Chicago's Goodman Theatre, the not-for-profit organization that has won multiple awards, opened its doors to EBONY on Jan. 10 for a rehearsal of an upcoming production, How to Catch Creation.

During the sneak peek the cast, playwright Christina Anderson and director Niegel Smith took the audience through a typical day’s rehearsal, including staging, calls for lines and notes from the production team.

"I'm so grateful to the Goodman Theatre staff for providing me with a sneak peek of its upcoming production How to Catch Creation. During the short time—30 minutes— I watched the rehearsal, it was evident the ideal ensemble cast had been assembled," said Brett Jeffries, EBONY's director of brand marketing. "The actors vividly brought to life the struggles and successes of everyday Black couples from all walks of life. No matter what your life situation is, How to Catch Creation is the perfect production for anyone looking for inspiration.

"The pairing of playwright Christina Anderson and director Niegel Smith is a gift to modern theater. They get it right,” Jeffries added.

After the rehearsal, the cast and team engaged in a Q&A session with EBONY and other media outlets. During the discussion, the playwright and director detailed their hopes, dreams and thoughts about the production.

"[Poet] Nikki Giovanni says, 'Black love is Black wealth,' and that's something I held close to me while writing this play,” said Anderson.

Her body of work includes the plays Blacktop Sky, pen/man/ship, The Ashes Under Gait City and Man in Love. Anderson's plays have appeared at The Public Theater, Yale Repertory Theatre, Penumbra Theatre and Playwrights Horizons, among other venues in the United States and Canada.

Smith is a Bessie Award-winning theater director and performance artist. He is the artistic director of New York’s The Flea; board member of A.R.T./New York and ringleader of Willing Participant; and an artistic activist organization. His theater work has been produced by Alley Theatre, HERE, Hip Hop Theatre Festival, Magic Theatre, Mixed Blood, New York International Fringe Festival, New York Live Arts, Phoenix Theatre Ensemble, Playwrights Horizons, Pomegranate Arts, The Public Theater, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Summer Play Festival and Under the Radar Festival.

About the production

How to Catch Creation is a world premiere production and dissects the universal act of creation through the eyes of six artists—from the creation of life, art and love, their lives intersect in the pursuit of creative passion and legacy.

The ensemble cast includes Karen Aldridge (Tami), Ayanna Bria Bakari (Natalie), Jasmine Bracey (G.K. Marche), Bernard Gilbert (Stokes), Maya Vinice Prentiss (Riley) and Keith Randolph Smith (Griffin). The creative team includes Todd Rosenthal (set), Allen Lee Hughes (lighting), Jenny Mannis (costumes), Justin Ellington (composer) and Joanna Lynne Staub (Sound).

Tickets for How to Catch Creation are now on sale. Prices begin at $25 and can be purchased from GoodmanTheatre.org/Creation, either by telephone (312-443-3800) or at the box office, 170 N. Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60601. The play opened Jan. 19 and runs through Feb. 24.

Check out behind-the-scenes photos below from the rehearsal.