Greg Allen News

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, on the verge of turning the big 3-0, is excited to announce the lineup of plays for the 30th Season (2009-10). Featured are a World Premiere by Danai Gurira (In the Continuum), exciting new works from Mike Daisey (If You See Something Say Something), Rajiv Joseph (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo), and Bruce Norris (The Unmentionables), and a large-scale work by Charles L. Mee (Big Love). In addition, Woolly Mammoth?s favorite out-of-town troupe, The Neo-Futurists, returns to DC for an unprecedented fourth engagement of their hit show, Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind in December.

Three countries, six theater companies, fourteen plays and programs, sixty-one days and an audience numbering nearly 50,000 defined 'A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century' and marked an unprecedented success for Goodman Theatre. Artistic Director Robert Falls curated the ambitious eight-play selection of O'Neill's early works that appeared on both of the Goodman's stages January 7 - March 8: the 856-Albert and the 400-seat flexible Owen, which was transformed seven times, custom-designed for the visiting companies. The Exploration offerings performed at a grand total of 90% of capacity-alone, Falls' Broadway-bound production of Desire Under the Elms achieved 95% of capacity.

The Neo-Futurists, acclaimed Chicago off-Loop theater troupe and 'one of the most imaginative experimental theater ensembles in the country' (The Economist), bring Goodman Theatre's 21st century Exploration of Eugene O'Neill to a triumphant close with Strange Interlude March 6 - 8.

The Hairy Ape follows the saga of Yank, a maritime laborer who questions his place in society when branded as 'a filthy beast' by the rich daughter of a steel industrialist. In a series of eight scenes, O'Neill chronicles Yank's struggle with 'the human condition,' caught somewhere between his own primitive nature and the more intellectually based-and emotionally vacant-upper classes. Rejected by the bourgeois of Fifth Avenue as well as his fellow workers, Yank finally seeks solace from the only creature with whom he finds kinship: an ape in the Central Park Zoo. The Provincetown Players premiered The Hairy Ape, O'Neill's sixth play, in March 1922 under the direction of frequent O'Neill collaborator Robert Edmond Jones. That production, featuring Louis Wolheim's powerful performance as Yank, moved that April to Broadway's Plymouth Theatre. In 1944, a film version of the play featured William Bendix and in the ensuing decades the play has received dozens of notable revivals around the country; perhaps the most celebrated of these was The Wooster Group's 1996 production, featuring Willem Dafoe as Yank.

Two of Chicago's acclaimed off-Loop theater troupes join Goodman Theatre's 21st century exploration of Eugene O'Neill in February and March. The Hypocrites perform The Hairy Ape February 7-21, directed by Artistic Director and Founder Sean Graney, 'one of the most insightful directors now at work in Chicago' (Chicago Sun-Times), who transforms Goodman's three-tiered Owen Bruner Theatre into the various strata of an ocean liner. The Neo-Futurists, 'one of the most imaginative experimental theater ensembles in the country' (The Economist), perform Strange Interlude March 6-8, directed by Founder Greg Allen, in a production which unites audience and actors on the stage.

Two of Chicago's acclaimed off-Loop theater troupes join Goodman Theatre's 21st century exploration of Eugene O'Neill in February and March. The Hypocrites perform The Hairy Ape February 7-21, directed by Artistic Director and Founder Sean Graney, 'one of the most insightful directors now at work in Chicago' (Chicago Sun-Times), who transforms Goodman's three-tiered Owen Bruner Theatre into the various strata of an ocean liner. The Neo-Futurists, 'one of the most imaginative experimental theater ensembles in the country' (The Economist), perform Strange Interlude March 6-8, directed by Founder Greg Allen, in a production which unites audience and actors on the stage.

Goodman Theatre rings in the New Year with an eight-play landmark theatrical event, A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century curated by Artistic Director Robert Falls, January 7 through March 8, 2009. Over 100 artists from six theater companies around the world bring their highly contemporary, inventive interpretations of O'Neill's dramas for the Goodman's Exploration-viewing the 20th century 'father of the American drama,' through a 21st century international lens.

Goodman Theatre rings in the New Year with an eight-play landmark theatrical event, A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century curated by Artistic Director Robert Falls, January 7 through March 8, 2009. Over 100 artists from six theater companies around the world bring their highly contemporary, inventive interpretations of O'Neill's dramas for the Goodman's Exploration-viewing the 20th century 'father of the American drama,' through a 21st century international lens.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company announces the return of Chicago's long-running late-night sensation TOO MUCH LIGHT MAKES THE BABY GO BLIND (30 Plays in 60 Minutes) by The Neo-Futurists following two sold-out runs at the theatre. Performances run December 15, 2008 thru January 4, 2009 with one Pay-What-You-Can performance on Monday, December 15 at 8pm. PRESS MAY ATTEND EITHER MONDAY, DECEMBER 15 or TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16 AT 8PM.

Goodman Theatre rings in the New Year with an eight-play landmark theatrical event, A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century curated by Artistic Director Robert Falls, January 7 through March 8, 2009. Over 100 artists from six theater companies around the world bring their highly contemporary, inventive interpretations of O'Neill's dramas for the Goodman's Exploration-viewing the 20th century 'father of the American drama,' through a 21st century international lens.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company announces the return of Chicago's long-running late-night sensation TOO MUCH LIGHT MAKES THE BABY GO BLIND (30 Plays in 60 Minutes) by The Neo-Futurists following two sold-out runs at the theatre. Performances run December 15, 2008 thru January 4, 2009 with one Pay-What-You-Can performance on Monday, December 15 at 8pm. PRESS MAY ATTEND EITHER MONDAY, DECEMBER 15 or TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16 AT 8PM.

Goodman Theatre rings in the New Year with an eight-play landmark theatrical event, A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century curated by Artistic Director Robert Falls, January 7 through March 8, 2009. Over 100 artists from six theater companies around the world bring their highly contemporary, inventive interpretations of O'Neill's dramas for the Goodman's Exploration-viewing the 20th century 'father of the American drama,' through a 21st century international lens.

4th Wall Theatre, a non union professional theatre in Bloomfield, NJ is presenting the New Jersey premier of 'Dessa Rose' which had its New York premier in 2005 at Lincoln Center's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre. The show will be directed by 4th Wall Artistic Director, Gregory G. Allen. 'We are thrilled to present this hard-hitting musical and to have Greg Allen at the helm' says 4th Wall Executive Director, Gwen Ricks-Spencer.

star performance needs strong support. Even the greatest of leading ladies can't save a production boggled by misguided choices. It is too bad that Village Theatre's wonky new production of Hello, Dolly! is never able to live up to its delightful star (in her return to Seattle) Peggy O'Connell. With a solidly tuneful Jerry Herman score, a tight book by Michael Stewart, and opportunities for multiple star turns, you would expect this local revival to be a triumph. Sadly, director Steve Tomkins' tendency to gravitate towards the superficial requires O'Connell to make a difficult uphill climb. Stars of her caliber should never be subjected to this chore.

The NY Neo-Futurists will present Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind from November 4th through December 17th