DA COACH, LONI ANDERSON READING IN EVANSTON PLAY
Script reading teams up Ditka with sitcom stars
Agroup of high- profile individuals— including two famous actresses, a couple of wellrespected broadcasters and a Super Bowl- winning coach — will be the star attractions of a special reading of the first act of an acclaimed off- Broadway play about Alzheimer’s.
Loni Anderson of “WKRP in Cincinnati,” Chicago native Marilu Henner of “Taxi,” NPR alum Diane Rehm, retired WGN- Channel 9 anchor Robert Jordan and “Da Coach” himself, Mike Ditka, will portray various characters in “Surviving Grace,” the late sitcom writer Trish Vrandenburg’s quasi- autobiographical play about her mother, Bea Lerner, and her battle with Alzheimer’s. Hosted by Northwestern University, the sold- out en- semble reading takes place at 7 p. m. Tuesday at the Mary Galvin Recital Hall on the Evanston campus.
In addition to her writing career on such shows as “DesigningWomen” and “Family Ties,” Vrandenburg also was a co- founder of Us Against Alzheimer’s, an advocacy organization committed to stopping the disease by 2020.
To donate or learn more, go to survivinggrace. org.
CIFF honor for Fonda
Two- time Academy Award- winning actress Jane Fonda will be honored by the Chicago International Film Festival at a gala event later this summer.
“A Tribute to Jane Fonda” — including an onstage Q& A conversation with the Hollywood legend— will take place at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel at 6: 30 p. m. July 29 and feature a video retrospective of her long and iconic career. The evening will conclude with Fonda being presented the festival’s Gold Hugo Career Achievement Award for her contributions to both film and television.
In the words of festival founder and CEO Michael Kutza, “I have grown up on the films of Jane Fonda, from ‘ Barbarella’ and ‘ They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?’ to ‘ Klute’ and ‘ Coming Home’— and I am now enchanted all over again by her television series, ‘ Grace and Frankie.’ ”
For ticket information, go to chicagofilmfestival. com.
‘ Idol’ seeks Chicago talent
Given Chicago’s strong musical background, it’s not surprising the newly revived “American Idol” on ABC is coming to Our Town in search of contestants.
Beginning Aug. 17, two buses will criss- cross the nation beginning with stops in Portland, Oregon, and Orlando, Florida. A separate open audition in Chicago is planned for Sept. 11. The venue has yet to be announced.
Contestants also may apply online, and videos are being accepted now at
americanidol. com. Singers ages 15 to 28 are eligible.