Show Menu for 2009-2010
Going in to the 2009-2010 school year, GreatWorks will be focusing on keeping our stable of touring shows fresh, with major updating of CHICAGO and FRACTURED FAIRY TALES and further refinements to 50 STATES and ANNE FRANK; ON THE AIR.

"A few of these shows were written years ago when we were just starting, and it feels like a good time to give each of them a 'version 2.0' ", says Producing Director Matt O'Brien. "That way, teachers can re-book a show they may have had before, knowing that the most important elements will still be there, but that the scripts and performances will have the energy that comes from being new."

GreatWorks is wrapping up a 2008-2009 school year that saw a 40% increase in bookings over the previous year. All told, nearly 50,000 Illinois students have seen a GreatWorks show in the last two years, in communities from the far southern suburbs to the Wisconsin and Iowa state lines.

For more info on the upcoming season, please sign up for our online mailing list by clicking on this link!

New Study Guides
For all of our shows that are curriculum based, we'll have study guides for teachers available for download. We're still working on the Harriet Tubman and Anne Frank guides, but the guides for 50 STATES and CHICAGO are both available for download on the shows' respective pages here at our site (Adobe Acrobat or Apple Preview required for viewing).

Founder Matt O'Brien returns
After a brief hiatus, GreatWorks founder Matt O'Brien returned to the company in the position of Producing Director this past June, with a focus on expanding GreatWorks' repertoire and preparing the company to expand into a national touring group. For more info on Matt, go to our General Info page.

WHERE DID HE GROW UP?
"The north-side has always been home. I grew up in the Ravenswood neighborhood, went to Queen of Angels Grammar School, followed by Lane Tech High School. For college I finally ventured south of Madison Ave to attend UIC. Though I’ve been gone sporadically for a few months at a time, the city has always been like my own “small town” that I’ve never aspired to leave for too long. The Bears won the Superbowl in ’85. I can’t leave. Those that remember, know what I mean."

WHAT WAS THE FIRST PLAY HE SAW?
"’Im not sure if this counts, but my dad took me to see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles On Tour when I was about 11, which was kind of a musical, concert, theatrical event extravaganza! Though it may not be traditional theater in any sense, it does give me the opportunity to say Leonardo was… is my favorite Ninja Turtle to this day."

WHERE ELSE HAS HE APPEARED ?
"I’ve been doing a lot of education shows these days performing for Kindergarten to College aged audiences. From time to time I try to sell stuff on TV. Commercials not infomercials I mean. And yes, theater at night is still what I do from time to time. A highlight has to be our English/Spanish staged reading of Romeo y Julieta that I had a chance to participate in for Chicago’s Little Village Community. That neighborhood has heart!"

WHAT DO HE LIKE TO DO WHEN HE'S NOT PERFORMING?
"It varies, but a lot of times I’m trying really hard to catch up on episodes of The Colbert Report that I watch online for hours on end since I’m never home when it airs. I also have a guitar I’ve owned for a few years now. One day soon, I’ll learn how to play it…"

Carlos can be seen in our productions of 50 STATES IN 60 MINUTES, THE BFG, CHICAGO, ANNE FRANK, and LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW