The death on August 19, 2000 of Goodman Associate Artistic Director Michael Maggio robbed the American theater of one of its most articulate and versatile directors. As the veteran of more than 60 productions in theaters around the country, Michael was a consummate artist who was equally at home in nearly any dramatic genre, from new plays to classics, grand scale musicals to intimate realistic dramas. The list of his Goodman Theatre credits recalls some of the most acclaimed productions in the theater’s recent history: a landmark Romeo and Juliet, set in Chicago’s Little Italy in 1919; the sumptuous Sondheim musicals Sunday in the Park with George and A Little Night Music; the frantic comedy of Keith Reddin’s Black Snow; the haunting beauty of the musical adaptation of Wings; and the much-lauded world premiere of Rebecca Gilman’s Boy Gets Girl. But there were some common elements to all of his work: a fascination with the human condition in all of its guises; an unerring grace and intelligence; and the passionate belief in the power of the theater to illuminate and transform. Michael directed a total of 22 productions at the Goodman, making him the most-produced director in the theater’s modern era. In addition to his duties at Goodman, he served as the Dean of The Theatre School at DePaul University, which gave him the chance to pass his passion for excellence and his generosity of spirit on to another generation.
In recognition of Michael’s artistry and his dedication to nurturing young artists, Goodman Theatre established the annual Michael Maggio Fellowship.
About the Fellowship
The Goodman is now accepting applications for the 2024/2025 Maggio Directing Fellowship. The submission deadline is May 20, 2024. Please note, this fellowship has expanded since past years and is now a full-time, salaried position for a full season.
The Fellow joins the artistic staff for a year, with responsibilities ranging from assisting directors on productions, reading and responding to script submissions, curating and producing civic engagement events, readings and festivals, and participating in season selection. Additionally, the Maggio Fellow will lead the charge in making the Goodman a supportive organization for local directors, see as much local work as possible and bring directors to the theatre’s attention.
The Fellow will be intentionally mentored by the artistic leadership of the Goodman and given access to all stages of all rehearsal processes that happen during their residency, as well as experience working full time on the administrative/artistic side of a large regional theatre.
How to Apply and Selection Process
Applicants must be Chicago-based directors who have directed at least two professional (nonacademic) full productions. Applicants need to submit a resume; selected reviews of previous work (if available); at least two letters of recommendation from theater professionals or educators familiar with the applicant’s work; and an artistic statement (no longer than one page) that describes the applicant's artistic work, interests, and how the fellowship could help the applicant achieve those goals.
Interested individuals are invited to submit their applications and supplementary materials by selecting "Apply Online" at the top of the page.
The selection committee will review submissions and conduct interviews. A second round of interviews will occur with Susan Booth (Goodman Artistic Director), Malkia Stampley (Goodman Artistic Producer), and Adam Belcuore (Goodman Managing Producer). We anticipate that a finalist will be selected by the end of June. The fellowship will begin at the end of August 2024 and continue through the end of the 2024/2025 season in August of 2025.
