CONVERSATIONS with Ed Tracy
96 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 7 ratingsCONVERSATIONS with Ed Tracy is a Chicago-based interview series featuring engaging and thoughtful discussion with authors and influential leaders in the arts, media and business.
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Episodes
MICHAEL GARFIELD LEVINE - Spinning My Wheels
March 22, 2024 21:47 - 43 minutes - 40 MBMichael Garfield Levine joins the Conversation to discuss his solo show “Spinning My Wheels” that chronicles the touching, disturbing and often humorous arc of Levine’s Vermont theatre experiences to the streets of New York and, ultimately, a path of acceptance and survival. Levine will perform his show on Thursday, April 11th at the Royall Tyler Theatre on the campus of the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont as a prelude to that theatre's 50th Anniversary Celebration on April 12...
Teatro ZinZanni Chicago - Kerry Sheehan
October 19, 2023 20:03 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBTeatro ZinZanni Chicago returns with an exciting, new show created by Joe DePaul and offering one of the most unique entertainment experiences anywhere. General manager and producer, Kerry Sheehan, joins the CONVERVATION to tell us about the show that is set in the exquisite 100-year-old Belgian Spiegeltent ZaZou on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel in Chicago's Loop. Season 6 Episode 3 Originally posted October 19 2023
Lucy and Charlie's Honeymoon - Matthew C. Yee - Lookingglass Theatre
June 02, 2023 19:17 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBMatthew C. Yee, the creator, writer and composer of the new musical "Lucy and Charlie's Honeymoon" at Lookingglass Theatre joins the CONVERSATION to discuss the show and the collaborative process to bring it to the stage. Aurora Adachi-Winter and Yee star as Lucy and Charlie, two first generation Asian Americans who meet, fall in love and then decide to start a life of crime together. This episode includes a featured solo performance of "Bao's Song" from the show running at Lookingglass thro...
CABARET ZAZOU - Frank Ferrante and James Harkness
June 01, 2023 16:43 - 25 minutes - 57.6 MBOn the eve of Cabaret ZaZou's 200th performance in the Speigeltent on the 14th floor of Chicago's Cambria Hotel, we caught up with two of the shows stars, comic emcee Frank Ferrante and singer James Harkness, for a Conversation about the extraordinary cast and how the show continues to evolve over the course of a long run. Season 6 Episode 3 Originally posted June 1, 2023
MotherFreakingHood! - Sara Stotts
May 23, 2023 12:57 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MBCo-writer/producer Sara Stotts joins the CONVERSATION to discuss the new musical MotherFreakingHood! during the Chicago Premiere at the Mercury Theater Chicago. Season 6 Episode 1 Originally posted May 23, 2023
FRANK FERRANTE: Hello I Must Be Going!
August 20, 2022 14:21 - 20 minutes - 18.3 MBEntertaining audiences for decades with his terrific one-man show about Groucho Marx, Frank Ferrante joins the conversation to talk about his return to Chicago in September for LUMINAIRE at Cabaret ZaZou in the shimmering Spiegeltent on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel and a tour stop for Groucho coming up in South Haven. One of our great improvisational actors, comedians and entertainers, Ferrante talks about developing characters, the new show in Chicago and the PBS special that has bro...
André De Shields with Ed Tracy - HADESTOWN Returns to Broadway - Sarah Siddons Award Interview
August 19, 2022 20:00 - 35 minutes - 65.8 MBTony Award winner and multi-Tony nominee André De Shields discusses the opening moments of the return of HADESTOWN to Broadway on September 2, 2021 with CONVERSATIONS host Ed Tracy. This is an excerpt of the interview during the 2021 Sarah Siddons Society Actor of the Year Award benefit held in Chicago in October 2021. To view the entire interview, visit: https://bit.ly/3z61qkG
SPECIAL FEATURE: Elaine Dame plays "The High Road Theme"
March 27, 2020 17:35 - 37 seconds - 1.11 MBChicago jazz vocalist and flutist Elaine Dame plays the theme song of CONVERSATIONS ("The High Road Theme") during a segment of the podcast "Conversations with Ed Tracy." To purchase Elaine's album "You're My Thrill" visit: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/elainedame3. Listen to our 2017 podcast at the CONVERSATIONS website: https://www.conversationswithedtracy.com/de-usuris/2017/4/5/elaine-dame-
SPECIAL FEATURE: Elaine Dame Sings "They Say It's Wonderful"
March 27, 2020 17:32 - 6 minutes - 11.5 MBChicago jazz vocalist Elaine Dame sings "They Say It's Wonderful." To purchase the album "You're My Thrill" visit: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/elainedame3. Listen to our 2017 podcast at the CONVERSATIONS website: https://www.conversationswithedtracy.com/de-usuris/2017/4/5/elaine-dame-
SSG DAVID G. BELLAVIA Medal of Honor Recipient - LIVE at Norwich University
March 25, 2020 14:23 - 53 minutes - 97.1 MBMedal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. David Bellavia joins program host Ed Tracy for a special CONVERSATIONS podcast with the Norwich University Corps of Cadets, recorded live on September 25, 2019 in historic Plumley Armory on the Norwich campus located in Northfield, Vermont. Season 5 Episode 2 - Originally posted March 25, 2020
SANDY DUNCAN - MIDDLETOWN at the Apollo Theater Chicago
March 11, 2020 19:11 - 18 minutes - 25.8 MBSandy Duncan joins the CONVERSATION to discuss Dan Clancy's "MIDDLETOWN The Ride of Your Life!" during the run of the show at the Apollo Theater Chicago. Season 5 Episode 1 Originally posted March 11, 2020
CAGE SEBASTIAN PIERRE - Daggers Rule in 'Romeo and Juliet' at Chicago Shakespeare
October 31, 2019 17:25 - 27 minutes - 62.4 MBCage Sebastian Pierre, one of Chicago’s top young actors and fight choreographers, joins the CONVERSATION to talk about fight choreography in Barbara Gaines new production of Romeo and Juliet at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Season 4 - Episode 14 Originally posted October 31, 2019
HEIDI KETTENRING - Chicago Celebrates Sondheim!
October 29, 2019 14:23 - 26 minutes - 60.7 MBHeidi Kettenring, the accomplished Jeff Award-winning actor/vocalist joins the CONVERSATION to talk about balancing busy careers with her actor/husband David Girolmo and her upcoming concert appearances at the Auditorium Theatre in ‘Chicago Celebrates Sondheim!’ with the Chicago Philharmonic and the Artists Lounge Live Karen Carpenter holiday show at Mercury’s Venus Cabaret. Season 4 - Episode 13 Originally posted October 29, 2019
CHARLES NEWELL - Turning 25 at Court Theatre
October 28, 2019 13:09 - 29 minutes - 68.5 MBCharles Newell, the long-serving Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director of Court Theatre, joins the conversation to discuss his career and Court's next major project: The Oedipus Trilogy, which begins November 7, 2019 with Oedipus Rex, followed in May 2020 with The Gospel at Colonus and Antigone next season. Season 4 - Episode 12 Originally posted October 28, 2019
BRI SUDIA - Signs Of Things To Come
September 16, 2019 04:03 - 37 minutes - 85.1 MBActor Bri Sudia joins the CONVERSATION to discuss sign language interpretation for the theater and her upcoming role as Mona Juul in the highly-anticipated TimeLine Theatre Company|Broadway in Chicago production of “OSLO” directed by Nick Bowling. Season 4 - Episode 11 Originally posted September 16, 2019
JULIE GARNYÉ - From the Heart
August 14, 2019 18:39 - 35 minutes - 81.7 MBSinger/Actor/Voiceover Artist Julie Garnyé, currently appearing in cast of the North American tour of "Come From Away," joins the CONVERSATION to discuss her performance career that includes Grizabella in National Tour of the musical CATS and a long run in the original cast of Disney’s FROZEN: Live at the Hyperion Theatre. Season 4 - Episode 10 Originally posted August 14, 2019
DANN GIRE - Critically Speaking
July 25, 2019 19:17 - 34 minutes - 79.8 MBDann Gire, the award-winning journalist and film critic for the Daily Herald for over four decades, joins the CONVERSATION to discuss the responsibilities of critics in the understanding of the arts and the development and impact of the Chicago Film Critics Association. Season 4 - Episode 9 Originally posted July 25, 2019
ROCHE SCHULFER - Serving the Art at Goodman Theate
July 15, 2019 17:16 - 26 minutes - 60.7 MBRoche Schulfer, the long-serving Executive Director of Chicago's Goodman Theatre, joins the CONVERSATION following the opening of Mary Zimmerman’s revival of “The Music Man”—the Tony Award winning director’s 16th Goodman show in a 25-year association. Season 4 Episode 8 Originally posted July 15, 2019
RON KELLUM - VOLTA Cirque du Soleil
June 22, 2019 21:45 - 20 minutes - 47.8 MBRon Kellum, Cirque du Soleil's Artistic Director for VOLTA, joins the CONVERSATION during the hit show's Chicago run to discuss Cirque's development process and the extraordinarily gifted performers in the company. Season 4 Episode 7 Originally posted June 22, 2019
WILLIAM MAROVITZ - MIRACLE: The Musical
May 06, 2019 16:33 - 30 minutes - 69.9 MBFormer State Senator William Marovitz joins the CONVERSATION to talk about the 2016 Chicago Cubs World Series victory and the upcoming world premiere of “MIRACLE-The Musical” at the Royal George Theatre in Chicago. Season 4 Episode 6 Originally posted May 6, 2019
SHARRIESE HAMILTON - Making Dreams Come True
April 28, 2019 20:47 - 31 minutes - 72.8 MBThe talented Chicago actor and vocalist Sharriese Hamilton joins the CONVERSATION to discuss the Chicago Children's Theatre production of "The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963" and what's up next: the role of Hannah in the Australian company of the international hit "Come From Away." Season 4 Episode 5 Originally posted April 28, 2019
CORY LIPPIELLO - Casting West Side Story at Lyric Opera of Chicago
April 15, 2019 18:58 - 28 minutes - 64.1 MBCory Lippiello, Artistic Administrator for Lyric Opera of Chicago, joins the CONVERSATION to talk about casting the highly-anticipated production of West Side Story. Season 4 Episode 4 Orginally posted April 15, 2019
LOUIS CONTEY - Hannah and Martin
April 08, 2019 22:59 - 27 minutes - 63 MBDirector Louis Contey joins the CONVERSATION to discuss the Shattered Globe Theatre production of Kate Foder’s “Hannah and Martin” tracing the relationship—and passionate love affair—between the German-Jewish political theorist Hannah Arendt and her mentor, the celebrated German philosopher Martin Heidegger and the impact that the rise to power of the Nazi party had on the course of their lives. Season 4 Episode 3 Originally posted April 8, 2019
DANA TRETTA AND CHRISTOPHER KALE JONES - Little Shop of Horrors
March 19, 2019 21:13 - 36 minutes - 84.1 MBDana Tretta and Christopher Kale Jones, the two powerhouse stars of the Mercury Theater Chicago production of “Little Shop of Horrors” directed by L Walter Stearns with musical director Eugene Dizon, join the CONVERSATION to talk about just how fiendishly desperate—and painfully real—things are for the star-crossed lovers in the macabre 1982 hit with music by Alan Menken and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman. Season 4 Episode 2 Originally posted March 19, 2019
ALFREDA BURKE AND RODRICK DIXON - Too Hot To Handel
January 08, 2019 18:55 - 26 minutes - 59.7 MBRenowned soloists Alfreda Burke and Rodrick Dixon join the CONVERSATION to talk about Too Hot To Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah, the universality of Handel’s work and the power of music to inspire and uplift our lives in advance of the 2019 concert at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago. Season 4 Episode 1 Originally posted January 8, 2019
MARY ZIMMERMAN - The Steadfast Tin Soldier
December 17, 2018 17:32 - 29 minutes - 67.5 MBTony Award-winning director and playwright Mary Zimmerman joins the CONVERSATION to discuss her new work The Steadfast Tin Soldier based on the Hans Christian Andersen children's story presented in pantomime at Chicago's Lookingglass Theatre Company. In an extraordinary career that has spanned the worlds of theater and opera, Zimmerman received the 2002 Tony Award for directing Metamorphoses. Season 3 Episode 21 Originally posted December 17, 2018
JANET ULRICH BROOKS - Master Class
November 23, 2018 16:42 - 29 minutes - 68.2 MBJanet Ulrich Brooks, one of Chicago’s most gifted actors working in theater, film and television, joins the CONVERSATION to discuss her role as the legendary opera diva Maria Callas during the run of the TimeLine Theatre Company production of Master Class at Stage 773. Season 3 Episode 20 Originally posted November 23, 2018
NEIL HANSON - Unknown Soldiers
November 10, 2018 20:47 - 21 minutes - 38.5 MBHistorian Neil Hanson joins the CONVERSATION in London for a fascinating look back 100 years to the end of World War I and the events that followed. His book, UNKNOWN SOLDIERS: The Story of the Missing of the First World War (Knopf 2005) recounts the life and combat history of three soldiers – an American from Chicago, George Seibold, an Englishman, Alec Reader and a German, Paul Hub – representing the over 3 million who fought and died on all sides whose remains have never been accounted f...
SCOTT GILMOUR & CLAIRE MCKENZIE - MAKING BEAUTIFUL MUSICALS TOGETHER
November 07, 2018 18:45 - 28 minutes - 66.1 MBThe award-winning UK-based musical writing team of Scott Gilmour and Claire McKenzie joined the CONVERSATION in London to discuss their new project, HI, MY NAME IS BEN, an international collaboration with Dundee Repertory Theatre and Goodspeed Musicals, and the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where MY LEFT/RIGHT FOOT-THE MUSICAL, produced by Birds of Paradise Theatre Company and the National Theatre of Scotland, received the Fringe First Award and the Herald Angel Award. Season 3 Episo...
LARRY YANDO - Brave. Magical. Out on an Edge.
October 25, 2018 17:08 - 35 minutes - 81.3 MBAward-winning actor Larry Yando joins the conversation to discuss the American premiere of “Nell Gwynn” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and his 25 year association with the company. Yando, who played Scar in the national tour of “The Lion King” for three years and recently toured Europe in Peter Brooks' "Battlefield," returns as Ebenezer Scrooge in the Goodman Theatre Holiday Classic “A Christmas Carol” in November 2018. Season 3 Episode 17 Originally posted October 25, 2018
GREG CAMERON - Resourcing the Artistry at The Joffrey Ballet
October 10, 2018 12:42 - 35 minutes - 81.3 MBGreg Cameron, President and CEO of The Joffrey Ballet, joined the conversation on October 5th to discuss Christopher Wheeldon's Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, developing colaborative partnerships, and what's ahead for the 2018-2019 season and beyond. Posted October 10, 2018 Season 3 Episode 16
MICHAEL WEBER - New Home. New Faces. Just Getting Started.
October 04, 2018 23:23 - 37 minutes - 86.4 MBMichael Weber, Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Director, joins the CONVERSATION to discuss the new production of GYPSY starring E. Faye Butler and what’s ahead in the 2018-2019 season for one of Chicago’s most innovative and successful musical theatre companies. Season 3 Episode 15 Originally published October 4, 2018
LILI-ANNE BROWN - Big Concepts. New Partnerships.
August 28, 2018 16:15 - 52 minutes - 119 MBLili-Anne Brown, the accomplished actor, director, educator and Northwestern alum joins the conversation to talk about the Firebrand Theatre/TimeLine Theatre partnership for the upcoming Tony Kushner/Jeanine Tesori musical "Caroline, or Change","BUDDY: The Buddy Holly Story" at Stage 773, and in 2019, "The Total Bent" at Haven and "Lottery Day" at Goodman. (NOTE: Multiple Jeff nominations to American Blues Theater's "Buddy" including Best Director of a Musical for Lili-Anne Brown were announ...
ROB LINDLEY - Small Town Values. Big Time Talent.
July 09, 2018 14:33 - 34 minutes - 79.8 MBAward-winning actor, vocalist and director Rob Lindley talks about performing in Fun Home at Victory Gardens, Dark Café Days: Foiled Again Sings Joni Mitchell with his long-time musical partners Anne Sheridan Smith and Allison Bazarko Kirk at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre and joining the 2018-19 US tour of Phantom of the Opera. Season 3 Episode 13 Originally posted July 9, 2018
KIMBERLY SENIOR - Support Group For Men
June 28, 2018 21:12 - 28 minutes - 65.8 MBDirector Kimberly Senior, whose credits include the 2012 Broadway production of Ayad Akhtar’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Disgraced, joins the conversation to discuss developing new works for the theatre and the world premiere of Ellen Fairey's Support Group For Men at Goodman Theatre. Season 3 Episode 12 Originally posted June 28, 2018
LEAH MORROW & JACKSON EVANS - Back on Avenue Q
June 18, 2018 21:44 - 42 minutes - 97.5 MBActors Leah Morrow and Jackson Evans join the conversation to talk about their return to the roles of Kate Monster and Princeton in the 2018 revival of the 2014 Mercury Theater Chicago smash hit production of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q that played for 169 performances. Season 3 Episode 11 Originally posted June 18, 2018
EDWARD GERO - The Originalist
May 31, 2018 02:38 - 20 minutes - 46.9 MBAward-winning actor Edward Gero joins the conversation to discuss his portrayal of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in John Strand's The Originalist during the Chicago run at Court Theatre. The compelling and provocative Asolo Repertory Theatre, Arena Stage, Pasadena Playhouse production is directed by Molly Smith with Associate Director Seema Sueko. Season 3 Episode 10 Originally Posted May 31, 2018
BURNHAM’S DREAM: THE WHITE CITY June Finfer & Elizabeth Doyle
May 29, 2018 22:45 - 28 minutes - 64.3 MBProducer|writer|lyricist June Finfer and composer|lyricist Elizabeth Doyle joined the conversation to talk about the development process and debut of their new musical, Burnham's Dream: The White City. Season 3 Episode 9 Originally posted May 29, 2018
RISHI SHARMA - Preserving World War II Combat Stories, One Veteran at a Time
May 23, 2018 16:21 - 30 minutes - 70 MBWhen 20-year-old Rishi Sharma joined the conversation in March 2018, he had already conducted over 850 interviews with combat veterans of World War II, all part of an ambitious plan to preserve their stories for generations to come. Season 3 Episode 8 Originally Posted May 23, 2018
HENRY GODINEZ: Inspiring Stories. Opening Doors.
May 09, 2018 14:25 - 44 minutes - 102 MBDirector, Actor and Northwestern University professor Henry Godinez joined the conversation to talk about the Chicago Children's Theater premiere of the new musical Last Stop on Market Street, his professional career and the expanding Latino theater community in Chicago. Season 3 Episode 7 Originally posted May 9, 2018
TONY MACALUSO - The Studs Terkel Radio Archive
May 07, 2018 19:11 - 34 minutes - 79.2 MBTony Macaluso, Director of the WFMT Radio Network and Director of the Studs Terkel Radio Archive, joined the conversation to talk about the May 2018 launch and the work that has been done to make over 5,600 programs available online for future generations of scholars, journalists, and the general public. This program includes clips from a 1960 interview with Studs Terkel and Buster Keaton. Season 3 Episode 6 Originally Posted May 7, 2018
WILLIAM MASSOLIA - Griffin Theatre Company's LETTERS HOME & GHOSTS OF WAR
March 27, 2018 21:26 - 36 minutes - 84.1 MBWilliam Massolia, Griffin Theatre Company's Artistic Director & Founder joined the conversation on March 23rd to discuss LETTERS HOME & GHOSTS OF WAR examining the Iraq & Afghanistan wartime experiences of servicemen and servicewomen, and their families. Written and directed by Massolia, Letters Home has been seen by more than 100,000 people in more than 100 cities since its first performance in 2007. Ghosts of War was adapted from the book by Ryan Smithson. The productions will be presented...
DR. HAL M. LEWIS - CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS at Spertus Institute
March 13, 2018 18:02 - 41 minutes - 95.3 MBSpertus Institute President & CEO Dr. Hal M. Lewis discusses the principles of leadership and the new series Critical Conversations featuring former Governors Jennifer Granholm and Mike Huckabee with moderator Frank Sesno. Season 3 Episode 4 Originally Posted March 13, 2018
MICHAEL BROSILOW - 32 Years of Chicago Theater Photography
March 05, 2018 19:15 - 42 minutes - 96.6 MBPhotographer Michael Brosilow talks about his extensive career in theater photography and the extraordinary artists, directors and designers in Chicago whose work he has captured since his first assignment with Steppenwolf in 1986. Season 3 Episode 3 Originally Posted March 6, 2018
CLIFTON TRUMAN DANIEL 'Give 'Em Hell, Harry' & The Truman Legacy
February 28, 2018 18:16 - 41 minutes - 75.1 MBSpeaker/Writer/Activist/Actor Clifton Truman Daniel, the oldest grandson of President Harry S. Truman and Bess Truman and son of author Margaret Truman, recently embarked on a new project, portraying his grandfather in a one-man show Give 'Em Hell, Harry by playwright Samuel Gallu. Daniel, who has contributed to expanding our understanding of Truman’s pivotal era with a national lecture series, two books and a continuing association with the Harry S. Truman Library and Institute in Independe...
LINDA REITER - ROSE: An Intimate Evening with Mrs. Kennedy
January 04, 2018 20:44 - 28 minutes - 65.2 MBActress Linda Reiter received the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Solo Performance in the role of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy in the 2016 Chicago Premiere of ROSE: An Intimate Evening with Mrs. Kennedy. Ms. Reiter, who returns to the Greenhouse Theater Center on January 12th to reprise the role, joined the conversation on January 2nd to talk about her preparation, working with director Steve Scott and playwright Laurence Leamer and how the Kennedy family legacy was influenced by this remarkable ...
Bob Doepel & Chicago Scenic Studios – 40 Years Of Making It All Come Together
December 13, 2017 18:47 - 28 minutes - 65.5 MBChicago Scenic Studios Founder/CEO Bob Doepel joins the conversation to talk about 40 years of collaborating on major projects like the Grant Park celebrations for Barack Obama and the Chicago Cubs World Series, the new American Writers Museum and set pieces for the Joffrey Ballet's Nutcracker. Season 2 Episode 31 Originally posted December 13, 2017
DEB CLAPP - THE LEAGUE OF CHICAGO THEATRES Sharing the Experience
December 07, 2017 17:28 - 38 minutes - 87.8 MBDeb Clapp, Executive Director of The League of Chicago Theatres joined the conversation to talk about a wide range of topics including the mission and important work of the League, the HotTix program, the 2017 Holiday Theatre Guide and a preview of the 2018 Chicago Theatre Week to be held February 9th -18th. Season 2 Episode 30. Originally published December 7, 2017.
RICH DANIELS: MAKING MAGIC – ELLA & LENA: The Ladies and Their Music
November 09, 2017 16:29 - 36 minutes - 83 MBFor over 4 decades, Rich Daniels and his orchestra have been featured together with a long and distinguished list of music greats including Ray Charles, Mel Torme, Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, The Four Topps, Smokey Robinson, Frankie Laine and many more. Daniels has been touring recently with the Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration and has been engaged with the hit TV series “Empire” for the past four years. Daniels joined the conversation on November 2nd to talk about his career and upcom...
GLEN SHULD - The Color of Character
October 24, 2017 21:45 - 47 minutes - 109 MBAuthor Glen Shuld joins the conversation to discuss his book The Color of Character, a work of fiction based on a journal he kept of his grade school experiences growing up Jewish and gay in an integrated system in the early '70s. Season 2 Episode 28. Originally published October 24, 2017.