As The Goodman marks its Centennial Season, we also celebrate a tradition of mentorship and new beginnings— like our fellowship program, which brings fresh voices into the heart of our artistic staff.
Through the Michael Maggio and Northwestern Directing Fellowships, emerging artists contribute to all aspects of theater-making, from assisting on Main Stage productions to supporting readings, festivals and community engagement events.
This month, outgoing 2024/2025 Fellows Raquel Torre (Maggio) and Tor Campbell (Northwestern) welcomed incoming 2025/2026 Fellows Lo Williams (Maggio) and Michael Cotey (Northwestern) for a conversation about leadership, artistry and what they’re most passionate about.
(L-R) Tor Campbell and Raquel Torre.
Tor: What do you hope to learn during your time here?
Michael: I think there’s a path in my future toward leadership. One of the great appeals of this fellowship is the chance to work alongside all the different departments of a large, outstanding organization. There’s a lot to learn about leading teams and artists, and about being a leader of an organization in a city and market as big as Chicago. From my past experiences at The Goodman, I know there are outstanding artists and craftspeople here, so there’s just a lot of knowledge to soak in.
Lo: Every theater has a different process—how things happen, how decisions get made—and I’m excited to learn how to make informed choices in that context. Once a decision is made, there are a myriad of steps and people involved. I want to better understand how each department contributes, especially those that don’t always get the same recognition as others. I’m curious about how each “slice of the pie” gets made.
Raquel: Are there any particular departments you’re most curious to learn from?
Lo: I’m excited to be surprised by what I learn from each department because they’re all different. I’m not going in expecting to know what I’ll find, I just want to discover the nuances I don’t yet understand.
Michael: I love all aspects of making a play, not just being in the rehearsal room as a director. I’m fascinated by the storytelling in marketing, like how do you engage someone and hook them on a play? And once people are here, the work the engagement team does to ensure theater isn’t just transactional—“see our plays, thank you, goodbye”—but that we serve the city in a deeper way. I want to understand how each department takes The Goodman’s core values and manifests them in their work.
Tor: How do you see your own artistry evolving through this fellowship?
(L-R) Lo Williams and Michael Cotey.
Lo: Inevitably, as an individual and student of theater, my artistry will grow as I keep my eyes open and observe not just what’s happening in the moment, but the bigger picture. I see myself developing as a collaborator, first and foremost. One thing I’ve already noticed at The Goodman is just how collaborative and interdepartmental everything is. It’s more than I ever expected!
Michael: Until now, I hadn’t had the experience of being on staff and truly part of a team. What I appreciate here is how gracious everyone is, and how much people want to support one another. If I can absorb those traits during my time here, I think it will make me a stronger artist at the end of the day.
Raquel: What stories and themes are you most passionate about exploring right now?
Michael: I find myself on two tracks. For the past five years, I’ve been working at the intersection of theater, gun violence prevention and elevating youth voices. The “a-ha!” moment for me has been seeing theater as a vehicle for bringing together completely different groups—survivors, activists, young people, artists, audiences—and watching meaningful partnerships grow from those collisions. Theater can be a catalyst for critical conversations or inspiring action beyond the stage.
At the same time, I love exploring theater that does only what theater can do—where the play exists in the space between the artists and the audience, and each performance is unique because of that shared imagination. Plays that leverage that connection and expand our capacity for wonder really excite me.
Lo: I’m invested in liberation. I gravitate toward stories that uplift incarcerated individuals, marginalized people and communities that aren’t free to live fully or prosper. That’s why I’m particularly excited to be part of Revolution(s)—its themes are meaningful to me. Black history, and its connections across the African diaspora, is especially important.
I’m also drawn to stories that keep culture alive. As someone who feels disconnected from my ancestry and history, storytelling is vital. In the origins of theater, elders and storytellers preserved history for their communities. Continuing that tradition matters deeply to me, not only for my culture but for others. It’s how we expand our experiences and find new ways to relate to one another.
Raquel: How do you hope to leave a mark on the fellowship and the institution?
Lo: I want to leave an imprint with the people I work with. Relationships matter to me, and I hope the people I collaborate with here feel the same way. There’s so much knowledge and skill in this building. I want to learn from it, but also give something meaningful back.
Michael: I’d love for people to remember me as someone who served the organization and supported others. I want to figure out how to amplify The Goodman’s mission—especially in a time of political uncertainty—and help look ahead to the next 100 years.
Tor: What’s one thing we should all know about you outside of the theater?
Lo: I’m a bookseller. One of the many joys of bookselling is exposing people to stories and ideas they might not otherwise encounter. The simple act of reading feels revolutionary right now—having the time, space and capacity to read says so much about what we value. So I sell books, and I love it. Also, I’m a Baltimore Ravens fan.
Michael: I’m blessed with two very rambunctious children: Jackson, who’s five, and Fritz, who’s 15 months. I’m only a good parent because my partner, Eleanor, is an exceptional one. She’s the head of wardrobe at the Joffrey Ballet and an absolute superstar. Eventually we’ll figure out how to coordinate our schedules and come into work together! Outside of that, I’m an unabashed Marvel fan. And we have two Chihuahuas.
