William (bill) Pulinsi (1940-2026)
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William “Bill” Pullinsi, who essentially invented dinner theater and made Chicagoland a mecca for the model, died at 86 in May. Over the course of a career that spanned more than half a century, Pullinsi directed and/or produced an astounding 400+ shows, creating thousands of jobs for theater artists while also founding several of Chicago’s early musical theaters, and establishing the area as a major force in the genre.
The Summit native began in 1959, establishing a dinner theater in Washington, D.C. In 1961, he brought the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse and Forum Theatre west to his hometown, building it on property his grandfather owned. During its 36-year run, the Candlelight drew powerhouse Broadway performers including Mandy Patinkin and Mark Jacoby, as well as future Tony-winners including Frank Galati (RAGTIME, THE GRAPES OF WRATH) and Jim Jacobs (who wrote much of GREASE in the Candlelight Green room). A Who’s Who roster of top-tier Chicago artists trod the boards there: Hollis Resnik, Paula Scrofano, Mike Nussbaum, Mary Ernster, Jim Harms, Dale Benson, Lee Pelty, Iris Lieberman, Shannon Cochran, Rudy Hogenmiller, Linda Balgord, Kathy Santen, and Larry Adams, among others. Over the years, Pullinsi earned 18 Joseph Jefferson Awards, including seven for outstanding director of a musical. His shows ranged from Stephen Sondheim’s intricate FOLLIES to the world premiere of BOSS, adapted from columnist Mike Royko’s bio of Richard J. Daley. The Candlelight wasn’t the only dinner theater Pullinsi brought to life. He served as the artistic director of Munster’s Theatre at the Center for a decade, where opening nights generally included lavish banquets and — for a while — an opening comedy act. Pulinsi was equally adept with non-musicals. Northlight Theatre Artistic Director BJ Jones remembered Pullinsi’s work on Tom Dudzick’s OVER THE TAVERN, which opened at Northlight in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Pullinsi crafted a show then-Tribune Chief Critic Richard Christiansen called “Just what the doctor ordered…a little slice of heaven.” OVER THE TAVERN sold out its entire Northlight run and then found a new home at Chicago’s Mercury Theatre, where it ran for over a year. “I will always be grateful to Bill and his savvy business partner Tony D’Angelo for collaborating with us at a time when the wounds of 9/11 were raw and fresh,” Jones posted. Pullinsi’s directing and producing credits were legion. Among the highlights: Candlelight’s long runs of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, MAN OF LA MANCHA and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, the last of which transferred to Chicago’s Royal George Theatre, becoming the venue’s inaugural production in 1986. His staging of INTO THE WOODS at Candlelight later transferred to the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre. At the Forum Theatre — Candlelight’s smaller, non-musical theater stage — Pullinsi delivered a remarkable four-and-a-half-year run of playwright John Powers’ DO BLACK PATENT LEATHER SHOES REALLY REFLECT UP. VIcki Quade (the creative powerhouse behind LATE NIGHT CATECHISM) did the marketing and publicity for Pullinsi and D’Angelo’s production of Power’s follow-up comedy LIFE’S NOT FAIR, SO WHAT? “I spent (a) year talking with John, with Tony, but mostly with Bill, who ran numbers with me, looking at what ticket sales should be, marketing ideas, logo ideas. He was such a kind man and easy to talk with. He respected my expertise and ideas. It would still work today as an exploration of life’s up and downs…Chicago theater brings together a lot of people, and there won't be many more like Bill Pullinsi” Quade said. Pulinsi’s facility with Catholic-centric comedies was informed by years of Catholic education. He attended St. Joseph School and Benet Academy before studying at the Catholic University of America, where he earned his BFA. He later pursued graduate studies at the Goodman School of Drama and received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Lewis University. Mary Ernster won her first Jeff for work in Pullinsi’s 1990 production of ME AND MY GIRL. She remembered Pullinsi’s influence on social media: “Bill certainly had a huge impact on the early careers of so many of my fellow artists. Rest in Peace, dear Bill." With thanks to the Windy City Times, Broadway World, and CBS Chicago. |