Goodman Theatre history

Economic problems quickly prevent the long-term development of the College Theatre's professional stature, though student productions continue at the building until the late 1920s.

It was established in July 1922 as a memorial to the late playwright Kenneth Sawyer Goodman by his parents William and Erna Goodman.

The Goodman, which originally included a professional company and drama school, officially opened on October 20, 1925, with three plays by Goodman performed at the dedication ceremony.

The Repertory presents 44 productions in its first five years and is enormously successful until the stock market crashes in 1929, bringing a serious decline of audience members.

He hires a professional actor that season to play a lead role in a production he directs and invites critics to review the performance for the first time since 1931.

McGaw published "Acting is Believing" in 1955, and gained national recognition for his approach to actor training.

In 1957 Maurice Gnesin passed away and David Itkin retired.

The subscription base has grown from 1,000 to 15,000 since 1959, and although Equity sees the benefit of students training and working with professionals, it is wary of setting a precedent.

In the fall of 1969, the Goodman opened the new season featuring the first fully professional acting company at the theater in nearly 40 years.

In 1972, John Reich was asked to resign.

In 1973, William Woodman, a director with considerable experience in regional theaters, was appointed artistic director.

Gregory Mosher, Woodman's assistant, and Roche Schulfer, a young business office assistant, were placed in charge of Stage 2, which became a proving ground for up-and-coming Chicago actors, directors and writers, one of whom was David Mamet, whose play American Buffalo premiered at Stage 2 in 1975.

In 1976, the Goodman separated itself from the Art Institute, incorporating as the Chicago Theatre Group, Inc, which allowed it to pursue fundraising independently.

In 1977, having divorced itself from the school (which moved to DePaul University ), the Goodman formed its own board, the Chicago Theatre Group.

After running the Goodman for five seasons, William Woodman resigned in 1978 and Gregory Mosher was appointed artistic director.

In 1984 the Mamet-Mosher collaboration climaxed with the American premiere of the Pulitzer Prize–winning Glengarry Glen Ross.

In 1985 Mosher left the Goodman to take over Lincoln Center Theater in New York City.

With Mosher's departure to New York, artistic leadership in 1986 went to Robert Falls, a star of the city's burgeoning off-Loop theater scene.

The gift was pledged at the time of the theatre's purchase in 1988.

The Children's Theatre degree is phased out, and in 1990 a Theatre Management degree is developed under the leadership of Leslie Shook.

Maggio had been an adjunct faculty member since 1996.

Culbert had been named Acting Dean in July, 2000, as Dean Maggio battled his illness.