CHICAGO – The funny meter of Netflix went off the scale last week, as the animated series “Chicago Party Aunt” made its debut on September 17th. What began as a Twitter account by comic actor Chris Witaske (who also provides his voice talent) has morphed into the cartoon adventures of Aunt Diane Dumbowski, her nephew Daniel, and an array of familiar Chicago-isms and characters.
HollywoodChicago.com Theater Reviews & Interviews
Film News: Chicago’s FACETS Reopens on Sep. 17, 2021, with ‘Anne at 13,000 Feet’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 17, 2021 - 1:18pmCHICAGO – Another Chicago cinema gem is reopening after 18 long months in pandemic shutdown. FACETS is a multimedia gem co-founded by legendary film influencer Milos Stehlik, which has resided on Fullerton Avenue west of the DePaul neighborhood for nearly 50 years.
Podtalk: Frank Carr on Virtual & Online YippieFest, Available to Stream Aug. 21-23, 2020
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 20, 2020 - 9:07pmCHICAGO – This weekend, the performance event called YippieFest – which normally has two stages making show for three days – is going online, with a video presentation of the various acts that give YippieFest its particular reputation. Frank Carr is the founder of YippieFest and the coordinator of the virtual and online version, which will be available at YippieFest.com through TWITCH.
Entertainment News: Virtual 2020 YippieFest now August 21-23
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 12, 2020 - 11:50amCHICAGO – It’s coming! YippieFest 2020 – joining the virtual and online revolution during these particular times – is set for August 21st through the 23rd. Details to come on schedules and times, but the whole fest can be downloaded for FREE on those dates through TWITCH streaming service. Click here for more details.
Entertainment News: Virtual 2020 YippieFest Extends Registration Deadline to August 2nd
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 31, 2020 - 8:27pmCHICAGO – Got an act? Got a camera phone to record it? Then YippieFest wants you! The fourth annual Theater, Music, Film, Comedy and Performance festival is doing what all the hep cats are doing, going online and virtual to keep everyone safe (details closer to the actual dates of YippieFest, August 14-16, 2020).
Interview: Local Band whitewolfsonicprincess to Appear at Evanston’s Space, Sept. 4, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 3, 2019 - 9:44amCHICAGO – The venue called Space is one of the finer rooms in Chicagoland – specifically Evanston, Illinois – and one of the finer local bands will be making an appearance on Wednesday, September 4th. whitewolfsonicprincess (wwsp) will be playing tunes off their third album, “The Alternate Boot,” released in February of this year, and selections from their entire catalog.
Podtalk: Frank Carr of ‘YippieFest,’ at the Prop Theatre in Chicago, Aug. 16-18, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 16, 2019 - 4:50pmCHICAGO – It’s the 3rd annual YippieFest in Chicago at the Prop Thtr (Theatre), and the three days of Theater, Performance, Music, Film, Comedy and more kicks off with its 2019 edition on Friday, August 16th (7pm), and runs through Sunday, August 18th. The Fest evolved from the spirit of Mary-Arrchie Theater’s Abbie Hoffman Fest, which began 30 years ago (1989), and ended in 2016. The Fest also celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Woodstock music festival, which coincides with the weekend. For more information on YippieFest, including tickets, click here.
Interview: Local Band whitewolfsonicprincess Releases ‘The Alternate Boot’ on Jan. 8, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 7, 2019 - 4:12pmCHICAGO – The album premiere is a cause for celebration, and the local Chicagoland band whitewolfsonicprinces (wwsp) is debuting their third album, a double set release called “The Alternate Boot Vols. 1 & 2” on January 8th, 2019. For more on the album release and all things wwsp, click here.
Podtalk: Desiree Burcum of ‘Yippie Fest,’ at the Prop Theatre in Chicago, Aug. 17-19, 2018
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 17, 2018 - 9:06amCHICAGO – It’s the 2nd annual Yippie Fest in Chicago at the Prop Thtr (Theatre), and the three days of Theater, Performance, Music, Film, Comedy and more kicks off with the 2018 Opening Ceremonies on Friday, August 17th, and runs through Sunday, August 19th. The Fest evolved from the spirit of Mary-Arrchie Theater’s Abbie Hoffman Fest, which ran from 1989 to 2016. The Fest also celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Yippies (Youth International Party) in Chicago, during the Vietnam protests in August of 1968. The whole world was watching. For more information on Yippie Fest, including tickets, click here.
Theater Review: Brown Paper Box Company Hosts a Monumental ‘Speech & Debate’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 19, 2018 - 3:07pmCHICAGO – “Speech & Debate,” the latest production from the mighty Brown Paper Box Company, continues their tradition of thinking outside that “box” in presenting storefront theater that makes a statement and a difference. “Speech” goes inside America by showcasing the outsiders… those who create art because they can’t get it right in real life. This non-equity Chicago stage play premiere is finely tuned and wonderfully acted, and runs through March 4th, 2018. Click here for more details, including ticket information.
Theater Review: American Theater Co.’s ‘We’re Gonna Be Okay’ Seeks Identity in Early 1960s
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 3, 2018 - 8:07pm- Adithis Chandrashekar
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CHICAGO – The 1960s were a time of historical social transition. The movements – civil rights, feminist, gay rights – all had roots in that tumultuous decade. The Chicago premiere of Basil Kreimendahl’s “We’re Gonna Be Okay” echoes all of those movements in its characters, and collides them against the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. The show has a Thursday-Sunday run at the American Theater Company through March 4th, 2018. Click here for more details, including ticket information.
Film Review: Authentic Coming-of-Age in Expressive ‘Lady Bird’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 13, 2017 - 1:39pmCHICAGO – In one of the best American films of 2017, Greta Gerwig went behind the camera to write and direct an autobiographical overview of her Senior Year in high school, within a directionless town and family. The result is enlightening truth, told with laugh-out-loud directness and connective empathy. The film is a total winner.
Theater Review: Nothing Without a Company’s ‘Bobby Pin Girls’ Plays on Millennial Angst
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 5, 2017 - 11:27amCHICAGO – The “breeder years” are difficult on everyone, as the biological imperative becomes overwhelming and the couplings that result yield both discovery and misadventure. Nothing Without a Company’s new play “Bobby Pin Girls” highlight two such Millennial women, roommates who are having man trouble, although the argument can be made that it’s eternally “boy trouble.” The show has a Thursday-Sunday run at the Chicago Mosaic School through December 10th, 2017. Click here for more details, including ticket information.
