CHICAGO – One of the open secrets of Chicago is its horrible racist past, which remains like an echo. Playwright Joshua Allen has been exploring this theme in his Grand Boulevard Trilogy – the last chapter talking place during the infamous 1919 race riots – in Raven Theatre’s “The Prodigal Daughter.” For tickets and info, click TPD.
HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News
Podtalk & Review: Streaming Release for Andy Vallentine's ‘The Mattachine Family’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 5, 2024 - 5:52pmCHICAGO – Happy Pride Month 2024! One of the most beautiful and spirited LGBTQ+ films on the festival circuit last year was “The Mattachine Family,” written by Danny Vallentine and directed by his husband Andy Vallentine. Andy Vallentine talked to HollywoodChicago.com about his film that was partially autobiographical.
Podtalk: Writer, Director & Actor Jenn Harris Expresses ‘She’s Clean’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 5, 2024 - 10:02amCHICAGO – Today (June 5, 2024) is the premiere online for one of the most thought provoking and original ideas in short film. “She’s Clean” is scene-by-scene cinema of a woman who decides to create a path of expression for herself through different sexual partners. What she learns is unexpected. Jenn Harris writes, directs and stars in this revealing story.
Podtalk: Programmer Kyle Cubr on ‘Godzilla vs. Music Box (Theatre)’ from June 7-13, 2024
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 4, 2024 - 12:04pmCHICAGO – Run for your lives, Chicago, or run to the historic Music Box Theatre for “Godzilla vs. Music Box,” an unprecedented mega-festival celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the World’s Most Famous Reptile. Besides presented by the Music Box and the Japanese Arts Foundation, GvMB is programmed and curated by Kyle Cubr, Music Box Senior Operations Manager by day, Godzilla Enthusiast through at all other times. The series unspools from June 7th-13th, 2024, for schedule, tickets and details, click GvMB for tickets/details.
Entertainment News: Comcast Launches Peacock, Netflix, Apple TV+ NOW TV Bundle
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 3, 2024 - 1:04pmCHICAGO – Comcast recently announced unprecedented streaming bundle options … Xfinity StreamSaver™ is a service for new and existing Xfinity Internet/TV customers nationwide, and when combined with NOW TV can offer Peacock, Netflix AND Apple TV+ for one low monthly price. For deets, click XFINITY STREAMSAVER.
Tribeca2024: 23rd Tribeca Opens with Diane von Furstenberg Doc
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 3, 2024 - 10:44amNEW YORK – The legendary Tribeca Film Festival, celebrating its 23rd edition, will again be the talk of New York, as it kicks off Wednesday, June 5th, with “Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge.” There are the in-person thrills and an option for at-home screenings. CLICK TRIBECA 2024.
Podtalk: A. Ashley Hoff on ‘With Love, Mommie Dearest’ Event at Chicago's Music Box, June 4, 2024
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 2, 2024 - 10:13amCHICAGO – “With Love, Mommie Dearest” is a new book by A. Ashley Hoff, chronicling the making of the camp classic. Chicago’s Music Box Theatre will screen “Mommie Dearest” and Hoff will sign his new book on June 4, 2024. Click CRAWFORD for tickets/details.
Podtalk: Christian Taylor on ‘The Girl Who Wore Freedom' for D-Day 80th Thru June 9, 2024
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 1, 2024 - 9:10amCHICAGO – “The Girl Who Wore Freedom,” a documentary created by filmmaker Christian Taylor, is a film that speaks not only of the celebration of France’s appreciation for the Allies liberation of the country in World War II (beginning with D-Day), but also of the remembrance that this vital story evokes every June 6th, as in 2024 with the D-Day 80th Anniversary. The documentary will be on 300 screens across the U.S. from now through June 9th. Chicago area screenings are through Classic Cinemas (see end of article below). For a complete map of all U.S. screenings, click TheGirlWhoWoreFreedom.com.
Podtalk: Rob Smigel as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Chicago’s Den Theatre, June 3, 2024
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 31, 2024 - 2:25pmCHICAGO – I call him the Rosetta Stone of Show Business for the modern comedy era. Rob Smigel will appear in Chicago as the legendary Triumph the Insult Comic Dog at the Den Theatre LIVE on Monday June 3rd, 2024, with “Let’s Make a Poop,” featuring special guests and more! Get tickets and more info at POOP.
On-Air Film Review: The Muppet Master is ‘Jim Henson: Idea Man’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 31, 2024 - 11:11amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Ben Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on May 30th, reviewing “Jim Henson: Idea Man,” directed by Ron Howard and featuring Frank Oz and The Muppets. Streaming on Disney+ beginning May 31st.
On-Air Film Review: He’s Talking to Robert De Niro in ‘Ezra’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 31, 2024 - 9:27amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Ben Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on May 30th, reviewing “Ezra,” featuring Bobby Cannavale and Robert De Niro as a son and father, struggling to help raise an autistic boy. In theaters on May 31st.
Interview, Review: Brian Wallach, Sandra Abrevaya ‘For Love & Life … ‘
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 30, 2024 - 8:48pmCHICAGO – When Sandra Abrevaya met her future husband Brian Wallach while on the staff of Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, their future seemed bright. But then Brian was was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and his prognosis was dim. Their story is told in “For Love & Life: No Ordinary Campaign.”
Podtalk: Clayton Stamper on Wayfarer Theaters Highland Park Grand Opening, May 31, 2024
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 30, 2024 - 7:26pmCHICAGO – There is a new movie theater in Chicagoland’s Highland Park, with the Grand Opening of Wayfarer Theaters at 1850 2nd Street. On May 31st, the official start of a new era in theatergoing in Highland Park begins, with multiple screenings of “Ezra” from the theater’s sister company, Wayfarer Studios. For complete information on these FREE SCREENINGS and the theater, click WAYFARER.
Exclusive Portraits: Superstar Renée Fleming at Chicago Humanities
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 26, 2024 - 12:42pm- Carnegie Hall
- Chicago Humanities Festival
- Countess Almaviva
- Exclusive Photo
- Grammy Award
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Joe Arce
- Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
- Le nozzle di Figaro
- Mozart
- Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness
- Opera
- Patrick McDonald
- Practice
- Renée Fleming
- Soprano
CHICAGO – When the word “Opera” is defined today, the person that would illustrate the word is Renée Fleming. The lyric soprano has done most major female opera roles, and has written a new book … “Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness” … and recently appeared at the Chicago Humanities Festival.
