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 upcoming session of GeNarrations will begin the week of Monday, April 29th, with final class performances the week of Monday, June 10th. Our culminating Citywide performance will take place at Goodman Theatre on Monday, June 18th, 2024.

GeNarrations Stories

Participants in this session will write stories inspired by Joe Turner’s Come and Gone by August Wilson, and directed by Resident Director, Chuck Smith.

How to Join a Class

Registration for spring 2024 classes opens at 1:00pm CST on April 15th. Please visit goodmantheatre.org/registration for a class list and instructions on how to register.

Winter 2024 Classes

In-PERSON ▼

VIRTUAL ▼

ADVANCED ▼

In-Person Classes

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

Tuesdays at 10:00am with Liam Collier
Location: Willye B. White Park (1610 W Howard St)
Tuesdays at 12:30pm with Liam Collier
Location: Willye B. White Park (1610 W Howard St)
Tuesdays at 3:00pm with Geneva Norman
Location: Goodman Theatre (170 N Dearborn St)
Wednesdays at 11:00am with Geneva Norman
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 1:00pm with Melisha Mitchell
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 Sharon Evans
Location: Portage Park Senior Center (4001 N Long Ave)
Fridays at 10:00am with Julie Ganey
Location: Goodman Theatre (170 N Dearborn St)
Fridays at 1:00pm with Melisha Mitchell
Location: Goodman Theatre (170 N Dearborn St)

VIRTUAL Classes

(These classes take place exclusively online and are open to newcomers and returning participants.)

Mondays at 11:30am with Cynthia Cornelius
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Mondays at 12:00pm with Willa Taylor
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 10:00am with Laura Stempel
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Tuesdays at 10:00am with Adrian Azevedo
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Tuesdays at 1:00pm 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 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
Location: This is an online class that takes place over Zoom
Wednesdays at 2:00pm with Barbara McBee
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
Wednesdays at 2:00pm with Barbara McBee
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 the spring.

Introduction to Playwriting with Paul Michael Thomson

Introduction to Screenwriting with Juli Del Prete