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.
Comedy
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.
Feature: Navigation Guide to the 54th Chicago International Film Festival, Oct. 10-21, 2018
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 9, 2018 - 12:37pm- 2018
- 54th
- After Dark
- Because Life is a Movie
- Black Perspectives
- Carey Mulligan
- Chicago International Film Festival
- Cinemas of the Americas
- City & State
- Comedy
- Documentary
- Film News
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Industry Days
- LGBTQ+
- New Directors
- Outlook
- Patrick McDonald
- Short Films
- Spotlight
- Steve McQueen
- U.S. Indies
- Women in Cinema
CHICAGO – Having an international film festival is one of the reasons Chicago became an international city, and the 54th Chicago International Film Festival is about to crank up the projection machines for 11 days of amazing cinema treats, from October 10th through the 21st, 2018. How does an film buff or curious participant navigate the waters of the festival? HollywoodChicago.com is here to guide you.
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.
Podtalk: Josh Hope, Co-Director of the Windy City International Film Fest, July 12-15, 2018
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 12, 2018 - 8:14amCHICAGO – This is Year Two for the Windy City International Film Festival (WCFF) – from Thursday, July 12th to Sunday, July 15th, 2018 – and the festival that celebrates indie filmmaking both locally and internationally will have its screenings at Chicago’s historic Biograph Theater (2433 North Lincoln Avenue). Also for the second year, the festival is co-directed by Mindy Kay Parks and Josh Hope. For a complete weekend schedule, click here.
Film Review: ‘Get Out’ is Funny, Scary & Tells Us About Us
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 24, 2017 - 11:11amCHICAGO – When he got his chance, writer/director Jordan Peele (“Key & Peele”) completely understood what he had to do – combine his skewered hilarity, love of horror movies and true social conscience, and put them all into one great movie. Ladies and germs, “Get Out.”
Film Review: Schizophrenic ‘Top Five’ is Evolution for Chris Rock
Submitted by PatrickMcD on December 12, 2014 - 5:05amCHICAGO – Chris Rock wants you to take him seriously, so he has made a comedy with inconsistent laughs, and a nod towards the weird fishbowl lives that today’s celebrities endure. It’s a rare film where the last part is stronger than the first few acts, a mishmash that is “Top Five.”
Interview: Deon Cole Hosts ‘Conan’ Writers at Just for Laughs Chicago
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 13, 2012 - 9:15amCHICAGO – While the “Conan” show spends a week in Chicago during the TBS “Just for Laughs” comedy festival, some of his writing staff are showcasing their talents around town in a couple venues. Comedian and “Conan” writer Deon Cole hosts and performs at these events.
Interview: T.J. Miller on His Chicago-Inspired Comedic Sensibility
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 3, 2011 - 3:23pmCHICAGO – T.J. Miller is not yet a household name, but his comic stylings are memorable in such films as “Cloverfield,” “She’s Out of My League,” “Gulliver’s Travels” and the upcoming “Our Idiot Brother.” Those comedic roots are in Chicago, doing stand-up and improv here.
Theater Review: Ellen DeGeneres Brings Laughs, Magic to Chicago Theatre
Submitted by Alissa Norby on June 18, 2010 - 12:41amCHICAGO – “I like the word ‘somewhat’”, mused Ellen DeGeneres Wednesday night onstage at the Chicago Theatre in front of what is now her standard roused audience. “Like you can say, ‘I’m somewhat gay. But my girlfriend’s really gay.’”
Interview: Ellen DeGeneres Takes on Chicago in ‘Just For Laughs’ Festival
Submitted by Alissa Norby on June 10, 2010 - 2:47amCHICAGO – Ellen DeGeneres has always been a woman of many hats. Whether taking a seat as host (or featured dancer) on her Emmy Award-winning talk show “The Ellen Degeneres Show”, offering musical insight to hopefuls on “American Idol”, or lending her voice to the LGBT community, DeGeneres has become a trailblazer of the entertainment industry.