Chicago's Goodman Theatre launches a month-long celebration honoring new Artistic Director Susan V. Booth's longtime creative collaborator Pearl Cleage September 14, with performances and events taking place across Chicago through October 15.

Cleage is Atlanta’s first Poet Laureate, with works spanning 40 years and more than 30 plays, novels, poems, and essays. Conceived by Booth and curated by Malkia Stampley, this first-of-its-kind festival experience is designed to encourage deeper exploration and study of Cleage's work.

"Writing plays is the joy of my life—and being able to invite the people of Chicago to share that joy with a citywide celebration of my work is almost more than a hardworking playwright can stand. Almost. The magic of live theatre brings us together in community like nothing else can. I am grateful to Goodman Theatre and to the amazing artists and institutions who have welcomed me over the years, and who now make me know that I will always have a home here,” said Cleage in an earlier statement.

The festival will include two productions: The Nacirema Society, directed by Lili-Anne Brown at the Goodman; and Blues for an Alabama Sky, directed by Mikael Burke at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company. Additional events will be produced in partnership with six of Chicago’s famed Off-Loop theatres, including Mad at Miles featuring Jackie Taylor (Black Ensemble Theater); Angry, Raucous and Shamelessly Gorgeous (Congo Square Theatre); A Song for Coretta (Definition Theatre); Chain (Creative Arts Foundation); Bourbon at the Border (MPAACT); Pointing at the Moon directed by Lydia R. Diamond, and What I Learned in Paris directed by TaRon Patton (Goodman Theatre).

For more information, visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Pearl.