Here is a list of the broadway plays in chicago as well as the broadway plays coming soon. Learn more about chicago theatre box office hours, security policies and guest services. Listing of chicago plays and shows now playing in theaters in. The chicago theatre was placed on the national register of historic places in 1979 and designated as a historic chicago landmark on january 28, 1983. Mark larsons encyclopedic new book chronicles the development of a unique artistic movement in chicago through the voices of more than.
An oral history of chicago theater explores the early. An oral history of chicago theater by mark larson is as good a historical record as any in tracing the colorful past of the chicago theater. An oral history of chicago theater and reminsce about late author. An oral history of chicago theater with author and loyola alumnus mark larson on thursday, january 30.
Storytelling is at the core of who we are as humans, and it is how we learn, identify ourselves, and connect to others. Chicagos pekin theatre theatre historical society of america. The britney spears musical weve all been waiting for. A hot spot on the vaudeville circuit and later host to such luminaries as harry houdini and lily langtry, the majestic closed during the great depression and was shuttered for. An oral history of chicago theater with author mark. The auditorium allowed him to program theatre, vaudeville, and book musicians. Once upon a time in an anaheim, california orange grove, a magical kingdom was built and dedicated to americas history, dreams and wildest hopes. Chicago theater digital collections chicago public library. It was owned by local businessman robert motts who expanded his then saloon to feature an auditorium in 1906. Winner of the illinois state historical society book award for superior achievement a theater of our own is a fascinating, fastpaced, and factfilled chronicle of chicagos legendary theater scene by the longtime chief critic for the chicago tribune. This book squashes the nickname of the second city proving that chicago is arguably the greatest theatre city in the country.
An oral history of chicagos theater movement from 1953 to the present day. Join loyola university chicago libraries and edgewater village chicago for the book launch of ensemble. I sent this letter to the author when i finished reading the book. Balaban, his brother barney balaban and partner sam katz. Set in the legendary city during the roaring jazz hot 20s, chicago tells the story of two rival vaudevillian murderesses locked up in cook county jail. An oral history of chicago theater larson, mark on. In april 2010, broadway in chicago added a new location to their family of theaters. An oral history of chicago theater is a book you can enjoy in two ways. Gem of the prairie aka gangs of chicago is a really interesting book about the criminal underworld in chicago.
An oral history of chicago theater with author, mark larson join loyola university chicago libraries and edgewater village chicago for the book launch of ensemble. Join jane addams hullhouse museum for the book launch and reception for ensemble. Chicagos pekin theatre theatre historical society of. A theater of our own, a valuable contribution to the history of theater, is a book written for anyone who enjoys the theater and its people as well as the story of chicago. There will be a launch party for the book from 6 p. It was written in 1940 by the guy who wrote gangs of new york adapted into the leodaylewis movie. Mark larson has written a definitive history of chicago theatre.
The pekin theatre located at 27th and state on chicago s south side was one of the countrys first if not first black owned theatre. Courtesy of broadway in chicago at the very same moment that seven democratic presidential hopefuls energetically raked each other over the coals during tuesday nights television debate, robert dubac an actor, writer, comedian and grand master of sleightofhand and mind gleefully strode the stage of the broadway playhouse in his. An oral history of chicago theater and reminsce about late author drawing from over 300 interviews, ensemble. Ensemble is the first gossipfree oral history of chicago. Ensemble is the first gossipfree oral history of chicago theater lit. The world renowned chicago theatre historic theatres. In 1986, the chicago theatre restoration association bought the theatre and began an extensive restoration. The broadway play chicago, the first musical based on watkinss story, premiered in 1975.
An oral history of chicago theater by mark larson agate midway. There are plenty of neat tales in the book, but dont take the book as gospel. Broadway playhouse at water tower place broadway in chicago. The chicago theatre, originally known as the balaban and katz chicago theatre, is a landmark theater located on north state street in the loop area of chicago, illinois, united states. Chicago s main theater prize, the joseph jefferson award. The young settlement of chicago in 1834 saw its first commercial production by the fire eater and ventriloquist, mr. When it opened in 1921, the chicago theatre was known as the wonder theatre of the world. It became a notable place to see jazz acts in the city. New book ensemble follows the trail of chicagos legendary theater. An oral history of chicago theater book launch and. Before they built the uptown theatre at lawrence and broadway, the balaban and katz chain was already operating the very successful chicago theatre at 175 n. Theatre history the cibc theatre opened as the majestic theatre in 1906 and was chicagos first milliondollarplus venue and the citys tallest building at the time. Larson conducted interviews with more than 300 chicago theatermakers for the book. The palace theatre opened at the corner of randolph and lasalle streets in chicago on october 4, 1926.
Best books to learn about the city and its history. Barbara gaines directs this glorious new musical adaptation of the classic novel. Chicago shakespeare will stage the world premiere musical the notebook, based on the classic bestselling novel by nicholas sparks that inspired the hugely popular film. Chicago is an american musical with music by john kander, lyrics by fred ebb, and book by ebb and bob fosse. Chicago theater collection a list of collections at chicago public library representing theaters, designers, actors and other members of the theater community. Chicago theater collectionhistoric programs finding aid the complete and everincreasing inventory of theater programs past and present, some of which are presented here. Towards a poor theatre by jerzy grotowski, history of the theatre by oscar gross brockett, the year of lear. The beautiful, sevenstory high auditoriumcomplete with 10. Who produced the first stage adaptation of the wizard of oz in 1902nearly forty years before the movie classic.
One of my frustrations with theater is that its rarely recorded. Ensemble is the first gossipfree oral history of chicago theater. Winner of the illinois state historical society book award for superior achievement a theater of our own is a fascinating, fastpaced, and factfilled chronicle of chicago s legendary theater scene by the longtime chief critic for the chicago tribune. Ensemble is an indepth, firstofitskind history of chicagos internationally celebrated theater scene, spanning 65 years and told through firstperson accounts from the people who made.
Every year, chicago theatre companies produce hundreds. Learn more about directions, parking and public transportation. View our seat map to see where youll be taking in the action. The chicago theatre is sure to make any event iconic and unforgettable. Larson conducted interviews with more than 300 chicago theater makers for the book. The chicago theatre has the following available for people with disabilities. An oral history of chicago theater by mark larson is as good a historical record as any in tracing the colorful past. Reviewed in the united states on september 19, 2019. Rick kogan kicks off the night with author mark larson and his wife mary inside the allstate skyline studio with rick as he talks about his latest book ensemble. Every young theater artist should read this book to understand the history youre furthering in your work, and why its so important to honor creative expression and push boundaries.
An oral history of chicago theater explores the early days of the fabled compass players and the legendary second city. Or you can dip in and out and read mark larsons marvelous interviews with chicago theater people in any orderand to any stage of completionthat you like. Description chicago is a bona fide theater town, bursting with an explosive, innovative vitality thats fed every sector of the entertainment industryfrom hollywood to broadway to studio 8hfor as long as its delighted adoring local fans. In the 1970s, the building was originally built to house the drury lane theatre and, over the years, went from theatre to movie theatre and back to the legitimate theatre, drury lane water tower. The story inspired another movie, roxie hart 1942, with ginger rogers in the title role.
The following year a film adaptation, also called chicago, was released. The pekin theatre located at 27th and state on chicagos south side was one of the countrys first if not first black owned theatre. Author mark larson talks about his latest book ensemble. Book launch mon 812, 6 pm, jane addams hull house, 800 s. Lauren gundersons play is about the actors who saved the first folio after shakespeares death. In 1837, the first resident theater company, the shortlived chicago theater opened in the sauganash hotel. Rapp, the same team who would later be responsible for the uptown. In the 1970s, the building was originally built to house the drury lane theatre and, over the years, went from theatre to movie theatre and back to the legitimate theatre. You can read it from beginning to end, as you would any narrative of fiction or nonfiction. Broadway playhouse at water tower place in april 2010, broadway in chicago added a new location to their family of theaters. Designed by legendary theatre architects the rapp brothers, the theatre s interior featured a splendor previously unseen in chicago a breathtaking vision inspired by the palaces of fontainebleau and versailles. The chicago history museum offers exhibitions and public programs that share chicagos stories, illuminating the citys past, engaging visitors in the citys present, and pointing to chicagos bright future. New book ensemble follows the trail of chicagos legendary.
The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the. Mark larsons ensemble captures chicago theater history in. The chicago theatre chicago tickets, schedule, seating. The powerhouse creative team features music and lyrics by multiplatinum singersongwriter ingrid michaelson, and book by playwright bekah brunstetter, best known as a. If you love chicago theater this is the book for you.
Broadway plays in chicago broadway in chicago broadway. James ijames on the most spectacularly lamentable trial of miz martha washington. Set in chicago in the jazz age, the musical is based on a 1926 play of the same name by reporter maurine dallas watkins, about actual criminals and the crimes on which she reported. An oral history of chicago theater is an indepth, firstofitskind history of chicagos internationally celebrated theater scene, written and curated by mark larson. One of the players was then a boy named joseph jefferson, who grew to become a very successful comedic actor. Explore chicagos history with cpls digital and archival collections, recommended books and blog posts. Even if youre not from chicago, you will recognize many people who got their start there. The powerhouse creative team features music and lyrics by multiplatinum singersongwriter ingrid michaelson, and book by playwright bekah brunstetter, best known as a writer. Chicago is a bona fide theater town, bursting with an. The author, richard christensen, is an arts journalist in chicago for the chicago tribune since 1978. Chicagos main theater prize, the joseph jefferson award. Aug 12, 2019 rick kogan kicks off the night with author mark larson and his wife mary inside the allstate skyline studio with rick as he talks about his latest book ensemble. Listing of chicago plays and shows now playing in theaters.