Ryan Kitley

16th Street Theater announces the audio play of Lisa Langford's RASTUS AND HATTIE directed by Lanise Antoine Shelley showing remotely on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights September 24 a?" October 24, 2020 with a press opening of Thursday September 24 at 7:00 PM.

Lisa Loomer's ROE offers a timely exploration of the history behind the 1973 Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade and the ongoing political debate around abortion and a women's right to choose. While Loomer's text is not necessarily nuanced in the way that it presents the argument around abortion, ROE does consider both sides of this divisive issue. The play is perhaps most compelling in its capacity to pull back the curtain around the original Roe v. Wade case and reveal the case's history. ROE centers on two critical women, the lawyer Sarah Weddington, who was only in her mid-twenties when she brought this case before the Court, and Norma McCorvey, the plaintiff under the pseudonym 'Jane Roe.' Before I saw this play, I had never heard these women's names before. But now, thanks to Loomer's work, I won't soon forget them. For Loomer interestingly not only presents both sides of the United States' debate over a woman's right to choose but also puts forth Sarah and Norma's two differing perspectives on the events that transpired before and after Roe v. Wade was decided.

 Conceived in a pizza parlor and argued in the highest court in the land, the landmark 1973 case of Roe v. Wade legalized abortiona?"and is debated still today. Vanessa Stalling returns to the Goodman to direct the 15-member cast, including emblematic characters of plaintiff Norma McCorvey (a?oeJane Roea??) and Sarah Weddington, the young Texan lawyer who argued the case.

Goodman Theatre continues its 2019/2020 Season this winter with two new plays.

Ellen Fairey's SUPPORT GROUP FOR MEN, now in a world premiere at Goodman Theatre, finds that sweet spot between hilarious and gently critical of modern society. As might be presumed from the title, Fairey's play concerns a gathering of four Chicago men who come together on Thursday nights in an apartment that borders on the edge of Wrigleyville and Boystown. Fairey's exploration of gender roles and the increasing need to become more open and embracing of those outside the binary means that the play's locale is particularly central to its narrative. And while some of the characters in SUPPORT GROUP seem rather set in their ways, Fairey is careful to never point fingers in a mean-spirited way. The play succeeds in large part because Fairey displays such a great deal of empathy for each of her characters.

'We are brothers, we are men. We do not give advice or comment on other people's feelings or situations. We only talk when we have the stick.' These are the rules of Support Group for Men, a new comedy by Ellen Fairey (Graceland, TV's Nurse Jackie, Masters of Sex, The Sinner) about what it means to be a man in today's America.

"We are brothers, we are men. We do not give advice or comment on other people's feelings or situations. We only talk when we have the stick." These are the rules of Support Group for Men, a new comedy by Ellen Fairey (Graceland, TV's Nurse Jackie, Masters of Sex, The Sinner) about what it means to be a man in today's America.

The world's changing, bro. This summer, Goodman Theatre premieres Support Group for Men, a new comedy by Ellen Fairey, directed by Kimberly Senior. Fairey, whose work has been hailed 'a must-see for anyone who follows important new plays' (Chicago Tribune), explores shifting social and gender roles through the lens of four men who gather every Thursday night to vent about middle-aged maladies.

Boo Killebrew's world premiere play LETTIE is profoundly heartbreaking and brilliantly conceived. Under the direction of Artistic Director Chay Yew, the production devastatingly unfolds the narrative of the titular working class ex-convict Lettie. Both Killebrew's masterful, raw writing and Yew's superlative ensemble-with Caroline Neff in the title role and doing some of the best work so far of her career-bring immense pathos and a swirl of shifting emotions upon the audience.

Victory Gardens Theater continues its 43rd season with the World Premiere of Lettie, written by Boo Killebrew and directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. Lettie runs April 6 - May 6, 2018, with the press performance on Friday, April 13, 2018 at 7:30pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Victory Gardens Theater continues its 43rd season with the World Premiere of Lettie, written by Boo Killebrew and directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. Lettie runs April 6 - May 6, 2018, with the press performance on Friday, April 13, 2018 at 7:30pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Victory Gardens Theater, under the direction of Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Erica Daniels, announces complete casting for its upcoming productions.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST), the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District and Boeing partner to present the annual citywide summer tradition, Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks. Made possible by production sponsor BMO Harris, 25 performances of Shakespeare's timeless classic Romeo and Juliet, adapted and directed by Marti Lyons, will tour to 18 neighborhood parks across the City, July 26-August 27, 2017.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST), the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District and Boeing partner to present the annual citywide summer tradition, Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks. Made possible by production sponsor BMO Harris, 25 performances of Shakespeare's timeless classic Romeo and Juliet, adapted and directed by Marti Lyons, will tour to 18 neighborhood parks across the City, July 26-August 27, 2017.

The world premiere of Objects in the Mirror, which was developed through the Goodman's New Stages Festival, appears now through June 4 (opening night is May 8) in the 856-seat Albert Theatre. Click below to watch highlights from the production!

'It was in the 'hell' of a refugee camp in the African republic of Guinea that Shedrick Yarkpai first dreamed about a career as an actor' (The Australian) - a path that eventually acquainted him with Chicago native playwright Charles Smith, who has now chronicled the Liberian refugee's gripping story in his newest play, Objects in the Mirror. The world premiere of Objects in the Mirror, which was developed through the Goodman's New Stages Festival, appears now through June 4 (opening night is May 8) in the 856-seat Albert Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The world premiere of Objects in the Mirror, which was developed through the Goodman's  New Stages Festival, appears April 29 through June 4 (opening night is May 8) in the 856-seat Albert Theatre.

The cast and creative team is complete for Objects in the Mirror, a Goodman Theatre-commissioned world premiere by Charles Smith. Directed by Resident Director Chuck Smith, Objects in the Mirror is inspired by the playwright's real-life friendship with a Liberian refugee-turned-actor, Shedrick Yarkpai-portrayed by Daniel Kyri, in his Goodman debut. The production was developed through the 2015 New Stages festival and features a 5-member cast who brings to life the gripping account of one Liberian refugee's attempts to find peace by exposing a potentially dangerous lifelong secret. Objects in the Mirror appears April 29 through June 4 (opening night is May 8) in the Albert Theatre. Tickets ($20-$75; subject to change) are now on sale and available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Objects, the box office (170 N. Dearborn) or by phone at 312.443.3800.

The three 'developmental productions' featured in Goodman Theatre's 13th annual New Stages festival, a free celebration of new works by some of the country's finest established and emerging playwrights, are underway. These three plays, which are staged in repertory with modest production values following three weeks of rehearsal, include Blue Skies Process by Abe Koogler, directed by Henry Wishcamper; Support Group for Men by Ellen Fairey, directed by Kimberly Senior; and The King of Hell's Palace by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, directed by Tea Alagi. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the casts in action below!

Casting is complete for the three 'developmental productions' featured in Goodman Theatre's 13th annual New Stages festival, a free celebration of new works by some of the country's finest established and emerging playwrights. These three plays, which are staged in repertory with modest production values following three weeks of rehearsal, include Blue Skies Process by Abe Koogler, directed by Henry Wishcamper; Support Group for Men by Ellen Fairey, directed by Kimberly Senior; and The King of Hell's Palace by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, directed by Tea Alagi. Full cast lists are included below.