CHICAGO – Excelsior! Comic book legend Stan Lee’s famous exclamation puts a fine point on the third and final play of Mark Pracht’s FOUR COLOR TRILOGY, “The House of Ideas,” presented by and staged at City Lit Theater in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. For tickets/details, click HOUSE OF IDEAS.
Exclusive Portrait: Natalie Merchant With First Album in Seven Years
CHICAGO – Natalie Merchant, formerly the lead singer for 10,000 Maniacs, has come back with a solo album after a seven year hiatus. “Leave Your Sleep” has an unusual theme, as it takes verse from the 19th and 20th Century poets and sets it to music best described as lullabies, written for her daughter.
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com. |
Merchant appeared at the Borders Books on State Street in Chicago, as she signed her new CD and greeted admirers there. The same night, she played a sold-out show at the Chicago Theater across the street, where she highlighted her new album and many of her pop favorites.
HollywoodChicago.com photographer Joe Arce took these exclusive portraits at Merchant’s Borders appearance.
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com. |
and wherever music is sold.
By PATRICK McDONALD |
Stuck in the corner
I attend the CD signing at Borders in Chicago. I was delighted to meet her face to face and chit chat. Natalie was very gracious enough to sign 3 CD’s. I was not happy how Borders shoved her in the small corner. Her fans were lined up against the wall where she could not be seen unless you left the line to look or if you were the next person in line. I felt Borders disrespected her by not opening up the area to provide more space. Natalie did say at her concert that she not famous. It seems Borders agree and did not think she was deserving to have more space. Too bad she is great and Borders does not get it. Its their loss.
Re: Stuck In the corner
Borders uses that same space for all of its celebrity signings at that venue.I know because I shoot them all.She wasn’t stuck in a corner, she was seated in front of the windows for better lighting and the space was preapproved by Natalie’s Management for both comfort and security.The event coordinator happens to be one of Natalies biggest fans.I also took private photos of them together following the event.