The Goodman is the dean of legitimate theaters in Chicago. Under artistic director Robert Falls, the Goodman produces both original productions -- such as Horton Foote's The Young Man from Atlanta before it went directly to Broadway -- and familiar standards, including everything from Shakespeare to musicals. Its acclaimed revival of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, starring Brian Dennehy, not only made it to the Broadway stage in 1999, but won four Tonys -- more than any other production. The theater has nurtured the talents of solo artists Spalding Gray and John Leguizamo, and hosted such acclaimed actors as Denzel Washington, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Chita Rivera, and Rip Torn. Productions at the Goodman are always solid; you may not see anything revolutionary, but you'll get some of the best actors in the city and top-notch production values.

In 2000, the Goodman moved into a new, custom-designed home in the North Loop (you'll see the side of the building glowing with different colors in the evenings). The new mixed-use complex is a total-gut rehab of the historic Harris and Selwyn theaters, a pair of former rococo movie houses. But none of the historic bric-a-brac has been retained; the new building has a very modern, minimalist feel. The centerpiece -- the 830-seat Albert Ivar Goodman Theatre -- is a brand-new limestone-and-glass structure. Connected to the main theater is another addition, a cylindrical, glass-walled building housing retail operations, the 400-seat Owen Theatre, and restaurant Petterino's.

One tradition that made the move to the Goodman's new home is the production of A Christmas Carol, a perennial holiday draw.