LINCOLN PARK — Aside from being influential figures of the 20th century who struggled with addiction, legendary comedian Lenny Bruce and the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous might not seem to have much in common. But two separate theatrical versions of their life stories are the crux of a notable revival happening in Lincoln Park this month.
After a long fallow period, the landmark Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., once again opens its doors for regular patronage this week, thanks to twin touring productions from Los Angeles-based Theatre 68. The unifying factor is Ronnie Marmo, the company’s artistic director, who finds inspiration in these very different biographies.
An actor, writer and producer, Marmo stars in both shows. He plays Bill Wilson, a “fall-in-the-gutter drunk” whose search for sobriety led to the creation of Alcoholics Anonymous, in “Bill W. and Dr. Bob,” which opens Thursday.
Marmo also plays the title role in “I’m Not A Comedian … I’m Lenny Bruce,” a one-man show about the foul-mouthed jokester and free-speech fighter. That play opens March 14 and runs in repertory with “Bill W.” at the Biograph, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave.
It’s a welcome reopening for the venue, initially a cinema house that opened in 1914. In 1934, the Biograph was the setting for the last stand of notorious bank robber John Dillinger, who was shot dead by FBI agents upon emerging from the venue. (A mural in the nearby alley commemorates the event.) In the 1980s, the Biograph hosted weekly midnight screenings of “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
In 2004, after nine decades as a movie house, the Biograph transformed into a theater venue under the auspices of Victory Gardens. But the pandemic plus turmoil within the company has kept the space dark for the past several years. (It did recently host one weekend of performances by the International Puppet Theater Festival in January.)
Marmo told Block Club he hopes his dual productions can kick-start a return to glory for the venue, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.
“They’ve treated our coming as an opportunity to freshen up the whole place,” he said. “They’re refurbishing the entire marquee, literally changing out every one of those bulbs. There’s brand-new paint on all the walls. … They’re creating a gorgeous space that will be available for producers in the community to come do their shows.”
If Marmo looks familiar, it could be because of his multiple TV credits, which include a three-year run on “General Hospital,” the ABC soap opera. But Chicago theatergoers might recognize him from previous appearances on our stages: The Lenny Bruce show, written by Marmo and directed by Chicago native Joe Montegna, first opened in Chicago in autumn 2019, at the now-shuttered Royal George Theater. (Marmo even met his wife during that run; she came to the show solo and ended up sitting in the front row.) Bolstered by rave reviews and enthusiastic audiences, “Lenny Bruce” has returned here twice prior to this run.
Until now, Marmo’s company has only mounted “Bill W. and Dr. Bob” in Los Angeles. He’s making Chicago the first stop on what he intends to be a nationwide tour, with several local actors rounding out the cast.
“I’ll go out on a limb and say Chicago honestly, genuinely has been the most supportive city I’ve performed in. That’s why I keep coming back,” he said. “You have this really savvy theater audience who has an expectation of you, but they’re also really rooting for you. Maybe it’s the Midwest mentality? I don’t know. But there’s an energy — you get the sense that they’re on your side, and that’s not true all around the country.”
Both of these very different shows cast a spotlight on people and issues close to Marmo’s heart. Regarding Lenny Bruce, he said, “If you care about comedy, if you care about the First Amendment and free speech, then this is an important piece of work.” The comedian was arrested repeatedly because of obscene speech, including once in Chicago in 1962, when cops raided a Bruce show and also arrested a young audience member named George Carlin.
The Alcoholics Anonymous play also means a lot to Marmo, who “had a crazy teenage life” and stopped drinking at age 20. “I never had a legal drink, and I’m sober 33 years,” he said. “That’s why I feel like I’m the right guy to tell this story: because I care so much about it, and I identify with the material.”
And there’s one more element of this current venture that means a lot to him: helping to revive theater-going in the wake of the pandemic, which took a heavy toll on companies across the country. Being part of the revival of Biograph is an extra perk, he noted.
For one thing, he’s well aware of the venue’s historical importance. “As an Italian-American, especially with this face, I’m supposed to know the history of guys like Dillinger,” he joked.
On a more serious note, he added, “I think Chicago is hungry to get back into theater,” he said, “and I’d love to be a part of some revitalization.”
“I’m Not A Comedian … I’m Lenny Bruce” runs through April 12 and “Bill W. and Dr. Bob” runs through April 14 at the Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets to each cost $69–$79 and are available online.
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