Chicago Broadcasting Network

A laugh-out-loud comical attack of geopolitical humor invades Lookingglass Theater in “Iraq but Funny.”  Playwright / performer Astra Asdou recalls the history of the Assyrian people through this semi-autobiographical story of five generations of the women in her family.

Feeling controlled by outside forces, two people on the opposite ends of life are each trying to manage their own destiny in the Chicago Premiere of Charles Smith's “Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues” at American Blues Theater - Chicago.Podcast review by Reno Lovison

The world premiere of “Neighborhood Watch” written by Rehana Lew Mirza and directed by Kaiser Ahmed at Jackalope Theatre is a humorous look at what can happen when curiosity leads to suspicion. Recommended. "There is a lot to enjoy in this sitcom style production that relies heavily on broad humor and predictable stereotypes." Podcast theater review by Reno Lovison includes some insightful historical information about the interesting Edgewater venue.

If robots take over the world what would be their relationship to humans? Would it be a carefree utopia with happy automatons cheerfully laboring away while people enjoy a life of leisure or will the robots develop ideas and aspirations of their own, eventually viewing their human creators as archaic inferior predecessors, in-fact outdated models?This is the concept behind Bo List's R.U.R. a world premiere production, freely adapted from the play Rossum's Universal Robots by Karel Capek playing now at City Lit Theatre, directed by Brian Pastor.

Chicago's Trap Door Theatre presentation of “Galileo,” stays close to the heart of Bertolt Brecht's script but is a revised challenging and thought-provoking interpretation. Fragments of the original dialogue featuring translation by Charles Laughton are there but the production has been reshaped and reimagined by director Max Truax into a postmodern avant-garde effort.This theater review by Reno Lovison includes information about the play, the performance, where to eat nearby and some information about the neighborhood.

Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Prevost provides Chicago with a direct line to the Vatican, and we're exploring how his roots in the Windy City shaped his journey to the papacy.

Long term friendships can be complicated and messy. Honesty can be dangerous and revealing.  A fourteen-year friendship between three friends explodes over the purchase of an expensive modernist painting in ART, presented by Remy Bumppo at Wit Theatre in Chicago.Theater review podcast by Reno Lovison

Berlin is a case study of how things can go wrong when a country has suffered losses and trauma. As its citizens and leaders slowly turn away from collaborative solutions and towards stark divisions in power and a dark fascist vision, slow motion disaster unfolds. Everyone can sense it but no one person has the power to prevent it. Based on the three volume graphic novel Berlin written by Jason Lutes it covers the time period between WWI and WWII  focusing on the conditions needed for fascism to arise. This new theatrical adaptation by Mickle Maher, directed by Charles Newell dives into the stories of 13 characters, illuminating the events through their perspectives. Its world premier was at Court Theatre on Chicago's southside. Listen to this full review by Kim Campbell

A group of bridesmaids find reasons to bond in “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” produced by St. Sebastian Players.The bonding ritual begins with the common agreement that the dress chosen by the bride is perfectly ridiculous. The bond is further forged by the realization that they don't even really like the bride that much. As each woman reveals something of herself they traverse a range of emotions; infuriated, anxious, remorseful, exasperated, frantic, exhausted, flirtatious, but overall hilarious. Highly Recommended. 

Charles Dickens' expose of the French Revolution is cleverly performed and seems a little too close to home in today's political climate. I would highly recommend this anyone unfamiliar with "A Tale of Two Cities" by DIckens, anyone unfamiliar with the history of the French Revolution and anyone interested in how a political movement run amok can affect the lives of every person involved resulting in unfathomable horrors perpetrated in the name of justice.

MASTERING LIFE. This is a podcast film review of "Rise Above : The Carl Jackson Story. A powerful new documentary by Chicago filmmaker Maryilene Blondell.  Whether you're a golf enthusiast or not, listen to learn what happens when a boy from a segregated Southern neighborhood in Georgia grows up to make golf history—and a woman from Chicago decides it's time the world knew his name 

Podcast theater review of "The Whole Seamus Thing" at Bramble lofts in Chicago. 

Following on the heels of the success of The Beatles and Rolling Stones, another group of four working-class lads from the outskirts of London called The Kinks made their mark on the history of Rock and Roll. Their first big splash on both sides of the pond was “You Really Got Me” featuring an iconic, fuzzy, five chord guitar riff. This energetic jukebox musical, “Sunny Afternoon,” enjoying its North American premiere here in Chicago, is based on the story of the Kinks as told by lead singer and songster Ray Davies, filtered through the adept hand of playwright Joe Penhall. Theater review by Reno Lovison.

A story of reproach, remorse and reconciliation. The Winter's Tale has something for everyone. This Shakespeare play performed by Invictus Theatre Company in Chicago has something for everyone. It is both tragedy and romantic comedy with sorrow, absurdity, mirth and fantasy.

Goodman Theatre's GeNarrations program is a FREE storytelling program that engages adults aged 55 and over in writing and performance workshops that nurture the creative spirit.  Genarrations participants were then encouraged to write their own stories based on themes of lies and betrayal.This podcast is base on a recent reading of participants from the Wille Whyte Park location on the 1600 block of Howard Street in Rogers Park.

Puccini's popular opera La Bohème at Lyric Opera of Chicago is a story of youth, passion, love and loss where idealism comes face-to-face with life's realities such as poverty, illness and death. Yes, this is the opera where the young lady with the bad cough dies at the end.  Listen to our synopsis and podcast review.

Music Theater Works production of “Guys and Dolls” at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie is good old fashioned mid-century style musical theater fun.  The story lampoons the idea of middle class morality, lambasting both the good guys and bad guys for taking themselves so seriously. Guys and Dolls has been performed by numerous companies over the past fifty-plus years but still seems to resonate with both young and more mature audiences because the music is memorable and the show is fun.

In this hilarious musical riff on Romeo and Juliet at the Skokie Theater, Romeo has awakened from a 400-year slumber to find his beloved Juliet long turned to dust. Instead, he finds a teenaged American tourist Bernadette Penza whose mother Camille has brought the family to Italy to get in touch with her Veronese roots. Camille is a descendent of Juliet's family and Bernadette the very image of Romeo's lost love. In a desperate attempt to be reunited with her, Romeo follows the family back to Brooklyn finding himself embroiled in a gangland feud.

Hedda Gabler is the self-absorbed, only daughter of a military officer who has an overblown grandiose sense of her own importance, and a lack of empathy for others. She feels trapped in a world of bourgeois values full of expectations she cannot control. It is her perception that the men around her seem to enjoy much more freedom to pursue their own public and private interests with less scrutiny and fewer consequences.Ibsen's well-crafted story reveals the inadvertent dangers of social pressure and a lifetime of pain that comes to a logical conclusion through events taking place over roughly 48 hours. 

A sparsely furnished motel room dominates the stage. Along the perimeter an empty swimming pool, an imposing neon MOTEL sign, a massive telephone pole and bits of scrub grass suggest this is essentially the bottom of the barrel in the middle of nowhere somewhere at the end of the line. The massive sky in the background adds to the fact that this is a story of two people stuck in a small room focused on their problems while there is a whole big world outside, that like me, really doesn't care.

“Glassheart” is a modern-day reimagining of the well-known tale of Beauty and the Beast playing through February 23rd 2025 at CityLit Theater on Chicago's northside near Bryn Mawr and Sheridan Road. What are you willing to sacrifice to be the light in someone else's life? Are you able to look past the superficial and artificial barriers that cause us to disregard and reject those who may be deserving of affection?Review by Reno Lovison

Holidays have a unique way of punctuating our lives. Through this activity we assess alliances, trade information, and mark the passage of time.In The Long Christmas Dinner written by Thorton Wilder, presented by TUTA Theatre in Chicago we join an affluent Midwestern family, sometime in the not-too-distant past, at their Christmas table.  What is unusual is that, this is not just one dinner, it is a sequence of similar dinners seamlessly stitched together in a linear fashion, showing a progression of events that affect this family over multiple generations. 

Mike Royko was an outspoken Chicago journalist, who in the 1960s through 1990s railed against the political machine and championed the cause of the underdog with the same zeal he displayed toward his beloved Chicago Cubbies.Mitchell Bisschop's roughly two-hour performance as Royko serves as a reminiscence for those of a certain age, and as an entertaining summary of our recent history for those of a younger generation who might not have first-hand familiarity with events related to the quickly fading recent past.

Reno Lovison, Executive Producer at ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com comments on the documentary Time Passages by Chicago filmmaker Kyle Henry who tenderly reviews his relationship between himself and his mother, whose memory is slowly slipping away due to dementia.Looking at other people's lives is always interesting. We can't help but to compare our experiences to theirs perhaps in a quest to see if we ourselves are “normal.” - -  Are they the outliers, or are we? “Time Passages” recently screened at the 60th Annual Chicago Film Festival.

An aspiring African American actress, Vera Stark (Ashayla Calvin) works as a personal maid to fading 1930s movie star Gloria Mitchell (Caitlin Jemison), once known as “America's Little Sweetie-Pie.” The two have a close relationship and have a shared struggle to find success. However, due to race barriers and prejudices it is clearly more difficult for Stark than it is for Mitchell.Playing at the Den Theatre in Chicago. Review by Reno Lovison

This is a film review of "The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt's Monument to Ida B. Wells follows the Chicago artist's creation of a monument to the civil right champion and woman's suffrage leader. The film that premiered at the 60th Annual Chicago International Film Festival in 2024 follows his process as an opportunity to showcase each of their contributions to society while doing so within the greater context of the history of the African American experience. 

Letter writing is more akin to internal dialogue and can have a kind of naked intimacy that is difficult to achieve in the flesh.Dear Elizabeth is smart biographical drama providing a glimpse into the lives and thoughts of two interesting people who through their own words, demonstrate to us the value of friendship and human connectedness.

The Goodman Theatre reminds us that the more things change the more they remain the same in this production of the classic courtroom drama, “Inherit the Wind.”Small town school teacher Bertram Cates (Christopher Llewyn Ramirez) is on trial for breaking a state law that prohibits the teaching of evolution.

Lyric Opera of Chicago expounds on Beethoven's message of freedom of expression in this captivating contemporary production of Fidelio. It's interesting to see how easily this 18th Century music transforms to modern times. It is and story of good triumphing over evil and most importantly a story of hope combined with the courage to speak truth to power and taking action to stand up to tyranny and oppression in order to right a wrong. Twenty-first century audiences will appreciate the portrayal of a strong female hero and the allusions to political oppression that continues to be perpetrated throughout the world. Podcast review by Reno Lovison for ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com

Kicking off this popular Chicago ensemble theater company's 49th season, an incompetent troupe of actors are expertly portrayed by a considerably expert cast, in Steppenwolf's revival of the classic screwball comedy “Noises Off,” directed by Anna D. Shapiro. 

A timeless classic that deserves to be seen and heard. Whether you are experiencing it the first time or you are coming from a place of nostalgia, the musical South Pacific includes some of the best and most recognizable tunes by the composing team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.Based on a novel by James Michener and adapted by Hammerstein and Josh Logan, the 1949 play boldly addressed the notion of learned prejudices, and confronted changing post-war attitudes about interracial marriage and mixed raced children.An enchanting evening.

If you think you know something about Georgia O'Keeffe, be prepared to be pleasantly surprised.  Her styles at this time seems to have generally drifted away from her previous more colorful works and amorphous forms, and instead varied from monochromatic abstracts to more realistic sepia toned cityscapes reminiscent of Stieglitz' photos.  Georgia O'Keeffe: “My New Yorks” is at the Art Institute of Chicago through September 22, 2024.  For details visit  The Art Institute of Chicago (artic.edu)Podcast review by Reno Lovison.

In 1938 twenty-five-year-old Orson Welles became famous after his radio play based on the novel "A War of the Worlds" shook the airwaves, purportedly nearly causing national panic. The book's seventy-five-year-old author H.G. Wells was not amused at how his intellectual property was in his mind misused without permission.  Written by Amy Crider the play is inspired by an actual encounter in 1940 while the two men, “Wells and Welles” both happened to be on lecture tours, finding each other in San Antonio, Texas on the same rainy night. Podcast review by Reno Lovison ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com

“Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” is the best musical I have seen in years.  Opening night was one to remember. John Berendt, the author of the best-selling book, was on hand for the curtain call and to see this new musical version written by Taylor Mac come to life. The excitement of the evening spilled out into the street as people chattered about what a great time this was. At the Goodman Theatre, 70 N Dearborn St, Chicago, through August 11, 2024. For tickets and information visit https://www.goodmantheatre.org 

When you cannot adequately express yourself with the nuance and clarity of a native speaker, people do not know that you are actually smart, funny, and kind. Instead, they only hear your imperfect pronunciation and limited vocabulary. You may be easily assumed to be inferior with little or nothing to offer. PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING PLAY BY SANAZ TOOSSI EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND.

“9 to 5: The Musical” playing at the Metropolis Theater in downtown Arlington Heights is a kind of women's lib version of “How to Succeed in Business.” While his wife is away on a four week cruise a trio of women manage to hog tie and subdue their boss in his home. Signing his name to numerous memos they commence making much appreciated changes and improvements to staff morale and office productivity.It may be difficult for some younger people today to consider that the glass ceiling for women was very real.In some level this show seems archaic and simply a retrospective romp but it also serves as a cautionary tale, a reminder that chauvinist and misogynist thinking still prevails in some circles and there are those who would love to turn back the clock.

Podcast theater review by Reno Lovison of Judgment Day - written by Rob Ulin, directed Moritz von Stuelpnagel, starring Jason Alexander at Chicago Shakespeare Theater through May 26, 2024.  Includes review of Offshore Rooftop Bar at Navy Pier.Bonus content: Rikki Lee Travolta interviews the creators of "Little Orphan Boy - The Musical at the annoyance theatre in Chicago. 

An update of a few events we enjoyed recently and a look to what's happening soon including an excerpt of Rikki Lee Travolta's interview with Evan Jackson, artistic director of “What the Weird Sisters Saw” a retelling of Macbeth from the Witches' point of view performed by Idle Muse at the Edge Theater. Also a few shoutouts to some northside Chicago restaurants.

Jersey Boys currently on stage in Chicago features 30 musical numbers while walking us through the life and times of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons a New Jersey based rock and roll quartet that appealed largely to blue collar teens nationwide in the 1960s with songs like “Sherry” and “Walk Like A Man.”  Podcast theater review by Reno Lovison includes a short excerpt of an interview by Rikki Lee Travolta with co-directors Walter Stearns and Brenda Didier commenting on their love of the show and some specifics about actors Michael Metcalf and Adrian Aguilar. Jersey Boys is at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, Chicago, through May 19, 2024.  For tickets and information visit mercurytheaterchicago.com or call (773) 360-7365.

In this podcast episode Rikki Lee Travolta interviews Ronni Marmo appearing in “I'm Not a Comedian….I'm Lenny Bruce” under the direction of multi-award-winner Joe Mantegna at the Biograph Theater in Chicago. This production  tells the story of the life and early passing of one of the most legendary comedians of all time. Rikki Lee talks with Marmo about the development of the work and his association with Joe Mantegna who agreed to direct the show.

 “Aida” by Giuseppe Verdi under the direction of Francesca Zamnello, and conducted by Enrique Mazzola is opera in the grand tradition at Lyric in Chicago for the first time in more than a decade. [*Note there is some confusion in the names in the podcast. This is the correction.]This is a podcast review by Reno Lovison Executive Producer at ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com and theater reviewer for ChicagoTheaterandArts.com.

Take a listen to hear first hand from spy movie expert Tom Pizzato about what you will see and experience at "007 Science : Inventing the World of James Bond" exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago opening March 7, 2024 and running through March 2024.

Rikki Lee Travolta interviews Ronnie Marmo who directs and stars in "Bill W. and Dr. Bob" the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous onstage March and April 2024 at the Biograph Theater in Chicago.

Shortly after the end of the Civil War two former slaves ruminate on their experiences living and working within Monticello, the estate of former President Thomas Jefferson.The Reclamation of Madison Hemings by Charles Smith featuring Jon Hudson Odom and Manny Buckley is at the American Blues Theater, 5627 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago through March 24,2024. Listen to the review by Reno Lovison and find out about places to dine nearby. 

This podcast episode is a discussion with the creators of Flyover Chicago, part thrill ride and part immersive three-dimensional multi-sensory video experience that utilizes cutting edge drone technology featuring impressive aerial views, allowing visitors to see Chicago in a whole new way. The amusement park style attraction is located in the former IMAX theater at Navy Pier.  

For the Love of Dance  -  An onerous choreographer cajoles a select group of hopeful chorus applicants into revealing some of their deepest secrets. This Madkap Production directed by Wayne Mell is on pointe, tapping into the essence of a story of love and dedication to the art of dance. In the song “What I Did For Love,” (music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban)  Diana says of the grueling work and unmet promises “We did what we had to do - - Won't forget, can't regret -- What I did for love.” In this context it's the love of the craft, the love of dance.  Listen to the full review. CAST: Erin Renee Baumrucker, Elizabeth Bushell, Sean Caron, Luis Del Valle, Emma Drazkowski, Trevor Hendrix, Ben Isabel, Lili Javorka, Khnemu Menu-Ra, Tyler Meyer, Marcela Ossa, Madelynn Oztas, Chandler Paskett, Ben Paynic, Madison Jaffe-Richter, Rae Robeson, Sarah Sapperstein, Jason Sekili, Maddy Shilts, and Whitney  Wolf. Directed by Wayne Mell, Music Direction by Jeremy Ramey, Choreography by Susan Pritzker.

My initial reaction is to characterize Pippin as The Fantastiks meets Godspell, Explaining the plot is about as easy as trying to recall and interpret the details a dream. What happened is not exactly clear. This production is a feast for the senses that makes use of the entire spectrum of theater craft. Music Theater Works is known for musical excellence and they do not disappoint us in this production. Pippin was co-written and originally directed and choreographed by Chicago native Bob Fosse in 1972 who was at the very epicenter of his highly successful and frenetic career and possibly the pinnacle of his drug addiction that at least partly explains this bizarre tale of young Pippin's quest for meaning in his life.  His fingerprints (or dare I say footprints) are all over this psychedelic fever dreamListen to my entire review and editorial comments.

A light romp with a dark twist followed by a hasty, muddled ending wrapped up in a cloud of very good music all of which is performed by a remarkable cast of actor musicians. There's a lot of good stuff in Lucy and Charlie's Honeymoon at the Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago but also a few things that disturbed me. Listen to my review to learn more.

For a professional theater experience in Chicago this month you can't do much better than the Lyric opera production of West Side Story. This Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim musical deemed cutting edge and somewhat avantgarde when first introduced is now a classic.The story by Arthur Laurents is a rather faithful mid-century modern adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Rival teenage street gangs, the Sharks and Jets, battle in New York City streets to maintain what they feel is control of this small piece of Manhattan. Caught in the crossfire of this conflict are Tony (Ryan McCatan) and Maria (Kanisha Feliciano) two tragic lovers from opposite ends of the divide.Podcast theater review with commentary by Reno Lovison.

May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. In this podcast we are going to do a quick overview of some of some ways you can experience the Asian and Pacific Islander cultures represented in Chicago all year long. Included are insights into the various Asian communities and neighborhoods as well as recommendations about things to do and places to eat.*Correction: Traditional Korean neighborhood is Bryn Mawr between Kedzie and Kimball. Merla's Kitchen is on Kimball and Foster.

ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com encourages you to investigate the lives and works of some notable Chicago women as well  as a specific few who have  made a significant impact on Chicago's literary history. Their works continue to inspire us today, and we celebrate them and all women during National Reading Month and National Women's History Month.