Goodman Theatre Gala: CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2025 AT 6:30pm | Fairmont Chicago

Musical Performance by Leslie Odom, Jr.

Black Tie | Dinner and Performance | Dancing to the Gentlemen of Leisure Band

Proceeds benefit Goodman Theatre’s Education and Engagement programs.

Learn more and get tickets 

LESLIE ODOM JR. is a multifaceted Tony and Grammy Award-winning, three-time Emmy and two-time Academy Award-nominated vocalist, songwriter, actor, and New York Times bestselling author. With a career that spans all performance genres, Odom has received recognition for his excellence and achievements in Broadway, television, film, and music. Most recently, Odom made his long-awaited return to Broadway starring in, and co-producing, the six-time Tony-nominated Broadway production of the classic American comedy Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch by the legendary Ossie Davis, which opened in September 2023 to widespread critical acclaim and earned Odom a Tony nomination for “Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play.” In January 2024, PBS recorded the play live at the Music Box Theatre, and Great Performances: Purlie Victorious premiered on PBS stations nationally on May 24. Additionally, Odom recently starred in the highly anticipated sequel to the original iconic film The Exorcist for Blumhouse and Universal Pictures in October 2023, as well as in Rian Johnson’s 2022 Knives Out sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, which broke records for Netflix. In 2020, he starred as legendary singer Sam Cooke in the award-winning Amazon film adaptation of One Night in Miami…, directed by Regina King. His critically acclaimed and highly lauded portrayal of the soul icon and musical performance of original song “Speak Now” earned him multiple awards and nominations. He also starred in The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel to David Chase’s award-winning HBO series The Sopranos, released in October 2021. Well known for his breakout role as ‘Aaron Burr’ in the smash hit Broadway musical Hamilton, Odom hosted “The Tony Awards Present: Broadway’s Back!” on CBS in September 2021 (2022 Emmy nomination). Additional film and television credits include Apple TV+’s Central Park (2020 Emmy nomination), Hamilton on Disney+ (2021 Emmy nomination), Abbott Elementary, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, Love in the Time of Corona, Harriet, and many more. Co-written with Nicolette Robinson, Odom’s first children’s book, I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know, was published by Feiwel & Friends on March 28, 2023. The book debuted on the New York Times bestseller list at #7 in its first week. Odom is a BMG recording artist and has released five full-length albums. Released in November 2023, Odom’s fifth full-length album and his first of all-new original music since 2019, When A Crooner Dies, features a collection of 10 newly penned, original tracks that mark his most personal body of music to date.

Goodman Theatre Leadership 

Susan V. Booth          John Collins
Artistic Director        Executive Director 

Julie M. Danis                          
Chair, Board of Trustees   

Linda Coberly
President, Board of Trustees 

Lorrayne Weiss
President, Women’s Board 

Kelli Garcia
President, Scenemakers Board 

Joan E. Clifford
Benefit Events Leadership Chair 

Jill Javors
Swati Mehta
Jackie Robinson
Gala Co-Chairs 

Lester N. Coney
David W. Fox, Jr
Gala Trustee Co-Chairs