Chicago Lifestyle Podcast & Video Blog
Video related to books, authors, art, music, theater and performance in Chicago.
The Sugar Wife, is a compelling and emotionally charged drama by Elizabeth Kuti, presented by Artistic Home at Theater Wit. This episode explores a story where faith, repression, privilege, and desire intersect inside the home of an affluent Quaker couple in mid-nineteenth century Dublin. When …
White Rooster a darkly funny tale of love, loss and the strange things we inherit, draws from a personal family story rooted in early 1900s China. The inventive and haunting play with original music reimagines an American ghost town, weaving together puppetry, movement, and song. …
This episode is a review of “Changing Channels”, a fictionalized look at the 1950s TV blacklist, inspired by Jackie Gleason and The Honeymooners, exploring the historical roots, standout performances, and modern relevance. Listen to the full audio review to learn more about this production and …
The latest premiere from Thompson Street Opera Company, offered Chicago audiences a campy, queer operatic cabaret production filled with drag performance, bel canto vocal artistry, and a delightfully unconventional storyline. Presented at Bramble Arts Loft in Andersonville as Off-Nights at the Sometimes Café, the production …
Music Theater Works’ production of CATS at Skokie’s North Shore Center for the Performing Arts is a nonstop “catcaphony” of frenzied feline fun. With elements of musical theater, dance, opera and acrobatics there is definitely something for everyone. CATS is a must-see for anyone looking …
UPDATE: The 10-time 2025 Jeff Award–nominated musical JEKYLL & HYDE will make its Broadway In Chicago debut at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut St.), September 8 through October 25. Visit https://www.broadwayinchicago.com/shows/jekyll-hyde/ for tickets and information. For those unfamiliar with the …
The highlight of The Dance of Death at Steppenwolf is the outstanding set design of Collette Pollard, that dominates the stage. Featuring an impressive, ancient, oppressive, dimly lit three story plaster and brick edifice, that apparently was a former jail, it is now the military …
On one level this is a joyous expression of the Irish people through song but it is also a reminder of pain and struggle but with a wink and nod because Frank McCourt wants us to see the absurdity of life and the humor in …
Confederates by playwright Dominique Morrisseau and directed by Aaron Reese Boseman is the level of writing and performance I hope to see when attending a play. This intimate drama at Redtwist Theater delivers a message of unconscious bias and institutional slavery put into motion generations …
“Holiday” at The Goodman is a fresh world-premiere adaptation of the classic boy meets girl – – boy meets girl’s sister romcom by Richard Greenberg based on the original 1928 version by playwright Philip Barry and featuring an outstanding cast. This is a …
If you’re a subscriber or regular listener to our podcast this is going to be a busy week. Beginning with this review of Company at Skokie Theater, followed immediately by Holiday at the Goodman Theater then Dance of Death at Steppenwolf followed by Confederates at …
February has started out with a mix of interesting one-off events which I did not include as a podcast episode because I try to reserve those for events that run awhile, giving listeners a chance to see them based on my comments.
However, there are often times when one-off events deserve a mention so that performers can get recognition for their efforts and alert others – – not to what they’ve missed – but to artists they should be paying attention to and looking out for in the future.