[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ WILL JOIN US LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT...

THE CITY HAS BEEN WITHOUT A WATCHDOG FOR FIVE MONTHS BUT THAT COULD BE CHANGING SOON.

SOURCES SAY THE MAYOR WILL NAME A REPLACEMENT FOR INSPECTOR GENERAL JOE FERGUSON.

>> TO HAVE REPUBLICANS TRY TO TEAR APART THIS AGENCY OF GOVERNMENT.

>> THE GROUP THAT DECIDES WHEN PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS CAN BE RELEASED IS IN LIMBO.

OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM HAS DETAILS.

[♪♪♪] >> AND HEDY WEISS JOINS US FOR REVIEWS OF THE LATEST ON CHICAGO STAGES INCLUDING ACTOR SEAN HAYES AND HIS SHOW AT GOUGE MAN THEATRE.

CHICAGO COVID CASES ARE ON THE RISE BUT THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAYS IT IS IN QUOTE GOOD CONTROL OF THE OUTBREAK.

THE CITY HAS SEEN AN UPTICK AND POSITIVE TESTS.

ALLISON ARWADY SAID IN A STATEMENT QUOTE... >> AND RELIEF IS AT HAND FOR AT LEAST SOME ILLINOIS HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE FALLEN BEHIND WITH THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS.

GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER AND THE ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ANNOUNCED MORE THAN $300 MILLION IS AVAILABLE IN THE STATE'S HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE FUND TO AID HOMEOWNERS BEHIND ON MORTGAGE PAYMENTS AND HOUSING EXPENSES.

HOMEOWNERS WHO NEED IT CAN APPLY ON-LINE FOR UP TO $30,000.

COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT WILL BE GIVEN PRIORITY.

THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MAY 31.

>> A FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISSED A LAWSUIT THAT SOUGHT TO STOP A PORTION OF JACKSON FROM BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE HOME OF THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER.

BARACK OBAMA AND OTHERS BROKE GROUND ON THE CENTER IN SEPTEMBER AS THE GROUP PROTECT OUR PARKS CONTINUED TO SUE TO BLOCK THE DEVELOPMENT.

THE GROUP CONTEND IT IS WOULD IRREVERSIBLELY DAMAGE THE PARK AND ENVIRONMENT.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT WEIGHED IN ON THE LAWSUIT'S DISMISSAL.

>> PLEASED THAT THE JUDGE DISMISSED THE STATE LAW CLAIMS.

BUT THERE IS A PIECE OF THE LITIGATION THAT CONTINUES.

A BRIEFING WILL HAPPEN HERE IN THE COMING WEEKS.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY TOO MUCH MORE.

AS YOU KNOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD SHOVELS ARE IN THE GROUND.

YOU CAN SEE THE FRAMING OF SOME OF THE STRUCTURES AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRESS BEING MADE.

>> AND FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT HERB CAPLAN SAYS THE GROUP WILL APPEAL THE RULING.

UP NEXT, COULD CHICAGO SOON HAVE A NEW WATCHDOG?

WE SHARE THE DETAILS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... SOURCES A MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT MAY NAME A NEW CITY WATCHDOG SOON THIS AFTER MORE THAN FIVE MONTHS SINCE THE LAST INSPECTOR GENERAL LEFT THE JOB.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

HEATHER, WHO DO WE THINK THE MAYOR IS GOING TO BE CHOOSING AND WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS PERSON?

>> SOURCES SAY THAT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT WILL TAP DEBORAH WITZBURG TO SERVE AS THE CITY'S NEXT INSPECTOR GENERAL.

SHE WAS THE NUMBER TWO OFFICIAL IN THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL UNDER FORMER INSPECTOR GENERAL JOSEPH FERGUSON.

SHE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISION CREATED IN THE WAKE OF THE POLICE MURDER AND OUTCRY OF LAQUAN McDONALD'S DEATH.

HER JOB WAS TO OVERSEE EFFORTS TO REFORM THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE EXPECT THE MAYOR TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL TOMORROW.

>> SO WE KNOW WITZBURG IS REPLACING JOSEPH FERGUSON.

WHO DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE BEST RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAYOR.

BUT I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP AS WELL.

WHAT DO WE THINK WITZBURG AND LIGHTFOOT WILL BE LIKE?

>> WE EXPECT THEM TO HAVE A SOMEWHAT TENSE RELATIONSHIP.

THE MAYOR HAS BEEN CRITICAL THAT WITZBURG PARTICIPATED IN AND OVERSAW IN HER PREVIOUS ROLE ESPECIALLY OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HANDLING OF THE PROTESTS IN THE WAKE OF THE POLICE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD IN THE SUMMER OF 2020.

DEBORAH WITZBURG'S LAST MAJOR AUDIT WAS ONE THAT FOUND CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS DISPROPORTIONATELY STOP BLACK CHICAGOANS AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO USE FORCE AGAINST THEM DURING THOSE INVESTIGATIONS.

SO THERE WILL BE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE TWO TO CLASH.

>> I'M SURE YOU WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON IT FOR US.

VIEWERS CAN READ HEATHER'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE THAT IS WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND NOW OUR THANKS TO HEATHER.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>> AND YOU WILL STAY RIGHT THERE BECAUSE THE REST OF OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM WILL JOIN US RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO MAKES A BID TO HOST THE 2024 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

WHAT A WTTW INVESTIGATION REVEALS ABOUT RICHARD IRVIN'S CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR AND A NEWLY MENTIONED ALDERPERSON NICOLE LEE MAKES HISTORY AS THE FIRST CHINESE AMERICAN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.

ALL WITH OUR TEAM.

WELCOME BACK, AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

FIRST BIT, CHICAGO BEING EYE AS A HOST CITY FOR THE 2024 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

WHAT MAKES CHICAGO APPEALING FOR THIS?

>> WHAT MAKES CHICAGO PARTICULARLY APPEALING IS WE ARE A BLUE CITY, A BLUE STATE FRANKLY IN A SEA OF WISHY WASHY PURPLE.

SO THAT WHERE DEMOCRATS HEY, WE COULD COME THERE.

WE'RE IN THE HEARTLAND IN THE MIDWEST.

BY THE WAY REPUBLICANS ARE EYEING AS ONE OF THEIR TOP CHOICES NEARBY MILWAUKEE AS A SPOT FOR THEIR CONVENTION.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT MAKES CHICAGO EXCITING.

YOU HAVE A BASE.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF PLAYERS.

ALSO, BY THE WAY, YOU HAVE A LOT OF HOTEL ROOMS AND RESTAURANTS THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED FROM A PRACTICAL BASIS TO CARRY OUT HUGE EVENT SUCH AS THIS.

SO IT WOULD BE CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE HUGE FOR THE CITY IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN IN TERMS OF DOLLARS AND AFTER COVID A STRUGGLING HOTEL AND CONVENTION INDUSTRY STRUGGLING BY THE WAY MORE THAN ELSEWHERE, THIS WOULD BE HUGE FOR CHICAGO.

>> DON'T FORGET THE HISTORY YOU HAVE GRANT PARK, AND 1996, [INAUDIBLE] >> IT MAKES CHICAGO ATTRACTIVE OR THE OPPOSITE.

YOU DO HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT THOSE 1960 REFERENCES AND WHETHER THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE REASONS DEMOCRATS MIGHT SAY SHOULD WE WANT TO EVOKE THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE.

>> WHAT COULD IT MEAN IF THE CITY DOES HOST?

>> ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK BACK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN 1996.

THE CONVENTION TOOK PLACE AT THE UNITED CENTER BASICALLY BRAND NEW AT THE TIME.

IT KICK STARTED AN EFFORT TO REVITALIZE GENTRIFY THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO.

I THINK THERE IS AN ARGUMENT TO BE MADE THAT THE WEST LOOP WOULD NOT BE THE DESTINATION FOR RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS AND APARTMENTS AND CONDOS THAT IT IS TODAY WITHOUT THAT 1996 CONVENTION.

BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF BAGGAGE LEFTOVER FROM 1968.

AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT CHICAGO OFFICIALS LED BY MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AND CENTER TAMMY DUCKWORTH THE VICE-CHAIR WILL HAVE TO OVERCOME DRAWBACKS.

THEY WILL BE FORCED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS LIKE WILL THE CONVENTIONEERS BE SAFE IN CHICAGO?

WHICH IS EXPERIENCING HISTORIC LEVELS OF CRIME AS ARE MANY CITIES ACROSS THE NATION.

SO THIS IS BY FAR A BANK SHOT.

THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

BUT IT WOULD BE QUITE A COUP-FOR-CHICAGO TO BE THE LOCATION TO NOMINATE THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN 2024.

AND EVERYBODY EXPECTS THAT TO BE JOE BIDEN RUNNING FOR A SECOND TERM BUT WE FOR POLITICS IN CHICAGO AIN'T BEAN BAGS.

ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.

>> PARIS, YOU'VE DONE REPORTING ABOUT AURORA MAYOR RICHARD IRVIN AND HOW POLITICAL DONATIONS TO HIS CAMPAIGN FLOWED TO COMPANIES THAT ENDED UP BEING AWARDED MUNICIPAL CONTRACTS AND BENEFITS WHOVMENT QUESTIONS MIGHT THIS RAISE ABOUT HIS CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR?

>> IT RAISES QUESTIONS BECAUSE IRVIN IS A HIGH PROFILE CANDIDATE DUE TO THE SUPPORT FROM KEN GRIFFIN, HE HAS DEPOSITED 20 MILLION INTO THIS CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT AND PROMISED THAT IRVIN IS THE GUY TO CLEAN UP THE CORRUPTION IN SPRINGFIELD.

YOU SAW MICHAEL MADIGAN APPEAR ON ZOOM.

ENDLESS PARADE OF INDICTMENTS FROM STATE LAWMAKERS.

SO WHAT WE FOUND WITH MAYOR IRVIN'S PATTERN IN AURORA THERE WERE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CONTRACTS IN TAX INCENTIVES THAT WENT TO COMPANIES THAT DID HAPPEN TO DONATE TO HIS POLITICAL FUNDS.

WE NOTED ONE IN GENERAL SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING SCIENTEL SOLUTIONS IT GAVE UP MONEY TO IRVIN'S FUND AND A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE AND CAMPAIGN MANAGER AND THAT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE GAVE $50,000 TO THE CAMPAIGN OF IRVIN'S FORMER LAW PARTNER RUNNING FOR KANE COUNTY JUDGE.

I HAVE TO SAY WE HAVE TO CLARIFY THERE IS NOTHING WE FOUND THAT ARE ILLEGAL ABOUT THE DONATIONS.

WE SAW THAT THEY WERE ALL WITHIN THE LEGAL LIMITS BUT THEY RAISE QUESTIONS BECAUSE WHEN A COMPANY DONATES SO MUCH WE SAW THEM DONATE THROUGH EMPLOYEES, A SPOUSE TO DIFFERENT FUNDS THEY ARE SPREADING THE DONATIONS TO STAY WITHIN THE LAW.

A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

>> WHAT IS THE REACTION BEEN?

>> WELL, WE SAW SOME HEATED REACTION YESTERDAY EXPECTEDLY FROM G.O.P.

RIVALS.

GARY RABIN SAYING THAT HE LIKENED IT TO MICHAEL MADIGAN.

OTHERS SAYING WHEN WE'VE SEEN WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN SPRINGFIELD OVER DECADES THAT THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR RAISES A LOT OF RED FLAGS.

SO NO DOUBT THIS IS GOING TO BE A THING THAT HIS RIVALS MUCH, MUCH LOWER FUNDED, ARE GOING TO JUMP ON.

IRVIN CONTROLS THE AIRWAVES BECAUSE OF THE MONEY HE HAS.

HE IS GOING TO HAVE AN EASY TIME DEFINING HIMSELF AND THE CANDIDATES WILL HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING TRACTION.

>> THE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER BEING A PORTION OF JACKSON PARK THAT WAS DISMISSED BY A FEDERAL JUDGE.

DOES THIS COME AS A SURPRISE?

>> IT DOES NOT.

THE JUDGE IN THIS CASE RULED SEVERAL TIMES IN FAVOR OF THE CITY AND THE PARK DISTRICT WHICH GRANTED A LEASE TO THE OBAMA FOUNDATION TO BUILD THIS CENTER.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE CENTER IS ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

THIS WAS REALLY THE SECOND ATTEMPT FROM PROTECT OUR PARKS TO HALT THIS CONSTRUCTION AND THE JUDGE SAID NOPE, YOU DON'T HAVE A LEG TO STAND ON WHEN IT COMES TO STATE LAW.

PROTECT OUR PARKS HAS A PENDING LAWSUIT ON APPEAL THAT CLAIMS THAT IT VIOLATES FEDERAL LAW.

OF COURSE THE CENTER IS IN JACKSON PARK A NATIONALLY PROTECTED LANDMARK AND THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE ROAD FOR THE LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT THE OBAMA FOUNDATION HAS FACED TO GET THE CENTER BUILT BUT IT IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO RESOLVING THIS ISSUE THAT HAS DELAYED THE CENTER FROM MANY YEARS AT THIS POINT.

AT ONE POINT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO OPEN IN 2021 NOW IT WON'T BE OPEN UNTIL 2025.

>> IT'S BEEN A LONGTIME.

CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY CONFIRMED MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S PICK NICOLE LEE TO FILL THE VACANT 11TH WARD SEAT THIS WEEK.

MAKING HER THE FIRST ASIAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO SERVE AS AN ALDERPERSON.

HERE IS SOME OF WHAT SHE SAID AFTER BEING SWORN INTO OFFICE.

>> I KNOW I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

AT THIS TIME IN HISTORY, TO BE A PART OF THIS BODY, TO HELP LEAD THIS GREAT CITY AS WELL AS TO REPRESENT EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE 11TH WARD OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> WHAT IMPACT IS SHE LOOKING TO MAKE IN HER NEW ROLE?

>> SHE IS MAKING HISTORY JUST BY HER PRESENCE ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

SHE IS THE FIRST CHINESE AMERICAN TO SERVE ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

SHE IS THE FIRST ASIAN-AMERICAN WOMAN AND REPRESENTS THE 11TH WARD WHICH WILL CHANGE UNDER THE NEXT WARD MAP TO INCLUDE ALL OF CHINATOWN AND TO INCLUDE A MAJORITY OF ASIAN-AMERICAN VOTERS REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN THE TUSSLE BETWEEN THE BLACK AND LATINO CAUCUS.

SHE IS GOING TO FOCUS ON TWO THINGS: PUBLIC SAFETY AND GETTING THROUGH THE BACKLOG THAT HAS BEEN LEFT SINCE PATRICK DALEY THOMPSON WAS REMOVED FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MORE THAN A MONTH AGO AFTER HE WAS CONVICTED ON SEVEN FEDERAL CHARGES.

>> WE ALSO KNOW HER FATHER GENE LI WAS CONVICTED OF STEALING 90,000 FROM A CHARITY THAT HELPED TO WORK CHILDREN AND TEENS IN CHINATOWN WAS THIS PART OF THE DISCUSSION WITH CITY COUNCIL?

>> SHE WAS ASKED ABOUT IT TWICE BY REPORTERS.

ONCE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE MAYOR LIGHTFOOT UNVEILED HER PICK AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT PHYSICALLY STEPPED IN FRONT OF NICOLE LEE TO ADMONISH THE REPORTER FROM THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" TO SAY ANY QUESTION THAT HE ASKED SHOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO BE ANSWERED WITH I LOVE MY DAD.

NICOLE LEE GOT THE QUESTION AGAIN AFTER SHE HAD BEEN SWORN IN AND WHAT SHE LEARNED FROM HER FATHER'S LEGAL TROUBLES AND SHE SAID SHE LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ONE'S ACTIONS.

IT WAS CLEARLY AN ISSUE SHE WAS PREPARED TO BE ASKED ABOUT.

AND SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT WAS REALLY A FORMATIVE EVENT IN HER LIFE.

SHE STILL LIVES IN CHINATOWN IN THE HOUSE THAT HER GRANDPARENTS BOUGHT THIS WAS CLEARLY PART OF WHAT CALLED HER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE.

>> MEANWHILE, TWO OF GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER'S APPOINTEES TO THE PAROLE BOARD ARE OUT OF THE PICTURE AFTER ONE RESIGNED AND THE OTHER WAS REJECTED BY STATE SENATE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

HERE IS A BIT OF PRITZKER'S REACTION.

>> NOW, TO HAVE REPUBLICANS ATTACK THEM AND THEIR CHARACTER AND THEIR BIOGRAPHIES.

TO HAVE REPUBLICANS ESSENTIALLY TRYING TO TEAR APART THIS AGENCY OF GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS WHAT THE GQP HAS BEEN ABOUT.

TEARING GOVERNMENT APART.

I THINK WE TANNED FOR THE INTEGRITY OF PEOPLE GETTING APPOINTED AND THE TOUGH DECISIONS THEY HAVE TO MAKE.

WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AND KEEP OPERATING AS BEST WE CAN.

>> PRITZKER PIN TO GO ON REPUBLICANS BUT DEMOCRATIC SENATORS ALSO VOTED AGAINST THIS NOMINEE.

HOW COMMON IS IT FOR A NOMINEE TO BE REJECTED?

>> WELL, SO, WE HAD NOT HAD A LOT OF ACTION THIS WAS PUSHED OFF BECAUSE THERE WAS RECOGNITION IT WOULD BE TROUBLESOME FOR THE PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION.

WHAT YOU HEARD THERE HE QP IS A REFERENCE NOT A MISTAKE, THAT INSTEAD OF GROUP, FOR QANON.

AS YOU NOTED DEMOCRATS CONTROL THE SENATE THEY HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY.

THEY DIDN'T LIKE THESE NOMINEES EITHER.

WHEN YOU HAD FOLKS RESIGN BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT GOING TO GET APPROVAL FROM THE SENATE LED BY MEMBERS OF PRITZKER'S PARTY.

THE TAKEAWAYS HERE ARE NUMBER ONE, THAT CRIME IS CLEARLY A POLITICAL CONCERN AS POLITICIANS ARE LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEXT ELECTION.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT PRITZKER HAS RECOGNIZED.

HE HAD WORDS THAT WERE NOT LASHING OUT IN THAT MANNER BUT SORT OF AROUND THE BEND ACCUSING KIM FOXX OF BEING TOO SOFT ON VIOLENT CRIMINALS.

AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD.

NOT ONLY DOES IT MEAN THERE IS NOT ENOUGH OF A QUORUM ON THIS BOARD TO DECIDE WHEN THOSE IN PRISON SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR BEING LET OUT.

ALSO THOSE WHO ARE -- DO NOT ABIDE BY THEIR PAROLE, THIS IS THE BOARD THAT BRINGS THEM BACK INTO PRISON FOR THOSE VIOLATIONS AND THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE ON THE BOARD TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS WHICH MEANS CRIMINALS WHO VIOLATE PAROLE COULD BE OUT FREE.

>> IMPORTANT ROLES THEY SERVE.

THAT IS SPOTLIGHT POLITICS THANKS TO AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> TO THE CHICAGO STAGE WITH HEDY WEISS.

FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> THEATRE IN CHICAGO IS IN FULL BLOOM THIS SEASON.

JOINING US WITH SPRINGTIME RECOMMENDATIONS IS THEATRE CRITIC HEDY WEISS.

WELCOME BACK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

LET'S START WITH SEAN HAYES A GLEN ELLEN NATIVE AND KNOWN FOR "WILL & GRACE".

HE PORTRAYS OSCAR LA HAVEN'T.

WHO WAS OSCAR LA VANT.

>> FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVED BETWEEN THE 20s AND THE EARLY 60s THEY KNOW HIM AS THIS MULTITALENTED GUY.

HE WAS A WONDERFUL PIANIST.

HE WAS A CHAMPION OF GERSHWIN'S MUSIC.

HE WAS A WRITER AND HE ALSO HE APPEARED ON LATE NIGHT TV AND OTHER TV PROGRAMS AND THIS PLAY GOOD NIGHT OSCAR IS SET IN 1958 WHEN JACK PAR THE HOST OF THE TONIGHT SHOW WANTED HIM TO BE ONE OF THE GUESTS ON THEIR PROGRAM'S FIRST BROADCAST ON HOLLYWOOD RATHER THAN FROM NEW YORK.

SO EVERYBODY WAS WATCHING.

AND THIS IS THE KEY TO THE STORY IS THE FACT THAT HE GOT OR CARLA VANT GOT A FOUR-HOUR PASS FROM A MENTAL INSTITUTION WHERE HE WAS NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME AS HE SAID THERE IS A THIN LINE BETWEEN GENIUS AND INSANITY.

AND I'VE CROSSED IT.

>> SO DO YOU THINK THIS SHOW IS HEADED TO BROADWAY?

>> I DEFINITELY DO.

AND YOU KNOW, THERE WAS KIND OF A SECRET ON THE FIRST NIGHT THAT WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO DIVULGE BUT EVERYBODY KNOWS NOW AT THE END OF THIS REALLY VERY WELL WRITTEN PLAY BY DOUG WRIGHT, SEAN HAYES SITS DOWN AT A GRAND PIANO AND PLAYS RHAPSODY IN BLUE LIVE PERFECTLY, BRILLIANTLY AND IT IS A STUNNER.

>> SURPRISE HE IS A MASTER PIANIST I THINK PEOPLE HAVE SEEN HIM PLAY PIANO NOT KNOWING HE HAS THAT TALENT.

NEXT UP IS STAND UP IF YOU ARE HERE TONIGHT AN INTERESTING TITLE.

WHAT IS THIS SHOW FROM THE AMERICAN BLUES THEATRE ALL ABOUT?

>> THE TITLE GIVES IT AWAY A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S ABOUT THE -- IT IS A ONE-MAN SHOW.

THE INTERACTION BETWEEN A GUY WHO IS REALLY LOST A MIDDLE AGED GUY.

AND I THINK IT HASEK CO-S OF THE PANDEMIC THAT HE IS SO ISOLATED AND HE REALLY -- BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AN ACTOR WHO ALSO WASN'T WORKING DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THE AUDIENCE.

IT'S ABOUT MAKING CONNECTIONS.

AND HE DOES TRY TO MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH THE AUDIENCE THAT IS RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF HIM.

AND YOU KNOW PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE TO PARTICIPATE HE IS VERY CONSCIOUS OF THAT.

THAT'S THE PLAYWRIGHT THAT MAKES THAT CLEAR.

BUT OCCASIONALLY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DO SOMETHING THEY STAND UP OR HUM OR DO SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT IT IS A FASCINATING INTERACTION AND THE ACTOR WHO DOES AN ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT JOB IS FAMILIAR PROBABLY TO THEATRE GOING AUDIENCES IN CHICAGO FROM YEARS AGO AND HE MOVED ON TO TV AND BROADWAY AND FILMS.

BUT HE DOES A BRILLIANT JOB.

>> AND YOU DON'T COVER A LOT OF CHILDREN'S THEATRE FOR US.

YOU MADE AN EXCEPTION FOR WINNIE THE POOH THAT WAS AT MERCURY THEATRE.

IS THIS A WINNING WINNIE THE POOH?

>> IT'S GREAT FUN.

AND THE MERCURY THEATRE EVERYTHING THEY ARE DOING IS ON A HIGH LEVEL.

THIS IS "DISNEY'S WINNIE THE POOH" KIND OF AN ADAPTATION OF THE ANIMATED DISNEY FILM FROM 1966 I THINK IT IS.

AND THERE ARE LIFE SIZED PUPPETS FOR ALL OF THE ANIMALS.

BUT THEY ARE OPERATED VERY VISIBLY BY ACTORS.

AND EACH OF THESE PUPPETS HAS SO MUCH PERSONALITY THAT YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND.

AND THEY HAVE ALL THE CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN BEINGS.

THAT WAS THE CHARM OF THE ORIGINAL STORY.

YOU KNOW YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT AS ANIMALS BUT THEY ARE HUMAN ANIMALS.

AND THERE IS A WONDERFUL BEAR.

AND ALL OF THE OTHER PIGLET AND CONNECT GEORGIA AND BUTTERFLIES.

IT'S VERY WELL DONE AND I HAVE TO SAY THE THING THAT IMPRESSED ME WAS THE AUDIENCE I WENT TO A GOOD ONE-THIRD TO ONE-HALF REALLY TINY TOTS SITTING ON RISERS AND SITTING ON PARENTS' LAPS.

AND THERE WASN'T A PEEP.

AND USUALLY IN CHILDREN'S SHOWS THE PARENT HAS TO GO OUT AND SETTLE THEM DOWN OR WHATEVER.

>> A TRIP TO THE POTTY.

>> EXACTLY.

AND IT WAS IT WAS TOTAL ATTENTION FOR ONE FULL HOUR.

>> THAT SAYS THE KIDS MUST HAVE BEEN ENGAGED.

I THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THE WARNING AT THE END FOR PARENTS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE MERCHANDISE ON DISPLAY THAT LITTLE PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO DEMAND COME READY FOR THAT.

AND BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, WE HAVE KING JAMES AT STEPPENWOLF THE TITLE CHARACTER LEBRON JAMES NOT A CHARACTER IN THIS SHOW, CORRECT?

>> EXACTLY HE IS THE KING TO THE TWO GUYS WHO STRIKE UP A FRIENDSHIP BASED ON THEIR FANATIC FAN DOME FOR THIS GUY.

THEY ARE OHIO NATIVES.

AND THEY ARE ROOTING FOR THEIR TEAM, THE CAVALIERS.

AND THEN AT SOME POINT DURING THEIR FRIENDSHIP, LEBRON MOVES TO MIAMI.

AND ONE OF THEM IS VERY, VERY INSULTED AND THE OTHER ONE SAYS THAT'S THE WAY LIFE IS.

BUT THEN THERE IS ALSO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO GUYS ONE IS BLACK, ONE IS WHITE.

ONE IS KIND OF ALWAYS FAILING ENTREPRENEUR.

AND THE OTHER ONE WANTS TO BE A SCREENWRITER IN HOLLYWOOD.

AND I WON'T SAY WHO SUCCEEDS BUT IT IS A FASCINATING STORY ABOUT REALLY JEALOUSY AND FRIENDSHIP AND FANDOM AND IT IS A EXTREMELY WELL DONE.

TWO ACTOR PLAY AND A GOOD DJ WHO DOES ALL THE INTERVALS WHICH IS ANOTHER GOOD PIECE.

>> SOUNDS LIKE THE DJ AND THE MUSIC ARE THE THIRD CHARACTER.

>> NOT DURING THE PLAY BUT DURING THE INTERMISSION AND BEFORE AND AFTER AND IT SETS A GOOD MOOD.

>> HEDY WEISS HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE THEATRE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>> AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW AUTHORIZE THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECT BIDE SIGN SIGN.

AND YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND WTTW.COM/NEWS.

YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. AND WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH SHOTS OF A NEW ADDITION OF A BABY PORCUPINE BORN THIS MONTH.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]