Alex Kotlowitz's Works Take To The Stage

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 3, 2005 12:50PM

Chicagoist has just about finished reading Alex Kotlowitz's Never a City So Real: A Walk in Chicago and we think it's pretty fabulous. This 2004 book is a loving examination of our city as seen through detailed portraits of people who care about it deeply. It's less, as classified by the publisher, a travelogue, and more an essential history lesson for us young and/or new Chicagoans, wrapped in engaging biography for all.

Kotlowitz has had plenty of practice sharing the voices of Chicagoans, many down-and-out, but all fascinating: in addition to writing the acclaimed There Are No Children Here, a nonfiction story of two young boys living in the Henry Horner Homes (one of the 150 most important books of the century as selected by the New York Public Library), he's collaborated for several years with Chicago Public Radio producer Amy Dorn on the award-winning Chicago Matters series. And now Dorn and Kotlowitz have taken many of those radio stories and created a play: An Unobstructed View is currently premiering with the Pegasus Players. Catch a free sample this Saturday, June 4 at 2:00 at the Uptown Borders. Kotlowitz will also be there to discuss the play and sign copies of his books.

You can see the whole show at Pegasus Players through June 26. From the descriptions we've read of the play, it looks like it features characters from Never a City So Real, so we're excited to see it. Visit their website or call the box office at (773) 878-9761 for more information.

An Unobstructed View Preview
Saturday, June 4, 2:00 PM
Borders Uptown
4718 N. Broadway (around the corner from the Lawrence Red Line stop)

Thanks, Kristin!