Stories by Marc Vitali

Clowns relate the true story of Chicago's 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire in a stunning and funny revival of a show called Burning Bluebeard at Theater Wit.

Photographer and long-time neon sign enthusiast Nick Freeman joins us to talk about his new book, Good Old Neon: Signs You're In Chicago. Freeman has documented hundreds of neon signs around Chicagoland, some of which no longer exist.

We share what you had to say about Laurie Zoloth's call to cancel the American Academy of Religion's annual meeting, high-rise fire safety ordinances in Chicago, what caused the financial problems of state municipalities considering bankruptcy, and Congressmen Aaron Schock and Mike Quigley’s comments on the 2015 federal spending bill.

Lawmakers, dignitaries and everyday citizens came together to pay tribute to Judy Baar Topinka today. But is there any resolution to who her successor will be?

Congressman Mike Quigley stops by to talk congressional priorities and the tone that was set by the spending bill passed over the weekend.

President of the American Academy of Religion Laurie Zoloth proposes her colleagues take a sabbatical from their annual conference every six years.

A recent exhibit at the Chicago History Museum explains how the Mile became known for being Magnificent.

Vape? Bae? Lumbersexual? What do you think the Word of the Year for 2014 should be? University of Chicago linguist Jason Riggle tells us what words were on everybody's lips this year and why.

Why did beautiful bronze reliefs at a Hyde Park church create an artistic controversy? Geoffrey Baer answers this question and more in this week’s edition of Ask Geoffrey.

Congressman Aaron Schock talks about the issues facing the new Congress and much more.

The Better Government Association reports that some Illinois municipalities struggling with high debt loads and troubled budgets could be looking at bankruptcy as an option to get out of a financial hole -- even though it's technically illegal.

We have some timely tax tips from Dave Henderson of Duggan Bertsch.

The Chicago Bears lost their third straight game, with their offensive freefall on full display for a nationally televised audience. James "Big Cat" Williams gives us his take on Jay Cutler's poor performance, and the defense's inability to stop Drew Brees.

Specimen Products is the brainchild of Ian Schneller. He's an artist and musician who makes and repairs stringed instruments and audio equipment. He also runs a school that teaches people to make a variety of instruments and audio equipment; but Schneller's real hope is that his students discover the disappearing art of making things by hand without the aid of a computer.

The Atlantic correspondent and author Ta-Nehisi Coates discusses his thoughts on the students at North Lawndale College Prep, his mea culpa for glossing over the accusations against Bill Cosby in the past, and he explains why The Case for Reparations is unrelated to the black conservatives’ argument.

There is some clarity today on what will happen to the Illinois comptroller's office in the wake of Judy Baar Topinka's death.

Abner Mikva talks about a lifetime of public service and what it was like to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, from President Barack Obama.

What's behind the plunging price of gas and how low can it go? An oil industry analyst gives us some insights.

With support from the Chicago Public Education Fund, a CPS K-12 magnet school is using time and technology to benefit students.

More Chicagoans than ever are leaving the church. Why is this and can the new archbishop help turn around the trend?

Tony Award-winning writer and longtime theater critic John Lahr has written an authoritative biography on the life and work of playwright Tennessee Williams. Lahr also shares memories of his father, the actor Bert Lahr.

Amnesty International partnered with art-based nonprofit Donda’s House in the fight for human rights.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss this week’s headlines.

Joel Weisman and his guests continue their conversation online with a discussion of the competition for the Obama Library. Must it be on public park land? Could New York still get the nod?

Vape? Bae? Lumbersexual? What do you think the Word of the Year for 2014 should be? Share your nominations in the comments section below. And join us on Wednesday, Dec. 17, when we hear from linguists who tell us what words were on everybody's lips this year and why.

Redmoon's Winter Pageant, The Nutcracker, the Music Box Christmas Show; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.