1. Raven Theatre has gotten a grant from NEA to host The Big Read, a program “designed to restore reading to the center of American culture.” This means they’ll have events like read-a-thons, book discussions, lectures, movie screenings, and performances. This time around, the choice is Sun, Stone, and Shadows: 20 Great Mexican Short Stories, edited by Jorge F. Hernández. The Kick-off party is November 19 at the Rogers Park Chicago Public Library, and The Big Read Big Show will be December 6. 

2. Jennifer Lim is getting fair praise ever since the production of Chinglish moved to Broadway. The Wall Street Journal said, “This is Ms. Lim’s Broadway debut, and she’s a knockout, tough, smart and sexy. She’s more than a match for Mr. Wilmes, who seems to think that Ohio businessmen talk like Garry Shandling.” 

3. There are some heated comments about Shakespeare over at the Reader; they follow Tony Adler’s piece about Anonymous, the new movie that heavily aligns itself with the Oxfordian theory (that Shakespeare was actually the 17th Earl of Oxford). I love how this dude who has been dead for ages is still causing so many problems.

4. Remember Walk Two Moons? Did you grow up in the 90s? Do you have children who grew up in the 90s? You know allll about Sharon Creech then. Personally, I was more of a fan of Chasing Redbird, though why I have no idea. Anywho, the main character Sal “ultimately realizes that things - and people - are not always what they seem” through her journies. Because if you walk a mile in another man’s shoes, you’ll know them, remember? It opens this weekend at Adventure Stage.

5. Missed this last week, but here’s a list of 12 of the most influential theater critics in American theater, and you’ve guessed it, Chris Jones is right there in the midst of it all. Jones describes the Chicago-region as “blue-collar, profane and prone to violence.” Written by David Cote, theater critic at TimeOut New York, the list actually garnered response in the comments from someone who made the list: Robert Faires, the Arts Editor of The Austin Chronicle. What I noticed: we’re talking about a lot of old white men. 

Questions? Tips? Email kdries@wbez.org.