Friday photo rescue

Four Jeff-Nominated performances, from 2008/2009:
Jon Steinhagen in Plaza Suite:
Nora Fiffer in The Autumn Garden:

Nathaniel Swift in Blue Surge:

Laura Coover in Blue Surge:

A look back at 2008

At our first ensemble meeting of the new year, one of the agenda items was to look back at the 2008 season and talk about how we did – what worked, what didn’t, what lessons to take into the second half of the Celebration Series.
We weren’t sure what to expect as we started the Celebration Series [...]

Getting Hitched at the Plaza

Notable Weddings and Receptions of the 1960’s at the Plaza Hotel:
Patricia Kennedy and Peter Lawford – April 24, 1954 Wedding (pictured below).
Jean Kennedy and Stephen Smith – 1956 Reception at the Plaza.
Singers Robert Goulet and Carol Lawrence – Aug. 12, 1963 in State Suite.
Julie Nixon and David Eisenhower – 1968 Reception (along with [...]

Theater Thursday

The League of Chicago Theatres is joining us for a Theater Thursday event tonight – in true Plaza style, we’ll have tea service before the show, and a discussion and backstage tour after. Tickets are still available – here’s the details:
Plaza Suite by Neil Simon
Eclipse Theatre Company
At the Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater
2257 N. Lincoln Ave, [...]

Plaza Hotel – Part 2

On November 28, 1966, in honor of Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham, Truman Capote hosted his acclaimed “Black & White Ball” in the Grand Ballroom. He chose the Plaza “because it has the only beautiful ballroom left in New York”. A brilliant setting, a select guest list, a strict dress code, and the novelty [...]

Opening Night

Plaza Suite opens tonight – we’ve had a run of great previews, giving us a chance to get used to the timing of the show with an audience laughing, and now we’re ready to do it for real.

This has been a fun trip for me as an actor (that’s me on the right, playing hot-shot [...]

Live blogging the second preview

7:04 – I arrived at the theater about fifteen minutes ago, after an early dinner with some great friends who stopped by Chicago on their way from New York to a new home in San Francisco. They’ll be in the audience tonight, along with hopefully lots more great people.
All of the actors are here now, [...]

Live blogging from backstage tonight

Assuming the wireless connection works again, I’ll be blogging from backstage during tonight’s Plaza Suite preview performance, which begins at 8 pm.
If you can’t join us at the theater tonight, check in throughout the evening to see how things are going.

The life of a script

There are some actors who keep their scripts in pristine condition throughout the rehearsal process, protected by a binder or laminated or just treated with proper respect.
I am not one of those actors.

My script for Plaza Suite has been with me since last winter, and it’s been in my pocket most days – called into [...]

Plaza Hotel

The Plaza Hotel set the standard for luxury hotels in the early 1900’s. The building was opened to the public on October 1, 1907. It extends along Central Park and 5th Avenue New York City. The 19 story building is the premiere hotel in New York City.

Deliciously pleasing by any standard

One of the true gems of dramaturgical research – Sarah found this video to give us some background on Sam’s troubles in Plaza Suite:
SAM: I can’t even think straight. I’ve had five meetings this morning, four teeth capped, and I haven’t even had my Metrecal.

Plaza Suite – Broadway Production Part 3

George Scott had a detached retina at one point in the run and had to take nearly six weeks off the production. During this time they decided to have a British actor, Nicol Williamson, play the role. Actors Equity was highly opposed to this and finally agreed; however, on Williamson’s debut many actors [...]

Plaza Suite – Broadway Production Part 2

With baseball season in full swing and the Cubs (and the White Sox…..) in first place in their respective divisions I’ll tip my hat to the teams with a little anecdote about the Broadway Show League softball tournament.
George C. Scott, who played the lead in the original Broadway production of Plaza Suite, played for their [...]

Plaza Hotel – Part 2

Beatle-mania struck the United States in full force in the 1960’s. Starting with their first American appearance in New York City in 1964. They stayed at the Plaza Hotel during this time and made appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, gave a press conference and partied at the Peppermint Lounge and the Playboy [...]

Plaza Suite update

I’m sorry for the pathetically slow blogging recently – I keep thinking tomorrow’s going to be the day when I get caught up and find a few minutes to post something, and then tomorrow shows up and turns into today before suddenly becoming yesterday.
You know what I mean, right?
So I have just a few minutes [...]

Plaza Suite first read through

The first rehearsal for Plaza Suite is this Saturday, and we’re opening the doors to our rehearsal to give subscribers and friends a look into the beginning of the process. There are still some seats available – if you’re interested in joining us, give us a call at 312-738-0704 or send me an email. We’ll [...]