CONVERSATIONS with Ed Tracy

Actor and educator Kathleen Ruhl joined the conversation to discuss a Chicago theatrical career that spans five decades and the role that her daughter, Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award nominee, Sarah Ruhl, wrote for her about her family in For Peter Pan On Her 70th Birthday.  Season 2 Episode 16 | Originally published May 3, 2017

Paul Becker, the fourth generation in his family to make Becker violins and cellos, joined the conversation to talk about the extraordinary precision required in making Becker instruments and his family's remarkable legacy. Season 2 Episode 13 | Originally published April 13, 2017 

Actor and comedian Ed Kross joined the conversation to give an inside look on his career that has spanned improv on a cruise ship, theatre all over Chicago, a couple of high-profile film turns with Tom Hanks and George Clooney and lots of commercial work for one of Chicago's most gifted comic talents. Season 2 Episode 14 | Originally published April 20, 2017

Ashley Wheater, Artistic Director of the Joffrey Ballet, joined the conversation to talk about the ever-evolving nature of ballet and the world-renowned choreographers assembled for Global Visionaries at the Auditorium Theatre.  Season 2 Episode 15 | Originally published April 25, 2017

Singer Robert Sims joined the conversation following a concert appearance in Detroit to talk about how his career was influenced by Robeson and Hayes and the challenges they faced breaking down barriers.  Season 2 Episode 3 | Originally published February 8, 2017

One of Chicago's most gifted jazz singers and vocal coaches, Elaine Dame, joined the conversation recorded at Winter's Jazz Club to talk about her influences, career and future performances.  Season 2 Episode 12 | Originally published April 6, 2017

Legendary Irish musician John Williams joined the conversation just prior to a community session with a dozen musicians at the Celtic Knot in Chicago to talk about growing up in a musical family and how his music has served as a bridge to the past for the next generation. Season 2 Episode 8 | Originally published March 8, 2017 

We visited the Cavalia village to speak with the production team, artists and trainers involved in mounting the 2017 version of the show, Odysseo, founded in 2003 by Normand Latourelle. Resident Artistic Director Darren Charles joined the conversation to talk about about the overall vision of Odysseo along with performers Sam Alvarez and Elise Verdoncq. Season 2 Episode 11 | Originally published M...

Singer Joan Curto joined the conversation to talk about the special qualities needed to balance business, performance and family and plans for the next Auditorium Theatre concert honoring Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne entitled ELLA & LENA - THE LADIES AND THEIR MUSIC on November 17th. Season 2 Episode 10 | Originally published March 23, 2017

Actor Karl Hamilton joined the conversation to talk about Mamma Mia! , the transition of Ride the Cyclone to New York and his take on the business of show Season 2 Episode 9 | Originally published March 16, 2017

Singer Steve Biossat joined the conversation to talk about the relaunch of Speakeasy Swing with vocalists Alyssa Allgood and Marcus Gress, growing up in the US and abroad, and how that affected his approach to music and working in Chicago's busy music scene. Season 2 Episode 7 | Originally published March 2, 2017

Actor James Earl Jones II joined the conversation for a frank and open discussion about living with Tourette's and how the musical of The Scottsboro Boys story helps to broaden our understanding of a very dark and tumultuous time in our history. Season 2 Episode 6 | Originally published February 22, 2017  

Jim Frazier, Gold Star Family member in Illinois who leads Gold Star Survivor Outreach efforts, joined the conversation on May 25, 2016 as part of our live Skokie Theatre series in advance of the 2016 City of Chicago Memorial Day ceremony and parade. The discussion is centered on the important work being done to support Gold Star Family members in Illinois and across the country. Originally publis...

Singer Tammy McCann joined the conversation fresh from a concert in Norway to talk about her upcoming appearances at Winter's Jazz Club, the City Winery debut of Jeannie Tanner's Words & Music , the 8th Annual Chi-Town Jazz Festival, and the most important part of her life, raising a young family in Chicago. Season 2 Episode 5 | Originally published February 16, 2017

Since arriving on the Chicago music scene in the late 60's, Bonnie Koloc has established herself as one of our most gifted and beloved singers, songwriters and visual artists. On October 22nd, 2013, as Monroe Anderson and Ed Tracy prepared for the Chicago Conversations PBS television program on Old Town School, Bonnie Koloc joined a live edition of the show at the Hubbard Inn in which she discusse...

Acclaimed non-fiction author and historian, Arnie Bernstein, joined the conversation at the Skokie Theatre to discuss his book Swastika Nation, which explores Fritz Kuhn and the 1930s Bund movement in the United States. Recorded live at the Skokie Theatre. Originally published August 17, 2016 | Season 1 Episode 4

Actor André De Shields joined the conversation to talk about his upcoming show, an extraordinary 46-year career and what it is that keeps bringing him back to Chicago.  Season 1 Episode 7 | Originally published August 17, 2016

Shakespeare 400 Chicago Festival Producer, Doreen Sayegh, joined the conversation to discuss everything that has been happening twixt wake and sleep, including what's coming up this fall and a treasury of everlasting "scholarly" joy called City Desk 400.  Season 1 Episode 9 | Originally published August 31, 2016

Matt Crowle, the six-time Jefferson award nominated actor, choreographer and dance instructor joined the conversation to talk about who helped to shape his performance philosophy, recognizing talent, the importance of training, and, working with one of his best friends, Bill Larkin. Season 1 Episode 10 | Originally published September 28, 2016

Singer Paul Marinaro joined the conversation to talk about his musical career, the Birdland show in NYC, what's coming up next, and a dog named Titus. Season 1 Episode 11 | Originally published October 13, 2016

Artistic Director of Northwestern University's American Music Theatre Project, David Bell, joined the conversation for an in-depth discussion about the challenges of developing new works for Broadway, the impact and accessibility of workshop programs for emerging artists and what's ahead for the AMTP.  Season 1 Episode 12 | Originally published October 27, 2016 

Singer and actor Angela Ingersoll joined the conversation to discuss the run with Judy Garland, what's happening next for her live concert career and how she met and fell for the special 'Jersey Boy' in her life. Season 2 Episode 4 | Originally published February 10, 2017 

Comedian and Actor Bill Larkin joined the conversation to talk about Chicago's musical theatre community and his new album. Season 1 Episode 16 | Originally published December 8, 2016