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CHICAGO – One the brightest comedies set in Chicago is “South Side,” created by Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle. The series began on Comedy Central and moved to HBO Max, and Season Three began streaming on December 8th, 2022, with the same free-wheeling and hilarious misadventures of Simon and Kareme.

CHICAGO – There is no bigger current icon in American ballet than Misty Copeland. The dancer, who experienced a meteoric rise nearly from the moment she took First Position, was the first black dancer to be named to Principal at the American Ballet Theatre. She has written a new book, about her mentor Raven Wilkinson, entitled “The Wind at My Back.”

CHICAGO – Karen Cardarelli has a plan. She was named Executive Director of Chicago’s FACETS Multi-Media in February of 2020, and during that time she has overseen its evolution. Currently, the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival is being presented through November 20th. Click CICFF for info/schedule/tickets.

CHICAGO – In this spooky season of Halloween, why not get “Bewitched” by three women Sopranos, under the group name Tres Belle. Marisa Buchheit, Kimberly Jones and Kirsten Leslie will perform an eclectic set of opera, show tunes, the Great American Songbook and even pop at their appropriately entitled show “Bewitched: A Spooky Night of Song with Tres Belle.” Click BEWITCHED for details and tickets.

CHICAGO – One of the greatest challenges of any actor is the portrayal of a person in history that is familiar to most of the culture. Orson Welles is such a man, and Jewell Wilson Bridges took on his persona in the new film “Voodoo MacBeth.” He plays Welles as the “Boy Genius” stage director, age 21 in 1936.

CHICAGO – Filmmaker Alex Thompson makes a triumphant return to the Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) with his second feature, “Rounding,” screening on October 15th & 16th. CLICK ALEX T for info/tickets.

CHICAGO – A filmmaker’s feature debut is a special moment, made more special when the debut takes place in the filmmaker’s Chicagoland roots. Ms. Alex Heller screens “The Year Between” at the 58th Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) on October 14th (8:30p) and 16th, 2022.

CHICAGO – One of the more popular series at the 58th Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) – with Opening Night on October 12th, 2022 – is the After Dark series. The title screams horror films, but the series also focuses on outliers in categories such as sci-fi, fantasy and the just plain bizarre. Raul Benitez … the programmer of After Dark …

CHICAGO – The 58th Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) is here, and opens Wednesday, October 12th, 2022, at Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre with “A Compassionate Spy,” from master documentary maker Steve James (“Hoop Dreams”).

CHICAGO – A fascinating documentary on the essence of ardent hockey fanatics is in “The Fan Connection’ by Mary Wall, her debut film. Wall is originally from the Buffalo, New York, area and observed the hope that the Buffalo Sabres NHL hockey team gave the sports crazy city, which resulted in her chronicle in “The Fan Connection.” The film will screen at the Wilmette (Illinois) Theatre on October 7th and 8th, with an appearance by Mary Wall. Click LET’S GO BUFFALO for details and a ticket link.