The Goodman Theatre News

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the Ars Nova production of the Obie Award winning play Small Mouth Sounds, written by Bess Wohl and directed by Tony nominee Rachel Chavkin (Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812). In the overwhelming quiet of the woods, six wildy dissimilar runaways from city life embark on a week-long silent retreat. Guided by an unseen guru and pledging a vow of silence, these strangers confront internal demons both profound and absurd. Both contemplative and funny, Small Mouth Sounds is a cleverly conceived and sharp observation of the pursuit of wellness and the achingly human need to connect. Small Mouth Sounds will preview on March 13 and opens on March 14, 2018. The show will run for 24 performances through April 1, 2018 at Philadelphia Theatre Company at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (480 S. Broad Street). Tickets are on sale starting at $25 at philatheatreco.org, at the box-office, or by calling 215-985-0420.

The third and final play, THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST, is being presented by the Latino Theater Company, directed by Edward Torres with the heart and soul of Latino culture brought into crystal clear focus. Set to the joyful sounds of traditional Puerto Rican folk music beautifully played onstage by guitarist Nelson Gonzalez, HAPPIEST SONG chronicles a year in the life of two kindred souls as they search for love, meaning and a sense of hope in a quickly changing world. At the dawn of the Arab Spring in an ancient Jordanian town, Elliot, an Iraq War veteran (Peter Pasco), struggles to overcome the traumas of combat by taking on an entirely new and unexpected career: an action-film hero. At the same time, halfway around the world in a cozy North Philadelphia kitchen, his cousin, Yaz (Elisa Bocanegra), takes on a heroic new role of her own as the heart and soul of her crumbling community, providing hot meals and an open door for the needy.

Peninsula Players Theatre presents a reading of "A Trick of the Light," a new comedy by Peter Moore, Monday, March 5 at 7 p.m., at Bjorklunden, located at 7590 Boynton Lane, Baileys Harbor. "A Trick of the Light" is the second of the three play reading series, The Play's the Thing. The series is funded in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin, as well as a generous grant from the Door County Medical Center and Friends of Door County Libraries as well as operating funds from Peninsula Players Theatre.

Twenty-one Chicago high school students will once again compete in the finals of the August Wilson Monologue Competition for a chance to represent Chicago in the National Competition at the August Wilson Theatre in New York City. Hundreds of students competed across the city in preliminary rounds. The finals will be held at the Broadway Playhouse, 175 E Chestnut on February 26, 2018 at 6:00pm. The August Wilson Monologue Competition is free and open to the public. The top two winners of the Chicago finals will compete in the National Finals at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre in New York on May 7, 2018.

Columbia University and Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith are pleased to announce that Junk by Ayad Akhtar is the 2018 winner of the Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History.

The League of Professional Theatre Women (Kelli Lynn Harrison & Lisa Rothe, Co-Presidents) will present the 2018 Theatre Women Awards at The TimesCenter (242 West 41st Street between 7th and 8th Avenues) on Friday, March 16 beginning at 6:30PM. Tickets ($65-$250) are available for advance purchase at www.theatrewomen.org. 

BroadwayWorld has the newest production photos for Vineyard Theatre's world premiere production of THE AMATEURS by Jordan Harrison (2015 Pulitzer Prize finalist for MARJORIE PRIME) directed by Oliver Butler (THE OPEN HOUSE, Obie Award for Direction), check them out below!

The search for redemption, humility and one's place in the world continues when the Latino Theater Company presents the final installment ofQuiara Alegria Hudes' acclaimed three-play "Elliot cycle." The long-awaited California premiere of The Happiest Song Plays Last, directed by Edward Torres, featuring live music by Grammy Award-winning tres guitar player Nelson Gonzalez, and starring Vaneh Assadourian; Elisa Bocanegra; Kamal Marayati; Peter Pasco; Al Rodrigo; and John Seda-Pitre, opens on Feb. 22 at The Los Angeles Theatre Center. Low-priced previews begin Feb. 17.

Yale Repertory Theatre (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents Father Comes Home From the Wars, Parts 1, 2 & 3 by Suzan-Lori Parks, directed by Liz Diamond, March 16-April 7, at the University Theatre (222 York Street). Opening Night is Thursday, March 22. Father Comes Home From the Wars, Parts 1, 2 & 3 is a co-production with San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater, where it will play April 25-May 20.

Asolo Rep will host Inside Asolo Rep: RHINOCEROS and ROE on Wednesday, February 28 at 11am, with refreshments at 10:30am. This insightful behind-the-scenes panel will feature Frank Galati (Director, RHINOCEROS), Lavina Jadhwani (Director, ROE), Peggy Roeder (Queen Elizabeth, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE; Mrs. Boeuf, RHINOCEROS); and Terri Weagant (Norma McCorvey, ROE). The discussion will be moderated by Asolo Rep Dramaturg and Literary Manager Paul Adolphsen.

February 19, 2018 - Based on Roundabout Theatre Company's Tony Award-winning production, Sam Mendes (Skyfall, American Beauty) and Rob Marshall's (Into the Woods and Chicago, the films) CABARET will play The Playhouse on Rodney Square in Wilmington for eight performances, March 13-19. This is the first time the Broadway revival has toured the historic Wilmington theater.

Today the New York premiere of Little Rock was announced, written and directed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj. Performances are set to begin Wednesday, May 30, 2018 for a limited run through September 8, 2018 at The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture (18 Bleecker Street). Opening Night is set for Thursday, June 14, 2018 at 7:00PM. Cast and creative team will be announced shortly.

Rorschach's dark wit and visionary approach to design have met their match in Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig's sharp, fantastical adventure through the Chinese Land of the Dead - coming to Atlas Performing Arts Center March 23 - April 15.

Steppenwolf's LookOut Series is pleased to announce their exciting Spring 2018 Lineup, which will feature LookOut Visiting Company The Yard's production of columbinus, by the United States Theatre Project, written by Stephen Karam and PJ Paparelli, directed by Mechelle Moe, performed by The Yard's 18 young-person based Ensemble. columbinus is a docu-drama that probes the psychological warfare of alienation, hostility and social pressure that goes on in high schools across America.

Written by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton and directed by theatre legend Anne Occhiogrosso, Centenary Stage Company's mainstage theatrical season continues in the Lackland Performing Arts Center this Friday, February 16 at 8PM with Reza's 1998 Tony Award and 1996 Olivier Award winning comedy Art.  "Wildly funny, naughtily provocative…" says the NY Post, it all begins when Serge buys an expensive painting by a celebrated artist.  A white canvas with white diagonal lines.  Old friends square off over the canvas, using it as an excuse to hilariously batter one another over various slights and failures.  Art is a hilarious exploration of the very notion of what constitutes art while examining the meaning of friendship.  'Anyone looking for a play that is funny, sophisticated, stylish, stimulating and moving should go to 'ART'.' (Independent, London).

Artemisia launches its first-ever Girls Summer Camp, running July 9-14, 2018, at Oak Brook Park District Center. Empowering girls 12-18 through theatre, Artemisia Girls Summer Camp provides an exciting week-long curriculum in improvisation, theatre games, body movement, storytelling, ensemble work and performance. Artemisia Girls Summer Camp welcomes all students, whether or not they have theatre experience or training. Artemisia's core values are empowerment, inclusion and diversity and girls from all backgrounds, ethnicities and cultural influences are strongly encouraged to enroll.

Audible Inc., the world's largest producer and provider of downloadable audiobooks and other spoken-word entertainment, today announced the first class of theater commissions selected to receive support from its fund dedicated to the commission and development of innovative English-language works from playwrights around the globe. Announced earlier this year, the $5 million fund will enable the creation of one- and two-person audio plays driven by language and voice, in keeping with Audible's core commitment to elevating listening experiences through powerful performances of brilliantly composed words.

UCSB's Department of Theater and Dance presents The World of Extreme Happiness, a play by faculty member and award-winning playwright Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig. The World of Extreme Happiness opens February 16 and runs through February 25 in the Performing Arts Theater. This moving tragedy about the complexities of human nature set in present-day China comes to life under the direction of Daniel Stein.

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE) the professional Equity theater in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) located on the campus of College of DuPage, marks the beginning of 2018 with two new ensemble members and as a recipient of a grant from the DuPage Foundation and additional support from the Norm Woodel Inspiration Fund.