Chicago is still the most theatrically corrupt city, Abbott says.

Karen Abbott: I forget who said it. There was a great quote. It said, “Chicago is not only a corrupt city. It’s the most theatrically corrupt city.” And I think that’s . . . That was true back then and it’s true today. It’s thoroughly corrupt and it enjoys . . . it almost revels in its corruption. It makes it a big, dramatic spectacle. It’s theater, and Chicago, you know, wants to outdo itself at all times. It’s a city of superlatives. It’s the best of everything and it’s the worst of everything. And I think it’s . . . If it didn’t like itself yesterday, it’ll reinvent and like itself tomorrow. It’s a city that’s always sort of re-evaluating itself and wondering what it can do better and what it can do different. And I really enjoy that about Chicago.

Recorded On: 1/22/08