Myrna Petlicki

Chicago

Arts Columnist and Feature Writer at Pioneer Press

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Articles

Actor has personal stake in Skokie show on Alcoholics Anonymous founders

2 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Myrna Petlicki

Ronnie Marmo has a strong connection to the play “Bill W. and Dr. Bob,” about the two founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. That’s why he is so pleased to be playing the role of Bill W. and directing the Samuel Shem and Janet Surrey work at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, May 30-June 8. Marmo credits Alcoholics Anonymous with helping him turn his life around and stay sober. Marmo drank alcohol for the first time when he was 11 years old at a sleepover party with friends.
Highland Park native authors her first novel for middle grade students

2 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Myrna Petlicki

Highland Park native Sara F. Shacter loves middle-grade books, science — particularly biology — and nature. She is also interested in how children are affected by relationships. The author explores all those topics in her engrossing first novel for ages 8-12, “Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign.” The book is scheduled for release on Oct. 14 from Regal House Publishing/Fitzroy Books. “I much prefer middle grade to books for adults.
Antique, resale shops claim a holiday of their own with Vintage Store Day

3 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Myrna Petlicki

Emma Lewis, the owner of Rare Form in Chicago, believes that vintage stores deserve a day dedicated to them. So, she created one. May 17 will be Vintage Store Day. Apparently, Lewis isn’t the only one who thinks it’s a good idea. Over 700 stores across the country — and counting — have agreed to participate. Locally, that includes Jackson Square Mall and Blue Coral Vintage in La Grange, Heart’s Desire Antiques and La Grange Park Antique Mall in La Grange Park, and Mabel’s Market in Lemont.
Glenview’s Oil Lamp Theater adds SPARK CENTER for camps, adult and kid classes

3 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Myrna Petlicki

Oil Lamp Theater is hoping to ignite a love of theater in people of all ages at its new SPARK CENTER for the Performing Arts in Glenview. And that’s only one of their plans for the facility, according to Executive Director Jay Pastucha. The SPARK CENTER is located in a 2,750-square-foot space at 1009 Waukegan Rd., Glenview, across the street from Oil Lamp’s performing space at 1723 Glenview Road.
DuPage youth jazz ensemble to compete at Lincoln Center in New York

1 month ago | chicagotribune.com | Myrna Petlicki

The Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage will participate in the 2025 Essentially Ellington Competition & Festival for high school bands, May 7-11, at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York. This is the fourth time that the ensemble has been chosen for this highly competitive event. Typically 15 bands are chosen from across the country, but this year, in celebration of the 30th anniversary, 30 bands were selected including three from Australia, Japan and Spain.
Barrington resident’s Jeopardy winning streak qualifies him for Tournament of Champions

1 month ago | chicagotribune.com | Myrna Petlicki

Barrington resident Liam Starnes exhibited his knowledge of a broad range of topics by winning his fifth match on “Jeopardy” on April 24. That accomplishment puts the 20-year-old University of Chicago senior in next season’s Tournament of Champions on the TV quiz show, in which he will compete with other winners for a $250,000 prize. We don’t know if Starnes won any more games after that achievement. The shows are recorded in advance, but contestants are sworn to secrecy.
Elmhurst’s Art in Wilder Park to showcase new sculptures by Bernard Williams

1 month ago | chicagotribune.com | Myrna Petlicki

Over 8,000 people flock to Art in Wilder Park each year to enjoy the art show presented by the Elmhurst Art Museum in partnership with the Elmhurst Park District. There will be plenty for those many visitors to see and do at the 28th annual free event, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 3-4 at 175 S. Cottage Hill Ave. in Elmhurst. This year, 87 artists will display and sell their artwork at the juried art fair.
Annual Chefs’ Night fundraiser for Deerfield-based Center for Enriched Living set for May 5

1 month ago | chicagotribune.com | Myrna Petlicki

A delicious assortment of food awaits everyone who attends the Center for Enriched Living’s annual Chefs’ Night, May 5 at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort. There will be everything from chili pork verde nachos to raspberry trifle, spinach pie, Thai salad, sesame chicken, rigatoni, and a whole lot more at this food fest that benefits the Deerfield-based organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Hinsdale Chorale recruits voices from throughout region for Better Together concert in La Grange

1 month ago | chicagotribune.com | Myrna Petlicki

Mary Hopper, artistic director of the Hinsdale Chorale, is convinced we are “Better Together.” That’s why she chose that name for the group’s April 26-27 concerts at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 203 S. Kensington in La Grange. “It’s timely to think that we’re supporting each other in our music-making in our fractured world,” Hopper explained. She expanded that concept to embrace young singers. “I think in this day and age, it’s important to support music in the public schools,” Hopper declared.
Highland Park tragedy inspires HS student to create trauma response kits

2 months ago | chicagotribune.com | Myrna Petlicki

Sumner Silver was not at the July 4, 2022 parade in Highland Park, where a gunman killed seven people and wounded 48 others, but she shared the grief of those who were at the parade. “I had a best friend who was there at the time of the shooting,” Silver said. “She had me on the phone as she was running away from the shooting. I was helping her navigate.”That tragedy spurred the Highland Park resident to action.