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Talk Theatre Radio Station will feature Tom Williams’ popular theatre program Chicago Stage Talk Radio show.
(Below is a promotional article about Williams’ Internet radio show)
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Chicago Stage Talk Radio Show
A live discussion of all things theatre in Chicago
Formerly Saturdays on www.uicradio.ws from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM
The source for information, reviews, interviews and, of course, endless Broadway show tunes.
Tom Williams (www.chicagocritic.com) will analyze and engage in ‘theatre talk,’ play show tunes and interview local actors, directors and playwrights and review local plays and debate the merits of each play.
The goal of Chicago Stage Talk is to promote local Chicago theatre and to introduce many to the magic of live stage performances. “We want to help get all the seats filled in Chicago theaters, “ said Tom Williams. Through interviews and segments like “The Picks of the Week,” Tom Williamsand his guest hosts direct listeners to attend theatre. They invite actors, directors and playwrights to come and talk theatre and promote their newest productions. They interject the show with music to keep up the variety.
Since starting broadcasting in February of 2003, Chicago Stage Talk has had a wide range of guests. Renee Matthews, a local actress and singer did a three-hour show about Yiddish Theatre in America. Matthews together with Joe Stead produced an impressive list of Jewish performers from early in the 20th Century to the present. Including in the rare songs was a recording of Matthews’ father as he sang in a spectacle at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933.
Chicago Stage Talk has an historical and educational bent that gives listeners interesting and informative data that may spark the initiative to attend theatre.
“We want to give listeners a reason to see a musical or a stage play,” commented Tom Williams. “If a song or an excerpt from a drama gets someone to purchase a ticket, then we did our job.”
Among Williams’ guest were Walter Stearns, director of Company from Porchlight Musical Theatre, Larry Bommer, a local theatre critic and Shakespeare expert, Jason Loewith, director of Measure For Measure for Next Theatre. The husband and wife actors, Paula Scrofano and John Reeger appeared with guest host Richard Eisenhardt, another local critic.
Playwrights Mia McCullough and Brett Neveu stimulated listeners with glib comments on writing theatre. Bruce Siewerth, the Chair of the Citations Wing of the Jeff Committee and Jeff Marks from the Jeff Awards Equity Wing appeared and explained the process that the Jeff Committee uses to evaluate the Chicago productions. The Jeff Awards recognize the finest in Chicago theatre.
Tom Williams together with Richard Eisenhardt, a well known critic, spent an entire three hour show listing and defining more that forty Chicago theatre groups and venues. “Those interested in seeing a show need to know the difference between what The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, the NextTheatre produces and what the small storefront theatres offer. The variety of Chicago theatre is immense with many world premiers and energetic revivals for both musicals and classics. Our job is to help theatergoers sift through the 100 or so productions offered on any given weekend. People want guidance as to what to see, Chicago Stage Talk and www.chicagocritic.com website gives them advice,” states Tom Williams.
Williams wants to post all the shows on streaming audio (and eventually video) on his new website, Chicago Stage Talk. The idea would be for interested parties to have a 24/7 source to listen to Broadway show tunes and a constant source of updated information on what’s playing on Chicago stages. The site would have links to all past shows, interviews and discussions as well as a link to many theatre companies and a comprehensive list of new shows and reviews of each so that anyone can get enough information to pick a show.
Williams plans to offer innovative promotions including ticket deals to entice people into theatre seats. His concept is to make his fees so small that even the smallest storefront theatre group can get the publicity that the major groups now get.
Williams will be able to do that once he has attracted a small group of companies who wish to be identified with helping underwrite local Chicago theatre. Chicago Critic.com and Chicago Stage Talk RadioShow are actively looking for several sponsors (five being the maximum) to advertise and be recognized as “patrons of the arts.”
“Once I have the finances in place I plan to expand our Radio outlets to larger broadcast outlets.” A theatre TV show fashioned after the successful movie review shows are planned in the near future. “If Chicago corporations realize that the can get much goodwill from promoting local theatre, then I’ll get my five sponsors easily.” Williams stated.
For further information, call Tom Williams at 773-296-2831 or email him at tom99@chicagocritic.com).
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