OFFBEAT: Actor Ed Gero and Goodman celebrating 'Red' success and stage's decade mark

Actor Ed Gero couldn't have picked a better time to come to Chicago from Washington D.C. for a play run at the Goodman Theatre.

It's the 10th anniversary season that celebrates the theater company's now landmark location in the heart of Chicago's theater district.

And at Goodman Theatre's annual meeting this week, Chairman Patricia Cox and the Board of Trustees, Women's Board, Artistic Director Robert Falls, Executive Director Roche Schulfer, artists and the staff celebrated the success of what's been the theater's special season of what they describe as "unsurpassed artistic quality, diversity on stage and unprecedented outreach into the Chicago community."

The Goodman significantly exceeded projections in sales and annual support for its nine-play slate, boosted by record-breaking individual sponsorship and benefit support. 

And a part of all of this success is Gero and his critically praised biographical performance as torn and temperamental artist Mark Rothko in John Logan's play "Red," which has nearly completed its extension and must close on Sunday.

The thought-provoking 90-minute, no intermission performance offers a glimpse into the mind and actions of the noted abstract, expressionist painter Rothko, who died (at age 66 in 1970) just as dramatically as he lived.

His young assistant is played by the talented Chicago actor Patrick Andrews and it's directed with precision by Falls.

"It was exactly a year ago when I first met with Bob Falls about doing this role," said Gero.

"And by August, I was in Chicago and we were starting the four weeks of eight-hour-a-day rehearsals."

Gero even chronicled his experience of researching and preparing for the role by writing his own blog, which is found at www.experimentstation.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/becoming-rothko-edward-gero-in-the-rothko-room/

As for working with Andrews, Gero said the two have a natural chemistry, despite never having worked together.

"We do have an interesting connection," Gero related.

"I appeared in the role of Donny in David Mamet's 'American Buffalo' for the May 2010 run at Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C. And as it turns out, Patrick played the role of Bobby, the character opposite Donny for the Steppenwolf run in Chicago that same spring."

As for the two months of splattering red paint Gero has been baptized with for performance after performance of "Red" at Goodman Theatre, he says he's gotten used to the familiar hue.

"I always take a shower after the performance, but it's impossible to wash away every trace of the red paint," he said.

"The next morning when I'm at home taking my shower to get ready for the day, I'll often notice some pink coloring for the water coming off me and I'm sure it's from the red paint in my ears."

Tickets for "Red" are $25 to $89 at GoodmanTheatre.org or (312) 443-3800.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or (219) 852-4327.