A year-long residency program designed to support and develop new works, the Playwrights Unit will feature Andrew Hinderaker, Gift Theatre ensemble member; Mickle Maher, co-founder of Theater Oobleck; Anne García-Romero, a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists; and Laura Schellhardt, who oversees undergraduate playwriting at Northwestern University.
A partnership with Chicago Dramatists, the Playwrights Unit meets twice per month with members of the Goodman's artistic team to discuss their works-in-progress and provide feedback for one another.
"We welcome this new group of smart, talented writers to the Goodman, each bringing his or her own unique voice and vision to the group," Goodman's director of new play development Tanya Palmer said in a statement. "Since its inception in 2010, the Playwrights Unit has become an important way in which we support new American plays from living playwrights, developing their works for consideration in the Goodman's season, or elsewhere. We look forward to establishing lasting relationships with each of these talented Chicago-based artists."
The program includes readings of the playwrights' works-in-progress at Chicago Dramatists in early 2014. It will conclude in summer 2014 with staged readings of their completed works at the Goodman.
Playwrights Unit alumni include Greg Allen, Alice Austen, Ike Holter and Christopher Oscar Peña, Philip Dawkins, Nambi E. Kelley, Elaine Romero, Martín Zimmerman, Seth Bockley, Lisa Dillman, Laura Jacqmin and Rohina Malik. Goodman Theatre has also announced that Erica Weiss is the recipient of 2013-14 Michael Maggio Directing Fellow for Chicago-based directors. Weiss will assist on a Goodman production — from early research and design through the casting and rehearsal process to the opening — and become involved in the Goodman's artistic team.
Weiss' directing credits include A Twist of Water, Making Noise Quietly and Mahal.
"We are excited to welcome Erica as a Michael Maggio Fellow, a very special and important role here at the Goodman," artistic director Robert Falls said in a statement. "In addition to his work as our most prolific director, Michael Maggio was a terrific mentor for talented emerging Chicago directors, and Erica has proven herself to be among the best of the next generation of great Chicago theatre artists."
Visit GoodmanTheatre.org for more information.
