The Goodman Theatre opened its new Dearborn center in 2000. Roche Schulfer, the long-serving Executive Director responsible for that project, had already been on the job for 20 years.

A few years ago, in recognition of his 40 years of service, a large bronze plaque was installed in the sidewalk under the Goodman marquee.

And on the night before we sat down for our CONVERSATION, Roche Schulfer could be found in the lobby greeting the opening night audience eager to view Mary Zimmerman’s revival of Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man”—the Tony Award winning director’s 16th Goodman show in a 25-year association that began with Goodman’s Artistic Collective.