Chicago Lifestyle Podcast & Video Blog
A podcast interview with Mark and Sarah Good Mosley the co-directors of the Windy City Winds Chicago community orchestra. They share segments from a few of the band’s recordings, talk with Reno Lovison about music and their life, then enjoy a little Chicago music trivia. …
An update of a few events we enjoyed recently with a look to what’s happening soon including an excerpt of Rikki Lee Travolta’s interview with Evan Jackson, artistic director of “What the Weird Sisters Saw” a retelling of Macbeth from the Witches’ point of view …
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 “Walk Like A Man.”
This podcast theater review by Reno Lovison includes a short excerpt of an interview by Rikki Lee Travolta with co-directors Walter Stearns and Brenda Didier commenting on their love of the show and some specifics about actors Michael Metcalf and Adrian Aguilar.
Jersey Boys is at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, Chicago, through May 19, 2024. For tickets and information visit mercurytheaterchicago.com or call (773) 360-7365.
CAST: Adrian Aguilar (Tommy DeVito), Grant Alexander Brown (Joey Pesci), Jason Michael Evans (Nick Massi), Adam Fane (Bob Crewe), Haley Jane Schafer (Lorraine & others), Carl Herzog (Gyp DeCarlo), Eric A. Lewis (Barry Belson), Andrew MacNaughton (Bob Gaudio), Maya McQueen (Francine), Michael Metcalf (Frankie Valli), Jason Richards (Norm Waxman), Kayla Shipman (Mary Delgado), Dan Gold (Nick DeVito). The understudies are Hannah Efsits, Casey Huls, Nick Johnson, Peyton Knowsk and Isaac Ray.
Orchestra: Linda Medonia co-music director (keyboards), Justin Kono (percussion), Jonathan Golko (bass), Samuel Shacker (guitar), Cara Strauss (reeds), and Greg Strauss (trumpet). Listening to this ensemble is a joy in itself.
BONUS CONTENT:
Where to park.
I meant to include in the podcast that parking is available less than a block away in the Blaine Elementary School parking lot. You’ll have to use the Spot Hero app to pay and reserve your spot. Space is limited so do it early. The Mercury Theater is also easily accessible by the CTA Brown Line Southport stop as well as the Clark Street bus, and Addison bus both just a short walk away. There is also paid street parking on Southport and also on Ashland but allow some time as it can be very busy on weekends. Of course there is also Uber, Lyft, a Divvy bike or Lime scooter if you are so inclined.
Where to eat.
Before the show we stopped in at Bodega Sur 3755 N Southport Ave, a little Argentinean bar about three door north of the theater for a light supper. We each had a glass of Malbec (red wine) and one empinada, then split the beet salad with tomato, avocado and greens with vinaigrette dressing – – perfect for two. Tab was $58.00 with tax and tip.
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Jersey Boys seems as much like a great concert as it is a play, featuring a substantial and interesting backstory.
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 …
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” 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. This is the correction]
“Aida” is performed in Italian with projected English titles at the Lyric Opera House, 20 North Wacker Drive, Chicago through April 7, 2024. Running time is about 3 hours with one intermission. For tickets and information, call 312.827.5600 or go to lyricopera.org/aida.
The love triangle at the heart of this story is anchored by three powerful voices: Michelle Bradley, Russell Thomas and Jamie Barton.
CHARACTERS IN ORDER OF VOCAL APPEARANCE
Ramfis – Önay Köse
Radamès – Russell Thomas
Amneris – Jamie Barton
Aida – Michelle Bradley
King – Wm. Clay Thompson
Amonasro – Reginald Smith, Jr.
Conductor – Enrique Mazzola
Conductor – (April 4, 7) Francesco Milioto
Director – Francesca Zambello
Artistic Designer – RETNA
Set Designer – Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer – Anita Yavich
Chorus Director – Michael Black
Choreographer – Jessica Lang
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 …
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.
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 specific few who have made a significant impact on Chicago’s literary history. Their works continue to inspire us today, and we celebrate them all.
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 …
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 …
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 to light the collective motivations, and inspirations that keep people involved in a mentally and physically demanding occupation that requires intense dedication while offering only rare substantial successes. Through the individual stories and seemingly endless rehearsals we are reminded of the hard work and athleticism required to make moving to music look artful and effortless.
In the song “What I Did For Love,” (music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban) beautifully sung by Diana (Marcela Ossa Gomez), she says of the grueling work and unmet promises “We did what we had to do – – Won’t forget, can’t regret — What I did for love.” In this context it’s the love of the craft, the love of dance.
Click on the player above or click here to listen to the entire review.
CAST: Erin Renee Baumrucker, Elizabeth Bushell, Sean Caron, Luis Del Valle, Emma Drazkowski, Trevor Hendrix, Ben Isabel, Lili Javorka, Khnemu Menu-Ra, Tyler Meyer, Marcela Ossa, Madelynn Oztas, Chandler Paskett, Ben Paynic, Madison Jaffe-Richter, Rae Robeson, Sarah Sapperstein, Jason Sekili, Maddy Shilts, and Whitney Wolf. Directed by Wayne Mell, Music Direction by Jeremy Ramey, Choreography by Susan Pritzker.