CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.
Halloween
Podtalk: Exec Director Nat Dykeman of 13th Lake County Film Festival
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 30, 2023 - 6:32pmCHICAGO – When one man wanted to screen independent films beyond Chicago, he founded the Lake County Film Festival (LCFF). That Founder and now Executive Director is Nat Dykeman, and the 13th LCFF will take place over the next two weekends, with Opening Night on Halloween. For details and tickets, click 13th LCFF.
Podtalk: John LaFlamboy, Proprietor of HellsGate Haunted House
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 28, 2023 - 3:34pmCHICAGO – It began with a boy and his dream (nightmare?). John LaFlamboy, to be exact, as he took an idea he had in college and made it his life’s work. He owns and operates the HellsGate Haunted House in Lockport (Illinois), which was designed, built and put together by Haunted House experts expressly for the spookiest month of the year. For info on how to purchase tickets, click HellsGate.
Podtalk: Grand Opening of Emagine Batavia Theater Includes ‘Halloween’ film Q&A, June 1, 2023
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 31, 2023 - 4:18pmCHICAGO – Chicagoland will be getting a new and exciting movie theater experience, beginning June 1st, 2023, with the Grand Opening of Emagine Batavia (Illinois) theaters. As part of the celebration, actor James Jude Courtney … who took the role of Michael Myers in the 2018 “Halloween” reboot … will be making an appearance to meet fans before the 7pm screening and participate in a “VIP Q&A.” For tickets, click EMAGINE.
Exclusive Family Portraits: Honoring Jamie Lee and Tony Curtis
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 27, 2023 - 11:27amCHICAGO – When the envelope was opened, containing the name of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar at the 95th Academy Awards earlier this month, it was veteran actor Jamie Lee Curtis who won the honor. She brought down the house with her memorable “we just won an Oscar” speech.
Film News: Halloween Movie Nights … Asian Pop-Up Cinema, Logan and Music Box Theatres
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 9, 2022 - 8:32pmCHICAGO – Time to get your scare on, and Chicago has the cinema treats that will have you screaming! For the month of October 2022 … Halloween month, natch … one Film Festival (APUC, Asian Pop-Up Cinema) and two city theaters (Logan Theatre and Music Box Theatre) has special spooky programming that is guaranteed to have you jumping in your seat. Links and details be-loooooooow!
Theater News: Final Weekend for Possibilities Theatre Company’s “Free Space,” Oct. 29-31, 2020
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 29, 2020 - 6:17amCHICAGO – Yes Virginia, there still is live theater. The Possibilities Theatre presents “Free Space,” a play by Tara Meddaugh, via Zoom and a special live performance (weather permitting) in its final weekend October 29th-31st, 2020. For more information, including tickets, click here.!—break—>
Film Review: Rebooted ‘Halloween’ Sequel Offers Nothing New in 2018
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 19, 2018 - 12:51pmCHICAGO – At this point, the “Halloween” franchise is looking as tattered and tired as Michael Myers old William Shatner mask… fraying around the edges and on the verge of falling apart. The 2018 “reboot” sequel brings back former scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, along with original Michael Myers, Nick Castle.
Film Review: No New Frights in Store for ‘Happy Death Day’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 13, 2017 - 7:25pmCHICAGO – “Happy Death Day” has a “Groundhog Day” gimmick, but that’s about it, offering essentially an ‘80’s style slasher flick with the hope that with a little cosmetic window dressing will help it appeal to an audience in 2017… Live, Die, Repeat. That’s all this film offers with precious few improvements to justify its existence.
Exclusive Portrait: A Happy ‘Halloween’ from Jamie Lee Curtis
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 31, 2016 - 2:29pmCHICAGO – It was 38 years ago that the seminal horror film “Halloween” was released, and its impact made a star out of the heroine in the film, Jamie Lee Curtis. Curtis was in the Chicago area in September to promote her new children’s book, “This is Me: The Story of Who and Where We Came From,” (illustrated by Laura Cornell).
Slideshow: ‘The Walking Dead’ Highlights 2014 Wizard World Chicago Comic Con
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 3, 2015 - 5:41pmCHICAGO – Last August, the 2014 Wizard World Comic Con came to Chicago, and featured cast members from “The Walking Dead,” among other film and television celebrities. Another edition of the popular convention, called “Fan Fest,” is taking place next month in Chicagoland, March 7th and 8th, 2015, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.