Set circa 1927 -- at the height of the Great Migration, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is rooted in personal trauma, systemic racism and economic exploitation.

Ma Rainey is the leading artist of a struggling Chicago based blues label..Four of her backing musicians sitting in a rehearsal hall of the recording studio examine their lives while waiting for the prima donna to perform. In true blues tradition each man reveals his inner self through storytelling.

In the process there is a good amount of convivial, often dark, humor born of a recognition of similar life experiences and a mutual understanding of shared pain.

Theater review and insight by Reno Lovison ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com

Journey to 1850s Dublin where faith, repression, and desire intersect.

When a formerly enslaved African‑American woman and her companion arrive for a ten‑week stay, their presence disrupts the household’s carefully maintained façade. What follows is a revealing examination of integrity, sexual power, and the quiet bargains people make to reconcile their beliefs with their actions.

This U.S. premiere production of The Sugar Wife written by Elizabeth Kuti, presented by Artistic Home at Theater Wit offers a rich meditation on renewal, moral struggle, within the complex social expectations of the 19th century.

Standout performances from Annie Hogan, Todd Wojcik, Ashayla Calvin, John LaFlamboy, and Kristin Collins, guided by the sensitive and intimate direction of Kevin Hagan.

Review and commentary by Reno Lovison ChicagoBroadcatingNetwork.com


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A thoughtful review of Itamar Moses’ The Ally at Theater Wit — a sharp, timely drama about identity, activism, and conflicting truths. This episode explores the play’s themes, performances, direction, and why one “good deed” spirals into chaos. Perfect for listeners interested in Chicago theater and contemporary social issues.

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Blending spooky folklore with offbeat humor, White Rooster by Matthew C. Yee a world Premiere at Lookingglass Theatre is a haunting tale of grief, family and the messiness of moving on. Chicago Theater Review by Kim Campbell.

This campy, opera style, cabaret performance mostly in drag is oddly compelling. The unconventional storyline comprised of seven sexually ambiguous individuals has the show living up to its tagline of a queer extravaganza.

Thompson Street Opera Company is worth keeping an eye on. Their recent premiere production of Off-Nights at the Sometimes Café at Bramble Arts Loft in Andersonville was a short run but worth mentioning for the record.

In “Changing Channels” at City Lit Theater in Chicago, Maggie Carlin and boss Eddie Gilroy abruptly learn that creating what will become an iconic TV comedy show is not all fun and games.

Currently appearing on the fledgling DuMont TV network, Gilroy has an offer to move his wildly popular show to CBS. However, his manager, “Bullets” played by Johnny Moran informs him due to suspected communist infiltration of the new television medium CBS is requiring all of its employees to sign a loyalty oath.

The storyline of “Changing Channels” is a fictional account of actual events, and the characters are thinly veiled portrayals of real people.

Listen to this full podcast to learn more about this production and the history of the red scare.

Review by Reno Lovison ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com

A nonstop “catcaphony” of frenzied feline fun that will create a lasting memory. With elements of musical theater, dance, opera and acrobatics there is definitely something for everyone in Music Theatre Works production of CATS at Skokie’s North Shore Center for the Performing Arts.

There are two good reasons to see Harvey, by St. Sebastian Players. One is the humorous quirky Pulitzer Prize winning script by Mary Chase and the other is the exceptional performance of Jeff Broitman as Elwood Dowd, the pleasant oddball fellow whose companion and best friend is a six-foot rabbit.