Chicago Theatre News

Long time Chicago theatre critic Jonathan Abarbanel sat down for an interview for the Talk Theatre In Chicago podcast.  To say that Mr. Abarbanel is a Chicago theatre expert is an understatement. He is currently the longest tenured Chicago theatre critic with 35+ years of reporting on theatre in Chicago. Mr. Abarbanel talks about his background and experiences as a theatre critic and how he got his start.

His list of credentials is very impressive. He is the theatre contributor for Chicago Public Radio,  the theatre editor for the Windy City Times newspaper, a contributor and long time columnist for Back Stage which is a national trade publication for actors, a senior writer for Performink, a senior writer for the Chicago Footlights monthly program magazine, the Chicago correspondent for TheatreMania.com, the theatre site reporter for the National Endowment For The Arts and a member of the Theatre Critics Association.

With his 35+ years experience as a Chicago theatre critic Mr Abarbanel is the most senior critic in town, an honor previously held by the Chicago Tribune theatre critic Richard Christiansen who began his career in 1956 as a reporter at the City News Bureau of Chicago and held the position as critic at large for the Tribune from 1978 until his retirement in 2002.

Take a listen to this great interview for the insight, advice, and frankness about what it takes to be an excellent Theatre Critic in Chicago. Listen

And for other great interviews, reviews and audio news check out Talk Theatre In Chicago.