Goodman Theatre – The Alice

“The Alice” at Goodman Theatre transformed 10,000 square feet of vacant office space into the first dedicated home for the theatre’s free education and community outreach programs, supporting workshops, readings, seminars, auditions, and public events for Chicago students, educators, artists, and lifelong learners.

Schuler Shook’s involvement began with a feasibility study exploring the renovation of existing rehearsal and office spaces into flexible performance, education, civic engagement, and meeting facilities. Following completion of the study in 2014, Schuler Shook provided theatre consulting and lighting design services for the full design and documentation of the Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement.

Inspired by donor Alice Rapoport’s love of nature, the space features warm wood finishes, with studios organized behind a meandering ​“curtain” of double-sided wood slats backed by an acoustical fabric and insulation. This wall creates a visual and acoustic threshold between public and learning spaces, each designed with systems that support the changing production needs for the various programs. Positioned along the building perimeter, the floor-to-ceiling windows in these spaces showcase the theatre’s connection to the surrounding neighbourhood and reinforce its mission of ​“arts as education.” 

The flexible lighting and integrated technical systems support a wide range of programming, including community conversations, family workshops, storytelling programs, and educational initiatives. Inspired by donor Alice Rapoport’s love of nature, the space features warm wood finishes, acoustically isolated studios, and an organic ceiling design with integrated lighting that evokes an outdoor canopy.

Designed to reflect Goodman Theatre’s mission of serving as a public square, The Alice provides a welcoming environment where artists, educators, and community members can gather, create, learn, and connect through the arts.