Tony Award-winning actor Ian McDiarmid is starring at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. We talk to him about the obscure play, Timon of Athens, and his famed villainy as Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars film saga.
An art conservator discovers fraudulence in a 19th century portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln. We shine a light on his detective work.
Celebrated British stage and film actor Simon Callow joins us to talk about his new role in Being Shakespeare.
Mozart. Beethoven. Radiohead? What is modern classical music, and what are its influences? We talk with one of today's modern classical composers.
Lovers of used and rare books are mourning the impending loss of a celebrated and unusual neighborhood bookstore. Jay Shefsky has the story.
The Ravinia Festival is on its way again, with 15 weeks worth of classical, pop and jazz programming. We talk with the president and CEO.
Harmonica wizard Howard Levy joins us with a performance and tells us about reuniting with Bela Fleck & The Flecktones.
It's a big year for Chicago's Joffrey Ballet. We hear all about it from the artistic director, and a visiting guest from the Royal Ballet in London.
The daughter of a high-ranking Chinese government official has written an autobiography about her family's struggle for survival during the Cultural Revolution. Her story has now been made into a documentary. We talk with Chicagoan Jian Ping.
Second City legend Andrea Martin joins us to talk about her days on SCTV, her award-winning Broadway work, and her latest touring show.
An Evanston native with a growing reputation as a songwriter is here to play songs from his solo debut.
The Civil War as seen through art and images in Chicago collections. We have the story about a new online effort to illustrate the great conflict.
The Tony-award winning musical Fela! is in town. The show's lead producer tells us how love for Fela's music led to a triumphant stage production.
The flag of Chicago re-imagined by artists; plus rock posters and other prime examples of the city's rich printmaking history.
Young poets and storytellers compete this week at the Louder Than a Bomb festival. We talk to the co-founder of the fest and one of its stars.
The Field Museum has a new exhibit, giving visitors a chance to see mummies that have not been viewed by the public for over 100 years. We get a behind-the-scenes look at the exhibit.
Jane Addams and her fellow reformers understood the social value of art and its ability to break down barriers and uplift people. Find out how Jane Addams' Hull House was an incubator for early Chicago artists.
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