The Centennial Season continues as Tony Award-winner Robert Falls directs a fresh take on a play whose four previous productions in 100 years captured Goodman audiences’ hearts in 1930, 1939, 1947 and 1979. Get a glimpse inside rehearsals of Holiday—a brand-new work by Richard Greenberg, the late Tony Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist playwright (Take Me Out, The Violet Hour, Three Days Of Rain and more), based on Philip Barry’s (The Philadelphia Story) classic play that inspired the beloved 1930s film starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn. The production reunites Falls with several longtime creative collaborators, including Set Designer Walt Spangler and Composer and Sound Designer Richard Woodbury—productions include Desire Under the Elms, King Lear, 2666, Measure for Measure, The Winter’s Tale and more—Costume Designer Kaye Voyce (Luna Gale, Shining City) and a first-time collaboration with Lighting Designer Amith Chandrashaker (Broadway’s Prayer for the French Republic, Purpose, Merrily We Roll Along).
Holiday appears January 31 through March 1 in the 856-seat Albert Theatre; opening night is February 9. For tickets ($34 - $104, subject to change), visit the Box Office (170 N. Dearborn), call 312.443.3800 or purchase online at GoodmanTheatre.org/Holiday. The Goodman is grateful for the support of Katten (Corporate Sponsor Partner) and The Goodman's Women’s Board (Major Production Sponsor).
“This play is the definition of ‘effervescent’, a beautiful merger of Richard’s voice with the original voice of Philip Barry, creating something absolutely essential,” said Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth. “I’m excited for our audiences to have a chance to experience this incredible play—one that has been such a part of this theater’s history—anew through this sparkling adaptation. And I’m grateful for the opportunity to welcome back Robert Falls to direct it.”
In Holiday, matters of the heart are a family affair in the wealthy world of the Upper East Side Setons—including patriarch Edward (Jordan Lage), sisters Julia (Molly Griggs) and Linda (Bryce Gangel) and brother Ned (Wesley Taylor). Enter Johnny Case (Luigi Sottile), a romantic prospect from a decidedly different background—and privilege, class and personal fulfillment are thrown into sharp relief asking the eternal question: work to live or live to work? The cast also includes Rammel Chan (Walter), Christiana Clark (Nikka Washburn), Alejandra Escalante (Laura Cram), Jessie Fisher (Susan Feld) and Erik Hellman (Seton Cram).
“How fantastic to be here not only for The Goodman’s 100th anniversary, but for the production of this brand-new work by Richard Greenberg,” said director Robert Falls, who served as the theater’s Artistic Director for 35 years. “Holiday is a beautiful American play that speaks to us in both subtle and prominent ways. Its central themes—the meaning of our existence as human beings, our relationship to success and money, privilege, capitalism—are just as relevant in this present-day adaptation as they are in the original version set in the Roaring Twenties. While it’s bittersweet to be here without Richard, this is a chance to honor the spirit of a great playwright, as well as celebrate a friend and colleague. He would want us to ‘make joy’ with this production.”
Full Company of Holiday (in alphabetical order)
Adapted by Richard Greenberg
Based on the play by Philip Barry
Directed by Robert Falls
Rammel Chan...Walter
Christiana Clark...Nikka Washburn
Alejandra Escalante...Laura Cram
Jessie Fisher...Susan Feld
Bryce Gangel...Linda Seton
Molly Griggs...Julia Seton
Erik Hellman...Seton Cram
Jordan Lage...Edward Seton
Luigi Sottile...Johnny Case
Wesley Taylor...Ned Seton
Creative Team
Composer and Sound Designer...Richard Woodbury
Costume Designer...Kaye Voyce
Lighting Designer...Amith Chandrashaker
Set Designer...Walt Spangler
Intimacy...Toranika Washington
Line Producer...Malkia Stampley
Assistant Director...Hannah Todd
Script Production Assistant...Jojo Wallenberg
Understudies include Taylor Marie Blim (Julia Seton), Theo Gyra (Johnny Case/Seton Cram), Tiffany Renee Johnson (Nikka Washburn), Dina Monk (Susan Feld/Laura Cram), Ron E. Rains (Edward Seton), Kyle Ringley (Ned Seton), Hannah Ruwe (Linda Seton) and Thomas B. Tran (Walter).
Casting is by Lauren Port, CSA. Neena Arndt is the Dramaturg. Nikki Blue is the Production Stage Manager. Krista Kanderski is the Stage Manager.
ENHANCED AND ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES
Visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Access for more information about The Goodman’s accessibility efforts.
ASL-Interpreted: February 20 at 7:30pm – An ASL interpreter signs the action/text as played.
Audio-Described: February 21 at 2pm; Touch Tour; 12:30pm – Action audibly enhanced via headset.
Spanish-Subtitled: February 21 at 7pm – Spanish-translated dialogue via LED sign.
Open-Captioned: February 22 at 2pm – LED sign presents dialogue in sync with the performance.
ABOUT THE GOODMAN
Since 1925, The Goodman has been more than a stage. A theatrical home for artists and a gathering space for community, it’s where stories come to life—bold in artistry and rich in history, deeply rooted in the city it serves.
Led by Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins, The Goodman sparks conversation, connection and change through new plays, reimagined classics and large-scale musicals. With distinctions including nearly 200 world or American premieres, two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and nearly 200 Joseph Jefferson Awards, The Goodman is proud to be the first theater to produce all 10 plays of August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” In addition, the theater frequently serves as a production partner—with national and international companies to Chicago’s Off-Loop theaters—to help amplify theatrical voices.
But The Goodman believes a more empathetic, more connected Chicago is created one story at a time, and counts as its greatest legacy the community it’s built. Generation-spanning productions and programs offer theater for a lifetime; from Theater for the Very Young (plays designed for ages 0-5) to the long-running annual A Christmas Carol, which has introduced new generations to theater over five decades, The Goodman is committed to being an asset for all of Chicago. Education and Engagement programs led by Clifford Director of Education and Engagement Jared Bellot and housed in the Alice Rapoport Center use the tools of theater to spark imagination, reflection and belonging. Each year, these programs reach thousands of people (85% from underserved communities) as well as educators, artists and lifelong learners across the city.
The Goodman stands on the unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires—the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations—and acknowledges the many other Nations for whom this land now called Chicago has long been home, including the Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Kickapoo, and Mascouten. The Goodman is proud to partner with the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum (Gichigamiin-Museum.org) and the Center for Native Futures (CenterForNativeFutures.org)—organizations devoted to honoring Indigenous stories, preserving cultural memory, and deepening public understanding.
The Goodman was founded by William O. Goodman and his family to honor the memory of Kenneth Sawyer Goodman—a visionary playwright whose bold ideas helped shape Chicago’s early cultural renaissance. That spirit of creativity and generosity endures today. In 2000, through the commitment of Mr. Goodman’s descendants—Albert Ivar Goodman and his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton—The Goodman opened the doors to its current home in the heart of the Loop.
Marsha Cruzan is Chair of the Goodman Theatre Board of Trustees; Diane Landgren is Women’s Board President; and Kelli Garcia is president of the Scenemakers Board for Young Professionals.