Northlight Theatre in Evanston is set to open its new $32 million venue with a production of “The Front Page,” the classic Chicago play that debuted nearly a century ago. Previews of the updated version begin September 9, marking a return of the play that has become a staple of American theater and an enduring reflection of journalistic culture.
Written by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, both former Chicago newspapermen, “The Front Page” originally premiered on August 14, 1928, at New York’s Times Square Theatre. The play offers a snapshot of the hectic, corruption-laden world of 1920s Chicago journalism, focusing on the last frantic day in the newsroom before a convicted killer’s scheduled execution. Central to the story is reporter Hildy Johnson, who plans to leave the newspaper business for a career in advertising but is pulled back into covering a breaking story by his editor, Walter Burns.
Set entirely in a cramped press room, the play features sharp dialogue and a cast of characters including poker-playing reporters, a manipulative mayor, and a crooked sheriff, capturing the gritty and fast-paced newsroom environment. Despite its simple plot, the play has been praised for its humor, vibrant language, and raw portrayal of the media and politics, themes that continue to resonate today.
Northlight Theatre’s artistic director BJ Jones emphasized the play’s ongoing relevance, noting its insight into the relationship between politics, media, and public trust. “It is so much about Chicago, and I want to highlight that,” Jones said. Executive Director Tim Evans echoed this sentiment, calling the play “layered” and “still so appropriate” as theater marks a significant milestone with the opening of the new venue.
The original production was shaped by producer Jed Harris and acclaimed playwright and director George S. Kaufman, influential figures in 1920s and ’30s American theater. Though some early reviews criticized the play for its frankness and portrayal of journalism, others, including writer E.B. White, praised it as a “tremendous hit” that captured the essence of modern journalism with unfiltered language and vivid energy.
“The Front Page” has been restaged on Broadway multiple times, most recently in 2016 with a cast featuring Nathan Lane, John Slattery, and John Goodman. It has also inspired several film adaptations, notably “His Girl Friday” (1940), in which the Hildy character was reimagined as a woman, played by Rosalind Russell opposite Cary Grant. The new Northlight production follows this female Hildy reinterpretation, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, who also contributed the 2023 adaptation of “Dial M for Murder” at the same theater.
The 13-member cast includes veteran Chicago actor Gary Houston, who has extensive experience both on stage and in newspapers. Houston previously appeared in a 1981 Goodman Theatre production of “The Front Page” and brings personal insight into the newsroom culture portrayed in the play.
While the newspaper industry has dramatically changed since the play’s inception—with shifts toward digital platforms and social media—Hecht and MacArthur’s work remains a potent exploration of themes such as sensationalism, the tension between speed and accuracy, and skepticism toward political and media institutions. As White noted, the play’s enduring strength lies in its near-perfect encapsulation of these dynamics.
The Northlight production is poised to introduce new audiences to “The Front Page,” reaffirming its status as a quintessential Chicago story and a mirror to the changing but often challenging world of journalism.