Future Labs Virtual Reading

STARTS 3/10/2021 Virtual Reading
FREE, reservation required.

The Secretaries

By Omer Abbas Salem, Directed by Audrey Francis

Berlin, 1944: four women in Aryan drag vie to be the Führer’s personal secretary as he heads into a bunker with his girlfriend. It’s a rough time to be a German, but this is a chance to search for greater importance in a national capacity. Omer Abbas Salem’s fearsome, absurd new work examines complicity and the lies we tell ourselves as we mistake self-interest and supremacy for patriotism.

Please make a reservation to view this performance. After completing your reservation, you will receive an E-ticket with details about how to access the stream.

Current runtime: 1 hr 50 min, including one 10-min intermission.

Read Content Advisory Info
  • The Secretaries contains profanity and adult themes and is intended for mature audiences.
  • Omer Abbas Salem / Playwright

    Omer Abbas Salem is a Chicago actor, playwright, and activist. As an actor, Abbas has worked with Steep Theatre, The House Theatre, Jackalope Theatre, The New Colony, Silk Road Rising, Bailiwick, Griffin Theatre, Eclipse Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Atlantic Theater, and Roundabout Theater. As a playwright, he has been produced by the Actors Theatre of Louisville, The New Colony, Jackalope Theatre, Theatre Viscera, Means of Production, National Queer Theater, Definition Theatre, and Steppenwolf Theatre. His play Mosque4Mosque is Steppenwolf Theatre's SCOUT Program's 20/21 development. His play Being Julia Roberts was commissioned by Jackalope Theatre for their 20/21 New Frontier Series. The Secretaries is also a semi-finalist in Definition Theatre's 20/21 Amplify Commission. He was an Actors Theatre of Louisville acting apprentice (17/18) and is also a proud ensemble member of The New Colony and Steep Theatre. More at www.omerabbassalem.com

    Omer Abbas Salem
  • Audrey Francis / Director

    Audrey Francis is an actor, director, and teaching artist. She is an ensemble member at Steppenwolf Theatre and co-founder of Black Box Acting. Theatre credits include Dance Nation, The Doppelgänger, You Got Older, The Fundamentals, Between Riverside and Crazy, and The Herd (Steppenwolf Theatre); Witch (Writers Theatre); Kill Floor (American Theatre Company); and Talking Pictures (Goodman Theatre). Television credits include Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Empire. Film credits include indie films, Knives and Skin, Signature Move, Medal of Victory, and the upcoming feature, Later Days. Recent directing credits include Plano (First Floor Theatre) and The Invisible Hand (Steep Theatre). Audrey also works as an acting coach for NBC, Fox, FX, and Showtime.

    Audrey Francis

 

CAST

ECHAKA AGBA - Hannah
EMJOY GAVINO - Helga
SARAH PRICE - Helena
TINA MUÑOZ PANDYA - Henrietta

MOLLY BRENNAN - Stage Directions Reader

 

SPONSORS

 

 

Future Labs Sponsors

About Future Labs

Future Labs—Goodman Theatre’s newest artistic program to develop works authored and directed by Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI, SWANA and other artists of color. Designed primarily for Chicago-based writers who have not had a play produced at the Goodman, Future Labs will feature up to nine workshops and presentations, slated to begin early 2021.

Support Future Labs

Future Labs is just one of Goodman Theatre's many new work development programs, which amplify bold new artistic voices. We gratefully ask for your support in these efforts through a contribution. YOU can help us to shape the future of American theater!

 
 

Follow Us