Chicago 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, 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.

For 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 upcoming Auditorium show on November 17th for ELLA & LENA: The Ladies and Their Music, a centennial concert celebration of Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne. Chicago vocalist and producer Joan Curto will be joined by many of Chicago’s top artists including E. Faye Butler, Beckie Menzie, Tammy McCann, Paul Marinaro, Tom Michael and Sophie Grimm with Daniels’ 17-piece orchestra featuring songs from the Great American Songbook.

Season 2 Episode 29. Originally published November 9, 2017.

Author 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.

Longtime Goodman Producer/Director Steve Scott joined the conversation in October 2016 to talk about the 2016 production - and 39th Annual - of A Christmas Carol and his career in Chicago theatre. Scott, who retired from the Goodman after 40 years service earlier this year, will be honored at the 2017 Joseph Jefferson Awards on November 6th, 2017.

Season 1 Episode 13 Recorded October 24, 2016

Ashley Wheater, Artistic Director of the Joffrey Ballet joins the conversation to discuss the new partnership with Lyric Opera, the PBS filming of Orphée et Eurydice and the 2017-2018 opening production of Giselle at the Auditorium Theater. Along the way, he reflects on co-founders Robert Joffrey, Gerald Arpino, working with Rudolph Nureyev, John Field and Helgi Tomasson, among others, and the 1996 career-ending injury, surgery and the aggressive physical therapy that followed. 

Season 2 Episode 27 | Originally published October 11, 2017

Award-winning dancer, choreographer and director Brenda Didier joins the conversation during rehearsals for Billy Elliot, the opening production of Porchlight Music Theatre's 23rd season and first at The Ruth Page Center in Chicago.

Season 2 Episode 26 | Originally published September 19, 2017

Award-winning actress, singer and entertainer E. Faye Butler joins the conversation during a break in rehearsal of Barbara Gaines upcoming all-woman production of Taming of the Shrew at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and her recent Jeff-nominated appearance as Mama Morton in Chicago at Drury Lane.

Season 2 Episode 25 | Originally published September 13, 2017 

Producing Artistic Director, Wendy Whiteside, and Foley artist and designer, Shawn J. Goudie, joined the conversation to tell us more about their wonderful lives in Chicago … and Bedford Falls. The 2017 Jeff nominated live radio show opens at Stage 773 on November 16, 2017.

Originally published December 14, 2016 | Season 1 Episode 17 

Chris Jones, chief theater critic and a Sunday culture columnist for the Chicago Tribune, joined the conversation at the Hubbard Inn on November 19, 2013 to discuss his new book Bigger, Brighter, Louder. Also featured in this episode of CONVERSATIONS FTA (From The Archives) is a performance by World War II veteran JUDY BRUBAKER, who played the role of Ms. Leach in the original Chicago cast of Grease in 1971.

Originally published August 21, 2017 | CONVERSATIONS FTA  

Ethan Michaeli is an award-winning author, publisher and journalist based in Chicago. He was a copy editor and investigative reporter at The Defender from 1991 to 1996. Ethan joined us for the debut of conversations with Ed Tracy at the Skokie Theatre to discuss his new book, The Defender.

Originally published July 15, 2016 | Season 1 Episode 2  

Imerman Angels CEO & Executive Director Benjamin Bornstein, a three-time cancer survivor, joins the conversation to discuss the Chicago-based organization that brings cancer fighters and caregivers together with Mentor Angel survivors of the approximate age and cancer type in all 50 states and 60 countries.

Season 2 Episode 24 | Originally published August 16, 2017 

Artistic Director Gracie Valdez and Aerial Strap Artist Benjamin Courtenay join the conversation in the rehearsal tent for an inside look at Cirque Du Soleil's LUZIA: A Waking Dream of Mexico during the Chicago run of the show.

Season 2 Episode 23 | Originally published August 10, 2017 

Co-founder and Artistic Director Harmony France joins the conversation to discuss Chicago's new Equity company, Firebrand Theatre, the first musical theatre company committed to employing and empowering women by expanding opportunities on and off the stage. The company's launches their inaugural season this fall with a production of LIZZIE at The Den Theatre.

Season 2 Episode 22 | Originally published August 10, 2017 

Comedian Tom Dreesen joins the conversation to talk about 48 years in show business and counting, including 14 years on tour with Frank Sinatra and over 60 appearances on the Tonight Show. 

Season 2 Episode 21 | Originally published August 3, 2017 

Legendary comedian Tom Dreesen talks about classmates, growing up and his first date.

Comedian Tom Dreesen talks about life lessons from his high school football coach, why he likes playing golf with Joe Pesci and mortality. 

Shattered Globe’s Producing Artistic Director Sandy Shinner joined the conversation to talk about her career, True West and what’s ahead.

Season 1 Episode 8 | Originally published August 24, 2016

As successful social media entrepreneurs, bloggers and cook book authors, Kit Graham and Jocelyn Delk Adams, know a thing or two about “likes” and “followers.” Both joined the conversation to discuss their careers in food, travel and beyond. 

Season 1 Episode 2 | Originally published July 8, 2016 

Sheldon Patinkin helped shape the Chicago comedy and theater scene as a writer, performer and director starting in the 1950s. He joined the conversation in 2013 to discuss his wide-ranging career, the development of The Second City and many of the extraordinary comedians he has worked with over the years. 

Originally published September 19, 2013 

Long-time Chicago playwright and actor James Sherman sat down for a conversation at the Skokie Theatre to discuss his production The Ben Hecht Show. 

Originally published June 29, 2016 | Season 1 Episode 6 

Actor Randall Newsome joins the conversation in advance of the opening of Eugene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness! at Goodman Theatre to discuss O'Neill's work, his career and the unique skills he developed as a circus clown that have helped him along the way. 

Season 2 Episode 19 | Originally published June 29, 2017 

Lookinglass co-founder and director David Catlin, adapted the high-flying, critically-acclaimed stage version of the Herman Melville classic Moby Dick in 2015. With the show now returning to Chicago after a national tour, David Catlin joined the conversation to discuss his early influences and the fascinating collaborative process behind the company's ambitious and powerful production.

Season 2 Episode 20 | Originally published June 29, 2017

Ron Keaton, producer, actor and writer of the acclaimed Churchill one-man show was our first guest for Conversations with Ed Tracy at the Skokie Theatre. Ron discussed his long-time acting career, future goals for SoloChicago and performed a monologue from his 2015 Joseph Jefferson Award-winning performance of Churchill.

Season 1 Episode 1 | Originally published July 28, 2016

John Zukowsky, Lee Bey and Rolf Achilles joined the conversation at the national launch of Building Chicago to discuss the evolving landscape of Chicago architecture in the 20th century. 

Season 1 Episode 14 | Originally published November 10, 2016