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Ensemble: An Oral History of Chicago Theater
Chicago is a bona fide theater town, bursting with an explosive, innovative vitality that’s fed every sector of the entertainment industry—from Hollywood to Broadway to Studio 8H—for as long as it’s delighted adoring local fans.
Ensemble is an in-depth, first-of-its-kind history of Chicago’s internationally celebrated theater scene, spanning 65 years and told through first-person accounts from the people who made it happen.
Among many other topics, this book explores the early days of the fabled Compass Players and the legendary Second City in the ’50s and ’60s; the rise of internationally acclaimed ensembles like Steppenwolf in the ’70s; the explosion of storefront and neighborhood companies that began in earnest in the ’80s; and the enduring global influence of the city as the center of improv training and performance.
Drawing from more than 300 interviews, author Mark Larson has woven a narrative that expresses the spirit of Chicago’s ensemble the voices of celebrities such as Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Ed Asner, George Wendt, Michael Shannon, and Tracy Letts comingle with stories from designers, composers, and others who have played a crucial role in making Chicago theater so powerful, influential, and unique.
Ensemble is an in-depth, first-of-its-kind history of Chicago’s internationally celebrated theater scene, spanning 65 years and told through first-person accounts from the people who made it happen.
Among many other topics, this book explores the early days of the fabled Compass Players and the legendary Second City in the ’50s and ’60s; the rise of internationally acclaimed ensembles like Steppenwolf in the ’70s; the explosion of storefront and neighborhood companies that began in earnest in the ’80s; and the enduring global influence of the city as the center of improv training and performance.
Drawing from more than 300 interviews, author Mark Larson has woven a narrative that expresses the spirit of Chicago’s ensemble the voices of celebrities such as Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Ed Asner, George Wendt, Michael Shannon, and Tracy Letts comingle with stories from designers, composers, and others who have played a crucial role in making Chicago theater so powerful, influential, and unique.
- GenresTheatreHistoryNonfiction
704 pages, Hardcover
Published August 13, 2019
14 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 30, 2019
I finished this a long time ago.
I would have liked more information on August Wilson's work in Chicago. The Goodman Theatre was the first in the country to stage all ten plays in his Pittsburgh Cycle.
Also, Chicago hosts the August Wilson Monologue Competition.
Other than that minor quibble, this was an amazing, thorough, and well researched book. VERY long, but worth the time invested.
Recommended for theater geeks.
I would have liked more information on August Wilson's work in Chicago. The Goodman Theatre was the first in the country to stage all ten plays in his Pittsburgh Cycle.
Also, Chicago hosts the August Wilson Monologue Competition.
Other than that minor quibble, this was an amazing, thorough, and well researched book. VERY long, but worth the time invested.
Recommended for theater geeks.
June 7, 2023
Full disclosure. I am a Chicago theater junkie. It is one of the very most important things in my life. I subscribe to a bunch of theatres, have been on two not for profit theater Boards, buy lots of tickets AND usher with a group called The Saints, volunteers for the performing arts. And I know and am friends with lots of Chicago theater folks. So I was predisposed to like this book
But at 700 pages I was afraid it might be "Read this; you really need to, you know". So it sat in my library since I bought it 4 years ago. And then I took it off the shelf about 10 days ago and started to read it.. And I could barely put it down. Author Mark Larson has interviewed hundreds of actors, directors, playwrights, critics and other theater professionals. Not only did he get people to talk candidly, but he masterfully edited and wove the interviews into compelling and cohesive stories about the history of Chicago theater and its many not-for-profit, mostly ensemble based companies. It was NOT like a textbook. It was NOT boring. I found it engaging and in some cases riveting. I thought I knew a LOT about Chicago theater, its history and the companies (actually, I DO) But I LEARNED SO MUCH that I hadn't heard before. If you have any interest in Chicago theater (or any regional and/or not for profit theater,) do yourself a favor and get this book. And don't wait 4 years to read it!
But at 700 pages I was afraid it might be "Read this; you really need to, you know". So it sat in my library since I bought it 4 years ago. And then I took it off the shelf about 10 days ago and started to read it.. And I could barely put it down. Author Mark Larson has interviewed hundreds of actors, directors, playwrights, critics and other theater professionals. Not only did he get people to talk candidly, but he masterfully edited and wove the interviews into compelling and cohesive stories about the history of Chicago theater and its many not-for-profit, mostly ensemble based companies. It was NOT like a textbook. It was NOT boring. I found it engaging and in some cases riveting. I thought I knew a LOT about Chicago theater, its history and the companies (actually, I DO) But I LEARNED SO MUCH that I hadn't heard before. If you have any interest in Chicago theater (or any regional and/or not for profit theater,) do yourself a favor and get this book. And don't wait 4 years to read it!
December 28, 2019
A big, sprawling, pleasing and frustrating book. I picked it up at The Book Cellar. The first words I saw were “Laura Eason”, who sublet my apartment for six weeks with my friend Pep. The next we’re “Steve Scott”, who I assistant directed for back in 1993 or so. And I’m like, “Welp. I guess I have to read this.”
It’s a huge book, a kajillion people, but while I was reading it I couldn’t decide if it ever really captured why people do shows. (It’s also really lacking in gossip, which is a shame.) Sometimes it felt more like long lists of people and storefronts and the names of shows. But, for sections of the book it got to be more that that. I guess it’s more about the community that did the work than the work itself.
Anyhow, if you did theater in Chicago ever you’re probably one degree away from someone in here. You should read it, they’re probably talking about you. And if you never did theater in Chicago? It’s probably a little dry. But I did, so.
It’s a huge book, a kajillion people, but while I was reading it I couldn’t decide if it ever really captured why people do shows. (It’s also really lacking in gossip, which is a shame.) Sometimes it felt more like long lists of people and storefronts and the names of shows. But, for sections of the book it got to be more that that. I guess it’s more about the community that did the work than the work itself.
Anyhow, if you did theater in Chicago ever you’re probably one degree away from someone in here. You should read it, they’re probably talking about you. And if you never did theater in Chicago? It’s probably a little dry. But I did, so.
July 7, 2021
Read this for a class and am usually not a big fan of nonfiction - but really enjoyed this one. Mark has lived quite the interesting life, and has a wonderful knack for storytelling. The characters really come alive through their own words and the way Mark strings the conversations together to pain a very vivid picture of theater in Chicago. Highly recommend for anyone really passionate about Chicago theater and especially improv.
May 22, 2025
I started reading "Ensemble" to find insights about the careers of the actors I've seen in live theatre, films, and television shows: Rondi Reed, Laurie Metcalf, Alan Arkin, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, John Mahoney, etc, but after I finished skimming to find those interviews, I went back and perused the material from people I wasn't familiar with—playwrights, directors, producers. I'm glad I did. It gave me a view of the fascinating world behind the curtain.
February 26, 2021
Fascinating first person accounts of how Chicago theatre became the cultural gem it is.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews