Bigger, Brighter, Louder
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Bigger, Brighter, Louder by Chris Jones
The first known Chicago Tribune theater review appeared on March 25, 1853. An anonymous notice, it shared the page with two other announcements - one about a pair of thousand-pound hogs set to be slaughtered and another trumpeting the largest load of lumber ever to leave Chicago. "And thus Chicago's priorities were starkly laid out right there on that page," begins Chris Jones in the introduction to this new collection. "Hog butcher for the world and windy self-promoter, specializing in commerce-driven superlatives. The arts came a poor third. Critics would rail against that perceived set of civic priorities for years." The Chicago of today, on the other hand, is regarded as one of the world's premier cities for theater, and no one has had a more consistent front-row seat to its ascendance than the Chicago Tribune theater critics. Bigger, Brighter, Louder weaves together more than 150 years of Tribune reviews into a compelling narrative, pairing full reviews with commentary and history. With a sharp eye for telling details and a keen sense of historical context, Jones, longtime chief Tribune theater critic, takes readers through decades of highs and lows, successes and failures. The book showcases fascinating early reviews of actors and shows that would go on to achieve phenomenal success, including a tryout of A Raisin in the Sun with newcomer Sidney Poitier and the first major review of The Producers. It also delves into the rare and the unusual, such as a previously unpublished Tennessee Williams interview and a long conversation with Edward Albee's mother. Bigger, Brighter, Louder offers a vital store of primary documents about Chicago arts and a riveting look at the history behind the city's rise to theatrical greatness.
"From Joseph Jefferson as Rip Van Winkle in 1868, to Claudia Cassidy (the notorious critic of the '40s and '50s), to the Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh with Nathan Lane in 2012, Chris Jones writes a rich and rewarding history of Chicago theaterIt's a must for any theatergoer." (Roy Leonard) "An invaluable addition to the history of our city." (Roche Schulfer, executive director of Goodman Theatre)"
Chris Jones is chief theater critic for the Chicago Tribune, where he has reviewed and commented on culture, the arts, politics, and entertainment for more than fifteen years. He is also adjunct professor at the Theatre School at DePaul University.
| SKU | CIN022605926XVG |
| ISBN 13 | 9780226059266 |
| ISBN 10 | 022605926X |
| Title | Bigger, Brighter, Louder |
| Author | Chris Jones |
| Condition | Very Good |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | The University of Chicago Press |
| Year published | 2013-10-04 |
| Number of pages | 376 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us |
