Recent Posts

Beethoven’s love story of Fidelio speaks to a modern audience.

Beethoven’s love story of Fidelio speaks to a modern audience.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Beethoven’s message of freedom of expression in this captivating, new to Chicago, contemporary production of Fidelio.  It’s interesting to see how easily this 18th Century music transforms to modern times. It’s and story of good triumphing over evil but most 

Historical Glimpse Into Chicago’s Cultural Center

Historical Glimpse Into Chicago’s Cultural Center

Across from Millennium Park on Michigan Avenue between Washington and Randolph Streets on land donated by Civil War Veterans in 1893 stands what used to be Chicago’s Main Public Library. Re-imagined in 1977 as the Chicago Cultural Center it is host to more than 1,000 

South Pacific at Skokie Theatre | Podcast Review

South Pacific at Skokie Theatre | Podcast Review

This timeless classic amounts to an enchanting evening that deserves to be seen and heard. Whether you are experiencing it the first time or you are coming from a place of nostalgia, the musical South Pacific includes some of the best and most recognizable tunes by the composing team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.

Based on a novel by James Michener and adapted by Hammerstein and Josh Logan, the 1949 play boldly addressed the notion of learned prejudices, and confronted changing post-war attitudes about interracial marriage and mixed raced children.

Directed by Pat Henderson
Musical Direction by Jeremy Ramey
Costume Design by Patty Halajian
Conductor/Keyboard ………………………………… Jeremy Ramey
2nd Keyboard ……………………………………….Andrew Milliken
CAST:

Ngana………………………………………………….. Molly Hamada
Jerome ………………………………………………Connor Saavedra
Nellie Forbush ……………………………………..Willow Schneider
Emile De Becque …………………………………….Tony Calzaretta
Luther Billis ………………………………………………Andrew Buel
Stewpot, Henri …………………………………………Luis Del Valle
Professor……………………………………………..Erol Ibrahimović
McCaffrey…………………………………………..Liam K. Schlosser
Lt. Joseph Cable…………………………………………. Max Perkel
Bloody Mary ………………………………………… Mariel Saavedra
Liat, Nurse………………………………………Megan Mariko Boggs
Nurse MacRae ………………………….. Carolyn Sundlof Boudreau
Nurse MacGregor ……………………………………….Kristin Weed
Nurse Murphy …………………………………. Catherine Athenson
Capt. Brackett ………………………………………….. Jacob Cohen
Cmdr. Harbison …………………………………………….Tyler Lord
Set Design by Brian Wasserman
Music by Richard Rodgers Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan
Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Tales of the South Pacific by James Michener
Choreography by Brenda Good
Sound Design by Brian Bedoya

Georgia O’Keefe Exhibit – Art Institute Chicago

Georgia O’Keefe Exhibit – Art Institute Chicago

If you think you know something about Georgia O’Keeffe, be prepared to be pleasantly surprised.  Her styles at this time while living in New York during the 1920s seems to have generally drifted away from her previous more colorful and amorphous forms, and instead varied 

Wells and Welles Podcast Theater Review

Wells and Welles Podcast Theater Review

A war of words. In 1938 twenty-five-year-old Orson Welles became famous after his radio play interpretation of “A War of the Worlds” shook the airwaves, purportedly nearly causing national panic. The book’s seventy-five-year-old author H.G. Wells was not amused at how his intellectual property was 

Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil – The Musical.

Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil – The Musical.

“Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” is the best musical I have seen in years.  Opening night was one to remember. John Berendt, the author of the best-selling book, was on hand for the curtain call and to see this new musical version written by Taylor Mac come to life. The excitement of the evening spilled out into the street as people chattered about what a great time this was.

At the Goodman Theatre, 70 N Dearborn St, Chicago, through August 11, 2024. For tickets and information visit https://www.goodmantheatre.org

Cast: J. Harrison Ghee, Tom Hewitt, Sierra Boggess, Lance Roberts, Austin Colby, Bailee Endebrock, Shanel Bailey, Jessica Molaskey, Mary Ernster, McKinley Carter, Brianna Buckley, Maya Bowles, DeMarius Copes, Sean Donovan, Jason Michael Evans, Christopher Kelley, Andre Terrell Malcolm, Jarvis B. Manning, Jr., Wes Olivier, Kayla Marie Shipman, Rory Shirley, Calvin L. Cooper, Daryn Whitney Harrell, Kayla Kennedy, Jake DiMaggio Lopez, Justin Thomas Rivers.

How to Pronounce those Crazy Chicago Street Names

How to Pronounce those Crazy Chicago Street Names

You’ve probably seen ’em. Signs like Throop, Goethe, Paulina and Devon but how do we say them in Chicago and why? Here is a short video from WBEZ that at least tries to tackle the “why” as well as some of the “how.” My friends 

Walking Tour of Old Town & Gold Coast Area Chicago

Walking Tour of Old Town & Gold Coast Area Chicago

Be sure to enjoy the podcast and the accompanying photos at the bottom of the page. You don’t need to be an architectural expert to simply look around and enjoy the various styles and building materials that combine to make up Chicago’s diverse urban landscape. 

Maxwell Street | Film Review and Recollections

Maxwell Street | Film Review and Recollections


In this podcast episode I present my film review as well as share some personal recollections of the Maxwell Street and Halsted shopping district where the music known as Chicago Blues sprang to life. If you want a glimpse at a piece of the not too distant Chicago past, I highly recommend the documentary film “And This Is Free: The Life and Times of Chicago’s Legendary Maxwell Street.”

 

Live at Mr. Kelly’s | Film Review | Podcast

Live at Mr. Kelly’s | Film Review | Podcast

Beginning in the 1950s and ending in the 1970s Mr. Kelly’s on Rush Street was the premiere Chicago nightclub featuring some of the most popular entertainers of the period. The Newberry Library at 60 West Walton Street, Chicago is launching a new exhibit on March 

Podcast Review – ENGLISH at Goodman Theatre

Podcast Review – ENGLISH at Goodman Theatre

When you cannot adequately express yourself with the nuance and clarity of a native speaker, people do not know that you are actually smart, funny, and kind. Instead, they only hear your imperfect pronunciation and limited vocabulary. You may be easily assumed to be inferior 

James Bond Lends Support to CSO at “Shaken Not Stirred” Fundraiser in June

James Bond Lends Support to CSO at “Shaken Not Stirred” Fundraiser in June

In this “Cracking the Code of Spy Movies” podcast, Raymond Benson (author of 12 post Ian Fleming, James Bond books) joins Spy Movie Navigator hosts, Dan Silvestri and Tom Pizzatto in an enthusiastic conversation with John Morris Russell (a/k/a JMR), conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, about his upcoming appearence conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in a program of Bond movie music. The event dubbed “Shaken Not Stirred” will be a fundraiser for the CSO Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

JMR and the CSO will be joined at the event by Broadway star and vocal powerhouse Capathia Jenkins in this salute to the notorious secret agent.

This fun roughly 30 minute podcast with get you excited about hearing the music behind the most icon spy genre films of the 20th Century written by some of the most iconic film composers of the era.

Author Benson who is also a pianist tell about playing the music of John Barry for the composer himself.

 JMR talks about what to expect in this concert and how it all came together. 

Raymond Benson understands James Bond, Maestro John Morris Russell understands film scores, and Dan and Tom understand what audiences want to know about spy movies. So take a listen to get ready for what is sure to be one of the most talked about musical events of the summer.