Governor Quinn Appoints Henry Godinez to the Illinois Arts Council

Goodman Theatre is proud to announce that Governor Pat Quinn has appointed Resident Artistic Associate Henry Godinez as a member of the Illinois Arts Council. Governor Quinn and Godinez celebrated the announcement with the cast of The Sins of Sor Juana-including Malaya Rivera Drew and Tony Plana-following a recent performance at Goodman Theatre. Godinez joins the Council of twenty-one private citizens chosen for their demonstrated commitment to the arts. Council members serve in a voluntary capacity for four-year terms, and are charged with developing the state's public arts policy and fostering quality culturally diverse programs.

"I am honored that Henry has accepted my appointment to serve the citizens of Illinois as a member of the Arts Council," said Governor Pat Quinn. "He was a clear choice to join this prestigious group given his outstanding commitment to the arts in Illinois-in particular the Latino Theatre Festival at Goodman Theatre, the only one of its kind in our region."

Born in Havana Cuba, Godinez has been a member of Goodman Theatre's Artistic Collective since 1996. Godinez is also an Associate Professor at Northwestern University and has served as a sight evaluator and panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council and the Evanston Arts Council. He is the recipient of the 1999 TCG Alan Schneider Directing Award, the Distinguished Service Award from the Lawyers for the Creative Arts and was recognized as the 2008 Latino Professional of the Year by the Chicago Latino Network. Goodman Theatre Executive Director Roche Schulfer previously served as a member of the Illinois Arts Council for two consecutive four-year terms from 1993 to 2002.

About the Illinois Arts Council

The Illinois Arts Council was created as a state agency by the Illinois General Assembly in 1965 through legislation sponsored by Senators Paul Simon, Thomas McGloon and Alan Dixon. The agency is governed by up to twenty-one private citizens chosen for their demonstrated commitment to the arts and appointed by the Governor. Council members serve in a voluntary, non-paid capacity and are charged with developing the state's public arts policy and fostering quality culturally diverse programs. These members serve in a voluntary capacity for four-year terms. A small professional staff with in-depth knowledge of the arts develops and administers the agency's programs, provides technical assistance and ensures the responsible and impactful distribution of all funds. Resources to support the Illinois Arts Council are provided by the Governor and General Assembly of Illinois and the National Endowment for the Arts.

About Henry Godinez

Henry Godinez is the Resident Artistic Associate at Goodman Theatre and the curator of the biennial Latino Theatre Festival. Most recently at the Goodman, he directed José Rivera's Boleros for the Disenchanted, as well as the world premiere at Yale Repertory Theatre. At the Goodman he has directed the world premieres of Karen Zacarías' Mariela in the Desert, ReGina Taylor's Millennium Mambo and Luis Alfaro's Straight As A Line. Also at Goodman, he has directed The Cook by Eduardo Machado, Electricidad by Luis Alfaro, Zoot Suit by Luis Valdez, Sam Shepard's Red Cross (one of the five short plays in ReGina Taylor's Transformations), the Goodman/Teatro Vista co-production of Jose Rivera's Cloud Tectonics and the Goodman's production of A Christmas Carol from 1996-2001. Other productions include Esperanza Rising and A Year with Frog and Toad for Chicago Children's Theatre, the Apple Tree Theatre/Teatro Vista co-production of Nilo Cruz's Two Sisters and a Piano and the Victory Gardens Theater production of Nilo Cruz's Pulitzer Prize winner, Anna in the Tropics. Godinez is the co-founder of Teatro Vista and served as artistic director for its first five years. With Teatro Vista he directed Broken Eggs, El Paso Blue, Journey of the Sparrows, Santos & Santos and The Crossing. Other directing credits include True West at Portland Center Stage, Urban Zulu Mambo at Signature Theatre in New York City (starring ReGina Taylor), The Winter's Tale at Missouri Repertory Theatre, Macbeth for the Oak Park Festival Theatre, Romeo and Juliet at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and several seasons of Stories on Stage for WBEZ Chicago Public Radio. As an actor Godinez appeared most recently in the Goodman/Teatro Vista world premiere of José Rivera's Massacre (Sing for Your Children). Film and television appearances include The Beast, Above the Law, The Fugitive, The Package, Lady Blue, Amerika, and thirtysomething. His stage appearances include Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Wisdom Bridge Theatre, Court Theatre, Apple Tree Theatre and The Old Globe.

About Goodman Theatre

 

Goodman Theatre has been internationally recognized for its artists, productions and programs since 1925. In 2010/2011, the Goodman's 85th year, the nation's "Best Regional Theatre" (Time magazine) celebrates ten years in the North Loop Theatre District as a major cultural, educational and economic pillar in Chicago. The Goodman has garnered hundreds of awards for artistic achievement and community engagement, including numerous Tony Awards and two Pulitzer Prizes. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the Goodman's priorities include new plays-including more than 100 world or American premieres over the last 30 years-re-imagined classic productions, culturally specific work and musical theater. Robert Falls' contemporary versions Death of a Salesman, Long Day's Journey into Night and King Lear have been celebrated nationally and internationally, along with his artistic collaboration with actor Brian Dennehy. Over the past two decades, the Goodman has produced 25 musical theater works, including 10 world premieres. Cultural diversity stands at the forefront of the Goodman's mission; one-third of Goodman productions have featured artists of color (including 21 world premieres) since 1990, and the Goodman was the first theater in the world to produce all ten plays in August Wilson's 20th Century Cycle. Since 2003, the Latino Theatre Festival has been a biennial celebration of Latin theater companies from Chicago and around the globe. Each year Goodman's numerous education and community engagement programs, including the highly praised Student Subscription Series, serve several thousand Chicago Public High School students. In addition, for 33 years the annual holiday tradition of A Christmas Carol has led to the creation of a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. Goodman Theatre's leadership includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Brian Dennehy, Frank Galati, Henry Godinez, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, and ReGina Taylor. The Chairman of Goodman Theatre's Board of Trustees is Patricia Cox. Karen Pigott is President of the Women's Board, and Joan Clifford is the President Elect. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre.

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