Author Mark Larson reflects on his new book, Ensemble: An Oral History of Chicago Theater, in conversation with Deanna Dunagan and ensemble member Amy Morton. A book signing will follow. This event will be held at 7pm in the Downstairs Theatre at 1650 N Halsted St.
$40 tickets include a copy of the book, which lists at $35
$10 tickets for the event only
ABOUT THE BOOK
Ensemble: An Oral History of Chicago Theater is an in-depth, first-of-its-kind history of Chicago’s internationally celebrated theater scene, written and curated by Mark Larson. Chicago is a bona fide theater town, bursting with an explosive, innovative vitality that’s fed every sector of the entertainment industry—from Hollywood to Broadway to Studio 8H—for as long as it’s delighted adoring local fans, and now, Mark Larson has distilled the history of Chicago’s modern theater movement into one comprehensive volume.
Ensemble explores the early days of the fabled Compass Players and the legendary Second City in the ’50s and ’60s; the rise of internationally acclaimed ensembles like Steppenwolf in the ’70s; the explosion of storefront and neighborhood companies that began in earnest in the ’80s; and the enduring global influence of the city as the center of improv training and performance.
Drawing from more than 300 interviews, author Mark Larson has woven a narrative that expresses the spirit of Chicago’s ensemble ethos: the voices of celebrities including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Ed Asner, George Wendt, Michael Shannon, and Tracy Letts comingle with stories from designers, composers, and others who have played a crucial role in making Chicago theater so powerful, influential and unique.
Due to the high volume and wide breadth of work we present, we are often not able to proactively offer content advisories for individual performances. However, if you have specific concerns about stage effects (such as strobe lights or fog/haze) that might have a bearing on comfort or well-being, or if you would like to know more about the age appropriateness of the performance, please contact the box office at 312-335-1650.