 Chicago Science & History Museum
The Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) is located in Chicago,illinois in Jackson Park, in the Hyde Park neighborhood. It is housed in the only in-place surviving building from the 1893 Worlds Columbian Exposition, the former Palace of Fine Arts (also known as the Fine Arts Building). It is the fourth most popular cultural attraction in ChicagoCSI: The ExperienceThe CSI Experience TourWas a temporary, traveling exhibition about crime lab forensic science and technology inspired by the hit TV series CSI. That was on display from the 25th of May to the 3rd of September in 2007.
The exhibit was developed for the Science Museum Exhibit Collaborative by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History with assistance from CBS Consumer Products, technical expertise from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and $2.4 million in financial support from the National Science Foundation. 
There is a supporting Web site designed for the benefit of people who cannot visit the exhibit; CSI The experience web adventure
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Chicago Treasures: Bill PetersenWednesday, October 29, 2008 @ 7:00 p.m.
The Golden Globe-nominated actor and producer of CSI will discuss how the city has shaped his career and life.
Best known as Gil Grissom in the popular series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Petersen has a long and varied career in film, television, and theater. He was born in Evanston, IL and is an avid Cubs fan. William Petersen will be interviewed by Chicago Tribune columnist, Rick Kogan.
Billy's scheduled ticket only, Open discussion at the Museum
Billy is to spend an evening at the Chicago Science and History museum of his home town, being interviewed by one of the reporters of the Chicago Tribune about how Chicago has had an impact on him and his start in the theater.
The discussion is only available to a 400 seating capacity area, but we have a lucky member who will be attending this event on the 29th October 2008 and giving us all a report back on the evening.
Chicago Treasures - William Petersen
Report of the evening
By Melissa
WOW, AWESOME, AMAZING…..those are just a few words I can think of to describe the evening of October 29th, 2008. After reading that William Petersen would be at the Chicago History Museum that night, I was lucky enough to secure two tickets to the evening’s event. Living outside of Chicago I had been hearing of his return to the city and his staring role in “Dublin Carol” at the Steppenwolf Theater. But my best chance to meet him, I hoped, was at an interview given by Rick Kogan with Mr. Petersen at the History Museum.
So after having my tickets in hand and anxiously waiting about 3 weeks, the night had finally arrived. I was given a heads up that the show was sold out to 400 people so I told my husband, Donald, that I wanted to get there early and line up in hopes of getting a good seat. Well, 3:30pm for a 7:00pm show may have been a little too early.
The museum usually closes at 4:30pm so we were told we had leave and wait outside until 6:00pm for the doors to open to begin seating for the event. After a chilly hour and a half wait outside we were allowed in and secured our second row center seating.
About 15 minutes later someone who looked familiar sat down in front of Donald and me. Looking again I finally realized that it was William Petersen’s wife Gina. I kind of gasped and Donald said to me “what’s wrong?” It is very difficult to whisper when you are excited but I told him “William Petersen’s wife is sitting right in front of me!!!” After a few minutes of deep breathing and calming down the show started.
Mr. Rick Kogan came out and introduced Mr. Petersen. He came out looking handsome as ever and greeted everyone. The first questions presented to him were concerning his start in acting and the theater. He spoke about taking a class in which he made stage props and did a lot of things behind the scenes. After spending time working behind the scenes he moved to Idaho and went to the same college his brother was attending. In Idaho he got involved in the theatre group there as well. Hearing about what his son was doing in Idaho, Mr. Petersen’s father sent him a newspaper article about an up and coming theatre arts group here in Chicago. When Mr. Petersen read the article he was interested and decided to come back to Chicago.
Soon after coming back to Chicago and being around people that were willing to let you hang around and teach you about the theatre, he and his friends, one of which is Gary Sinise, started a theatre company called Remains. After much success, this caught the attention of a famous director (I’m sorry I can’t recall the name) who offered Mr. Petersen to take one of the theater’s plays to Broadway in New York. He declined.
 |  | | Billy Signing Autographs | Billy at the End of the Night |
Later he was approached to do a movie by William Freidkin after Gary Sinese had auditioned for and was turned down. Mr. Sinise referred Mr. Friedkin to Mr. Petersen to star in this movie which is now known as “To Live and Die in L.A.” Soon after the success of “To Live and Die in L.A.” Mr. Petersen was approached to star in another movie, which I love, called “Manhunter”.
After making a few movies, some of which he made but had still not secured an agent for, he spoke with a friend of his who worked for CBS. His friend was approached by a young writer about possibly doing a new television show. After meeting with this writer he found the material to be very interesting and wanted to develop it, and CSI: Las Vegas was born. After 9 years of amazing television Mr. Petersen is leaving CSI. He mentioned he is leaving because he feels he has done everything he can with the character and needs to move on.
Mr. Petersen is now back here in Chicago staring in “Dublin Carol” at the Steppenwolf Theatre. He will also be back here next summer staring in “Blackbird” at the Victory Gardens Theater.
 | | Mellisa (Wearing her CSI Sweatshirt) with Gina |
After the interview was over Mr. Petersen stood up and people began rushing to the stage. I walked over to Gina Petersen and asked if she would take a picture with me. I have to say I have seen her picture on the internet but she is absolutely beautiful in person. She shook my hand, asked my name, and introduced herself.
Once our picture was taken, I turned back toward the stage because I was surround by people and noticed Mr. Petersen making his way towards my direction. I was taking pictures and realized he was right in front of me so I put out my hand. Now with all the people there with their hands up I thought maybe he might just pass by but he grabbed by hand and looked straight at me. Now I know he has blue eyes from seeing him in the movies and on television, but WOW!! To look into those blue eyes in person was UNBELIEVEABLE!! As he was shaking my hand I said to him “I’ll see you in your play next week”. He gave me a huge smile and almost had a kind of shy look on his face and said “Thank You”. Unfortunately I had to let go of his hand and he made his way off stage. I tell you this was the best birthday present I’ve had so far (I turned 39 on October 30th) and I look forward to seeing him this Friday night in “Dublin Carol”. I’m not sure if he will come to meet the audience when the play is over, but one can only hope…….
Photograph & report Credit to - Mellisa -Thank you!
Please credit this site including a link, but seek permission to use the report off the site creator - gsrbritfan
Here is a link to a site where you can now hear the interview
that has since been broadcast on Chicago radio stations. Chicago Public Radio Credit billypetersen.com
Mellisa has also kindly given us a report/review after seeing Billy on Stage At the Steppenwolf Theater in A Dublin Carol - Check out the link below for it
Coming Soon!
Billy & The Steppenwolf Theater
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