Together in partnership with the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Goodman Theatre proudly hosts the second annual Sweetest Season: A Gathering of Indigenous Creativity, a one-of-a-kind three-day celebration of local Indigenous artistry. The weekend of events includes two performance showcases—A Celebration of Indigenous Spoken Word and Song, two workshops, a staged reading, and an exclusive Native community gathering with food from Native vendors. Featured performance artists include William Buchholtz (Algonquin/Metis; Musician), Sergio Ceron (Otomi-Pame; Singer/Drummer), Martiza Garcia (Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; Singer/Dancer), Mark Jourdan (Oneida/Ho-Chunk; Singer/Songwriter), Lanialoha Lee (Native Hawaiian; Choreographer/Composer), Michaela Marchi (Isleta Pueblo; Singer), Vincent Romero (Pueblo Laguna; Storyteller/Curator) and Jennifer Stevens (Oneida and Oglala Lakota; Singer/Visual Artist). The Sweetest Season performance showcases, curated by Vincent Romero, take place on Friday, July 14 at 7:30pm and Saturday, July 15 at 2pm in the Owen Theatre. Tickets ($15) are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Sweetest or by phone at 312.443.3800. The Goodman is grateful for the support of The Poetry Foundation (Sponsor Partner).
"The Mitchell Museum is thrilled to collaborate with the Goodman Theatre and present this first-of-its-kind performance showcasing Indigenous creativity and expression,” said Kim Vigue (Menominee/Oneida), Executive Director of the Mitchell Museum. “As a cultural institution, we a committed to celebrating the present-day accomplishments and contributions of Indigenous people and broadening the public's access to stories and artistry that reflect the rich cultures and diverse experiences of Chicago's Native community. We are grateful to Goodman Theatre for bringing Native voices to their prestigious stage and elevating the visibility of our thriving community."
Newly joining the line-up for the second annual presentation of Sweetest Season are two workshop offerings—one with a focus on poetry and featuring readings from the Indigenous community, and another exploring Indigenous humor with Justin “Jud” Gauthier (Menominee), a member of Native sketch comedy group The 1491’s—on Saturday, July 15 at 5:30pm and Sunday July 16 at 2pm, respectively. A staged reading of Playwright Unit member Dillon Chito’s (Laguna Pueblo) play, Campy; The Search for Summer’s Campiest Camper—a gay, Indigenous rom-com about love, lust and longing—will take place on Saturday, July 15 at 8pm. A Native-only community gathering at the Goodman hosted by the Mitchell Museum on Friday, July 14 at 6pm, welcomes Indigenous community members to exchange knowledge and strengthen connections within the Native community. Finally, a weekend-long exhibition, Indige-Facts, courtesy of the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, highlights Native terms, history and identity. Workshops, staged reading and community gathering events are free, with reservations available at www.GoodmanTheatre.org/Sweetest.
“We’re deeply fortunate to have this opportunity to build on our partnership with the Mitchell Museum and again bring Sweetest Season to Chicago audiences,” said Artistic Director Susan V. Booth. “The Goodman’s recognition of and support for our Indigenous artists and community is long overdue, and we are honored to be a part of this collaboration.”
The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, located in Evanston, Illinois, is one of a handful of museums across the country that celebrates the diverse histories, cultures, and present-day contributions of Native communities across the United States and Canada. Since its founding in 1977, the Museum has served as a space to increase the visibility and elevate Native voices through education, awareness, and advocacy.
THE FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, JULY 14
· 6PM Sweetest Season Social Hour: An Indigenous-Only Curated Space" hosted by Mitchell Museum (The Alice Center)· 6:30PM Vendor Fair (Lobby/Gift Store)
· 6:30PM Vendor Fair (Lobby/Gift Store)
· 7:30PM Celebration of Indigenous Spoken Word and Song (Owen Theatre)
Saturday, JULY 15
· 2PM Celebration of Indigenous Spoken Word and Song with Talk Back + Q&A with Performers (Owen Theatre)
· 5:30PM Workshop: Indigenous Poetry and Art Presentation (The Alice Center)
· 6PM Vendor Fair (Lobby/Gift Store)
· 8PM Staged Reading of Dillon Chito’s (Laguna Pueblo) Campy; The Search for Summer’s Campiest Camper (Healy Rehearsal Room)
Sunday, JULY 16
· 2PM Workshop: Secret Stash: Indigenous Humor Explored, featuring Justin Gauthier (Menominee) of The 1491s (The Alice Center)
ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE
Chicago’s theater since 1925, Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit arts and community organization in the heart of the Loop, distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and community engagement. The theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics. Artists and productions have earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and more than 160 Jeff Awards, among other accolades. The Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” Its longtime annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, now in its fifth decade, has created a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production and program partner with national and international companies and Chicago’s Off-Loop theaters.
Using the tools of the theatrical profession, the Goodman’s Education and Engagement programs aim to develop generations of citizens who understand the cultures and stories of diverse voices. The Goodman’s Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of these programs, which are offered free of charge for Chicago youth—85% of whom come from underserved communities—schools and life-long learners.
Goodman Theatre was built on the traditional homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi Nations. We recognize that many other Nations consider the area we now call Chicago as their traditional homeland—including the Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Kickapoo and Mascouten—and remains home to many Native peoples today. While we believe that our city’s vast diversity should be reflected on the stages of its largest theater, we acknowledge that our efforts have largely overlooked the voices of our Native peoples. This omission has added to the isolation, erasure and harm that Indigenous communities have faced for hundreds of years. We have begun a more deliberate journey towards celebrating Native American stories and welcoming Indigenous communities; learn more at GoodmanTheatre.org/Accountability.
Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation on the new Goodman center in 2000.
Today, Goodman Theatre is led by Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director/CEO Roche Schulfer. Theater leadership also includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Rebecca Gilman, Dael Orlandersmith, Henry Godinez, Steve Scott, Kimberly Senior, Chuck Smith and Mary Zimmerman. Jeff Hesse is Chairman of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Fran Del Boca is President of the Women’s Board and Craig McCaw is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.