Goodman Theatre announces casting for Candide, directed by Mary Zimmerman

Additional 2010/2011 season updates include Rick Snyder to direct God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza and Jessica Thebus to direct Stage Kiss by Sarah Ruhl.  

                                                                                                                 

(Chicago, IL) Goodman Theatre announces the cast for its major revival of Candide (starts rehearsals on August 10—tickets go on sale August 13*). Tony Award-winner Mary Zimmerman’s new production of the Leonard Bernstein classic musical will feature Geoff Packard in the title role of Candide; Lauren Molina as his princess love, Cunegonde; Larry Yando as the wise Pangloss, Candide’s tutor; Hollis Resnick as the Old Lady; Jonathan Weir as the Governor; Erik Lochtefeld as Maximillian; Margo Seibert as Paquette; Jesse Perez as Cacambo; and Tom Aulino as Martin. Ensemble members include Spencer Curnutt, Rebecca Finnegan, Govind Kumar, Rob Lindley, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Emma Rosenthal, Thomas Adrian Simpson, Joey Stone, Tempe Thomas and Joseph Tokarz. Goodman Theatre’s production of Candide will feature an orchestra of 12 and runs September 17 – October 24, 2010 in the Goodman’s Albert Theatre. Music by Leonard Bernstein, book adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler, lyrics by Richard Wilbur, additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein. JP Morgan Chase & Co is the Major Corporate Sponsor; ComEd is the Official Lighting Sponsor; Abbott and Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP are the Corporate Sponsor Partners.

In addition, two Chicagoans will direct Goodman mainstage productions in the coming season. Rick Snyder will direct God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza (March 5 – April 10, 2011) and Jessica Thebus will direct Stage Kiss by Sarah Ruhl (April 30 – June 5, 2011).

Starting in September, Goodman Theatre celebrates a decade of achievement as an anchor of Chicago’s Theatre District. Two million tickets sold + 21,500 students served through Education and Community Engagement + 3,000 artists and theater professionals employed + 90 awards + nearly 30 world-premiere productions (including 25 new-work commissions) + 10 Festivals + one Pulitzer Prize = Goodman Theatre, “the leading repertory theater in the nation’s most important theater city” (Time). These achievements and more define the past 10 years (of its 85 years as Chicago’s oldest and largest not-for-profit producing theater) of the Goodman in its new home at 170 N. Dearborn in Chicago’s Theatre District—established by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Robert Falls, “Chicago’s most essential director” (Chicago Tribune), and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the Goodman’s state-of-the-art, two-theater complex has led to record growth in all areas of the theater—generating more than $60 million in ticket revenue from hundreds of productions and programs, an 80% increase in operating budget since 2000, and the ability to serve 30% more students in Education and Community Engagement. 

* Individual tickets for Candide go on sale August 13, but Subscriptions to the 2010/2011 season are on sale now. Subscribers save up to 45% over single ticket prices: 312.443.3800 or ExploreTheGoodman.org. Five-play Albert Theatre subscriptions start at $100 and 3-play Owen Theatre subscriptions start at $57. A Platinum Subscription of all eight plays starts at $157.

Goodman Theatre’s 2010/2011 Season Schedule 

In the Albert Theatre

Candide

Music by Leonard Bernstein

Book Adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler

Lyrics by Richard Wilbur, Additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hllman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein

Directed by Mary Zimmerman

A Co-Production with Washington, D.C.’s Shakespeare Theatre Company

September 17 – October 24, 2010

Season Opening Benefit: September 26

Press/Opening Night: September 27 at 7pm

Tickets: $25-$85   Benefit info: 312.443.5564

A Christmas Carol

By Charles Dickens

Adapted by Tom Creamer

Directed by William Brown

November 19 – December 31, 2010

Press/Opening Night: November 28 at 6:30pm

Tickets: $30-$76

The Trinity River Plays

By Regina Taylor

Directed by Ethan McSweeny

January 15 – February 20, 2011

Press/Opening Night: January 24 at 7pm

Tickets: $25-$73

God of Carnage

By Yasmina Reza

Directed by Rick Snyder

March 5 – April 10, 2011

Press/Opening Night: March 14 at 7pm

Tickets: $25-$78

Stage Kiss

By Sarah Ruhl

Directed by Jessica Thebus

April 30 – June 5, 2011

Press/Opening Night: May 9 at 7pm

Tickets: $25-$78

Chinglish

By David Henry Hwang

Directed by Leigh Silverman

In the Owen Theatre

The Seagull

By Anton Chekhov

Directed by Robert Falls

October 16 – November 14, 2010

Press/Opening Night:  October 25 at 7pm

Tickets: $10-$45

Mary

By Thomas Bradshaw

Directed by May Adrales

February 5 – March 6, 2011

Press/Opening Night: February 14 at 7pm

Tickets: $10-$45

El Nogalar

By Tanya Saracho

Directed by Cecilie Keenan

March 26 – April 24, 2011

Press/Opening Night: April 4 at 7pm

Tickets: $10-$42

Special Events

Candide Season Opening Benefit

September 26, 2010

The Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago

New Stages Festival

January 13 – 16 and 20 – 23, 2011

Goodman Theatre

Fame, Fantasy, Food, Adventure Auction 

February 7, 2011

The Peninsula Chicago

Abbey Theatre of Ireland: Terminus

Written and Directed by Mark O’Rowe

March 2 – 6, 2011

Museum of Contemporary Art, MCA Global Stage Series, Presented in association with the Goodman

Tickets: 312.397.4010 or mcachicago.org

Spring Black Tie Gala

May 21, 2011

The Fairmont Hotel