| Dates: | 1988-2007 |
| Size: | 11 linear feet in 11 boxes |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | spe-t00223 |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: | Donated by Goodman Theatre, 2015 |
| 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. Scripts, prompt books and musical scores can be read and viewed in person, but not copied without written permission of the creator or their assigns. |
| Preferred Citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Goodman Theatre Archive, Audiovisual Materials, [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library |
| Finding Aid Author: | Accessioned by Michelle McCoy and Christine Hardy in 2026 |
Abstract
The collection contains audiovisual recordings of Goodman Theatre performances, performance excerpts for promotional purposes and interview segments with cast and creators from 1988 through 2007. The recordings are on a range of media including Betacam SP, DVD and VHS. Please note: As of 2026, CPL can play the following formats: VHS, cassette, CD and DVD. Other formats cannot be played.
Historical Note
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 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 to begin. The new Goodman Theatre opened in December 2000 at 170 N. Dearborn Street.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains audiovisual recordings of Goodman Theatre performances, performance excerpts for promotional purposes (Backstage at the Goodman series) and interview segments with cast and creators from 1988 through 2007. The recordings are on a range of media including Betacam SP, DVD and VHS. Please note viewing some audiovisual material may not be possible due to available equipment that can play obsolete media formats. As of 2026, CPL can play the following formats: VHS, cassette, CD and DVD. Other formats cannot be played.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Access to some audiovisual material may not be possible due to available replay equipment or to state of physical media. Tapes have not been checked to ensure content or playability. Titles and other descriptive information are as transcribed from packages. Please contact the archives before your visit. As of 2026, CPL can play the following formats: VHS, cassette, CD and DVD. Other formats cannot be played.
Appraisal
Unprocessed Goodman Theatre accruals were reviewed in 2024, and container lists were created to facilitate research. Materials with sensitive personal or financial identifiers were discarded or redacted. 159 videos (8 linear feet), duplicates and blank tapes were discarded.
Subject Headings
- Goodman Theatre (Chicago, Ill.)
- Theater -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century -- Sources
- Theater -- History -- Sources
- Theater production and direction
Related Collections
- Chicago Theater Videotape Collection
- Goodman Theatre Archive, Administration Files
- Goodman Theatre Archive, Goodman Family Papers
- Goodman Theatre Archive, Producing and Artistic Director
- Goodman Theatre Archive, Production History Files
- Goodman Theatre Archive, John Reich Papers
- Goodman Theatre Archive, Tom Creamer Papers
- Joseph Nieminski Papers
- Virgil C. Johnson Papers
Arrangement
The collection is arranged chronologically.
Container List
| Box 1 | Landscape of the Body and A Flea in Her Ear, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1988 May |
| Box 1 | Romeo and Juliet, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1988 October |
| Box 1 | The Piano Lesson, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1989 February |
| Box 1 | The Rover, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1989 March |
| Box 1 | The Meeting, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1990 March |
| Box 1 | The Misanthrope, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2) 1989 October |
| Box 1 | The Winter’s Tale, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1990 February |
| Box 1 | Brian Dennehy on The Iceman Cometh, Arts and Entertainment, VHS, 1990 Fall |
| Box 1 | Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1991 February |
| Box 1 | A Midsummer Night's Dream, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1991 April |
| Box 1 | The Visit, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1991 May |
| Box 1 | Miss Evers’ Boys, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1991 October |
| Box 1 | Twelfth Night, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1992 January |
| Box 1 | The Good Person of Setzuan, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1992 May |
| Box 1 | The Skin of Our Teeth, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1992 October |
| Box 1 | Two Trains Running, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1993 February |
| Box 1 | Two Trains Running, Betacam Recording (1), interview with August Wilson, Betacam SP, 1993 January |
| Box 2 | Black Snow, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1993 May |
| Box 2 | The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1993 November |
| Box 2 | Richard II, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1994 February |
| Box 2 | The Night of the Iguana, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1994 March |
| Box 2 | I Am a Man, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1994 May |
| Box 2 | The Merchant of Venice, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1994 October |
| Box 2 | Seven Guitars, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1995 February |
| Box 2 | Three Sisters, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1995 April |
| Box 2 | Journey to the West, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1995 May |
| Box 2 | All’s Well That Ends Well, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1995 October |
| Box 2 | Black Star Line, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1996 February |
| Box 2 | Arcadia, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1996 May |
| Box 2 | A Touch of the Poet, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1996 May |
| Box 2 | Randy Newman’s Faust, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2) 1996 October |
| Box 2 | The Young Man from Atlanta, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1997 February |
| Box 3 | Light up the Sky, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1997 April |
| Box 3 | All the Rage, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2) 1997 May |
| Box 3 | As You Like It, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2) 1997 October |
| Box 3 | Griller, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2) 1998 |
| Box 3 | Blues for an Alabama Sky, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1998 April |
| Box 3 | Design for Living, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1998 June |
| Box 3 | Death of a Salesman, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1998 October |
| Box 3 | Waiting for Godot, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS, 1999 February |
| Box 3 | Oo-Bla-Dee, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 1999 March |
| Box 3 | Odyssey, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2) 1999 September |
| Box 3 | A Moon for the Misbegotten, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 2000 February |
| Box 3 | Boy Gets Girl, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 2000 March |
| Box 3 | A Raisin in the Sun, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 2000 May |
| Box 3 | Coming Home, VHS, circa 2000 |
| Box 3 | Courage, VHS, circa 2000 |
| Box 4 | King Hedley II, Act II and interviews, Betacam SP (7), 2000 December |
| Box 4 | King Hedley II, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 2000 December |
| Box 4 | House & Garden, Acts and master, Betacam SP (5), 2001 February |
| Box 4 | House & Garden, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (3), includes first cut, 2001 February |
| Box 4 | House & Garden, interviews, Betacam SP (5), 2001 February |
| Box 5 | The Amen Corner, Acts I-II and master, Betacam SP (3), 2001 April |
| Box 5 | The Amen Corner, interviews. Betacam SP (5), 2001 March-April |
| Box 5 | The Visit, Acts I-II and master, Betacam SP (3), 2001 September |
| Box 5 | The Visit, interviews, Betacam SP (5), 2001 September |
| Box 5 | Drowning Crow, Acts I-IV and master, Betacam SP (3), 2002 January |
| Box 5 | Drowning Crow, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 2002 February |
| Box 5 | Drowning Crow, interviews, Betacam SP (3), 2002 January |
| Box 6 | Long Day’s Journey into Night, Acts I-IV and master, Betacam SP (4), 2002 March |
| Box 6 | Long Day’s Journey into Night, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2) 2002 March |
| Box 6 | Long Day’s Journey into Night, interviews, Betacam SP (6), 2002 March |
| Box 6 | Hollywood Arms, Acts I-II and master, Betacam SP (3), 2002 April |
| Box 6 | Hollywood Arms, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2) 2002 May |
| Box 6 | Hollywood Arms, interviews, Betacam SP (5), 2002 May |
| Box 7 | The Beard of Avon, Act II and master, Betacam SP (2), 2002 October |
| Box 7 | The Beard of Avon, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2) 2002 December |
| Box 7 | The Beard of Avon, interviews, Betacam SP (7), 2002 October |
| Box 7 | The Rose Tattoo, Acts I-III and master, Betacam SP (3), 2003 March |
| Box 7 | The Rose Tattoo, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 2002 October |
| Box 7 | The Rose Tattoo, interviews, Betacam SP (7), 2003 January |
| Box 8 | Dinner with Friends, Acts I-II and master, Betacam SP (3), 2003 March |
| Box 8 | Dinner with Friends, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2) 2003 March |
| Box 8 | Dinner with Friends, interviews, Betacam SP (3), 2003 March |
| Box 8 | Crowns, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 2004 April |
| Box 8 | Crowns, digital videocassette (3), 2004 April |
| Box 8 | Crowns, interviews, Betacam SP (5), 2004 March |
| Box 8 | Crowns, parts 1-2 and master, Betacam SP (4), 2004 April |
| Box 9 | Finishing the Picture, Acts I-II and master, Betacam SP (3), 2004 October |
| Box 9 | Finishing the Picture, Backstage at the Goodman, VHS (2), 2004 October |
| Box 9 | Finishing the Picture, DVCam (2), 2004 October |
| Box 9 | Finishing the Picture, interviews, Betacam SP (5), 2004 October |
| Box 9 | Silk, acts and master, Betacam SP (2), 2005 May |
| Box 9 | Silk, Backstage at the Goodman, DVD, 2005 May |
| Box 9 | Silk, interviews, Betacam SP (8), 2005 May |
| Box 10 | Pericles, Acts I-II, Betacam SP (3), 2006 January |
| Box 10 | Pericles, DVCam (1), 2006 January |
| Box 10 | Pericles, interviews, Betacam SP (5), 2006 January |
| Box 10 | A Life in the Theater, acts and master, Betacam SP (2), 2006 March |
| Box 10 | A Life in the Theatre, Backstage at the Goodman, DVD, 2006 March |
| Box 10 | A Life in the Theater, interviews, Betacam SP (5), 2006 March |
| Box 10 | King Lear, Acts I-II and master, Betacam SP (3), 2006 September |
| Box 10 | King Lear, Backstage at the Goodman, DVD, 2006 September |
| Box 10 | King Lear, DVCam (1), 2006 September |
| Box 10 | King Lear, interviews, Betacam SP (7), 2006 September |
| Box 11 | A Christmas Carol, Acts I-II and master, Betacam SP (3), 2006 November |
| Box 11 | A Christmas Carol, Backstage at the Goodman, DVD, 2006 December |
| Box 11 | A Christmas Carol, DVCam Recording (1), 2006 November |
| Box 11 | A Christmas Carol, interviews, Betacam SP (9), 2006 November |
| Box 11 | Rabbit Hole, Acts I-II and master, Betacam SP (3), 2007 April |
| Box 11 | Rabbit Hole, Backstage at the Goodman, DVD, 2007 April |
| Box 11 | Rabbit Hole, digital videocassette (2), 2007 April |
| Box 11 | Rabbit Hole, interviews, Betacam SP (5), 2007 March |