Women Playwrights and Directors headline Goodman Theatre’s 2013/2014 “Dream” Season

A Blues-Infused new work and a revived musical classic bookend the line-up of World Premieres, Goodman Commissions, a Broadway Hit, Plus a Christmas Carol directed by Henry Wishcamper

 

Chicago, IL – It’s a DREAM season at Goodman Theatre: four works authored and five directed by women, three world premieres (two direct from the New Stages new play development series), two Goodman commissions and a major large-scale musical event comprise Goodman Theatre’s 2013/2014 eight-play line-up. The new season begins in the Albert Theatre in September with Chuck Smith’s production of Cheryl L. West’s Pullman Porter Blues—a Chicago premiere featuring original and classic blues songs. Next is the world premiere of Luna Gale by Rebecca Gilman, directed by Robert Falls; Joanie Schultz directs the Chicago premiere of David Ives’ Broadway smash Venus in Fur; and Mary Zimmerman directs her latest work, The White Snake, based on the classic Chinese fable. Finally, Rachel Rockwell directs a major revival of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe’s 1947 musical Brigadoon, with permission from the Lerner and Loewe estates to revise the book. The Owen Theatre season begins in October with Smokefall by Noah Haidle, a Goodman commission directed by Anne Kauffman in a world-premiere co-production with South Coast Repertory, followed by Tracey Scott Wilson’s Buzzer directed by Jessica Thebus, and concludes with Ask Aunt Susan, Seth Bockley’s Goodman commission directed by Henry Wishcamper.

Tickets for the 2013/2014 DREAM Season are available now by subscription and to groups only; visit GoodmanTheatre.org or call the box office (312.443.3800; 12noon – 5pm daily). Five-play Albert Theatre subscriptions start at $115; three-play Owen Theatre subscriptions start at $69. Group reservations for 10+ for Pullman Porter Blues and 15+ for Brigadoon may be made by calling 312.443.3820 or emailing Groups@GoodmanTheatre.org. Individual tickets go on sale beginning in August.

In addition to the eight plays offered on subscription, the Goodman presents its 36^th annual production of A Christmas Carol, newly directed this year by Wishcamper. Also, the annual New Stages series will include at least two workshop productions plus three staged readings of plays in development by Latino writers—December 7-22 in the Owen Theatre.

“I am proud to announce this season of extraordinary cultural and aesthetic diversity, of daring firsts, enchanting fables and a major new production of a towering musical,” said Artistic Director Robert Falls.

Goodman Theatre is grateful to the following multiyear donors for their outstanding generous support: The Joyce Foundation and its Principal Supporter of Artistic Development and Diversity Initiatives; The John D. And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is a Major Supporter of General Operations; Time Warner Foundation is the Major Supporter of New Play Development and the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust is a Supporter of New Work Development; BMO Private Bank is the Major Corporate Sponsor for A Christmas Carol.