BY BEN WINTERS
Those who made it all the way to page 254 of the New Yorker’s October double issue were rewarded with a long review of Steppenwolf’s Ballad of Little Jo. Critic John Lahr (son of Burt Lahr, the Cowardly Lion, by the by) had mostly positive things to say about the show which was penned by Gothamites Mike Reid and Sarah Schlesinger ("the score has a refreshing, muscular grace and passion…Schlesinger’s subtle lyrics sit perfectly on Reid’s notes."), though he toys with director Tina Landau ("Although [Ballad] is directed with a strong imaginative hand by Tina Landau…it bears the limitations of Landau’s avant-garde pedigree.")
Lahr took Chicago critics to task for their lukewarm reception of Lil’ Jo, a comment which earned him the scorn of Mike Conklin writing in the Trib, who calls Lahr’s piece "incredibly condescending." Not to add to the tiff, but Lil’ Jo wasn’t slammed by ALL the local critics, having been championed in the pages of Newcity by…well (ahem) me.
John Lahr will be in town November 4th for the Chicago Humanities Festival if you’d like further elucidation.
CHILD’S PLAY PART TWO
Last time out, Behind the Curtain reported the plight of young Chris Horton, the budding thespian in need of professional assistance to mount a production of Once on this Island at Lincoln Park Elementary. A big thanks goes out to the anonymous community member–a veteran of the Island national tour and two Chicago productions–who read the piece and has offered his services to Horton’s effort. Again, please call the Duncan YMCA (312/738-5887) if you’d like to pitch in.
IN MEMORY
The Jeff Committee has established a scholarship fund in honor of Michael Maggio who passed away in August; $1,500 will go each year to a DePaul graduate student, starting next year. The award will be funded by the committee and administrated by the university. In addition the Jeff award in directing has been redubbed the Michael Maggio Award for Outstanding Director. Robert Falls and Roche Schulfer from the Goodman–where Maggio was an artistic associate–will present the first renamed directing award at the Jeff awards on Oct. 30th.
NEXT IN LINE
Robert Scogin has joined the team at Next Theatre as managing director, a post held from 1994 to 1999 by Peter Rybolt. Scogin is an actor and director, one of the founders of Footlights, a longtime Chicago Shakespeare Theatre regular, and a former Roosevelt University professor. He’s also an old friend and colleague of Next artistic director Kate Buckley, which was a big incentive for taking the new gig.
"I’m a big admirer of Kate," confesses Scogin. "We’ve worked together over 15 years, we’ve taught together, we’re constantly discussing all aspects of production. When she asked me to do this, I couldn’t say no." Scogin, used to being a busy man, will continue in his position as artistic director of Shaw Chicago.
Allison Sciplin, who held the Next post between Rybolt and Scogin, has returned to the Old Town School of Folk Music, from whence she came. Rybolt, meanwhile, has signed up as executive director of the Irish Repertory of Chicago. The Rep folks hope he can bless them with some of the management and fundraising magic he brought to Next and to the Northlight, where as director of development he shook the money tree to the tune of $1,700,000 during 1999.
Enter: Michelle Goodman joins Stage Left as a new company member; she’s already worked on their productions on Tartuffe and Private Passage. Exit: Deborah Brosseau, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre publicist, heads off into the sunset–meaning L.A.–where she’ll be a glamorous film and movie rep. Bienvenidos and bon voyage, respectively.
OVER THE MOON
Originality abounds in Lakeview these days, where the recovered Tennessee Williams drama Not About Nightingales is enjoying its Midwest premiere at TimeLine Theatre on Wellington. And right around the corner at the Performance Loft on Barry is 3200 N. Moon, a fully-improvised sitcom appearing late nights Friday and Saturday through Nov. 11th. The show, directed by Jimmy Carrane of the Annoyance Theatre and Tim O’Malley, a former Second City mainstager, features a cast of seven local improv stalwarts.
"We’re also having guest stars, just like a regular TV show," says Carrane. "The big names in the improv community. I can’t reveal [their names] right now." Carrane did reveal the show’s setting, which is "a children’s book store…but they also have a cocoa bar."
Drew Carrey, eat your heart out.
THIS JUST IN…
In other Chicago comedy news, Second City alum Tina Fey is now co-hosting the Weekend Update segment on SNL along side Jimmy Fallon. At press time the new team was approximately seven billion times funnier than Colin Quinn.