Piven Theatre - That's Entertainment!

SMOKIN' ACES Piven Theatre Workshop alumnus Jeremy Pivens costars with Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, Ray Liotta and Ryan Reynolds

Chicago is a theater town, moreso even than New York City. Sure, New York is known around the world for Broadway theater, but the cream of NYC's theater community know that Chicago offers more in the way of opportunity for theatrical actors and, for that matter, theater goers.

When New Yorkers go to the theater, it is a formal affair. For Chicagoans, it can be as casual or formal as desired, with amazing performances for nearly every budget and taste. Theater in Chicago is just more accessible. The Piven Theatre, and the Piven Theatre Workshop, are located in Evanston, right next door to Chicago. They describe their theater organization this way:

"For over 30 years, alongside their nationally respected Workshop, the Pivens have consistently mounted critically-acclaimed professional productions. Their unique and honest approach has illuminated the timeless works of Shakespeare and Chekhov, the modern masterpieces of Pinter and Mamet, and the story theatre adaptations that form the core of their training."

Clearly, Jeremy Pivens' career is on the upswing right now. But there may be a dark lining to this silver cloud, as reported by NewsDay:

"And now another movie star breakup hit: Longtime best friends Jeremy Piven and John Cusack apparently are on the outs. The two first met as kids in Evanston. They trained together at the Piven Theatre Workshop (run by Jeremy's parents), and embarked on parallel acting careers. It was Cusack's fate to be the movie star. Piven excelled at being a second banana--notably, if not memorably, in several films starring Cusack."

Chicago is also a town of gossip and inuendo. Whatever.

For more info about the Piven Theatre, go to http://piventheatre.org/