Goodman Theatre to Commemorate March on Washington with REMIXING THE MARCH, 8/12

"Remixing the March," Goodman Theatre's year-long commemoration of the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, continues this summer: youth participants in General Theater Studies (GTS) combine talents with senior citizens of the GeNarrations writing program to create a performance piece that views the historic event through a contemporary lens. As part of the annual GTS six-week summer program (through August 12), 80 teenage participants initiate discussions with GeNarrations participants about their recollections of the March, including Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech. From these interviews, the students blend their own stories into an original performance piece to be presented almost 50 years to the day.

Reservations for the free August 12 public showcase performance are required; call 312.443.3800. Crown Family Philanthropies, Grosvenor Capital Management and Impact Creativity are Education Partners. Anonymous and the Helen V. Brach Foundation are Institutional Supporters of Education and Community Engagement.

"GTS is about using theater to develop engaged, socially conscious individuals who learn the powerful influence the arts have on daily life," said Willa J. Taylor, Goodman Theatre Director of Education and Community Engagement. "The March on Washington was one of the largest political rallies for human rights in United States history; by engaging in conversation with our GeNarrations participants-people who lived through this landmark event-our GTS young people use theatrical techniques to understand and respond to events of the world in which we live."

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in Washington, D.C. took place on August 28, 1963, when Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech advocating racial harmony. Attended by an estimated 200,000 - 300,000 people, the March is widely credited with helping to pass the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Voting Rights Act (1965).

The Goodman's commemoration of the March on Washington's anniversary began with a CONTEXT series discussion with arts and community leaders about Gospel music's role in the Civil Rights Movement in conjunction with ReGina Taylor's Crowns. It continued during the past school year with the Goodman's Student Subscription Series, in which high school participants considered what contemporary issues would be investigated in a 2013 March (gun control, freedom to marry, immigration reform, etc). The final program takes place this fall in conjunction with Pullman Porter Blues (date TBA).

Participants in GeNarrations-an ongoing adult-education program for life-long learners-develop personal narrative performance pieces based on themes of Goodman Theatre productions, which they then perform in a public forum. The Goodman offers at least two six-week sessions each season, with approximately 30 participants per session. This program is presented in collaboration with the City of Chicago's Department of Family and Support Services as well as session-specific community based organizations.

Now celebrating its seventh season in its current iteration, the GTS six-week intensive includes two three-hour sessions per day, four days per week. Activities with teaching artists Bobby Biedrzycki, Amanda Delheimer, Kevin Douglas, Khanisha Foster, Vince Pagan, Tony Sancho and Paul Whitehouse range from vocal, facial and physical warm-ups to theater ensemble building, object work and writing exercises. GTS participants will also see Albany Park Theater Project's Home/Land at the Goodman and Mojada at Victory Gardens Theater as part of the program.

About the 2013 Teaching Artists:

Bobby Biedrzycki is a writer, performer, poet and social activist. His stories and poems have appeared in numerous publications, and he has performed on stages and bar stools across Chicagoland and beyond.

Amanda Delheimer is the Artistic Director of 2nd Story. She has lived and worked in Chicago, Los Angeles and Mexico, and has worked with Steppenwolf Theatre, Court Theatre, Next Theatre, Redmoon Theater, Collaboraction, Teatro Vista, Lifeline Theatre and Strawdog Theatre, among others.

Kevin Douglas, now in his tenth year teaching with the Goodman, has taught in Chicago Public Schools through C.A.P.E (Chicago Arts Partnership and Education) and through his theater company, MPAACT (MA'AT Production Association of African Centered Theatre) where he is a teaching artist, actor and resident writer. Kevin is also an Artistic Associate of Lookingglass Theatre Company, where he has appeared in Black Diamond: The Years the Locusts Have Eaten, Lookingglass Alice, Around the World in 80 Days and Lookingglass Alice.

Khanisha Foster is the Associate Artistic Director of 2nd Story and an ensemble member of Teatro Vista. She was chosen for the Theatre Communication Groups's Young Leaders of Color 2009 and an artists exchange with the Citizen's Theatre of Scotland in Glasgow. Her teaching artist work was honored by the White House this year, and her writing has been published with CellStories and 2nd Story. She has performed with Teatro Vista, Goodman Theatre, Steep Theatre and Collaboraction, among others. She can be seen in the film Chicago Boricua and her current solo show Actor of Color.

Vince Pagan has been working as a teaching artist in Chicago since October 2011. He has worked with Burley Elementary School, Noble Street Charter High School, Solomon Elementary School, Adventure Stage Chicago and Goodman Theatre.

Tony Sancho's theater experiences unknowingly began at the Goodman more than 16 years ago; his high school drama teacher invited him to audition for a production of West Side Story, in which he performed at the old Goodman Studio. Tony began as an assistant teacher for the Goodman/Yollocalli Youth Dramatist Workshop in 1999.

Paul Whitehouse is a Chicago-based performer and teaching artist. His original stories and solo work have been featured at events such as This Much is True, The Paper Machete and the 2010 Redmoon Theater festival.

The teaching artists are augmented by five teaching assistants, each of whom is a former GTS student.

About the Goodman's Education and Community Engagement: Goodman Theatre offers a wide variety of programming to enable Chicagoland learners of all ages to experience theater first-hand with working professionals, teachers and artists; Willa J. Taylor is the director of education and community engagement. Programs are offered to audience members of all ages to engage in deeper explorations of the work on the Goodman's stages. The Student Subscription Series (SSS) works with over 40 Chicago public high schools each year to creatively supplement students' reading, writing, critical thinking and communication skills. Special matinee performances of Goodman productions are supplemented with exclusive teacher training workshops, educational guides and post-show discussions. CONTEXT: Discourse & Discussion is a series designed to engage the community in debate, dialogue and deeper exploration of themes within Goodman productions. Unlike a traditional post-show discussion which centers on the production, CONTEXT events focus on particular issues raised within the plays and explore how they resonate in today's culture. Cindy Bandle Young Critics (CBYC) is a joint venture between Goodman Theatre and the Association for Women Journalists that introduces 11th grade girls to the art of theater criticism and the world of professional writing. Participants see every show in the Goodman's season, interview theater artists and receive one-on-one mentoring from professional journalists. CBYC is named in honor of Goodman Theatre's late, longtime press director, Cindy Bandle. General Theater Studies (GTS) is a six-week summer intensive for 14 -19-year olds with a focus on critical thinking, literacy, oral history and storytelling. Designed to validate student voices, help them examine their creativity and introduce them to the creation of theater, GTS is an ensemble-building program that culminates in an original student performance. The Goodman's Youth Art Council (GYAC) allows past participants in theater programs to stay involved in the institution. Members of this leadership development program are committed to exposing their peers to theatrical productions and act as ambassadors for the Goodman in their communities and schools. GeNarrations is a writing workshop for senior citizens in which participants develop personal narrative performance pieces based on themes raised by Goodman Theatre productions, which they are then invited to perform in a public forum.

Goodman Theatre is world renowned for the quality and scope of its artistic programming and its commitment to improving life in the community. Artistic Director Robert Falls' and Executive Director Roche Schulfer's leadership has earned unparalleled artistic distinction and experienced unprecedented success, staging more than 80 world premieres, earning numerous awards for its productions-including the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre (1992) and the Pulitzer Prize for Ruined (2009)-and producing more than 25 new-work commissions. Founded in 1925 and housed in a state-of-the-art two-theater complex in the downtown Chicago Theatre District, the Goodman is Chicago's oldest and largest not-for-profit producing theater. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre. Ruth Ann M. Gillis is Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sherry John is President of the Women's Board and Lauren Blair is President of the Scenemakers Board, the Goodman's young professionals auxiliary group.

Visit the Goodman virtually: watch artist interviews, view production photos, catch the latest news and more at GoodmanTheatre.org and our blog. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, peek behind the scenes on YouTube.