Actor from Aurora marks 30 years on stage with Goodman role

Aurora native Phillip Edward Van Lear remembers first stepping out on Goodman Theatre's stage in 1986 as if it happened last night.

"I was absolutely terrified!" Van Lear confessed. "I went from being a big fish in a little pond to being plankton in the ocean! I was so out of my depth that it was almost laughable."

Since Van Lear launched his professional acting career at the Goodman in Chicago 30 years ago, he said he hasn't regretted a single day.

"I do believe that God grants us talents that are beyond our understanding," he said, "but we know in our heart of hearts that this is what we're supposed to do."

Van Lear's latest production at Goodman is "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window," the second and final play written by Lorraine Hansberry. (Her first was "A Raisin in the Sun.") Van Lear plays Max, an artist and one of the title character's friends.

"He's like an impressionistic, abstract artist, a little bit Chagall, but with an Afro-centric vibe," Van Lear said. "He's actually a very different character for me to play."

Van Lear grew up in Aurora, first on the east side, then the west. He graduated from West Aurora High School and attended Waubonsee Community College where he majored in education before switching over to speech and theater. He transferred to North Central College in Naperville, where the fledgling performer met instructor Don Shanower, a key mentor.

"He was instrumental in teaching me character development," Van Lear said. "He told me that if I was going to have longevity, it would be as a character actor. So he taught me the nuances of character, gesture, posture and vocal inflection."

The next key step in Van Lear's evolution as an actor was at Aurora's Riverfront Playhouse, where he both directed and performed. There, he met another influential mentor in Riverfront founder David Morris.

"He taught us what it meant to be a professional artist," Van Lear said. "He taught us the traditions of the theater. He taught us how to conduct ourselves as professionals. He taught us how and why we needed to respect this particular art form."

Van Lear, who now lives in Chicago, has appeared in TV productions (such as "Empire" and "Chicago Fire") and a few movies (among them "Barbershop 2: Back in Business," "Chicago Cab" and "A Family Thing"). His first local TV gig was appearing on the CBS kids show "The Magic Door" in 1985, a year before his introduction to the Goodman.

"Chicago is the most vibrant theater city in the country, if not the world," Van Lear declared. "There is so much amazing theater in Chicago."

And to hear him tell it, Chicago actors are pretty amazing, too.

"They possess that thing they call the Midwest work ethic," he said. "When you talk to actors from L.A. or New York, they always remark on how dedicated Chicago actors are. How devoid of ego they are. It's all about the art, making sure we inspire respect for the art and for our fellow artists. That goes a long way to defining a Chicago actor."

Van Lear felt that from the start, even back in 1986 when he first set foot on the Goodman stage. In some markets, other actors wouldn't have paid any attention to the frightened newbie in the wings.

Not in Chicago. Not at the Goodman.

"The great Frank Galati pulls me aside just before our first preview and he says to me, 'You're doing a wonderful job. I know you're nervous. I know you're scared to death. Don't worry. You're doing great!'"

Then, Galati, who became an associate director at Goodman that year, uttered three golden words: "You belong here."

"They were all so encouraging, so supportive," Van Lear said of the cast, including Brian Dennehy and James O'Reilly.

"It really helped to calm my nerves and assuage my fears of not being, you know, qualified to be on the same stage with all these amazing actors. It was kind of cool."

So after 30 years as an actor, why do the footlights still glitter for Van Lear?

"I've never had a time when the work didn't come and I've never not wanted to do it," he said. "As I go into the autumn of my career, I'm having more fun than ever before."

- Dann Gire

• Jamie Sotonoff and Dann Gire are looking for suburbanites in showbiz who would make good stories. Know someone? Let them know at jsotonoff@dailyherald.com and dgire@dailyherald.com.

“The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window”

What: The final play from “A Raisin in the Sun” playwright Lorraine Hansberry. Directed by Anne Kauffman.

Where: The Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, (312) 443-3800 or

goodmantheatre.orgWhen: Runs through June 5Tickets: $25 to $75, with special $10 tickets for students