By Ata Younan
It’s been quite the remarkable week for the Goodman—from an on-stage shout-out from a rock legend, to closing a box office hit Chicago premiere, to opening a world-premiere production to rave reviews, to a major triumph at the Jeff Awards for our Broadway-bound GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR. Get a glimpse of some of our most exciting moments below.
Rock n’ Roll legend Pete Townshend took a moment during a packed concert at the United Center to give a shout-out to our summer ’23 musical—THE WHO’S TOMMY. This world premiere production is a reimagining of the groundbreaking pop-culture musical sensation and tells the story of Tommy Walker—a lost young man whose innate knack for pinball catapults him from reticent adolescent to celebrity savior. Tickets for the Goodman’s season closer go on sale in March 2023.
Check out two of the (many) rave reviews for SWING STATE. Gilman is the Goodman’s most produced contemporary playwright, with SWING STATE being her 10th production at the theater in the loop, and her sixth collaboration with Tony Award-winning director Robert Falls over 35 years. This “deeply moving theater” (Chicago Tribune) includes a cast of four, led by Mary Beth Fisher (Peg) “doing the best work of her career” (Chicago Tribune) and features Kirsten Fitzgerald (Sheriff Kris), Anne E. Thompson (Dani) and Bubba Weiler (Ryan).
Chicago Tribune: ‘Swing State’ at the Goodman is the best play since COVID to tap into our divided nation
Read Chris Jones' full review, where he said that SWING STATE "deserves the broadest possible audience; it deserves a Broadway run."
Daily Herald: Goodman's superb 'Swing State' examines grief, loss in America's heartland while offering a glimmer of hope
Find out why Rebecca Gilman's new play is "superb, compelling [and] deeply human."
We celebrated six 2022 Jeff Award wins! We are honored to have had the opportunity to collaborate with these talented artists—our 21/22 Season would not have been the same without them.
A full list of our 2022 Jeff Award winners include:
Production – Play (Large) – The Dr. Harlan Haimes Awards
“Good Night, Oscar” – Goodman Theatre
Performer in a Principal Role – Play
Sean Hayes (Oscar Levant) – “Good Night, Oscar” – Goodman Theatre
New Work (The Libby Adler Mages Award)
Doug Wright – “Good Night, Oscar” – Goodman Theatre
Scenic Design (Large)
Rachel Hauck – “Good Night, Oscar” – Goodman Theatre
Sound Design (Large)
André Pluess – “Good Night, Oscar” – Goodman Theatre
Original Music in a Play
Pornchanok Kanchanabanca – “Gem of the Ocean” – Goodman Theatre
Ata Younan is the Publicity Manager for Goodman Theatre.