Methinks the pull quote would look like this:
"Opera fans have their Pavarottis... Chicago theater has Lance Stuart Baker.... delivering the dramatic equivalents of a thousand perfectly pitched high Cs." Catey Sullivan, UR Chicago
Well, when you put it that way!
Discovering the World Beyond Broadway By *TERRY TEACHOUT*
*December 28, 2007; Page W9*
"More often than not, of course, it is our regional theaters that are
bringing us the most memorable productions of great plays of the past.
Chicago's theater scene long ago established itself as comparable in quality
to that of New York, and a high number of the best shows I saw in 2007 took
place there, including the Court Theatre's incisive staging of Tom
Stoppard's "*Arcadia*," Strawdog Theatre Company's up-close-and-personal
version of Brian Friel's "*Aristocrats*," and a performance of Nilo Cruz's "
*A Park in Our House*" at Victory Gardens Theater that made me wonder -- not
for the first time -- why only one play by the winner of the 2003 Pulitzer
Prize for drama has been seen on Broadway to date."
Video previews here.
Wall St Journal review here. "I can't imagine a more satisfying production."
Suntimes review here. "Lance Baker in just the latest of his invariably pitch-perfect, understated performances."
Tribune review here. "Brooding! Overly asexual!"
Chicagocritic.com review here. "Lance Baker shines."
Tribune blog Extrovert here. "Baker portrays with delightful awkwardness the visiting Russian botanist who is trying to find his place in the world."
Epoch TImes review here. "Always capable."
Chicago Free Press review here. "Contagiously sadsack."
Time Out review here. "Always-welcome."
Reader review somewhere here.
Daily Herald review here.
This is a terrific show-- check it out.
INDUSTRY NIGHT: Tuesday, November 6th 8pm
Reservations: 312 943 8722
http://www.aredorchidtheatre.org/
Time Out Review
Tribune Review
Reader Review
"CRITICS CHOICE. Claudia Allen's strong suit as a playwright has always been feisty old women in small towns, so it's a stretch for her to adapt Stuart Dybek's 2003 "novel in stories," dominated by urban male voices. But Allen's script is remarkably sure-handed and often riotously funny, providing an elegy for a working-class, pre-Starbucks cityscape (well reflected by Jeff Bauer's clever multilevel set). Dispensing with narration, the episodic script cuts back and forth between the 1950s and '60s in Little Village as young Perry Katzek grows up with a penny-pinching father (played to perfection by Marc Grapey) and a sad-eyed wastrel musician uncle (an affecting Lance Baker) damaged by the Korean war. Sandy Shinner's fluid direction and the rock-solid ensemble capture the roiling energy and tender truthfulness of Dybek's world." Kerry Reid
Tribune review:
"This is the third show about a Chicago boyhood I've reviewed within the last 18 months, but 'I Sailed With Magellan' is by far the best. Anchored by Marc Grapey doing some of the best work of his career, Sandy Shinner's production is very pleasurable. And the acting is appropriately colorful, with Lance Baker turning in a rich portrait of a drunken musician gone to permanent seed under the watchful eye of Rob Riley's decent barkeep. Enormously enjoyable in dramatic form, I Sailed With Magellan has Chicago down, hot and cold." Chris Jones
SunTimes review:
"Steelworker Dad (a hugely zestful, broadly comic turn by Marc Grapey as 'the good provider" who is at once coarse, bullying, penny-pinching and loving) is not above ordering his young sons, Perry (Bubba Weiler as Dybek's alter ego) and Mick (Josh Akerlow), to charge into traffic to retrieve car parts later sold on Maxwell Street. Yet Moms (Morgan McCabe) appreciates her husband's steadiness, which is a fine counterpoint to the chaotic life of her brother, Lefty (Lance Baker, in his element as a richly romantic but damaged man). A jazz musician who turns to drinking and gambling after serving in the Korean War, Lefty is Perry's favorite relative throughout childhood and the classic lost artist. RECOMMENDED. " Hedy Weiss
Daily Southtown review:
"'I Sailed With Magellan' is filled with joyous passion and
an enchanting spirit. It is one of the most moving shows of the summer
season. The players personify the
humanity of their characters. Bubba Weiler is charming as the boyish
Perry, and Justin Cholewa is right on as the teenage Perry. Rob Riley
delivers a nice turn as Zip, the owner of the bar; Lance Baker breaks
your heart as Lefty; Desmin Borges does a nice turn as a dangerous
hood, Joe; and Morgan McCabe is a convincing mom." Betty Mohr
Time Out review:
"FOUR STARS. In demonstrating how an environment shapes a writer, this show is all aces. The hardscrabble cast is good." Christopher Piatt
Variety review:
"No question that Allen's overall affection for Dybek's work and for
Chicago itself emerges, and Shinner's cast makes the most of their
likeable characters. That makes this show a potential local favorite." Steven Oxman
Daily Herald review:
"Directed by Sandy Shinner, Victory Gardens’
production — which unfolds against a backdrop of Mike Tutaj’s revealing
projections on Jeff Bauer’s gray, hardscrabble set which effectively
evokes this rough-around-the-edges enclave — is affectionate and
sincere. Colorful and intimate, it’s filled with memorable characters
(especially Lance Baker’s broken Uncle Lefty, a former jazzman turned
shell-shocked veteran; Marc Grapey’s blustering, penny-pinching
patriarch and Cholewa’s sexually frustrated urban romantic). Moreover,
offbeat colloquialisms like 'Jesus Christ on a camel' and references to
the lakefront, Maxwell Street market, the Red Line and other Chicago
area landmarks lend it credibility." Barbara Vitello
We even made the sports section:
"Life imitated art Monday night when a fan ran out onto
the field in the ninth inning at Wrigley Field as the Cubs faced
Colorado. Currently showing at Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater is "I Sailed with Magellan," based on the book by Chicago author Stuart Dybek about his memories growing up in 1950s and 1960s in Chicago. The show includes a scene in which Uncle Lefty—a free-spirited jazz man and Cubs fan played by actor Lance Baker—jumps out of the Wrigley bleachers and runs on the field to shake Willie Mays' hand. He is taken out by a Wrigley Field security guard, and Uncle Lefty is promptly incarcerated into a 'loony bin.'"
This, from the Victory Gardens website:
Claudia Allen turns
her skilled hand to Dybek’s first work of fiction - inspired by his
memories growing up in 1950s and ‘60s Chicago – City of Big Shoulders,
from Little Village to the lake front, Baha’i Temple to Maxwell Street. Swim off the rocks. Down a shot at the Zip Inn. Get chased across Wrigley Field. Have sex on the beach – almost. Breathe deep and listen to Dybek’s wonderful memories and provocative characters: passionate, poetic, profane, and joyous.
MONDAY JULY 9th 7:30p
I'll be reading David Sedaris' story "The Late Show" from "Me Talk Pretty One Day."
Tickets and info here.
Sedaris on YouTube
"The Squirrel and the Chipmunk"
"Jesus Shaves"
"Six to Eight Black Men"
"The Stadium Pal"
"Bend Over and Say Ah!"
The movie adapted from the show I directed at A Red Orchid is having its first public screening on June 9th. Here's the scoop:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Brett Neveu
Date: May 23, 2007 8:40 AM
Subject: JUNE 9TH -- come to the special THE EARL sneak preview gala!
Hey all!
Wanna see THE EARL movie?! ON THE BIG SCREEN???
Time for:
A special sneak preview gala showing of THE EARL!!!
written by Brett Neveu
directed by Jim Sikora
featuring Noah Simon, Steve Schine, John Moran and Danny Goldring
At the Siskel Center -- 164 N. State Street, Saturday, June 9th @ 12:30
PM!!!
with reception to follow - - -!
**Call Intermission Productions at 708-345-7088 to RSVP**
AND later that night... at 10:00 PM @ Strawdog Theatre (3829 N. Broadway),
a special performance by Brando (composer for play & film) & DAD FACTORY in
celebration of THE EARL!
Here's the (same) gala info (in graphicness-form) - - -
-Brett!
