VENUS IN FUR, PULLMAN PORTER BLUES and More Set for Goodman Theatre's 2013/2014 Dream Season

It's a DREAM season at Goodman Theatre: four works authored and five directed by women, three world premieres (two direct from the New Stages new play development series), two Goodman commissions and a major large- scale musical event comprise Goodman Theatre's 2013/2014 eight-play line-up. The new season begins in the Albert Theatre in September with Chuck Smith's production of Cheryl L. West's Pullman Porter Blues-a Chicago premiere featuring original and classic blues music. Next is the world premiere of Luna Gale by Rebecca Gilman, directed by Robert Falls; Joanie Schultz directs the Chicago premiere of David Ives' Broadway smash Venus in Fur; and Mary Zimmerman directs her latest work, The White Snake, based on the classic Chinese fable. Finally, Rachel Rockwell directs a major revival of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's 1947 musical Brigadoon, with permission from the Lerner and Loewe estates to revise the book. The Owen Theatre season begins in October with Smokefall by Noah Haidle, a Goodman commission directed by Anne Kauffman in a world-premiere co-production with South Coast Repertory, followed by Tracey Scott Wilson's Buzzer, directed by Jessica Thebus, and concludes with Ask Aunt Susan, Seth Bockley's Goodman commission, directed by Henry Wishcamper. Tickets for the 2013/2014 DREAM Season are available now by subscription and to groups only; visit GoodmanTheatre.org or call the box office (312.443.3800; 12noon - 5pm daily). Five-play Albert Theatre subscriptions start at $115; three-play Owen Theatre subscriptions start at $69. Group reservations for 10+ for Pullman Porter Blues and 15+ for Brigadoon may be made by calling 312.443.3820 or emailing Groups@GoodmanTheatre.org. Individual tickets go on sale beginning in August.

In addition to the eight plays offered on subscription, the Goodman presents its 36th annual production of A Christmas Carol, newly directed this year by Wishcamper. Also, the annual New Stages series will include at least two workshop productions plus three staged readings of plays in development by Latino writers-December 7-22 in the Owen Theatre.

"I am proud to announce this season of extraordinary cultural and aesthetic diversity, of daring firsts, enchanting fables and a major new production of a towering musical," said Artistic Director Robert Falls.

"We kick off the season toasting Resident Director Chuck Smith's 20th anniversary at the Goodman: he will direct Pullman Porter Blues, Cheryl L. West's new Blues-soaked celebration of the triumph of personal pride over societal prejudice, set on the 1937 Pullman Panama Limited run from Chicago to New Orleans. In January, I'm thrilled to again team up with Artistic Associate Rebecca Gilman on Luna Gale, her gripping world-premiere drama that probes the darker side of human relationships as with her previous works Spinning Into Butter and Boy Gets Girl. In March, director Joanie Schultz makes her mainstage debut with David Ives' sexy, provocative and hilarious hit Venus in Fur, called '90 minutes of good, kinky fun' by The New York Times. In May, Manilow Resident Director Mary Zimmerman directs her 'strikingly beautiful' (NPR) newest work, The White Snake, which comes to us following successful runs at Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Berkeley Rep. A moving study of love, adventure and enchantment with a rich musical underscoring, The White Snake is told with Mary's signature imaginative beauty. The Albert Theatre season culminates with the first major revival of Brigadoon, Lerner and Loewe's unforgettable musical adventure, in 20 years. We're thrilled to work for the first time with director/choreographer Rachel Rockwell, a rising star hailed as an artist of 'astounding and vary rare talents' by the Chicago Tribune."

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