Swing State

Synopsis: It's hard to know who your friends are in a world that's more divided than ever. Recently widowed, Peg tends to the native plants in her 40-acre rural Wisconsin prairie backyard, her solitary days interrupted only by visits from a family friend with a checkered past. When a mysterious theft alerts the authorities, a string of events unfold that forever changes their lives. Pulitzer Prize finalist playwright Rebecca Gilman and her longtime collaborator, Tony Award-winning director Robert Falls, team up again for their sixth Goodman production—a contemporary portrait of America's heartland in a time when it feels like everyone's way of life is in danger of disappearing.

Artistic Statement: When she was still finishing Swing State, Rebecca Gilman said “The play I am writing scares me a little. I’m trying to capture, in simple human terms, what the past two years have felt like for us—the loss, the grasping, the tenuousness of hope.” Over the years, Gilman’s realistic examinations of some of society’s most pressing issues helped define the Goodman’s artistic sensibilities and priorities, and it has been thrilling to watch her tackle this latest challenge. The final result follows in the footsteps of her other work, but offers new insights into what it means to live in America amidst tremendous change. We are thrilled to bring its world premiere to life at the Goodman. - Susan V. Booth, Artistic Director

Grant Statement: Because of the sheet breadth of scope of Swing State and the complexity of what it is trying to achieve, support from the Edgerton Foundation is of great assistance, allowing the team sufficient resources to get the show “right” without having to resort to high ticket prices which will ultimately make the work inaccessible to many. The award has helped elevate Swing State—the last project Rebecca Gilman and Robert Falls created together during Falls’ time as Artistic Director of the Goodman—and launch it into an extended life in the American theater. - Roche Schulfer, Executive Director/CEO