In the campus event of the semester, Governors State University’s Center for Performing Arts hosted the first-ever showing of Chicago Live! to be held outside the city limits of Chicago. Those who attended Chicago Live! at GSU were treated to an eclectic evening of music, comedy, and engaging interviews.
Chicago Live! is a multiplatform stage show that brings the Chicago Tribune to life. The show provided students with an extraordinary educational opportunity. GSU administrators encouraged the school’s faculty to incorporate Chicago Live! into their curriculum. GSU students who were given assignments related to the Chicago Live! show were provided with free tickets to the event. During the event’s pre-show reception, GSU President Elaine P. Maimon spoke of the unique learning experiences Chicago Live! would provide for GSU students.
“Students on our campus will be in the audience enjoying The Second City, but they’ll also be giving some thought to assignments that their professors have given them to figure out, how does comedy affect the image of political candidates?” said Maimon.
Maimon also said students would benefit from Chicago Live! host Rick Kogan’s interview with Bruce Dold, the editor of the Chicago Tribune’s editorial page.
“They’ll be giving some thought to how editorial commentary gets written, what goes into it. It’s not just somebody’s opinion. It’s something that takes a great deal of thought and effort,” said Maimon.
During the show, Kogan interviewed Dold and Maimon, as well as Chicago Live! performer and hip hop artist Psalm One, Chicago Tribune columnist Dawn Turner Trice, and WVON radio personality Cliff Kelley. Chicago Tribune music critic Howard Reich interviewed Chicago Live! performer and Grammy-Award winning blues musician Sugar Blue, while Chicago Tribune beer and travel writer John Noel interviewed Barnaby Struve, the Vice-President of Three Floyd’s Brewing Company.
Chicago Live! also featured a special performance by Audrey LaBranche, the winner of GSU’s first ever talent show GSU’s Got Talent. LaBranche performed an original song entitled Love You. LaBranche, whose stage name is Audrey Cher, is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, and is majoring in math and biology. LaBranche, who has been singing for over 20 years, is one of GSU’s many non-traditional college students. During Kogan’s interview with Maimon, the host praised GSU for its diverse student population.
“One of the interesting things about this campus is it’s not all kids” said Kogan. “It’s all different ages and all different backgrounds. You draw a lot of people from the city of Chicago to down here, which makes it, I’ve got to believe Dr. Maimon, as diverse a campus as you might find anywhere around here.”
Kogan also presented the popular Chicago Live! Almanac segment. The Almanac segment looks at a given year through a uniquely Chicago point of view. The year Kogan chose for GSU’s Almanac year was 1969, the same year GSU was founded.
Chicago Live! also featured comedy by The Second City, Chicago’s world famous improve comedy troupe. The Second City players touched on everything from politics to sports, including an uproarious visit to the Art Institute of Chicago.
Chicago Live!at GSU was recorded live on Thursday, November 1 at 7pm, and was broadcast on WGN Radio 720-AM on Saturday, November 3 at 11pm. Chicago Live! is produced by the Chicago Tribune for WGN AM Radio. The show is also available for free as a podcast on iTunes.