Neighborhood News: Loyola University’s Newhart Family Theatre, named for comedy legend, trains new generations of talent
“Go for your passion, fall on your face, and keep going.“
Actor/Comedian Bob Newhart (1929-2024)
Chicago-born comedy legend Bob Newhart created many memorable characters and comedy routines in his lifetime, but his legacy lives on in Loyola University’s Newhart Family Theatre, 1020 W. Sheridan Road, located on the second floor of the Mundelein Center for the Fine and Performing Arts.
The versatile entertainment venue provides a platform for a variety of performances, including plays, musicals, and live music events, showcasing local talent and providing a space for the community to come together and enjoy cultural experiences. With its welcoming atmosphere and diverse programming, Newhart Family Theater offers something for everyone to enjoy.
About Bob Newhart
Born in Oak Park, Illinois on September 5, 1929, Newhart was “known for his deadpan and stammering delivery style,” as noted by Wikipedia sources.
His ties to Loyola University Chicago took root early, as Newhart graduated from Loyola’s Quinlan School of Business in 1952, then was drafted by the Army into the Korean War.
After the war, according to Wikipedia sources, Newhart worked for United States Gypsum as an accountant. He later said that his motto, “That’s close enough,” and his habit of adjusting petty cash imbalances with his own money showed that he lacked the temperament of an accountant.
In 1958, Newhart became an advertising copywriter for Fred A. Niles, a major independent film and television producer in Chicago There, he and a co-worker entertained each other with long telephone calls about absurd scenarios, which became the basis for his solo work in stand-up and making records, notably winning an historic Grammy Award for ‘The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart” in 1960, the first comedy album to make number one on the Billboard charts.
He transitioned to acting in television, including ‘The Bob Newhart Show,’ set in Chicago, in the 1970’s and ‘Newhart’ in the 1980’s. Younger audiences will remember him in the holiday classic ‘Elf’ and on ‘The Big Bang Theory.’
He received numerous accolades, including three Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2002.
In 1975, according to Loyola Today, Loyola bestowed upon Newhart the Sword of Loyola, which symbolizes spiritual qualities associated with St. Ignatius of Loyola—courage, dedication, and service.
“When I graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 1952, it would never have occurred to me that one day there would be a Newhart Family theatre on Loyola’s campus,” Newhart told the Loyola Student Dispatch in 2012. “It is a great source of pride and honor for all our families.”
Besides Newhart, all three of Newhart’s sisters attended Mundelein College, including Joan Newhart, BVM, who also served as an administrator at Mundelein, according to articles written by the Loyola Student Dispatch at the time of the dedication.
History of the Newhart Family Theatre
Dedicated in 2012, the Newhart Family Theatre was designed as the new “main stage” home for Loyola University Chicago’s theatre program. The 215-seat theatre is located on the second floor of Mundelein Center, in the space that used to be the gymnasium of Mundelein College. There is flexible seating for an additional 20 people, and features state-of-the-art scenic, lighting, and costume shops, rehearsal hall/performance classroom, and a flexible-seat experimental theatre in the lower level and additional support and workshop spaces for theatre. The space also Includes a recital hall, additional practice rooms, and applied music and recording studios for music.
Events
‘Notes from the Field’ runs through February 23. Anna Devere Smith’s documentary theatre performance tackles incarceration, police brutality, and systemic educational issues with heart and hope. For tickets and more information, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
