Goodman Theatre announces 2013–14 season

Photo: Jeff Goldberg

The Goodman Theatre has released details about its 2013–14 season, a slate of nine full productions—eight as part of the subscription season, along with the 36th annual A Christmas Carol, newly helmed by artistic associate Henry Wishcamper—plus the New Stages series of works in development. The season includes three world premieres (two born out of previous New Stages lineups) and two Goodman commissions.

In the larger Albert Theatre space, the season will open in September with the Chicago premiere of Pullman Porter Blues, a piece centered on the 1937 championship bout between Joe Louis and James Braddock as well as three generations of African-American train porters. The play, by Cheryl L. West and directed by Chuck Smith, is infused with classic blues numbers. Wishcamper's Christmas Carol follows for the holiday season.

In January, artistic director Robert Falls directs a new work by Rebecca Gilman titled Luna Gale, about a social worker handling a tricky case. Next, Joanie Schultz helms the Chicago premiere of David Ives's lauded two-hander Venus in Fur in March and April.

Mary Zimmerman, who's currently working on her own version of Disney's The Jungle Book to debut at the Goodman this summer, will write and direct a new take on the Chinese fable The White Snake to open in May. The late-summer slot will go to the previously announced and newly revised revival of the Lerner and Loewe musical Brigadoon, to be directed and choreographed by Rachel Rockwell.

In the fall, the smaller Owen Theatre space will feature Smokefall, a world premiere by Noah Haidle in a co-production with South Coast Repertory directed by Anne Kauffman, followed in December by the New Stages series. Buzzer, a dark comedy about race and gentrification from Tracey Scott Wilson (The Good Negro), will have its Chicago premiere there in February, to be directed by Jessica Thebus. Seth Bockley's Ask Aunt Susan, a Goodman commission about a female advice columnist who's actually a twentysomething man, will premiere in the Owen in May, directed by Wishcamper.

Perhaps taking a page from the notebook of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, which has made a habit of naming a theme for its recent lineups, the Goodman is calling this its "DREAM" Season. Tickets for subscriptions and groups are on sale now; individual tickets will go on sale in August.