Chicago Lifestyle Podcast & Video Blog
******************** Read about how this play and others around the city have been forced to close as a result of the Corona virus. https://news.wttw.com/2020/03/18/how-chicagos-storefront-theaters-are-facing-coronavirus-crisis ************************* “Mlima’s Tale” presented by the Griffin Theatre Company at the Raven Theater, 6157 N. Clark St. in Chicago, is a …
Author Steve Bellinger talks about his time-travel sci-fi novel “The Chronocar” set in the Chicago southside Bronzeville neighborhood and the campus of Illinois Institute of Technology, the author’s alma mater. Listen to the podcast above or watch the video recorded version below. This selection of …
Those of us coming of age in the late sixties did perhaps believe it was “the dawning of the Age of Aquarius” and indeed hoped that “peace would guide the planets and love would steer the stars.”
Chicago experienced a violent protest at the Democratic National Convention. The Johnson presidency was collapsing and the bloody Vietnam War was playing out “in living color” on the nightly news including the pivotal Tet Offensive in late January 1968 that began to change public opinion.
A hopeful ray of sunshine was the beginning of “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” a popular television counter-culture variety show and the Chicago debut of “The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical – HAIR.”
To kick off the 2020 New Year I stopped at the Chicago Public Library Budlong Woods Branch and checked out Mark Kurlansky’s book “1968 The Year that Rocked the World.” This is not just his opinion, The History Channel website says, “The year 1968 remains one of the most tumultuous single years in history” while the Smithsonian calls 1968, “The year that shattered America.”
“1968 The Year that Rocked the World” by Mark Kurlansky is A Ballantine Book published by Random House Publishing Group.
Listen to the entire podcast book review by clicking the link above and be sure to subscribe to our website (see subscribe link on the right) to be alerted when new content is added.
Until now her mother’s profession has been a mystery to Vivie Warren who has spent most of her life in boarding schools and in the country home of friends having little personal contact with the woman who provides her financial support. The author George Bernard …
The legendary and picturesque Green Mill Cocktail Lounge just off the corner of Lawrence and Broadway in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood is known for its poetry and jazz, making it the perfect venue for flutist and word artist Janice Misurell-Mitchell. This particular performance occurred on February …
This is an awesome mix of opera and hip-hop shot in and around Chicago. Look for familiar scenes of the city via rooftops and bridges.
The music video features soprano Marisa Buchheit singing “Habanera” or “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” (“Love is a rebellious bird”), from Bizet’s popular opera Carmen mixed with a rap by faith-based hip-hop artist Ken The Messenger.
Musical artists rarely accept the labels that are assigned to them simply for the purpose of marketing.
At the end-of-the-day most serious artists enjoy making music with other musicians who share their love of musical expression.
It is clear that Buchheit and Messenger share this feeling, combining two genres that many of their fans might see as diametrically opposed but clearly they are not and this video proves it.
In the post-WWII era, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein reinvented American Musical Theater for a modern audience. This is my audio podcast review of the book by Todd S. Purdum, “Something Wonderful Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Broadway Revolution” by Todd S. Purdum. I’ve taken a short trip …
Retired from the Chicago Park District where she taught writing and theater arts at Berger Park on the lakefront in Edgewater, Venice Johnson is currently living in Rogers Park on the far north side of the city. Storytelling comes naturally to this westside native whose …
HIT HER WITH THE SKATES is a regionally inspired musical by Christine Rea (book/lyrics) and Rick Briskin (music/lyrics) that will have its world premiere March 18, 2020 at the Royal George Theatre in Chicago featuring “American Idol Power Couple,” Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young.
We recently had an opportunity to interview the creative team including co-producers Rea, Briskin and Mary Beidler Gearen as well as Director Brenda Didier, Choreographer Christopher Chase Carter, and Music Director Daniel A. Weiss, as well as enjoy a sneak preview of one of the musical numbers “Forward Motion” that has an energetic retro disco funk vibe.
Chicago – A Film from the Chicago Board Of Education from Fading Dyes on Vimeo. If you are a Chicagophile of any age you will enjoy this professionally produced idyllic 1940’s view of Chicago. It’s amazing to see how much things have changed and how much …
We are very happy that Michael Rataj of Bulb Brain Creative submitted this guest podcast segment of an interview he conducted with “food artist” Roselle from Bistro 6050 in Portage Park. Bistro 6050 has been described as a “pan-global” snack bar because it is more …
John Denver’s music was considered to be more-or-less middle-of-the-road if not downright conservative in the wake of rising rock stars like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix.
This issue is confronted early in this latest jukebox boomer music revival “Almost Heaven- John Denver’s America.”
However, the popular singer-songwriter eventually emerged as the nascent voice of the environmental movement with songs like “Calypso” that championed the work of Jacques Cousteau, as well as “Rocky Mountain High,” “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Wild Montana Skies” and “Sunshine on My Shoulders” that unabashedly and exuberantly celebrated the magnificence and simple beauty of nature
“Almost Heaven – John Denver’s America” is at The Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, IN through March 22, 2020. Running time is 105 minutes with one 15 minute intermission. For ticket and information visit TheatreAtTheCenter.com or call the box office at (219)836-3255.
“The Theatre at the Center” is in Munster, Indiana which might sound like a vacation getaway to some, but the truth is it is about a 35-minute drive from downtown, so expand your horizons and enjoy a very nice venue less than a mile off Interstate 94 with plenty of free parking.
Listen to the podcast review here or read the review at ChicagoTheaterandArts.com
“He really nailed it and I agree with everything he said. It’s an excellent review and beautifully written. I loved his candor.”
Pat K, Bigsplashpr.com
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