2014

As a way to engage and prepare our audience, we’ve chosen Methland as our first Goodman Book Club selection. The book deals with many of the issues faced by the characters in Rebecca Gilman's newest play, Luna Gale, starting performances here on January 18. I’ll be blogging my thoughts and hope that you will share your comments on the book and Luna Gale here as well.

Costume designer Kaye Voyce, who also designed Other Desert Cities and Shining City at the Goodman, was tasked with the responsibility of dressing the cast of Luna Gale. The play is set in present day, so we were curious to know how Voyce designs costumes that will look like the audience's own clothes, but still add to the story. Check out our interview with Voyce below to learn more.

Take a look at what theater-goers are saying about Rebecca Gilman's latest play, directed by Robert Falls. Have something to share? Leave a comment!

One of the most remarkable set elements to our production of Rebecca Gilman's Luna Gale is the rotating stage. We got a backstage tour of how this magnificent machine works from Assistant Technical Director Alex Bergeron.

During her busy eight performances a week schedule, we nabbed a few minutes with Luna Gale's Reyna de Courcy (Karlie) and quick-fired five "backstage with" questions at her.

As Luna Gale enters its final days of performances, we asked Erik Hellman—who plays Cliff—to answer a few "backstage with" questions.

If you were unable to attend our Artist Encounter around Buzzer—which opened last night—here is a recording of the livestream.

Venus in Fur features two dynamic actors who go head-to-head for a heated 90 minute battle eight times a week. Rufus Collins was gracious enough to take a moment between performances to discuss his fantastic career.

“It isn’t an actor, but it is much more than a prop. APTP is discovering the world of puppetry.”

"Like all of APTP’s original plays, God’s Work was inspired by a true story." APTP artistic director David Feiner recounts how the group's special knack for collaboration led to the creation of the show.

The clothing White Snake costume designer Mara Blumenfeld imagines becomes a reality she shares with audiences, and her vision shapes our understanding of the story we are told. Even a small decision like making the Green Snake jade rather than blue colors our view of the play, and transports us to a different, and very specifically imagined world.

Paloma Morales joined APTP when she was thirteen years old. Audiences will remember her as the young Ahlam selling her treasured dolls to audience members in Home/Land, and as the young heroine who loses her childhood home in I Will Kiss These Walls. Below Paloma reflects on APTP’s new play, God’s Work, and her time with the company.

Never heard of The White Snake? Here’s a primer on the basics of Mary Zimmerman’s adaptation (we promise no spoilers!).

In Ask Aunt Susan, Seth Bockley's sharp new satire about the Internet era, Meghan Reardon plays Betty, an aspiring young actress who's decided to unplug herself from all her addictive digital devices. Luckily Reardon hasn't completely abandoned new media herself, and sat down to answer a few "backstage" questions for the Goodman blog.

In the new comedy Ask Aunt Susan, Alex Stage takes on the moniker of Aunt Susan, an online advice provider whose identity remains an enigma to her many devoted followers. No need for all the mystery with Alex himself though as he gladly answered a few "backstage" questions about his own identiy and past. See his answers after the jump!

Robyn Scott serves up the goods as a hilarious diner waitress in Ask Aunt Susan, Seth Bockley's sharp new satire about the Internet era. Robyn recently took a break from taking breakfast orders to answer a few "backstage" questions. Check out her answers!

Ask Aunt Susan by Seth Bockley, introduces us to Aunt Susan, a twenty-something man who moonlights as a female online advice guru. In keeping with the show’s themes, we have collected some of the funniest fake online personalities the Twitter-verse has to offer. See them all after the jump!

Read what audience members are saying about Brigadoon!

We at the Goodman Theatre were saddened to learn of the death from cancer on June 28 of actor Meshach Taylor.  A much loved and highly respected mainstay of the Chicago theater community in the 1970s, Meshach created indelible performances at a variety of local theaters, among them the original Organic Theatre Company and the Goodman, where his performance in Sizwe Bansi is Dead in the 1977/1978 Season earned him a Jeff Award. His other Goodman appearances included Native Son in 1978 and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1985).

Part of the fun of showcasing a long-time favorite musical is listening to stories from those who have a personal connection to the show. We put out a call for stories from patrons who were a part of a production of Brigadoon during their life, and we received some fantastic memories! 

What I learned about dance storytelling, I learned from watching Agnes de Mille’s beautiful ballets in movies like Oklahoma and Carousel.  It was new way of approaching the work that had an indelible effect on me as young choreographer.  It gave me a foundation upon which to base my own brand of dance storytelling.  I have never seen any of the footage of the de Mille choreography for Brigadoon. I don’t know if any exists. I have no doubt it would have been revolutionary.

Francis Jue plays a variety of roles in The World of Extreme Happiness including Mr. Destiny, an eccentric self-help guru who inspires his followers to find inspiration through their “personal power position.” Jue, a New York-based actor whose taking full advantage of his time in Chicago, took a break from motivating his co-stars to reveal some of the things that make him happy. Check out his answer to our backstage questionnaire!

In The World of Extreme Happiness Joe Mei plays Ming-Ming, a young factory worker determined to get ahead in life. Ming-Ming is a devoted follower of an energetic self-help guru who teaches his students to build their confidence with a “personal power position.” In this backstage interview, Mei reveals how her character’s enthusiasm is rubbing off on her, and how she loves everything from cupcakes to superheroes.

Ruy Iskandar’s character in The World of Extreme Happiness, Pete, is a Chinese teenager obsessed with the Monkey King, a mythical figure frequently found in Chinese literature. Iskandar took time between performances to share some of his own obsessions. He also revealed how he modeled Pete of the characters from a current hit TV show (we’ll give you a hint about which show: “Bazinga!”) See Iskandar’s responses to our backstage questionnaire below! 

Playwright Noah Haidle has been keeping a  video diary while working with the cast on Smokefall. Take a look at what's going on behind the scenes and in the mind of Noah Haidle.

Chicago's top critics are calling Smokefall "the best new play of 2014." Watch these new interviews with Chicago Tribune's Chris Jones and the Chicago Sun-Times' Hedy Weiss to hear more.

Make It Better TV got a behind the scenes look at our December cover shoot of the cast of "A Christmas Carol" at the Goodman Theatre. The actors who play Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit weighed in on how practice and production have been going so far.

Acclaimed Chicago-based director Kimberly Senior, who recently helmed the world and Broadway premieres of the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Disgraced, makes her Goodman Theatre debut with Rapture, Blister, Burn.