Goodman Loses the Edge
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But as it turned out, none of the artists got to sit down and eat with the attendees who paid $125 for dinner and the show. Instead the performers had hors d’oeuvres and cocktails in a separate room with a small number of guests who had purchased $75 tickets. “We had enough to eat, but it wasn’t exactly what we were expecting,” Allen adds. Several of the artists were further disappointed when they learned the event would not be aired on WBEZ. Spoken-word artist Lynn Book says, “Part of the selling point for me was that the event would be broadcast on WBEZ, but we were told that fell through because of directorial changes at the radio station.” According to event cochair Shannon Kinsella, the Discovery Board didn’t know until the last minute that ‘BEZ had decided against airing the show. “We didn’t intend to convey the impression that anyone was being taken advantage of,” she says.
Already acknowledged as one of Chicago’s most gifted directors, Maggio clearly hoped to put his own mark on the Broadway version of My Thing of Love. With the exception of Metcalf, he had completely recast the show, and he was also using a different design team. But as the production proceeded through rehearsals, it apparently became more and more like the Steppenwolf incarnation, directed by Terry Kinney. In fact just prior to Maggio’s departure the male lead was replaced by Tom Irwin, who played the role in the Steppenwolf production. Maggio, who agreed the dismissed actor was having trouble with some of the role’s nuances, said he had no problem with Irwin’s coming on board.
