GENARRATIONS

A storytelling performance workshop for adults 55+.

Participants develop personal narrative performance pieces based on themes raised by Goodman productions, which they are then invited to perform in a public forum. The Goodman offers at least three seven-week sessions each season. This program is presented in collaboration with the City of Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services as well as session-specific community based organizations.

As part of the Goodman’s efforts to help mitigate community spread of COVID-19, several GeNarrations classes are currently taking place online.

Program Dates

Participants in GeNarrations meet once a week for two hours at the Goodman, online and at partner sites across Chicago.

Our next session begins on Friday, September 29 and will culminate with a final performance at the Goodman on November 20.

GeNarrations Stories

Inspired by Lydia Diamond’s Toni Stone, participants in the winter 2023 session of GeNarrations wrote stories of athletic triumphs, old rivalries, and the bonds we forge with teammates on and off the field. Out of over two-hundred stories, fifteen were selected by GeNarrations participants and teaching artists to appear on this page.

LISTEN NOW

How to Join a Class

Registration for the fall session of GeNarrations will open to new students on Monday, September 18 at the link below. In the meantime, if you have NOT participated in GeNarrations before and wish to join our mailing list, please fill out the interest form at this link.

Past and current GeNarrations participants will receive an email from a member of the Goodman education team on Monday, September 11 with a password to register early.

Fall 2023 Classes

In-Person Classes

These classes take place exclusively in-person at sites around the city and are open to newcomers and returning participants. Unless otherwise noted, classes begin on Friday, September 29 and meet once a week for seven weeks. Classes run approximately two hours.

Tuesdays at 10am in Rogers Park with Liam Collier
Location: Willye B. White Park (1610 W Howard St)
Tuesdays at 10am in Rogers Park with Liam Collier
Location: Willye B. White Park (1610 W Howard St)
Tuesdays at 3pm with Geneva Norman
Location: Goodman Theatre (170 N Dearborn St)
Wednesdays at 10am with Julie Ganey
Location: Goodman Theatre (170 N Dearborn St)
Wednesdays at 10am with Shedrick Sanders
Location: Englewood Senior Satellite Center (653 W 63rd St)
Thursdays at 11:00am with Sharon Evans
Location: Homan Square Community Center (3517 W Arthington St)
Thursdays at 11:00am with Laura Stempel
Location: Norwood Park Senior Center (5801 N Natoma Ave)
Thursdays at 1:30pm with Julie Ganey
Location: Goodman Theatre (170 N Dearborn St)
Fridays at 12:30pm with Laura Stempel
Location: Portage Park Senior Center (4001 N Long Ave)
Fridays at 1:00pm with Melisha Mitchell
Location: Goodman Theatre (170 N Dearborn St)

VIRTUAL Classes

These classes are entirely online and are open to newcomers and returning participants. Unless otherwise noted, classes begin on Friday, September 29 and meet once a week for seven weeks. Classes run approximately two hours.

Mondays at 11:30am with Cynthia Cornelius
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Mondays at 5:30pm with Deb Lewis
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Tuesdays at 10:30am with Adrian Azevedo
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Tuesdays at 3:30pm with Deb Lewis
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
NOTE: This class is centers Queer and gender non-conforming storytellers and is intended for members of the LGBTQIA community and their allies
Tuesdays at 4:30pm with Adrian Azevedo
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Wednesdays at 2pm with Barbara McBee
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Wednesdays at 11:30am with Cynthia Cornelius
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Thursdays at 3:30pm with Julie Ganey
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Fridays at 1:30pm with Deb Lewis
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom

ADVANCED Classes

These classes take place online and are open only to returning participants. Instructions about how to sign up for a specialty class will be emailed out to participants in late August.

Beginner Playwriting with Alex Lubischer
Wednesday, Sept 20 – Monday, November 6 (NO CLASS on October 11 & October 16th)
Class meets on Zoom for an hour and a half, twice a week: Mondays: 3pm – 4:30pm | Wednesdays: 3pm – 4:30pm.
Advanced Playwriting with Alex Lubischer
Monday, October 23 – Wednesday, December 6 (NO CLASS the week of Thanksgiving)
Class meets on Zoom for an hour and a half, twice a week: Mondays: 1pm – 2:30pm | Wednesdays: 1pm – 2:30pm