Joyce Award for a second time, after receiving its first award in 2004. The Joyce Foundation announced this morning that the Goodman will receive a grant of $50,000 to support a new play by Latin American playwright Quiara Alegr?a Hudes. Tentatively titled The Jibaro Play, Hudes' new work draws on the cultural heritage of traditional Jibaro music and is due to premier at the Goodman during the 2011 season. The Joyce Foundation encourages cultural organizations to serve and represent the Great Lakes region's diverse population and fosters the development of new works in dance, music, theater and visual arts by artists of color. Goodman Theatre received the 2004 Joyce Award in theatre in support of Naomi Iizuka's play Ghostwritten which will have its world premiere April 4 - May 3, 2009, as part of the Goodman's 'Strong Women, Strong Voices' Owen Theatre Series. Ghostwritten tells the story of Susan, an acclaimed chef specializing in Asian cuisine and the mother of an adopted Vietnamese-born daughter, whose life changes forever when a mysterious stranger from her past returns to collect on an old debt. 'We are honored and thrilled to receive this award to support a new work by visionary Latin American playwright Quiara Alegr?a Hudes,' said Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls. 'Diversity has long been at the core of our mission, and we are proud to welcome Quiara to the Goodman.' Other 2009 Joyce Award winners include Chicago's Ravinia Festival (Dance), the Detroit International Jazz Festival (Music) and the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (Visual Arts).

For three weekends, January 14 - 31, Goodman Theatre audiences have the rare opportunity to witness Companhia Triptal Director Andr? Garolli's acclaimed contemporary interpretation of three Eugene O'Neill Sea Plays. Performing for the first time outside their native Brazil, Companhia Triptal presents Homens ao Mar (Sea Plays), consisting of three one-act plays: Zona de Guerra (In the Zone), Longa Viagem de Volta pra Casa (The Long Voyage Home) and Cardiff (Bound East for Cardiff) in limited engagements. First performed in a historic warehouse in Brazil, Companhia Triptal's Sea Plays will transform the Goodman's Owen Theatre into a ship called the S.S. Glencairn, with each play exploring a different incident in the lives of the ship's crew. In conjunction with the Sea Plays, the Goodman also presents two special programs: a Theater Thursday event on January 15 for $30, including a reception, an artistic presentation about the play and tickets to the evening's performance of Zona de Guerra; and Andr? Garolli on the Sea Plays, a free discussion with Director Andr? Garolli and Goodman Theatre Associate Producer Steve Scott.

Goodman Theatre rings in the New Year with an eight-play landmark theatrical event, A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century curated by Artistic Director Robert Falls, January 7 through March 8, 2009. Over 100 artists from six theater companies around the world bring their highly contemporary, inventive interpretations of O'Neill's dramas for the Goodman's Exploration-viewing the 20th century 'father of the American drama,' through a 21st century international lens.

Goodman Theatre rings in the New Year with an eight-play landmark theatrical event, A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century curated by Artistic Director Robert Falls, January 7 through March 8, 2009. Over 100 artists from six theater companies around the world bring their highly contemporary, inventive interpretations of O'Neill's dramas for the Goodman's Exploration-viewing the 20th century 'father of the American drama,' through a 21st century international lens.

Goodman Theatre rings in the New Year with an eight-play landmark theatrical event, A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century curated by Artistic Director Robert Falls, January 7 through March 8, 2009. Over 100 artists from six theater companies around the world bring their highly contemporary, inventive interpretations of O'Neill's dramas for the Goodman's Exploration-viewing the 20th century 'father of the American drama,' through a 21st century international lens.

Goodman Theatre rings in the New Year with an eight-play landmark theatrical event, A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century curated by Artistic Director Robert Falls, January 7 through March 8, 2009. Over 100 artists from six theater companies around the world bring their highly contemporary, inventive interpretations of O'Neill's dramas for the Goodman's Exploration-viewing the 20th century 'father of the American drama,' through a 21st century international lens.

Theater Wit brings their hit holiday productions to Theatre Building Chicago for the final year (as they move into their new space next door for 2009 productions. Mitchell Fain stars as David Sedaris' surly holiday elf in The Santaland Diaries, and Steve Scott again directs Tom Mula in Mula's original adaptation of Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, running in repertory during the 2008 holiday season.

Ten Chimneys Foundation, the National Historic Landmark estate of Broadway legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, has chosen Mary Beth Fisher as one of its eleven inaugural fellows to participate in the LUNT-FONTANNE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, a groundbreaking national program to serve regional theater actors and the future of American Theater. Fisher, who was nominated by Goodman Theatre, will receive a cash fellowship and participate in an intensive week-long master class and retreat at Ten Chimneys with a world-renowned and respected master teacher; acclaimed actress Lynn Redgrave will be the first master teacher in the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program. In addition to a prolific, award-winning career on Broadway, in London, and in film and television, Ms. Redgrave was named in honor of Lynn Fontanne - making her a particularly meaningful choice to launch this important program.

Theater Wit brings their hit holiday productions to Theatre Building Chicago for the final year (as they move into their new space next door for 2009 productions). Mitchell Fain stars as David Sedaris' surly holiday elf in The Santaland Diaries, and Steve Scott again directs Tom Mula in Mula's original adaptation of Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, running in repertory during the 2008 holiday season.

Join us in the 2009 season as we conclude our 2-year celebration series, revisiting Eclipse's past featured playwrights with works by acclaimed writers Rebecca Gilman, Pearl Cleage, Keith Reddin, John Guare, and Romulus Linney.

Writers' Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce William Inge's Picnic directed by David Cromer. The production runs September 16-November 16, 2008, at Writers' Theatre, 325 Tudor Court in Glencoe.

Eclipse Theatre Company of Chicago announces that their 2009 season, including four full productions, will be the second and final year of celebrating their past ten years focusing on one playwright per season.

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