Claudia Cassidy

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. She was so well known for giving caustic reviews to what she considered bad performances that she earned the nickname "Acidy Cassidy."

Although she had a reputation for biting critique, Cassidy's enthusiasm may have been even more powerful. She's credited with boosting both Glass Menagerie and A Raisin in the Sun. She also helped popularize the Lyric Opera of Chicago and induced Fritz Reiner to lead the Chicago Symphony.

Career Cassidy had a particular aversion to touring companies of Broadway shows. In her music criticism, according to a 1993 article in the Chicago Reader, conductor Rafael Kubelik was "practically hounded out of town" by Cassidy.

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."

Personal life and death Cassidy was married to William J. Crawford for 57 years.

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