New Critics Boot Camp Launches This Weekend, in Conjunction with New Stages Festival

Goodman Theatre welcomes 11 participants for "Criticism in a Changing America"-a two-part program designed to augment early-career journalists' understanding of how plays live in the wider context of contemporary issues. Beginning this weekend, conversations center around the development of a new play, with participants engaging with the artists of Goodman's 14th annual New Stages Festival (concludes October 8).

During the second weekend (October 13-14), participants meet local and national industry professionals for discussions and development workshops focused on new media. The experience culminates with a panel discussion about current state of arts criticism-and its impact on the art, artists and audiences when there is a lack of diversity amongst critical voices.

General audiences are welcome to attend the free "Criticism in a Changing America" panel on October 14 at 6pm at Goodman Theatre (170 N. Dearborn); RSVP here or call 312.443.3800. Curated by Walter Director of Education and Engagement Willa J. Taylor and Director of New Play Development Tanya Palmer, the program is funded through a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

Opportunities for "Criticism in a Changing America" participants include:

• Discussions around the 2017 New Stages Festival offerings-including a talk with Lottery Day playwright Ike Holter and Pedro Pedroza of the Office of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, City of Chicago; Continuity playwright Bess Wohl, director Annie Tippe and Katherine Moore Campbell, Climate Change Ecologist at the Field Museum; Twilight Bowl (by Rebecca Gilman) Dramaturg Neena Arndt, Dr. Linda Telpin, Owen L. Coon Professor of Psychiatry and Behavior Sciences at Northwestern Medicine and Colette Payne, Community Organizer, Cabrini Green Legal Aid; the immersive work-in-progress, POSTNATION, by Mikhael Tara Garver; and a reading of David Cale's We're Only Alive for a Short Amount of Time.

• Professional development workshops including: "Conversations on Casting" with Goodman Theatre Associate Casting Director Erica Sartini-Combs; "Building a Platform for Your Voice" with Jose Solís, editor/critic at Stage Buddy and New York Times contributor and Jonathan Jackson, co-founder of Blavity; "Podcasting: Make it and Market it" with Cher Vincent, co-founder/host PostLoudness Podcasts; "Working with an Editor" with Susy Schultz, President of Public Narrative and more.

• Ivo Van Hove's critically-acclaimed production of Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge + conversation with Dramaturg Neena Arndt and Walter Director of Education and Engagement Willa J. Taylor.

• A public panel discussion about the current state of arts criticism and its impact on the art, artists and audiences when there is a lack of diversity amongst critical voices. Panelists include Diep Tran, Associate Editor for American Theatre magazine; Wei-Huan Chan, Theater Critic for the Houston Chronicle; Jose Solís, editor/critic at Stage Buddy and New York Times contributor; Martha Steketee, American Theater Critics Association and editor/critic at Urban Excavations; and Dr. Lori Baptista, Director of the African American Cultural Center at University of Illinois (Chicago). The panel is moderated by Time Out Chicago Senior Theater Critic Kris Vire.

About Goodman Theatre

America's "Best Regional Theatre" (Time magazine), Goodman Theatre is a premier not-for-profit organization distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and civic engagement. Led by Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the theater's artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres in the past three decades), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics (celebrated revivals include Falls' productions of Death of a Salesman and The Iceman Cometh ). Goodman Theatre artists and productions have earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards, over 160 Jeff Awards and many more accolades. In addition, the Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson's "American Century Cycle" and its annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this season, has created a new generation of theatergoers. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production partner with local off-Loop theaters and national and international companies by

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