Gary Zidek

WDCB’s Gary Zidek checks in with the Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage as it prepares to compete in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s annual Essentially Ellington competition. The Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage is headed back to New York to compete in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band competition. This is the group’s third year in a row competing in the prestigious competition.

On this edition of The Arts Section, host Gary Zidek talks to the two authors of a charming new book that shines a light on the history and current state of Chicago’s Uptown Theater. The Dueling Critics, Kelly Kleiman and Jonathan Abarbanel, join Gary to review a musical adaptation of the French film AMELIE. And later in the show, Gary catches up with the executive director of a local Puerto Rican arts organization looking to expand.

On this edition of The Arts Section, host Gary Zidek catches up with award-winning author Rebecca Makkai to talk about a writers festival taking place in Chicago. The Dueling Critics, Kelly Kleiman and Jonathan Abarbanel, join me to review a revival of the Tony Award-winning musical PARADE. Later in the show, Gary talks to the president of Aurora’s Paramount Theater about some funding issues and programming changes. And we’ll hear about a suburban museum’s permanent collection.