CONVERSATIONS with Ed Tracy: Recent Episodes
Ed Tracy
CONVERSATIONS with Ed Tracy is a Chicago-based interview series featuring engaging and thoughtful discussion with authors and influential leaders in the arts, media and business.
Edward Gero joins the CONVERSATION during a break in rehearsals for The Lehman Trilogy at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Gero’s performance is another highlight in a distinguished, award-winning career spanning forty-seven years with upwards to one hundred fifty roles and counting including The Originalist at Court Theatre in Chicago, Angels in America at Arena Stage and earlier this year, in the critically-acclaimed production of The Lehman Trilogy at the Shakespeare Theatre Company that has now transferred to the Guthrie and opens September 19, 2024.
Stefano Massini’s epic multi-generational story, adapted by Ben Power and directed by Arin Arbus, chronicles the true-to-life rise of three Jewish immigrant brothers who built their own version of the American Dream from a small fabric business in 1844 to the international financial firm whose spectacular collapse in 2008 sent global markets spiraling out of control. The Guthrie Theater production includes Gero, Mark Nelson and William Sturdivant in the cast of three who play the Lehman brothers and recreate all of the over fifty other roles.
7 Episode 3 Originally posted September 4, 2024
Steve Hamilton, the two-time Edgar Award-winning and NY Times bestselling author of the Alex McKnight series, joined the CONVERSATION to talk about the release of An Honorable Assassin (Blackstone Publishing August 27, 2024), the third book in the popular Nick Mason series. Season 7 Episode 2 Originally posted August 15, 2024
Michael Garfield Levine joins the Conversation to discuss his solo show “Spinning My Wheels” that chronicles the touching, disturbing and often humorous arc of Levine’s Vermont theatre experiences to the streets of New York and, ultimately, a path of acceptance and survival.
Levine will perform his show on Thursday, April 11th at the Royall Tyler Theatre on the campus of the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont as a prelude to that theatre's 50th Anniversary Celebration on April 12-13.
The 7:00 pm performance is free, but reservations are required by emailing: theatreanddance@uvm.edu.
Season 7 Episode 1 Originally posted March 22, 2024
Teatro ZinZanni Chicago returns with an exciting, new show created by Joe DePaul and offering one of the most unique entertainment experiences anywhere.
General manager and producer, Kerry Sheehan, joins the CONVERVATION to tell us about the show that is set in the exquisite 100-year-old Belgian Spiegeltent ZaZou on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel in Chicago's Loop.
Season 6 Episode 3 Originally posted October 19 2023
Matthew C. Yee, the creator, writer and composer of the new musical "Lucy and Charlie's Honeymoon" at Lookingglass Theatre joins the CONVERSATION to discuss the show and the collaborative process to bring it to the stage. Aurora Adachi-Winter and Yee star as Lucy and Charlie, two first generation Asian Americans who meet, fall in love and then decide to start a life of crime together. This episode includes a featured solo performance of "Bao's Song" from the show running at Lookingglass through July 11, 2023.
Season 6 Episode 2 Originally posted May 31, 2023
On the eve of Cabaret ZaZou's 200th performance in the Speigeltent on the 14th floor of Chicago's Cambria Hotel, we caught up with two of the shows stars, comic emcee Frank Ferrante and singer James Harkness, for a Conversation about the extraordinary cast and how the show continues to evolve over the course of a long run.
Season 6 Episode 3 Originally posted June 1, 2023
Co-writer/producer Sara Stotts joins the CONVERSATION to discuss the new musical MotherFreakingHood! during the Chicago Premiere at the Mercury Theater Chicago.
Season 6 Episode 1 Originally posted May 23, 2023
Entertaining audiences for decades with his terrific one-man show about Groucho Marx, Frank Ferrante joins the conversation to talk about his return to Chicago in September for LUMINAIRE at Cabaret ZaZou in the shimmering Spiegeltent on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel and a tour stop for Groucho coming up in South Haven. One of our great improvisational actors, comedians and entertainers, Ferrante talks about developing characters, the new show in Chicago and the PBS special that has brought Groucho to a new generation of fans. "An Evening with Groucho" at the South Haven Theatre Series 7:30 pm August 20, 2022.
Tony Award winner and multi-Tony nominee André De Shields discusses the opening moments of the return of HADESTOWN to Broadway on September 2, 2021 with CONVERSATIONS host Ed Tracy.
This is an excerpt of the interview during the 2021 Sarah Siddons Society Actor of the Year Award benefit held in Chicago in October 2021.
To view the entire interview, visit: https://bit.ly/3z61qkG
Chicago jazz vocalist and flutist Elaine Dame plays the theme song of CONVERSATIONS ("The High Road Theme") during a segment of the podcast "Conversations with Ed Tracy." To purchase Elaine's album "You're My Thrill" visit: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/elainedame3. Listen to our 2017 podcast at the CONVERSATIONS website: https://www.conversationswithedtracy.com/de-usuris/2017/4/5/elaine-dame-
Chicago jazz vocalist Elaine Dame sings "They Say It's Wonderful." To purchase the album "You're My Thrill" visit: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/elainedame3. Listen to our 2017 podcast at the CONVERSATIONS website: https://www.conversationswithedtracy.com/de-usuris/2017/4/5/elaine-dame-
Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. David Bellavia joins program host Ed Tracy for a special CONVERSATIONS podcast with the Norwich University Corps of Cadets, recorded live on September 25, 2019 in historic Plumley Armory on the Norwich campus located in Northfield, Vermont.
Season 5 Episode 2 - Originally posted March 25, 2020
Sandy Duncan joins the CONVERSATION to discuss Dan Clancy's "MIDDLETOWN The Ride of Your Life!" during the run of the show at the Apollo Theater Chicago.
Season 5 Episode 1 Originally posted March 11, 2020
Cage Sebastian Pierre, one of Chicago’s top young actors and fight choreographers, joins the CONVERSATION to talk about fight choreography in Barbara Gaines new production of Romeo and Juliet at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Season 4 - Episode 14 Originally posted October 31, 2019
Heidi Kettenring, the accomplished Jeff Award-winning actor/vocalist joins the CONVERSATION to talk about balancing busy careers with her actor/husband David Girolmo and her upcoming concert appearances at the Auditorium Theatre in ‘Chicago Celebrates Sondheim!’ with the Chicago Philharmonic and the Artists Lounge Live Karen Carpenter holiday show at Mercury’s Venus Cabaret.
Season 4 - Episode 13 Originally posted October 29, 2019
Charles Newell, the long-serving Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director of Court Theatre, joins the conversation to discuss his career and Court's next major project: The Oedipus Trilogy, which begins November 7, 2019 with Oedipus Rex,followed in May 2020 with The Gospel at Colonus and Antigone next season.
Season 4 - Episode 12 Originally posted October 28, 2019
Actor Bri Sudia joins the CONVERSATION to discuss sign language interpretation for the theater and her upcoming role as Mona Juul in the highly-anticipated TimeLine Theatre Company|Broadway in Chicago production of “OSLO” directed by Nick Bowling.
Season 4 - Episode 11 Originally posted September 16, 2019
Singer/Actor/Voiceover Artist Julie Garnyé, currently appearing in cast of the North American tour of "Come From Away," joins the CONVERSATION to discuss her performance career that includes Grizabella in National Tour of the musical CATS and a long run in the original cast of Disney’s FROZEN: Live at the Hyperion Theatre.
Season 4 - Episode 10 Originally posted August 14, 2019
Dann Gire, the award-winning journalist and film critic for the Daily Herald for over four decades, joins the CONVERSATION to discuss the responsibilities of critics in the understanding of the arts and the development and impact of the Chicago Film Critics Association.
Season 4 - Episode 9 Originally posted July 25, 2019
Roche Schulfer, the long-serving Executive Director of Chicago's Goodman Theatre, joins the CONVERSATION following the opening of Mary Zimmerman’s revival of “The Music Man”—the Tony Award winning director’s 16th Goodman show in a 25-year association.
Season 4 Episode 8 Originally posted July 15, 2019
Ron Kellum, Cirque du Soleil's Artistic Director for VOLTA, joins the CONVERSATION during the hit show's Chicago run to discuss Cirque's development process and the extraordinarily gifted performers in the company.
Season 4 Episode 7 Originally posted June 22, 2019
Former State Senator William Marovitz joins the CONVERSATION to talk about the 2016 Chicago Cubs World Series victory and the upcoming world premiere of “MIRACLE-The Musical” at the Royal George Theatre in Chicago.
Season 4 Episode 6 Originally posted May 6, 2019
The talented Chicago actor and vocalist Sharriese Hamilton joins the CONVERSATION to discuss the Chicago Children's Theatre production of "The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963" and what's up next: the role of Hannah in the Australian company of the international hit "Come From Away."
Season 4 Episode 5 Originally posted April 28, 2019
Cory Lippiello, Artistic Administrator for Lyric Opera of Chicago, joins the CONVERSATION to talk about casting the highly-anticipated production of West Side Story.
Season 4 Episode 4 Orginally posted April 15, 2019
Director Louis Contey joins the CONVERSATION to discuss the Shattered Globe Theatre production of Kate Foder’s “Hannah and Martin” tracing the relationship—and passionate love affair—between the German-Jewish political theorist Hannah Arendt and her mentor, the celebrated German philosopher Martin Heidegger and the impact that the rise to power of the Nazi party had on the course of their lives.
Season 4 Episode 3 Originally posted April 8, 2019
Dana Tretta and Christopher Kale Jones, the two powerhouse stars of the Mercury Theater Chicago production of “Little Shop of Horrors” directed by L Walter Stearns with musical director Eugene Dizon, join the CONVERSATION to talk about just how fiendishly desperate—and painfully real—things are for the star-crossed lovers in the macabre 1982 hit with music by Alan Menken and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman.
Season 4 Episode 2 Originally posted March 19, 2019
Renowned soloists Alfreda Burke and Rodrick Dixon join the CONVERSATION to talk about Too Hot To Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah, the universality of Handel’s work and the power of music to inspire and uplift our lives in advance of the 2019 concert at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago.
Season 4 Episode 1 Originally posted January 8, 2019
Tony Award-winning director and playwright Mary Zimmerman joins the CONVERSATION to discuss her new work The Steadfast Tin Soldier based on the Hans Christian Andersen children's story presented in pantomime at Chicago's Lookingglass Theatre Company. In an extraordinary career that has spanned the worlds of theater and opera, Zimmerman received the 2002 Tony Award for directing *Metamorphoses.
Season 3 Episode 21 Originally posted December 17, 2018*
Janet Ulrich Brooks, one of Chicago’s most gifted actors working in theater, film and television, joins the CONVERSATION to discuss her role as the legendary opera diva Maria Callas during the run of the TimeLine Theatre Company production of Master Class at Stage 773.
Season 3 Episode 20 Originally posted November 23, 2018
Historian Neil Hanson joins the **CONVERSATION** in London for a fascinating look back 100 years to the end of World War I and the events that followed. His book, **UNKNOWN SOLDIERS: The Story of the Missing of the First World War (Knopf 2005)**recounts the life and combat history of three soldiers – an American from Chicago, George Seibold, an Englishman, Alec Reader and a German, Paul Hub – representing the over 3 million who fought and died on all sides whose remains have never been accounted for.
Season 3 Episode 19 Originally posted November 10, 2018
Recorded in London.
The award-winning UK-based musical writing team of Scott Gilmour and Claire McKenzie joined the CONVERSATION in London to discuss their new project, HI, MY NAME IS BEN, an international collaboration with Dundee Repertory Theatre and Goodspeed Musicals, and the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where MY LEFT/RIGHT FOOT-THE MUSICAL, produced by Birds of Paradise Theatre Company and the National Theatre of Scotland, received the Fringe First Award and the Herald Angel Award.
Season 3 Episode 18 Originally posted November 7, 2018
Recorded in London.
Award-winning actor Larry Yando joins the conversation to discuss the American premiere of “Nell Gwynn” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and his 25 year association with the company. Yando, who played Scar in the national tour of “The Lion King” for three years and recently toured Europe in Peter Brooks' "Battlefield," returns as Ebenezer Scrooge in the Goodman Theatre Holiday Classic “A Christmas Carol” in November 2018.
Season 3 Episode 17 Originally posted October 25, 2018
Greg Cameron, President and CEO of The Joffrey Ballet, joined the conversation on October 5th to discuss Christopher Wheeldon's Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, developing colaborative partnerships, and what's ahead for the 2018-2019 season and beyond.
Posted October 10, 2018 Season 3 Episode 16
Michael Weber, Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Director, joins the CONVERSATION to discuss the new production of GYPSY starring E. Faye Butler and what’s ahead in the 2018-2019 season for one of Chicago’s most innovative and successful musical theatre companies.
Season 3 Episode 15 Originally published October 4, 2018
Lili-Anne Brown, the accomplished actor, director, educator and Northwestern alum joins the conversation to talk about the Firebrand Theatre/TimeLine Theatre partnership for the upcoming Tony Kushner/Jeanine Tesori musical "Caroline, or Change","BUDDY: The Buddy Holly Story" at Stage 773, and in 2019, "The Total Bent" at Haven and "Lottery Day" at Goodman. (NOTE: Multiple Jeff nominations to American Blues Theater's "Buddy" including Best Director of a Musical for Lili-Anne Brown were announced on 8/28/2018.)
Season 3 Episode 14 Originally posted August 28, 2018
Award-winning actor, vocalist and director Rob Lindley talks about performing in Fun Home at Victory Gardens, Dark Café Days: Foiled Again Sings Joni Mitchell with his long-time musical partners Anne Sheridan Smith and Allison Bazarko Kirk at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre and joining the 2018-19 US tour of Phantom of the Opera.
Season 3 Episode 13
Originally posted July 9, 2018
Director Kimberly Senior, whose credits include the 2012 Broadway production of Ayad Akhtar’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Disgraced, joins the conversation to discuss developing new works for the theatre and the world premiere of Ellen Fairey's Support Group For Men at Goodman Theatre.
Season 3 Episode 12
Originally posted June 28, 2018
Actors Leah Morrow and Jackson Evans join the conversation to talk about their return to the roles of Kate Monster and Princeton in the 2018 revival of the 2014 Mercury Theater Chicago smash hit production of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q that played for 169 performances.
Season 3 Episode 11
Originally posted June 18, 2018
Award-winning actor Edward Gero joins the conversation to discuss his portrayal of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in John Strand's The Originalist during the Chicago run at Court Theatre. The compelling and provocative Asolo Repertory Theatre, Arena Stage, Pasadena Playhouse production is directed by Molly Smith with Associate Director Seema Sueko.
Season 3 Episode 10
Originally Posted May 31, 2018
Producer|writer|lyricist June Finfer and composer|lyricist Elizabeth Doyle joined the conversation to talk about the development process and debut of their new musical, Burnham's Dream: The White City.
Season 3 Episode 9
Originally posted May 29, 2018
When 20-year-old Rishi Sharma joined the conversation in March 2018, he had already conducted over 850 interviews with combat veterans of World War II, all part of an ambitious plan to preserve their stories for generations to come.
Season 3 Episode 8
Originally Posted May 23, 2018
Director, Actor and Northwestern University professor Henry Godinez joined the conversation to talk about the Chicago Children's Theater premiere of the new musical Last Stop on Market Street, his professional career and the expanding Latino theater community in Chicago.
Season 3 Episode 7
Originally posted May 9, 2018
Tony Macaluso, Director of the WFMT Radio Network and Director of the Studs Terkel Radio Archive, joined the conversation to talk about the May 2018 launch and the work that has been done to make over 5,600 programs available online for future generations of scholars, journalists, and the general public. This program includes clips from a 1960 interview with Studs Terkel and Buster Keaton.
Season 3 Episode 6
Originally Posted May 7, 2018
William Massolia, Griffin Theatre Company's Artistic Director & Founder joined the conversation on March 23rd to discuss LETTERS HOME & GHOSTS OF WAR examining the Iraq & Afghanistan wartime experiences of servicemen and servicewomen, and their families. Written and directed by Massolia, Letters Home has been seen by more than 100,000 people in more than 100 cities since its first performance in 2007. Ghosts of War was adapted from the book by Ryan Smithson. The productions will be presented in rotating repertory at The Den Theatre in Chicago.
Season 3 Episode 5
Originally Posted March 28, 2018
Spertus Institute President & CEO Dr. Hal M. Lewis discusses the principles of leadership and the new series Critical Conversations featuring former Governors Jennifer Granholm and Mike Huckabee with moderator Frank Sesno.
Season 3 Episode 4
Originally Posted March 13, 2018
Photographer Michael Brosilow talks about his extensive career in theater photography and the extraordinary artists, directors and designers in Chicago whose work he has captured since his first assignment with Steppenwolf in 1986.
Season 3 Episode 3
Originally Posted March 6, 2018
Speaker/Writer/Activist/Actor Clifton Truman Daniel, the oldest grandson of President Harry S. Truman and Bess Truman and son of author Margaret Truman, recently embarked on a new project, portraying his grandfather in a one-man show Give 'Em Hell, Harry by playwright Samuel Gallu. Daniel, who has contributed to expanding our understanding of Truman’s pivotal era with a national lecture series, two books and a continuing association with the Harry S. Truman Library and Institute in Independence, Missouri, joined the conversation on February 23, 2018 to talk about the show, his 2012 trip to Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Truman presidency.
Season 3 Episode 2 Originally posted February 28, 2018
Actress Linda Reiter received the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Solo Performance in the role of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy in the 2016 Chicago Premiere of ROSE: An Intimate Evening with Mrs. Kennedy. Ms. Reiter, who returns to the Greenhouse Theater Center on January 12th to reprise the role, joined the conversation on January 2nd to talk about her preparation, working with director Steve Scott and playwright Laurence Leamer and how the Kennedy family legacy was influenced by this remarkable woman.
Season 3 Episode 1 Originally posted January 4, 2018
Chicago Scenic Studios Founder/CEO Bob Doepel joins the conversation to talk about 40 years of collaborating on major projects like the Grant Park celebrations for Barack Obama and the Chicago Cubs World Series, the new American Writers Museum and set pieces for the Joffrey Ballet's Nutcracker.
Season 2 Episode 31 Originally posted December 13, 2017
Deb Clapp, Executive Director of The League of Chicago Theatres joined the conversation to talk about a wide range of topics including the mission and important work of the League, the HotTix program, the 2017 Holiday Theatre Guide and a preview of the 2018 Chicago Theatre Week to be held February 9th -18th.
Season 2 Episode 30. Originally published December 7, 2017.
For over 4 decades, Rich Daniels and his orchestra have been featured together with a long and distinguished list of music greats including Ray Charles, Mel Torme, Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, The Four Topps, Smokey Robinson, Frankie Laine and many more. Daniels has been touring recently with the Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration and has been engaged with the hit TV series “Empire” for the past four years. Daniels joined the conversation on November 2nd to talk about his career and upcoming Auditorium show on November 17th for ELLA & LENA: The Ladies and Their Music, a centennial concert celebration of Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne. Chicago vocalist and producer Joan Curto will be joined by many of Chicago’s top artists including E. Faye Butler, Beckie Menzie, Tammy McCann, Paul Marinaro, Tom Michael and Sophie Grimm with Daniels’ 17-piece orchestra featuring songs from the Great American Songbook.
Season 2 Episode 29. Originally published November 9, 2017.
Author Glen Shuld joins the conversation to discuss his book The Color of Character, a work of fiction based on a journal he kept of his grade school experiences growing up Jewish and gay in an integrated system in the early '70s.
Season 2 Episode 28. Originally published October 24, 2017.
Longtime Goodman Producer/Director Steve Scott joined the conversation in October 2016 to talk about the 2016 production - and 39th Annual - of A Christmas Carol and his career in Chicago theatre. Scott, who retired from the Goodman after 40 years service earlier this year, will be honored at the 2017 Joseph Jefferson Awards on November 6th, 2017.
Season 1 Episode 13 Recorded October 24, 2016
Ashley Wheater, Artistic Director of the Joffrey Ballet joins the conversation to discuss the new partnership with Lyric Opera, the PBS filming of Orphée et Eurydice and the 2017-2018 opening production of Giselle at the Auditorium Theater. Along the way, he reflects on co-founders Robert Joffrey, Gerald Arpino, working with Rudolph Nureyev, John Field and Helgi Tomasson, among others, and the 1996 career-ending injury, surgery and the aggressive physical therapy that followed.
Season 2 Episode 27 | Originally published October 11, 2017
Award-winning dancer, choreographer and director Brenda Didier joins the conversation during rehearsals for Billy Elliot, the opening production of Porchlight Music Theatre's 23rd season and first at The Ruth Page Center in Chicago.
Season 2 Episode 26 | Originally published September 19, 2017
Award-winning actress, singer and entertainer E. Faye Butler joins the conversation during a break in rehearsal of Barbara Gaines upcoming all-woman production of Taming of the Shrew at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and her recent Jeff-nominated appearance as Mama Morton in Chicago at Drury Lane.
Season 2 Episode 25 | Originally published September 13, 2017
Producing Artistic Director, Wendy Whiteside, and Foley artist and designer, Shawn J. Goudie, joined the conversation to tell us more about their wonderful lives in Chicago … and Bedford Falls. The 2017 Jeff nominated live radio show opens at Stage 773 on November 16, 2017.
Originally published December 14, 2016 | Season 1 Episode 17
Chris Jones, chief theater critic and a Sunday culture columnist for the Chicago Tribune, joined the conversation at the Hubbard Inn on November 19, 2013 to discuss his new book Bigger, Brighter, Louder. Also featured in this episode of CONVERSATIONS FTA (From The Archives) is a performance by World War II veteran JUDY BRUBAKER, who played the role of Ms. Leach in the original Chicago cast of Grease in 1971.
Originally published August 21, 2017 | CONVERSATIONS FTA
Ethan Michaeli is an award-winning author, publisher and journalist based in Chicago. He was a copy editor and investigative reporter at The Defender from 1991 to 1996. Ethan joined us for the debut of conversations with Ed Tracy at the Skokie Theatre to discuss his new book, The Defender.
Originally published July 15, 2016 | Season 1 Episode 2
Imerman Angels CEO & Executive Director Benjamin Bornstein, a three-time cancer survivor, joins the conversation to discuss the Chicago-based organization that brings cancer fighters and caregivers together with Mentor Angel survivors of the approximate age and cancer type in all 50 states and 60 countries.
Season 2 Episode 24 | Originally published August 16, 2017
Artistic Director Gracie Valdez and Aerial Strap Artist Benjamin Courtenay join the conversation in the rehearsal tent for an inside look at Cirque Du Soleil's LUZIA: A Waking Dream of Mexico during the Chicago run of the show.
Season 2 Episode 23 | Originally published August 10, 2017
Co-founder and Artistic Director Harmony France joins the conversation to discuss Chicago's new Equity company, Firebrand Theatre, the first musical theatre company committed to employing and empowering women by expanding opportunities on and off the stage. The company's launches their inaugural season this fall with a production of LIZZIE at The Den Theatre.
Season 2 Episode 22 | Originally published August 10, 2017
Comedian Tom Dreesen joins the conversation to talk about 48 years in show business and counting, including 14 years on tour with Frank Sinatra and over 60 appearances on the Tonight Show.
Season 2 Episode 21 | Originally published August 3, 2017
Comedian Tom Dreesen talks about life lessons from his high school football coach, why he likes playing golf with Joe Pesci and mortality.
Shattered Globe’s Producing Artistic Director Sandy Shinner joined the conversation to talk about her career, True West and what’s ahead.
Season 1 Episode 8 | Originally published August 24, 2016
As successful social media entrepreneurs, bloggers and cook book authors, Kit Graham and Jocelyn Delk Adams, know a thing or two about “likes” and “followers.” Both joined the conversation to discuss their careers in food, travel and beyond.
Season 1 Episode 2 | Originally published July 8, 2016
Sheldon Patinkin helped shape the Chicago comedy and theater scene as a writer, performer and director starting in the 1950s. He joined the conversation in 2013 to discuss his wide-ranging career, the development of The Second City and many of the extraordinary comedians he has worked with over the years.
Originally published September 19, 2013
Long-time Chicago playwright and actor James Sherman sat down for a conversation at the Skokie Theatre to discuss his production The Ben Hecht Show.
Originally published June 29, 2016 | Season 1 Episode 6
Actor Randall Newsome joins the conversation in advance of the opening of Eugene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness! at Goodman Theatre to discuss O'Neill's work, his career and the unique skills he developed as a circus clown that have helped him along the way.
Season 2 Episode 19 | Originally published June 29, 2017
Lookinglass co-founder and director David Catlin, adapted the high-flying, critically-acclaimed stage version of the Herman Melville classic Moby Dick in 2015. With the show now returning to Chicago after a national tour, David Catlin joined the conversation to discuss his early influences and the fascinating collaborative process behind the company's ambitious and powerful production.
Season 2 Episode 20 | Originally published June 29, 2017
Ron Keaton, producer, actor and writer of the acclaimed Churchill one-man show was our first guest for Conversations with Ed Tracy at the Skokie Theatre. Ron discussed his long-time acting career, future goals for SoloChicago and performed a monologue from his 2015 Joseph Jefferson Award-winning performance of Churchill.
Season 1 Episode 1 | Originally published July 28, 2016
John Zukowsky, Lee Bey and Rolf Achilles joined the conversation at the national launch of Building Chicago to discuss the evolving landscape of Chicago architecture in the 20th century.
Season 1 Episode 14 | Originally published November 10, 2016
Bestselling author Steve Hamilton joins the conversation this week to discuss his new book in the Nick Mason series, Exit Strategy, the upcoming Lionsgate film project to be filmed in Chicago and what is it about the turbulent and violent world of Nick Mason that keeps us coming back for more.
Season 2 Episode 18 | Originally published May 17, 2017
Actor and singer Evan Tyrone Martin joined the conversation to discuss his title role in the smash hit production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Paramount Theatre.
Season 2 Episode 17 | Originally published May 10, 2017
Actor and educator Kathleen Ruhl joined the conversation to discuss a Chicago theatrical career that spans five decades and the role that her daughter, Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award nominee, Sarah Ruhl, wrote for her about her family in For Peter Pan On Her 70th Birthday.
Season 2 Episode 16 | Originally published May 3, 2017
Paul Becker, the fourth generation in his family to make Becker violins and cellos, joined the conversation to talk about the extraordinary precision required in making Becker instruments and his family's remarkable legacy.
Season 2 Episode 13 | Originally published April 13, 2017
Actor and comedian Ed Kross joined the conversation to give an inside look on his career that has spanned improv on a cruise ship, theatre all over Chicago, a couple of high-profile film turns with Tom Hanks and George Clooney and lots of commercial work for one of Chicago's most gifted comic talents.
Season 2 Episode 14 | Originally published April 20, 2017
Ashley Wheater, Artistic Director of the Joffrey Ballet, joined the conversation to talk about the ever-evolving nature of ballet and the world-renowned choreographers assembled for Global Visionaries at the Auditorium Theatre.
Season 2 Episode 15 | Originally published April 25, 2017
Singer Robert Sims joined the conversation following a concert appearance in Detroit to talk about how his career was influenced by Robeson and Hayes and the challenges they faced breaking down barriers.
Season 2 Episode 3 | Originally published February 8, 2017
One of Chicago's most gifted jazz singers and vocal coaches, Elaine Dame, joined the conversation recorded at Winter’s Jazz Club to talk about her influences, career and future performances.
Season 2 Episode 12 | Originally published April 6, 2017
Legendary Irish musician John Williams joined the conversation just prior to a community session with a dozen musicians at the Celtic Knot in Chicago to talk about growing up in a musical family and how his music has served as a bridge to the past for the next generation.
Season 2 Episode 8 | Originally published March 8, 2017
We visited the Cavalia village to speak with the production team, artists and trainers involved in mounting the 2017 version of the show, Odysseo, founded in 2003 by Normand Latourelle. Resident Artistic Director Darren Charles joined the conversation to talk about about the overall vision of Odysseo along with performers Sam Alvarez and Elise Verdoncq.
Season 2 Episode 11 | Originally published March 30, 2017
Singer Joan Curto joined the conversation to talk about the special qualities needed to balance business, performance and family and plans for the next Auditorium Theatre concert honoring Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne entitled ELLA & LENA - THE LADIES AND THEIR MUSIC on November 17th.
Season 2 Episode 10 | Originally published March 23, 2017
Actor Karl Hamilton joined the conversation to talk about Mamma Mia!, the transition of Ride the Cyclone to New York and his take on the business of show
Season 2 Episode 9 | Originally published March 16, 2017
Singer Steve Biossat joined the conversation to talk about the relaunch of Speakeasy Swing with vocalists Alyssa Allgood and Marcus Gress, growing up in the US and abroad, and how that affected his approach to music and working in Chicago's busy music scene.
Season 2 Episode 7 | Originally published March 2, 2017
Actor James Earl Jones II joined the conversation for a frank and open discussion about living with Tourette’s and how the musical of The Scottsboro Boys story helps to broaden our understanding of a very dark and tumultuous time in our history.
Season 2 Episode 6 | Originally published February 22, 2017
Jim Frazier, Gold Star Family member in Illinois who leads Gold Star Survivor Outreach efforts, joined the conversation on May 25, 2016 as part of our live Skokie Theatre series in advance of the 2016 City of Chicago Memorial Day ceremony and parade. The discussion is centered on the important work being done to support Gold Star Family members in Illinois and across the country.
Originally published August 10, 2016 | Season 1 Episode 3
Singer Tammy McCann joined the conversation fresh from a concert in Norway to talk about her upcoming appearances at Winter’s Jazz Club, the City Winery debut of Jeannie Tanner’s Words & Music, the 8th Annual Chi-Town Jazz Festival, and the most important part of her life, raising a young family in Chicago.
Season 2 Episode 5 | Originally published February 16, 2017
Since arriving on the Chicago music scene in the late 60’s, Bonnie Koloc has established herself as one of our most gifted and beloved singers, songwriters and visual artists. On October 22nd, 2013, as Monroe Anderson and Ed Tracy prepared for the Chicago Conversations PBS television program on Old Town School, Bonnie Koloc joined a live edition of the show at the Hubbard Inn in which she discussed her extraordinary career, the challenges she faced with recording companies and includes a performance of Amelia Earhart's *Last Flight*.
Season 1 - From the Archives | Originally published May 24, 2017
Acclaimed non-fiction author and historian, Arnie Bernstein, joined the conversation at the Skokie Theatre to discuss his book Swastika Nation, which explores Fritz Kuhn and the 1930s Bund movement in the United States. Recorded live at the Skokie Theatre.
Originally published August 17, 2016 | Season 1 Episode 4
Actor André De Shields joined the conversation to talk about his upcoming show, an extraordinary 46-year career and what it is that keeps bringing him back to Chicago.
Season 1 Episode 7 | Originally published August 17, 2016
Shakespeare 400 Chicago Festival Producer, Doreen Sayegh, joined the conversation to discuss everything that has been happening twixt wake and sleep, including what's coming up this fall and a treasury of everlasting “scholarly” joy called City Desk 400.
Season 1 Episode 9 | Originally published August 31, 2016
Matt Crowle, the six-time Jefferson award nominated actor, choreographer and dance instructor joined the conversation to talk about who helped to shape his performance philosophy, recognizing talent, the importance of training, and, working with one of his best friends, Bill Larkin.
Season 1 Episode 10 | Originally published September 28, 2016
Singer Paul Marinaro joined the conversation to talk about his musical career, the Birdland show in NYC, what’s coming up next, and a dog named Titus.
Season 1 Episode 11 | Originally published October 13, 2016
Artistic Director of Northwestern University's American Music Theatre Project, David Bell, joined the conversation for an in-depth discussion about the challenges of developing new works for Broadway, the impact and accessibility of workshop programs for emerging artists and what’s ahead for the AMTP.
Season 1 Episode 12 | Originally published October 27, 2016
Singer and actor Angela Ingersoll joined the conversation to discuss the run with Judy Garland, what’s happening next for her live concert career and how she met and fell for the special ‘Jersey Boy’ in her life.
Season 2 Episode 4 | Originally published February 10, 2017
Comedian and Actor Bill Larkin joined the conversation to talk about Chicago’s musical theatre community and his new album.
Season 1 Episode 16 | Originally published December 8, 2016