Their track record wasn't perfect (What on earth did David Zak see in Bare?) but I did see some wonderful things there in the past five years--Tim Miller for the first time, a lovely production of The Tricky Part, and the Hypocrites' Angels In America, to name a few. Plus, they were one of this city's most consistent providers of naked men onstage.
It's a shame any time that a theatre closes down, especially one that produced so consistently, and rented out to so many small companies. Was the financial and administrative mismanagement a sign that it was time to close? Has Bailiwick's moment of being necessary in Chicago passed? I'm not sure. I hope they continue to produce in rented spaces once in a while.
It is very encouraging that Theatre Wit is taking the building over--if they really do give it such a nice refurbishment and open it with three stages, this loss will be a little easier to take. The great thing about this city is that rental stages are always full--someone always wants to do a show!
Does anyone who has actually worked for Bailiwick have an opinion on this? I speak only as an audience member, so I recognize my perspective is skewed at best.
4 comments:
Holy crap, Bailiwick is closing? That's major news, dude. Welcome to the blogosphere, by the way.
Good to have you out here Zev, any luck with Radio? Remember what i said....love to hear you read your future reviews.
It seems they're leaving their space, and will still produce shows. I blogged some of the news coverage, and will ask David Zak for his comments: Bailiwick Not Closing, Entirely.
Glad to hear it really. David cheated so many actors, musicians etc. our of money - he should have been run out of town long ago. I speak from experience. Bailiwick really was an insult to the Chicago theatre scene, and that was David Zac's fault, for being a cheat, lier and bad businessman.
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