Goodman Theatre

For Immediate Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Chicago, IL - September 25, 2007) Kicking off the 2007/2008 season in the Goodman's Owen Theatre is Eduardo Machado's The Cook, a sweeping look at four decades of Cuban history refracted through one woman's perspective. Resident Artistic Associate Henry Godinez directs a cast of noted Chicago actors including Karen Aldridge (Proof), Edward F. Torres (Massacre) and Phillip James Brannon (Oedipus Complex). In addition, on October 18, Machado will release a memoir in the form of a cookbook, Tastes Like Cuba, An Exile's Hunger for Home, co-written by playwright Michael Domitrovitch (Gotham Books). In the memoir, Machado relates his childhood in Cuba, his journey to the United States in 1961 as one of the children airlifted out of Cuba in "Operation Peter Pan," and his career as a playwright. The book is punctuated with recipes for dishes from his native Cuba. The Cook runs October 20 - November 18; press opening night is October 29, 2007. Fifth Third Bank is the Corporate Sponsor Partner of The Cook.

"Similar to Eduardo's other plays which document the unique complexities of the Cuban-American experience, The Cook is a revealing and heartbreaking examination of faith and fidelity set within the margins of Fidel Castro's regime-and the price paid by Cubans on both sides of the revolution-in 1958 and forty years later," said Godinez. "As someone who, like Eduardo, was born in Cuba and shares some of this history, I am particularly excited and proud to direct this Chicago premiere." Equal parts bittersweet drama and searing portrait of the reality of a political movement, The Cook is particularly timely as Cuba now braces for another potential change in leadership.

On New Year's Eve, 1958-the eve of Fidel Castro's march into Havana-a young Afro-Cuban cook, Gladys, is entrusted to care for the house of her fleeing aristocratic employer. As four decades pass, and her marriage is rocked by her husband's infidelity and his rise and fall through the ranks of Castro's government, Gladys resolves to remain faithful to her long ago promise-no matter how agonizing this difficult choice becomes.

Playwright Eduardo Machado was born and raised in Cuba until 1961, when he and his younger brother were sent to the United States during "Operation Peter Pan." His plays include Havana is Waiting, The Floating Island Plays, Cuba and the Night, Stevie Wants to Play the Blues, Rosario and the Gypsies, Across a Crowded Room and Don Juan in New York City. His plays have been produced at Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Mark Taper Forum, the Long Wharf Theatre, Hampstead Theatre in London, American Place Theatre and Repertorio Español, among many others. He is the artistic director of INTAR Theatre and is currently part of the faculty of New York University.

Director Henry Godinez is the resident artistic associate at Goodman Theatre, where he is the curator of the Latino Theatre Festival, which will have its fourth installment in August 2008. Most recently, Godinez appeared in the Goodman Theatre/Teatro Vista world premiere of José Rivera's Massacre (Sing to Your Children). At the Goodman he has directed Mariela in the Desert, Millennium Mambo, Electricidad, Straight as a Line, Zoot Suit, Red Cross, Cloud Tectonics and A Christmas Carol. Other directing work includes plays at Chicago Children's Theatre, Apple Tree Theatre, Victory Gardens Theatre, Next Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, Portland Center Stage, Signature Theatre, Missouri Repertory Theatre, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Colorado Shakespeare Festival and Teatro Vista, which he co-founded and where he served as artistic director for the first five years. Born in Havana, Cuba, he currently serves as an associate professor at Northwestern University.

Karen Aldridge (Gladys) last appeared at Goodman Theatre in Proof directed by Chuck Smith. Other local credits include Seagull at Writers' Theatre, The Man From Nebraska at Steppenwolf Theatre, Far Away and In The Blood (Jeff Award nomination for best actress, After Dark Award) at Next Theatre and Love's Labours Lost at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. International and regional credits include a year-long world tour of Le Costume directed by Peter Brook and productions for Alabama Shakespeare Festival, American Conservatory Theatre, Magic Theatre, Aurora Theatre, Marin Theatre Company and AlterTheater. Edward F. Torres (Carlos) returns to the Goodman where he was previously seen in Massacre (Sing to Your Children) and Electricidad. Other Chicago credits include The Crossing, Broken Eggs, Santos & Santos and El Paso Blue at Teatro Vista; Anna in the Tropics at Victory Gardens Theater; and Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue, a co-production between Teatro Vista and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble. He is a co-founder and current Artistic Director of Teatro Vista, where his directorial credits include The Show Host, Ambrosio, Broken Eggs, The Boiler Room and Aurora's Motive. Maricela Ochoa (Adria/Lourdes) returns to the Goodman where she appeared in Psst I Have Something To Tell You Mi Amor in the Goodman's first Latino Theatre Festival and Cloud Tectonics directed by Godinez. New York credits include Blade to the Heat directed by George C. Wolfe and Santa Concepcion at The Public Theater. Other regional theater credits include work at the B Street Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, La Jolla Playhouse, South Coast Repertory, Santa Fe Stages and Milwaukee Rep. Phillip James Brannon (Julio) returns to the Goodman where his credits include Oedipus Complex and A Christmas Carol. Other Chicago credits include Elmina's Kitchen with Congo Square Theatre Company, An Immigrant Class with Remy Bumppo Theatre Company and The Last Supper with InFusion Theatre Company. Regional credits include Lennie in Of Mice and Men and Vladimir in Waiting for Godot, which toured in Eastern Europe with Firebelly Productions. Monica Lopez (Elena/Rosa) performed at the Goodman as an understudy in Mariela in the Desert. Other Chicago credits include the title role in Halcyon Theatre's Yerma, Huwaida in Silk Road Theatre Project's Ten Acrobats in an Amazing Leap of Faith and Julia in The Dutchess of Malfi at Writers' Theatre.

The design team for The Cook includes Todd Rosenthal (Set Design), Ana Kuzmanic (Costume Design), Robert Christen (Lighting Design), Ray Nardelli and Andre Pluess (Sound Design) and Gustavo Leone (Original Music).

Tickets to The Cook are $10 to $38 and may be purchased online at GoodmanTheatre.org, at the Goodman Theatre Box Office, 170 North Dearborn Street, or charged by phoning 312.443.3800. See calendar below for specific dates, times and prices. MezzTix are half-price mezzanine tickets available at 6pm for evening shows and 12 noon for matinees at the box office, and at 10am online at GoodmanTheatre.org on the day of performance, subject to availability. Groups of 10 or more, call 312.443.3820.

About Goodman Theatre

Named the country's Best Regional Theatre by Time magazine (2003), Goodman Theatre is a leader in the American theater, internationally recognized for its artists, productions and educational programs since its founding in 1925. Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer's forward-thinking leadership has earned the Goodman unparalleled artistic distinction, garnered hundreds of awards-including the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre (1992)-and moved dozens of plays from Chicago to stages in New York and abroad. Central to its commitment to the reinvestigation of classics and development of new plays and artists is the Goodman's Artistic Collective, including Frank Galati, Henry Godinez, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor and Mary Zimmerman. The largest not-for-profit theater in Chicago, the Goodman moved in 2000 into a brand new state-of-the-art complex which houses two principal theaters: the 856-seat Albert Ivar Goodman Theatre and the 400-seat flexible Owen Bruner Goodman Theatre. Board Chairman is Shawn M. Donnelley and Alice Young Sabl is chair of the Women's Board. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre. Kraft Foods is the Principal Sponsor of the Goodman's free Student Subscription Series.

Upcoming productions in the 2007/2008 season include: the 30th Anniversary Production of A Christmas Carol (November 16 - December 29, 2007); Shining City by Conor McPherson, directed by Robert Falls (January 12 - February 17, 2008); The Horton Foote Festival (including The Trip to Bountiful, Talking Pictures, Blind Date and The Actor - events begin January 2008); Ain't Misbehavin': The Fats Waller Musical Show, based on an idea by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby, Jr., music by Fats Waller, directed by Chuck Smith (April 5 - May 4, 2008); The Ballad of Emmett Till by Ifa Bayeza (April 26 - June 1, 2008); The Boys are Coming Home, music and lyrics by Leslie Arden, book by Rebecca Gilman, directed by David Petrarca (June 21 - July 27, 2008). For more information call Goodman Theatre's Publicity Office: 312.443.5151.

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