Jay Gabler's blog
Joe Dowling miscast himself in the Guthrie's "Faith Healer"...but who should have played his role? Here's my suggestion
Despite the fact that it meant ending an extended acting hiatus, it must have been irresistible for Joe Dowling to cast himself as the title character in Brian Friel's Faith Healer. Not only is Friel a playwright whose work has long been particularly significant for Dowling, Faith Healer is much more a meditation on art—and theater in particular—than on faith.MORE »
Press Release of the Day: An odd situation...to say the least
I've written previously about critics' complex motives for writing—often very obscurely—about art, but pity the poor PR rep who must describe artists' work in a manner that (a) accurately communicates what it looks or feels like, (b) situates it in the art world, and (c) describes why your reader, the proverbial Little Old Lady From Dubuque (or, as the case may be, Highland Park) might care about it.
I survived Chicago-Lake Liquors
by Jay Gabler
A budget Renaissance
by Jay Gabler | 9/1/09 • When I visited the Minnesota Renaissance Festival for the first time a couple of years ago, I was impressed at the scale of the thing but less impressed at the fact that what the hefty admission charge bought you was largely a chance to spend more money—on mead, lamb shanks, and sundry goblets. My friend Nalini and I had chosen to dress up in ironically futuristic garb, bearing in mind of course that in the future everyone will wear non-breathing garments like golden parachute pants and pink plastic raincoats. By the time we made it across the parking lot, which seemed to span several counties, we were pouring sweat and made it for only one turn 'round the fair before escaping to the nearest Culver's for air conditioning and affordably-priced Butterburgers.MORE »
Foxy Tann is a pun-ny (and bun-ny) lady
by Jay Gabler | 8/24/09 • Hot on the heels of her Daily Planet interview with Dwight HobMORE »
Berkeley Avenue: An address that sells itself?
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Calling all pasty Pats
by Jay Gabler | 8/17/09MORE »























