John Cusack, Joyce Piven Walk Chicago Red Carpet For ‘Grace is Gone’

CHICAGO – After interviewing Chicago’s John Cusack along with Gracie Bednarczyk and Shélan O’Keefe (first-time actresses and Chicago natives) for “Grace is Gone,” I camped out with the hordes of press cameras as they all walked the red carpet on Friday.

John Cusack and Shélan O’Keefe for “Grace is Gone”.
Photo by Adam Fendelman/HollywoodChicago.com
Bednarczyk and O’Keefe arrived first at 7 p.m. at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre, which is the same vintage venue for the Ben and Casey Affleck appearance on Wednesday night and where Anthony Hopkins will be on Sunday night. Cusack received a career achievement award from the Chicago International Film Festival.

John Cusack receiving a career achievement award on Oct. 12, 2007.
Photo by Adam Fendelman/HollywoodChicago.com
The surprise came with an appearance by Joyce Hiller Piven. She’s the mother of Chicago actor Jeremy Piven. With her husband, Byrne Piven, they co-founded Chicago’s Piven Theater Workshop.

Joyce Piven on Oct. 12, 2007 at the Music Box.
Photo by Adam Fendelman/HollywoodChicago.com
John Cusack, Joan Cusack and Ann Cusack (another sister) all attended the theater school. Jeremy Piven once shared an apartment with John Cusack. They’ve been longtime close friends and have shot 10 films together.

First-time Chicago stars Gracie Bednarczyk (second from the left)
and Shélan O’Keefe (second from the right) for “Grace is Gone”.
Photo by Adam Fendelman/HollywoodChicago.com

The Music Box on Oct. 12, 2007.
Photo by Adam Fendelman/HollywoodChicago.com
Stay tuned for my full interviews with Cusack, O’Keefe and Bednarczyk.

3:11 p.m. update on 10/13/07: Here’s a John Cusack portrait from the evening’s red-carpet premiere. This is being published on HollywoodChicago.com with permission from veteran Chicago celebrity photographer Joe Arce.

By ADAM FENDELMAN Editor-in-Chief HollywoodChicago.com adam@hollywoodchicago.com

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