Controversial Rahm Emanuel Skit Stays in Teen Play, Sells Out Opening Night
By Alisa Hauser
NOBLE SQUARE — A sketch critical of Mayor Rahm Emanuel that was too controversial for a city after school program has made its way to Noble Square's Free Street Theater.
In "Cold Summer," Omari Ferrell, a junior from Kenwood Academy, plays "Mayor Rahmye," a cross between Emanuel and Kanye West, who proclaims, "I'm Hitler, Stalin, Christopher Columbus."
The sketch was conceived last summer during an after school arts program founded by the late Maggie Daley. Officials at After School Matters told the adult director, Ricardo Gamboa, that the sketch was not acceptable, Gamboa said. After School Matters also objected to the use of obscenities.
Because they didn't want to lose funding, the ensemble produced an improv show in August that met the approval of After School Matters, fulfilling the requirement of putting on a final show for the summer program, Gamboa said.
But they have since continued working on "Cold Summer" as an independent production and have rehearsed in the Pilsen home of Gamboa's parents.
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