Behind the ‘Line

View Articles:

Farnsworth Photos

Tonight was the production photo call for The Farnsworth Invention. This is the night when after a performance, the cast and stage management team work their way through the show a second time so that I can grab still photographs of specific moments. It can be fun (and funny!). It can also be tedious. Today’s went great, and my thanks go out to everyone for their help recording some of the memorable images from the ...
Read More >

Better Than Broadway

On his recent trip through Chicago, the Wall Street Journal‘s drama critic Terry Teachout came to see The Farnsworth Invention. Today we got to see what he thought about the show, and well, it was great moment. This is how any theatre company hopes a ...
Read More >

TBA no longer

TimeLine announced weeks ago that Frost/Nixon, Mastering the Art and The Front Page would be part of our 2010-11 season. But as sometimes happens, when we announced those three we also had to announce that one of our productions was still “TBA.”  Well, today we ...
Read More >

Art and History

** Note: A few spoilers ahead if you have not yet seen The Farnsworth Invention ** Philo T. Farnsworth examines an image dissector Frequently at TimeLine we grapple with the issues surrounding the intersection of art and history. The act of dramatizing some part of ...
Read More >

Digging deeper

Often when I do post-show discussions, audience members ask me about books that will allow them to dig deeper into the historical events that inspire a play. For The Farnsworth Invention, this is particularly important since there are many vital differences between Aaron Sorkin’s play ...
Read More >

Share your thoughts

TimeLine’s Chicago premiere of The Farnsworth Invention starts performances this week! The professional reviewers will weigh in soon but we want to give you a chance to share your own review, comments or questions about the production below. Pictured (from left): Zach Kenney, Bridgette Pechman, Rob Fagin, Tom McElroy, Larry Baldacci, Eliza Stoughton, Jamie Vann, Jeremy Glickstein and Zach Gray.
Read More >

My Step Into Time speech

On Friday night I had the honor of speaking to guests at our Step Into Time benefit. Here’s what I said: Most of you have been to our intimate space on Wellington Ave. and know that we normally can accommodate an audience of about 85 ...
Read More >

10 days left. 29 to go.

I know you are sitting there saying to yourself, “There are only 10 days until TimeLine’s annual Step Into Time benefit. I wonder what is going on over at 615 W. Wellington Ave.” For those who know me, it should be no surprise that today I’m talking ...
Read More >

Another beginning

“The Farnsworth Invention” by Aaron Sorkin Every few months, we get to start again. A new show. Another first rehearsal. A new group of people coming together at TimeLine to make new magic on stage. For The Farnsworth Invention, the group is really a crowd! ...
Read More >

That maddening box

Monday night was the first rehearsal for Aaron Sorkin’s The Farnsworth Invention. Wow! There were 16 actors, the director, assistant director, dramaturg and 3 members of the stage management team on stage — the ‘Master Harold’ set.  There were more actors in the audience (our ...
Read More >