# The Front Page: Chicago's Newsroom History

> Chicago's new theater hosts a 1930s newsroom play about corruption and local history.
- Title: The Front Page: Chicago's Newsroom History · Chicago Sun-Times
- Summary: Chicago's new theater hosts a 1930s newsroom play about corruption and local history. Northlight Theatre's 'The Front Page' adapts a 1928 Chicago journalism…
- Keywords: northlight theatre, the front page, chicago, city hall, journalism, political corruption, enlists, news, local, Front, Page, Chicago's
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/theater/2026/09/21/review-the-front-page-northlight-theatre-evanston-chicago-history-journalism
- Published: 2026-09-21T20:57:53.495+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: northlight theatre, the front page, chicago, city hall, journalism, political corruption, enlists, news, local
## The Front Page
Chicago needs watchdogs, and readers fund ours.
## Northlight Theatre
Evanston's new theater venue launches with 'The Front Page'.
## 1928 Play
The Front Page centers Chicago reporters chronicling City Hall corruption.
## Historical Context
Chicago's political corruption influenced the play's creation.
## Key Figures
Terrible Tommy O'Connor escaped death with a pork sandwich.
## William Thompson
William 'Big Bill' Thompson was Chicago's most corrupt mayor.
## Peter Hoffman
Peter Hoffman allowed mobsters to take unauthorized jail nights.
## Actors
Kelan Smith, Mark David Kaplan, Joe Dempsey, Guy Van Swearingen and Kate Fry perform.
## Hildy Johnson
Hildy Johnson retires as a reporter to marry a stable accountant.
## The Play
The play fictionalizes Chicago's political corruption and journalism history.
## Political Corruption
Hildy's editor says Chicago is run by criminals and halfwits.
## The Show
The play runs through October 25 at Northlight Theatre.
## Theater Details
The play takes place in Chicago's Criminal Courts Building press room.
## Consequence
The play connects Chicago's journalism history with modern political challenges.
## Key takeaway

Northlight Theatre's 'The Front Page' adapts a 1928 Chicago journalism play to highlight political corruption and local history.