CHICAGO--The risk paid off for the League of Chicago Theatres. "Theater Fever," inaugurated Feb. 28 as a come-on to attract family audiences to Chicago theaters, succeeded beyond expectations, drawing more than 4,000 participants, including Mayor Daley and his wife, to six theatrical sites in the Chicago area--Chicago Cultural Center, Goodman Theatre, Northlight Theatre/North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, The Second City, Steppenwolf Theatre and the Theatre Building. A demonstration by the Blue Man Group at Second City was so successful that 50 people crowded the sidewalk to attend the second workshop. The kick-off day offered free, interactive events designed to put families on stage, behind the scenes and into hands-on workshops.

Some 1,500 discounted tickets were also snapped up. The event was sponsored by Sears, Roebuck and Co.

-- By Lawrence Bommer
Chicago Correspondent