REVIEW: HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD at James M. Nederlander Theatre Through February 1, 2025

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HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

NOW PLAYING AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S JAMES M. NEDERLANDER THEATRE

THROUGH FEBRUARY 1, 2025

The show is suitable for ages 8 and up.

Runtime: 2 hours and 50 minutes with one intermission

REVIEW

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

Here at ChiIL Mama, we caught the opening night of the US touring production of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, kicking off right here in Chicago, and we loved it! Even Muggles will be enchanted with Harry Potter, the next generation. This play picks up nineteen years after the original series, when the children we know and love have become parents of Hogwarts teens. This production is a mind blowing spectacle of special effects, unexpected friendships, and time travel. Slither in for stunning stage magic, stellar acting, and an epic adventure that changes everything. Highly recommended. ★★★★ Four out of four stars.

(from left to right) Aidan Close and Emmet Smith in Harry Potter and

the Cursed Child North American Tour. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

I bought this script when it came out in 2016 and have been eagerly awaiting the chance to see it on stage in a full production. I devoured all 7 novel and all the movies as each came out, and own all of both. As soon as my kids were old enough, we read them aloud as a family and watched the movies many times. We especially loved Hermione, a smart, female lead, written in an era when the vast majority of main characters were boys. Not so long ago, gate keeper publishers regularly blocked heroines, saying that boys wouldn't read books with girls as main characters. 

(from left to right) Julia Nightingale, Aidan Close and Emmet Smith in

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child North American Tour. Photo by Matthew

Murphy.

Speaking of girls as main characters, no big spoilers, but HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD adds a doozy of a female lead with Delphi Diggory, delightfully played by Julia Nightingale. HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD also gets more diverse with Hermione (Ebony Blake) and her daughter, Rose (Naira Vanessa McCalla), both played by black actresses, and we're here for it! We also couldn't possibly love Moaning Myrtle any more than we do. Mackenzie Lesser-Roy killed it as the ghost girl who lurks in the loo! 

The North American Tour of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Photo by Matthew Murphy.

 

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD GOLDEN SNITCH DIGITAL LOTTERY 

If money's an issue, there's a free to enter ticket lottery for all show dates. The Golden Snitch Digital Lottery will open at 9:00 a.m. CT and close at 5:00 p.m. CT the day prior to the desired performance. Winners can claim 2 tickets for $40 each + a $5 handling fee per ticket. Enter HERE.

If you have somehow managed to avoid the entire franchise and are clueless about the world of Harry Potter and the characters within, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD does work as a stand alone piece. However, the more you know of the backstory, the less confusing and more fun this production will be. I spent the half hour before the show and intermission giving a few clueless fellow critics the Cliff Notes, and overheard others doing the same with their friends and families. The day after the show, a couple of critics I spoke with were inspired to start the movies, which will still make the play clearer after the fact. If you're completely uninitiated, though, I do recommend checking out at least a few of the movies first, if at all possible. 

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD features a great bromance between best friends Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy. The plot line takes tantalizing, unexpected twists and turns. There's a strong anti-bullying bent. And the ultimate take away about the inadvisability/inability to change the past without dire consequences, and the sorrow that comes with that realization, is a message we can get behind, for magicians and muggles alike. 

The stage version is an excellent opportunity for multigenerational fun, with appeal for grandparents, parents and kids. HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD is even likely to win over those who don't naturally love theatre. In fact, this multi award winning play broke the Guinness record for the highest-grossing non-musical play in Broadway history! Worried about sitting still for the two hours and 50 minute run time? There's a 15- to 20-minute intermission, with fun photo ops in the basement level lobby outside of the bathrooms, merch to purchase, and several snack and drink laden bars on multiple floors. The original play was in 2 parts and required a 5 or 6 hour commitment! Now the fast paced show just flies by. This production was so mind bogglingly excellent I'm already planning to catch it again. Best fantasy production ever. Don’t miss this! 

Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theatre critic, photographer, artist, and Mama to 2 amazing adults. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly).

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child North American Tour. Photo by

Matthew Murphy.

**HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED AUTHOR (AKA TERF Wars): This play is based on an original story by J.K. Rowling who has been called out from 2020 to the present, for her negative social media comments on trans people, and doubling down in the face of backlash. I can't in good conscience give this show a rave review without acknowledging the controversy. Rowling has a lot of followers and with a big megaphone comes great responsibility.

I've met many wonderful trans people, working for decades in Chicago's theatre industry, and quite a few of my friends consider themselves trans or have trans children. Some of them are boycotting this production because J.K. Rowling gets royalties, and I respect that, especially in today's political climate. At ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows we do not condone her comments. Nevertheless, I have chosen to review this play, as a collaborative piece of art, involving dozens of people, and can vouch that there is nothing inherently transphobic or negative in any way toward any marginalized group in this production. 

On opening night we met drag queens in full Slitherin regalia, gay couples and even trans humans who raved about the show, and other minorities and marginalized people who were all marveling at the stage magic and having a wonderful evening together. In an era of cancel culture, we believe it's still possible to enjoy creative works with imperfect creators. 

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child North American Tour. Photo by

Matthew Murphy.

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

Chicago Tie-ins on the North American Tour

My son went to school with Harry Potter's son! Not too many Chicago Theatre critics can make that unique claim. No, not Hogwarts, but before attending the infamous wizard boarding school, as Albus Potter, actor Emmet Smith studied theatre arts at Chicago's Northwestern University, in suburban Evanston, with my son, Dugan. Though New York is technically his home town, we're highlighting Albus/Emmet with the Chicago dynamic duo of Severus Snape and Ron Weasley. Emmet truly makes a phenomenal Albus Severus Potter. Aside from the ability to pass for an underager, he's a stellar performer and a joy to see in action. 

 

Emmet Smith (Harry's son, Albus Potter)

he/him. Wizzo! Off-Broadway: Philadelphia, Here I Come! (Irish Rep), Midsummer (TFANA), Soul Doctor (NYTW); Regional: A Distinct Society (Pioneer Theatre), The Sound of Music (Marriott Theatre); TV: New Amsterdam, Law & Order, Blue Bloods. Songwriter, climate activist, Northwestern grad, Ravenclaw. @emmetsmithnyc

(l-r): Emmet Smith and Aidan Close in the North American Tour of

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

We were also pretty jazzed to see Chicago's own Larry Yando playing Snape, Dumbledore, and Amos Diggory. Yando is most recognized for his beloved role as Scrooge at Goodman Theatre for the past 16 seasons! We've seen him in numerous productions over the years and in the past I've dubbed him "King of the pregnant pause" for his delivery style, and his ability to keep an audience rapt and spellbound, even between lines. He's an absolute pro and it's a master class to see him on stage. He's adept at finding the humanity in villains, and making them multidimensional, and dare I say lovable. We adore his take on Snape.

LARRY YANDO 

Notable roles: Scar/“The Lion King”, Roy Cohn”/Angels in America”, 15 seasons as Scrooge/”A Christmas Carol”, and King Lear. A five- time Jeff award- winner, Sarah Siddons recipient, Lunt-Fontanne Fellow, and the Wall Street Journal’s Performer of the Year.

Larry Yando in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child North American

Tour. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Rounding out the trio is Matt Mueller, who lives in Chicago's near northern suburb of Evanston. He's also making sweet home Chicago proud, and reprising his Broadway role, where he played Ron Weasley for a year, before the pandemic shuttered theatres in 2020. He's not only a hometown actor, but also the son of two Chicago actors, Jill Shellabarger and Roger Mueller! His three siblings were also bitten by the theatre bug, and his twin sister Abby, sister Jessie, and brother Andrew are all professional actors. All of them work steadily in theater in Chicago, New York on and off-Broadway, or with touring companies. Matt has never been cast in a show with his sisters or parents yet, but he did work on a show with his brother, Andrew. His sister, Jessie Mueller won a Tony Award for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Nothing like a bit of Broadway sibling rivalry to keep things interesting!

Matt Mueller (Ron Weasley)

Broadway: HPCC. Tour: The Play That Goes Wrong - Chicago. Regional: Writers, Chicago Shakespeare, Marriott, Drury Lane, Northlight, Asolo Repertory, Indiana Repertory, Milwaukee Rep, Lyric Repertory, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, BETC, and multiple productions of Woody Guthrie’s American Song.

(l-r): Matt Mueller, Ebony Blake and John Skelley in the North

American Tour of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Photo by Matthew

Murphy.

Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce the National Tour of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD 

now playing at Broadway In Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre

The final performance of the 21-week engagement of the six-time Tony® Award-winning production will be Saturday, February 1, 2025

“One of the most defining pop culture events of the decade” – Forbes

John Skelley is playing Harry Potter with Trish Lindstrom as Ginny Potter and Emmet Smith as their son Albus Potter. Matt Mueller is playing Ron Weasley with Ebony Blake as Hermione Granger and Naiya Vanessa McCalla as their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley. Playing Draco Malfoy is Ben Thys with Aidan Close as his son Scorpius Malfoy. Delphi Diggory is played by Julia Nightingale and Severus Snape is played by Larry Yando.

They are joined by Kaleb Alexander, Julianna Austin, Markcus Blair, Casey Butler, Erin Chupinsky, Reese Sebastian Diaz, David Fine, Simon Gagnon, Alexis Gordon, Caleb Hafen, Lauryn Hayes, Nathan Hosner, Torsten Johnson, Katherine Leask, Markelle Leigh, Mackenzie Lesser-Roy, Evan Maltby, Zach Norton, Travis Patton, Maren Searle, Ayla Stackhouse, Jennifer Thiessen, Timmy Thompson, René Thornton Jr., and Kristin Yancy playing a variety of characters.

The touring production is based on the acclaimed Broadway production, currently playing at the Lyric Theatre, New York. It picks up right where the last Harry Potter film left off: Nineteen years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world, they’re back on a most extraordinary new adventure – this time, joined by a brave new generation that has only just arrived at the legendary Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When Harry Potter’s head-strong son Albus befriends the son of his fiercest rival, Draco Malfoy, it sparks an unbelievable new journey for them all—with the power to change the past and future forever.

John Skelley in the North American Tour of Harry Potter and the

Cursed Child. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, the first Harry Potter story to be presented on stage and the eighth story in the Harry Potter series, has sold over 10 million tickets worldwide since its world premiere in London in July 2016 and holds a record 60 major honors, with nine Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Play and six Tony Awards including Best Play. The international phenomenon has cast its spell worldwide with productions currently running in London, New York, Hamburg, and Tokyo, and has completed runs in Melbourne, Toronto, and San Francisco. The original two-part production in London's West End recently celebrated its 7th anniversary, while the reimagined Broadway production celebrated its 6th anniversary. The most successful non-musical play in Broadway history, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD has the unique distinction of being named by the Guinness World Records as the highest-grossing non-musical play in Broadway history with over $270 million total sales

and over 2.5 million tickets sold. To stay up to date with the latest information, go to tour.harrypottertheplay.com.

CHICAGO TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD are on sale now and range from $49.00 - $193.00 with a select number of premium tickets available. There are a limited number of $40 lottery seats available for each performance. Groups of 10 or more can book tickets by calling (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

ABOUT HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

Based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD is a play by Jack Thorne, directed by John Tiffany. HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD features movement by Steven Hoggett, set by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina

Lindsay, music & arrangements by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, illusions & magic by Jamie Harrison, music supervision & arrangements by Martin Lowe. US Casting by Jim Carnahan, CSA. HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions.

Instagram: @CursedChildUS ● Twitter: @CursedChildTour ● Facebook: @CursedChildUS ● TikTok: @CursedChildOfficial

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 25 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on

the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● TikTok @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

REVIEW: World Premiere of THE SHIP AND THE SEA Via Curious Theatre Branch at Facility Theatre September 6 - 29

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Curious Theatre Branch presents the World Premiere of 

THE SHIP AND THE SEA

at Facility Theatre September 6 - 29 

Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows we were particularly interested in catching this show since we've all been to Sweden and seen the actual Vasa ship in person!

GUEST REVIEW

By Dugan Kenaz-Mara

The Ship and The Sea expertly blends beauty and tragedy into a delightful little performance. In this show, we follow the Swedish Vasa ship, the Sea, and two captains (one rightful, one involuntary) as they finish the ship’s construction and embark on her maiden voyage. This performance was masterful in developing a sense of slow but gentle impending doom. The sea understands that it will swallow the ship and the captains recognize that it is not safe, but everyone acknowledges that it must be launched. Luckily, it was gentle enough not to leave anyone sobbing like other tragedies might. 

The cast of THE SHIP AND THE SEA. Photo by Chris Bower

In The Ship and The Sea, there is not a ton of plot, but luckily it doesn’t need it. There aren’t any big flashy moments or dramatic reveals, but instead, the story is presented through a multitude of monologues and deep conversations. This slower pacing lets the audience sit with each moment and reflect on it as it happens. We are really given the time to get to know each character and learn what motivates them, how they feel about themselves, the other characters, and the situation they find themselves in. 

(L to R)  Andrew Schoen, Vicki Walden and  Kristy Lockhart. Photo by Chris Bower

(L to R) Kristy Lockhart and Andrew Schoen. Photo by Chris Bower

Some things we appreciated about the performance were the characters, the music, and the tone. All of the characters were well thought out and established. We especially liked the childlike naiveté of the ship and how she grew throughout the show. It was also neat to watch the characters during non-speaking moments, as both of the inanimate characters were on stage the entire time. The musical interludes were beautiful and gave the perfect quick neat transition between scenes. I also adore the sound of a piano paired with a banjo or ukelele, and can always appreciate the humor that comes with playing a kazoo. And finally, the performers gracefully weave humor into many of their touching moments. Despite portraying a tragedy the audience was given the time to laugh and have fun. 

Dugan Kenaz-Mara is a designer, photographer, educator, and graduate of Northwestern University's theatre program.

(L to R)  Andrew Schoen, Vicki Walden and  Kristy Lockhart. Photo by Chris Bower

Curious Theatre Branch, is proud to present the world premiere of The Ship and The Sea, written and directed by Chris Bower, September 6 - 29, at Facility Theatre, 1138 N. California Ave. Opening night is Friday, Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. The regular performance schedule is Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. Tickets for The Ship and The Sea can be found at CuriousTheatreBranch.com. Tickets are priced on a “pay what you can” scale, with a suggested price of $20. 

Chris Bower’s The Ship and The Sea reimagines the infamous sinking of the 17th- century Swedish warship Vasa moments after it set sail on its maiden voyage and less than 1500 yards from its port.The story is told from the perspective of the ship, too big, beautiful, and young to fail, the sea, unable to relate to any of the creatures that live and die in her body and two sailors struggling to make sense of their own short lives. Funny and profound, the play echoes our current moment of hubris and dismay. 

The cast of The Ship and The Sea includes Lola Zimmerman (she/her, The Ship); Vicki Walden (she/her, The Sea); Kristy Lockhart (she/her, Captain Gamel); Andrew Schoen (he/him, Ordinary Seaman Ny); Paul Brennan (he/him, Ghost Narrator #1) and Lena Brun (she/her/they/them, Ghost Narrator #2).

The production team includes Chris Bower (he/him, writer/director); Charlotte Lastra (she/her, asst. director/stage manager); Jayita Bhattacharya (she/her, movement specialist); Vicki Walden (she/her, music); Matt Test (he/him, sound/music); Lena Brun (she/her/they/them, sound/music) and Paul Brennan (sound/music).

(L to R) Andrew Schoen, and Kristy Lockhart. Photo by Chris Bower

ABOUT CHRIS BOWER,  PLAYWRIGHT AND DIRECTOR

Chris Bower is a teacher, playwright and the author of the short story collection “Little Boy Needs Ride” (Curbside Splendor)  and the novella “The Family Dogs,” which was part of the “My Very End of the Universe” novella collection published by Rose Metal Press. He is also the curator and host of The Ray’s Tap Reading Series and his work has been featured at pretty much every Rhinoceros Theater Festival since 2005. Past plays include Siberian Mouth (Bruised Orange), Mascot (Found Objects), Birthday Boy (Curious Theatre Branch) and his imaginary Logan Square fine-dining series Cafe Neckbeard, which featured at Rhino Fests 2018-2022. He is a proud ensemble member of Curious Theatre Branch. 

ABOUT CURIOUS THEATRE BRANCH

Curious Theatre Branch is dedicated to the creation of new plays and performances and to the production of the annual Rhinoceros Theater Festival. Curious aims to promote innovative works of the imagination in the performing arts from a broad and inclusive spectrum of artists and are also devoted to mentoring programs that engage emerging artists as a way to enrich and expand our artistic community.  We are committed to creating and producing new plays and performances in a collaborative manner, encouraging our members as artists to share decision making and responsibilities, while expanding their skills as writers, actors, designers, directors, and arts administrators.  Curious also is committed to the idea that a pay what you can pricing policy is sustainable and will suffice over the long term as an economic model.

Curious Theatre Branch, is proud to present the world premiere of The Ship and The Sea, written and directed by Chris Bower, September 6 - 29, at Facility Theatre, 1138 N. California Ave. The regular performance schedule is Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. Tickets for The Ship and The Sea are at CuriousTheatreBranch.com. Tickets are priced on a “pay what you can” scale, with a suggested price of $20. 

Star Studded Cast to Helm Pinter's Betrayal at Goodman Theatre February 8 – March 16, 2025

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

TONY AWARD-WINNER ROBERT SEAN LEONARD MAKES HIS GOODMAN THEATRE DEBUT IN BETRAYAL

WITH HELEN HUNT AND IAN BARFORD, DIRECTED BY SUSAN V. BOOTH

***BOOTH’S MAJOR REVIVAL OF HAROLD PINTER’S FAMED MASTERWORK APPEARS FEBRUARY 8 – MARCH 16, 2025; TICKETS GO ON SALE NOVEMBER 22 ***

The “eternal triangle” is complete! Artistic Director Susan V. Booth announces that stage and screen star Robert Sean Leonard joins her upcoming production of Betrayal by Nobel Prize-winner Harold Pinter—slated to appear as Jerry alongside the previously announced cast members Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Helen Hunt (as Emma) and Tony Award nominee and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Ian Barford (as Robert)—for the Goodman’s major revival of Harold Pinter’s classic work this winter. Leonard, a Tony Award winner (for The Invention of Love) whose most recent notable theater credits include At Home at the Zoo (Signature Theatre), Richard II (Old Globe Theatre) and Stephen Sondheim’s acclaimed Broadway revival of Sunday in the Park with George, made his film debut in Dead Poet’s Society at age 19. He earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for his portrayal of ‘Dr. James Wilson’ on the iconic Fox medical drama House alongside Hugh Laurie. Susan V. Booth’s revival of Betrayal by Harold Pinter appears February 8 – March 16, 2025 in Goodman Theatre’s 856-seat Albert Theatre. Tickets are now available through Goodman Membership; call 312.443.3800 or visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Connect. Single tickets go on sale November 22. The Goodman is grateful for the support of Northern Trust (Lead Corporate Sponsor).

“Robert Sean Leonard is one of the consummate stage actors of our generation, and the opportunity to complete the Betrayal triangle – populated by Helen and Ian already – with an actor of Robert’s caliber just delights me,” said Susan V. Booth, whose major revival of Pinter’s masterwork follows her acclaimed directorial debut as Goodman Theatre Artistic Director this past season with Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad.

Emma, Robert and Jerry have history. As Emma’s marriage to Robert comes to an end, she reconnects with Jerry, her former lover—and her husband’s best friend. The action unspools backward in time, uncovering hidden truths and revealing how little we know about those we think we know so much about. Acclaimed stage and screen actor Helen Hunt (Mad About You, As Good As It Gets) makes her Goodman debut in this “elegy about time and memory (where) the greatest dramatic weight lies in what’s unspoken, in the darkness of unsorted feelings” (New York Times).

Robert Sean Leonard’s additional screen appearances include ‘President Harry Truman’ in the Showtime limited series The First Lady and has had recurring roles on the TNT series Falling Skies and the NBC series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Film credits include Much Ado About Nothing, The Age of Innocence, The I Inside, Mr. and Mrs. Bridge, Swing Kids, Tape, Chelsea Walls and Whit Stillman’s The Last Days of Disco. London theater credits include Our Town and ‘Atticus Finch’ in To Kill a Mockingbird at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Additional Broadway appearances include Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Tony nomination), Born Yesterday, The Violet Hour, The Music Man, The Iceman Cometh, Arcadia, Candida (Tony nomination), Philadelphia, Here I Come!, The Speed of Darkness, Breaking the Code and Brighton Beach Memoirs. He worked on the Ridley Scott-produced mini-series The Hot Zone for National Geographic Television, based on Richard Preston’s bestselling book about the Ebola virus, and has recently wrapped 10 episodes on HBO’s The Gilded Age S2.

Helen Hunt has  enjoyed a distinguished  career not only as an  award-winning actor, but as an accomplished writer, director and producer. As an actress, her extensive and diverse body of work includes roles in film, theater and television. Hunt’s latest role is as Rainey in Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal’s Blindspotting, a television adaptation of the acclaimed film of the same name. The series garnered a nomination for the Best New Scripted Series at the 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Hunt can next be seen in the upcoming season of HBO Max’s Hacks American comedy-drama television series created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky. 

In 2022, Hunt undertook a residency at The Old Vic Theatre, portraying a character in Eureka Day. This play delves into the lives of parents serving on the Executive Committee of a progressive private school in Berkeley, California. When faced with a public health crisis, their professed acceptance of diversity is put to the test, revealing their true nature. Written by Jonathan Spector and directed by Katy Rudd, this production marks the European premiere of a highly acclaimed narrative. Alongside Hunt, the cast included Kirsten Foster, Mark McKinney, Ben Schnetzer and Susan Kelechi Watson. 

In 2019, Hunt revived her role as Jamie Buchman for another season of the hit show Mad About You opposite Paul Reiser. The show  returned  as a limited series on Spectrum Originals  with all episodes available on demand.     

In 2012 Hunt’s  performance  in The Sessions earned her  an  Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female and  notations  in the same category by the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, SAG Awards, Broadcast Film  Critics’ Awards and the BAFTA Awards.  The film  premiered in competition at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival  and  took home the Audience Award as well as the jury prize for Best Ensemble.   

Other  film credits include: Netflix’s Comedy Candy Jar, Ride (which Hunt also co-wrote, produced, and directed),  Decoding Annie Parker, Soul Surfer, Every Day, Bobby, Then She Found Me (which Hunt  again  also co-wrote, produced and directed),  As Good As It Gets, What Women Want, Castaway, A Good Woman, Woody Allen’s The Curse Of The Jade Scorpion,  Robert Altman’s Dr. T And The Women, Pay It Forward  and Twister.  Hunt can  last be  seen in How It Ends, Michael Cristopher’s The Night Clerk and Adam Randall’s thriller I See You. Early  career  film  credits  are: The Waterdance, Kiss Of Death, Mr. Saturday Night, Peggy Sue Got Married, Next Of Kin, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Project X  and Miles From Home. Additional television credits include Mad About You and the critically acclaimed  HBO Miniseries Empire Falls. For her role as Jamie Buchman in Mad About You,  Hunt  garnered  four Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards  (three as lead actress and one as Producer for Best Comedy)  and  a Screen Actors Guild Award.  She was also named “Best Actress” for her role in the film As Good As It Gets for which Hunt won a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and an Oscar.     

Ian Barford returns to the Goodman stage after 27 years having appeared in All The Rage by Keith Reddin and Design For Living by Noël Coward. On Broadway, Tony nomination and Outer Critics award for his performance in Linda Vista. He originated the role of Little Charles in the Tony-winning play August: Osage County which also played at London's National Theater. Original Broadway company of the Tony-winning play Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime. Also, The Minutes and The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice. In Los Angeles, several stage appearances at the Geffen and Ahmanson Theaters. Ensemble member at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater, where he has appeared in plays for more than 30 years. 

Harold Pinter was born on October 10, 1930 in the London borough of Hackney, son of a Jewish dressmaker. Growing up, Pinter was met with the expressions of anti-Semitism, and has indicated its importance for his becoming a dramatist. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he was evacuated from London at the age of nine, returning at the age of twelve. He has said that the experience of wartime bombing has never lost its hold on him. Back in London, he attended Hackney Grammar School where he played Macbeth and Romeo among other characters in productions directed by Joseph Brearley. This prompted him to choose a career in acting. In 1948 he was accepted at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. In 1950, he published his first poems. In 1951 he was accepted at the Central School of Speech and Drama. That same year, he won a place in Anew McMaster’s famous Irish repertory company, renowned for its performances of Shakespeare. Pinter toured again between 1954 and 1957, using the stage name of David Baron. Between 1956 and 1980 he was married to actor Vivien Merchant. In 1980 he married the author and historian Lady Antonia Fraser. 

Pinter made his playwriting debut in 1957 with The Room, presented in Bristol. Other early plays were The Birthday Party (1957), at first a fiasco of legendary dimensions but later one of his most performed plays, and The Dumb Waiter (1957). His conclusive breakthrough came with The Caretaker (1959), followed by The Homecoming (1964) and other plays. 

Pinter is generally seen as the foremost representative of British drama in the second half of the 20th century. That he occupies a position as a modern classic is illustrated by his name entering the language as an adjective used to describe a particular atmosphere and environment in drama: “Pinteresque”. 

Pinter restored theater to its basic elements: an enclosed space and unpredictable dialogue, where people are at the mercy of each other and pretense crumbles. With a minimum of plot, drama emerges from the power struggle and hide-and-seek of interlocution. Pinter’s drama was first perceived as a variation of absurd theater but has later more aptly been characterized as “comedy of menace,” a genre where the writer allows us to eavesdrop on the play of domination and submission hidden in the most mundane of conversations. In a typical Pinter play, we meet people defending themselves against intrusion or their own impulses by entrenching themselves in a reduced and controlled existence. Another principal theme is the volatility and elusiveness of the past. 

It is said of Pinter that following an initial period of psychological realism he proceeded to a second, more lyrical phase with plays such as Landscape (1967) and Silence (1968) and finally to a third, political phase with One for the Road (1984), Mountain Language (1988), The New World Order (1991) and other plays. But this division into periods seems oversimplified and ignores some of his strongest writing, such as No Man’s Land (1974) and Ashes to Ashes (1996). In fact, the continuity in his work is remarkable, and his political themes can be seen as a development of the early Pinter’s analyzing of threat and injustice.

Since 1973, Pinter has won recognition as a fighter for human rights, alongside his writing. He has often taken stands seen as controversial. Pinter has also written radio plays and screenplays for film and television. Among his best-known screenplays are those for The Servant (1963), The Accident (1967), The Go-Between (1971) and The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981, based on the John Fowles novel). Pinter has also made a pioneering contribution as a director. 

ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE

Chicago’s theater since 1925, Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit arts and community organization in the heart of the Loop, distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and community engagement. Led by Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director/CEO Roche Schulfer*, the theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics. Artists and productions have earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and more than 160 Jeff Awards, among other accolades. The Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” Its longtime annual holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol, now in its fourth decade, has created a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production and program partner with national and international companies and Chicago’s off-Loop theaters.

As a cultural and community organization invested in quality, diversity and community, Goodman Theatre is committed to using the art of theater for a better Chicago. Using the tools of the theatrical profession, the Goodman’s Education and Engagement programs aim to develop generations of citizens who understand the cultures and stories of diverse voices. The Goodman’s Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of these programs, which are offered free of charge for Chicago youth—85% of whom come from underserved communities—schools and life-long learners.

Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation of the new Goodman center in 2000.

Today, Goodman Theatre leadership also includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Rebecca Gilman, Henry Godinez, Dael Orlandersmith, Steve Scott, Kimberly Senior, Chuck Smith and Mary Zimmerman. Julie Danis is Chairman of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Lorrayne Weiss is Women’s Board President and Kelli Garcia is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.

*Note: On September 1, 2024, John Collins becomes Executive Director of Goodman Theatre. 

Steppenwolf Theatre's Hit World Premiere PURPOSE Transfers To Broadway in Spring 2025

Chi, IL Live Shows Broadway Bound!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Announces

Broadway Transfer of its Hit World Premiere

PURPOSE

Written by Tony Award Winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Directed by Two-Time Tony Award Winner Phylicia Rashad

Limited Engagement Begins Previews February 25, 2025 – Opening Mid-March!

"Purpose" playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and director Phylicia Rashad.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation’s premier ensemble theater company, is thrilled to announce its critically acclaimed world premiere of Purpose, written by Tony Award winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Appropriate, The Comeuppance) and directed by two-time Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad (Skeleton Crew, A Raisin in the Sun), will transfer to Broadway in spring 2025.

The Broadway production will begin previews on February 25, 2025 at The Helen Hayes Theater (240 West 44th St., New York) and will officially open in mid-March. Purpose will mark Ms. Rashad’s Broadway directing debut. Tickets will go on sale at a later date.

Purpose is produced on Broadway by David Stone, Debra Martin Chase, Marc Platt, LaChanze, Rashad Chambers, Aaron Glick and Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

Casting will be announced in the coming months.

Commissioned by Steppenwolf, Purpose enjoyed its world premiere on March 14, 2024 in Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theater, where it opened to rave reviews. The production sold out its initial engagement and extension weeks, becoming one of the highest-grossing shows in Steppenwolf’s nearly 50 year history. 

About Purpose

For decades, the influential Jasper family has been a pillar of Black American Politics: civil rights leaders, pastors and congressmen. But like all families, there are cracks and secrets just under the surface. When the youngest son Nazareth returns home to Illinois with an uninvited friend in tow, the family is forced into a reckoning with itself, its faith and the legacies of Black radicalism. Spirited, hilarious and filled with intrigue, Purpose is an epic family drama from one of the country’s most celebrated voices.

The Broadway production will feature original Chicago creative team members Todd Rosenthal (Scenic Design), Dede Ayite (Costume Design), Amith Chandrashaker (Lighting Design), Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen (Sound Design) and Jonathan L. Green (Dramaturg). Casting is by JC Clementz, CSA and Calleri Jensen Davis. 

Steppenwolf Artistic Directors Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis and Executive Director Brooke Flanagan comment, “Purpose continues Steppenwolf’s legacy of commissioning and developing new plays that expand the American theatrical canon with dynamic, provocative, ensemble-driven work. After our record-breaking run in Chicago, we couldn’t be more thrilled to be bringing Branden’s beautiful play to Broadway. He is not only a genius, but the hottest writer in America. This play, being directed by one of the great artists our time in Phylicia Rashad, is one that we are incredibly proud of and can’t wait for New York audiences to experience.”

About the Creative Team

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Playwright) is a Brooklyn-based playwright and producer and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist. He recently received the 2024 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play for Appropriate, which recently completed an acclaimed, record-breaking, 8-month run on Broadway. Other recent theatre credits include The Comeuppance (Signature Theatre Company, NYC; Almeida Theatre, London); Girls (Yale Rep); Everybody (Signature Theatre); War (Yale Rep; Lincoln Center/LCT3); Gloria (Vineyard Theatre); An Octoroon (Obie Award; Soho Rep, Theatre for a New Audience); and Neighbors (The Public Theater). He currently teaches at Yale University and serves as Vice President of the Dramatists Guild council and on the boards of Soho Rep, Park Avenue Armory, the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, and the Dramatists Guild Foundation. Additional honors include a USA Artists fellowship, a Guggenheim fellowship, the MacArthur fellowship, the Windham-Campbell Prize for Drama and the inaugural Tennessee Williams Award. He is currently writing the book for the upcoming stage adaptation of Purple Rain.

Phylicia Rashad (Director) A two-time Tony Award winner (A Raisin in the Sun and Skeleton Crew), Ms. Rashad’s directing credits include Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Our Lady of 121st Street; Pearl Cleage’s Blues for an Alabama Sky; August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (2014 NAACP Theatre Award for Best Director) and Fences; Paul Oakley Stovall’s Immediate Family; Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun; The Roommate; and Four Little Girls. Producing credits include the recent revival of Ossie Davis’ Purlie Victorious on Broadway and PBS film, The Old Settler. Ms. Rashad is Dean Emerita of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University.

About Steppenwolf Theatre

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation’s premiere Ensemble Theater with 49 members who are among the top actors, playwrights and directors in the field. Thrilling, powerful, groundbreaking productions – from Balm in Gilead and Grapes of Wrath to August: Osage County, Downstate and The Brother/Sister Plays – have made this theatre legendary. Founded in 1976, Steppenwolf started as a group of teens performing in the basement of a church. Today, the company's artistic force remains rooted in the original vision of its founders: an artist-driven theatre, whose vitality is defined by its appetite for bold and innovative work. Every aspect of Steppenwolf is rooted in its Ensemble ethos, from the intergenerational artistic programming to the multi-genre performance series LookOut, to the nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf Education and Engagement which serves nearly 15,000 teens annually. While grounded in the Chicago community, more than 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Steppenwolf also holds accolades that include the National Medal of Arts, 12 Tony Awards, and more. Led by Artistic Directors Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis, Executive Director Brooke Flanagan and Board of Trustees Chair Keating Crown – Steppenwolf continually redefines the landscape of acting and performance.

Steppenwolf’s Mission: Steppenwolf strives to create thrilling, courageous and provocative art in a thoughtful and inclusive environment. We succeed when we disrupt your routine with experiences that spark curiosity, empathy and joy. We invite you to join our ensemble as we navigate, together, our complex world. steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre, twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr and instagram.com/steppenwolfthtr.

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR GOODMAN THEATRE’S INHERIT THE WIND AND PRIMARY TRUST

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

COMPLETE CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR GOODMAN THEATRE’S 2024/2025 

SEASON OPENERS: HENRY GODINEZ’S REVIVAL OF 

INHERIT THE WIND

AND EBONI BOOTH’S 

PRIMARY TRUST 

DIRECTED BY MALKIA STAMPLEY

***OPENING NIGHT DATES SET FOR THE PRODUCTIONS IN GOODMAN THEATRE’S 99TH SEASON, 

LED BY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR SUSAN V. BOOTH AND INCOMING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOHN COLLINS***

This fall, Goodman Theatre draws nationally acclaimed actors and local rising stars to its 2024/2025 Season opening productions—a major new reivival of a three-time Tony Award-winning masterwork and the Chicago-premiere production of a newly minted Pulitzer Prize-winner. The 99th year of Chicago’s flagship not-for-profit producing theater kicks off with a new production of Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, directed by Resident Director Henry Godinez, in the 856-seat Albert Theatre, while Goodman BOLD Artistic Producer Malkia Stampley makes her Goodman directing debut with Primary Trust, Eboni Booth’s 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Complete casting for these productions, plus the opening night dates for each play in the upcoming season, follows. Goodman Theatre is led by Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and John Collins, who becomes Executive Director on September 1. 

In the Albert Theatre, science and religion go head-to-head in Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee’s iconic courtroom showdown where a small-town educator’s trial for teaching the theory of evolution becomes a battle royal of wits, wisdom and will for two of the country’s most powerful lawyers. Joining the previously announced Harry Lennix (attorney Henry Drummond) and Alexander Gemignani (prosecuting attorney Matthew Harrison Brady) are Charín Álvarez (2666), Terry Bell (A Christmas Carol), Hamid Dehghani (English), William Dick (A Christmas Carol), Meighan Gerachis (Roe), Lawrence Grimm (2666), Kevin Gudahl (King Lear), Presley Rose Jones (The Who’s Tommy), Christopher Kale Jones (The Music Man), Mi Kang (The Chinese Lady), Ryan Kitley (Roe), Tyler Meredith (The Penelopiad), Thomas Murphy Molony (Highway Patrol), Christopher Llewyn Ramirez (LUCHA TEOTL), Robert Schleifer (A Christmas Carol), Eric Slater (The Cherry Orchard) and Penelope Walker (A Christmas Carol). Inherit the Wind appears September 14 — October 13 (opening night is Monday, September 23 at 7pm. Tickets ($25 - $95; subject to change) are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Inherit or by phone at 312-443-3800. Goodman Theatre is grateful for the support of JP Morgan Chase & Co. and Winston & Strawn.

“Inherit The Wind is a deeply meaningful play for me, not only because it was the first professional play that I saw as a freshman in high school, but also because of the remarkable timeliness of its powerful themes and their uncanny reflection of this current moment in our nation’s history,” said director Henry Godinez. “It is a great American play that I’m honored to help bring to life with some of the greatest actors in Chicago, led by my old friend, the always amazing Harry Lennix.  I am beyond excited to share this thought provoking and incredibly moving play with Chicago audiences!”

In the Owen Theatre, Eboni Booth’s 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winning production Primary Trust, directed by Goodman BOLD Artistic Producer Malkia Stampley makes its Chicago debut with an all-Chicago cast—starring the previously announced Namir Smallwood as the reclusive Kenneth, whose job loss prompts him to step out of his comfort zone in a journey of self-discovery. Smallwood is joined by Christiana Clark (the ripple, the wave that carried me home), Charles Andrew Gardner (Objects in the Mirror), Mike Przygoda (Rust) and Fred Zimmerman (Bounce). Primary Trust appears October 5 — November 3 (opening night is Monday, October 14 at 7pm. Tickets ($20 - $65; subject to change) are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Primary or by phone at 312-443-3800. Goodman Theatre is grateful for the support of the Goodman Women’s Board, Bold Theater's Women's Leadership Circle, Conagra Brands Foundation and The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust.

“I'm always drawn to plays that push the boundaries of empathy, that interrogate love and grief, friendship and longing, and do so in subtle and profound ways,” said Malkia Stampley, who makes her Goodman directing debut with this production. “Primary Trust is the kind of play that sticks with you, that days later you find has allowed you to look at the world differently, even if just for a moment. I am truly honored to be able to direct the Chicago premiere with our city’s finest!"  

FULL COMPANY OF Inherit the Wind (in alphabetical order)

In the Albert Theatre

By Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee

Directed by Henry Godinez

Charín Álvarez…Mrs. Brady

Terry Bell…Sillers

Hamid Dehghani…Storekeeper

William Dick...Mayor

Alexander Gemignani… Matthew Harrison Brady

Meighan Gerachis…Elijah

Lawrence Grimm…Dunlap

Kevin Gudahl…Judge

Presley Rose Jones…Melinda

Christopher Kale Jones…Tom Davenport

Mi Kang…E.K. Hornbeck

Ryan Kitley…Reverend Jeremiah Brown

Harry Lennix…Henry Drummond

Tyler Meredith…Rachel Brown

Thomas Murphy Molony…Howard

Christopher Llewyn Ramirez…Bertram Cates

Robert Schleifer…Meeker

Eric Slater…Mr. Bannister

Penelope Walker…Mrs. Krebs

Understudies for this production include Chase Clevenger, Theo Gyra, Hannah Kato, John Lister, Michael Milligan, Kailey Danielle Morand, Aila Peck, Alex Benito Rodriguez, Eric Slater and Cedric Young. 

Creative Team

Set Designer…Collette Pollard

Costume Designer…Jessica Pabst 

Lighting Designer…Jason Lynch

Sound Designer and Composer….Richard Woodbury

Casting is by Lauren Port, CSA. Neena Arndt is the Dramaturg. Nikki Blue is the Production Stage Manager and Krista Kanderski and Beth Koehler are the Stage Managers.

FULL COMPANY OF Primary Trust (in alphabetical order)

In the Owen Theatre

By Eboni Booth

Directed by Malkia Stampley

Christiana Clark…Corrina/Wally’s Waiter/Bank Customers

Charles Andrew Gardner…Bert

Mike Przygoda…Onstage Musician

Namir Smallwood…Kenneth

Fred Zimmerman…Clay/Sam

Understudies for this production include Daniel Ajak, Victoria Angelica Cruz, Sam Hyson, Christopher Meister and Keith Surney.

Creative Team

Associate Director…Ericka Ratcliff

Set Designer…Lex Liang

Costume Designer…Yvonne Miranda 

Lighting Designer…Heather Gilbert

Sound Designer and Composer….Brandon Reed 

Composer…Mike Przygoda

Casting is by Lauren Port, CSA. Lena Romano is the Dramaturg. Pat Fries is the Production Stage.

2024/2025 SEASON OPENING NIGHT DATES 

In the Albert Theatre

Inherit the Wind

Opening Night: September 23 at 7pm

47th Annual A Christmas Carol

Opening Night: November 24 at 7pm

Betrayal

Opening Night: February 17 at 7pm

BUST

Opening Night: April 28 at 7pm

The Color Purple

Opening Night: June 30 at 7pm

In the Owen Theatre

Primary Trust

Opening Night: October 14 at 7 pm

Fat Ham

Opening Night: January 21 at 7pm

The Antiquities

Opening Night: May 12 at 7pm

ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE

Chicago’s theater since 1925, Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit arts and community organization in the heart of the Loop, distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and community engagement. Led by Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director/CEO Roche Schulfer, the theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics. Artists and productions have earner two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and nearly 200 Joseph Jefferson Awards, among other accolades. 

The Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” Its longtime annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, now in its fifth decade, has created a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production and program partner with national and international companies and Chicago’s Off-Loop theaters.

Using the tools of theatrical practice, the Goodman’s Education and Engagement programs aim to develop generations of citizens who understand and empathize with cultures and stories of diverse voices. The Goodman’s Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of these programs, which are offered for Chicago youth—85% of whom come from underserved communities—schools and life-long learners.

Goodman Theatre was built on the traditional homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi Nations. We recognize that many other Nations consider the area we now call Chicago as their traditional homeland—including the Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Kickapoo and Mascouten—and remains home to many Native peoples today. While we believe that our city’s vast diversity should be reflected on the stages of its largest theater, we acknowledge that our efforts have largely overlooked the voices of our Native peoples. This omission has added to the isolation, erasure and harm that Indigenous communities have faced for hundreds of years. We have begun a more deliberate journey towards celebrating Native American stories and welcoming Indigenous communities. 

Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation on the new Goodman center in 2000.

Julie Danis is Chair of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Lorrayne Weiss is Women’s Board President and Kelli Garcia is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.