Claudia Cassidy (1899 – July 21, 1996), was an influential, 20th-century American performing arts critic. She was a long-time critic for the Chicago Tribune.
Starting her career in 1925, she was at first a music and drama critic for The Journal of Commerce in Chicago before moving to the Tribune.[1] She was so well known for giving caustic reviews to what she considered bad performances that she earned the nickname "Acidy Cassidy."[2] Cassidy had a particular aversion to touring companies of Broadway shows.[3][4] In her music criticism, according to a 1993 article in the Chicago Reader, conductor Rafael Kubelik was "practically hounded out of town" by Cassidy.[5]
Although she had a reputation for biting critique, Cassidy's enthusiasm may have been even more powerful.[3] 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.[6] 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."[4] In 1975, Cassidy was awarded the Joseph Jefferson Award.[2] Her last published writing was for the 1990-91 Lyric Opera program book.[citation needed]
Cassidy was married to William J. Crawford for 57 years.[2] After her husband died in 1986, Cassidy lived at the Drake Hotel until her death in 1996 at the age of 96.[2]
The Claudia Cassidy Theater of the Chicago Cultural Center is named in her honor.[7]
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 ISBN 0-9603538-0-1