The Cherry Orchard opens at The Goodman Theater

Anton Chekhov's canonical masterpiece, The Cherry Orchard, opened to a packed house at the Goodman Theater on April 10th. It's a story that explores loss, love, and how to live in a society that's changing fast. The story begins with Madame Ranevskaya, who returns to her heavily-mortgaged cherry orchard. The family reminisces while neglecting to come up with a solution to save the family estate before it is sold at auction. In the end, it is the comedy of life we are watching. Laughter turns to tears and on to new beginnings. The cast delivers a fantastic performance with some notable comedic moments.

Written by Chekhov in 1903, The Cherry Orchard was his final play. It was performed just six months before his death at age 44. The play is still relevant today, as it mirrors our very own existence. The Cherry Orchard shows the constant battle to keep growing and innovating as the world around us changes. One day you're on top, and the next, you're not.

The Cherry Orchard is both a homecoming and a farewell to Tony-Award winner director Robert Falls, who recently stepped down as Goodman Theatre Artistic Director after 35 years. It's the perfect show for him to direct as a goodbye. "As I contemplated leaving Goodman after thirty-five wonderful years, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to direct The Cherry Orchard," said Robert Falls. "Widely considered Anton Chekhov's finest, most challenging achievement, it still ranks supreme as a human comedy with tragic overtones for audiences and theater-makers alike. I'm thrilled to be working with a remarkable company of actors and designers to bring this luminous play to life."

The Cherry Orchard appears through April 30th, 2023, in the 856-seat Albert Theatre at the Goodman. Tickets range from $25 to $80. Tickets are available at the Goodman Theatre.