Displaying items by tag: John Collins

Today, Goodman Theatre raises the curtain on its future as leadership and artists share a vision for its next century of impact. Together with hundreds of partners, donors, artists and patrons, Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins announce The Goodman, For Good—a $30 million campaign to secure Chicago's flagship not-for-profit theater for future generations. To date, $27 million has been raised—including 11 gifts in excess of $1 million—under the leadership of Goodman Trustee Elaine Leavenworth, Campaign Chair. Now, the theater invites the Chicago community to join the effort and ensure that The Goodman's core values and artistic priorities continue while providing flexibility to innovate towards new challenges. To commemorate the day, guests in attendance signed a piece of Goodman history, which will displayed in the main lobby.

"As we begin our 101st season and look beyond, we must dream big with a wide-open heart. In order to create the kind of programming that has open doors and open windows for all Chicago to find themselves on our stages, we need a platform from which we can fly: we need an endowment," said Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth. "In a risk-averse climate, this campaign allows us to take the enormous risks on which this theater was built. It allows us to be, for you, The Goodman for good. Not just when it's convenient and when the economics allow. For good. We are deeply grateful for those who have demonstrated early leadership and generosity—and now, we welcome our community to join this effort for our future."

"We find ourselves at a defining moment for The Goodman. It was during our recently completed Centennial Season—our largest, most audacious, most successful season ever—that we reached a level of service and impact previously unimaginable. Our challenge and invitation today is to safeguard what we've built for future generations, ensuring that it remains rooted in the values which have guided and distinguished us for so many years," said Executive Director John Collins. "For the good of unparallelled artistry; for the good of our communal well-being; for the good of future generations who deserve the same world-class theater that has served this city since 1925, join us and invest in The Goodman, For Good."

The Goodman's three core values include Quality, ensuring artistic excellence in every area of operations; Community, committing, in equal measure, to excellence on stage and service to Chicagoland; and Equity and Access, remaining accessible to people of all ages, abilities, identities and location.

"There is a vision for a future that's even brighter than the present, and the resource of an endowment fund is a lifeline for that longevity—allowing our artists and leaders to commit to ambitious goals and have the confidence to see them through," said Elaine Leavenworth, Trustee and Chair of The Goodman. For Good. Campaign. "We want this space to be as great a gift to audiences tomorrow as it is today. Donors will be able to see their impact—in the young people served, in The Goodman's footprint in the community, in the experiences had by audiences—and know it will continue for generations."

The Goodman's 2025/2026 Centennial was its all-time most successful season with milestone programming and record attendance figures, drawing 300,000+ audiences—with 57% attending The Goodman for the first time—to 4,000 performances and events. Curated by Booth, the 15-production season earned widespread critical and audience acclaim: 11 extended productions, 290 sold-out performances, while the world-premiere musical Iceboy! Or, The Completely Untrue Story of How Eugene O'Neill Came to Write The Iceman Cometh became the theater's all-time best-attended, best-selling production. Attendees hailed from 61 countries beyond the U.S. with audiences from 5,837 unique zip codes. In addition, the Goodman broke new ground transforming a 15,000 square-foot, in-the-raw space for Theater of the Mind, Academy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning artist David Byrne's immersive work, drawing 63% first-time Goodman attendees. Chicago resident magician Dennis Watkins continued into his third year at The Magic Parlour, in partnership with The Goodman and Petterino's, hosting 163 sold-out performances and expanding his roster by welcoming nine guest artists. Beyond the stage, The Goodman offered 100 Free Acts of Theater—a year-long collaboration with 48 community partners at creative organizations in all 50 Chicago wards—drawing more than 20,000 people, presented in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). Expanded Theater for the Very Young programming drew nearly 5,000 children and caregivers, with nearly 13,000 people of all ages engaging in free and low-cost Education and Engagement programming.

THE GOODMAN, FOR GOOD SUPPORTERS (GIFTS AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2026)

GRAND BENEFACTOR ($1,000,000+)

Susan and James Annable 
Joan and Robert Clifford 
Patricia Cox 
Julie M. Danis and Paul F. Donahue 
Shawn M. Donnelley and Christopher M. Kelly 
The Davee Foundation 
Elissa Efroymson & Adnaan Hamid and The Efroymson Family Fund 
Elaine R. Leavenworth 
Goodman Theatre Women's Board 
Alice and John Sabl 
Kimbra and Mark Walter

PLATINUM GRAND BENEFACTOR ($500,000 – $999,999)

Sharon Angell 
Paul Dykstra and Spark Cremin 
David and Alexandra Fox 
Sasha Gerritson and Eugene Jarvis 
James P. and Brenda S. Grusecki 
Catherine Mouly and LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr. 
Diane M. Landgren Charitable Fund 
Nancy A. Lauter & Alfred L. McDougal Charitable Foundation 
Prince Charitable Trusts 
Carol Prins and John Hart 
Lorrayne and Steve Weiss

GOLD BENEFACTOR ($250,000 – $499,999)

Lester, Chanel and Javon Coney 
Marsha Cruzan and Tom McGinnis 
Patricia Gallagher Estate 
Jeffrey W. Hesse 
Melinda McMullen and Duncan Kime 
Swati and Siddharth Mehta 
Scott Phillips and Maggie Freehling Phillips 
Shaw Family Supporting Organization 
Maria E. Wynne

SILVER BENEFACTOR ($100,000 – $249,999)

Roger and Julie Baskes 
David Q. and Mary H. Bell 
Doug and Teri Brown 
Joyce Chelberg 
Kathleen and James Cowie 
Fran and Bob DelBoca 
Ruth Ann M. Gillis and Michael J. McGuinnis 
Goodman Theatre Scenemakers Board 
Mary Kay and Edward Haben 
David Hiller and Darcy Evon 
Linda Hutson 
Robert and Cheryl Kopecky 
Anthony and Julianne Maggiore 
Elizabeth Raymond and Paul Hybel 
Cynthia and Michael Scholl 
Michael Steinberg and Salme Harju Steinberg 
Maureen Tansey-Tokar Estate 
Audrey L. Weaver 
Susan and Bob Wislow

BENEFACTOR ($50,000 – $99,999)

Elizabeth Balthrop and Michael Kammarman 
Linda Coberly & Kelly Emery 
Denise Michelle Gamble 
The Estate of Ellen and Paul Gignilliat 
Hugo Lorenz Estate 
Julie and Joseph Learner 
Thomas* and Linda Maurer 
Julie Moller 
Dawn Palmer Estate 
John C. Pintozzi 
Elaine Soter Estate 
Anne Van Wart and Michael Keable

SUPPORTER ($25,000 – $49,999)

Abbe and Adam Aron 
James L. Alexander and Curtis D. Drayer 
Kristin Anderson-Schewe and 
Robert Schewe 
Gustavo Bamberger and Martha Van Haitsma 
Michael Belsley and Nina Owen 
Susan V. Booth and Max Leventhal 
Linda and Peter Bynoe 
Melissa and John Collins 
Sally B. Dancer 
Bruce and Linda DeViller 
Dhuanne Dodrill 
Scott and Lenore Enloe 
Denise Stefan Ginascol and John Ginascol 
Russell Johnson and Mark Hudson 
Michael and Christine Hunstad 
Fruman and Marian Jacobson 
Bradley Keck 
Maggie Kelly and Chris Marzec 
The Estate of Karen and Larry McCracken 
Clare and Scott Metcalf 
Lee Mickus 
The Muriel Pollia Foundation 
Lucy and Richard Park 
Laura Sachs Family Foundation 
Renee and Michael Sichlau 
Jill and Steve Smart 
Gill and Becky Soffer 
Holly and Jeff Tyson 
Andrea and Ron Wainer 
Randy and Lisa White 
Graham Williams and Ryan Rivera 
Sheldon Zenner and Ellen Morgan 
Neal Zucker and Marko Iglendza

Gifts Up to $24,999

Jonathan Abarbanel 
Brigitte R. Anderson 
Kristin Johnson Boswell and Michael Boswell 
Christopher Boyd and Lauren Fondriest 
Philip B. Clement and Mary Ann Everlove Clement 
Philip Crean and Daniel Comeaux 
Kendra Chapman Davis and Laron Davis 
Deanna and Matt Deutschman 
Joan and John Dysart 
Don and Rebecca Ford Terry Family Fund 
Kelli Garcia 
Steve and Rebecca Gerstung 
Henry Godinez and Nancy Voigts 
Margaret and Clive Halliwell 
Marcy and Harry Harczak 
Tracy Healy and Gregory Beard 
Vicki V. Hood 
Margaret and Wayne Janus 
Carl Jenkins and Carole Wood 
Wendy Krimins 
Carolyn Kurtz and Gary Steinberg 
Brian Loevner 
Jill Loftus 
Terri Mascherin and Thomas Abendroth 
Laura Matalon and Spencer Waller 
Stuart and Carol Oken 
Cara Burns Pan and Warren Pan 
Vahe and Heather Poladian 
Andra and Irwin Press 
The Daniel and Genevieve Ratner Foundation 
Robert Rivkin and Cindy Moelis 
Jacquelyn Robinson 
Tod and Trish Saltzman 
Gabrielle and Ryan Sagers 
Sam Scarcello and Katherine Allison 
Steve Scott and Ted Hoerl 
Dinesh Sinniah and Anne Norman 
Irene and Mark Sudac 
Paula Tomei and David Emmes 
Laura and Jeff Torosian 
Renee L. Tyree 
U.S. Bank 
Sarah and Michael Wagner 
Tina Wardrop 
Chris Way and Jason Ott 
Mary Patricia Wilison and Joseph Krasovec III 
Jennifer and Bruce Yalowitz 
Cheryl Yuen and Thomas Chin 
Brad and Alicia Zuiker 

GOODMAN THEATRE'S 2026/2027 SEASON

ALBERT THEATRE (856-SEAT PROSCENIUM STAGE) PRODUCTIONS

The Goodman premieres The 7 Fingers' 
The Attic  
Things I've Seen While Lying on My Back 
Written, Directed and Choreographed by Shana Carroll 
September 5 – October 11 | A World Premiere 

49^th Annual A Christmas Carol  
Adapted by Tom Creamer  
Directed by Malkia Stampley 
November 13 – December 31 | Starring Tim Hopper as Ebenezer Scrooge

John Proctor is the Villain    
By Kimberly Belflower    
Directed by Marti Lyons    
January 23 – February 21, 2027 | A Chicago Premiere

'night, Mother  
By Marsha Norman  
Directed by Michael Pressman  
March 27 – April 25, 2027

Green Day's 
American Idiot 
Music by Green Day 
Lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong 
Book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer 
Directed by Susan V. Booth 
June 18 – July 25, 2027

OWEN THEATRE (400-SEAT FLEXIBLE STAGE) PRODUCTIONS

Dead Girl's Quinceañera   
By Phanésia Pharel  
Directed by Melia Bensussen  
September 26 – November 1 | A World Premiere

FEAST!    
By Calamity West     
Directed by Susan V. Booth   
February 27 – March 28, 2027 | A World Premiere

The XIXth (The Nineteenth)  
By Kemp Powers  
Directed by Carl Cofield  
April 17 – May 16, 2027 | A Chicago Premiere

22^nd Annual New Stages Festival  
December 5 – 13, 2026

THEATER FOR THE VERY YOUNG PRODUCTIONS 

In the Loop 
Created and Directed by Jamal Howard and Ellie Levine 
Co-Produced by The Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, Northwestern University 
January 30 – February 28, 2027 | Performed in the Alice Center and at locations citywide

A World Premiere TBA 
By Marisa Carr 
Summer 2027 dates TBA

Theater for the Very Young (TVY) programming offers immersive theatrical experiences—produced and performed by professional artists—designed for children ages 0–5 years old to experience alongside the grown-ups in their lives. Created in 2023 by Goodman Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth in response to research demonstrating the profound impact the arts can have on early childhood development and long-term learning outcomes, TVY introduces Chicagoland's youngest audiences to live theater through storytelling, music, movement and sensory-rich play produced and performed by professional artsts. Curated by Clifford Director of Education and Engagement Jared Bellot, TVY productions support early literacy, creativity and social-emotional learning while aiming to initiate a lifelong love of the arts. Over the past three years, TVY has served thousands of children and families in Chicago parks, theaters, schools and community spaces with productions of the plays Splish Splash: A Day on the Lake (2026); Book Up! (2025); The Lizard y El Sol (2024); and Pearl Cleage's In My Granny's Garden (2023). Schools, daycares and community organizations interested in bringing "Theater for the Very Young" programming to their spaces are invited to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for pricing, scheduling and more information.

OFF-SITE PRODUCTIONS

Theater of the Mind  
Created by David Byrne and Mala Gaonkar, Directed by Andrew Scoville  
Appearing at 333 N. LaSalle in an open run (performances began March 11, 2026)

Dennis Watkins' The Magic Parlour 
Produced in partnership with Goodman Theatre and Petterino's 
Appearing at 50 W. Randolph in its fourth season, in an open run (tickets on sale through May 2, 2027)

ABOUT THE GOODMAN

Since 1925, The Goodman has been a theatrical home for artists and a gathering space for Chicagoland, where bold stories spark connection, conversation and change. Now, as it enters its second century, The Goodman builds on that legacy with an eye toward the future. Under the leadership of Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins, the theater continues to champion new work—following hundreds of plays developed and a national reputation for commissioning and premiering original stories by living writers—while reimagining classics and produce large-scale musicals.

But The Goodman's reach today extends beyond its home in the heart of the Loop. From the intimate magic of The Magic Parlour, now in its third year, to the boundary-pushing world of Theater of the Mind—an immersive experience that blurs the lines between science, storytelling and sensation—and from citywide initiatives like 100 Free Acts of Theater to partnerships with artists and companies across Chicago and around the world, The Goodman is expanding what theater can be, and where it can live.

At its core, The Goodman is driven by a belief that a more empathetic, more connected city is built one story at a time. Generation-spanning productions and programs offer theater for a lifetime—from babies and young children to teens, adults and seniors—including Theater for the Very Young (ages 0–5) and the beloved annual A Christmas Carol, which has welcomed audiences for five decades. Education and Engagement programs, led by Clifford Director Jared Bellot and based in the Alice Rapoport Center, use the tools of theater to spark imagination, reflection and belonging—reaching thousands each year, the majority from underserved communities.

With nearly 200 world or American premieres, two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and nearly 200 Joseph Jefferson Awards, The Goodman remains a defining force in American theater—and the first to produce all 10 plays of August Wilson's American Century Cycle. The theater also frequently serves as a production partner—from national and international companies to Chicago's Off-Loop theaters—to help amplify a wide range of theatrical voices.

Founded by William O. Goodman and his family in memory of playwright Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, the theater carries forward a legacy of artistic ambition and civic generosity. With the help of Mr. Goodman's descendants—Albert Ivar Goodman and his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton—that spirit continues to shape its future as The Goodman expands its impact across Chicago and beyond. Marsha Cruzan is Chair of the Goodman Theatre Board of Trustees; Diane Landgren is Women's Board President; and Christopher Way is president of the Scenemakers Board for Young Professionals.

The Goodman stands on the unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires—the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations—and acknowledges the many other Nations for whom this land now called Chicago has long been home, including the Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Kickapoo, and Mascouten. The Goodman is proud to partner with the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum (Gichigamiin-Museum.org) and the Center for Native Futures (CenterForNativeFutures.org)—organizations devoted to honoring Indigenous stories, preserving cultural memory, and deepening public understanding.

On the heels of an unprecedented Centennial Season, Goodman Theatre sets a bold stage for its second century. Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins announce the 2026/2027 Season line-up of world-class talent and first-rate artistry here at home, beginning this fall. With 12 productions—five world or Chicago premieres, a reinvestigated classic, a major musical revival of a generation-defining sensation, three long-running productions, plus two new plays for our youngest audiences (ages 0-5)—there is something for everyone, from longtime patrons to those discovering Chicago's largest not-for-profit resident theater for the first time.

"We are living in a moment of enormous catalysts. And while our self-preservation instincts tells us we ought to go numb, it's actually the most necessary time to feel big feelings. To be awake. To care deeply. To laugh loud and to cry hard so we stay fully human. We've strived to put together a season that evokes all of that—and more," said Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth.

Added Executive Director John Collins, "We launch our second century with a lineup of theatrical experiences celebrating Goodman's unparalleled scope and scale. We are excited to bring our 101st season of boundary-pushing theater to our beloved Chicago audiences."

Opening the 26/27 Season in the 856-seat Albert Theatre is the world premiere of The 7 Fingers' The Attic; Things I've Seen While Lying on My Back created and directed by Shana Carroll; next, Kimberly Belflower's Broadway smash sensation John Proctor is The Villain makes its Chicago debut, directed by Marti Lyons, produced in partnership with The Guthrie Theater; then, Marsha Norman's 'Night Mother appears in a major revival starring stage and screen actor S. Epatha Merkerson, directed by Michael Pressman; and Susan V. Booth directs a major musical revival of Green Day's American Idiot, music by Green Day, lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong, book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. The three-production series in the 400-seat flexible Owen Theatre begins with two world premieres: Dead Girl's Quinceañera by Phanésia Pharel, directed by Melia Bensussen, produced in partnership with Barrington Stage and Hartford Stage, followed by Calamity West's FEAST!, directed by Susan V. Booth; the Chicago premiere of Kemp Powers' The XIXth (The Nineteenth) directed by Carl Cofield rounds out the series. 

The 49th annual production of A Christmas Carol, directed by Malkia Stampley, sees a new Scrooge: Chicago titan Tim Hopper assumes the role for the first time. Building on its success, Theater for the Very Young will debut two new productions—created by Marisa Carr, Ellie Levine and Jamal Howard; and the New Stages Festival returns for its 22nd year, offering the first look at the newest plays. In addition, The Goodman proudly continues two highly acclaimed off-shoot enterprises—David Byrne and Mala Gaonkar's immersive Theater of the Mind, directed by Andrew Scoville (333 N. LaSalle), and Dennis Watkins' The Magic Parlour, heading into its 4th year in partnership with Petterino's (50 W. Randolph).

The 2026/2027 Season begins September 2026 and continues through August 2027. Memberships, including flexible packages, are now available for purchase starting at just $54. Call 312.443.3800 or visit GoodmanTheatre.org/2627. Single tickets go on sale for select productions beginning next month.

About the Productions in Goodman Theatre's 2026/2027 Season
Plays are listed in chronological order by venue

The Goodman is grateful to Allstate, JPMorgan Chase & Co., The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, Northern Trust, Abbott Fund, Katten, PNC and Winston & Strawn LLP for their support of the 26/27 Season.

IN THE ALBERT THEATRE (856-SEAT PROSCENIUM STAGE)

The Goodman premieres The 7 Fingers'
The Attic; Things I've Seen While Lying on My Back
Written, Directed and Choreographed by Shana Carroll
September 5 – October 4 | A World Premiere 

The 7 Fingers is "pulse-raising magic" (The New York Times). 

From the primal vista of her childhood bedroom springs Shana Carroll's wildly imaginative, ground-breaking memoir that takes theater to new heights. Inspired by the Tony Award-nominated former trapezist's mesmerizing life story, a company of fearless performers transforms memory into daring aerial feats that are as moving as they are breathtaking. In the air, on the floor and from the heart, Montreal's multidisciplinary creative collective, The 7 Fingers, brings its "thrillingly modern brand of circus" (Time Out New York) to The Goodman in this moving new work that embraces the fear and courage of being human.  

49th Annual A Christmas Carol 
Adapted by Tom Creamer 
Directed by Malkia Stampley 
November 13 – December 31 | Starring Tim Hopper as Ebenezer Scrooge

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."  

Millions have rediscovered Dickens' classic at The Goodman over the past five decades—and know why it's "the best Christmas story ever told!" (Time Out Chicago). Follow the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge as ghostly intervention transforms his holiday disdain into delight one fateful Christmas night. Chicago favorite Tim Hopper—"for whom a furrowed brow and serious visage comes easily" (Chicago Tribune)—makes his debut as Scrooge. This timeless production, long heralded for its "first-rate cast and marvelous staging" (Chicago Sun-Times), is not to be missed. 

John Proctor is the Villain 
By Kimberly Belflower 
Directed by Marti Lyons 
January 23 – February 21, 2027 | A Chicago Premiere

The kids are not only all right, they're on fire. 

Fueled by pop music, optimism and fury, five young women are about to light up some of the darkest secrets of their one-stoplight town. The Chicago premiere of the Tony Award nominated Broadway smash sensation—hailed as "the new era of cool-girl theater" (BrooklynRail.org) "igniting its own cultural moment" (Variety)—pulses with humor and energy. Heroes, villains and who gets blamed when the hysteria starts are up for debate in this "vital, hilarious, thrilling and urgently necessary" (The New York Times) unflinching perspective of a generation staking its claim. A co-production with Guthrie Theater. 

'night, Mother
By Marsha Norman
Directed by Michael Pressman
March 27 – April 25, 2027 

How well do we know the ones we love most?  

Four decades after its astonishing debut, Marsha Norman's Pulitzer Prize-winning darkly comic landmark drama returns in a new, of-the-moment production—starring Emmy- and Golden Globe-award winner S. Epatha Merkerson (Law and Order, Chicago Med, the HBO film Lakawanna Blues, Broadway's Come Back Little Sheba). When a daughter makes a life-altering confession to her mother, their ordinary evening exchange gives way to a breathtaking roller coaster ride—gripping, profoundly relevant and "more harrowing than even its plot suggests" (The New York Times). With unblinking honesty, Emmy Award-winner Michael Pressman directs this profound reckoning about choice, care and what it means to be truly heard. 

Green Day's
American Idiot
Music by Green Day
Lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong
Book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
Directed by Susan V. Booth
June 18 – July 25, 2027  

"A global knockout" (Rolling Stone). 

Tune in, wake up, fight back! With urgent new creative force, Green Day's two-time Tony Award-winning smash sensation that defined a generation roars back to the stage—for the first time in Chicago in more than a decade—in Susan V. Booth's major new production. Three lifelong friends search for meaning in a world that never stops demanding it, each pulled deeper into chaos—of war, of responsibility, of escape. Every song from the band's eponymous Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum album and hits from 21st Century Breakdown punctuate this high-octane, adrenaline-fueled experience about the ever-elusive promise of the American dream. 

IN THE OWEN THEATRE (400-SEAT FLEXIBLE STAGE)

Dead Girl's Quinceañera
By Phanésia Pharel
Directed by Melia Bensussen
September 26 – November 1, 2026 | A World Premiere

Detective skills: unverified. Determination: unmatched.  

FACT: Maria was last seen at her Quinceañera. FACT: The party ended early due to an unknown emergency. FACT: Maria has not responded to any messages in 36 hours. Now, her three best friends—armed with confidence, questionable clues, and zero adult supervision—are on the case, racing against the clock to find out what happened. Half-baked theories, big feelings and the pressures of Latine girlhood punctuate this joy ride through the power and pleasure of adolescent friendships—a comic thriller of secrets, sisterhood and solving crime. A Collective World Premiere with Barrington Stage Company and Hartford Stage. 

FEAST!
By Calamity West
Directed by Susan V. Booth
February 27 – March 28, 2027 | A World Premiere

Nothing spoils faster than pride. 

Carol has just been fired. Meantime, her husband Michael has bought and paid for her company's $12,000 dinner. Instead of canceling, they decide to go through with it to prove they still have a place at the table. But when no guests arrive, the evening unravels into a darkly funny collision of money and marriage that asks what we are prepared to normalize in exchange for belonging. Susan V. Booth directs this smart, searing new satire that serves up a slice of privilege and power from "one of the best playwrights in Chicago. Or maybe the country. Or the universe" (Chicago Reader). FEAST! is the recipient of the 2026 Laurents / Hatcher Foundation Award. 

The XIXth (The Nineteenth)
By Kemp Powers
Directed by Carl Cofield
April 17 – May 16, 2027 | A Chicago Premiere

"Visual pop, fleet pacing, muscular energy, welcome humor" (San Diego Union Tribune). 

In Mexico City, 1968, courage comes with a price. When two Black American sprinters deliver a protest seen around the world, what followed was more complex—and far more dangerous. With a blend of sharp wit and searing emotion, Academy Award-nominee Kemp Powers explores what it truly costs to speak out when everyone is watching in this gripping Chicago-premiere production. 

22nd Annual New Stages Festival
December 5 – 13

Offered free of charge, the annual New Stages Festival is designed to give playwrights an opportunity to experience their work in front of an audience. New Stages offers Chicago theatergoers a first look at dozens of plays, many of which have gone on to become successful full productions—including three plays featured in the Centennial season, Ashland Avenue, Revolution(s) and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao—as well as Noah Haidle's Smokefall, Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning Ruined and more.

HERE, AROUND THE CORNER AND IN THE COMMUNITY

Theater for the Very Young Productions

In the Loop
Created and Directed by Jamal Howard and Ellie Levine
Co-Produced by The Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, Northwestern University
January 30 – February 28, 2027 | Performed in the Alice Center and at locations citywide

Set aboard Chicago's trains and buses, In the Loop invites audiences on a playful journey across the city celebrating the sights, sounds and communities that connect our city's neighborhoods. In the Loop will also include a multi-week tour to classrooms and early childhood spaces across the city. On the heels of their successful collaboration with Splish Splash: A Day on the Lake, Jamal Howard and Ellie Levine reunite to create and direct this interactive production, developed in collaboration with Northwestern undergraduate students and 2- to 5-year-olds from Total Child Preschool in Evanston. 

A World Premiere "Theater for the Very Young" production
By Marisa Carr
Summer 2027 dates TBA

Next summer, The Goodman expands its investment in "Theater for the Very Young" with its first direct commission—a new production by award-winning playwright Marisa Carr, alum of The Goodman's 2020/2021 Playwrights Unit. 

Theater for the Very Young (TVY) programming offers immersive theatrical experiences—produced and performed by professional artists—designed for children ages 0–5 years old to experience alongside the grown-ups in their lives. Created in 2023 by Goodman Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth in response to research demonstrating the profound impact the arts can have on early childhood development and long-term learning outcomes, TVY introduces Chicagoland's youngest audiences to live theater through storytelling, music, movement and sensory-rich play produced and performed by professional artsts. Curated by Clifford Director of Education and Engagement Jared Bellot, TVY productions support early literacy, creativity and social-emotional learning while aiming to initiate a lifelong love of the arts. Over the past three years, TVY has served thousands of children and families in Chicago parks, theaters, schools and community spaces with productions of the plays Splish Splash: A Day on the Lake (2026); Book Up! (2025); The Lizard y El Sol (2024); and Pearl Cleage's In My Granny's Garden (2023). Schools, daycares and community organizations interested in bringing "Theater for the Very Young" programming to their spaces are invited to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for pricing, scheduling and more information.

Theater of the Mind
Created by David Byrne and Mala Gaonkar
Directed by Andrew Scoville
Produced by Goodman Theatre at the Reid Murdoch Building (333 N. LaSalle)
TheaterOfTheMindChicago.com

Co-created by Academy, Grammy, and Tony Award-winning artist David Byrne and writer Mala Gaonkar, Theater of the Mind is an only-in-Chicago theatrical experience you'll see, feel, taste and hear.  Already a hit cultural attraction, Theater of the Mind is a 75-minute mind-bending sensory journey for 16 audience members at a time. Led by a Guide whose stories are inspired by the creators' lives, audiences explore how they perceive the world through sensory experiments derived from both historical and current neuroscience research that reveal the inner mysteries of the brain. Theater of the Mind debuted in March 2026 as a centerpiece of The Goodman's Centennial 25/26 Season and continues to amaze audiences at its River North location in the Reid Murdoch Building. 

Dennis Watkins' The Magic Parlour
Produced by Goodman Theatre and Petterino's (50 W. Randolph)
TheMagicParlourChicago.com

Step into The Magic Parlour, where the impossible becomes reality, right before your eyes—and sometimes in your own hands. ​Join award-winning magician Dennis Watkins as he delivers his signature blend of sharp sleight-of-hand, sophisticated mind-reading and personal storytelling to rekindle your sense of wonder. Now in year three at our cozy speakeasy theater, the premiere show offers brand new magic along with the return of Watkins' The Spirit Cabinet Halloween event, and some of the nation's greatest magicians as guest artists-in-residence. 

ABOUT THE GOODMAN

Since 1925, The Goodman has been a theatrical home for artists and a gathering space for Chicagoland, where bold stories spark connection, conversation and change. Now, as it enters its second century, The Goodman builds on that legacy with an eye toward the future. Under the leadership of Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins, the theater continues to champion new work—following hundreds of plays developed and a national reputation for commissioning and premiering original stories by living writers—while reimagining classics and produce large-scale musicals.

But The Goodman's reach today extends beyond its home in the heart of the Loop. From the intimate magic of The Magic Parlour, now in its third year, to the boundary-pushing world of Theater of the Mind—an immersive experience that blurs the lines between science, storytelling and sensation—and from citywide initiatives like 100 Free Acts of Theater to partnerships with artists and companies across Chicago and around the world, The Goodman is expanding what theater can be, and where it can live.

At its core, The Goodman is driven by a belief that a more empathetic, more connected city is built one story at a time. Generation-spanning productions and programs offer theater for a lifetime—from babies and young children to teens, adults and seniors—including Theater for the Very Young (ages 0–5) and the beloved annual A Christmas Carol, which has welcomed audiences for five decades. Education and Engagement programs, led by Clifford Director Jared Bellot and based in the Alice Rapoport Center, use the tools of theater to spark imagination, reflection and belonging—reaching thousands each year, the majority from underserved communities.

With nearly 200 world or American premieres, two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and nearly 200 Joseph Jefferson Awards, The Goodman remains a defining force in American theater—and the first to produce all 10 plays of August Wilson's American Century Cycle. The theater also frequently serves as a production partner—from national and international companies to Chicago's Off-Loop theaters—to help amplify a wide range of theatrical voices.

Founded by William O. Goodman and his family in memory of playwright Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, the theater carries forward a legacy of artistic ambition and civic generosity. With the help of Mr. Goodman's descendants—Albert Ivar Goodman and his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton—that spirit continues to shape its future as The Goodman expands its impact across Chicago and beyond. Marsha Cruzan is Chair of the Goodman Theatre Board of Trustees; Diane Landgren is Women's Board President; and Kelli Garcia is president of the Scenemakers Board for Young Professionals.

The Goodman stands on the unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires—the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations—and acknowledges the many other Nations for whom this land now called Chicago has long been home, including the Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Kickapoo, and Mascouten. The Goodman is proud to partner with the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum (Gichigamiin-Museum.org) and the Center for Native Futures (CenterForNativeFutures.org)—organizations devoted to honoring Indigenous stories, preserving cultural memory, and deepening public understanding.