“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 

“Searching for Mr. Rugoff” Film Review

“Searching for Mr. Rugoff” Film Review

Chicago native produces documentary, “Searching for Mr. Rugoff” If you are a fan of indie films, an aspiring filmmaker, or a movie industry insider you might have a particular interest in “Searching for Mr. Rugoff” a documentary film about the man whose professional business decisions 

“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 

“Oscar Micheaux” Documentary Film Review & Historical Commentary

“Oscar Micheaux” Documentary Film Review & Historical Commentary

“Oscar Micheaux -The Superhero of Black Film Making” is a useful contribution to the library of Black History subjects placing Micheaux into the pantheon of individuals who contributed to the rise of twentieth century African American culture and ultimately, in a more “woke” sense, to 

Mayor Harold and Mayor Pete | 2 Documentary Film Reviews

Mayor Harold and Mayor Pete | 2 Documentary Film Reviews

The 57th Annual Chicago Film Festival brought together two interestingly similar subjects, Mayor Harold Washington who became Chicago’s first African American mayor and Mayor Pete Buttigieg who was the mayor of nearby South Bend, Indiana who went on to become the first openly gay candidate 

Chicago International Film Festival 2021 Pre-Opening Reviews

Chicago International Film Festival 2021 Pre-Opening Reviews

Pre-opening preview review of “Broadcast Signal Intrusion” with Harry Shum.Jr. (Crazy Rich Asians) inspired by a true Chicago mystery. Also capsule reviews of SHORTS 1, a collection of 8 short subjects produced by filmmakers with ties to the Chicago area. Featuring works Winning in America, Close