Goodman announces new season reflecting 'darkly divided country'
Marginalized immigrants, centenarian civil rights activists, Iraqi refugees and an anti-corruption crusader are among the characters whose stories Goodman Theatre will conjure during its 2017-18 season.
"These are plays that feel particularly relevant at this moment as we face a darkly divided country and society," Artistic Director Robert Falls said in a prepared statement outlining the upcoming season.
The season begins Sept. 9 with director Ivo van Hove's re-imagined production of his 2016 Tony Award-winning revival of Arthur Miller's 1995 tragedy, "A View from The Bridge."
That's followed by Rohina Malik's "Yasmina's Necklace" (Oct. 20-Nov. 19), about love between two refugees, and the premiere of "Blind Date" (Jan. 20-Feb. 25, 2018), Rogelio Martinez's comedy about Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. Next up is Sarah Delappe's "The Wolves" (Feb. 9-March 11, 2018) about a girls' high school soccer team, followed by Falls' revival of Henrik Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People" (March 10-April 15, 2018) about an environmental crisis that pits two brothers against each other.
"Having Our Say: the Delaney Sisters' First 100 Years" (May 5-June 10, 2018) chronicles the pioneering efforts of African-American sisters Sadie and Bessie. Goodman presents the Chicago area premiere of Suzan-Lori Parks' "Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2, & 3)" (May 25-June 24, 2018), about a black man during the Civil War who's given the option of fighting alongside his master for the Confederacy or remaining on the plantation. The subscription season concludes with the premiere of Ellen Fairey's "Support Group for Men" (June 23-July 29, 2018), about a group of pals whose long-standing "guy's night" gets upended by an unexpected visitor.
Additional events include Goodman's New Stages Festival (Sept. 20-Oct. 8), featuring works in development; Dael Orlandersmith's "Until the Flood" (April 27-May 13, 2018) about the 2014 police shooting in Ferguson, Missouri; and the theater's 40th anniversary production of "A Christmas Carol" (Nov. 18-Dec. 31) featuring Joseph Jefferson Award winner Larry Yando returning for his 10th season as Ebenezer Scrooge.
Performances take place in the 856-seat Albert Theatre and the 350-seat Owen Theatre at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Five-play Albert subscriptions start at $100. Other options are available. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.