Claudia Cassidy (1899 – July 21, 1996), was an influential, 20th-century American

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. She was a long-time critic for the ''

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.'' Starting in 1925 she was music and drama critic for The Journal of Commerce. She was so well known for giving caustic reviews to what she considered bad performances that she earned the nickname "Acidy Cassidy." Cassidy had a particular aversion to touring companies of Broadway shows. In music criticism, according to a 1993 article by the ''

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'',

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, was "practically hounded out of town" by Cassidy. Although she had a reputation for biting critique, Cassidy's enthusiasm may have been even more powerful. Her sustained praise for '' The Glass Menagerie'' over several columns is credited with rescuing the show from closing in tryouts and propelling it to move on to Broadway success. According to Philip Rose, '' A Raisin in the Sun'' became a hit after a surprise positive review from Cassidy as well as "good reviews in other papers." In 1975, Cassidy was awarded the Joseph Jefferson Award. Her last published writing was for the 1990-91 Lyric Opera program book. Cassidy was married to William J. Cassidy for 57 years. After her husband died in 1986, Cassidy lived at the Drake Hotel until her death in 1996 at the age of 96. The Claudia Cassidy Theater of the

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is named in her honor.

Books

* Cassidy, Claudia, ''Europe on the Aisle'', New York: Random House, 1954 * Cassidy, Claudia, ''Lyric Opera of Chicago'', Chicago IL: Lyric Opera of Chicago, 1979

References

External links

Claudia Cassidy Papers
at the Newberry Library {{DEFAULTSORT:Cassidy, Claudia 1899 births 1996 deaths American music critics American dance critics American theater critics People from Shawneetown, Illinois Journalists from Illinois Chicago Tribune people American women journalists American women music critics Women writers about music 20th-century American journalists 20th-century American women