Chicago Lifestyle Podcast & Video Blog
Kicking off this popular Chicago ensemble theater company’s 49th season a rather incompetent troupe of actors are expertly portrayed by a considerably expert cast, in Steppenwolf’s revival of Michael Frayn’s classic comedy “Noises Off,” directed by Anna D. Shapiro. A co-production with Geffen Playhouse. Featuring ensemble …
The Goodman Theatre reminds us that the more things change the more they remain the same in this production of the classic courtroom drama, “Inherit the Wind.”
Small town school teacher Bertram Cates is on trial for breaking a state law that prohibits the teaching of evolution.
The prosecution is aided by the bombastic self-important fundamentalist bible thumping Matthew Harrison Brady while Cates is represented by famed Chicago lawyer Henry Drummond, a clever defense attorney known for taking on difficult and controversial cases.
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 importantly a story of hope combined with the courage to speak truth to power while taking action to stand up to tyranny and oppression in order to right a wrong. Twenty-first century audiences will appreciate the portrayal of a strong female hero and the allusions to political oppression that sadly continues to be perpetrated around the world.
Music by Ludwig van Beethoven an opera in two acts in German with Libretto by Georg Friedrich Treitschke
Presented October 2, 5, 10, 2024
Conductor Enrique Mazzola
Director Matthew Ozawa
Set & Projection Designer Alexander V. Nichols
Costume Designer Jessica Jahn
Lighting Designer Yuki Nakase Link
CHARACTERS IN ORDER OF VOCAL APPEARANCE
Jaquino – Daniel Espinal
Marzelline – Sydney Mancasola
Rocco – Dimitry Ivashchenko
Leonore – Elza van den Heever
Don Pizarro – Brian Mulligan
1st Prisoner – Travon D. Walker
2nd Prisoner – Christopher Humbert, Jr.
Florestan – Russell Thomas
Don Fernando – Alfred Walker
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 …
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 …
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 in his mind misused without permission.
This play by Amy Crider presented by Lucid Theater is inspired by an actual encounter in 1940 with the two men, “Wells and Welles” who both happened to be on lecture tours, finding each other in San Antonio, Texas on the same rainy night.
For more information visit LucidTheater.com
“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 …
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 …
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 21, 2024 running through July 20, 2024 that includes scheduled showings of “Live at Mr. Kelly’s” as well as other related programming. For more information visit https://www.newberry.org/calendar/a-night-at-mister-kellys
The documentary film, “Live at Mr. Kelly’s” directed by Ted Bogosian is about 90 minutes long and jam packed with testimonials and stories from many entertainers including Barbra Streisand, Lily Tomlin, Bob Newhart, Herbie Hancock, Shecky Green, Ramsey Lewis, Bette Midler, The Smothers Brothers, Lainie Kazan, Tom Dreesen, Tim Reed, Mort Sahl and others who while in Chicago called Mr. Kelly’s their home or who attribute their appearance at the local club as a significant contribution to their success.
“Live at Mr. Kelly’s” showcases a bit of Chicago history that with each passing day fades further into obscurity. Thankfully this film has made an effort to stop the clock and capture a snapshot of the past from a few of those who were there to witness it in its heyday.
Listen to our podcast above and check out the film trailer below.
Now available Amazon Prime Video On Demand Apple +
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 …
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 …
May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month – a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. In this podcast we do a quick overview of some of some ways you can experience the Eastern Asian, South Asian, South-East Asian, Central Asian, Western Asian and Pacific Islander cultures represented in Chicago.
Though Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month was the inspiration for this podcast you can enjoy exploring Chicago’s Asian and other ethnic neighborhoods and offerings all year long.
This podcast includes ideas for ways to interact with the Asian community as well as things to do and places to eat.
*Correction: Traditional Korean neighborhood is on Bryn Mar between Kedzie and Kimball. Merla’s Kitchen on Kimball just north of Foster and Reza’s and Clark have permanently closed.
For further research and enjoyment take a look at some of these other Asian related podcasts and posts.
Argyle Night Market | Uptown Chicago
The 2024 Argyle Night Market continues EVERY THURSDAY JULY 11 – AUGUST 29 on ARGYLE (between Kenmore and Sheridan).
This is a review of a musical that ran in 2024 but you might still enjoy learning about it and is relationship to the Asian community.
The South-East Asia Center’s Senior Golden Diners Program is still going strong five days a week in Uptown featuring largely Vietnamese inspired cuisine.
Look for my reviews here of Blinded by the Light and Hala two South Asian immigrant inspired coming of age movies.