100 Years of Impact: Support Goodman Theatre’s Education Programs and Your Gift Will Be Doubled

As Goodman Theatre approaches its 2025/2026 Centennial Season, the theater’s commitment to storytelling beyond the stage is stronger than ever. Through education and engagement programs that reach Chicagoans of all ages — from toddlers experiencing live performance for the first time to older adults reflecting on their lives through storytelling — the Goodman fosters meaningful connections through the arts, providing thousands with access to creative expression and rich artistic experiences.

Read on to learn how these programs are shaping lives across generations — and consider lending your support to help sustain this work for the next 100 years. In celebration of this historic milestone, every dollar donated to the 2025 Goodman Gala will be matched by the Make It Better Foundation and a consortium of donors, up to $100,000 — doubling the impact of each gift.

Introducing Young Audiences to the Power of Performance

For its youngest audiences, the Goodman’s Theater for the Very Young introduces children ages 0 to 5 to the transformative power of storytelling through interactive, sensory-driven, and immersive experiences. Last summer, nearly 3,000 children and families across 12 Chicago parks experienced The Lizard y El Sol last summer, a Spanish-language play based on Mexican folktales produced in partnership with the Chicago Park District and Night Out in the Parks.

Following its community run, the production was remounted at the Goodman Theatre for two nearly sold-out weekends this winter, offering more than 800 additional children and the grownups in their lives the chance to experience theater together.

Another immersive initiative, Second Saturdays, offers opportunities for families to engage in intergenerational, hands-on creative play. Each month, The Goodman transforms into a creative laboratory where children and adults explore new materials, express themselves, and create art together.

Arts Education for CPS Students

For thousands of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students across the city, the School Matinee Series offers free access to Goodman productions through partnerships with over 20 Chicago Public Schools and nearly 60 teachers. The program aims to introduce students to contemporary theater and provide a foundation for arts engagement.

For many, these student matinees are a game-changing first-time theater experience. “One of my students told me they thought theater was ‘old and boring’ before coming to the Goodman,” shared one participating teacher. “Getting to experience multiple shows has opened their eyes to a part of the city — and a form of expression — they hadn’t known before.”

Summer Intensives Foster Creative Growth for Teens

The Goodman’s summer programs, including the PlayBuild Youth Intensive and Musical Theatre Intensive, offer Chicagoland teens opportunities to explore identity, emotion, and expression through collaborative theater-making. Under the guidance of Chicago Teaching Artists, participants develop and present original work on the Goodman stage, gaining experience in performance, collaboration, and storytelling.

Creative Expression for Adults

The theater’s programming also reaches adult audiences through workshops, pre-show discussions, and artist-led sessions designed to deepen audience engagement with performances and one another. Among these efforts, GeNarrations — the Goodman’s fastest-growing program — invites adults aged 55 and older to participate in writing and performance workshops inspired by seasonal productions. Nearly 600 individuals now take part each year.

“It’s not just about writing or performing,” one participant shared. “It’s about realizing that your story matters—and that someone else might see themselves in it, too.”

Jared Bellot, the Goodman’s Clifford Director of Education and Engagement, said the overarching goal of these programs is to create “a public square where people of all ages can come together, sit beside one another, and practice the beautifully complex dance of being human.”

“We create space for people to feel,” Bellot said. “Whether it’s childhood wonder or adult reflection, we invite you to be part of the story—and let your feelings find their voice.”

How to Help

If you believe in the power of the arts to make lasting change, there are many ways to support the Goodman’s Education and Engagement work. As the kickoff to the Goodman’s Centennial Season, the 2025 Goodman Gala will celebrate the past 99 seasons and look forward to the 100^th beginning this summer. The Make It Better Foundation and a consortium of individual donors are helping the Goodman raise $100,000 for the 100th anniversary by matching each dollar donated to the 2025 Gala up to $100,000.

Make a lasting impact by taking advantage of the matching opportunity and donating now. All funds raised from the gala support the Goodman’s Education and Engagement programs.

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