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Ann Boland is committed to Chicago theater, opera, and arts. Involved as a theatre-goer since the early 80s, she’s witnessed firsthand the rise of Chicago's theater scene, its exceptional local talent, and the vigor of each new generation. To support her good and bad habits, Ann handles public relations for authors and the arts.

Latest Posts By Ann Boland

1 year ago

What’s on Your Pile of Summer Reads?

Let our summer readfest begin! Though it may be a while before I come up for air again. I’m in the midst of reading three 500 – 700+ page books! Almost finished with Franzen’s Crossroads. Next will be Verghese’s new book (see below)…

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1 year ago

Modern Opera/Rock Opera/Musicals – All Singing, All the Time

All musical forms progress as new instruments, new technology, and new innovators come on the scene. Modern opera has bad rap because some of it contains music written using the 12-note scale, uncomfortable to most ears…

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1 year ago

Short Book Reviews: New Worlds at Your Fingertips

In March, I was honored to moderate a panel of memoir writers at the Tucson Festival of Books. Meeting and interacting with these authors was memorable. Adiba is as funny and direct as her book. Asked by an audience member…

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2 years ago

The Color of Chicago Opera and Theater

Last spring, I wrote about the explosion of black on the live stage. In 2022, all the new plays opening on Broadway were written by black playwrights and starred black performers. Locally, in Chicago, the explosion is sustained by the four-to-six-week schedule of new performances throughout the year. All Black Productions Most theater groups average […]

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2 years ago

Frank Lloyd Wright and a Wisconsin Get-a-Way – Visiting the American Players Theater in Spring Green, WI, Summer 2022

Living in Chicago, you automatically qualify as a Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) fan. Many of his famous commissions still stand, some owned by single families, or open to the public and owned by churches (Unitarians), communities…

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2 years ago

Are You Crazy About Puppets?

If theater is about the suspension of disbelief, then puppetry is a double suspension of disbelief – the story is told not by an actor, but by a doll or costume controlled by a puppeteer. Done well, it works in a magical way. The creative skill…

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2 years ago

Stratford, Canada, Here We Come! A Cultural and Theatrical Binge

As we crossed the well-named Blue River Bridge over the St. Clair River from Port Huron, MI to Sarnia, ON Canada, we breathed the clean gun-less air of our northern neighbor. Sister-in-law, Norah, and I were on a five-day jaunt from Chicago…

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2 years ago

15 Short Book Reviews for Prolific Readers

This reading binge takes me down the rabbit hole of 17th century history, European and American. I’m amazed reading European history that the colonies are mentioned as an afterthought. They were successful commercial…

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2 years ago

Keeping on with the Reading Trend

Since reading is a great pastime for women our age – and for anyone, really – here’s another list that I was able to complete and review…

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2 years ago

Short Book Reviews for the Avid Reader

Have you had those days when you just can’t stop reading? It seems I’m in just such a period! Spurred by a client who writes humorous short essays, I keep finding wonderful, funny women to share. And there are lots of other women…

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