Newspaper Louisville Ky

Well-known play has county ties

It may be set in the big city, but the well-known musical “Chicago” has its roots in Montgomery County.

The musical is based on the 1926 play by Maurine Dallas Watkins. Watkins was born in Louisville, Ky. on July 26, 1896. She and her family moved to Montgomery County when Watkins was a child, and Watkins graduated from Crawfordsville High School, where she co-founded CHS’ first newspaper, The High School Billiken. She then attended several colleges, including Butler University, Hamilton College, Transylvania University and Radcliffe College.

At the age of 27, Watkins took a job as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, according to information at a website dedicated to her (www.maurine

watkins.com ). It was 1924.

In the seven months she held the job, Watkins covered several murder cases — including those of women who were accused of killing their husbands. These women were the basis for Watkins’ “Merry Murderesses of Cook County Jail,” six central characters in “Chicago.”

To wrap up its 40th season, the Sugar Creek Players will stage “Chicago.”    Auditions for the production are set for Sunday and Monday at 7 p.m., and will take place at the Vanity Theater. 

“This is a show that we’ve wanted to bring to our theater for a long time, and it’s a great added bonus that it has such an interesting link to Crawfordsville,” said Tyler Bernet, who will direct the show. “I’m excited to bring a new style to the Vanity stage for this show, and we are hoping to give a nod to Maurine Watkins and the real merry murderesses with our production.”

“Chicago” started out as a stage play (first performed in 1926) but went on to become a musical production (first staged in 1975) and then a blockbuster movie (2002).

After she left the Chicago Sun, Watkins returned to writing. She participated in playwriting workshops. She penned several short stories and worked as a screenwriter (she wrote for many major studios, including MGM).

She also taught high school in Indiana.

The Sugar Creek Players’ production of “Chicago” will be staged Aug. 5-7 and Aug. 12-14. The troupe has had a record-breaking season. Bernet is excited about the show.

“Not only do we get to bring our own flair to the show, but we get to pay homage to someone who grew up right here in our own backyard,” he said.

In conjunction with the musical, the Crawfordsville Public Library is currently featuring an exhibit honoring the Watkin’s life and work.

UK gets $20M grant for research - WAVE 3 News - Louisville, Kentucky

LEXINGTON, KY (AP) - The University of Kentucky has announced a $20 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

The school will use the money over five years for specialized research that emphasizes linking research and medical practice and will speed lab advances to patients, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Michael Karpf, UK's executive vice president for health administration, says the award announced Tuesday is about more than money. He says it is "recognition by the NIH" that the school is a top medical institution that is able to do clinical translation.

The newspaper reports the grant is thought to be among the largest health grants awarded to the school.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.