A tragic love story and cautionary tale of intolerance

A tragic love story and cautionary tale of intolerance

For a professional theater experience in Chicago 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. West Side Story leans 

Discussion with Seven Time Jeopardy! Game Show Champion Brian Chang.

Discussion with Seven Time Jeopardy! Game Show Champion Brian Chang.

This podcast episode can be described as a day in the life of a Jeopardy! champion. As a huge fan of the popular game show I was very excited to talk with seven time winner Brian Chang about the behind the scenes action from a 

Interview with Maestro Constantine Orbelian at Kick-off of Mozart Immersive : The Soul of a Genius

Interview with Maestro Constantine Orbelian at Kick-off of Mozart Immersive : The Soul of a Genius

My wife Julie and I were on hand Friday, January 27th, 2023 at Lighthouse ArtSpace to celebrate the 267th birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, which included a sneak peek kickoff of their newest experiential exhibit – –  Mozart Immersive: The Soul of a Genius. Before 

Chicago International Film Festival Opening Night Celebration

Chicago International Film Festival Opening Night Celebration

The management of the 58th Annual Chicago International Film Festival tried something new with a full blown outside Opening Night Block Party and Red Carpet Event. Luckily the weather cooperated providing neighbors and film patrons a glitzy and glamorous outside spectacular with trivia games, improv 

“Falling for Make Believe” a heartfelt story of hidden love

“Falling for Make Believe” a heartfelt story of hidden love

The duo of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart were the genius songwriters behind several hit Broadway musicals with many of their numbers going on to become standards in the Great American Songbook. This Madkap Production of “Falling for Make Believe” at the Skokie Theatre purports 

Hello Dolly Lookin’ Swell in Lincolnshire

Hello Dolly Lookin’ Swell in Lincolnshire

Horace Vandergelder meets his match in the person of Dolly Levi in the Marriott Lincolnshire production of “Hello Dolly.” The popular Jerry Herman musical based on Thornton Wilder’s hit play “The Matchmaker” is a perfect wedding of story and music. No doubt the original 1964 

Opening Chicago Jazz Festival 2022

Opening Chicago Jazz Festival 2022

The music of Regina Harris Baiocchi performed by the Six degrees Jazz Ensemble was the opening act for the 2022 Chicago Jazz Festival. Baiocchi dubbed this a performance of love and peace. This video produced by Chicago Broadcasting Network Executive Producer Reno Lovison includes a 

Orson Welles’ Dracula A Chicago World Premiere – Podcast Plot Summary

Orson Welles’ Dracula A Chicago World Premiere – Podcast Plot Summary

I had a little melodramatic fun with this review/announcement of the world premiere hybrid radio drama, Orson Welles’ Dracula onstage at the Raven Theatre, at Clark & Granville through September 25, 2022. The Glass Apple Theatre cast includes: Andrew Bosworth as Dracula . . . 

Video Profile of Chicago Musician Stann Champion

Video Profile of Chicago Musician Stann Champion

Update: We are reposting this article in memory of Stann Champion (born Stanley Higgins) May 16,1952 – August 16, 2022. Elixir Strings Proudly Announces the selection of Chicago Award Winning Culture Music Legend Stann Champion for Elixir’s, “Endorsing Artist Program” for 2019. Based in Chicago, 

Recalling Chicago Blues Legends

Recalling Chicago Blues Legends

This episode of our podcast is a remix of an earlier interview conducted by Chicago based journalist Brett Stewart recorded with Blues authority Bill Dahl, feature writer for the Chicago Tribune, radio broadcaster and author of the books , “Motown the Golden Years” and more 

“Belfast” Film Review with Comments by Branaugh

“Belfast” Film Review with Comments by Branaugh

I got a sneak preview of “Belfast” which was one of the highlights of the 57th Chicago International Film Festival. This podcast includes my review followed by some pre-movie comments from the writer/director Sir Kenneth Branaugh who was present to introduce his semi-autobiographical film and 

Red Carpet Coverage of Rebecca Hall at CIFF 2021

Red Carpet Coverage of Rebecca Hall at CIFF 2021

Connie Wilson talks about the film “Passing” and chats with director Rebecca Hall (Christine, Vicky Cristina Barcelona) on the red carpet at The 57th Chicago International Film Festival. Update: I finally got around to actually seeing the film “Passing” on Netflix over the 2022 New