| Dates: | 1918-2001, undated |
| Size: | 9 linear feet in 9 boxes, includes 131 photographs, 74 slides |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | spe-t00023 |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: |
Donated by Goodman Theatre. Materials are continually added to the collection. Please consult with the archivist for more information. |
| Conditions Governing Access: | Materials are open without restrictions. |
| Physical Location Note: | Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please request materials at least 24-hours prior to your research visit to coordinate access. |
| Conditions Governing Use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection. |
| Preferred Citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Goodman Theatre Archive, Administrative Records, [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library |
| Finding Aid Author: | Original author unknown. Updated in 2024 by Michelle McCoy. Ingested into ArchivesSpace by xx, 2024. |
Abstract
The Goodman Theatre Archive, Administrative Records document the educational programs, fundraising, marketing, public relations and operational activities of the theater from its inception in the 1920s and includes the Goodman School of Drama. The materials include anniversary publications, audience studies, catalogs, correspondence, histories, photographs and reports.
Biographical/Historical
The Goodman Theatre, winner of the Special Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, is known and respected internationally. It was established in July 1922 as a memorial to the late playwright Kenneth Sawyer Goodman by his parents William and Erna Goodman. The Goodmans donated $250,000 to the Art Institute of Chicago, which built the theater on its northeast corner, at Monroe Street and S. Columbus Drive that combined a professional company and drama school. The theater opened on October 20, 1925, with three plays by Kenneth Sawyer Goodman performed at the dedication ceremony. The first artistic director, Thomas Woods Stevens, filled the first seasons with a mix of classics, contemporary hits and new plays.
Due to financial burden, the professional acting company was disbanded in 1930, but the drama school remained open. Over the next several decades, the Goodman School cultivated an impressive reputation and graduated many well-regarded theater artists including Maurice Gnesin and David Itkin in the drama school and Charlotte Chorpenning who headed the Children’s Theatre. Notable drama school graduates include Karl Malden, Sam Wanamaker, Geraldine Page, Shelley Berman, Harvey Korman, José Quintero, Linda Hunt and Joe Mantegna.
In 1957, the Goodman began to re-establish its professional acting company under a new artistic director, John Reich. By the 1969 season, the shows were performed by the Goodman’s own acting company. The expense of this was prohibitive, though, and two years later, the theater began hiring actors by the productions.
In 1976, the Goodman separated from the Art Institute, and in 1978, it split from the Goodman School, which was acquired by DePaul University. Artistic director William Woodman had other visions for expanding production opportunities and began Stage 2, a platform for up-and-coming Chicago actors, directors and writers, one of whom was David Mamet, whose play American Buffalo premiered in 1975.
In the 1980s, Robert Falls took over the artistic direction of the theater and led in this capacity for the next 35 years. The Goodman also began looking for a new facility. An area that was the former site of two commercial theaters on North Dearborn Street was available, and the Goodman began raising money for a building in the 1990s. A gift from distant family members of Kenneth Sawyer Goodman helped construction begin. The new Goodman Theatre opened in December 2000 at 170 N. Dearborn Street.
Scope and Contents
The Goodman Theatre Archive, Administrative Records document the educational programs, fundraising, marketing, public relations and operational activities of the theater from its inception in the 1920s and includes the Goodman School of Drama. The materials include anniversary publications, audience studies, catalogs, correspondence, histories, photographs and reports.
Arrangement
The Goodman Theatre Archive, Administrative Records are arranged into 5 series:
- Series 1: Education, 1928-1999
- Series 2: Fundraising and Grants, 1987-1999
- Series 3: Marketing and Public Relations, 1977-2001
- Series 4: Operational, 1922-1984
- Series 5: Photographs, 1918-2000
Subject Headings
- Art Institute of Chicago. Goodman Theatre
- College theater -- Illinois -- Chicago
- Drama in education
- Goodman School of Drama
- Goodman Theatre (Chicago, Ill.)
- Theater -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century -- Sources
- Theater -- History -- Sources
- Theater production and direction
- Theater programs -- Illinois -- Chicago
Related Materials
- Goodman Theatre Archive. Goodman Family Papers
- Goodman Theatre Archive. Goodman School of Drama
- Goodman Theatre Archive. John Reich Papers
- Goodman Theatre Archive. Producing and Artistic Director’s Files
- Goodman Theatre Archive. Production History Files
- Goodman Theatre Archive. Tom Creamer Dramaturgy Papers
- Joseph Nieminski Papers
- Virgil C. Johnson Papers
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Educational Programs, 1928-1999
Scope and Contents
Series 1 contains materials that document the educational activities of the Goodman Theatre that include classes, conferences, internship programs, lectures and workshops. The programs range from the degree-granting Goodman School of Drama to the Chicago Public Schools classroom programs.
The Goodman School of Drama was also called Art Institute of Chicago, School of Theatre Arts. The names were sometimes used interchangeably, and the materials continue to use the first name on the folder descriptions to keep them together for research.
Arrangement
Series 1 is arranged alphabetically by organization, program or topic.
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Adopt-a-School, program, 1986 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Correspondence, 1984-1986, 1988 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Goodman School of Drama, brochures and flyers, 1947-1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Goodman School of Drama, catalogs, 1932-1937 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Goodman School of Drama, catalogs, 1957-circa 1965 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Goodman School of Drama, catalogs, circa 1970s |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Goodman School of Drama, class notes, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | Goodman School of Drama, commencement programs, 1928, 1955-1978 |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | Goodman School of Drama, correspondence, 1935-1945 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | Goodman School of Drama, event to honor Geraldine Page, invitation and program, 1961 |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Goodman School of Drama, faculty biographies, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Goodman School of Drama, faculty meetings and memos, 1950-1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | Goodman School of Drama, The Goodman Curtain Call newsletter [not inclusive], 1982 |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | Goodman School of Drama, historical sketches, 1964-1970, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | Goodman School of Drama, news clippings, 1947-1984 |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Goodman School of Drama, report with notes, circa 1971 |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | Goodman School of Drama, student lists and activities, [1935]-1937, 1967-1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 18 | International exchange program, biographical materials, 1985 |
| Box 1 | Folder 19 | Internships, planning materials, 1981-1985 |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | Internships, planning materials, 1986 |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Lecture series, planning notes, 1983-1984 |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Office of Educational and Community Service, program flyers, 1982, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 2 | Shakespeare Theatre Competition, 1984 |
| Box 2 | Folder 3 | Shakespeare Theatre Competition, 1985 |
| Box 2 | Folder 4 | Student groups, attendance programs, 1986 |
| Box 2 | Folder 5 | To Restore the Old Visions and To Win the New: A History in Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of The Theatre School at DePaul University by David Mold, 1995 |
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | University and College Theatre Association (UCTA), conference, 1983 |
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | Youth programs and workshops, news clippings, 1997-1999 |
| Box 2 | Folder 8 | Youth programs and workshops, flyers, 1981-1983 |
Series 2: Fundraising and Grants, 1987-1999
Scope and Contents
Series 2 contains fundraising materials.
Arrangement
Series 2 is arranged alphabetically by organization or topic and chronologically within.
| Box 3 | Folder 1 | Discovery Board of the Goodman Theatre, Cutting Edge Chicago benefits, news clippings, 1998-1999 |
| Box 3 | Folder 2 | Women’s Board of the Goodman Theatre, Jubilee, benefit gala program, 1985 |
| Box 3 | Folder 3 | Women’s Board of the Goodman Theatre, Sunday in the Park with George, benefit gala program, 1987 |
| Box 3 | Folder 4 | Women’s Board of the Goodman Theatre, Pal Joey, benefit gala program, 1988 |
| Box 3 | Folder 5 | Women’s Board of the Goodman Theatre, Moonlight Becomes You, benefit galas, news clippings, press release, 1998-1999 |
Series 3: Marketing and Public Relations, 1977-2001
Scope and Contents
Series 3 contains anniversary celebrations, audience studies, news clippings, press releases and promotional materials.
Arrangement
Series 3 is arranged alphabetically by topic.
| Box 9 | Folder 1 | 60th anniversary, State of Illinois proclamation, 1985 |
| Box 3 | Folder | 60th anniversary publication, Again the Curtain Rises publication (2 copies), 1985 |
| Box 3 | Folder 7 | 60th anniversary publication, correspondence, 1985 |
| Box 3 | Folder 8 | 60th anniversary publication, memos, 1984-1985 |
| Box 3 | Folders 9-10 | 60th anniversary publication, photograph selection, 1984-1985 |
| Box 4 | Folders 1-3 | 60th anniversary publication, research and drafts, 1984-1985 |
| Box 4 | Folder 4 | Advertising presentation, 1977 |
| Box 4 | Folder 5 | Audience study, Wave I, 1977 |
| Box 4 | Folder 6 | Audience study, Wave II, 1978 |
| Box 4 | Folder 7 | Audience study, Wave III, 1979 |
| Box 4 | Folder 8 | Audience study, Goodman Mainstage, 1983 |
| Box 4 | Folder 9 | Chicago Theatre Survey [audience demographics] by Stagebill, 1977 |
| Box 4 | Folder 10 | Correspondence, 1984 |
| Box 4 | Folder 11 | Correspondence, 1985 |
| Box 5 | Folder 1 | Market analysis, 1988 |
| Box 5 | Folder 2 | Marvin’s Room, movie premiere, news clippings, 1996 |
| Box 5 | Folder 3 | News clippings - Genius Award, Mary Zimmerman, 1998 |
| Box 5 | Folder 4 | News clippings - Jefferson and Black Theatre Alliance Awards, 1997-2000 |
| Box 5 | Folder 5 | News clippings - new theatre building (170 N. Dearborn Street), 1980-1999 |
| Box 5 | Folder 6 | Press releases, 1998 |
| Box 5 | Folder 7 | Press releases, 2000-2001 |
| Box 5 | Folder 8 | Promotional booklet, A Theatre Alive, circa 1983 |
| Box 5 | Folder 9 | Promotional booklet, Visions of the Goodman Theatre, circa 1988 |
Series 4: Operational, 1922-1984
Scope and Contents
Series 4 documents the Goodman Theatre’s operation and management. The files include the creation of the Goodman Memorial Theatre in the 1920s and the 1972 reports that analyze the feasibility of the Goodman Theatre and School independently of the Art Institute of Chicago. The materials include correspondence, historical accounts and reports.
Arrangement
Series 4 is arranged alphabetically by organization, program or topic.
| Box 5 | Folder 10 | Annual report, 1977-1978 |
| Box 5 | Folder 11 | Annual report, 1978-1979 |
| Box 5 | Folder 12 | Annual report, 1979-1980 |
| Box 5 | Folder 13 | Annual report, 1980-1981 |
| Box 5 | Folder 14 | Annual report, 1981-1982 |
| Box 5 | Folder 15 | Annual report, 1982-1983 |
| Box 5 | Folder 16 | Annual report, 1983-1984 |
| Box 5 | Folder 17 | Board of Trustees, meeting materials, 1984 June |
| Box 5 | Folder 18 | Board of Trustees, memos, press release, 1971, 1985 |
| Box 5 | Folder 19 | Conferences - American Theatre Association (UCTA) convention, 1983 |
| Box 6 | Folder 1 | Correspondence, 1970-1976 |
| Box 6 | Folder 2 | Goodman Memorial Theatre, art and design, 1925-1926, 1931, 1977 |
| Box 6 | Folder 3 | Goodman Memorial Theatre, correspondence, 1922-1938 |
| Box 6 | Folder 4 | Goodman Memorial Theatre, histories, circa 1935, 1964 |
| Box 6 | Folder 5 | Goodman Memorial Theatre, new clippings, 1925-1928 |
| Box 6 | Folder 6 | Goodman Memorial Theatre, press release, 1925 |
| Box 6 | Folder 7 | Goodman Memorial Theatre, production lists, 1928-1979 |
| Box 6 | Folder 8 | Historical sketches - news and notes, undated |
| Box 6 | Folder 9 | Memos, 1925-1945 |
| Box 6 | Folder 10 | Office procedures, circa 1980s |
| Box 6 | Folder 11 | Reports - Books, Records, Films and Other Materials, 1966-1967 |
| Box 6 | Folder 12 | Reports - [Goodman Theatre independent of the Art Institute of Chicago], 1972 March |
| Box 6 | Folder 13 | Reports - Public and Corporate Attitudes Toward Corporate Contributions, 1972 June |
| Box 6 | Folder 14 | Reports - Report of Three Focus Groups, 1976 October |
| Box 6 | Folder 15 | Volunteer program, 1984-1985 |
Series 5: Photographs, 1918-2000
Scope and Contents
Series 5 contains photographs that document the Goodman Theatre’s educational and operational activities. The photographs include the original theater located at 159 E. Monroe Street, the drama programs and staff members.
Arrangement
Series 5 is arranged alphabetically by organization or last name.
| Box 7 | Folder 1 | Chicago Live: The Arts, discussion series, Gabriel Byrne at DePaul University, photographs (3), 2000 February 9 |
| Box 7 | Folder 2 | Daley, Richard J., ticket presentation by Goodman staff, photographs (2), circa 1960s |
| Box 9 | Folder | Falls, Robert, photograph (1), 1998 |
| Box 7 | Folder 3 | Goodman Children’s Theatre, autograph signing, photograph (1), undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 4 | Goodman Children’s Theatre, display, photograph (1), undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 5 | Goodman, Kenneth Sawyer, copyprint photograph (1), 1918 |
| Box 7 | Folder 6 | Goodman Memorial Theatre (159 E. Monroe Street), exterior views, photographs (3), 1959, undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 7 | Goodman Memorial Theatre (159 E. Monroe Street), interior views, photographs (12), negatives (2), undated |
| Box 8 | Folder 1 | Goodman School of Drama, classroom scenes, photographs (3), undated |
| Box 8 | Folder 2 | Goodman School of Drama, costumes and make-up, photographs (12), undated |
| Box 8 | Folder 3 | Goodman School of Drama, instructors and guest presenters, photographs (12), includes Julie Harris, Elia Kazan, Ann Nicholson and John Reich, circa 1960s |
| Box 9 | Folder 3 | Goodman School of Drama, instructors and guest presenters, photographs (2), includes Rick Cluchey and Elia Kazan, undated |
| Box 8 | Folder 4 | Goodman School of Drama, movement instruction, photographs (12), undated |
| Box 8 | Folder 5 | Goodman School of Drama, production design, photographs (4), circa 1970s |
| Box 8 | Folder 6 | Goodman School of Drama, set construction, photographs (8), undated |
| Box 8 | Folder 7 | Goodman School of Drama, slide presentation, slides (74), 1975 |
| Box 8 | Folder 8 | Goodman School of Drama, students and audiences, photographs (13), negative (1), includes Geraldine Page, circa 1970s, undated |
| Box 8 | Folder 9 | Goodman School of Drama, theater equipment, photographs (6), undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 8 | Goodman Theatre, outdoor advertising, photograph (1), circa 1960s |
| Box 7 | Folder 9 | Houseman, John, photograph (1), undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 10 | Mahtesian, John, photograph (1), undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 11 | Malden, Karl, photograph (1), [1968] |
| Box 9 | Folder 4 | Mamet, David, photograph (1), circa 1980s |
| Box 7 | Folder 12 | Mamet, David with Gregory Mosher, photograph (1), undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 13 | Mosher, Gregory, photographs (2), circa 1977-1985 |
| Box 7 | Folder 14 | Nieminski, Joseph, photograph (1), undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 15 | Reich, John, photographs (8), includes Bella Itkin and Geraldine Page, circa 1957-1972 |
| Box 9 | Folder 5 | Reich, John, photographs (2), circa 1957-1972 |
| Box 7 | Folder 16 | Schulfer, Roche, photograph (1), circa 1978 |
| Box 7 | Folder 17 | Schreiber, Avery, photograph (1), 1978 |
| Box 7 | Folder 18 | Scott, Steve, photograph (1), undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 19 | Seale, Douglas, photograph (1), 1969 |
| Box 7 | Folder 20 | Stevens, Thomas Wood, photographs (2), circa 1925-1930 |
| Box 7 | Folder 21 | Student Subscription Series, audience view, photograph (1), 1988 |
| Box 7 | Folder 22 | Unidentified staff, photographs (3), undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 23 | Wade, Janet, photograph (1), circa 1970s |
| Box 7 | Folder 24 | Wannamaker, Sam, photographs (3), includes biography, 1960, undated |
| Box 7 | Folder 25 | Woodman, William, photographs (2), circa 1973-1978 |
