The storied Goodman Theatre will celebrate its 100th birthday by bringing free performances to all of Chicago’s 50 wards.
The Loop theater has teamed up with the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events for the “100 Free Acts of Theater” initiative, which is timed to align with Goodman’s centennial anniversary. The shows will kick off later this month in several parks and continue throughout the 2025-26 season.
At a Tuesday press conference, Goodman’s artistic director Susan V. Booth said the free play series is the theater’s way of giving back.
“The only way that a theater makes it to their 100th season is if they’ve been deeply, sustainably supported by the community in which they reside, and the Goodman has been so handsomely taken care of by the city of Chicago,” Booth said.
The program is also about meeting audiences where they are. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many arts organizations have struggled to draw people back to the theater.
“This has been an incredibly hard time for the cultural community of this city and cities across this country, and we often ask people to come to where we are,” Booth said. “Our arts ecosystem is huge and wide, and we needed to get out of our building and go meet our colleagues, meet our community in their space on their terms.”
The 100 Free Acts program will partner with arts organizations such as Lookingglass Theatre, Honey Pot Performance, Beverly Theatre Guild, Perceptions Theatre and Historic Pullman Foundation to put on shows in the ward where those organizations are based. Booth said the requirements for the program are simple: Performers get paid, and the event is free to attend.
Funding for the program will come both from Goodman and the city’s cultural affairs department. On Tuesday, DCASE Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth said the program “celebrates the diversity, creativity and artistic spirit of Chicago.”
“Our city’s cultural landscape is enriched by all of the arts, but the theater impact is undeniable,” Hedspeth said. “We are working with the people that are already doing the work in the community, so it’s not a drop-in experience. It’s a sustainable initiative.”
The program’s first act will kick off later this month with a show aimed at children ages 5 and younger. The work, “BOOK UP!,” will appear in 12 city parks this summer, including Harrison Park, Kosciuszko Park and West Lawn Park. The show features performer Jean Claudio as a “magical traveling librarian.”
“Think Reading Rainbow meets the circus meets Chicago’s beautiful parks network,” said Jared Bellot, Goodman’s director of education and engagement.
Other upcoming performances include the BIPOC Play Festival on Aug. 15-24 at Perceptions Theatre and A South Asian EDM House Party on Sept. 5 at Mandala South Asian Performing Arts.
The Goodman is currently completing its 99th season with the iconic American musical “The Color Purple,” directed by Lili-Anne Brown.
The theater’s upcoming centennial season will include “Ashland Avenue,” starring Jenna Fischer of “The Office” fame, which Booth will direct. The season will also feature an immersive theater experience from musician David Byrne, a rock musical from rock guitarist Tom Morello and a world premiere musical comedy starring Megan Mullally.
Courtney Kueppers is an arts and culture reporter at WBEZ.