Last night I photographed the CHICAGO LIVE! Taping Comedy Music and Commentary and the lovely basement(I mean this!) of the Chicago Theatre on State Street.
I don't recall ever covering a live radio show and the only other time I've been in the basement of the Chicago Theatre is for the annual Macy's Glamorama event when they do the photo ops and interviews before the show starts.
The basement theatre is comfortable with ample seating for smaller events and good sight lines to the stage. It's much smaller and not ornate like the main theatre is upstairs though.
Last nights line-up with host Rick Kogan included Blackhawks Head Coach Joel Quenneville, Musician Robbie Fulks,and Post-Election Dissection.
My favorite local author and friend Jenniffer Weigel interviewed author Jacqueline Edelberg who wrote,''How to Walk To School'. They discussed the Nettlehorst School,one of Chicago's oldest north side schools that she helped transform into a vibrant educational community.
CHICAGO LIVE! is a weekly live radio show taping showcasing who and what is making news in Chicago each week. CHICAGO LIVE! features topical comedy sketches by members of the award-winning Second City, interviews with front-page newsmakers and athletes, and rare, up-close performances by talent typically headlining on theater and music club stages, all in a fast-paced 60-minute program at the intimate Chicago Theatre Downstairs, 175 N. State Street, Thursday evenings, through November 18,2010 at 6:30p.m.
A “meet and mingle” reception with the cast follows each taping.
CHICAGO LIVE! is presented by the Chicago Tribune, in partnership with The Second City, and utilizes the abundance of expert talent from each institution. The live shows are taped for broadcast (and podcast) the following evening on WGN Radio (720AM) Fridays at 11p.m. (or midnight, based on sports coverage).
“This is a fascinating and bold ongoing experiment,” says CHICAGO LIVE! host Rick Kogan. “Bringing the newspaper to life on stage has been full of surprises and revelations. Considering the nature of Chicago and Illinois politics, there is no telling how exciting and enlightening our post-election show will be.”
The talent lineup for CHICAGO LIVE! on Thursday, November 4:
· Joel Quenneville, Head Coach of the 2010 Stanley Cup Champions Chicago Blackhawks, talked about the current season and the team’s awesome award-winning year with Tribune sports columnists (and regular CHICAGO LIVE! contributors) David Haugh and Steve Rosenbloom
· Live acoustic performance by alt-country hero Robbie Fulks
· On the heels of one of the state’s most heated Election Days, political commentary by a panel of winners, watchers and political writers.
· Jenniffer Weigel interviewed author Jacqueline Edelberg (How to Walk to School: Blueprint for a Neighborhood School Renaissance) about her grass roots efforts which successfully transformed the Nettlehorst School in East Lakeview.
· Topical sketch comedy from The Second City.
· All hosted by veteran Chicago reporter, author and radio/TV personality Rick Kogan, who also presents one of the show’s signature segments, “The Almanac,” a multi-media reminiscence of historic Chicago happenings in a particular year.
Upcoming CHICAGO LIVE! programs include special guests author Scott Turow, comedian Greg Proops, and Lyric Opera countertenor David Daniels (Nov. 11) and a special “foodie”-themed final CHICAGO LIVE! program, with local celebrity chefs Graham Elliot, Stephanie Izard and Paul Kahan, plus Michelin Guide Director General Jean-Luc Naret, and a complimentary after-party showcasing Chicago’s rich food and restaurant culture (Nov. 18).
CHICAGO LIVE! is one part of a new initiative of community outreach by the Chicago Tribune, which also includes “Chicago Forward: Conversations About the Future,” a series of live gatherings of policymakers exploring issues of great importance to the Chicago region; programs by columnists and personalities; literary events; and a series of classes and seminars titled “TribU Lessons for Life.” For 163 years, the Chicago Tribune has been a market-leading newspaper publication of Tribune Company. Reaching three million readers each week in the greater Chicago area, the publication is known for its award-winning journalism. The Tribune’s news focus is centered on watchdog coverage, the Chicago experience, community issues and government, the local economy and business, as well as entertainment, culture and sports.
The Second City is the nation’s premier developer of improv-based comedy and home to generations of the comedy world’s most influential artists. Additionally, The Second City is a diverse entertainment company that operates the largest school of improvisation in the country, a corporate communications division that brings improv training to a wide array of businesses and a new media division that leverages the legendary company’s expertise in topical, short form content across a variety of platforms.
Tickets for CHICAGO LIVE! are priced at $25 and include a meet & mingle reception (with cash bar) following each taping. To purchase tickets online, please visit
www.chicagolive.com
There are only 2 more shows for this year,so please visit their website if you'd like to attend!
. Tickets are also sold in advance and until show time at The Chicago Theatre box office, 175 N. State Street, until sold out. For more information or to download a podcast of all CHICAGO LIVE! programs, please visit
www.chicagolive.com
