Goodman Theatre (Robert Falls, Artistic Dir; Roche Schulfer, Exec Prod) has announced its six-project line-up of the 17th annual New Stages Festival (Dec 1-19) as well as invites Chicago-based early-career directors to apply for the 2022 Michael Maggio Directing Fellowship, now entering its 20th year. In addition, the Goodman welcomes project proposals for Future Labs, a development workshop series for plays written and led by artists of color now in its second season, with at least six new projects slated for workshop and public readings beginning in early 2022. Six projects appear as part of the annual New Stages Festival—a free celebration and discovery of new works by some of the country’s finest established and emerging playwrights, under the leadership of Director of New Works Jonathan L Green. Two fully staged developmental productions are the centerpiece of the festival, performed in repertory—"Nightwatch" by Max Yu, directed by Chay Yew and "Layalina" by Martin Yousif Zebari, directed by Sivan Battat. The final weekend, which is scheduled so that theater industry professionals can view all of the new plays, expands to include three staged readings—"Fires, Ohio" by Beth Hyland, directed by Marti Lyons; "Your Name Means Dream" by José Rivera, directed by Audrey Francis and "Watching the Watcher" by Dael Orlandersmith, directed by Neel Keller. In addition, the virtual reality experience "Hummingbird" by Jo Cattell appears as a special event production at the Electronic Visualization Laboratory at University of Illinois at Chicago (December 3-6). Free reserved tickets are available at goodmantheatre.org/newstages. Professionals Weekend tickets are available at goodmantheatre.org/professionals.  The 2022 Michael Maggio Directing Fellowship provides an opportunity to assist on a Goodman production and become involved in the ongoing artistic life of the theater for a full season and beyond. The fellowship, which begins in early 2022 and includes a $5,000 stipend, is designed for local artists who have directed at least two professional (non-academic) productions. Applications close November 17. Additionally  new plays authord by artists of color are sought for the second year of Future Labs—Goodman Theatre’s newest artistic effort to develop works authored and directed by Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI, SWANA and other artists of color. Established in January 2021, Future Labs is designed primarily for Chicago-based writers who have not had a play produced at the Goodman. For more information on both programs, please visit goodmantheatre.org. Press contact: Denise Schneider/Goodman Theatre (312/443-5151)...