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Today is:
Information about Chicago for the aspiring actor!
It is wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago...
- - - Dan Quayle
What follows are lists of useful resources for someone thinking of making Chicago a home. I'll be updating this as time goes by, with your helpful suggestions. Before we begin, the link of all links is the Chicago Theatre Homepage which covers the Chicago scene in much greater depth than I could ever hope to...of course I'm cuter.
- Where the Work is....theatres, tv shows etc...
...
- The Powers that Be (Casting, Agency, Etc)
- Where to Study
- Miscellaneous Chicago Links
1. Where the Work is....theatres, tv shows etc...
Chicago is a theatre town par excellence, although it does have its fair share of location shooting. Below are a few of the more celebrated theatres in town, although they but scratch the surface.
"Founded as Shakespeare Repertory in 1986, the company moved to its new seven-story home on Navy Pier in October 1999. More than 120,000 people are anticipated to attend the 2000-2001 Season. (From their website)
Started just as I left for college, this theatre pays pretty well and has a good reputation, as well as one of the best spaces in the city.
Simply the finest theatre in America. Home to powerful, vibrant and exploratory work. The Holy Grail for a stage actor in Chicago, and perhaps ought to be for the rest of the country.
Best known to the national scene for its remounting of Sondheim's SATURDAY NIGHT, it is that most uniquely Chicagoan of theatres, a non-equity house committed both to its art and its city's people.
America's most famous Repertory Company. Sinise, Kinney, Allen, Malkovich, Mayberry. The names are known across the country in every medium. Yet regardless of the heights of success and fame they achieve, they all come back to this theatres that seats less than 500.
Honored with the 2001 Tony Aware for regional Theatre, this theatre's "bold but risky mission (is) to develop new plays by Chicago writers.
For more theatres take a look at Yahoo's list.
In terms of other work opportunities, Chicago's sole TV show these days is
It stars Chicago native Joan Cusack. It's cast by the lovely and talented Claire Simon!
1512 North Freemont,
#202
Chicago,
Il 60622
To find out about current film production, check out Chicago Film Office
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The Mayor's Office kindly offers a list of Casting Directors. While there are many swell ones, be sure to take note of the following two (who do a ton of film and tv) and who should be at the top of your mailing list.
Claire Simon (mentioned above) who's casting What About Joan.
1512 North Freemont, #202
Chicago, Il 60622
And
Jane Alderman, who I actually did business with when she was casting Early Edition.
833 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
For Agents, be sure to check out
the
Chicago Film's Office List
as well as
SAG's Trusty List of Franchised (licensed by SAG) agents.
The Chicago agency I've dealt with the most is
Aria Model & Talent Management
1017 W. Washington Suite 2C
Chicago, IL 60607
It was founded by the woman who discovered Cindy Crawford, and has had some terrific agents with great taste. As a bonus, its offices are near WISHBONE, a terrific restaurant with great cornbread.
I've also heard good things about the Geddes Agency, and represent (in New York) some of their former clients.
1633 N. Halsted Street, Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60614
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3. Where to Study.
The Chicago Theatre Page has done a terrific job on the many private spaces available, as well as touching on the Universities. Since Universities are the basis of the book I'm writing, I'll add a few words on them.
Check out:
 .
A terrific school whose reputation, alas, doesn't really reach beyond the city. Classes are taught by working actors, some of them legends. The school also offers classes in many different areas of the Biz including (gasp) performing arts management.
also
Formerly known as the Goodman School of Drama, this is one of America's oldest training schools, with Alumni like Gillian Anderson and Joe Mantegna, as well as director Scott Ellis. It's starting to have a more direct presence in NY and LA as well.
and last but perhaps least..
It's a pretty school, with a beach that's terrific for making out on. Perhaps the best-known Chicago-area theatre school, its reputation has outshone the quality of its students in recent years. It does offer several programs and has terrific resources. It should be better.
4. Miscellaneous links
PerformInk is the trade paper for the theatre and film industries in Chicago. Or so they say.......
2540 N. Lincoln
Chicago, IL 60614
800-55-PLAYS
A terrific bookstore, perhaps the best biz-based store between Coasts. An extensive selection of everything an actor might need, from plays to acting books to Variety. A great place to research NY and LA as well. And near a terrific bakery I think.
Looking for a place to live? A car to buy? Arts information? A lover of either (or both) sex? The Chicago Reader is the place to look. Much less polemic than the Village Voice, it's as useful a paper as you can get.
Chicago's a city in which having a car is very desirable. However it also has a terrific mass transit system. Check out the world-famous L as well as one of the best bus systems in the country.
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More to Come!!
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