GeNarrations
A storytelling performance workshop for adults 55+.
ABOUT GENARRATIONS
GeNarrations is a FREE storytelling program that engages adults aged 55+ in writing and performance workshops that nurture the creative spirit. Over a seven-week session, across multiple in-person and virtual locations, participants create and share five to eight-minute personal narrative stories inspired by productions on the Goodman stage. With the support of Goodman Teaching Artists, the GeNarrations program empowers participants to share, connect, and support each other while envisioning and building a resilient community beyond the confines of theater.
Program Dates
Our Winter 2026 session will begin the week of February 2nd. Participants will craft personal narratives based on themes from The Goodman’s production of Holiday written by Richard Greenberg and directed by Robert Falls.
Registration for the winter session will open on Monday, January 12th at 10:00am CST.
To find out more about our upcoming winter session, please email genarrations@goodmantheatre.org.
How to Join a Class
1. Access your Goodman Theatre account (this is the only step that can be done before registration opens!) To access your account, visit https://my.goodmantheatre.org/account/login. If you already have an account with us (if you’ve registered before or seen a show on our stages, you most likely do!), enter your username and password. If you forgot your password, click “Forgot Password” and enter the email associated with your account to receive instructions to reset your password. If you don’t have an account with us, click “Create an Account” on the right side of the page. After signing in, you may be taken to a calendar of our season or the main Goodman webpage. Don’t worry, you’ve been logged in and can move to the next step!
2. Access the GeNarrations webpage by visiting https://www.goodmantheatre.org/engage-learn/for-community/genarrations/ Here, you can view session dates, theme, program descriptions, teaching artists and our class list.
3. Select ONE class. Scroll down and view our class list organize by day, time, Teaching Artist and location. You’ll notice the first half of classes are offered in-person while the second half are offered virtually. Once you decide on a class, click the “REGISTER NOW” button next to it.
4. Select Quantity. After selecting “REGISTER NOW,” you’ll be taken to a page that shows the “price” of your class. All of our GeNarrations classes are complimentary, so the price should say $0.00. Next to price, select the dropdown menu under “Quantity.” Please only select a quantity of one. If you select more or less than “1” at this step, it will block other students from registering and cancel your reservation. After setting quantity to “1,” click “Add to Cart.”
5. Check out. You’ll be taken to your checkout cart. Please make sure you only have one class in the cart before continuing. Select “Check out.”
6. Review order details. There is an option to add a donation to your order, but please skip if you are uninterested. Scroll to bottom of the page and check box that says “I understand that all transactions are final.” Then, select “Complete Order.”
7. Confirmation – you should see a big “THANK YOU” and information on parking at the top of this page along with information on your order. If you made it here, you are confirmed for your GeNarrations class! Congratulations and welcome to our program! You’ll receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of registering.
Winter 2026 class list
These classes take place exclusively in-person at sites around the city and are open to all participants. Classes will start the week of February 2nd.
Mondays at 12:00pm with Melisha Mitchell – REGISTER
Location: Goodman Theatre (170 N Dearborn St.)
Tuesdays at 10:00am with Zahra Baker – REGISTER
Location: Willye B. White Park (1610 W Howard St.)
Tuesdays at 3:00pm with Geneva Norman – REGISTER
Location: Goodman Theatre (170 N Dearborn St.)
Wednesdays at 10:00am with Zahra Baker – REGISTER
Location: Willye B. White Park (1610 W Howard St.)
Wednesdays at 10:00am with Julie Ganey – REGISTER
Location: Goodman Theatre (170 N Dearborn St.)
Wednesdays at 11:00am with Geneva Norman – REGISTER
Location: Englewood Senior Satellite Center (653 W 63rd St.)
Wednesdays at 1:00pm with Julie Ganey – REGISTER
Location: Goodman Theatre (170 N Dearborn St.)
Wednesdays at 9:00am with Sharon Evans – REGISTER
Location: Portage Park Senior Center (4100 N Long Ave)
Thursdays at 11:00am with Sharon Evans – REGISTER
Location: Homan Square Community Center (3517 W Arthington St.)
Thursdays at 1:00pm with Melisha Mitchell – REGISTER
Location: Norwood Park Senior Center (5801 N Natoma Ave)
(These classes take place exclusively online and are open to newcomers and returning participants.)
Mondays at 11:30am with Cynthia Cornelius – REGISTER
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Mondays at 12:00pm with Willa Taylor – REGISTER
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Mondays at 5:30pm with Deb Lewis – REGISTER
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Tuesdays at 1:00pm with Barbara McBee – REGISTER
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Tuesdays at 3:30pm with Deb Lewis – REGISTER
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
NOTE: This class centers Queer and gender non-conforming storytellers and is intended for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies.
Wednesdays at 11:30am with Cynthia Cornelius – REGISTER
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Wednesdays at 2:00pm with Barbara McBee – REGISTER
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Thursdays at 3:00pm with Julie Ganey – REGISTER
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Fridays at 1:30pm with Deb Lewis – REGISTER
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Saturdays at 10:00am with Paul Michael Thomson – REGISTER
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
