Goodman Theater
170 N. Dearborn, Chicago
312-443-3800

Established in 1925, Goodman Theatre has been a part of life in Chicago for over 80 years. Every season, the Goodman presents the work of an extraordinary group of local, national and international artists.

The Goodman Theatre 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 Sawyer Goodman. Before his death at the age of 35 in the influenza epidemic of 1918, Kenneth Sawyer Goodman had written, published and produced a number of plays in non-commercial productions 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 on the northeast corner of the Institute's property, at Monroe and Columbus Drive. They soon hired the theater's first artistic director, Thomas Woods Stevens, a former colleague of Kenneth Sawyer Goodman's and a noted educator, having established the first theater degree-granting program in America at Carnegie Mellon University.

The new theater, encompassing a drama school and a professional acting company, opened its doors on October 20, 1925. Three of Kenneth Sawyer Goodman's one-act plays were presented at the theater's dedication ceremony. Two nights later the Goodman began its first regular season with John Galsworthy's The Forest Thomas Woods Stevens built the new theater's repertory with a mix of classics, contemporary hits, and experimental and new plays, a formula that the theater has generally adhered to ever since.

Special events include Goodman's annual holiday production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, a Yuletide tradition for thousands of Chicago families, which celebrated its 28th production this season. During the 2001/2002 season, the Goodman inaugurated its Family Theater Series, a new program designed to introduce young people to live performance in a playful and child-friendly way.

The Goodman's Department of Education and Community Programs provides comprehensive outreach services, including the free Student Subscription Series involving 2,700 Chicago public high school students each season featuring free matinee performances, pre- and post-performance classroom visits, student and teacher study guides, copies of scripts, educational video documentaries, and post-show discussions; the Summer General Theatre Studies Program for high school students; the Goodman/Yollocalli Youth Drama Workshop in collaboration with the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum in the Pilsen neighborhood; Neighborhood Arts Partnerships involving the Goodman with neighborhood organizations and Chicago schools to create curricular arts programming in city schools; plus backstage tours, public lectures and professional internships. In addition, the theater provides complete access for disabled audiences.

The Goodman Theatre, recipient of the Special Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, is a leader in the American theater and is internationally recognized for its artists, productions and educational programs. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the Goodman is committed to producing classic and contemporary works, giving full voice to a wide range of artists and visions.