Directed by Eric Ting, The World of Extreme Happiness will play Sept. 13-Oct. 12 in the Owen Theatre; Smokefall, directed by Anne Kauffman, which premiered to critical season last season, will be remounted Sept. 20-Oct. 26 in the Albert Theatre.
Both the Chicago and New York runs of Extreme Happiness will feature Jennifer Lim as Sunny, a young woman who leaves her family behind for the promise of a new life under the bright neon lights of Shenzhen; Ruy Iskandar, Francis Jue, Jodi Long, Jo Mei and Andrew Pang.
"Unwanted from the moment she’s born," press notes state, "Sunny is determined to escape her life in rural China and forge a new identity in the city. As naïve as she is ambitious, Sunny views her new job in a grueling factory as a stepping stone to untold opportunities. When fate casts her as a company spokeswoman at a sham PR event, her bright outlook starts to unravel in a series of harrowing and darkly comic events, as she begins to question a system enriching itself by destroying its own people."
The design team includes Mimi Lien (set), Mihail Fiksel (sound), Jenny Mannis (costumes) and Tyler Micoleau (lighting). Kim Osgood is the production stage manager.
Haidle’s Smokefall marks the second time in the Goodman’s 90-year history in which a production of a new play moves from the smaller theatre onto its larger stage. Director Kauffman reassembles the original cast, including Mike Nussbaum as the Colonel/Johnny, Catherine Combs (Beauty), Anne Fogarty (Voice of Lenore), Guy Massey (Footnote/Fetus Two/Samuel) and Eric Slater (Daniel/Fetus One).
"Change is in the air as Violet prepares to bring twin boys into the world," according to the Goodman. "Inside her womb, her unborn sons contemplate their future, while the world around her is in transformation: her husband is secretly planning to leave her, her father is slipping into senility and her daughter has taken a vow of silence."
The design team includes Kevin Depinet (set), Lindsay Jones (sound), Ana Kuzmanic (costumes) and David Weiner (lighting). Joseph Drummond is the production stage manager.
For tickets call (312) 443-3800 or visit GoodmanTheatre.org.