Rebecca Gilman achieves milestone at Goodman Theatre with politically charged ‘Swing State’

Playwright Rebecca Gilman’s “Swing State,” her 10th production for the Goodman Theatre, begins previews on Oct. 7 at the theater. (Pat Nabong/Sun-Times)

Shakespeare? O’Neill? Chekhov? Were you to make a pie chart of all the playwrights the Goodman Theatre has produced over the past quarter-or-so century, the circle wouldn’t be dominated by any of the above. That honor goes instead to Alabama-born Rebecca Gilman.

“Swing State,” her politically-fueled drama opening Oct. 7, marks her 10th production at the Goodman since 1999, and the sixth helmed by artistic director Robert Falls.