Timeline: A Chicago century at the Goodman Theatre

1925: The Goodman Theatre is founded. Timber magnate William O. Goodman and his wife donate $250,000 to the Art Institute to establish a theater and school in the name of their son, Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, a Chicago playwright who died in 1918 during the influenza pandemic. A theater is built at the back of the Art Institute with an entrance at 200 S. Columbus Drive.

1969: The Goodman becomes a professional company under artistic director John Reich.

1975: David Mamet’s seminal “American Buffalo” premieres at the Goodman. Two years later, it’s on Broadway and Mamet is famous.

1978: The Goodman School of Drama becomes the Theatre School of DePaul University.

1979: First production of “A Christmas Carol,” starring William Norris as Ebenezer Scrooge. The stage adaptation of Charles D