‘Having Our Say’ At The Goodman Theatre; Midwest Music Festivals; Summer Travel
The Goodman Theater
On The 21st: Now that summer is here, Chicago Tribune critic Greg Kot tells us about how to enjoy the best music festivals, all within driving distance of Illinois. Plus, we talk summer travel with NPR’s David Schaper. But first, we speak to the director behind a play that’s getting another staging at the Goodman Theater in Chicago - Having our Say.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the publishing of the New York Times bestselling memoir “Having Our Say: The Delany Sister’s First 100 years”. And the play - about the lives of two centenarians sisters - is undergoing a revival right now at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, it’s playing until June 10.
And it’s an intimate portrait of two sisters who lived well past 100 years - a lifetime that spanned remarkable change for the two African-American women, whose father was born into slavery.
Chuck Smith is the resident director of the Goodman. Marie Thomas is an actor who plays Sadie in the production of this play. We spoke with both of them at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago recently.
Actor Marie Thomas identifies with her character Sadie's line: "I never let prejudice stop me from doing what I wanted to do in life, and indeed I have not."
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"Whatever I need to do, climb mountains, go under, go around, I'll change the situation," she adds.
Plus-
With the summer season officially here, that means it’s time to start thinking about getting outside to enjoy some music. And of course you hear about festivals like Coachella in California. But you don’t have to travel across the country to see great live music. There are a lot of music fests within driving distance -- whether that’s Wisconsin, Tennessee or right here in Illinois.
Greg Kot joined us to give us some suggestions. He’s the music critic for the Chicago Tribune and the cohost of the public radio show Sound Opinions.
And what about the biggie, you ask? #Lollapalooza?
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"A lot of people are suffering Lollapalooza burnout." says @gregkot.
One party excited about a 4-day format? The City of Chicago. "But in terms of a great festival experience, Lollapalooza is no longer that."
Thinking about camping out at #bonnaroo? @gregkot says skip it. Instead check out a fest closer to home: @Mambybeach
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A "well curated, diverse line-up" w/ established acts that aren't "so super-mega popular" so there's still room for discovery. + only 2 days, & on the beach! pic.twitter.com/N9XlQN0hjM
And-
Last week marks the unofficial start to summer - and to summer travel season. How are our major airports doing this summer? And what is summer travel looking like? NPR’s David Schaper joined us on the line from Chicago to talk summer travel.
According to a @Bankrate survey, nearly 1 in 4 Americans say they won't go on a summer vacation because they can't afford it.
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"Wages have not grown particularly well...and that's putting a lot of pressure on families," says @davidschaperNPR.