By Sanaz Toossi
Directed by Hamid Dehghani
“A brilliant piece of writing.”
– Chicago Tribune
English
May 10 – Jun 16, 2024 in Goodman's Owen Theatre
Around 1 hour and 45 minutes, with no intermission
Extended by Popular Demand
This smash Off-Broadway hit and Obie Award-winning “rich new play, contemplative and comic” (New York Times‘ Critics’ Pick) makes its Chicago premiere.
“English Only.” Four adult students in Karaj, Iran are studying for the Test of English as a Foreign Language—the key to their green card, medical school admission or family reunification. Chasing fluency through a maze of word games, listening exercises and show-and-tell sessions, they hope that one day, English will make them whole. But it might be splitting them each in half.
A Co-Production with Guthrie Theater
English is recommended for ages 12+
ENGLISH contains adult language and themes of prejudice and discrimination.
Watch an engaging scene from Sanaz Toossi’s Pulitzer-Prize winning production and then get tickets to experience this ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (OUT OF 4) “poetic and humorous” play (Chicago Tribune) before it close on June 16!
“It was a very emotionally impactful play.” Audiences are raving about English. On stage through June 16, don’t miss your chance to experience the “story that’s for everybody.”
English production photo. Photo: Liz Lauren
English production photo. Photo: Liz Lauren
English production photo. Photo: Liz Lauren
English production photo. Photo: Liz Lauren
English production photo. Photo: Liz Lauren
English is ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 4), “deeply moving” (Chicago Tribune) and extended by popular demand through June 16!
The cast celebrates their Persian heritage through shared laughter and warm memories.
Listen up: A special invitation from the director of English in Farsi!
“This play is so personal to me.” English director Hamid Dehghani explores the impact this Pulitzer Prize-winning play has had on his life and why Chicago audiences will love it too.
Critical Praise
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 4) “Sublime.”
Chicago Sun-Times
“The cast is beyond excellent.”
Newcity
“Richly performed and beautifully staged.”
Chicago Tribune
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 4) “Poetic and humorous.”
Chicago Tribune
“riveting, wrenching, hopeful, and bursting with humanity”.
Chicago Reader
“It’s truly a fine ensemble exploring the work of a gifted writer.”
Chicago Tribune
Audience Reactions
“THE PLAY WAS BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN AND ACTED. THE WAY THEY DEPICTED LANGUAGE WAS SO IMAGINATIVE. ONE OF THE BEST PLAYS I’VE SEEN THIS YEAR.”
Gail M. via Email
“WONDERFUL PRODUCTION.”
Marie G. via Facebook
“COMPELLING FROM START TO FINISH.”
Janet G. via Email
“STUNNING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING.”
Kristine M. via Email
“WONDERFUL PLAY ABOUT LANGUAGE, HOME, AND IDENTITY.”
@julie.danis via Instagram
“HEARTFELT, THOUGHT-PROVOKING, FUNNY, AND SAD ALL AT THE SAME TIME. RECOMMENDED.”
John L. via Facebook
SPECIAL EVENTS
Recommended Reads
FROM ARTISTIC DIRECTOR SUSAN V. BOOTH
“I love this play more and more every time I read it. It speaks to our desperate need to be somewhere we feel we belong, and what we’ll do to make that happen. And it speaks to the experience of being a stranger in a strange place (so, like all of us). There’s a question at the heart of this play about how we know ourselves and the role language plays in our understanding of that. And there are impossibly elegant captures of how we lose our true selves when living with strangers—or even when trying to express ourselves in a non-native language.” –SVB
Join us for any of the following accessible & enhanced performances.
Questions? Please contact 312.443.3800 (voice), 312.443.3829 (TTY/TDD) or email Access@GoodmanTheatre.org.
Learn More About Goodman’s Accessible & Enhanced Performances.
American Sign Language-Interpreted Performance
Friday, June 7 at 7:30pm
Use code SIGN for $20 tickets
Farsi Subtitles Performance
جرای با زیرنویس فارسی
جمعه، ۷ ژوئن ساعت ۷:۳۰ عصر
شما می توانید با استفاده از کد تخفیف FARSI ، بلیتهای ۲۰ دلاری را تهیه نمایید.
Friday, June 7 at 7:30pm
Use code FARSI for $20 tickets
Touch Tour and Audio-Described Performance
Saturday, June 8 at 2:00pm
Use code AUDIO for $20 tickets
Spanish Subtitles Performance
Saturday, June 8 at 7:30pm
Use code SPANISH for $20 tickets
Open-Captioned Performance
Sunday, June 9 at 2:00pm
Use code OPEN for $20 tickets
The Rest of the 2023/2024 Season
Experience heart-pounding spectacle next door to a laugh-out-loud debutante ball. A fresh take on a centuries-old tale and a modern true story with a thrilling twist. From a hilarious new musical to a major revival, you’ll find familiar and new voices in Artistic Director Susan V. Booth’s first Goodman season—plays that celebrate the mess and magic of us all.
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