Conversations With Ed Tracy

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