Chicago Broadcasting Network

“Don’t Spread It Around” is based on the iconic tune “Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)” and is my humble attempt to encourage my fellow Chicagoans to abide by the stay-inside mandate ordered by the Chicago City government to encourage the practice social distancing during this COVID-19 (Corona Virus) outbreak. Also some musing about why Chicago is a "toddling town" and more info about the original tun...

Up 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.

Julia is a Chicago teenager and aspiring writer struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of her only sister. Now that she is dead, Julia realizes she did not really know her sister and sets out to understand her better. Through her investigations she uncovers some of Olga’s “imperfections.” At Steppenwolf Chicago.

“Mlima’s Tale” presented by Griffin Theatre Company at the Raven Theater, Chicago is a powerful, sensitive, heartrending depiction of greed and corruption associated with the illegal sale of elephant ivory, which results in the slaughter of approximately 100 of the endangered animals every day.

This regionally inspired musical by Christine Rea and Rick Briskin will have its world premiere March 18, 2020 at the Royal George Theatre in Chicago featuring Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young. Podcast includes comments from the creative team and a sneak preview of one musical number.

John Denver’s music was considered to be more-or-less middle-of-the-road if not downright conservative in the wake of rising 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” at The Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana (only 35 minutes from downtown Chicago). The popular singer songwriter...

In this popular Agatha Christie murder mystery five distinctly eccentric individuals have each booked their stay on the opening week of Monkswell Manor, a country guesthouse owned and operated by Mollie and Giles Ralston. Onstage now at the Court Theatre trough February 16, 2020. Review by Reno Lovison

This exuberant Broadway in Chicago production with Caribbean inspired compositions of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty is a cautionary love story warning of the dangers of tempting fate, told as a folk tale passed down by the village storytellers to a Little Girl.

Black Button Eyes Production of the Chicago premiere of “Whisper House” is a somewhat touching story of love and acceptance, with an unusual treatment and interesting musical score delivered by a competent cast . . . Theater Review by Reno Lovison.

Reno Lovion presents a podcast book review with a Chicago spin of Mark Kurlansky's book "1968 The Year That Rocked the World."

Reno Lovison podcast review of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" by Andrew Lloyd Webber presented by Music Theater Works at the Cahn Auditorum in Evanston through December 31, 2019.

“Burning Bluebeard” literally comes alive in front of a scorched proscenium arch on a ruined stage - - depicting the aftermath of an inferno that destroyed the Iroquois Theater in Chicago at the dawn of the 20th Century. A Ruffians Production playing through December 27, 2019 at The Porchlight Theater.

An upbeat holiday story that explores the meaning of family through the lives of five men and a baby boy in a small mining camp circa 1850s California. A podcast theater review by Reno Lovison.

This Chicago holiday production of Shakespeare's “Twelfth Night” can be described as Theater in a Garden amid the tropical flora collection in the Lincoln Park Conservatory’s Show House Room. Theater review podcast by Reno Lovison.

We are planning to have Eventologist, Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith as a recurring guest on our podcast to share one or more monthly "holidates" with us including suggestions on how to specifically celebrate with a "Chicago Spin" beginning with National Smith Day, January 6, 2020.

An amusing tale based on a true story, as told by Louise Seger who met young Patsy Cline at one of the singer's early Houston performances in the 1950s creating a friendship that lasted until the legendary singer’s tragic death. A Firebrand Production on stage at the Den Theater in Chicago through December 15, 2019.

Venice Johnson is a Chicago artist, writer, and storyteller sharing her grandmother's old school lesson about maintaining a mutually beneficial romantic relationship.

It’s the 1940s and veteran detective Max Forthright is throwing a lavish party to celebrate the publication of his upcoming memoirs. Before long there is a shot and the discovery of a body causing the entire assemblage to turn to Max to identify the killer in “A Murder Most Novel.” A cleverly written and well-performed production at Nox Arca Theatre in Chicago through December 14th, 2019. Review b...

The world premiere of Anthony Whitaker’s “My Life is a Country Song” presented by New American Folk Theatre has taken that adage to heart and crafted a well told musical tale of love, friendship, and personal triumph.

Before the TV and Internet, people looked to the theater for entertaining political commentary the equivalent of Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show, or Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update. These three pithy well performed one-act plays presented by Artemisia Theatre as “The Suffrage Plays” provide insight through a good deal of levity and snarky repartee giving voice to the debate that one hundred y...

An interesting, innovative and thoroughly enjoyable theater production, co-directed by Aaron Sawyer and Mary Kate Ashe at the Red Theater that leaves you wanting more - - but in a good way.

A documentary that premiered at the 55th Annual Chicago International Film Festival about Chicago’s mulit-ethnic “street gangs” in the 1960s primarily led by activist Fred Hampton of the “Black Panthers” who endeavored to affect social change by recognizing that all poor people in the city shared a common struggle.

If you are not already a fan of Chicago Blues Legend Buddy Guy you are very likely to become one after seeing THE TORCH. The nearly two hour documentary features Buddy Guy and young guitarist Quinn Sullivan who Buddy discovered in 2007 when the boy was only seven years old.

Controversial and Thought Provoking “The Merchant of Venice” is presented by Invictus Theatre Company in the words of William Shakespeare but with more contemporary staging. Review by Reno Lovison Note: We regret that in the podcast review we mentioned Joshua Seeger as The Duke (who also did a fine job) when we meant Jack Morosoville as Aaragon. Morosoville was also the composer of the of the musi...

Reno Lovison,Joanne Schochat, and Connie Wilson give their overview and observations including film suggestions for the 55th Annual Chicago International Film Festival. Whether you intend to attend or not you can hear about soon to be released motion pictures and how to plan for this another film festivals.