The Pulitzer Prize-winning production of Lynn Nottage’s Ruined directed by Kate Whoriskey extends for the seventh time (through August 2, 2009) since it moved off-Broadway earlier this year, direct from its acclaimed run at Goodman Theatre.
This Goodman commission and world-premiere co-production with Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) garnered rave reviews, amassed critical acclaim and earned 13 awards and 17 nominations, including the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and (in alphabetical order): the Clarence Derwent Award; two Drama Desk Awards (including Outstanding New Play); two Lucille Lortel Awards (including Outstanding Play); New York Drama Critics Circle’s Best Play Award; four OBIE Awards (including Best New American Play); Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play; Theatre World Award; and two Drama League Award nominations (including Distinguished Production of a Play).
With a total of 22 preview performances and 198 regular performances as of August 2, Ruined becomes the longest running production at MTC.
During a distinguished luncheon May 28 at Columbia University’s Low Library, playwright Lynn Nottage accepted the 78th Pulitzer Prize in Drama and became the second African American woman ever to receive it. In attendance to celebrate Nottage’s honor were director Kate Whoriskey, Goodman Theatre Executive Director Roche Schulfer and Manhattan Theatre Club’s Artistic Director Lynne Meadow, Executive Producer Barry Grove and Associate Artistic Director Mandy Greenfield. This award marks the first world-premiere production from Goodman Theatre to receive a Pulitzer Prize in Drama—the Goodman’s American premiere production of Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet won in 1984—and the second consecutive Prize awarded for a play hailing from Chicago (Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County in 2008).
Ruined played to 93% of capacity during its extended Goodman run (November 8 – December 14, 2008) and moved to Manhattan Theatre Club’s New York City Center – Stage I on January 21, 2009. With the exception of two casting changes—Portia replaced Saidah Arrika Ekulona as Mama Nadi on May 26 and Ron McBee replaced Ali Amin Carter as Soldier—the original company of Ruined remains intact, including Quincy Tyler Bernstine (Salima), Cherise Boothe (Josephine), Chris Chalk (Jerome Kisembe), William Jackson Harper (Simon), Chiké Johnson (Fortune), Russell G. Jones (Christian), Simon Shabantu Kashama (Soldier), Kevin Mambo (Commander Osembenga), Tom Mardirosian (Mr. Harari) and Condola Phyleia Rashad (Sophie). The creative team includes Derek McLane (set), Paul Tazewell (costumes), Peter Kaczorowski (lighting), Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen (sound), Dominic Kanza (original music), and Randy Duncan (movement director).
Chicago critics hailed Ruined a “remarkable theatrical accomplishment! Dazzling!” (Chicago Tribune) and “explosive…brash, searing” (Chicago Sun-Times). New York critics declared it “an intense and gripping new drama from one of our finest playwrights…the kind of play we desperately need” (NY1) and “a vibrant…superbly acted…deeply moving new play” (New York Post).
Set in the present civil war-ravaged Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ruined is the captivating story of Mama Nadi, the owner of a canteen who serves up everything from a cold beer and a warm meal—to the company of a woman. Through the eyes of this savvy businesswoman who both protects and profits from the women whose bodies have become battlegrounds, Nottage captures the constantly shifting allegiances and tragic consequences that marks the civil war in the DRC. Ruined was developed through Nottage and Whoriskey’s pilgrimage to Uganda—where countless interviews and interactions resulted in a portrait of the lives of the women and girls caught in the devastating armed conflict in the DRC.
Artistic development programs at Goodman Theatre were initiated in 1988 through a gift from The Lester and Hope Abelson Fund for Artistic Development. Funding for artistic development has been provided, in part, by the Leading National Theatres Program, a joint initiative of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, and the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust..
Artistic research and development for Ruined was sponsored by The Davee Foundation. Production support was provided by the Sara Lee Foundation, the Owen Season Corporate Sponsor; the World Premiere Season Sponsors; New Works Season Sponsors and the Director’s Society Sponsors.
About Goodman Theatre
Named the country’s Best Regional Theatre by Time magazine (2003), Goodman Theatre is a leader in the American theater, internationally recognized for its artists, productions and educational programs since its founding in 1925. Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer’s forward-thinking leadership has earned the Goodman unparalleled artistic distinction, garnered hundreds of awards—including the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre (1992) and Pulitzer Prizes for Ruined by Lynn Nottage and Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet—and moved dozens of plays from Chicago to stages in New York and abroad.
Central to its commitment to the reinvestigation of classics and development of new plays and artists is the Goodman’s Artistic Collective, including Brian Dennehy, Frank Galati, Henry Godinez, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor and Mary Zimmerman. The largest not-for-profit theater in Chicago, the Goodman moved in 2000 into a brand new state-of-the-art complex which houses two principal theaters: the 856-seat Albert Ivar Goodman Theatre and the 400-seat flexible Owen Bruner Goodman Theatre. Board Chairman is Shawn M. Donnelley and Karen Pigott is president of the Women’s Board. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre.
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