Theater Profile

I chose to pick The Goodman Theater in Chicago because I absolutely love the city of Chicago. I like the fact that it has a giant vertical sign with big bright red letters spelling out Goodman that overlooks the main street of Chicago. Due to how many people live in the city of Chicago, I believe that this particular theater brings in a lot of viewers who love theatrical productions. I also like how the stage is set up like an orchestra so all of the viewers can see the play no matter where they sit. It seems to me that it is very fancy and looks like it attracts people mostly from the upper class as well as some from the middle class. I think this theater is beautiful and would love to see a show there if at any time in my life I visit Chicago.

Every season, the Goodman presents the work of an extraordinary group of local, national, and international artists. It is the oldest and largest theater and is well known for their quality of productions, the depth and diversity of artistic leadership, and the excellence of its many community and educational programs. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the Goodman is committed to producing both classic and contemporary works, giving full voice to a wide range of artists and visions. This particular theater seeks to be the premier cultural organization in Chicago, providing productions and programs that make an essential contribution to the quality of life in Chicago.

The Goodman Theater was established in July, 1922, by a gift of $250,000 from William and Erna Goodman to the Art Institute of Chicago for the purpose of building a theater to memorialize their son, Kenneth Goodman. Before his death, Kenneth had written, published, and produced a number of plays in Chicago, and had expressed his vision of an ideal theater, one that would combine professional training with the highest possible performance standards. The Art Institute began construction of the new theater four months after the gift was received.

They soon hired the theaters first artistic director, Thomas Stevens. The new theater opened its doors on October 20, 1925. Two nights later the Goodman began its first regular season with John Galsworthy’s, The Forest. Stevens led the Goodman for five years before resigning in 1930 over a dispute about the deficit the theater had accumulated. The Art Institute replaced him with Hubert Osbourne who ran the theater for a year until the Art Institute decided that the professional acting company would prove too costly to maintain.

Maurice Gnesin stepped up as the new head of the theater for the next twenty-seven years. In 1957, Maurice died. Therefore, the Art Institute offered the artistic directorship to John Reich who accepted the position. In 1972 John Reich was asked to resign. A new managing director, Ken Myers, brought in during Reich's last year to oversee the theater's business side, ran the theater for a year before resigning himself. In 1973, William Woodman was appointed artistic director. After running the Goodman for five seasons, William Woodman resigned in 1978 and Gregory Mosher was appointed artistic director. A year later Roche Schulfer was appointed managing director. The Goodman replaced Mosher with Robert Falls.

In the mid-1980s, concerned about the adequacy of its aging theater behind the Art Institute, the Goodman began to explore the possibility of a new facility. Led by Roche Schulfer and members of the Board of Trustees, the theater came to the conclusion that rebuilding on the site of the old theater was not a viable proposition and other locations in downtown Chicago were scouted. In the early 1990s the Goodman committed to building on the new site and fundraising efforts began. The new Goodman Theatre opened in December, 2000 with August Wilson's play, King Hedley II.