Goodman Theatre's 2012-13 Playwrights Unit Presents Free Staged Readings, Now thru 8/16

Goodman Theatre presents four free staged readings of new plays developed in the Playwrights Unit, a season-long residency program for local writers who meet twice monthly with members of the theater's artistic staff to discuss their plays in progress. Out of this process emerges four brand new plays, which appear in FREE staged readings: Sleeping with the Prince of Darkness: The Imagined Pillow Talk of FBI Agent John O'Neill by Greg Allen (today, July 20 at 7:30pm); F(law)less by christopher oscar peña (July 21 at 2:30pm); Prowess by Ike Holter (July 21 at 7:30pm); and Ninth Man Out by Alice Austen (August 16 at 7:30pm).

Playing an essential role in the Goodman's efforts to commission and develop new works for the American theater, the Playwrights Unit is facilitated by Tanya Palmer, director of new play development. FREE readings take place in the Goodman's rehearsal rooms; reservations are required and can be made by calling 312.443.3800 or visiting GoodmanTheatre.org/PlaywrightsUnit.

Chicago-based writers are invited to apply to be a Unit member for the 2013/2014 Season; visit GoodmanTheatre.org/About/Play-Submissions. Applications are due July 1, 2013. Participating playwrights receive a commission fee and a mid-point reading at Chicago Dramatists in January 2014. The residency culminates in a final public reading at the Goodman in Summer 2014. Time Warner Foundation is the Major Supporter of New Play Development. The Glasser and Rosenthal Family and the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust are Supporters of New Work Development. The Davee Foundation is the Major Contributor to Research and Development for New Work and The Joyce Foundation is the Principal Supporter of Artistic Development and Diversity Initiatives.

Sleeping with the Prince of Darkness: The Imagined Pillow Talk of FBI Agent John O'Neill

By Greg Allen
Directed by Henry Wishcamper July 20 at 7:30pm

FBI Agent John O'Neill was a counterterrorism expert who sounded the alarm about Al Qaeda long before it became a household name-but politics and his own personal failings pushed his warnings aside. This inventive and incisive new play charts the history of terrorism through a series of intimate conversations between O'Neill and his many lovers as he tries to piece together an understanding of this ever-mounting international threat. Greg Allen is the founding director of The Neo-Futurists and the creator of Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind (30 Plays in 60 Minutes), which has been running continuously in Chicago since 1988 and in New York City since 2005. Last spring he penned his 28th production for The Neo-Futurists.

F(law)less

By christopher oscar peña Directed by Henry Godinez July 21 at 2:30pm

Denia arrives in Chicago from far away, looking to create a place for herself in this unfamiliar land. Monique has never left Chicago but is feeling more and more like a stranger in her own home. A chance encounter between them transforms their lives forever in this lyrical and arresting new play about identity, perception and how to treat visitors who come knocking at the door. christopher oscar peña's work has been developed or seen at The Public Theater, Two River Theater Company, Ars Nova, INTAR Theatre, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, The Flea Theater, Ontological- Hysteric Theater, Rising Circle, Pavement Group, Son of Semele Ensemble and New York Theatre Workshop.

Prowess

By Ike Holter
Directed by Marti Lyons July 21 at 7:30pm

Zora wants to change the world-or at least Chicago-but working for her alderman isn't all it's cracked up to be. So she starts looking for a way to take more direct action, and for some co-conspirators to help her do it. This take-no- prisoners new play is about citizens rising up and taking charge, no matter what the consequences. Ike Holter's plays have been workshopped at The Kennedy Center, The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center and the Playwrights' Center, and produced at Steppenwolf's Garage Theatre, LiveWire Chicago Theatre, Nothing Without a Company (where he is the associate artistic director), Collaboraction's Sketchbook Festival, Route 66 Theatre Company and The Inconvenience, where he is a founding member and resident writer.

Ninth Man Out

By Alice Austen
Directed by Wendy C. Goldberg August 16 at 7:30pm

Ninth Man Out is inspired by the life of Elmer Gedeon, a multi-sport star from the University of Michigan who went on to play professional baseball before being drafted into World War II. Through this compelling story of American heroism, playwright Alice Austen examines the cost of competition and the relentless pursuit of excellence for an individual and his country. Alice Austen is a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists and a member of Shanghai Low Theatricals. She is a past recipient of a residency from The Royal Court Theatre in London and a 2007 Jeff Award nominee for Water (Best New Work). Her plays have been seen at theaters across the country and in Europe. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild.

The Goodman's 2012/2013 Season culminates with The Jungle Book adapted and directed by Mary Zimmerman (June 21 - August 4, in the Albert); and Albany Park Theater Project's production of Home/Land, written collectively by the Albany Park Theater Project teen ensemble and directed collectively by the Albany Park Theater Project artistic staff (July 18 - 28, in the Owen).

Named "Best Regional Theatre" by Time magazine and the "top dog of the Chicago theater scene" by Frommer's, 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.

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Pictured: Greg Allen

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