The Goodman Theatre News

Keen Company (Artistic Director Carl Forsman, Executive Director Wayne Kelton) is thrilled to present John Cullum, Jonathan Hogan and Tony Roberts in the New York premiere of Heroes, by G?rald Sibleyras with a translation by Tom Stoppard and directed by Carl Forsman. Heroes received the 2006 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. Performances begin on Tuesday, February 24 and run through April 11 at The Clurman Theatre / Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues. Opening is scheduled for Sunday, March 8. An evocative comedy about three World War I veterans living in a veterans' home who plot a new assault - a trip to a stand of poplar trees in the distance. But should they bring the stone dog with them? Author G?rald Sibleyras calls Heroes a play 'about the universal desire to escape the confines of life.' Winner of London's Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 2006 and Paris' Moliere Award for Outstanding Comedy in 2003, Keen presents its New York debut.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company announces the four plays chosen as winners for the Global Age Project (GAP), the company's new works initiative that promotes the creation of forward-looking theatre: The First Grade by Joel Drake Johnson; Birnham Woods by Wendy MacLeod; Right? by Dan Hoyle ; and and when we awoke there was light and light by Laura Jacqmin. The selected plays will be presented as staged readings in a four-week festival at the Aurora Theatre, Mondays, February 2-23, 7:30pm, coinciding with the company's fully-staged West Coast Premiere of George Packer's provocative Lucille Lortel-winning play Betrayed (January 23-March 1). Each GAP reading will be followed by an audience discussion of the contemporary issues raised in each work. Additionally, the company announces that it has received a $20,000 grant from the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation to support the Global Age Project. For information on GAP events (free and open to the public) an d Betrayed, the public may call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Artistic Director Bonnie Metzgar and Managing Director Rick Dildine are pleased to announce About Face Theatre's second show of its 2008/2009 season, a dynamic, multimedia adaptation of 'Stupid Kids' by the late John C. Russell. The production, directed by Metzgar and Youth Theatre Program co- founder Megan Carney, will be presented at the Center on Halsted. 'Though set in the late '80s, our production incorporates very contemporary, interactive elements that kids are using today to express who they are- blogging, social networks, texting, personal video,' says co-director Metzgar. 'In fact, we will encourage audience members to leave cell phones on during the show and become a part of the action. We wanted to create a live collage of images and impressions from both eras to build a mash-up of these two generations.' To celebrate stupid stories about high school, About Face has launched the Stupid Kids Stuff Blog (http://stupidkidstuff.blogspot.com/), providing an opportunity for visitors to share their personal stories about being a 'stupid kid' and to participate in the Stupid Kids Multimedia Art Contest. Winning submissions will be featured in performances of the show and artists will receive complimentary tickets.

Broadway leading lady Rachel York, most recently seen in the world premiere musical Turn of the Century at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, will launch a series of symphony concert appearances this month. Now through April, the versatile stage, screen, and recording artist will be a guest soloist performing the works of Bernstein, Richard Rodgers, and Andrew Lloyd Webber with major orchestras across the country.

Keen Company (Artistic Director Carl Forsman, Executive Director Wayne Kelton) is thrilled to present John Cullum, Jonathan Hogan and Tony Roberts in the New York premiere of Heroes, by G?rald Sibleyras with a translation by Tom Stoppard and directed by Carl Forsman. Heroes received the 2006 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. Performances begin on Tuesday, February 24 and run through April 11 at The Clurman Theatre / Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues. Opening is scheduled for Sunday, March 8.

Broadway leading lady Rachel York, most recently seen in the world premiere musical Turn of the Century at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, will launch a series of symphony concert appearances this month. Now through April, the versatile stage, screen, and recording artist will be a guest soloist performing the works of Bernstein, Richard Rodgers, and Andrew Lloyd Webber with major orchestras across the country.

Broadway leading lady Rachel York, most recently seen in the world premiere musical 'Turn of the Century' at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, will launch a series of symphony concert appearances this month. Now through April, the versatile stage, screen, and recording artist will be a guest soloist performing the works of Bernstein, Richard Rodgers, and Andrew Lloyd Webber with major orchestras across the country.

The SF Playhouse (Bill English, Artistic Director; Susi Damilano, Producing Director) is pleased to announce that the Bay Area Premiere of Sarah Ruhl's Dead Man's Cell Phone will fill the previously unannounced 5th slot in its 2008-09 season line up.

Due to overwhelming ticket demand and critical acclaim, Goodman Theatre extends its world premiere of Ruined by Lynn Nottage through Sunday, December 14; tickets are $10 - $43. Added performances include: Wednesday, December 10 at 7:30pm; Thursday, December 11 at 7:30pm; Friday, December 12 at 8pm; Saturday, December 13 at 8pm; Sunday, December 14 at 7:30pm. Directed by Kate Whoriskey, Ruined is the captivating story of Mama Nadi, the owner of a canteen who serves up everything from a cold beer and a warm meal-to the company of a woman.

Bohemian Archaeology christens NYC's first winery with 'HOLIDAYS UNCORKED,' evening of original (and twisted) holiday stories.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company announces the four plays chosen as winners for the Global Age Project (GAP), the company's new works initiative that promotes the creation of forward-looking theatre: The First Grade by Joel Drake Johnson; Birnham Woods by Wendy MacLeod; Right? by Dan Hoyle; and and when we awoke there was light and light by Laura Jacqmin. The selected plays will be presented as staged readings in a four-week festival at the Aurora Theatre, Mondays, February 2-23, 7:30pm, coinciding with the company's fully-staged West Coast Premiere of George Packer's provocative Lucille Lortel-winning play Betrayed (January 23-March 1).

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.

Due to overwhelming ticket demand and critical acclaim, Goodman Theatre extends its world premiere of Ruined by Lynn Nottage through Sunday, December 14; tickets are $10 - $43. Added performances include: Wednesday, December 10 at 7:30pm; Thursday, December 11 at 7:30pm; Friday, December 12 at 8pm; Saturday, December 13 at 8pm; Sunday, December 14 at 7:30pm. Directed by Kate Whoriskey, Ruined is the captivating story of Mama Nadi, the owner of a canteen who serves up everything from a cold beer and a warm meal-to the company of a woman.

Renowned Russian director Kama Ginkas will discuss his theatrical adaptations of prose works by Anton Chekhov with John Freedman and Daniel Gerould, Director of Publications at the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center, November 17th at 6:30. Nex

Consistently included among the Midwest's top-tier holiday events, Goodman Theatre's annual production of A Christmas Carol returns for its 31st season. Guided by sixteen years of experience with the production, Chicago actor/director William Brown returns to direct Tom Creamer's adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1843 novella for his third consecutive year.

Renowned Russian director Kama Ginkas will discuss his theatrical adaptations of prose works by Anton Chekhov with John Freedman and Daniel Gerould, Director of Publications at the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center, November 17th at 6:30. Nex

Chicago's Goodman Theatre opens its 'Strong Women, Strong Voices' Owen Theatre Series with the world premiere of Lynn Nottage's RUINED, directed by Kate Whoriskey and co-produced with Manhattan Theatre Club.

Bohemian Archaeology christens NYC's first winery with 'HOLIDAYS UNCORKED,' evening of original (and twisted) holiday stories.

Million Dollar Quartet, the new musical inspired by the famed 1956 recording session that brought together legendary rock 'n' roll icons Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley, will move to the Apollo Theater at 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, immediately following the conclusion of its limited engagement at the Goodman's Owen Theatre. Performances in the Owen continue through October 26, 2008; preview performances at the Apollo Theater begin Friday, October 31, 2008. The official Apollo opening is Wednesday, November 5, 2008, at 7:30 p.m.. Tickets for the Apollo run are currently on sale through January 4, 2009.

Hold on tight, because Victory Gardens Theater's smash hit winter musical The Snow Queen - conceived by Chicago folk music legend Michael Smith, Tony Award-winning director Frank Galati, and master puppeteer Blair Thomas & Co - is sledding back into town for her third season as Chicago's #1 alternative to traditional holiday fare.