Chicago Broadcasting Network

“Magic Penthouse” is a date night fantasy for those looking for an elegant post-dinner night-on-the-town with unique entertainment and a convivial atmosphere.

There's plenty to like about this Broadway road tour theatrical extravaganza loosely based on the true-life story of a woman claiming to be the surviving daughter of Czar Nicholas II of Russia. But don’t worry, this version of “Anastasia” has little to do with reality. While it refers to the historical tragedy it is scrubbed clean of most of the ugly unwanted parts, leaving behind the tale of a young, beautiful, and strong heroine striving to find her true identity while struggling to come to terms with her inner princess.

This podcast review by Reno Lovison is of the musical version of the of “A Bronx Tale” that includes music by Alan Menken and Lyrics by Glenn Slater and is a very successful adaptation appearing at The Nederlander Theater in Chicago as part of the National Touring Company.

Author Barbara Barnett talks about and reads from her book "Apothecary's Curse" set partly in the Chicago area and partly in Victorian London.

Bob (H.B. Ward) and Jennifer (Linda Reiter) Jones are surprised to meet their new neighbors who also share the same last name. In the end, the two couples have an ongoing series of absurd conversations that actually do get to the core of what they want to express while avoiding or at least minimizing any straightforward communication. Review by Reno Lovison (Photo by Evan Hanover)

In this podcast I give two recent Chicago theater reviews including "Dead Man's Cell Phone" and "Brooke Astor's Last Affair" which is part of the Chicago Musical Theater Festival.

“Photograph 51” written by Anna Ziegler and Directed by Vanessa Stalling at the Court Theatre, Chicago is a snapshot of the life of chemist Rosalind Franklin who had gone virtually un-credited for her contribution to the discovery revealing the structure of DNA to be a double helix. Theater review by Reno Lovison. (Photo credit Brosilow)

“Something Wonderful Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution” book by Todd Purdum. Reno Lovison theater reviewer and executive producer at ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com provides a book review with a Chicago spin as well as his personal connection to the works for Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Hear my thoughts on the attractively updated version of “La Boheme” currently being presented at the Lyric Opera House, Chicago, through January 31, 2019.

Reno Lovison of ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com and Jodie Jacobs of ChicagoTheaterandArts.com discuss their 2018 Chicago theater experiences.

Reno Lovison of ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com and Jodie Jacobs of ChicagoTheaterandArts.com have a year-end review of the 2018 Chicago theater scene including what they found to be intelligent and thought-provoking as well as simply entertaining.

The world premiere of “La Ruta” at the Steppenwolf Theater, Chicago by playwright Isaac Gomez who has figuratively commandeered a bus transporting “maquila” workers to and from their jobs in Juarez, then pointed its headlights into the vast darkness exposing the despair and anguish of the mothers and sisters of hundreds of young women kidnapped, used as sex slaves, murdered and disposed of in the Mexican desert.

Music Theater Works in Evanston, IL (just outside Chicago) has put together a visually stunning production of Stephen Sondheim’s fairytale musical mashup “Into the Woods.”

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Shakespeare Theatre on Chicago’s Navy Pier puts a slightly modern twist to an old favorite. Review by Reno Lovison Executive Producer at ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com and theater reviewer for Chicagotheaterandarts.com

This popular play by Will Kern is comprised of a number of vignettes all taking place within the confines of a cab trolling the streets of Chicago during an evening leading up to the Christmas holiday. There are highs and lows, happiness and sadness, violence and love. Some people are in good cheer, others not so much. Through each experience, the stoic cabbie (in this case played by Regina Linn) absorbs the emotional impact of each encounter. Review by Reno Lovison. To read more reviews visit http://chicagotheaterandarts.com To listen to reviews and find more podcasts and videos related to Chicago visit http://chicagobroadcastingnetwork.com