Chicago Broadcasting Network

A dusty TV store on Ashland Avenue in Chicago is the flagging flagship of a once great regional empire that boasted multiple locations.  Over his tenure owner Pete (Francis Guinan) became a local celebrity, famous for his “Crazy Pete” commercials.  He is to be recognized for his forty years of service to the business community. The question becomes whether this publicity bump is truly the end of the road or does it signal the first step of a new journey.

Now in his early seventies Pete still has dreams and ambitions but his daughter Sam played by Jenna Fischer known for her role as Pam Beesly on the popular sitcom The Office, has been at Pete’s side throughout her life and is ready for new adventures of her own together with her husband Mike (Chike Johnson).

The Chicago premiere of Amélie the Musical by Kokandy Productions based on the popular motion picture is a musical mosaic, composed by Daniel Messe, whose colorful jagged pieces eventually come together into an enjoyable if not perfectly clear image.

Not a musical in the strict sense, but rather an extravaganza of a dozen singer musicians utilizing a myriad of instruments, who perform a dizzying array of Parisian characters, to tell a sweet boy meets girl tale based on the central character of Amélie, charmingly portrayed by Aurora Penepacker.

Listen to our entire short audio review.

Over this past weekend I saw two world premieres written by local Chicago women authors. Buddha’s Birthday at the Edge Theater and Sentinels at Theo on Howard Street on the Evanston / Chicago border. Interestingly both plays have an academic connection. Buddha’s Birthday by Amy Crider features two college instructors while Sentinels by Marilyn Campbell-Lowe features five female undergrads.

MadKap Productions live up to their name in this production of Stephen Sondheim’s ridiculous musical “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” at the Skokie Theatre outside Chicago, directed by Wayne Mell.

The story ostensibly takes place in ancient Rome spoofing the absurdities of life, particularly romance and sex then and now. Using broad humor, slapstick shtick and endless innuendo this is very much like an extended skit, with music, that might have been performed at a Catskill’s resort. 

Listen to this entire podcast review by Reno Lovison.

Tragic, hilarious, loud, energetic, fun and heartwarming, The Color Purple on stage at Goodman Theatre in Chicago is nearly three hours of nonstop entertainment featuring an outrageously talented cast featuring Brittney Mack as Celie directed by Lili-Anne Brown with choreography by Breon Arzell.

Tom & Eliza is a fairly brilliant example of absurdist theater written by Celine Song, expertly directed by Aileen Wen McGroddy and beautifully performed by Clifton Frei as Tom and Seoyoung Park as Eliza.

Reminiscent of Ionesco and Albee, Tom & Eliza focuses on ideas of existentialism, exploring the psychology of aging, marriage and sexual relationships with an attitude of absurd surrealism.

Tom & Eliza at Tuta Theatre Chicago is a challenging and thought-provoking presentation that may not appeal to a wide audience but the entire production is an example of elegant stage craft achieved through the effort of the entire crew and company that will be appreciated by those willing to take a risk to enjoy something a little out of the ordinary.

Podcast review of FOREVER PLAID by Reno Lovison. Presented by MadKap Productions at Skokie Theater, the performance is reminiscent of a nightclub act from the fifties channeling the sounds of singing groups like the Four Freshmen, Four Aces or The Crew Cuts. Limited engagement through June 29, 2025.

Chicago's  Steppenwolf Theatre Company, concludes its 49th Season with Noah Diaz's whimsical, wild, unpredictable and deeply moving Chicago premiere of You Will Get Sick, directed by Artistic Director Audrey Francis through July 13, 2025.
Podcast theater review by Kimzyn Campbell for Chicago Broadcasting Network.

A laugh-out-loud comical attack of geopolitical humor invades Lookingglass Theater in “Iraq but Funny.”  Playwright / performer Astra Asdou recalls the history of the Assyrian people through this semi-autobiographical story of five generations of the women in her family.

Feeling controlled by outside forces, two people on the opposite ends of life are each trying to manage their own destiny in the Chicago Premiere of Charles Smith’s “Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues” at American Blues Theater - Chicago.

Podcast review by Reno Lovison