Actor Dennehy strengthens artistic ties to Goodman

Goodman Theatre artistic director Robert Falls made official his longtime artistic partnership with two-time Tony Award winner Brian Dennehy when he named the actor a member of Goodman's artistic collective on Thursday.

"Over 20 years and seven individual productions, he has been my friend and compatriot, always at the center of my artistic dialogue," said Falls in a prepared statement. "I am thrilled to welcome him to our Artistic Collective."

Dennehy joins fellow artistic associates actor/director Frank Galati, actor/director Henry Godinez, directors Steve Scott, Chuck Smith and Mary Zimmerman and actress/director/playwright Regina Taylor, whose inclusion in the collective reflects their close ties to Goodman and their support of its artistic vision.

Among the most acclaimed Dennehy-Falls collaborations were the Tony-award winning "Death of a Salesman" (1999) and "Long Day's Journey Into Night" (2003), both of which originated at Goodman.

One of the foremost interpreters of Eugene O'Neill, Dennehy starred in Falls' recent revival of "Desire Under the Elms," the centerpiece of Goodman's O'Neill festival, which concludes Sunday, March 8. The Broadway-bound "Desire" begins previews April 14 and opens April 27 at New York City's St. James Theatre.