Crain’s Chicago Business, May 7, 2015 — A day like today has us thinking about the upcoming free concert season at Millennium Park. City officials have made tweaks to the schedule for music at the park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion. They’ve expanded Downtown Sound… Read more of my story for Crain’s Chicago Business. Photo of King Sunny Ade by… Continue reading 2015 Millennium Park concert guide
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Celebrating a Century of Midland Authors
Society of Midland Authors Books Blog, May 5, 2015 — The Society of Midland Authors celebrated its 100th birthday on May 1 and 2, 2015, in Chicago… On Saturday, May 2, the Society held a free daylong event at University Center in the South Loop, featuring speeches by noted authors, panel discussions on literary topics and short… Continue reading Celebrating a Century of Midland Authors
North by Northwest Highway brings three days of music to Edison Park
Record Store Day photos
May 2015 theater preview
Concert reviews and photos
January to April 2015 concert reviews and photos at Underground Bee: — The Vaselines at the Empty Bottle — DRMWPN and Chicago Psych Fest at the Hideout — Mid-February Concert Recap: Olivia Chaney, Mark Dvorak, Sleater-Kinney, Lizzo, the Western Elstons, Greil Marcus with John Langford and Sally Timms, Swans, Xylouris White — Robyn Hitchcock at Space — A new home… Continue reading Concert reviews and photos
Play review: ‘The Herd’
Make It Better magazine, April 14, 2015 — Like so many other plays before it, “The Herd” is about a family gathering that turns into a moment of crisis and confrontation. It’s a familiar formula, but British actor-playwright Rory Kinnear’s drama is an exceptionally well-written take on this scenario. Read my review for Make It… Continue reading Play review: ‘The Herd’
A History of the Society of Midland Authors, Part 2
Society of Midland Authors Books Blog, April 10, 2015 — The authors who gathered at the Auditorium Hotel in Chicago on November 28, 1914, didn’t expect a free dinner. But they were somewhat stunned when the writer who’d invited them, John M. Stahl, picked up the tab for everyone… Read my post at the Society of Midland Authors… Continue reading A History of the Society of Midland Authors, Part 2
A History of the Society of Midland Authors, Part 1
Society of Midland Authors Books Blog, April 2, 2015 — As the Society of Midland Authors celebrates its 100th birthday, we present a history of the organization, starting with this look at its origins. In 1914, Carl Sandburg called Chicago “Hog Butcher for the World.” Edgar Lee Masters, a Chicago lawyer born in Kansas, was giving voice to the common… Continue reading A History of the Society of Midland Authors, Part 1
‘An Issue of Blood’ at Victory Gardens
This article by Robert Loerzel originally appeared in Playbill magazine’s Chicago edition in April 2015. Last fall, Marcus Gardley was supposed to be writing A Wonder in My Soul, a play revolving around a group of Chicago soul singers from the 1960s. It was scheduled to make its world premiere in April at Victory Gardens Theatre. But after… Continue reading ‘An Issue of Blood’ at Victory Gardens