Goodman Theatre Kicks Off Third Annual 'Cindy Bandle Young Critics' Program

Goodman Theatre's program dedicated to shaping theater critics of the future-the "Cindy Bandle Young Critics" (CBYC) program, named for the Goodman's longtime press director-returns for its third year, engaging 29 11th graders from high schools in Chicago and neighboring Algonquin, Evanston, Hinsdale, Homer Glen, Itasca, Lake Bluff, Northbrook, Oak Lawn, Spring Grove, Westchester and Zion. Twenty-one members of the Association for Women Journalists (AWJ)-including National Public Radio and WBEZ, Chicago Tribune, Associated Press, SouthtownStar, Reflejos, Chicago Public Schools and other organizations-serve as the girls' mentors in this free program designed to increase awareness of and participation in arts journalism. Young critics attend bi-monthly meetings at the Goodman, where AWJ mentors help them to develop their critical voice and learn the mechanics of writing, professional journalism and issues pertinent to women and criticism. CBYC participants review and write feature stories about the productions in the Goodman's nine-play season, as well as interview artists and production staff of the theater.

"The Goodman created this program to introduce theater criticism and professional writing to young women, and hopefully ensure strong female voices continue to write informed, educated feature stories and reviews for the future of Chicago theater," said Willa Taylor, Director of Education and Community Engagement. "Respected, important women like Claudia Cassidy of the Chicago Tribune and Glenna Syse of the Chicago Sun-Times-for which Hedy Weiss so capably reviews-blazed trails and shaped our community. We hope that our program contributes to this art form and industry in the years to come."

Of the 29 participants, 16 attend public school (11 of which are Chicago Public Schools) and 13 attend private schools in the city and surrounding areas. Participating high schools include York Community, Marian Central Catholic, Lake County Baptist, Young Women's Leadership Charter, Chicago Military Academy, Lincoln Park, Glenbrook North, Walter Payton College Prep, Evanston Township, Whitney Young, Guerin College Prep, Perspectives Charter, Cristo Rey Jesuit, Chicago Academy for the Arts, Mother McAuley Liberal, Providence Catholic, Loyola Academy, Lane Tech College Prep, Providence St. Mel, Noble Street College Prep, Lake Forest and South Shore School of Entrepreneurship.

Mentors from the Association for Women Journalists include Cheryl Corley (Coordinator), a Midwest Reporter at National Public Radio based in Chicago who co-conceived and implemented the CBYC joint venture with Willa Taylor, Goodman Theatre's Director of Education and Community Engagement; Joanne Von Alroth, who brings to CBYC more than two decades' experience in journalism and six years of theater criticism; Amy Bernstein, a freelance journalist for national and regional print and online publications, who returns to CBYC after having mentored this past spring; Claire Bushey, a freelance journalist who contributes to Crain's Chicago Business and the Chicago Reader; Elena Ferrarin, Assistant Content Editor and Reporter at Reflejos, a bilingual weekly publication that covers the Chicago suburbs; Karen Hawkins, who has been a reporter with the Associated Press in Chicago for four years; Michelle Holmes, editor of the SouthtownStar; Carla K. Johnson, an Associated Press editor who has worked as a medical writer as well as on the education beat; Melba Lara, the afternoon anchor/reporter at WBEZ-the local voice of "All Things Considered"; Dawn Raftery, Senior Writer at the public relations firm Sterling Kilgore and former News and Features Managing Editor at The Doings Newspapers/Sun-Times News Group; Kerry Reid, a freelance theater critic and regular contributor to the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader, Performink, American Theatre Magazine, among others; Caryn Rousseau, who returns to CBYC for her second year as a mentor, is a news and multimedia reporter for the Associated Press in Chicago; Anitra Rowe, one of CBYC's original program mentors as well as a former publicist for Chicago Public Schools, and former reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times and the Kansas City Star; and Susy Schultz, Managing Editor at The Daily Journal (Kankakee) and former Associate Publisher/Editor of Chicago Parent magazine.

Cindy Bandle, whose tenure at Goodman Theatre spanned two decades, served as the theater's press director until her death in 2005. During her time at the Goodman, the theater became one of the most important and respected not-for-profit resident theaters in the country. Bandle was the public face of the theater for multiple triumphant Goodman productions, including transfers to New York and abroad, the 1992 Tony Award for outstanding regional theater, the Goodman's 75th anniversary season, the campaign for the new Goodman-and four Ebenezer Scrooges. She passed away in 2005, after a battle with breast cancer.

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 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. In its 24th year, the Student Subscription Series 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.

Currently playing at the Goodman is: Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol directed by William Brown (Through December 31, 2009; Albert). Upcoming productions in the 2009/2010 Season include: Brian Dennehy in the Broadway-bound double-bill of Hughie by Eugene O'Neill, directed by Robert Falls and Krapp's Last Tape by Samuel Beckett, directed by Jennifer Tarver (January 16 - February 21, 2010 in the Albert); the world premiere of The Long Red Road by Brett C. Leonard, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman (February 13 - March 14, 2010 in the Owen); the world premiere of A True History of the Johnstown Flood by Rebecca Gilman, directed by Robert Falls (March 13 - April 18, 2010 in the Albert); The Good Negro by Tracey Scott Wilson, directed by Chuck Smith (May 1 - June 6, 2010 in the Albert); and The Sins of Sor Juana by Karen Zacarías, directed by Henry Godinez (June 19 - July 25, 2010 in the Albert) which launches the Goodman's 5th Latino Theater Festival (offerings TBA).

Named the country's "Best Regional Theatre" by Time magazine (2003), Goodman Theatre is a leader in the American theater, internationally recognized for its artists, productions and educational programs since its founding in 1925. Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer's forward-thinking leadership has earned the Goodman unparalleled artistic distinction, garnered hundreds of awards-including the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre (1992) and Pulitzer Prizes for Ruined by Lynn Nottage and Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet-and moved dozens of plays from Chicago to stages in New York and abroad. Central to its commitment to the reinvestigation of classics and development of new plays and artists is the Goodman's Artistic Collective, including Brian Dennehy, Frank Galati, Henry Godinez, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor and Mary Zimmerman. The largest not-for-profit theater in Chicago, the Goodman moved in 2000 into a brand new state-of-the-art complex which houses two principal theaters: the 856-seat Albert Ivar Goodman Theatre and the 400-seat flexible Owen Bruner Goodman Theatre. Board Chairman is Patricia Cox and Karen Pigott is President of the Women's Board. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre.

Visit the Goodman virtually: watch artist interviews at ExploreTheGoodman.org; catch the latest news from rehearsal on the Goodman's Blog, Goodman-Theatre.Blogspot.com/; Friend us at Facebook.com/GoodmanTheatre; Follow us at Twitter.com/GoodmanTheatre and peek behind-the-scenes at YouTube.com/TheGoodmanTheatre.

 

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