Chicago, The Windy City. Also, Chicago, city of the original Steppenwolf production of August: Osage County, many moons ago. Also, Chicago, current or former home of many current company members, and birthplace of yours truly. So, Chicago had a lot going for it from the get-go! Add to it the fact that the weather wasn’t too bitterly cold, the audiences were large and responsive, the reviews were good, and we were thrown several parties and gatherings while we were there, and Chicago takes first prize for Most Enjoyable Tour City of 2010.
Opening night was great, and the party afterwards was fun and filled with old friends, our director, our playwright, former cast members, etc. Once again I dug up a dress and got dolled-up – this could be our last opening night party for quite some time! Had to take advantage of the opportunity to wear eyeliner.
I confess I was a bit of a party-pooper in Chicago, and I didn’t do much after-show bar-hopping, I attended no blues clubs, I ate no deep-dish pizza, and I didn’t even really do any sightseeing! I know, it’s shameful. But, I DID see a lot of friends and do some great catching up and see some good theatre. I visited my old college roommate Katie and her husband Adam, who now own a lovely apartment across the street from the Obama house in Hyde Park (yes, literally across the street – that’s their address: Katie and Adam, Across the Street from the Obamas, Chicago, IL). I saw my mom’s very old and dear friend Jack, who I also haven’t seen in about 20 years, and another friend of hers Margaret, who I saw a mere 10 years ago, when I briefly considered attending the University of Chicago, before coming to visit in January and watching the thermometer hit ZERO degrees and then racing back south of the Mason-Dixon Line for a few more years. I attended a lovely and fancy party at Tracy Letts’ gorgeous new home in North Chicago, and got to catch up with several former cast members and meet some local Chicago actors currently involved in shows at Steppenwolf. And, I got to spend some lovely time with Anna & Ian and their gorgeous new babies Olivia & Giovanni (and we all know how I love a baby). Also, I saw an amazing production of American Buffalo at Steppenwolf – directed by former company member Amy Morton, starring playwright Tracy Letts. Really fun and unbelievable night in the theatre. AND, I saw a really interesting production of Hughie/Krapp’s Last Tape at the Goodman Theatre, starring Brian Dennehy. I also spent a fair amount of time riding the subway back and forth from the airport, exercising in the drab underground fitness room at the hotel, and trudging through the snow to and from the theatre. Oh, and I did some shows, too.
All in all, the Windy City was a blast.
Opening night was great, and the party afterwards was fun and filled with old friends, our director, our playwright, former cast members, etc. Once again I dug up a dress and got dolled-up – this could be our last opening night party for quite some time! Had to take advantage of the opportunity to wear eyeliner.
I confess I was a bit of a party-pooper in Chicago, and I didn’t do much after-show bar-hopping, I attended no blues clubs, I ate no deep-dish pizza, and I didn’t even really do any sightseeing! I know, it’s shameful. But, I DID see a lot of friends and do some great catching up and see some good theatre. I visited my old college roommate Katie and her husband Adam, who now own a lovely apartment across the street from the Obama house in Hyde Park (yes, literally across the street – that’s their address: Katie and Adam, Across the Street from the Obamas, Chicago, IL). I saw my mom’s very old and dear friend Jack, who I also haven’t seen in about 20 years, and another friend of hers Margaret, who I saw a mere 10 years ago, when I briefly considered attending the University of Chicago, before coming to visit in January and watching the thermometer hit ZERO degrees and then racing back south of the Mason-Dixon Line for a few more years. I attended a lovely and fancy party at Tracy Letts’ gorgeous new home in North Chicago, and got to catch up with several former cast members and meet some local Chicago actors currently involved in shows at Steppenwolf. And, I got to spend some lovely time with Anna & Ian and their gorgeous new babies Olivia & Giovanni (and we all know how I love a baby). Also, I saw an amazing production of American Buffalo at Steppenwolf – directed by former company member Amy Morton, starring playwright Tracy Letts. Really fun and unbelievable night in the theatre. AND, I saw a really interesting production of Hughie/Krapp’s Last Tape at the Goodman Theatre, starring Brian Dennehy. I also spent a fair amount of time riding the subway back and forth from the airport, exercising in the drab underground fitness room at the hotel, and trudging through the snow to and from the theatre. Oh, and I did some shows, too.
All in all, the Windy City was a blast.