Steve Dale's Other World

After 85 years, Gene & Georgetti’s continues to be a family owned business thriving in River North (500 N. Franklin St). Steve talks with third generation owner Michelle Durpetti.  Nothing has changed at Gene & Georgetti’s, yet everything has changed. Michelle explains what that means. What’s their secret to thrive as a privately owned restaurant among all the corporate runs places? For all those 85 years, this place has been a watering hole for celebs, from Frank Sinatra to Mariah Carey.  And Michelle has a great shoe story regarding Mariah Carey. 

Actress Jacqueline Guillen, who is in Dead Girl’s Quinceañera at the Goodman’s Harris Theatre, talks to Steve Dale about the unique and premiere show, a sort of coming of age detective story. You’ve perhaps seen her on TV, but she says why she prefers the stage and she says Steve Dale’s Spanish isn’t awful. 

It’s 1943, and the Allied Forces are on the ropes. Luckily, they’ve got a trick up their sleeve. Well, not up their sleeve, per se, but rather inside the pocket of a stolen dead body – that’s Operation Mincemeat at the CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St., through Oct 11, a Broadway in Chicago show. 

Steve Dale talks with Katie Kleiger, who pays a hard-as-nails British judge and naval intelligence officer. Perhaps, surprisingly, this is actually a true story, though Kleiger notes that the singing and dancing might not have really happened among the front-line soldiers. 

Alex Goodrich is a veteran Chicago actor who plays the Mayor of Gander, Newfoundland – who had to deal with 38 International flights diverted there on September 11 following the terrorists attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The show is Come from Away, at the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre. This story is particularly touching today given the ‘trade war’ with Canada and that it’s the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Goodrich is so good at playing the Mayor, perhaps he will next run for Mayor of Chicago? 

Going Bacharach: Songs of an Icon has moved from Chicago’s north side to off-Broadway, Marjorie S. Deane Little Theatre, 10 W. 64th Street, New York. The songs include Walk on By, I Say A Little Prayer, That’s What Friends Are For, I’ll Never Love This Way Again, and so many more. Here’s a conversation with Steve Dale and vocalist John Pagano, who toured with Bacharach for 26 years, one of the three singers in the show, and pianist/clarinetist Adrian Galante, who also orchestrated the show and features extraordinary performances.

Whether it is for Don’t Cry Out Loud, Come in From the Rain, or the Through the Eyes of Love/Theme from Ice Castles (which Steve Dale says was played at his wedding.) Melissa Manchester has had many hits, earning her two Oscar nominations and a Grammy Award. Steve Dale talks with her about the Midnight Blue duet she did last year with Dolly Parton, as well as Whenever I Call You Friend duet with Kenny Loggins, a song they wrote together. She will perform at City Winery (1200 W. Randolph St.), Oct. 4.

Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Car Stuff Podcast, talks auto trends with Steve Dale. Are EV’s already passe? Even small car hybrids are hard to find with no shortage of crossovers and SUV’s. What about the “tariff war” with Canada? Are car prices soon likely to go up? Steve finds out during his chat with Tom.

Dennis Watkins is, without question, a world class magician and he joins Steve Dale to talk about his 25 years in Chicago and his 12th year at the Magic Parlour. He’s also known to be able to read minds, Steve Dale explores the mentalist phenomena.

Dirty Dancing’s lead performers Analese Starzec (who plays Frances) and Blake Zelesnika (who plays Johnny) chat with Steve Dale about Dirty Dancing: The Musical, running from September 9th to 20th at the James Nederlander Theatre.

Charlie Propsom, the founder of Friends of Chicago Animal Care & Control, stops by the WGN Skyline Studios to discuss the upcoming September 23rd Dog Friendly Cruise to raise money for the City’s municipal shelter and the upcoming Canine Cruise. Steve and Charlie also talk about Chicago Animal Care & Control initiatives from September 8th to 13th during Chicago shelter week.