Chicago Public Radio

Tupperware Musical Brings Campy Fun and Serious Message

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new musical created here in Chicago tackles some big issues through a surprising medium. The New Colony theater examines the role of women in the age of McCarthyism and the Korean War. It tells the story of a woman whose life is changed by a famous piece of plastic.

The Tupperware musical is showing at LaCosta Theatre on Chicago’s Northwest Side through August 9. You can hear more from the son of an early Tupperware dealer here.

ambi of Tupperware

It’s a sound you’ve heard before. It’s that little burp of air when you open and close Tupperware. We’ve grown up with this stuff and never thought much about it.

But The New Colony wants to change all that with this musical. It’s called Tupperware: An American Musical Fable.

clip: Plastic Revolution song: Tupperware will take care when you’re not there.

Composer Julie Nichols says when the idea was brought to her, she was a little hesitant.

NICHOLS: At first, I was a little bit, this might be too bizarre, people might take this the wrong way, and think I’m coming to see a show about Tupperware, like literally about Tupperware, which is obviously so not what it is.

The musical deals with how Tupperware helped break the taboo against women working outside the home.

It’s hard to believe this now, but back then, Tupperware was a mystery. It sat on the shelves because people didn’t know how to use it until a woman named Brownie Wise did demonstrations at some of the earliest Tupperware parties. Wise developed the party system across the nation and was the first woman on the cover of Business Week.

Andrew Hobgood, the director and lyricist, learned about her years ago and wanted to create a musical.

HOGBOOD: It was so fascinating to me that this little piece of plastic ended up causing such a huge boom, and it changed the economical options and career choices for women, but doing it in a way that almost allowed them to subversively get into the workplace without it looking like they were going after men’s jobs.

The musical is set in a Florida suburb in 1950. The character playing Brownie Wise recruits a grieving Korean War widow by the name of Delores Bird Clarke, who has no idea how to take care of herself.

Wise teaches Delores the sales pitch:

Song: It’s Easy to Clean

Now, of course a musical about Tupperware is going to have campy moments. But there’s depth too. The musical shows how trapped the housewives feel. They come onstage strapped literally to an ironing board, a dish rack and a bread board.

Just Two Hours Song: I could have been actress…

Yet these same women are threatened by anything different, including Tupperware. They start gossiping, and soon the situation degenerates into a cul-de-sac’s version of McCarthyism.

SONG: AGE OF AMERICA!

Lyricist Andrew Hobgood sees parallels to what happened after September 11. He remembers feeling like the government’s “if you see something, say something” campaign encouraged Americans to be suspicious of one another.

Another way the musical’s relevant, he says, is its message of standing up for yourself.

HOBGOOD: I like the idea of people seeing this story of adversity but realizing that it’s somebody, a 1950s housewife, that we typically think of as a fairly meek and controlled being, and to see that type of a person and how she can become powerful.

That’s not to say Tupperware itself doesn’t play a role here, even the famous burp.

NICHOLS: I found it incredibly rhythmic when I heard a recording of the burp. Boomp-shh. It was inherently rhythmic, and I just lost my mind over it.

Composer Nichols says she had to include a digitized version of the burp. She put out actual Tupperware for the band to bang on -- a 1950s version of the Bucket Boys.

There’s also vintage Tupperware in glowing pastels all over the lobby and in the show as props. A lot of it’s from the collection of Sam Corcione, the son of a long-time Tupperware lady. He was hesitant at first.

CORCIONE: I didn’t want it to be something completely silly. There’s a lot of people who think Tupperware’s, like (sigh) funny. When I found out they were really making a musical about empowering women, I was completely on board.

Corcione says Tupperware changed his life. His mom got flak, for working outside the home. But her earnings helped buy nice houses and pay for private school. So Corcione’s grateful a musical has come along, to balance the campiness of Tupperware with its legacy.

Tupperware lady jingle (from collection of Sam Corcione)

Excerpts from the musical courtesy of The New Colony.

Posted by Lynette Kalsnes on 7/20/2009

Kirk to Make 2010 Plans Official

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Republican Congressman Mark Kirk from Chicago's North Shore is expected to announce a run for statewide office Monday.

Kirk has said for months he was considering a campaign for governor or the U.S. Senate. He'll make his official announcement this morning. GOP sources say they're confident Kirk is running for the Senate seat. The five-term congressman has about a million dollars in his federal campaign fund, having raised close to $600,000 over the last three months. If he ran for governor, he couldn't use any of that money.

Kirk recently faced the ire of conservative bloggers after his vote for cap-and-trade greenhouse gas legislation that only barely passed the U.S. House. Nonetheless, he'd be the only big Republican name in the Senate race, and—easily—the frontrunner for the nomination.

Prominent Democrats considering runs include Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson, state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and Chris Kennedy, member of that very senatorial family and head of Chicago's Merchandise Mart.

Posted by Sam Hudzik on 7/20/2009

Trash Saga Continues In Gary

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Gary, Indiana, residents have been without trash collection for a week. Tempers are rising and residents are demanding a solution. The mayor says he wants one too.

This morning, residents are expected to be out in force in front of Gary City Hall. They'll be carrying sacks of trash to protest the lack of garbage services.

Residents pin the blame on Gary Mayor Rudy Clay who wants a private firm to collect waste instead of city workers.

He says that would save money. Clay says it's up to the City Council to end the stalemate.

He says the council is now considering a contract with the private firm.

CLAY: Nobody wants garbage all over their city, especially me. It's a tragedy that it's gone this far. I'm not pointing any figures at anybody, all I'm saying is, the council will meet on Tuesday and hopefully we'll get five votes and start picking the garbage on Wednesday.

The City Council voted down a contract with the private firm earlier this month, saying it was bad for Gary.

Many residents oppose the contract because it carries a $12 a month fee.

Posted by Michael Puente on 7/20/2009

ShoreBank Ordered to Raise Capital and Adjust Loan Practices

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Chicago’s ShoreBank has been ordered to increase its operating capital and revise its loan practices.

RELATED: Order to Cease and Desist

ShoreBank is well known for its work routing lending dollars to low-income neighborhoods.

But regulators say it has to change the way it does business. The FDIC and Illinois’ Department of Financial and Professional Regulation have hit ShoreBank with a cease and desist order. The consent agreement says the regulatory groups have “reason to believe the bank had engaged in unsafe or unsound banking practices, and violations of law.”

ShoreBank has not admitted to any wrongdoing.

The order requires the bank to, among other things, cease and desist from operating with inadequate capital levels and from “engaging in hazardous lending and lax collection practices.”

The chairman of ShoreBank Corporation, Ronald Grzywinski, says the bank is still well capitalized and is in the process of raising an additional $10 million from its supporters.

He also says the order won't stop the bank from its mission.

GRZYWINSKI: There’s no change in the bank’s mission. That’s what we’ve been doing for 36 years next month.

Grzywinski says the bank will scale back its lending—mission related loans could fall by more than half.

Posted by Adriene Hill on 7/19/2009

Wisconsin Takes a Step Toward High Speed Rail

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle has signed off on a $47 million deal to bring new trains to the state. Doyle says it's a step toward high speed rail service in the Midwest.

Spanish train manufacturer Talgo plans to build two 14-car passenger trains and put new assembly and maintenance facilities in Wisconsin. Governor Jim Doyle says the multi-million dollar deal could create as many as 80 jobs in Wisconsin.

Doyle says ridership continues to grow on the train line between Milwaukee and Chicago. The new passenger cars for that route will hold a capacity of 420 people. That's 20 percent more than the current cars.

The deal includes an option to buy two more trains if Wisconsin receives federal stimulus money to extend rail service from Milwaukee to Madison.

Posted by Susie An on 7/18/2009

Walter Cronkite Remembered by Colleagues, President

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President Barack Obama recalls Walter Cronkite as a \"voice of certainty in an uncertain world.\" After learning of Cronkite's death Friday, Obama said the longtime television newsman \"set the standard\" even in \"an industry of icons.\"

Cronkite is being remembered by those who knew him personally and by those who grew up hearing his broadcasts. Longtime 60 Minutes correspondent Morley Safer remembers Cronkite as the \"father of television news.\"

Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer says Cronkite was the person he wanted to be when he grew up. Schieffer says the pioneering Cronkite \"made television news what it became.\" He adds, \"We'll never see his like again.\" Cronkite died three days before the 40th anniversary of one of his biggest stories, the 1969 moon landing. Astronaut Neil Armstrong says he'll remember Cronkite's passion and contagious enthusiasm that won the \"trust of his audience.\"

Walter Cronkite was 92.

Posted by City Room and the Associated Press on 7/18/2009

Hunt Continues For Escaped Inmates

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It’s been nearly a week since three inmates escaped from the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, Indiana. One was caught but the remaining two have so far managed to avoid capture. Authorities are scaling back the search for the time being.

There have been several reported sightings of the two escapees in and around Michigan City.

A witness told police a man believed to be 45-year-old convicted rapist Lance Battreal was spotted walking on the tracks late Thursday. But Battreal may have fled into a wooded area before police could find him.

Police will continue searching on a smaller scale but a major manhunt on Thursday was called off because of severe weather.

Earlier in the week, the search centered around the town of Grand Beach, Michigan. That’s where 48-year-old Charles Smith was apprehended Monday near the summer home of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

The three are believed to have escaped Sunday from the maximum security prison using an underground tunnel.

Posted by Michael Puente on 7/18/2009

Court Appointee Takes Over Burr Oak Cemetery

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Cook County Sheriff's office will be able to focus more on the Burr Oak Cemetery investigation. That's because a court appointee will soon take over business at the suburban graveyard. Four people have been accused of digging up graves at the cemetery and then reselling the plots.

The county sheriff's office has been working double duty; investigating the burial scandal at Burr Oak Cemetery in suburban Alsip, and then acting as manager of that cemetery. Now, Roman Szabelski of the Chicago Archdiocese has been appointed to run the non-sectarian graveyard.

SZABELSKI: What's taken place is very disheartening and is not what cemeteries are about in general. And these families need healing and we're going to do everything in our power to help them heal and feel comfortable visiting their loved ones in Burr Oak.

He says Burr Oak could reopen as early as August 1. Szabelski has been with the Archdiocese for 30 years and manages more than 40 Catholic cemeteries.

Posted by Susie An on 7/17/2009

Boeing Could Face More Layoffs

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

He says the company will lay off a total of 1,000 workers due to budget cuts at the U.S. Department of Defense.

Meanwhile, Secretary Gates says the budget cuts are part of a larger \"re-balancing\" of the military's budget.

GATES: There are a lot of programs that we've plus-ed up, and where people will be hiring, and doing more. There'll be others where they will be reducing their capability.

Gates says the government isn't spending less money on defense. It's just re-prioritizing.

The Boeing layoffs will affect surface-to-air missile production and a program to build hi-tech vehicles for the Army.

Posted by Alex Keefe on 7/17/2009

Children's Hospital Still Facing Criticism Over Proposed Heliport

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital is trying to finalize plans for a controversial heliport.

Children's Memorial is scheduled to move closer to downtown in 2012, but it's not been a completely smooth process. The hospital has had to jump through several bureaucratic hoops to install a heliport at the new location. Pat Magoon is the president of Children's Memorial.

MAGOON: A rooftop heliport is an essential, critical element to enabling us to serve the children in our community and that handful of children who really require that mode of transportation, it's the only form compatible with their continued life.

Magoon says relations with a neighborhood group opposed to the new heliport have improved. But in a statement today, that group says the hospital has not been transparent enough. Children's Memorial is scheduled to hold public hearings on the landing pad next week.

Posted by Tony Arnold on 7/17/2009