Photo Flash: ANIMAL CRACKERS Rehearsals at Goodman Theatre

Direcrtor Wishcamper enlisted two-time Tony Award-nominated choreographer John Carrafa and Clowning Director Paul Kalina of Chicago's 500 Clown to supply the company with the tools needed for inspired comic performances. Musical Director Doug Peck leads a live orchestra of five that brings to life favorites such as "Hello, I Must Be Going/Hooray For Captain Spaulding," "Who's Been Listening to My Heart" and "Show Me A Rose," among many others.

Special Events for Animal Crackers

"My mother loved children-she would have given anything if I had been one." (Groucho Marx) Bring the family to see the play and see the films as Chicago's famed Music Box Theatre joins forces with the Goodman in celebration of the revival of ANIMAL CRACKERS. From September 12 - October 4, The Music Box presents Saturday and Sunday matinee screenings of the Marx Brothers' most memorable films, including: A DAY AT THE RACES (September 12 and 13 at 11:30am), ANIMAL CRACKERS (September 19 and 20 at 11:30am; September 21 at 7pm), A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (September 26 and 27 at 11:30am) and DUCK SOUP (October 3 and 4 at 11:30am). Tickets are $7 and are available day-of show at The Music Box (3733 N. Southport).

"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening-but this wasn't it." (Groucho Marx) On Monday, September 21 at 7pm at The Music Box (3733 N. Southport Ave), a special evening of ANIMAL CRACKERS ensues, starting with a 7pm screening of the classic 1930 film version. Following the movie, members of the Goodman's production and other experts join a discussion, "You Bet Your Life: Marx Brothers Mayhem from Stage to Screen." Tickets are $10 ($5 for Goodman Subscribers and Students with Subscriber Card/Student ID) and are available day-of show at The Music Box. This event is part of Goodman Theatre Education and Community Programs' Context series, which uses themes from main stage productions to engage the community-both at the theater and at venues across the city-in conversations that explore particular issues raised within the plays and how they resonate in today's culture.

"Those are my principles, and if you don't like them...well, I have others." (Groucho Marx) The Goodman launches its new Artists Talk Series, featuring conversations with members of the creative team of each play. The first Artists Talk takes place on Wednesday, September 23 from 6-7pm at the Goodman. Admission is free for subscribers, $5 for the general public; call 312.443.3800 for reservations.

"Hello, I must be going" (Groucho Marx) to the Goodman's Season Opening Benefit on Friday, September 25. The evening begins at 5pm with cocktails and dinner at the Palmer House (17 E. Monroe), followed by an 8pm performance of ANIMAL CRACKERS at the Goodman. Tickets are $1,000. Abbott is the Benefit Sponsor Partner and the Palmer House is the Event Sponsor. Abbott Vice President, Government Affairs and Goodman Trustee Elaine R. Leavenworth and Women's Board member Marcia S. Cohn are the Benefit Co-Chairs.

Chaos ensues at the Long Island estate of Mrs. Rittenhouse when a celebrated piece of art goes missing during a party honoring the African explorer Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding. The Marx Brothers unleash a series of comic antics as the guests set out to find the burglar, amidst two sets of love interests and a variety of madcap subplots.

Written as a vehicle for the Marx Brothers and widely remembered as one of the first in their series of now-classic films, Animal Crackers began its legendary life as one of the great Broadway musical successes of the 1920s. Bookwriters George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind and composers/lyricists Harry Ruby and Bert Kalmar tailored Animal Crackers to showcase the brothers' unique talents: Groucho delivered his signature one-liners as Captain Spaulding, Chico utilized his Italian accent and piano skills as Emanuel Ravelli, Harpo played the silent Professor and Zeppo took on the role of the straight man, Jamison. The stage version of Animal Crackers premiered on October 23, 1928, and ran for a nearly unprecedented 191 performances; also featured in that original cast were the great Margaret Dumont (who had already achieved some fame as the Brothers' favorite foil) and future Hollywood choreographer Hermes Pan. The production toured the country, was captured on celluloid in 1930, and completed the ascension of the Marx Bros. to worldwide fame-but ironically, ended their stage careers. They moved to Hollywood the following year, never to return to Broadway; the stage version of Animal Crackers was consigned to the archives, considered unproduceable without its original stars. More than 50 years would pass before theater audiences would again see the play via a revival at Washington, D.C.'s Arena Stage. The show's brashness and charm bowled over critics and audiences, and sparked productions in Boston, Connecticut and the Lyric Theatre in London's West End.

Photos by Eric Y. Exit.

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