Overview

The first knownChicago Tribunetheater review appeared on March 25, 1853. An anonymous notice, it shared the page with two other announcements-one about a pair of thousand-pound hogs set to be slaughtered and another trumpeting the largest load of lumber ever to leave Chicago.""And thus Chicago's priorities were starkly laid out right there on that page,"" begins Chris Jones in the introduction to this eyewitness cultural history. ""Hog butcher for the world and windy self-promoter, specializing in commerce-driven superlatives. The arts came a poor third. Critics, and the artists they covered, would rail against that perceived set of civic priorities for years."" The Chicago of today, on the other hand, is regarded as one of the world's premier cities for theater, and no one has had a more consistent front-row seat to its ascendance than the Chicago Tribunetheater critics.Bigger, Brighter, Louderweaves together more than 150 years ofTribunereviews into a compelling narrative, pairing full reviews with commentary and history. With a sharp eye for telling details and a keen sense of historical context, Jones, longtime chiefTribunetheater critic, takes readers through decades of highs and lows, successes and failures. The book showcases fascinating early reviews of actors and shows that would go on to achieve phenomenal success, including a tryout ofA Raisin in the Sunwith newcomer Sidney Poitier and the first major review ofThe Producers.It also delves into the rare and the unusual, such as a previously unpublished Tennessee Williams interview and a long conversation with Edward Albee's mother. With reviews from Claudia Cassidy, Peregine Pickle, William Leonard, and more, many never collected before, Bigger, Brighter, Louder offers a unique lasting record of an ephemeral art and a riveting look at the history behind Chicago's rise to theatrical greatness.

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9780226059266

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Reviews

An invaluable addition to the history of our city. --Roche Schulfer, Executive Director of Goodman Theatre and Founder and two-time C

From Joseph Jefferson as Rip Van Winkle in 1868, to Claudia Cassidy (the notorious critic of the '40s and '50s), to the Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh with Nathan Lane in 2012, Chris Jones writes a rich and rewarding history of Chicago theater. It's a must for any theatergoer. (Roy Leonard) An invaluable addition to the history of our city. (Roche Schulfer, executive director of Goodman Theatre)

Author Information

Chris Jones is chief theater critic for the Chicago Tribune, where he has reviewed and commented on culture, the arts, politics, and entertainment for more than fifteen years. He is also adjunct professor at the Theatre School at DePaul University.

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