Chicago Lifestyle Podcast & Video Blog
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 …
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 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.
The premise is a fictionalized version of the infamous 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial where three-time presidential candidate and former secretary of state William Jennings Bryan argued for the prosecution, while Clarence Darrow served as defense attorney for science teacher John T. Scopes.
Harry Lennix (Henry Drummond), Alexander Gemignani (Matthew Harrison Brady), Charín Álvarez (Mrs. Brady), Terry Bell (Sillers), Hamid Dehghani (Storekeeper), William Dick (Mayor), Meighan Gerachis (Elijah), Lawrence Grimm (Dunlap), Kevin Gudahl (Judge), Presley Rose Jones (Melinda), Christopher Kale Jones (Tom Davenport), Mi Kang (E.K. Hornbeck), Ryan Kitley (Reverend Jeremiah Brown), Tyler Meredith (Rachel Brown), Thomas Murphy Molony (Howard), Christopher Llewyn Ramirez (Bertram Cates), Robert Schleifer (Meeker), Eric Slater (Mr. Bannister) and Penelope Walker (Mrs. Krebs).
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 …
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 …
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 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.
Directed by Pat Henderson
Musical Direction by Jeremy Ramey
Costume Design by Patty Halajian
Conductor/Keyboard ………………………………… Jeremy Ramey
2nd Keyboard ……………………………………….Andrew Milliken
CAST:
Ngana………………………………………………….. Molly Hamada
Jerome ………………………………………………Connor Saavedra
Nellie Forbush ……………………………………..Willow Schneider
Emile De Becque …………………………………….Tony Calzaretta
Luther Billis ………………………………………………Andrew Buel
Stewpot, Henri …………………………………………Luis Del Valle
Professor……………………………………………..Erol Ibrahimović
McCaffrey…………………………………………..Liam K. Schlosser
Lt. Joseph Cable…………………………………………. Max Perkel
Bloody Mary ………………………………………… Mariel Saavedra
Liat, Nurse………………………………………Megan Mariko Boggs
Nurse MacRae ………………………….. Carolyn Sundlof Boudreau
Nurse MacGregor ……………………………………….Kristin Weed
Nurse Murphy …………………………………. Catherine Athenson
Capt. Brackett ………………………………………….. Jacob Cohen
Cmdr. Harbison …………………………………………….Tyler Lord
Set Design by Brian Wasserman
Music by Richard Rodgers Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan
Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Tales of the South Pacific by James Michener
Choreography by Brenda Good
Sound Design by Brian Bedoya
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 …
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 …
“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
Cast: J. Harrison Ghee, Tom Hewitt, Sierra Boggess, Lance Roberts, Austin Colby, Bailee Endebrock, Shanel Bailey, Jessica Molaskey, Mary Ernster, McKinley Carter, Brianna Buckley, Maya Bowles, DeMarius Copes, Sean Donovan, Jason Michael Evans, Christopher Kelley, Andre Terrell Malcolm, Jarvis B. Manning, Jr., Wes Olivier, Kayla Marie Shipman, Rory Shirley, Calvin L. Cooper, Daryn Whitney Harrell, Kayla Kennedy, Jake DiMaggio Lopez, Justin Thomas Rivers.
You’ve probably seen ’em. Signs like Throop, Goethe, Paulina and Devon but how do we say them in Chicago and why? Here is a short video from WBEZ that at least tries to tackle the “why” as well as some of the “how.” My friends …
Be sure to enjoy the podcast and the accompanying photos at the bottom of the page. You don’t need to be an architectural expert to simply look around and enjoy the various styles and building materials that combine to make up Chicago’s diverse urban landscape. …
In this podcast episode I present my film review as well as share some personal recollections of the Maxwell Street and Halsted shopping district where the music known as Chicago Blues sprang to life. If you want a glimpse at a piece of the not too distant Chicago past, I highly recommend the documentary film “And This Is Free: The Life and Times of Chicago’s Legendary Maxwell Street.”