Broadway Stars Power Spring 2017 Special Events at Goodman Theatre

This spring, Goodman Theatre hosts two Tony Award winning special guests for its annual spring fundraisers, which support the theater's Education and Engagement programs.

On Tuesday, April 4, the Goodman presents its annual "Education and Engagement Luncheon," featuring Evanston-born star Jessie Mueller. Mueller-who is currently appearing in the Broadway musical Waitress through March 26-will join the Goodman's Walter Director for Education and Engagement Willa J. Taylor in discussion about the role of theater in education. The event co-chairs are Julie M. Danis, Lorrayne Weiss and Nancy Swan. The event will be held at The Standard Club (320 S Plymouth Ct) beginning at 12noon. Tickets start at $250; call 312.443.3811 ext. 586. All proceeds benefit Goodman Theatre's Education and Community Engagement programs. Media interested in covering the event should call 312.443.5569.

On Saturday, May 20, Tony and GRAMMY Award-winning singer, composer, actor, playwright and director Billy Porter headlines Goodman Theatre's spring Gala. Known for his groundbreaking performance as Lola in the Broadway smash hit Kinky Boots, Porter is a "...a force of nature" (New York Daily News). The black-tie event takes place at The Fairmont Chicago (200 N. Columbus Dr.), beginning at 6:30pm with a cocktail reception, followed by the performance, an elegant three-course dinner and dancing to the Gentlemen of Leisure. Event Co-Chairs are Women's Board Members Denise Stefan Ginascol, Wendy Krimins, Diane Landgren and Board of Trustees member Kristine R. Garrett. Joan Clifford is Chair of Goodman Theatre's Board of Trustees and Cynthia K. Scholl is Women's Board President. Tickets start at $1,000; call 312.443.3811 ext. 586. All proceeds benefit Goodman Theatre's Education and Engagement programs. Media interested in covering the event should call 312.443.5569.

About the Artists

Jessie Mueller started her career in Chicago and won a Joseph Jefferson Award in 2008 for her role as Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel. Additionally, she starred in the Goodman's Animal Crackers and A Christmas Carol. In 2011, she moved to New York City to star in the Broadway revival of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. She won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in the lead role of Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.

Billy Porter's other Broadway acting credits include Miss Saigon, Five Guys Named Moe, Grease (all original cast), Smokey Joe's Café and Dreamgirls (20th Anniversary Broadway Concert and LA Ovation Award). His film and television credits include Sundance Film Festival features The Broken Hearts Club (Sony Pictures) and Intern, Noel (with Susan Sarandon and Robin Williams), Shake Rattle & Roll as Little Richard (CBS mini-series), Another World (recurring), Twisted, Law & Order, The Oprah Winfrey Show, A Very Rosie Christmas, The Tonight Show, and multiple appearances on The Rosie O'Donnell Show. Porter has also guest-starred on Law & Order: SVU in a part written for him and appeared in the film The Humbling, starring Al Pacino. He has appeared as a guest judge of the mega-hit television show So You Think You Can Dance. His original song "Time" has been featured twice on So You Think You Can Dance as well as the 2011 Miss America Pageant. Porter's concerts credits include opening act for Rosie O'Donnell and Aretha Franklin, Carnegie Hall, John McDaniel and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, as well as The Buffalo Philharmonic, Peter Nero and The Philly Pops. As a recording artist, Porter's solo albums include his first CD, Untitled, his sophomore album, At the Corner of Broadway + Soul - LIVE, and his most recent CD, Billy's Back on Broadway.

About Education and Engagement at Goodman Theatre

Goodman Theatre offers a variety of programming to enable Chicagoland learners of all ages to experience theater first-hand with industry professionals, teachers and artists. Offered for audience members of all ages, programs engage participants in deeper explorations of the work on the Goodman's stages. Artist, educator and activist Willa J. Taylor has led the Goodman's Education and Engagement programs since 2007 with a team of associates including Elizabeth Rice (School Programs Coordinator), Brandi Lee (Education and Engagement Associate & Internship Coordinator), Adrian Azevedo (Education and Engagement Assistant) and Anna Gelman (Curriculum & Instruction Associate).For more information, visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Engage-Learn.

About Goodman Theatre

America's "Best Regional Theatre" (Time magazine) and "Chicago's flagship resident stage" (Chicago Tribune), 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 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.

Visit the Goodman virtually at GoodmanTheatre.org-including OnStage+ for insider information-and on Twitter (@GoodmanTheatre), Facebook and Instagram.

To post a comment, you must register and login.