Goodman Theatre announces the cast for the FREE live reading of its third Future Labs’ play, Tokens of Promise by Ada A. directed by Sydney Chatman. In addition, Christina Anderson’s How To Catch Creation, directed by Niegel Smith, launches the Encore series—four plays from the theater’s “video vault” curated by the Goodman’s Artistic team. The virtual reading of Tokens of Promise premieres March 20 at 7pm. Registration for this FREE event is required. For more information, visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Tokens. The Encore series continues through May 9 (How To Catch Creation streams now through March 28); tickets are FREE with reservations at GoodmanTheatre.org/Encore.
“I am excited for audiences to experience Ada A.’s fantastic new play, Tokens of Promise, as the third reading of our new ongoing Future Labs series—one of the many ways the Goodman supports playwrights and works to develop new art,” said Artistic Director Robert Falls. “This forward-thinking effort was conceived by a trio of our creative team, including Quenna L. Barrett, Jonathan L. Green and Ken-Matt Martin—who I’m pleased to say has been named the new Artistic Director of Victory Gardens Theater. While I am sorry to see him leave us, it’s an incredible opportunity for Ken-Matt and a tremendous win—for both Victory Gardens and for the greater Chicago community.”
In Tokens of Promise, there’s only one open “diversity” analyst position at this start-up—and the minorities must duke it out to access the sweet privilege of employment. A wicked satire about the modern-day job search and scarcity mentality, Ada A.’s new play exposes the inherent competition in employment that leads us to forsake our humanity out of necessity and survival.
The Goodman is grateful for the generosity of its New Work sponsors, including: Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation and the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Major Support of New Work; Ruth D. and Ken M. Davee New Works Fund, Major Support of New Play Development; The Glasser and Rosenthal Family, Mayer Brown LLP, and Shaw Family Supporting Organization, Support of New Work.
Full Company of Tokens of Promise
By Ada A.
Directed by Sydney Chatman
- Cher Álvarez………….….Castaña
- Brianna Buckley.......……Ebony
- Caroline Chu…….....….…The Assistant
- Meagan Dilworth…………Char
- Robert Isaac…………....…Onyx
- Steve Key……………….…Corporate Boss Guy
Diana Rene’ Coates..........Stage Directions Reader
ABOUT FUTURE LABS
Up to nine workshops and presentations of new plays will appear this season as part of Future Labs—the latest effort among Goodman Theatre’s programs that support living writers and develop new plays (including New Stages, Playwrights Unit and more than two dozen individual artist commissions). Designed primarily for Chicago-based writers who have not had a play produced at the Goodman, Future Labs develops works authored and directed by Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander), SWANA (South West Asian/North African) and other artists of color. Selected projects receive rehearsal time, artistic, dramaturgical and casting support and an optional free public reading. The new series is curated by Quenna L. Barrett (Associate Director of Education and Engagement), Jonathan L. Green (Literary and New Works Manager) and Ken-Matt Martin (Associate Producer) and a Goodman Staff Evaluation Team composed of individuals of intersectional identities and in areas across the theater.
ABOUT UPCOMING STREAMING PRODUCTIONS
How To Catch Creation
By Christina Anderson | Directed by Niegel Smith
Streaming free and on demand, March 15 – 28, 2021
Closed captioning provided in English
A young writer’s life turns upside down when her girlfriend drops some unexpected news. Fifty years later, four artists feel the reverberations of that moment—and its unexpected consequences—as their lives intersect in pursuit of creative passion and legacy. In this bold, imaginative work, Christina Anderson dissects the universal act of creation to inspire the dreamers and idealists in us all. Goodman Theatre’s world-premiere production of How To Catch Creation (January 19 – February 24, 2019 in the Albert Theatre) was hailed as “lightning caught in a bottle…an absolute triumph” (Chicago Reader), “magnificent in scope…mesmerizing and deeply moving” (TheRoot.com) and “poetic and ambitious” (Chicago Tribune).
Pedro Páramo
By Raquel Carrío
Inspired by the Novel by Juan Rulfo
Directed by Flora Lauten
Music Direction by Victor Pichardo and Jomary Hechavarría
Streaming free and on demand, March 29 – April 11, 2021
Presented in Spanish with closed captioning provided in English and Spanish
Cuba’s formidable theater innovators Flora Lauten and Raquel Carrío of Teatro Buendía stage one of the greatest magical realism tales in Latin American literature—Juan Rulfo’s 1955 novel Pedro Páramo. The story follows a son who returns home to meet his father and reveals how one man’s unchecked appetite destroys both everything he loves and the town that made him great. The novel galvanized writers such as Jorge Luis Borges and Gabriel García Márquez to raise the voices and laughter of forgotten people, and encouraged writers and readers alike to listen to the dead living among us. Goodman Theatre’s world-premiere production of Pedro Páramo (March 23 – 31, 2013 in the Owen Theatre) was created by Teatro Buendía with Chicago artists over an eight-week residency in Chicago and Havana, Cuba.
Smokefall
By Noah Haidle | Directed by Anne Kauffman
Streaming free and on demand, April 12 – 25, 2021
Closed captioning provided in English
Change is in the air as Violet prepares to bring twin boys into the world. Insider her womb, her unborn sons contemplate their future, while the world around her is in transformation: her husband is secretly planning to leave her, her father is slipping into senility and her daughter has taken a vow of silence. Haunting and slyly funny, Smokefall explores the lives of this family in a lyrical treatise on the fragility of life and the power of love. Goodman Theatre’s world-premiere production of Smokefall (October 5 – November 3, 2013 in the Owen Theatre and remounted by popular demand September 20 – October 26, 2014 in the Albert Theatre) was hailed as “gorgeous…four stars (out of four)” (Chicago Tribune), “highly recommended…a glorious play, took my breath away” (Chicago Sun-Times) with “radiant performances and exquisite design” (Time Out Chicago).
Measure for Measure
By William Shakespeare | Directed by Robert Falls
Streaming free and on demand, April 26 – May 9, 2021
Closed captioning provided in English
Virtue and vice collide—and lust and the law are inextricably entwined—in Goodman Artistic Director Robert Falls’ daring revival of Shakespeare’s dark comedy. His city caught in a moral free-fall, the Duke of Vienna hands over power to Lord Angelo, who enforces long-dormant codes of chastity with zealous fervor. When a pious young nun pleads for the life of her condemned brother, Angelo’s response reveals a web of desire, deception and hypocrisy that infects every corner of society. Falls’ production of Measure for Measure (March 9 – April 14, 2013) was hailed as “audacious, arresting (and) highly amusing” (Chicago Tribune) with “vice ooz(ing) from the very walls the comedy roars…never in the history of this play has such a raw and raucous production been seen” (Newcity).
ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE
Chicago’s theater since 1925, Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit arts and community organization in the heart of the Loop, distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and community engagement. Led by Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics. Artists and productions have earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and more than 160 Jeff Awards, among other accolades. The Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” Its longtime annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, now in its fourth decade, has created a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production and program partner with national and international companies and Chicago’s Off-Loop theaters.
As a cultural and community organization invested in quality, diversity and community, Goodman Theatre is committed to using the art of theater for a better Chicago. Using the tools of the theatrical profession, the Goodman’s Education and Engagement programs aim to develop generations of citizens who understand the cultures and stories of diverse voices. The Goodman’s Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of these programs, which are offered free of charge for Chicago youth—85% of whom come from underserved communities—schools and life-long learners.
Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation of the new Goodman center in 2000.Today, Goodman Theatre leadership also includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Rebecca Gilman, Henry Godinez, Dael Orlandersmith, Steve Scott, Kimberly Senior, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor, Henry Wishcamper and Mary Zimmerman. Jeff Hesse is Chairman of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Fran Del Boca is Women’s Board President and Megan McCarthy Hayes is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.