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Lottery Day

in Goodman's Owen Theatre


“Thrilling Chicago writer” (Chicago Tribune) Ike Holter concludes his acclaimed seven-play “Rightlynd Saga” by assembling his vibrant characters for a raucous theatrical bash. Long the matriarch of a quickly gentrifying neighborhood, Mallory invites the lonely residents, hardcore activists and starving artists of her block to what she hopes will go down as a legendary barbeque—thanks to a special surprise. But her mysterious plan to revitalize the community may be the very thing that tears it apart.

Centering on a fictitious Chicago ward, “The Rightlynd Saga” includes seven plays: Red RexRightlyndExit StrategySenderProwessThe Wolf at the End of the Block and his final work, Lottery Day.

Lottery Day | Trailer
A lively outdoor party scene at night, with people dancing and one person jumping on a table, set in a backyard with string lights and a house in the background.
Audiences React to LOTTERY DAY
A woman wearing a colorful dress and a hat.
Lottery Day | J. Nicole Brooks
A man and woman sit together smiling, holding a cup and plates, dressed in colorful clothing, with two people talking in the blurred background.
Set Designer Arnel Sancianco | LOTTERY DAY
Three people interact around a table with food and drinks outdoors, while two others are in the background; one woman is gesturing and appears to be speaking to another.
Lottery Day | Director Lili-Anne Brown
A man and a woman sit cross-legged on a porch, smiling and laughing, with a wooden fence and house door in the background.
A man standing on a table with a woman pointing at him.

CRITICAL PRAISE

“⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Out of four)”

Chicago Tribune

“Ike Holter concludes saga on a winning note with mighty Lottery Day”

Chicago Sun-Times

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Out of five)”

Time Out Chicago

“Masterful”

PerformInk

“Delivers a comic and dramatic win”

Daily Herald

“You’re going to want to savor this”

Newcity

“Lottery Day hits the jackpot”

Chicago Tribune

“Gripping”

Chicago Sun-Times

“Lottery Day brings Ike Holter’s Chicago Cycle to a triumphant close”

Chicago Reader

“Electric”

Time Out Chicago

“Enormously enjoyable”

PerformInk

“Might be the most Chicago thing you’ve ever seen”

Newcity

“Full of raucous energy”

BroadwayWorld

“A meditation on endings and new beginnings”

Chicago Reader

“Five years after Exit Strategy kicked the party off, Lottery Day is here to close it down. This is the last call. Get in while you can.”

Time Out Chicago

“A visual wonderland that makes the audience want to enter”

PerformInk

“Holter is a natural poet”

Chicago Tribune

“A raucous world premiere production”

Daily Herald

Audience Response

“Great show! A lot of fun, and very real. There’s a lot going on here that we can all relate to. You’ll enjoy it.”

Kenneth G. via Facebook

“Lottery Day at the Goodman Theatre is wonderful. Smart. Nuanced. Complex. Soulful. In other words, #Chicago.”

Alia D. via Twitter

“LOVED this show! So complex and yet so very simple, true and authentic!”

Lois H. via Facebook

“Terrific acting, set and producing.”

Susan A. via Facebook

“It was amazing! Definitely different than expected! It’s a must-see!”

Diondai B. via Facebook

Artists

Choose someone to see their bio and past Goodman productions.

A man with a beard and shaved head sits outside in sunlight, wearing a green jacket and brown shirt, with a brick wall and window in the background.

Ike Holter

Playwright

Lili-Anne Brown

Director

Aurora Adachi-Winter

Tori

J. Nicole Brooks

Mallory

Sydney Charles

Zora

McKenzie Chinn

Cassandra

A middle-aged man with short dark hair wearing a light blue, button-up shirt, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

Robert Cornelius

Robinson

James Vincent Meredith

Avery

Tommy Rivera-Vega

Ezekiel

Michele Vazquez

Vivien

Tony Santiago

Nunley

Pat Whalen

Ricky

Arnel Sancianco

Set Design

Samantha C. Jones

Costume Design

Jason Lynch

Lighting Design

Andre Pluess

Sound Design

Adam Belcuore

Casting

Artist Placeholder Image

Kendra Miller

Dramaturg

Nikki Blue

Production Stage Manager

R&D Choreography

Fight Choreographers