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Goodman Theatre

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A major nonprofit professional theater company and cultural institution in Chicago.

Last updated August 26, 2026

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Overview

Goodman Theatre is a nonprofit professional theater company based in Chicago's Loop and one of the central institutions in the city's theatrical life. It is commonly described as Chicago's oldest continuously active nonprofit theater organization. The company was established in 1925 as a memorial to Chicago playwright Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, who had died during the 1918 influenza pandemic. His parents, William O. and Erna Goodman, gave $250,000 to the Art Institute of Chicago to create both a professional repertory theater and a drama school. The original Goodman theater opened on October 20, 1925, in a building designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw on the Art Institute campus. Its inaugural program presented three plays by Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, followed shortly afterward by public performances of John Galsworthy's The Forest and another work presented in repertory. The early company faced persistent financial pressure and institutional disagreements. A major management dispute in 1930 led to the resignation of founding director Thomas Wood Stevens and the departure of much of the resident company. Under Hubert Osborne, the theater continued, while its drama conservatory developed into an important training institution. During its early decades, the Goodman became particularly well known for children's theater and for training actors who later achieved national prominence, including Karl Malden, Geraldine Page, and Joe Mantegna. A major revival began in 1957 when John Reich assumed leadership of the theater and school. He rebuilt the subscription audience, strengthened the repertory, and combined student performers with established professionals while presenting modern and classical drama. The theater and drama school formally separated in 1969, allowing the Goodman to operate as a fully professional company. The school later became associated with DePaul University. William Woodman led the theater during the early 1970s, and Gregory Mosher, who had established and directed the experimental Stage 2 program, became artistic director in 1978. Stage 2 helped introduce or advance playwrights including David Mamet and Scott McPherson. When the Art Institute decided to withdraw financial support, a newly formed Chicago Theatre Group organized a fundraising campaign that raised the money needed to make the theater self-sufficient by 1979. Robert Falls became artistic director in 1985 and led the company for approximately 35 years. His tenure expanded Goodman's national profile through ambitious productions, new-play development, collaborations with prominent artists, and productions that transferred to Broadway. The company moved in 2000 from its former Art Institute location to a purpose-built complex at 170 North Dearborn Street. The 171,000-square-foot facility contains two principal auditoriums, the Albert Theatre and the Owen Theatre, named for members of the Goodman family. Goodman's artistic identity combines classic American drama, contemporary playwriting, new work, international theater, musical theater, and large-scale productions. It has been associated with major work by August Wilson, Arthur Miller, David Mamet, Rebecca Gilman, and other playwrights. Its production of Death of a Salesman, directed by Falls and starring Brian Dennehy, transferred to Broadway and won four 1999 Tony Awards. The company received the Regional Theatre Tony Award in 1992 and has also received numerous Joseph Jefferson Awards. Susan V. Booth succeeded Falls in 2022, becoming the first woman to serve as the Goodman's artistic director. The theater continues to operate as a producing and presenting institution with subscription programming, individual productions, education and community initiatives, new-play development, and a broad public-facing cultural mission. In 2025, it marked its centennial, reinforcing its role as one of the defining regional theaters in the United States.

History

Goodman Theatre was founded in Chicago in 1925 as a memorial to playwright Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, who died during the 1918 influenza pandemic. His parents, William O. and Erna Goodman, provided $250,000 to the Art Institute of Chicago to establish a professional repertory company and a drama school. Architect Howard Van Doren Shaw designed the original building, which opened on October 20, 1925. Its opening ceremony featured three plays by Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, and the first public performance followed with John Galsworthy's The Forest. The theater's first period was marked by financial difficulty and institutional tension. The Art Institute guaranteed operating losses, while the professional company struggled to maintain its repertory model during the years preceding the Great Depression. In 1930, founding director Thomas Wood Stevens resigned after disagreements with the theater committee, and much of the company left with him. Hubert Osborne became director, but the organization continued to face uncertainty. A drama conservatory opened in 1930 with a three-year training program. Over subsequent decades, the Goodman became especially recognized for children's theater and helped train performers such as Karl Malden, Geraldine Page, and Joe Mantegna. A significant revival began in 1957 when John Reich took charge of the theater and its school. Reich rebuilt the subscription audience, re-established a resident acting company, and developed seasons that mixed students, experienced professionals, modern drama, and classical work. In 1969, the theater and school formally separated. The Goodman became a wholly professional producing company, while the drama school eventually moved into the institutional structure of DePaul University. William Woodman became artistic director in the early 1970s. His period included the 1973 United States premiere of Brian Friel's The Freedom of the City and a 1975 season that connected the theater's fiftieth anniversary with the American bicentennial. In 1974, Gregory Mosher established Stage 2, an experimental and developmental space that supported playwrights including David Mamet and Scott McPherson. Mosher became artistic director in 1978. The Art Institute announced in 1977 that it would end its support for the theater. Chicago Theatre Group then assumed responsibility for fundraising and organizational independence. By April 1979, it had raised the $2 million required for the Goodman to become self-sufficient. This transition changed the company from a department of a museum into an independent nonprofit theater organization while preserving its professional and educational legacy. Robert Falls became artistic director in 1985 and served for roughly three and a half decades. His tenure made the Goodman a nationally prominent regional theater. The company attracted leading directors, designers, playwrights, and actors, and developed important productions of American classics and new plays. Notable achievements included the world premiere of David Mamet's American Buffalo, Rebecca Gilman's Boy Gets Girl, August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean, the production of Wilson's complete Century Cycle, and Arthur Miller's final play, Finishing the Picture. Falls's production of Death of a Salesman, with Brian Dennehy, transferred to Broadway and won four Tony Awards in 1999. The company moved into its present complex at 170 North Dearborn Street in November 2000. Designed by KPMB Architects, DLK Architecture, and associated architects, the 171,000-square-foot building provided improved acoustics, technical capacity, backstage space, and two modern auditoriums. The Albert Theatre and Owen Theatre commemorate members of the Goodman family and support productions of different scales. After Falls's departure, Susan V. Booth became artistic director in 2022, the first woman to hold that position. Under Booth, the Goodman has continued to present new plays, adaptations, musicals, classics, and community-oriented programming. Its repertoire remains connected to Chicago while maintaining national reach. The theater celebrated its hundredth anniversary in 2025, marking a century of nonprofit producing, artist development, education, and public cultural service.

  • 2025

    Centennial anniversary

    [1]

    Goodman celebrates 100 years of theater production, education, and community service.

  • 2022

    Susan V. Booth takes leadership

    [1]

    Booth succeeds Falls as artistic director and becomes the first woman to lead the company in that role.

  • 2004

    Miller's final play premieres

    [1]

    Arthur Miller's Finishing the Picture receives its world premiere at Goodman under Robert Falls's direction.

  • 2003

    Gem of the Ocean premieres

    [1]

    August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean receives its world premiere at Goodman, which also presents Wilson's complete Century Cycle.

  • 2000

    The company opens its current home

    [1]

    Goodman moves into its purpose-built theater complex at 170 North Dearborn Street.

  • 1998

    Death of a Salesman reaches Broadway

    [1]

    The Goodman production directed by Robert Falls and starring Brian Dennehy transfers to Broadway and later wins four Tony Awards.

  • 1992

    Regional Theatre Tony Award

    [1]

    Goodman receives the Regional Theatre Tony Award.

  • 1985

    Robert Falls becomes artistic director

    [1]

    Falls begins a long tenure that significantly expands the company's national profile.

  • 1979

    Financial independence is secured

    [1]

    The fundraising campaign reaches the amount required for the Art Institute to withdraw its support.

  • 1978

    Goodman begins its transition to independence

    [1]

    Gregory Mosher becomes artistic director, while the Chicago Theatre Group takes responsibility for securing the company's financial independence.

Products and positioning

A major nonprofit regional theater emphasizing artistic ambition, new work, American drama, classical repertoire, and civic engagement.

  • Theater production · 1925

    Professional repertory productions

    Goodman's core offering is a season of professionally produced plays and musicals. The repertoire spans American classics, contemporary drama, adaptations, international works, and large-scale productions. The company uses both the Albert Theatre and Owen Theatre, allowing it to present works with different artistic, technical, and audience requirements.

  • Play development · 1974

    New-play development

    The theater has a long-standing role in commissioning, developing, and premiering new work. Its history includes premieres by David Mamet, Rebecca Gilman, August Wilson, and Arthur Miller. Development activity connects Goodman to emerging playwrights while also supporting established writers and productions capable of national transfer.

  • Seasonal production

    A Christmas Carol

    A Christmas Carol is one of Goodman's best-known recurring seasonal offerings. The production serves as a major annual audience tradition and demonstrates the company's capacity to combine family-oriented programming, literary adaptation, and large-scale theatrical presentation.

  • American drama cycle · 2003

    The August Wilson Century Cycle

    Goodman developed an especially close association with August Wilson's ten-play Century Cycle, which dramatizes African American life across the twentieth century. The company presented the cycle as a major artistic and institutional undertaking, including the 2003 world premiere of Gem of the Ocean.

  • Arts education · 1930

    Education and community programs

    Goodman's broader public mission includes education, artist development, audience engagement, and community programming. These activities extend the institution beyond ticketed performances and reflect its historical connection to formal theater training and civic cultural participation.

Marketing campaigns

  • 1988Campaign for a new theater home

    United States

    Goodman undertook a long capital campaign to secure a larger, technically improved home with better acoustics and more space for scenery and theatrical effects.

    Outcome. The company opened its new 170 North Dearborn complex in 2000.

    Source
  • 1977Independence fundraising campaign

    United States

    After the Art Institute announced that it would end financial support, Chicago Theatre Group organized a campaign to establish Goodman's financial independence.

    Outcome. The campaign raised $2 million by 1979, enabling the company to become self-sufficient.

    Source

Brand decisions

  • 2022

    Appointment of Susan V. BoothStrategy

    Background

    Robert Falls concluded a tenure of approximately 35 years as artistic director.

    Action taken

    Susan V. Booth was appointed artistic director.

    Aftermath

    Booth became the first woman to lead Goodman in the artistic-director role and continued the company's producing and civic mission.

    Source

  • 2000

    Move to a purpose-built theater complexStrategy

    Background

    The company sought better acoustics, expanded backstage capacity, and more room for scenery and theatrical effects.

    Action taken

    Goodman moved to a new complex at 170 North Dearborn Street with the Albert and Owen auditoriums.

    Aftermath

    The new facility strengthened Goodman's ability to present productions at different scales in Chicago's theater district.

    Source

  • 1977

    Transition to independent nonprofit operationStrategy

    Background

    The Art Institute decided to withdraw its support as it refocused resources on visual arts education and collections.

    Action taken

    Chicago Theatre Group assumed responsibility for fundraising and organizational support.

    Aftermath

    Goodman raised the funds required to become self-sufficient and continued as an independent nonprofit theater.

    Independence fundraising target. $2 million raised by April 1979 (1977-1979)

    Source

  • 1969

    Separation from the drama schoolStrategy

    Background

    The theater and its training school had developed as connected parts of the Goodman institution.

    Action taken

    The theater formally separated from the school and moved toward an entirely professional producing model.

    Aftermath

    The school eventually became associated with DePaul University, while Goodman focused on professional theater production.

    Source

  • 1930

    Leadership and repertory resetStrategy

    Background

    Financial pressure and disagreements between founding director Thomas Wood Stevens, the company, and the Art Institute's theater committee created a serious institutional crisis.

    Action taken

    Stevens resigned, much of the company departed, and Hubert Osborne assumed leadership for the following season.

    Aftermath

    The original resident company dissolved, although Goodman continued operating and expanded its drama-training activities.

    Source

Sources2 sources

  1. 1Goodman Theatreen.wikipedia.org
  2. 2Goodman Theatre official websitegoodmantheatre.org

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