Chicago Broadcasting Network

Mike Royko was an outspoken Chicago journalist, who in the 1960s through 1990s railed against the political machine and championed the cause of the underdog with the same zeal he displayed toward his beloved Chicago Cubbies.

Mitchell Bisschop’s roughly two-hour performance as Royko serves as a reminiscence for those of a certain age, and as an entertaining summary of our recent history for those of a younger generation who might not have first-hand familiarity with events related to the quickly fading recent past.

Reno Lovison, Executive Producer at ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com comments on the documentary Time Passages by Chicago filmmaker Kyle Henry who tenderly reviews his relationship between himself and his mother, whose memory is slowly slipping away due to dementia.

Looking at other people’s lives is always interesting. We can’t help but to compare our experiences to theirs perhaps in a quest to see if we ourselves are “normal.” - -  Are they the outliers, or are we? 

“Time Passages” recently screened at the 60th Annual Chicago Film Festival.

An aspiring African American actress, Vera Stark (Ashayla Calvin) works as a personal maid to fading 1930s movie star Gloria Mitchell (Caitlin Jemison), once known as “America’s Little Sweetie-Pie.” The two have a close relationship and have a shared struggle to find success. However, due to race barriers and prejudices it is clearly more difficult for Stark than it is for Mitchell.

Playing at the Den Theatre in Chicago. Review by Reno Lovison

This is a film review of "The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt's Monument to Ida B. Wells follows the Chicago artist's creation of a monument to the civil right champion and woman’s suffrage leader. The film that premiered at the 60th Annual Chicago International Film Festival in 2024 follows his process as an opportunity to showcase each of their contributions to society while doing so within the greater context of the history of the African American experience. 

Letter writing is more akin to internal dialogue and can have a kind of naked intimacy that is difficult to achieve in the flesh.
Dear Elizabeth is smart biographical drama providing a glimpse into the lives and thoughts of two interesting people who through their own words, demonstrate to us the value of friendship and human connectedness.

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 (Christopher Llewyn Ramirez) is on trial for breaking a state law that prohibits the teaching of evolution.

Lyric Opera of Chicago expounds on Beethoven's message of freedom of expression in this captivating contemporary production of Fidelio. It's interesting to see how easily this 18th Century music transforms to modern times. It is and story of good triumphing over evil and most importantly a story of hope combined with the courage to speak truth to power and 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 continues to be perpetrated throughout the world. Podcast review by Reno Lovison for ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com

Kicking off this popular Chicago ensemble theater company’s 49th season, an incompetent troupe of actors are expertly portrayed by a considerably expert cast, in Steppenwolf’s revival of the classic screwball comedy “Noises Off,” directed by Anna D. Shapiro. 

A timeless classic 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 by the composing team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.

Based on a novel by James Michener and adapted by Hammerstein and Josh Logan, the 1949 play boldly addressed the notion of learned prejudices, and confronted changing post-war attitudes about interracial marriage and mixed raced children.

An enchanting evening.

If you think you know something about Georgia O’Keeffe, be prepared to be pleasantly surprised.  Her styles at this time seems to have generally drifted away from her previous more colorful works and amorphous forms, and instead varied from monochromatic abstracts to more realistic sepia toned cityscapes reminiscent of Stieglitz’ photos.  Georgia O’Keeffe: “My New Yorks” is at the Art Institute of Chicago through September 22, 2024.  For details visit  The Art Institute of Chicago (artic.edu)
Podcast review by Reno Lovison.