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Theater Review: Kokandy’s ‘Sunday in the Park with George’

adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman) — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 17:17:37 +0000

CHICAGO – Kokandy Productions continues to prove they are the best storefront theatre interpreter of classic Broadway musicals. On the heels of the triumphant staging of HAIR, the downstairs theater at their Chopin headquarters is presenting SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, through November 1st. For tickets/info, click SUNDAY.

Kokandy Productions Presents the Iconic Musical through November 1st, 2026
Photo credit: KokandyProductions.com

Play Rating: 5.0/5.0

SUNDAY is the story of artist George Seurat (Kevin Webb), as he uses the famous pointillist technique in the creation of A SUNDAY AFTERNOON ON THE ISLAND OF LA GRANDE JETTE … now hanging in Chicago’s Art Institute. The stage play opens with the interaction between the artist and his model Dot (Missy Wise Vanderzee) as they flit between a relationship and Seurat’s obsession with creating the famous painting. The rest of the ensemble brings the characters of the painting to life, as they trouble the obsessed artist into completion. In Act 2, the scene switches to modern day, as the great grandson of Seurat, also named George (Webb again) wrestles with the notion of modern art, and the legacy that he somehow cannot escape. Meanwhile, the blank canvas awaits.

Audio Theater Review of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com …

Kokandy Productions presents SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 West Division, Chicago. Featuring Kevin Webb, Missy Wise Vanderzee, Nick Arceo, Danny Andrew Bennett, Rachel Carreras, Ella Carson, Emily Holland, Lauren Miller, Z Moore, Halli Morgan, KyraJo Petit-Walla, Samantha Ringer, Nathe Rowbotham, Jack Saunders and Abraham Shaw. Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by James Lapine. Directed by Derek Van Barham. For more information on Kokandy Productions, click KokandyProductions.com.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor and Film Critic/Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

On-Air Film Review: Isabel Hagen Filmmaker Debut in ‘On a String’

adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman) — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:47:31 +0000

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson for WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on September 10th, 2026, reviewing ON A STRING, the writer/director debut of Isabel Hagen, who also had the lead role. In select theaters since September 11th. See local listings.

Hagen is Isabel, a struggling viola player who goes through a series of gigs trying to keep body and soul together. She works mainly with a quartet partnered with Christina (Ling Ling Huang), but also takes various music jobs including a pop act and violin lessons for kids. When the father of one of her students (Frederick Waller) obviously points his love radar at her, his wife (Jamie Lee) is immediately suspicious. Can Isabel survive her classical trials?

ON A STRING is in select theaters since September 11th, see local listings. Featuring Isabel Hagen, Ling Ling Huang, Frederick Weller, Jamie Lee, Dylan Baker and Eric Bogosian. Written and directed by Isabel Hagen. Rated “R”

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of ON A STRING

ON A STRING
Photo credit: Joke Zero

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of ON A STRING

Theater Review: Promethean Ensemble’s ‘Blood of the Lamb’

adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman) — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 15:01:17 +0000

CHICAGO – Art can fight back. During a decisive time in the debate of women’s reproductive rights, and laws designed to intervene on a woman’s privacy in childbearing, Promethean Theatre Ensemble presents the Chicago Premiere of BLOOD OF THE LAMB, at the Den Theatre through October 3rd. For tickets and information, click LAMB.

Promethean Theatre Emsemble Presentation
Photo credit: PrometheanTheatre.org

Play Rating: 5.0/5.0

Two women walk into a faceless meeting room in an airport. We learn that the younger one is Nessa (Heather Dennis), whose medical emergency has diverted a flight from Los Angeles to New York into Dallas in Texas. The other woman is Val (Kirsten D’Aurelio), a lawyer and interventionist who is speaking for the state, laying out the case against Nessa and for her unborn child. It seems that Nessa is not only pregnant, but she is running into a series of new Texas laws aimed to limit the choices of women who are expectant, even if the situation is medically crucial.

Audio Theater Review of BLOOD OF THE LAMB by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com …

Promethean Theatre Ensemble presents BLOOD OF THE LAMB at the Den Theatre, 1331 North Milwaukee, Chicago. Featuring Kirsten D’Aurelio and Heather Dennis. NOTE: The stage play is performed alternately by Delia Ford as Val and Meghann Tabor as Nessa. Check schedule at link above. Written by Arlene Hutton. Directed by Anna C. Bahow. For more information on Promethean Theatre Ensemble, click PrometheanTheatre.org.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor and Film Critic/Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

On-Air Film Review: Witchly Sisters Re-Appear in ‘Practical Magic 2’

adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman) — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:49:33 +0000

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson for WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on September 10th, 2026, reviewing the new sequel PRACTICAL MAGIC 2, featuring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. In theaters on September 10th.

Sally (Bullock) and Gillian (Kidman) are sisters who come from a long line of witches, and their ancestor has given them a curse … whoever they fall in love with must die. This affects Sally’s daughter Kylie (Joey King), who is canoodling with Gideon (Xolo Maridueña), plus her other daughter Antonia (Maisie Williams). Both sisters don’t know about the curse or their witchy powers. Meanwhile the older witch aunts Frances (Stockard Channing) and Jet (Dianne Wiest) are contemplating the end of their time, and possibly the curse.

PRACTICAL MAGIC 2 is in theaters on September 10th. Featuring Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Joey King, Xolo Maridueña, Maisie Williams, Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest. Screenplay by Akiva Goldman, Georgia Prichett and Kelly Marcel. Directed by Susanne Bier. Rated “PG-13”

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of PRACTICAL MAGIC 2

PRACTICAL MAGIC 2
Photo credit: Warner Bros

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of PRACTICAL MAGIC 2

Audio Film Review: Get an Outside Line in ‘Call My Agent! The Movie’

adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman) — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 20:24:49 +0000

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for the new release CALL MY AGENT! THE MOVIE, a sequel six years after the popular French comedy series and reuniting the show’s principal cast. The film will stream on Netflix beginning September 10th.

Andréa (Camille Cottin) has evolved from partner at the A.S.K. talent agency five years previous, to directing her first feature film. She asks former colleague Noémie (Laure Calamy) to be producer, even as Laure is living with Camille’s former agency partner Mathias (Thibault de Montalembert). The movie being made seems snakebit from the beginning, as a major star drops out two weeks before production and Andréa is scrambling to find a replacement, reluctantly calling former rival Gabriel (Grégory Martel) to call in a favor, and the replacement actor turns out to be a bit of a flake. As the walls close in on the film set, can the friends, lovers and rivals save the movie?

CALL MY AGENT! THE MOVIE is streaming on Netflix beginning September 10th. Featuring Camille Cottin, Laure Calamy, Thibault de Montalembert, Grégory Martel, Nicolas Maury, Lilliane Rovére, Eva Longoria and George Clooney. Written by Fanny Herrero (original series creator). Directed by Émilie Noblet. Rated “TV-MA”

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s Audio Film Review of CALL MY AGENT! THE MOVIE

CALL MY AGENT! THE MOVIE
Photo credit: Netflix

CLICK HERE for Patrick McDonald’s Audio Film Review of CALL MY AGENT! THE MOVIE

Podtalk: Eddie Muller for ‘Noir City Chicago,’ Sept. 4-10, 2026

adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman) — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 22:28:27 +0000

CHICAGO – Eddie Muller, host of Turner Classic Movies “Noir Alley,” is back with NOIR CITY: CHICAGO – and its theme “Face the Music” – at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre, September 4th-10th, 2026. The “Czar of Noir” is also hosting the first weekend of the series. For more info, schedule and tickets, click NOIR CITY.

NOIR CITY: CHICAGO is a week-long celebration of “film noir” … the dark category of film drama that usually takes place at night, and features a rogues gallery of femme fatales, gumshoes, coppers and crooks … that will be hosted by Eddie Muller through Sunday, September 6th, and the Film Noir Foundation’s Alan K. Rode the rest of the way. In “Face the Music” – 19 Tales of Music, Mayhem and … Murder – dark nightclubs, shady hustlers and ambitious performers collide to do the dance of noir.

For his closing day screenings, Muller will be presenting a little known modern noir, directed by Robert Altman, called KANSAS CITY (1996); Elvis Presley in one of his better performances in KING CREOLE (1958); Jimmy Cagney and Doris Day in the darkly emotional LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME (1955); and Jack Webb of DRAGNET (also director), with Janet Leigh in PETE KELLY’S BLUES (1955).

Hosted by Eddie Muller (inset) through September 6
Photo credit: MusicBoxTheatre.com

Eddie Muller is the recognized world expert on film noir, who got his designation the “Czar of Noir” through James McEllroy, author of L.A. CONFIDENTIAL. His father, also named Eddie Muller, was a renown sports writer for the San Francisco Examiner, covering the golden age and the underbelly in the boxing world. Eddie the Second followed in his father’s footsteps, beginning his career as a journalist, and eventually writing a novel about boxing and San Francisco. While plying that trade, he attended film school in the late 1970s, garnering a finalist nod for a student Academy Award in 1979 for “Bay City Blues,” his homage to literary noir-ist Raymond Chandler.

From there, he delved into the noir world in both film and design, and has written film books like “Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir.” Besides programming the traveling Noir City film screenings for the past several years, he is host on Turner Classic Movies Noir Alley, every Saturday night and repeated Sunday morning. He is also the founder of the Film Noir Foundation, dedicated to education and restoration of the genre. His latest theme-based book is NOIR BAR, which recommends classic cocktail pairings and recipes with 50 Noir film legends, and he is about to release a new book, which he explains in the Podtalk below.

In Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Czar of Noir Eddie Muller provides background perspective on 2026 NOIR CITY: CHICAGO …

NOIR CITY: CHICAGO 2026 takes place through September 10th at the Music Box Theatre, Chicago, hosted by Eddie Muller and Alan K. Rode. For more information on the Music Box Theatre, click MusicBoxTheatre.com. For more on Eddie Muller, go to EddieMuller.com.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor and Film Critic/Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

Podtalk: Thomas Z. Seffernick of ‘The Queer Creative Lounge’

adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman) — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 17:30:06 +0000

CHICAGO – Recently a new Networking and Community Fundraising event took place at Wil’s Martini Lounge in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, with the goal to bring a community together that are facing challenges in the current arts environment. The Queer Creative Lounge was a gathering of the LBGTQIA+ nation in the Windy City on August 26th to have an evening, according to coordinator Thomas Z. Seffernick, “centered on celebrating, supporting, and strengthening the community.”

Thomas Z. Seffernick is a Chicago-area filmmaker, producer, and founder of Z Marc Productions, a company focused on amplifying LGBTQ+ and BIPOC voices in film and television. He has worked in association with the TV and film industry since 2014, and his production/location works resume includes CHICAGO FIRE/MED, THE BEAR, EMPIRE and DARK MATTER. He also served as executive producer on CASTAWAY, a narrative short centered on a queer son and his estranged father, which was highlighted at the The Queer Creative Lounge.

The Queer Creative Lounge
Photo credit: ZMarcProductions.com

In a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Thomas Seffernick talks Z Marc Productions and The Queer Creative Lounge …

The 44th edition of Chicago’s REELING2026 LGBTQ+ International Film Festival is from September 17th-27th. For information, the schedule and ticket options, CLICK HERE.

For more information on Z Marc Productions, click ZMarcProductions.com.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor and Film Critic/Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

On-Air Series Review: ‘Dark Matter’ Season 2 Streams on Apple TV

adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman) — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:09:15 +0000

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Jason Makos for WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on September 3rd, 2026, reviewing Season Two streaming series DARK MATTER, featuring Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly. Streaming on Apple TV since August 28th.

BACK FROM VACATION! HollywoodChicago.com resumes its EVERYTHING ENTERTAINMENT coverage!

DARK MATTER Season 2
Photo credit: Apple TV

Television Rating: 4.0/5.0

The basic premise is that a man named Jason (Joel Edgerton) is living a quiet life in Chicago with his wife Daniela (Jennifer Connelly) and son Charlie (Oakes Fegley). One day Jason is kidnapped by a mysterious man, who looks exactly like him. He is Jason2, and he has invented THE BOX, a device that allows him to jump from his existence and universe to Jason’s world. He kidnaps the original Jason to switch lives with him, living with Daniela and Charlie as if he were the real husband/father.

Meanwhile the original Jason is stuck in Jason2’s world, but finds an ally in Amanda (Alice Braga) who helps him to get back to his wife and kid, and get revenge on Jason2. To get back to his home Jason and Amanda must go through a series of multiple universes, while being pursued by other Jasons in those universes, and two scientists in the Jason2 world named Blair and Ryan (Amanda Brugel and Jimmi Simpson). Can this Odyssey come to an end?

Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com reviewed DARK MATTER Season 2 during the Morning Mess on WBGR-FM, Monroe, Wisconsin, September 3, 2026 …

CLICK HERE for the HollywoodChicago.com interviews with DARK MATTER series creator/source novelist Blake Crouch and series regular actor Amanda Brugel.

DARK MATTER Season Two is currently streaming on Apple TV. Featuring Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Oakes Fegley, Alice Braga, Jimmi Simpson, Dayo Okeniyi and Amanda Brugel. Created by Blake Crouch. Rated “TV-MA”

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor and Film Critic/Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

Podtalk, Review: Writer/Director Joe Swanberg on ‘The Sun Never Sets’

adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman) — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 01:56:11 +0000

CHICAGO – Writer, Producer and Director Joe Swanberg has led a lot of lives in his multi-faceted career. The prolific filmmaker has a new and exquisitely empathetic relationship film called THE SUN NEVER SETS, and made an appearance on behalf of its Chicago debut last weekend, with featured actor Cory Michael Smith. THE SUN NEVER SETS will open nationwide on September 4th. See local listings.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

The film focuses on Wendy (Dakota Fanning), in a relationship with Jack (Jake Johnson), a divorced older man with children in Anchorage, Alaska. During the “sun never sets” season, Jack surprises her with a dictum to take a six month break in order for Wendy to know that their coupling is the right thing for her. The plan backfires initially, when suddenly ex-boyfriend Chuck (Cory Michael Smith) re-emerges and Wendy is interested. It’s opening weekend in Chicago was its premiere, and THE SUN NEVER SETS will open wide on September 4th. See local listings.

THE SUN NEVER SETS
Photo credit: IFC Films

The emotional beauty of the film is how decisions that are made, sound decisions, still have a capacity to collapse a circumstance that was perfectly fine … in this case Jack’s notion to give Wendy some space. As each domino falls within the decision, it reveals the inner lives of each of its characters. The main players Dakota Fanning, Jake Johnson and Cory Michael Smith on on point, taking the skeletal/improvisational filmmaking style of Joe Swanberg and creating an authentic take on how adults manage to both screw things up and ultimately find a sense of redemption.

Joe Swanberg made his reputation by pioneering the micro-budget approach to filmmaking, and was able to break into the mainstream film industry with his offbeat improvised approach to his stories. His debut was 2005’s KISSING ON THE MOUTH, and notable films includes HANNAH TAKES THE STAIRS (with Greta Gerwig, DRINKING BUDDIES (with Olivia Wilde), HAPPY CHRISTMAS (with Anna Kendrick) and DIGGING FOR FIRE (with SUN SETS lead Jake Johnson). THE SUN NEVER SETS is his 21st feature film as director.

Director Joe Swanberg of THE SUN NEVER SETS
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

In a Two-Part Comprehensive Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Joe Swanberg on THE SUN NEVER SETS in Part One …

In Part Two, Joe takes on a variety of topics …

THE SUN NEVER SETS has a nationwide releases on September 4th. See local listings. Featuring Dakota Fanning, Jake Johnson, Cory Michael Smith, Debby Ryan and Lamorne Morris. Written and directed by Joe Swanberg. Rated “R”

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor and Film Critic/Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

Podtalk: Actor Amanda Brugel & Creator Blake Crouch of ‘Dark Matter’

adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman) — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 15:41:28 +0000

CHICAGO – The Apple TV audience favorite streaming series DARK MATTER is coming back for a second season. The mind bending multi-universe thriller is from the novel by Blake Crouch, who astoundingly is also the creator and show runner for the series. Actor Amanda Brugel has a key role as the universe hopping Blair, and Joel Edgerton is back as Jason in multiplicity.

Amanda Brugel and Blake Crouch of DARK MATTER
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald for HollywoodChicago.com

Amanda Brugel is a Canadian-born actor, producer and writer with a stellar career. After making her TV movie debut in A DIVA’S CHRISTMAS CAROL, she is best known for her work in THE HANDMAID’S TALE, KIM’S CONVENIENCE and ORPHAN BLACK. Blake Crouch, who took his source novel DARK MATTER and became the creator and show runner of the series, is a prolific writer known also for DESERT PLACES, WAYWARD PINES and most recently FAMOUS.

In a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Amanda Brugel reflects on her character Blair in DARK MATTER …

Original source novelist, creator and show runner Blake Couch on DARK MATTER …

DARK MATTER Season Two streams on Apple TV beginning August 28th. Featuring Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Oakes Fegley, Alice Braga, Jimmi Simpson, Dayo Okeniyi and Amanda Brugel. Created by Blake Crouch. Rated “TV-MA”

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor and Film Critic/Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com