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.
The fall session of GeNarrations begins the week of September 26. For more information about this program, visit our FAQ page.
GeNarrations Stories
Inspired by Lynn Nottage’s Clyde’s, participants in the fall 2022 session of GeNarrations wrote stories of food, family and the nourishment that keeps us going through difficult times. Out of over one-hundred stories, thirteen were selected by GeNarrations participants and teaching artists to appear on the Goodman website.
Classes for the spring session of GeNarrations begin either the week of April 10. Classes will take both in-person and over Zoom. Participants meet once a week for six weeks, then spend one to two weeks sharing their stories internally.
How to Join a Class
Registration for the spring session of GeNarrations will open to past and current students on Wednesday, March 22. New students may sign up for classes beginning March 27.
These classes take place exclusively in-person at sites around the city.
Tuesdays at 10:00 AM with Liam Collier
Location: Willye B White Park (1610 W Howard St)
Wednesdays at 10:00 AM with Julie Ganey & Melisha Mitchell
Location: Goodman Theatre (170 N Dearborn St)
Wednesday at 12:15 PM with Willa Taylor & Barbara McBee
Location: Goodman Theatre (170 N Dearborn St)
Thursdays at 11:00 AM with Sharon Evans
Location: Homan Square Community Center (3517 W Arthington St)
Thursdays at 1:30 PM with Julie Ganey
Location: Goodman Theatre (170 N Dearborn St)
Thursdays at 11:00 AM with Laura Stempel
Location: Norwood Park (5801 N Natoma Ave)
Fridays at 9:30 AM with Laura Stempel
Location: Portage Park Senior Center (4001 N Long Ave)
Fridays at 12:30 PM with Laura Stempel
Location: Portage Park Senior Center (4001 N Long Ave)
Hybrid Classes
These classes use a hybrid model. Participants may choose to join these classes in-person or over Zoom.
Mondays at 12:00 PM with Willa Taylor & Shedrick Sanders DuSable Museum (740 E 56th Pl) or over Zoom
Fridays at 4:00 PM with Liam Collier
Goodman Theatre (170 N Dearborn St) or over Zoom
VIRTUAL Classes
These classes are entirely online and meet over Zoom.
Mondays at 11:30 AM with Cynthia Cornelius This is an online class that meets over Zoom
Mondays at 5:30 PM with Deb Lewis
Location: This is an online class that meets over Zoom Note: This class begins on April 17, 2023.
Tuesdays at 3:30 PM with Deb Lewis Location: This is an online class that meets over Zoom Note: This class begins on April 18, 2023 and centers Queer and gender non-conforming storytellers and is intended for members of the LGBTQIA community and their allies
Wednesdays at 10:00 AM with Adrian Azevedo Location: This is an online class that meets over Zoom
Wednesdays at 11:30 AM with Cynthia Cornelius This is an online class that meets over Zoom
Wednesdays at 12:00 PM with Adrian Azevedo This is an online class that meets over Zoom
Thursdays at 3:30 PM with Julie Ganey & Geneva Norman This is an online class that meets over Zoom
Fridays at 1:30 PM with Deb Lewis This is an online class that meets over Zoom