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Exploring Identity, Love, and Power: Goodman Theatre's 2025 Season Lineup
The Goodman Theatre in Chicago is set to captivate audiences in 2025 with a dynamic lineup of thought-provoking plays and musicals. From a contemporary twist on a Shakespearean classic to the intricate webs of relationships in 'Betrayal', and the compelling narratives in 'BUST' and 'The Color Purple', the season promises diverse stories that explore identity, love, and societal structures. Featuring acclaimed directors and performers like Helen Hunt, and new works by Jordan Harrison, each production offers a unique theatrical experience that challenges, entertains, and resonates with audiences.
Jan 4, 2025
Share1. Fat Ham
“This is what I was raised in: pig guts and bad choices.” As Juicy grapples with his identity and his family at a backyard barbecue, his father’s ghost shows up asking for revenge—on Juicy’s uncle, who has married his widowed mom—bringing his quest for joy and liberation to a screeching halt. James Ijames has reinvented Shakespeare’s masterpiece, creating what the New York Times hails as “a hilarious yet profound tragedy, smothered in comedy,” where the only death is the patriarchy. Tyrone Phillips, Founding Artistic Director of Chicago’s famed Definition Theatre, directs.
Jan 11 - Feb 23, 2025
Goodman Theatre
Chicago, IL · Goodman Theatre
2. Betrayal
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).
Feb 8 - Mar 16, 2025
Goodman Theatre
Chicago, IL · Goodman Theatre
3. BUST
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.
Apr 19 - May 18, 2025
Goodman Theatre
Chicago, IL · Goodman Theatre
4. A New Play By Jordan Harrison, Directed By David Cromer
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.
May 1 - Jun 1, 2025
Goodman Theatre
Chicago, IL · Goodman Theatre
5. The Color Purple
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).
Jun 21 - Jul 27, 2025
Goodman Theatre
Chicago, IL · Goodman Theatre
Conclusion
Goodman Theatre’s 2025 season invites audiences to embark on an unforgettable journey through diverse narratives and rich, compelling performances. As each play unfolds, themes of identity, power, and resilience come to life on stage, offering both a mirror and a challenge to viewers. With a stellar lineup of talent both on and off stage, the season promises to engage, provoke thought, and inspire conversations long after the curtains close. Whether through laughter, tears, or contemplation, these productions ensure that the theatre remains a vital space for cultural dialogue and personal reflection.
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