The Front Page

by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur
directed by Nick Bowling

Apr 12, 2011 - Jul 17, 2011

In this landmark comedy set inside the crowded pressroom at Chicago’s Criminal Courts Building during the 1920s, a group of reporters cover a controversial execution and expose the rampant corruption, scandal and hi-jinx associated with Windy City politics and journalism. TimeLine is thrilled to revive a quintessential Chicago classic and to highlight for audiences the wealth of local history embedded in Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur’s hilarious and semi-autobiographical script.

Cast

Production Team

* Member of Actors Equity Association

# Member of United Scenic Artists

~ Member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society

+ TimeLine Company Member

^ TimeLine Associate Artist

§ TimeLine Playwrights Collective

Reviews

  • The Wall Street Journal

    May 27, 2011

    All praise, then, to Chicago’s TimeLine Theatre for resurrecting “The Front Page” and giving it a staging so full of brassy brio that you’ll wonder why you ever settled for less

    —Terry Teachout

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  • Talkin' Broadway

    April 20, 2011

    The Front Page is a perfect play for TimeLine’s mission to examine history through drama, exploring parallels and lessons for today, and they’ve delivered what must surely be a near-perfect production of The Front Page.

    —John Olsen

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  • Examiner

    April 18, 2011

    In the end, The Front Page is more portrait of an era than well-structured drama. Be that as it may, TimeLine staging is as wildly entertaining as the latest scandal sheet.

    —Catey Sullivan

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  • Newcity

    April 19, 2011

    Collette Pollard’s set immerses the audience in a close replica of a 1920s Chicago press room, Lindsey Pate’s costumes pop, and Nick Bowling’s direction makes short work of two-and-a-half hours’ worth of gallows humor.

    —Neal Ryan Shaw

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  • Around the Town Chicago

    April 18, 2011

    Leave it to Timeline Theatre Company, a company that just keeps bringing us quality work … set designer Collette Pollard has done a masterful job in creating a large room filled with desks and tables that looks as if we have taken a trip in a time machine.

    —Al Bresloff

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  • Chicago Critic

    April 18, 2011

    I must state that every performance here is first-class — making for one of the finest ensemble plays in years! I especially enjoyed the fabulous work and stage chemistry from Terry Hamilton as the controlling editor and PJ Powers as the charismatic ace reporter. Every minute of this landmark comedy works and the comedic timing is rich in laughs. This enjoyable show demonstrates the high production values of TimeLine Theatre. They do theatre right.

    —Tom Williams

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Discussions & Events

  • Sunday Scholars Series
    May 1, 4:30 pm

    This one-hour post-show panel discussion features experts on the themes of the play.

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