Suzanne Ross and John Musial, the playwright and director of The Great Fire and Lookingglass ensemble member, explore the myth of Chicago’s origins and provide insights into the creative process during this preshow discussion. Enjoy the conversation.

John Musial is a Chicago-based film and theater maker. He writes, directs, designs, and makes stuff. As a writer and director with Lookingglass, he created The Great Fire, The Grail ‘97, Nelson Algren: For Keeps and a Single Day, and most recently, Our Future Metropolis. He has been Jeff nominated for Best New Work, Best Scenic Design, and Achievement in Film Design.  He received the latter award for Algren in 2008.

Raven Foundation founder Suzanne Ross is a graduate of Bucknell University and a certified Montessori educator. She taught preschool and kindergarten before working as a corporate training consultant. As a member of the Colloquium on Violence & Religion, she has attended and presented at the annual conferences. In January 2007, she and her husband Keith founded The Raven Foundation to increase awareness of mimetic theory. In 2010, Suzanne served on the staff of the first mimetic theory summer school sponsored by Imitatio. Her first book, The Wicked Truth: When Good People Do Bad Things, examines the lessons of myth, scapegoating, and forgiveness in the hit Broadway musical Wicked. Her second book, The Wicked Truth About Love: The Tangles of Desire, explores patterns of romantic love and how to create a fulfilling relationship. Suzanne continues to lecture on mimetic theory and popular culture at universities, conferences, churches, bookstores, and libraries. She is currently working on the leader guide that will accompany James Alison’s adult Christian education DVD series, The Forgiving Victim. Her personal blog is Copy That!

Recorded Saturday, November 5, 2011 at Beane Hall, Loyola University Chicago.