(Chicago, IL) Opening tonight, “IRL” at Goodman Theatre, is Highway Patrol—Emmy Award-winning actor Dana Delany’s (China Beach, Desperate Housewives) true personal story crafted entirely from her digital archive of hundreds of tweets and direct messages on Twitter. Together with three-time Emmy Award nominee Dot-Marie Jones (Glee’s Coach Beiste) and emerging Chicago actor Thomas Murphy Molony (A Christmas Story, The Musical at Marriott Theatre and Fun Home at Paramount), Delany stars as herself in the world-premiere production she assembled with co-creators Dane Laffrey, Jen Silverman and Mike Donahue, who also directs. The creative team includes Laffrey (Set Design), Enver Chakartash (Costume Design), Jen Schriever (Lighting Design), Sinan Refik Zafar (Sound Design) and Yee Eun Nam (Projection Design). Highway Patrol appears in the 856-seat Albert Theatre January 20 – February 18, 2024. Tickets ($25 – 90; subject to change) are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Highway or by phone at 312.443.3800. Highway Patrol is presented by special arrangement with Mark Gordon Pictures and is the winner of a 2023 Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. The Goodman is grateful for the support of the Edgerton Foundation (New American Plays).
TIMESTAMP: October, 2012: “@DanaDelany, Are you married? If not, I’d marry you.” When Cam (Thomas Molony), a 13-year-old fan in a desperate medical situation captures actress Dana Delany’s attention on Twitter, she’s quickly swept into an intense, around-the-clock online friendship with the whole family—including Cam’s care-giving grandmother, Nan (Dot-Marie Jones). But when Cam starts relaying messages received from beyond, Dana is thrust into a world where unexpected revelations raise the question of how far we go to love and be loved.
Highway Patrol
Playwright and Text Curator Jen Silverman
Based on the Digital Archives of Dana Delany
Created by Dana Delany, Mike Donahue, Dane Laffrey and Jen Silverman
Directed by Mike Donahue
January 20 – February 18, 2024
Dana….. Dana Delany
Nan, Others….. Dot-Marie Jones
Cam….. Thomas Murphy Molony
Understudies for this production include Meighan Gerachis (Nan, Others), Brennan Monaghan (Cam) and Rachel Sledd (Dana).
Assistant Direction by Jamal Howard
Set Design by Dane Laffrey
Costume Design by Enver Chakartash
Lighting Design by Jen Schriever
Sound Design by Sinan Refik Zafar
Projection Design by Yee Eun Nam
Line Production by Malkia Stampley
Casting is by Lauren Port, CSA.
ENHANCED AND ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES
Visit Goodman theatre.org/Access for more information about Goodman Theatre’s accessibility efforts.
ASL-Interpreted: Friday, February 16 at 7:30pm – An American Sign Language interpreter signs the action/text as played.
Touch Tour and Audio-Described Performance: Saturday, February 17, 12:30pm Touch Tour; 2pm performance – The action/text is audibly enhanced for patrons via headset.
Spanish Subtitles: Saturday February 17 at 7:30pm.
Open-Captioned: Sunday, February 18 at 2pm – An LED sign presents dialogue in sync with the performance.
