Oh What A Night – Jersey Boys @ Mercury Theater Chicago

Oh What A Night – Jersey Boys @ Mercury Theater Chicago

Jersey Boys 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 

. . . I’m Lenny Bruce – Ronnie Marmo & Rikki Lee Travolta

. . . I’m Lenny Bruce – Ronnie Marmo & Rikki Lee Travolta

Rikki Lee Travolta interviews Ronnie 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 produced in partnership with Lenny Bruce’s daughter Kitty Bruce tells the story of the life and 

Elizabeth Swanson and Rikki Lee Talk About “A Street Car Named Desire” at the Paramount Theatre

Elizabeth Swanson and Rikki Lee Talk About “A Street Car Named Desire” at the Paramount Theatre

In this episode of “It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee,” Rikki Lee Travolta interviews Elizabeth Swanson co-director of “A Streetcar Named Desire” (with artistic director Jim Corti) at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora featuring Amanda Drinkall as Blanche, Casey Hoekstra as Stanley, and Alina Taber as 

Aida – A Story of Love Jealousy & War – Podcast Review

Aida – A Story of Love Jealousy & War – Podcast Review

“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. [*Please note there was confusion in the names on the podcast. 

Bill W and Dr. Bob – The Genesis of AA at the Biograph in Chicago

Bill W and Dr. Bob – The Genesis of AA at the Biograph in Chicago

Bill Wilson is an alcoholic who realized the help he needed could only come from someone who understood first hand what he was experiencing. After meeting a fellow sufferer of alcoholic addiction, the two realize this process could help others. As a result Bill and 

Chief Francis O’Neill of CPD Credited with Saving Irish Folk Music

Chief Francis O’Neill of CPD Credited with Saving Irish Folk Music

Dr. Aileen Dillane of the University of Limerick presents excerpts from her thesis in which she makes the case that the city of Chicago itself is imprinted in the work of Cheif Francis O’Neill who is credited with saving Irish Folk Music through his preservation efforts in the early 20th Century.

Chicago Women in History

Chicago Women in History

March is National Reading Month and National Women’s History Month. Let’s investigate some Chicago Women who have left a mark on our local history and on the world stage. ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com encourages you to investigate the lives and works of many notable Chicago women especially a 

Reclamation of Madison Hemings – Podcast Theater Review

Reclamation of Madison Hemings – Podcast Theater Review

Can you shake loose the pain of the past and reclaim your legacy?  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. In doing so they find 

Black History Month With a Chicago Perspective

Black History Month With a Chicago Perspective

Go beyond the obvious and celebrate Black History Month by checking out or revisiting some of our posts that deal with the African American experience as it pertains to lesser known contributors in the fields of music, theater, film and history. Regina Harris Baiocchi at 

A Chorus Line – Skokie Theatre Review

A Chorus Line – Skokie Theatre Review

This Madkap Production of “A Chorus Line” at the Skokie Theater, directed by Wayne Mell is on pointe, tapping into the essence of a story of love and dedication to the art of dance. “A Chorus Line” is an anthology of songs and monologues bringing 

Pippin Reflects Fosse’s Quest for Meaning of Life

Pippin Reflects Fosse’s Quest for Meaning of Life

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 

Asian-American rockabilly musical podcast review

Asian-American rockabilly musical podcast review

An entertaining Asian-American rockabilly musical at the Lookingglass Theatre, Lucy and Charlie’s Honeymoon by Matthew C. Yee is 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