I didn’t meet the revered Chicago Tribune theater critic, Richard Christiansen, until 2016 when I started interviewing him for my book Ensemble: An Oral History of Chicago Theater. He was 84 years old and living at The Selfhelp Home, an assisted living facility for older Jewish adults where a caregiver he particularly liked would sit […]
Tag: Dennis Začek
Posted inArts & Culture
Black Ensemble Theater scores big with MacKenzie Scott grant; Victory Gardens announces new playwrights ensemble
$5 million helps BET regain lost ground from COVID, while Ken-Matt Martin reignites a VG tradition.
Posted inArts & Culture
Ken-Matt Martin takes over at Victory Gardens
After a tumultuous year, the theater’s new artistic director is ready to listen as well as lead.
Posted inArts & Culture
Victory Gardens playwrights ensemble resigns
Restructuring at the top causes an exodus—again.
Posted inColumns & Opinion
In a troubled time, Victory Gardens consolidates leadership and promotes from within
Erica Daniels will replace Chay Yew in the top job at Victory Gardens Theater.
Posted inArts & Culture
Nothing happens (twice) in Waiting for Godot
Dennis Začek’s solid staging lets Samuel Beckett’s existential comedy be.
Posted inArts & Culture
Something Rotten, The Project(s), and eight more new stage shows to see now
A touring Broadway hit and a youth revival from American Theater Company are among this week’s best bets.
Posted inArts & Culture
Other People’s Money may be the best revenge
Other People’s Money may be the best revenge.
Posted inColumns & Opinion
At Victory Gardens, a bitter uprooting
Victory Gardens Theater gets weeded out
Posted inArts & Culture
Ersatz Absurdity
Edward Albee never managed to make The Zoo Story believably pointless.