A bold $30 million campaign to secure Chicago’s flagship theater for future generations.
Since 1925, The Goodman has been more than a stage. At once a theatrical home for artists and a gathering space for audiences, Chicago’s largest not-for-profit theater has grown alongside its city—reimagining itself over the past century while believing a more empathetic, more connected Chicago is created one story at a time.
World-class productions and generation-spanning programs that offer theater for a lifetime have built our greatest legacy: our community. Your support expands access, nurtures new voices and ensures The Goodman remains a place where future generations belong.
The Goodman Today
Since 1925, The Goodman has been more than a stage. A theatrical home for artists and a gathering space for community, it’s where stories come to life—bold in artistry, rich in history and rooted in service. As Chicago has reinvented itself over the past century, so too has its flagship theater. For 100 years, The Goodman has grown alongside its city, at once reimagining itself while reinvesting in the power of theater to connect and transform.
Founded as a theater by, for and featuring Chicagoans, The Goodman has evolved over the past century to be more than a theater—it’s become the heartbeat of Chicago, where stories come alive and move us to dream bigger and feel deeper. It’s a space where people come together to explore what it means to be human—in all our complexity, joy and struggle. Where productions and programs connect us, challenge us and remind us we’re not alone.
Over time, The Goodman has evolved into a major cultural resource, with an impact across the region:
- 400+ performances each year
- 100+ new plays developed since 2004
- 50+ Partner Schools, Civic Institutions and Community Organizations
- 6,000+ students aged 0-9 served through education and engagement programs
- 700+ artists, artisans, technicians and professionals employed every year
- $55 million in local economic impact
Through steady investments, longstanding relationships and an unwavering commitment to bold choices and artistic excellence, The Goodman is proud to serve a community of more than 300,000 each year—individuals and families who join us to laugh, cry, wonder and learn through the medium of theater.
The Future
Today, not-for-profit theaters face growing challenges. At The Goodman, we are doubling-down on our mission, responding with productions and programs that speak to the moment and engage new audiences, so that we can arrive at a bright future together.
The Goodman, For Good, ensures that the heart of who we are continues while providing the flexibility to innovate, to make bold choices and rise to new challenges. Once raised, the funds will work alongside annual earned and contributed revenue to allow us to dream big and respond to the needs of the moment.
Join us in supporting our three pillars:
Quality
Bring top-tier productions to the stage and ensure new generations experience the classics with an investment in developing new works, producing large-scale musicals, fostering exceptional performances through extended rehearsal periods and providing competitive compensation for artists.
Community
Foster a thriving arts culture in Chicago with efforts that spark imagination and inspire bold creativity with an investment in offering free plays and workshops, engaging students in the arts, hosting public showcases and nurturing a new generation of talent.
Equity & Access
Find new ways to reduce barriers and connect with Chicago’s diverse communities with an investment in providing discounted tickets, bringing untold stories to the stage, offering accessibility services for theatergoers, and maintaining comfortable and inclusive seating and spaces.
Campaign Updates
On October 6, 2026, The Goodman was proud to publicly announce The Goodman, For Good, including $27 million in investments already made in its next chapter.
Together with hundreds of partners, donors, artists and patrons, Goodman leaders and artists celebrated the organization’s achievements and shared a vision for our next century of impact. The enthusiasm in the room was a powerful reminder that transformative change is made possible by a community who believes in our mission and is committed to creating a lasting legacy for The Goodman.
To commemorate the day, guests in attendance signed a piece of Goodman history, now hanging proudly in the main lobby. We are thrilled to have a passionate, robust base of supporters and look forward to moving with them into our second century.
Since that time, our base of support has continued to grow. Please find a list of current donors to The Goodman, For Good, here.
The Goodman, For Good, is an effort to raise funds for The Goodman’s financial reserve. These reserves function like a savings account for the organization—not something we dip into for daily expenses, but an asset which can give us stability, weather downturns and emergencies and make plans for the future with confidence we can see them through.
A gift to this fund is an investment in the future, a way to ensure that the values of an organization you love are able to persist for generations to come.
Yes! Gifts like this are frequently made from more complex vehicles and The Goodman would be happy to help you make a gift in the way which works best for you. You may want to check Helpful Information on our website for details on how to get started. Please note “The Goodman. For Good.” on any incoming forms so that we can designate your gift as you intend.
We would love to speak to you about your gift and help design the plan that’s right for you. Please contact Christine Obuchowski at ChristineObuchowski@GoodmanTheatre.org and we will be in touch.
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
Fruman and Marian Jacobson
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
J. Bradley Keck
Maggie Kelly and Chris Marzec
Mr. and Mrs.* William K. Ketchum
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
Heather Alger
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
Gifts as of 10.1.2026