WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

Summer is usually known for its dearth of impressive television programming, and this year is no exception: NBC is currently in the middle of airing Stars Earn Stripes, a reality TV show where "Eight celebs compete and take on challenges of real American heroes." 

Stars Earn Stripes isn't just the latest in reality TV glut; it's the latest endeavor in a long history of Hollywood and the United State's government's use of film and television, argued performer, veteran and former WBEZ employee Matt Ulrich at The Paper Machete. "The thing is, it's you're American right to give a show to the general public that showcase an altered reality of military service," said Ulrich. "It's your constitutional right, a right that is defended and protected by real military servicemen and women. It's a burden that they earn." Read an excerpt below or listen above:

Earn is a word with many definitions.

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- The Late Live Show would like to remind you that its Kickstarter campaign was fully funded; because of that, ticket prices will be a mere $3 and Splitsider gave them a long piece and a thumbs-up!

- Oh man Mayor Rahm Emanuel went to Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks (which, according to their numbers, has had more than 10,000 attendees) and took this phenomenal picture:

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- For every theater company that says, "You know what? I'm too old for this," another says, "Oh wow this'll be fun!" The latest is First Floor Theater, started by a group of University of Chicago grads that they're describing as an "ensemble-based non-profit theatre initiative." It's named after the First Floor Theater in the University student center, where many numerous theater endeavors took place until the recently opened Logan Center was built.

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- Steppenwolf ensemble member Mariann Mayberry is featured in this rather beautiful photo by Sandro (who we recently talked to for Afternoon Shift) as part of their advertising campaign for Good People, which opens in September.

- Metamorphoses has announced their full cast, which features some returning cast members from the original production.

- "Enter a world where men earn $0.77 for every $1.00 a woman earns.

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Eclipse Theatre's production of Ah, Wilderness, as filmed by The Stage Channel

For a guy who died 59 years ago, Eugene O'Neill (1888-1953) is having an amazing year in Chicago. The highpoint, arguably, was the Goodman Theatre's definitive staging of The Iceman Cometh, brilliantly conceived by director Robert Falls and a luminous design team.

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The band Insane Clown Posse announced this week that they plan to sue the FBI for including ICP fans in the agency's 2011 Gang Threat Assessment Report. The annoucement came at the 13th annual Gathering of the Juggalos, and Samantha Abernathy at Chicagoist reported that the band said their fans – the said same Juggalos – have been harassed by law enforcement officials. 

Abernathy expanded on her thoughts at The Paper Machete and asked, "Is it fair to call a group of make-up wearing music fans a gang? Does it really apply?" And "Is the FBI discriminating against ICP, and is it fair to consider the group's members gangleaders? Were the Beatles held responsible for the Manson's love of the song 'Piggies'? Because by the FBI's definition, that would probably make George Harrison a cult leader."

I did some research on the mind of a Juggalo on a tumblr that collects Juggalos' profiles on OKCupid. Juggalos and Juggalettes clearly announce their allegiance to The Family with the mating call of WHOOP WHOOP.

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Eclipse Theatre's production of Ah, Wilderness, as filmed by The Stage Channel

Dueling Critics, between 9 and 10 a.m. Friday, 91.5 FM and WBEZ.org, FREE!

Jonathan and I will review Ah, Wilderness – Eugene O’Neill’s only comedy – at Eclipse Theatre. And we chat with a Player To Be Named Later about whether devoting an entire season to a single playwright leads to deeper insight or the familiarity which breeds contempt.  – KK

The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare in the Parks, Wilson Park, Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 4 pm, FREE!

Chicago Shakespeare's traveling production of Shrew winds up its whirlwind tour this weekend with a three-day stand at Wilson Park, 4630 North Milwaukee on the Northwest Side. After that, all you can do is hope for a repeat of the Shakes/Parks program next year. – KK

East of the Sun, West of the Moon, Coriolis Theater Company, opens tomorrow (Friday) at 8 pm at the Boho Theater at the Heartland Studio in Rogers Park, $25.

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