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Every fall you are likely to hear critics and award judges groaning about the over abundance of theatrical openings. But in the true spirit of the season, Theatre in Chicago decided to give you ten reasons to be thankful for our many theatrical blessings in the Windy City. Here is our top ten list in descending order.
10. The Awards
Chicago leads the country in award-winning regional theatres, among them the Goodman, Steppenwolf, VictoryGardens and Chicago Shakespeare. Each offers internationally acclaimed work that is the envy of many other major cities, New York included. Just look at the 2008 Tony Awards, where Best Play, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Regional Theatre honors all went to Chicagoans. Of course, plays do not live by Tony's alone, and the Jeff Awards continue to honor the best Equity and non Equity work produced locally every season. The term SecondCity need hardly be thought of as second-rate anymore.
9. The Theatre District
In a city as large and bustling as Chicago, you can hardly move without bumping into one beautiful pleasure palace or another. From one end of the Loop to the other, we have the Auditorium, Cadillac Palace, Ford Center, Bank of America, DCA Storefront and Cultural Center, Goodman, Lookingglass, Drury Lane Water Tower, Chicago, and DePaul's Merle Reskin Theatres. Our city is truly an embarrassment of riches.
8. The Sit-Down's and Long Runs
While many of those venues play host to a variety of tours and short run productions, Chicago is also becoming known as a viable market for the long run, so-called "sit down" shows. Certainly the mega success of "Wicked" has done wonders in this area, turning its green-skinned heroine into a bankable green colored money maker. Even though the popular prequel to "The Wizard of Oz" will be melting away this January after a record-breaking three-year Chicago run, we still have "Jersey Boys" and Prop Thtr's "Hizzonner" showing no signs of slowing down. And it seems a pretty safe bet that Chicago will be seeing more of this kind in the near future.
7. The Classics
The Chicagoland is proud to boast several first-rate companies devoted to new and compelling presentations of classic plays and literature. Court, Writers, Remy Bumppo, Lifeline, First Folio and City Lit are all highly lauded operations who know how to put the class in classic. And since you can't get much more classic than the Bard, consider a visit to our world-renowned Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier an essential part of the Chicago experience.
6. New Work
It's not just the past but the present and future that make Chicago a world-class theatre town. Consider the bold, vibrant and original work produced every season by the venerable Victory Gardens, Chicago Dramatists, Stage Left and The House, and gutsy up and comers like The Side Project, The New Colony and The Plagiarists. All of which go to prove it doesn't need to be an old movie to be a hit in Chicago.
5. Value
New Yorkers may be happy to slap down $450 a ticket to see the latest Mel Brooks musical, but Chicagoans can still get a great theatrical evening out without necessarily breaking the bank. The ticket scale is as diverse as the companies our town hosts. Check out the League of Chicago Theatre's Hot Tix booth for half-price discounts. And don't be afraid to try one of the many smaller Off-Loop companies out there. The work is innovative, creative and excitingly intimate and offers the true guts and glory of Chicago theatre. In some cases for slightly more than the price of a movie ticket.
4. The Stars
Many of today's brightest have gotten their stars on the Chicago boards. Steppenwolf's distinguished ensemble list itself reads like a Who's Who in American entertainment. Peruse the bios and you'll find a common thread among countless sage, film and TV stars who hail from our fair Metropolis.
3. Great Training Grounds for the Future
Northwestern, DePaul, Columbia, Loyola and University of Chicago all offer outstanding learning paths for the stars of tomorrow. Don't be surprised if you see some of these budding talents hitting the big time in short order.
2. The Community
Although Chicago theatre as a whole can be an enormous collective, it's still a fairly close-knit community whose members support and encourage one another. And there's always room for promising new talent to have opportunities to make their marks. The influx of aspiring new companies every season is testament to that.
1. Variety
It's the spice of life after all and the one thing that makes Chicago stand out among all the other cities the country over. With hundreds of theatres in operation here every season, there is truly something for everyone in Chicago. And that is something to be thankful for every day of the year.
Joe Stead
Theatre In Chicago News Contributor Joe Stead has spent over 20 years as a critic, director, designer and performer. His reviews currently appear online at www.steadstylechicago.com.