Goodman Theatre concludes its season with the World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Razor-Sharp new comedy, Chinglish, directed by Leigh Silverman, June 18-24

Chicago’s Silk Roaf Theatre Project also presents Hwang’s Yellow Face, directed by Steve Scott, June 14-July 17 at the Historic Temple Building, produced in association with the Goodman

 

Chicago, IL – Chicago enjoys a David Henry Hwang spring fling with two productions of the Tony Award-winning and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist playwright’s work: the world-premiere of Chinglish directed by Leigh Silverman, June 18 –

July 24 (Opening Night is June 27) at Goodman Theatre; and Silk Road Theatre Project’s Chicago premiere of Yellow Face directed by Steve Scott, June 14 – July 17 (Opening Night is June 18) at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington, produced in association with the Goodman.

Tickets for both Chinglish ($25-73) and Yellow Face ($24 for previews, $34 for regular run) are now on sale and can be purchased at GoodmanTheatre.org, at the box office (170 N. Dearborn) or by phone: 312.443.3800. Artists, dates and ticket prices are subject to change.

“I couldn’t be more excited to have my two most recent full-length plays, Chinglish and Yellow Face, playing around the corner from one another at two extraordinary theaters in Chicago, America’s most vital theater city,” said Playwright David Henry Hwang. “Mayor Daley called Chicago ‘the most China-friendly city in the United States;’ at this moment, it certainly feels like the American city most friendly to this Chinese American playwright.”

In Chinglish, directed by Leigh Silverman, American businessman Daniel arrives in China hoping to seal a new deal, but finds himself enmeshed in a system that he doesn’t understand—and is more complex than he ever could have imagined. Leigh Silverman, who “has carved a niche for herself working with new plays” (The New York Times), directs this side-splitting world premiere about the joys and difficulties of intercontinental communication that is performed in both English and Mandarin (with English surtitles). The Goodman Theatre Women’s Board is the Major Production Sponsor of Chinglish and PricewaterhouseCoopers is the Corporate Sponsor Partner. Chinglish is the recipient of an Edgerton Foundation’s New American Plays Award. Yellow Face, directed by Steve Scott, is a revealing backstage comedy and memoir which chronicles Hwang’s struggle to define racial identity in the mixed-up melting pot of contemporary America. Part fact, part fiction, Yellow Face explores the pitfalls and promise of the politically correct. Goodman Theatre Associate Producer Steve Scott directs. Production support for Yellow Face is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and ComEd.

David Henry Hwang’s plays include M. Butterfly (1988 Tony Award, 1989 Pulitzer Prize Finalist), Golden Child (1998 Tony Award nomination, 1997 OBIE Award), Yellow Face (2008 OBIE Award, 2008 Pulitzer Prize Finalist), FOB (1981 OBIE Award), The Dance and the Railroad (1982 Drama Desk Award nomination), Family Devotions (1982 Drama Desk Award nomination) and Bondage. He wrote the libretti for the Broadway musicals Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida (co-author), Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song (revival, 2002 Tony Award nomination) and Disney’s Tarzan.

In opera, his libretti include four works with composer Philip Glass: The Voyage (Metropolitan Opera), 1000 Airplanes on the Roof, Sound and Beauty (seen in Chicago at the Court Theatre), and the upcoming Icarus at the Edge of Time; as well as Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar (two 2007 Grammy Awards), Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland (Opernwelt 2007 “World Premiere of the Year”) and Howard Shore’s The Fly. Hwang penned the feature films M. Butterfly, Golden Gate and Possession (co-author), and co-wrote the song “Solo” with Prince. He sits on the Council of the Dramatists Guild, and served by appointment of President Clinton on the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

About Yellow Face (June 14 – July 17, 2011) and Silk Road Theatre Project

Previews of Yellow Face are June 14, 15 and 16 at 7:30pm and June 17 at 8pm; Opening Night is Saturday, June 18 at 4pm at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington, and the regular run continues through July 17. Curtain times are Tuesdays+, Wednesdays++, and Thursdays at 7:30pm; Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm and Sundays at 4pm. (+The only Tuesday performance is first preview, June 14. ++There will be no Wednesday performances on June 21 and 28.)

Silk Road Theatre Project (SRTP) showcases playwrights of Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean backgrounds whose works address themes relevant to the peoples of the Silk Road and their Diaspora communities. Through the mediums of theater, video, education and advocacy, SRTP aims to deepen and expand representation in American culture.

About Chinglish (June 18 – July 24, 2011) and Goodman Theatre Previews of Chinglish are June 18 – 26; Opening Night is Monday, June 27 at 7pm at Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, and the regular run continues through July 24. Curtain times are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings at 7:30pm (no performances June 21 and 28 and July 3, 5 and 17), Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm, and Thursday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2pm (no matinees June 18, 23, 25 and July 2 and 21).

Tickets can be purchased at GoodmanTheatre.org, at the box office (170 North Dearborn) or by phone at 312.443.3800. For Chinglish only—Mezztix are half-price mezzanine tickets available at 12 noon at the box office, and at 10am online (promo code MEZZTIX) day of performance; not available by telephone. 10Tix are $10 rear mezzanine tickets for students available at 12 noon at the box office, and at 10am online on the day of performance; not available by telephone; a valid student I.D. must be presented when picking up the tickets; limit four per student with I.D. All tickets are subject to availability and handling fees apply. Discounted Group Tickets for 10 persons or more are available at 312.443.3820. Gift Certificates (recipients choose the production, date and time) are available in any amount at GoodmanTheatre.org. Artists, dates and ticket prices are subject to change.

Currently on stage is God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza, directed by Rick Snyder (through April 10). Upcoming productions in the 2010/2011 Season include: El Nogalar by Tanya Saracho, directed by Cecilie Keenan (world premiere, March 26 – April 24); Stage Kiss by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Jessica Thebus (world premiere Goodman commission, April 30 – June 5). Just announced—the 2011/2012 Season: Red by John Logan, directed by Robert Falls (September/October 2011); the 34th annual production of A Christmas Carol (November/December 2011); Race by

David Mamet, directed by Chuck Smith (January/February 2012); The Convert by Danai Gurira, directed by Emily Mann and co-produced with McCarter Theatre (NJ) and Center Theatre Group (CA) (February/March 2012); Camino Real by Tennessee Williams, directed by Calixto Bieito (March/April 2012); and Crowns, written and directed by Regina Taylor (June/July 2012).

Goodman Theatre, “the leading regional theater in the nation’s most important theater city” (Time), is a major cultural, educational and economic pillar in Chicago, generating nearly $300 million in economic impact over the past decade in its state-of-the-art two-theater complex on North Dearborn Street. Founded in 1925 and currently under the leadership of Artistic Director Robert Falls, “Chicago’s most essential director” (Chicago Tribune), and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, Chicago’s oldest and largest not-for-profit resident theater has experienced unprecedented success over the past 10 years in its new downtown facility, welcoming nearly two million patrons to productions and events—including 10 festivals celebrating playwrights such as David Mamet, August Wilson and Horton Foote, as well as the biennial Latino Theatre Festival—serving 30 percent more students through its Education and Community Engagement programs (including the FREE Student Subscription Series and other interactive programs) and employing more than 3,000 artists and theater professionals. The Goodman has earned more than 90 awards for hundreds of productions, including the Pulitzer Prize for Ruined by Lynn Nottage—one of 25 new-work Goodman commissions in the last decade. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees is Patricia Cox, and Joan Clifford is President of the Women’s Board. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre.