Chicago Broadcasting Network

Mike Rataj chats with "Pan-Global Food Artist" Roselle to talk about ice cream, French velvet crepes, baked empanadas and more.

“Magic Penthouse” is a date night fantasy for those looking for an elegant post-dinner night-on-the-town with unique entertainment and a convivial atmosphere.

There's plenty to like about this Broadway road tour theatrical extravaganza loosely based on the true-life story of a woman claiming to be the surviving daughter of Czar Nicholas II of Russia.

But don’t worry, this version of “Anastasia” has little to do with reality. While it refers to the historical tragedy it is scrubbed clean of most of the ugly unwanted parts, leaving behind the tale of a young, beautiful, and strong heroine striving to find her true identity while struggling to come to terms with her inner princess.

This podcast review by Reno Lovison is of the musical version of the of “A Bronx Tale” that includes music by Alan Menken and Lyrics by Glenn Slater and is a very successful adaptation appearing at The Nederlander Theater in Chicago as part of the National Touring Company.

Author Barbara Barnett talks about and reads from her book "Apothecary's Curse" set partly in the Chicago area and partly in Victorian London.

Bob (H.B. Ward) and Jennifer (Linda Reiter) Jones are surprised to meet their new neighbors who also share the same last name. In the end, the two couples have an ongoing series of absurd conversations that actually do get to the core of what they want to express while avoiding or at least minimizing any straightforward communication. Review by Reno Lovison (Photo by Evan Hanover)

In this podcast I give two recent Chicago theater reviews including "Dead Man's Cell Phone" and "Brooke Astor's Last Affair" which is part of the Chicago Musical Theater Festival.

“Photograph 51” written by Anna Ziegler and Directed by Vanessa Stalling at the Court Theatre, Chicago is a snapshot of the life of chemist Rosalind Franklin who had gone virtually un-credited for her contribution to the discovery revealing the structure of DNA to be a double helix. Theater review by Reno Lovison. (Photo credit Brosilow)

“Something Wonderful Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution” book by Todd Purdum.

Reno Lovison theater reviewer and executive producer at ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com provides a book review with a Chicago spin as well as his personal connection to the works for Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Hear my thoughts on the attractively updated version of “La Boheme” currently being presented at the Lyric Opera House, Chicago, through January 31, 2019.