'Outsiders' musical premieres during Goodman's 2019-2020 season
Goodman Theatre on Thursday announced the 2020 premiere of the new musical "The Outsiders," based on S.E. Hinton's coming-of-age novel and Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 film.
It's part of the Chicago theater's 2019-2020 season, which also includes the premiere of "Graveyard Shift," Korde Arrington Tuttle's drama loosely based "on the legacy" of Naperville resident Sandra Bland, who was found dead in a Texas jail cell several days after her 2015 arrest for a traffic violation. Her death was ruled a suicide.
Every production is written by and/or features a female protagonist.
The season begins Sept. 6 in the Owen Theatre with the co-premiere - with Los Angeles' Center Theatre Group - of Lucas Hnath's "Dana H," the true story of a psych ward chaplain who was held hostage for five months by an ex-convict patient.
Canadian director/choreographer Donna Feore helms "Bernhardt/Hamlet" (Sept. 14-Oct. 20 in the Albert). Theresa Rebeck's comedy is about leading lady Sarah Bernhardt's decision to take on the role of William Shakespeare's tragic character.
Vanessa Stalling directs the Chicago area premiere of "Roe" (Jan 18-Feb. 23, 2020, in the Albert). In the play, Lisa Loomer examines the landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.
Tuttle's "Graveyard Shift" - about a woman who relocates to Texas and her interaction with a small-town police officer - runs Feb. 7 to March 8, 2020, in the Owen.
Artistic director Robert Falls' revival of Brian Friel's 1994 monologue-style, three-hander "Molly Sweeney" runs March 7 to April 12 in the Albert. It's about a blind woman who undergoes an operation to restore her sight.
Next up is "School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play" (March 27-April 26, in the Owen), Jocelyn Bioh's off-Broadway comedy about the queen bees and wannabes at an exclusive boarding school in Ghana. "American Mariachi," Jose Cruz Gonzalez's comedy-with-music about cousins who form an all-female mariachi band, runs April 21 to May 31, 2020, in the Albert. Artistic associate Henry Godinez directs the Dallas Theater Center coproduction.
Tony Award nominee Liesl Tommy directs book writer Adam Rapp's "The Outsiders," about the conflicts between high school greasers and upper-crust rivals in 1967 Oklahoma. The musical will feature a score by rock duo Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Justin Levine. It runs June 20 to Aug. 2, 2020. in the Albert.
The 16th annual New Stages Festival showcasing in-development works and staged readings runs Oct. 23 to Nov. 10 in the Owen. Larry Yando returns in November to reprise Ebenezer Scrooge for the 12th time in Goodman's 42nd annual "A Christmas Carol." It runs Nov. 16 to Dec. 29 in the Albert.
Performances take place at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Five-play subscriptions start at $100. Single tickets go on sale in August. See GoodmanTheatre.org/1920season.