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It's “That Guy… Who Was in That Thing” meets "WTF" but with people even less well known! Sure it's fun to interview the crazy famous and ask them about the difficult years, but that's been done. Memories are plastic - we're getting the real dirt from people still crawling through it. Laura Scruggs is the playwright and Jake Scruggs is the technical guy who listens to a lot of “This American Life” and thinks that qualifies him to interview people.

Oct 24, 2016

02:05 - When did Chris Jones know he wanted to be a critic?
03:06 - The first play that he saw.
04:53 - Highlights and challenges of being a critic.
10:50 - Trying to quiet the dog. Also, how does Chris Jones feel about the judgment of a play and its consequences?
14:14 - On being pigeon-holed as liking only certain things and the struggle to have "no taste beyond good taste."
15:28 - Chris Jones at Drekfest. http://stagelefttheatre.com/participate/drekfest/
16:30 - Favorite take-aways from Chris' education.
19:44 - Question from friend and playwright Helen Valenta: Has Chris ever written a play and if so, how has it informed his critiques?
21:50 - Another question from Helen: What does Chris feel is his moral obligation as a critic?
23:40 - Chris' feelings about going to a show in a blackbox vs. a large, more well-established theatre: it's all theatre.
25:44 - Examples of those Chris saw at a young age and knew he/she would be a star.
28:01 - On being director of National Critics Institute at The Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center. http://www.theoneill.org/summer-conferences/nci/
30:53 - Most extreme reactions to his reviews?
32:27 - Highlights and challenges of chairing The American Theatre Critics Association. http://americantheatrecritics.org
33:58 - What was it like to serve twice on the Drama Committee for the Pulitzer Prize? http://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-category/218
35:05 - Thoughts as to why Broadway is dominated by established intellectual properties.
37:30 - What inspired Chris Jones to write his book, Bigger, Brighter, Louder: 150 Years of Chicago Theater? http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/B/bo16157722.html
40:28 - Is there a type of show or theatre company that Chris Jones would like to see that he hasn't seen in Chicago?
42:25 - Main differences between theatre scenes in England and America?
43:40 - How does being a father affect his career?
47:47 - Promotions: Follow Chris Jones on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=715118853 and Twitter: @ChrisJonesTrib
48:04 - The most exciting thing for Chris Jones as a critic

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Intro Music: "Are You Famous, Yet?" - Laura Scruggs. Outro Music: "The Devil Is In The Beats" - The Chemical Brothers


Madelyn Sergel
seven and a half years ago

Terrific interview!