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Time Passages a Documentary Film Review

Time Passages a Documentary Film Review

Reno Lovison, Executive Producer 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 

By The Way, Meet Vera Stark – Theater Review

By The Way, Meet Vera Stark – Theater Review

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 

Film Review of Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells

Film Review of Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells

This is a film review of “The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells following the Chicago artist’s creation of a monument to the civil right champion and woman’s suffrage leader.

The film premiered at the 60th Annual Chicago International Film Festival in 2024 and follows his creative 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.

Most of the film festival movies are shown only once or twice so this review is aimed at informing you about a production that has some Chicago significance in the hope that you will look for subsequent screenings at other locations in the future. We also hope that this might encourage you to consider attending the Chicago FIlm Festival yourself next year or beyond.

For festival information visit ChicagoFilmFestival.com

For film information visit http://amonumentforidabfilm.com

Dear Elizabeth – Theater Review

Dear Elizabeth – Theater Review

Letter writing is more akin to internal dialogue and can have a kind of naked intimacy that is difficult to achieve in the flesh. This is a smart biographical drama providing us a glimpse into the lives and thoughts of two interesting, actual people, who 

Noises Off at Steppenwolf -Theater Review

Noises Off at Steppenwolf -Theater Review

Kicking off this popular Chicago ensemble theater company’s 49th season a rather incompetent troupe of actors are expertly portrayed by a considerably expert cast, in Steppenwolf’s revival of Michael Frayn’s classic comedy “Noises Off,” directed by Anna D. Shapiro. A co-production with Geffen Playhouse. Featuring ensemble 

Overview of 007 James Bond Exhibit at Museum of Science and Industry Chicago

Overview of 007 James Bond Exhibit at Museum of Science and Industry Chicago

I had an opportunity to “bond” with spy movie expert Tom Pizzato at the press opening for the new 007 Science: Inventing the World of James Bond beginning March 7, 2024 and running through October 2024.

The museum has partnered with Eon Productions who own the rights to all things Bond in order to pull off this exhibit which focuses heavily on the science and industry aspect of the popular spy franchise. The inventive nature of the “cold war” spy world era anticipated many technological advances that we take for granted today, including car phones, personal communication devices, miniature cameras as well as a prototype jetpack and suction cup climbers.

Running into Tom Pizzato who is the co-founder of SpyMovieNavigator.com was lucky for me and for you too since Tom is a veritable expert on James Bond films. In this podcast Tom will share what he found to be interesting at this exhibit and give you some insight into what you can expect to see.

Whether you are a Bond fan, spy fan, movie fan or just haven’t been to the Museum of Science and Industry in a while consider a trip to Hyde Park to visit one of Chicago’s gems just steps away from the University of Chicago and in the shadow of the Obama Library scheduled to open in late 2025.

“Inherit the Wind” revives fundamental conflicts at Goodman Theatre | Review

“Inherit the Wind” revives fundamental conflicts at Goodman Theatre | Review

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 is on trial for breaking a state law that prohibits the teaching of evolution.

The prosecution is aided by the bombastic self-important fundamentalist bible thumping Matthew Harrison Brady while Cates is represented by famed Chicago lawyer Henry Drummond, a clever defense attorney known for taking on difficult and controversial cases.

Beethoven’s love story of Fidelio speaks to a modern audience.

Beethoven’s love story of Fidelio speaks to a modern audience.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Beethoven’s message of freedom of expression in this captivating, new to Chicago, contemporary production of Fidelio.  It’s interesting to see how easily this 18th Century music transforms to modern times. It’s and story of good triumphing over evil but most 

Historical Glimpse Into Chicago’s Cultural Center

Historical Glimpse Into Chicago’s Cultural Center

section cultural center tiffany dome

Across from Millennium Park on Michigan Avenue between Washington and Randolph Streets on land donated by Civil War Veterans in 1893 stands what used to be Chicago’s Main Public Library.

Re-imagined in 1977 as the Chicago Cultural Center it is host to more than 1,000 programs and exhibitions each year covering a wide range of the performing, visual and literary arts.

Aside from the tons of marble and exquisite mosaics that adorn its walls, the most magnificent feature and favorite among visitors for over 100 years is the famed 38- foot-diameter Tiffany Dome said to be the largest of its kind in the world.

 

South Pacific at Skokie Theatre | Podcast Review

South Pacific at Skokie Theatre | Podcast Review

This timeless classic amounts to an enchanting evening 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 

Georgia O’Keefe Exhibit – Art Institute Chicago

Georgia O’Keefe Exhibit – Art Institute Chicago

If you think you know something about Georgia O’Keeffe, be prepared to be pleasantly surprised.  Her styles at this time while living in New York during the 1920s seems to have generally drifted away from her previous more colorful and amorphous forms, and instead varied 

Wells and Welles Podcast Theater Review

Wells and Welles Podcast Theater Review

A war of words. In 1938 twenty-five-year-old Orson Welles became famous after his radio play interpretation of “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.

This play by Amy Crider presented by Lucid Theater is inspired by an actual encounter in 1940 with the two men, “Wells and Welles” who both happened to be on lecture tours, finding each other in San Antonio, Texas on the same rainy night.

For more information visit LucidTheater.com