CHICAGO – Excelsior! Comic book legend Stan Lee’s famous exclamation puts a fine point on the third and final play of Mark Pracht’s FOUR COLOR TRILOGY, “The House of Ideas,” presented by and staged at City Lit Theater in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. For tickets/details, click HOUSE OF IDEAS.
HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News
Theater Review: Inquisition Tale ‘Marrano’ at the Physical Theater Festival, July 14-15, 2023
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 14, 2023 - 7:01amCHICAGO – The Physical Theater Festival in Chicago has one more weekend, and for two of those nights the fest showcases “Marrano A Tale from The Inquisition,” a joint international stage presentation from Israel and Spain. For tickets and info, click PHYSICAL FEST.
On-Air Film Review: ‘Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 14, 2023 - 6:06amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on July 13th, reviewing “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One,” the seventh film of the Tom Cruise-led action series based on the 1960s TV show. In theaters since July 12th.
Podtalk: Filmmaker Alex Winter Ponders ‘The YouTube Effect’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 12, 2023 - 8:56pmCHICAGO – In a manifestation of his most famous catchphrase, filmmaker Alex Winter, also known as Bill of “Bill & Ted” fame, wants us to “be excellent to each other” when it comes to our interaction on a certain online video sharing website. He ponders all the implications in his new documentary “The YouTube Effect.”
Theater Review: ‘The SpongeBob Musical’ by Kokandy Productions
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 11, 2023 - 9:52amCHICAGO – What began in Chicago in 2016 … as a preview to its eventual Broadway run … comes back to where it now belongs. The passionate and ebullient Kokandy Productions presents “The SpongeBob Musical,” and yes, it will satisfy fans of the cartoon series with flash, dash, and since it’s under the sea, SPLASH!
Theater News: Chicago Life Force Arts Center Presents ‘The Fire of Light’ on July 11, 2023
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 10, 2023 - 9:47amCHICAGO – Since 2008, the Life Force Arts Center in the Lakeview Neighborhood has been providing an outlet for the connection of art, healing and human consciousness through ongoing art exhibits, theater, performance and classes in spiritual healing. On July 11th, 2023, they will present “The Fire of Light” Shamanic Sound Healing Theater from 7-9pm at the Arts Center, 1609 West Belmont in Chicago. Click FIRE OF LIGHT to purchase tickets and more information, including a Zoom option.
On-Air Film Review: Teacher of the Year Emerges in ‘The Lesson’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 9, 2023 - 12:58pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on July 5th, reviewing “The Lesson,” a modern film noir featuring Richard E. Grant and Julie Delpy. In theaters since July 7th. !—break—>
Audio Film Review: The Journey and Destination of ‘Joy Ride”
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 4, 2023 - 8:21amCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the new “hard-R-rated” comedy “Joy Ride,” featuring Stephanie Park (“Emily in Paris”) and the recently Oscar nominated Stephanie Hsu of Best Picture “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” In theaters on Friday July 7th.
Podtalk: Alice Da Cunha of Physical Theater Festival Chicago
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 3, 2023 - 11:51am- Alice Da Cunha
- Asinamali
- Chicago
- Chicago Latino Film Festival
- Chicago Park District
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Marc Frost
- Marrano A Tale from The Inquisition
- Nichols Park
- Patrick McDonald
- Physical Theater Festival
- Podcast
- Podtalk
- Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center
- South Africa
- Theater
- Theatre Wit
- Theater, TV, DVD & Blu-Ray
CHICAGO – One of the more unique theater festivals in Chicago invites us to “get physical.” The 10th Physical Theater Festival Chicago will take place from July 8th-16th, 2023. For the complete show line-up, including ticket links, click PHYSICAL FEST.
In Memoriam Portrait: Oscar Winning Actor Alan Arkin Dies at 89
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 2, 2023 - 7:56pm- 89
- Alan Arkin
- BoJack Horseman
- Dead
- Dies
- Exclusive Portrait
- Glengarry Glen Ross
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Joe Arce
- Little Miss Sunshine
- Minions: The Rise of Gru
- Passing
- Patrick McDonald
- The In-Laws
- The Kominsky Method
- The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming
- The Second City
- The Tarriers
- Wait Until Dark
SAN MARCOS, Calif – There was an Alan Arkin for every generation. Post World War Two adults may have seen him at Chicago’s “The Second City.” Baby Boomers remember his films “Wait Until Dark” and “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians are Coming” and Gen X saw him in “The In-Laws” (“Serpentine, Shel”), “Glengarry Glen Ross” and his Oscar winning turn in “Little Miss Sunshine.” He even did a Netflix series, “The Kominsky Method.” For every generation, for every form of acting, there was Alan Arkin. He passed away on June 29th, 2023, at the age of 89.
Podtalk: Director Leo Milano for His Debut Feature ‘The Crusades,' Releasing July 7, 2023
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 2, 2023 - 4:54pmCHICAGO – It’s rare to see a director debut that is nuanced, anarchistic and different, but the high school coming-of-age comedy “The Crusades” – by first-timer Leo Milano – scores with its solid comedic script, unique characters and passionate homage to Chicagoland’s Northwest Burbs, as well as featuring hot actor Rudy Pankow (Netflix’s “Outer Banks”).
On-Air Film Review: Knights of the Animated Realm in ‘Nimona’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 30, 2023 - 4:42pmCHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on June 29th, reviewing “Nimona,” a new Netflix animated film featuring the voices of Grace Chloe Moretz and Riz Ahmed. Streaming beginning June 30th. !—break—>
Film Review: Indy the Fifth! ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 28, 2023 - 3:50pmCHICAGO – By all accounts the Indiana Jones series had nowhere to go but up after the woebegone “Crystal Skull.” But “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” manages to clear that admittedly low bar to add a sense of adventure back to the tales of the graying archeologist. That said there’s a certain pointlessness to the whole endeavor. !—break—>
Theater Review: Chicago Feels the Passionate Power of ‘Tommy’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 27, 2023 - 11:19amCHICAGO – The Opening Night ovation certainly acknowledged that the audience “Saw, Felt, was Touched and Healed” by the passionate and celebratory performance of “The Who’s Tommy.” Adapted from the iconic rock opera created by The Who in 1969, the Goodman Theater revival … with 1990s origins … was written by Pete Townsend and Des McAnuff (also director).