Creative Act as Lifeline: a Conversation with Maggie Andersen & Rob Miller
About this Event
These two authors will be in coversation with journalist Jessi Phillips for this event.
About each author:
In her early twenties, Maggie Andersen was a founding ensemble member of Chicago’s storied Gift Theatre with her then-boyfriend, Michael Patrick Thornton. But after a series of spinal strokes left Thornton paralyzed, Andersen made the heart-wrenching decision to leave him, along with their growing company and, later, her beloved city. No Stars in Jefferson Park alternates between two narratives: the energy and excitement of making art in Chicago’s thriving storefront theater scene and the devastating day-to-day realities of rehabilitation and rebuilding—and somewhere in the middle finding the courage to choose yourself.
Over the past twenty-plus years, the Gift—now performing in the working-class neighborhood of Portage Park—has become one of the most vital storefront theaters in Chicago, with Thornton’s career taking him to Hollywood and Broadway. But Andersen’s story has brought her back home. No Stars in Jefferson Park is a testament to lifelong friendship, a love letter to Chicago, and a profound coming-of-age story about the pain and necessity of putting yourself first.
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Rob Miller, co-founder of Chicago's storied Bloodshot Records, tells the story of the unlikely evolution of Bloodshot from a list scribbled on a cocktail napkin into an internationally renowned home for roots music, soul, Americana, and "alt-country," as well as the story of his own evolution from shy, dorky Detroit teenager to DIY label owner. Credited with launching the careers of celebrated musicians such as Neko Case and the late Justin Townes Earle, Bloodshot had an almost 30-year run as an anchor of Chicago's vibrant independent music scene from the 1990s into the early 2020s.
Authors books will be available for sale/signing at this event.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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