Wikipedia

Goodman Theatre

Goodman Theatreis a professionaltheatercompany located inChicago'sLoop.A major part of theChicago theatrescene, it is the city's oldest currently active nonprofit theater organization. Part of its present theater complex occupies the landmarkHarris and Selwyn Theatersproperty.[1]

Goodman Theatre
The Goodman Theatre
Map
Location170 North Dearborn StreetChicago,Illinois60601
Coordinates41°53′05″N87°37′48″W/ 41.8848°N 87.6299°W/41.8848; -87.6299

History

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The Goodman was founded in 1925 as a tribute to the ChicagoplaywrightKenneth Sawyer Goodman, who died in theGreat Influenza Pandemicin 1918. The theater was funded by Goodman's parents, Mr. and Mrs.William O. Goodman,who donated $250,000 to the Art Institute of Chicago to establish a professionalrepertory companyand a school ofdramaat theSchool of the Art Institute of Chicago.[2]The first theater was designed by architectHoward Van Doren Shaw(in the location now occupied by the museum's Modern Wing), although its design was severely hampered by location restrictions resulting in pooracousticsand lack of space for scenery and effects.

The opening ceremony on October 20, 1925, featured three of Kenneth Sawyer Goodman's plays:Back of the Yards,The Green Scarf,andThe Game of Chess.Two nights later the theater presented its first public performance,John Galsworthy'sThe Forest.In 1969 under artistic director, John Reich, it finally became a fully professional company.[3]

In 1978, the drama school became part ofDePaul University.[1]

In 2000, the company moved into its new facility at 170 North Dearborn inChicago's theater district. The 171,000 square feet (15,900 m2) project was designed byKPMB Architects,DLK Architecture Inc., and architects associated with the McClier Corporation. It has two fully modern auditoriums, named the Albert and the Owen, after two members of the Goodman family who continue to be major donors. In August 2000, associate artistic director Michael Maggio died and the company established theMichael Maggio Emerging Designer Awardin his honor; it is bestowed alongside theMichael Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration.[4][5]

Awards

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In 1992, the theatre company received theRegional Theatre Tony Award,joiningSteppenwolf Theatreas Chicago-based recipients of the award. Four other Chicago-based companies,Victory Gardens Theater(in 2001),Chicago Shakespeare Theater(in 2008),Lookingglass Theatre Company(in 2011), andCourt Theatre (Chicago)(in 2022) have also received the award, making Chicago the most recognized city in the country by this prestigious live theater award. The Goodman has also won manyJoseph Jefferson awards.

Notable productions

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Notable[how?]productions at Goodman Theatre include: Inherit the Wind(2024, directed by Henry Godinez),[6] The Nacirema Society(2023, directed by Lili-Anne Brown),[7] Lucha Teotl(2023, directed by Christopher Llewyn and Jeff Colangelo),[8] Highway Patrol(2024, directed by Mike Donahue),[9] The Matchbox Magic Flute(2024, directed by Mary Zimmerman),[10] The Penelopiad(2024, directed by Susan V. Booth),[11] Joe Turner's Come and Gone(2024, directed by Chuck Smith),[12] English(2024, directed byHamid Dehghani),[13]and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil(2024, directed by Rob Ashford).[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ab"Our History".Goodman Theatre.RetrievedJune 15,2024.
  2. ^"Goodman Memorial Theatre".Bulletin of the Art Institute of Chicago.38(6): 101. November 1944.JSTOR4112503.
  3. ^Jones, Chris(2013).Bigger, brighter, louder: 150 years of Chicago theater as seen by Chicago Tribune critics.University of Chicago Press. p. 189.ISBN978-0226059266.
  4. ^Jones, Kenneth (August 21, 2000)."Esteemed Chicago Director Michael Maggio Dead at 49".Playbill.RetrievedAugust 14,2020.
  5. ^"Michael Merritt Design Awards".Facebook.
  6. ^"Inherit the Wind".Goodman Theatre.
  7. ^"The Nacirema Society".Goodman Theatre.
  8. ^"Lucha Teotl".Goodman Theatre.
  9. ^"Highway Patrol".Goodman Theatre.
  10. ^"The Matchbox Magic Flute".Goodman Theatre.
  11. ^"The Penelopiad".Goodman Theatre.
  12. ^"Joe Turner's Come and Gone".Goodman Theatre.
  13. ^"English".Goodman Theatre.
  14. ^"Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil".Goodman Theatre.

Further reading

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  • Appler, Gilbert Keith. "Chicago’s Goodman Theatre: Plays and Cultural Work in an Institutional Theatre." PhD dissertation, University of Illinois-Urbana. 1994
  • Medgyesy, Laura Louise. "Chicago's Goodman Theatre: the transition from a division of the Art Institute to an independent regional theatre." PhD dissertation, American University. 1981
  • Teague, Anna Dean. "Thomas Wood Stevens' Contributions to American Art Theatre With Emphasis on the Kenneth Sawyer Goodman Memorial Theatre, 1922-1930," PhD dissertation, The Louisiana State University, 1973.
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