Extraordinary Chicagoans A
ngie McMahon of the Chemically Imbalanced Theater collected more than $20,000 in donations to host the Rally to Restore Sanity Chicago satellite in Grant Park on Oct. 30. Remaining monies will benefit Chicago Public Schools. McMahon said she wanted to pay tribute to The Daily Show’s official rally in Washington, D.C., and to support a civil discourse about key issues.
Q: Where did you grow up? A: In the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago (I moved around a lot from Lombard, Villa Park, Glen Ellyn . . . ). Q: What’s your educational background? A: I am a Columbia College Graduate with my BA in Theater Arts. I also have my AA from College of DuPage. I have finished the advanced Conservatory Program at Second City, and all improv training at the Annoyance Theater and ImprovOlympic. Q: Who are your heroes (comedically, theatrically, morally, etc . . . )? A: I love [comedian] Louis C.K. I think he is an amazing writer. Also [playwright] Christopher Durang is my favorite. Q: How is it to be a mom and small business owner in Chicago? A: Being a mom is amazing. All I can say is until you are a parent you can’t even begin to know how fantastic it is. Running a theater has its own challenges, but it is what I was meant to do. Q: How do you think the goals of your rally are the same or different from Jon Stewart’s goals for his rally? A: I think for sure [Jon’s] rally is coming from more of a comic place and our rally is TheChicagoGrid.com October/November 2010
gonna be more issue based. I don’t think his will be void of issues or our will be void of comedy, but I think we will lean a bit more from issue-based discussion. Q: What would restoring sanity mean to you? A: Having a reasonable public discourse on personal issues, political issues, and religious issues without hate speech. Q: Why do you think people should vote? A: Because it is your right. You can’t complain if you don’t speak up. Q: Do you think anything can be achieved thru the political process? A: Yes, but I think we have to be open to discussion and all ideas to make it work. Q: What contributions would you personally like to make to the City of Chicago? A: I hope [the rally] can raise a lot of money for the Chicago Public Schools that are so in need.
Know someone extraordinary? Send suggestions to editor@thechicagogrid.com