Goodman Theatre Teams with Alphawood Gallery for 'I AM THE DARKER BROTHER' Writing Workshop Series

Goodman Theatre will continue its collaboration with Chicago's Alphawood Gallery with the new writing workshop series, "I am the Darker Brother: Demonization and the Demise of Civil Liberties," this fall. Led by Chicago-based teaching artist Deb Lewis, participants use Langston Hughes' poem, "I, Too" as inspiration to explore what being an "American" means, and the responsibilities that freedom of speech engender.

The series is presented as an extension of Alphawood's current exhibit, Then They Came for Me: Incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII and the Demise of Civil Liberties, and marks the second installment of "In These Times"-a Goodman/Alphawood collaboration that examines the power of art in times of upheaval and crises. The first installment took place last fall, in conjunction with Alphawood's Arts AIDS Chicago exhibition.

"I am the Darker Brother" workshop series is free and open to the public; to join, visit GoodmanTheatre.org/WritingWorkshops or email Education@GoodmanTheatre.org, Weekly workshops will be held at Alphawood Gallery (2401 N. Halsted) each Tuesday at 6pm, beginning September 5. The experience culminates in a curated performance at Alphawood on Sunday, October 1 at 3pm.

"Story allows us a window on understanding each other beyond generalizations. If we can share stories, share moments and share each other's individualities, perhaps we can begin to heal from our past together. This is the germ of thought behind the I Am the Darker Brother workshops at the Alphawood Gallery," said Deb Lewis. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such a diverse group of people from many walks of life and to hear their stories."

Lewis a teaching artist with Goodman Theatre's GeNarrations program, and has collaborated with 2ndStory as a company member, telling stories and helping others tell theirs. She's told stories for Fillet of Solo, Homolatte, Gumbo Fiction Salon, Next Theatre and Solo Homo. Her honors include the Windy City Times Pride Literary Supplement Prose Prize, Top Three Finalist in the Project: Queer Lit novel competition, and a Pushcart nomination. Her work appears in many journals, including: Cellstories.net, Gertrude, Criminal Class Review, F Magazine, Susurrus, Zahir, Café Irreal, Outsider Ink, Velvet Mafia, The2ndHand, Blithe House Quarterly, Mobius, Dyversity, International Drummer, Bad Attitude and SandMutopian Guardian. Her published work includes contributions to Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: A 2nd Story Anthology (Elephant Rock Books), Windy City Queer: LGBTQ Dispatches from the Third Coast (U of Wisconsin Press). Visit DebRLewis.me for more.

Alphawood Gallery's new exhibition Then They Came for Me: Incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII and the Demise of Civil Liberties examines a difficult and painful episode in the history of the United States when the federal government forcibly removed and imprisoned thousands of American citizens without due process simply for being born Japanese American. Through an exploration of art, artifacts and programming, Then They Came for Me invites comparisons between this dark chapter in America's past and current political events.

Alphawood Foundation is a Chicago-based, grant-making private foundation working for an equitable, just, and humane society. Each year we award grants to organizations, primarily in the areas of advocacy, architecture and preservation, the arts and arts education, promotion and protection of the rights of LGBT citizens and people living with HIV/AIDS, and other human and civil rights. Visit Alphawoodfoundation.org for more information.

Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit organization distinguished by the quality and scope of its artistic programming and civic engagement. Founded in 1925, the Goodman is led by Robert Falls-"Chicago's most essential director" (Chicago Tribune ), who marks 30 years as Artistic Director this season-and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, who is celebrated for his vision and leadership over nearly four decades. Dedicated to new plays, reimagined classics and large-scale musical theater works, Goodman Theatre artists and productions have earned hundreds of awards for artistic excellence, including: two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards, nearly 160 Jeff Awards and more. Over the past three decades, audiences have experienced more than 150 world or American premieres, 30 major musical productions, as well as nationally and internationally celebrated productions of classic works (including Falls' productions of Death of a Salesman, Long Day's Journey into Night, King Lear and The Iceman Cometh, many in collaboration with actor Brian Dennehy). In addition, the Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson's "American Century Cycle." For nearly four decades, the annual holiday tradition of A Christmas Carol has created a new generation of theatergoers.

The 2016 opening of the Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement ("the Alice") launched the next phase in the Goodman's decades-long commitment as an arts and community organization dedicated to educating Chicago youth and promoting lifelong learning. Programs are offered year-round and free of charge. Eighty-five percent of the Goodman's youth program participants come from underserved 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 of the new Goodman center in 2000.

Today, Goodman Theatre leadership includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Brian Dennehy, Rebecca Gilman, Henry Godinez, Dael Orlandersmith, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, ReGina Taylor, Henry Wishcamper and Mary Zimmerman. Joan Clifford is Chair of Goodman Theatre's Board of Trustees, Cynthia K. Scholl is Women's Board President and Justin A. Kulovsek is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.

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