Goodman Theatre premieres “The Happiest Song Plays Last” by Pulitzer Prize-Winner Quiara Alegria Hudes April 13 – May 12, a commissioned work with Jibaro Music from Legendary Cuatro Player Nelson Gonzalez

Mayor Rahm Emanuel proclaims April 27 “Quiara Alegria Hudes Day” when 75 lucky Chicagoans will experience all three plays in Hudes’ “Elliot Trilogy” in one day, free at the Goodman

CHICAGO, IL – “Man makes ghost, man keeps ghost. You cannot give your ghost for someone else’s shoulders.” Pulitzer Prizewinning playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes unveils The Happiest Song Plays Last—the latest and last play of her acclaimed “Elliot Trilogy”—at Goodman Theatre, produced in association with Teatro Vista. “A writer of enormous empathic gifts” (Time Out New York), Hudes, who also authored the Tony Award-nominated musical In the Heights, “combines a lyrical ear with a sophisticated sense of structure to trace the legacy of war through three generations of a Puerto Rican family” (New York Times). Drawing on the cultural heritage of joyful Jíbaro music developed and performed by Grammy Award nominee Nelson González, The Happiest Song Plays Last was commissioned by the Goodman and supported with a prestigious 2009 Joyce Award for Theater. Edward Torres directs the world-premiere production with an ensemble cast including: Armando Riesco (Water by the Spoonful off Broadway) as Elliot; Sandra Marquez (The Motherfu**er with the Hat at Steppenwolf) as Yaz; Fawzia Mirza (Teddy Ferrara) as Shar; Jaime Tirelli (the independent films 36 Saints and El Cielo Es Azul) as Joaquin; Demetrios Troy (A Christmas Carol) as Ali; and James Harms (The Iceman Cometh) as Lefty. The creative team includes John Boesche (projections), Collete Pollard (set), Christine Pascual (costumes), Jesse Klug (lighting), Ray Nardelli (sound) and Josh Horvath. The Happiest Song Plays Last appears April 13 – May 12 in the Owen Theatre. Opening Night is Monday, April 22. Tickets ($14 – $45; subject to change) can be purchased at GoodmanTheatre.org, 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 N. Dearborn).

Mayor Rahm Emanuel proclaims April 27 “Quiara Alegría Hudes Day”—when the Goodman gives 75 lucky Chicagoans the FREE chance to experience all three plays in Hudes’ “Elliot Trilogy” in one day, under one roof. The day includes Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue (a 2007 Pulitzer Prize finalist) in a staged reading by Rivendell Theatre Ensemble; Water By the Spoonful (2012 Pulitzer Prize winner) in a staged reading by Teatro Vista; and a performance of The Happiest Song Plays Last. Visit GoodmanTheatre.org or call 312.443.3800 for performance times and to reserve tickets (limit 2 per person).

“The Goodman is a theater I’ve long admired for premiering new work by some of my favorite writers in one of the richest theater communities in the country,” said playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes. “It’s thrilling to join the Goodman family this spring.” Continued director Edward Torres, “What I love about Quiara’s writing is her honesty and how she tells her story in a fluid, almost musical, way. The Happiest Song Plays Last is particularly poetic and poignant.”

Infused with jíbaro music—songs from the rural inhabitants (the Jíbaros) of Puerto Rico that are sung at the holidays and communal gatherings —The Happiest Song Plays Last follows two kindred souls as they weather life’s trials in a search for love and meaning in a quickly changing world. Amid the Arab Spring uprisings raging across the Middle East, Elliot (Armando Riesco), a tormented Iraq War veteran living in Jordan, embarks on an exciting new adventure—as the star of an action film. Meanwhile, half-way across the world, his fiery community-organizer cousin, Yaz (Sandra Marquez) in Philadelphia takes on a heroic role of her own: as the heart and soul of her crumbling community, providing hot meals and a place to sleep for the needy. The Happiest Song Plays Last features live cuarto music—a type of guitar and the national instrument of Puerto Rico.

The Joyce Foundation, a prominent Chicago institution working to improve the quality of life in the Great Lakes region and across the country, celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Joyce Awards, a prestigious honor that commissions new works from artists of color. Baxter International Inc. and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois are Contributing Sponsors for The Happiest Song Plays Last. The National Endowment for the Arts is the Major Production Supporter. The Boeing Company is the Festival Partner for the 2013 Latino Theatre Festival and AztecAmerica Bank, SPC Educational Solutions and State Farm are Consortium Partners. Hoy is the Print Media Sponsor and Chicago Latino Network is the Digital Media Sponsor.

SPECIAL EVENTS AROUND The Happiest Song Plays Last:

AFFINITY NIGHT

An evening of fun, food and pre-show networking with Chicago’s Latino professional leaders from the arts, business and government.

April 18, 5:30pm | At the Goodman |$30 for reception and performance. For tickets, go to GoodmanTheatre.org and use promo code AFFINITY

ARTIST ENCOUNTER + BOOK SIGNING

A conversation with playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes and director Edward Torres. Following the conversation, Hudes will sign her newly published anthology of plays.

April 21, 5 – 6pm discussion and signing| At the Goodman | $5 for Subscribers, Donors and students; $10 for general public. For tickets, call the box office at 312.443.3800.

SCENE NIGHT

Join the Goodman’s Scenemakers, the young professional auxiliary group, for a pre-show reception

April 24, 5:30pm reception, 7:30pm show | At Sopprafina Marketcaffé and the Goodman |Free with Scene Subscription, $50 for general public, but reservation required. For tickets, call the box office at 312.443.3800.

“QUIARA ALEGRÍA HUDES DAY” IN CHICAGO + THE ELLIOT TRILOGY READINGS

Free readings of the first two plays of Hudes’ trilogy, Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue and Water by the Spoonful, followed by a performance of The Happiest Song Plays Last. Attendance is limited to 75 people.

April 27 |At the Goodman| Free, but reservations required. For tickets and times, call the box office at 312.443.3800.