A Theatrical Odyssey: Exploring Goodman Theatre's 2025 Season
Goodman Theatre's 2025 season promises a blend of powerful narratives and stellar performances with its eclectic lineup. From the intricate retelling of Harold Pinter's 'Betrayal' featuring Helen Hunt, to the thrilling dynamics of 'BUST' directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, the season offers a captivating journey through human emotions and societal themes. Adding to the ensemble are a new play by Jordan Harrison, directed by David Cromer, and the celebrated musical 'The Color Purple,' which invites audiences to explore themes of hope, love, and personal awakening. Here's a closer look at what's in store.
Emma, Robert and Jerry have history. The “eternal triangle” takes center stage in an inventive retelling by the Nobel Prize-winning playwright. As Emma’s marriage to Robert comes to an end, she reconnects with Jerry, her former lover—and her husband’s best friend. The action unspools backward in time, uncovering hidden truths and revealing how little we know about those we think we know so much about. Acclaimed stage and screen actor Helen Hunt (Mad About You, As Good As It Gets) makes her Goodman debut in this “elegy about time and memory (where) the greatest dramatic weight lies in what’s unspoken, in the darkness of unsorted feelings” (New York Times).
Retta and Reggie are enjoying their usual evening on the porch when a longtime neighbor is pulled over by the police just before turning into his driveway. Everything goes as expected—until the unexpected happens. Tensions escalate, and eventually erupt, transporting us to a startling conclusion in Ms. Howard’s powerful new work. Lileana Blain-Cruz, a “master of curating chaos” (The New York Times), directs.
Pulitzer Prize finalist playwright Jordan Harrison (Marjorie Prime) joins forces with Tony Award winner David Cromer (2012’s Sweet Bird of Youth with Diane Lane and Finn Wittrock)—who returns to direct on his hometown stage for the first time in more than a decade—for a ground-breaking world-premiere production. More details on this collaboration will be announced soon.
It’s a celebration of life, hope and the healing power of love! The musical stage adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning novel is a heart-rending, yet ultimately joyous, story of a young woman’s perilous journey of personal awakening in the American South. Come ready to shout in church, stomp at the juke joint, laugh and cry with unforgettable “come-to-glory gospel hymns, down-and-dirty bump-and-grinds, jazz that stutters, dips and dives, and gorgeous alto arias” (Chicago Sun-Times).
As the curtains rise on Goodman Theatre's 2025 season, audiences are set to embark on a journey through the intricate tapestry of human emotions and societal themes. With each production offering a unique narrative and artistic vision, this season promises to inspire, challenge, and engage viewers in profound ways. From the complexities of 'Betrayal' to the hopeful notes of 'The Color Purple,' the Goodman Theatre invites you to experience the transformative power of theater, ensuring that each performance is a moment to be cherished and reflected upon.
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