By Lisa Loomer, Directed by Vanessa Stalling

"Rousing entertainment. A big play with big ideas."
– Mail Tribune

Jan 18 - Feb 23, 2020 in Goodman's Albert Theatre

Around 2 hours and 5 minutes with one intermission

"You didn’t give a damn about Roe the person—all you cared about was Roe the case!”-Norma, Act II, Scene II

Conceived in a pizza parlor and argued in the highest court in the land, 1973’s Roe v. Wade legalized abortion—and is hotly debated still today. The complex young women behind the trial—attorney Sarah Weddington and plaintiff Norma McCorvey (“Jane Roe”)—embark upon separate journeys that mirror the current polarization over the landmark decision. Shocking, humorous and “full of nuance and complexity" (NPR), Roe illuminates the heart and passion that each side has for their cause.

Audiences React to Roe by Lisa Loomer, Directed by Vanessa Stalling

Watch our trailer for Lisa Loomer's Roe.

Roe Director Vanessa Stalling

Audiences React to Roe by Lisa Loomer, Directed by Vanessa Stalling

Watch our trailer for Lisa Loomer's Roe.

Roe Director Vanessa Stalling

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Critical Praise

  • "Lifts a corner of the quilt of history and invites us to peak underneath"

    - Mail Tribune

  • "Cleverly illuminating"

    - The Washington Post

  • "Roe shares 50 years of history in gripping style"

    - Herald Tribune

  • "A powerful and compassionate look at a controversial issue"

    - The Siskiyou Daily News

  • "A lively and intelligent look at one of the most divisive issues of our time"

    - The Mercury News

  • A "survey of the complicated and fiery underpinnings of Roe v. Wade"

    - The Washington Post

  • A "robust and topical new drama"

    - The Mercury News

  • "Frames contentious history with compassion"

    - Mail Tribune

  • "Intelligent and engrossing"

    - The Siskiyou Daily News

  • Loomer "finds the humanity in all of her characters"

    - Mail Tribune

  • "Crackles with energy and makes the history events presented live and breathe on stage"

    - The Siskiyou Daily News

Audience Response

  • It was outstanding!

    Carol C. via

  • Highly recommend this! Excellent production!

    Kathleen P. via

  • Excellent production! I learned so much that I did not know about the case.

    Richard M. via

  • This is very worthwhile.

    Kay F. via

  • Powerful and revelatory!!!!!

    Gail W. via

  • Roe was so good. Engaging, great pace. Never a dull moment.

    Nathalynne M. via

Artists
  • Lisa Loomer

    Lisa Loomer Playwright

  • Vanessa Stalling

    Vanessa Stalling Director

  • Kayla Carter

    Kayla Carter Roxy

  • Jazmín Corona

    Jazmín Corona Ensemble

  • Julia Dale

    Julia Dale Melissa/Emily

  • Stephanie Diaz

    Stephanie Diaz Ofelia/Connie

  • Kirsten Fitzgerald

    Kirsten Fitzgerald Molly/Mary/ Ensemble

  • Raymond Fox

    Raymond Fox McCluskey/Ensemble

  • Meighan Gerachis

    Meighan Gerachis Ensemble

  • Christina Hall

    Christina Hall Sarah Weddington

  • Maura Kidwell

    Maura Kidwell Helen/Ronda/ Ensemble

  • Ryan Kitley

    Ryan Kitley Flip/Ensemble

  • John Lister

    John Lister Justice Blackmun/ Ensemble

  • Kate Middleton

    Kate Middleton Norma

  • Eliza Stoughton

    Eliza Stoughton Ensemble

  • Jessica Dean Turner

    Jessica Dean Turner Barbara/Aileen

  • Meg Warner

    Meg Warner Judy/Linda Coffee/ Ensemble

  • Alys Dickerson

    Alys Dickerson Understudy

  • Sadie Elizondo

    Sadie Elizondo Understudy

  • Anya Haverfield

    Anya Haverfield Understudy

  • Loren Jones

    Loren Jones Understudy

  • Leah Raidt

    Leah Raidt Understudy

  • Nate Whelden

    Nate Whelden Understudy

  • Collette Pollard

    Collette Pollard Set Designer

  • Jessica Pabst

    Jessica Pabst Costume Designer

  • Keith Parham

    Keith Parham Lighting Designer

  • Mikhail Fiksel

    Mikhail Fiksel Sound Designer

  • Caite Hevner

    Caite Hevner Projection Designer

  • Briana J. Fahey

    Briana J. Fahey Production Stage Manager

  • Nikki Blue

    Nikki Blue Stage Manager

  • Adam Belcuore

    Adam Belcuore Casting

  • Lauren Port

    Lauren Port Casting

  • Jonathan L. Green

    Jonathan L. Green Dramaturg

  • Eva Breneman

    Eva Breneman Dialect Coach

  • Grace Dolezal-Ng

    Grace Dolezal-Ng Assistant Director

  • Megan Turnquist

    Megan Turnquist Assistant Lighting Designer

Talks & Events
  • Drinks & Discussion Events

    Drinks & Discussion Events

    Throughout the run

    Enhance your theater-going experience with one of our Drinks & Discussion Series events! Stay after select performances for a Post-Show Discussion and a complimentary glass of wine, or come early to select performances for a PlayTalk Session and a complimentary glass of wine.

    LEARN MORE

Recommended Reads
  • Turning The Page

    Turning The Page

    An Interview with Playwright Lisa Loomer and Director Vanessa Stalling

    "In the thought-provoking play Roe, playwright Lisa Loomer and director Vanessa Stalling give new voice to women who made history. Here, they offer some insights into the lessons that history offers..."

    READ MORE

  • Decision v. Dissent

    Decision v. Dissent

    The Constitutional Arguments in Roe v. Wade

    "Cases argued before America’s highest court must have basis in the Constitution and in history, not solely in moral and religious appeals. Following are some of the arguments made in Justice Blackmun’s majority opinion, as well as in Justice William Rehnquist’s dissent..."

    READ MORE

  • "Family Limitation"

    "Family Limitation"

    Reproductive Rights pre-Roe v. Wade

    "Abortion, defined here as the purposeful termination of pregnancy, has existed in different forms—surgical, medicinal and physical—across the globe for thousands of years (the first written record of an induced abortion is more than 3,500 years old)..."

    READ MORE

  • The Atlantic

    "Roe:" Can a Play Influence the Abortion Debate?

    From The Atlantic's Sophie Gilbert

    "Lisa Loomer's production about the legendary Supreme Court case opens during a time of renewed uncertainty over a woman's right to choose."

    READ MORE

  • NPR

    New Play About Roe v. Wade is a Prism for Looking at the American Divide

    From NPR's Elizabeth Blair

    "Loomer says she wasn't sure Roe v. Wade would make good theater, so she started reading about key players on both sides of the issue. She says, 'That, for me, was the story of the divide in American culture. I thought [Roe v. Wade] was a great prism for looking at that divide.'"

    READ MORE

Accessibility

Join us for any of the following accessible performances.

Questions? Please contact 312.443.3800 (voice), 312.443.3829 (TTY/TDD) or email Access@GoodmanTheatre.org.

Touch Tour and Audio Described performanceTouch Tour and Audio-Described Performance
Saturday, February 15
12:30pm Touch Tour & 2pm Performance

American Sign Language Interpreted PerformanceAmerican Sign Language-Interpreted Performance
Wednesday, February 19 at 7:30pm

Open Caption Performance Open-Captioned Performance
Saturday, February 22 at 2pm

See All Accessibility Information for Roe

Season Lineup

2019/2020 Season

Join us for a season of visionary work featuring fresh and energetic voices—eight plays with the power to entertain, challenge and fearlessly reflect our world.

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