by Hedy Weiss
Theater Critic/hweiss@suntimes.com

Tamberla Perry, the Chicago actress who has worked on most of the city's major stages, and is familiar to many as the woman on WGN who draws the numbers for the Illinois Lottery, has been cast in the title role of "By the Way, Meet Vera Stark." The play, by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage ("Ruined"), will receive its Chicago debut at the Goodman Theatre, April 27-June 2.

The production, to be directed by Goodman Theatre resident director Chuck Smith, is a satire that "pulls back the curtain on the glamorous film studios of the old Hollywood of the 1930s," and ultimately fast-forwards to the early 1970s as it explores the notion of African-American identity in the movies.

The Goodman cast also will include Patrick Clear, Chike Johnson, Taron Patton, Ron Rains, Amelia Workman and Kara Zediker.

Tickets ($25 - $81 go on sale Feb. 15 . Call (312) 443-3800 or visit www.GoodmanTheatre.org