Pictured: “Incendiary” playwright Dave Harris

Casting is complete for the two upcoming developmental productions in Goodman Theatre’s 16th annual New Stages Festival. The two plays, which are staged in repertory following two weeks of rehearsal, include “Incendiary” by Dave Harris, directed by Monty Cole; and “In the Sick Bay of the Santa Maria” by Rajiv Joseph, directed by Robert O’Hara.

The free festival also includes four staged readings, including “The Garden” by Charlayne Woodard; “Engines and Instruments of Flight: A Fantasia in Three Acts” by Calamity West; “The Humanities” by Zayd Dohrn; and “Fannie” by Cheryl L. West. There will also be a special work-in-progress showing of “(the) FAIR,” created by Sandra Delgado and Sojourn Theatre Company.

The design team for the festival includes Kevin Depinet (Original Set Design), Kristen Martino (Sets), Noël Huntzinger (Costumes), Claire Chrzan (Lights) and Richard Woodbury (Sound).

In “Incendiary,” Tanya is determined to break her son out of death row—or die trying. She’ll need guns. She’ll need to get her hair done. She’ll need to save her son; but at what cost? This explosive tragicomedy challenges notions of motherhood, justice and generational trauma.

CAST:
Jerome Beck………………Joshua/Marcus
McKenzie Chinn………..Jasmine
Ronald L. Conner………..Manny
Bernard Gilbert………….Eric
Terry Guest………………Gerard/Markus
Wandachristine………….Tanya

“In The Sick Bay of the Santa Maria” as the Santa Maria sets sail towards a dangerous New World. In the ship’s dank and diseased belly, a young man with visions of sea monsters and the voice of an angel seeks counsel from a grotesque old physician. But nothing can prepare them for the freedom and salvation—and the prison and damnation—that lies dead ahead.

CAST:
Cheryl Lynn Bruce………..Maestre Alonso/Maria
Richard David………………Pedro
Tim Frank…………………….Terreros
Joe Goldammer……………Chachu

The New Stages Festival runs October 23 – November 10 in the Owen Theatre. to reserve free tickets, call 312.443.3800, visit GoodmanTheatre.org/NewStagesFestival or the box office (170 N. Dearborn). The final weekend is is dubbed “Industry Professionals Weekend, and contains the four additional readings. For more information about “Industry Professionals Weekend,” visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Professionals.

Since New Stages’ inception, more than 80 plays have been produced as a developmental production or staged reading. More than 60% of all plays developed in New Stages have received a world premiere production at the Goodman or another leading U.S. theater. The Goodman’s 2019/2020 season features the world premiere of Korde Arrington Tuttle’s Graveyard Shift, which originated in New Stages in 2018.