<description>&lt;p&gt;Who doesn't like a good dinosaur exhibit? Especially at Chicago's Field Museum? This month on Backstage with Lisa Fielding, we switch things up and talk with paleontologist and scientist Jingmai O'Connor about her work, Sue the dinosaur, and more.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;-----&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Thanks to Jingmai O'Connor, Bill Simpson, Kate Goalembesske. Caleb Bohus, Sue the T-Rex and podcast producer Arielle Raveney for their contributions to this month's episode. &lt;/p&gt;</description>

This month on Backstage with Lisa Fielding, we switch things up and talk with paleontologist and scientist JingMai O'conner

Punk Rock Paleontologist at the Field Museum

<description>&lt;p dir="auto"&gt;In the latest episode, we talk with an iconic Chicago-based children's choir that was created in a direct response to the civil rights movements to bring people of all background together. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p dir="auto"&gt;From the suburbs to the city proper, we hear from a student who's been performing since she was a child, the president of Uniting Voices of Chicago, a parent looking for enrichment for her daughter plus, a look at how this group continues their efforts to instill the arts into the youth of today.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;-----&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Thanks to Josephine Lee, Judy Hanson, Mitchell Owens, and Ella and Donna Anello for their contribution to this month's episode&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Follow the UVC to stay up to date on their initiatives: &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;-Uniting Voices: &lt;a href="https://www.facebook.com/unitingvoicesorg"&gt;FB&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/unitingvoicesorg/"&gt;Insta&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/uniting_voices"&gt;Twitter&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;-Josephine Lee: &lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/j.o.s.e.p.h.i.n.e.l.e.e/"&gt;Insta&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://linktr.ee/josephinelee"&gt;Linktree&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;-Mitchell Owens: &lt;a href="@themaestro3"&gt;Insta&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;-----&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Have an arts/culture/entertainment idea for us to cover in an upcoming Backstage episode? Tweet &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/Lisa_Fielding"&gt;@Lisa_Fielding&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

In the latest episode, we talk with an iconic Chicago-based children's choir that was created in a direct response to the civil rights movements to bring people of all background together.

Cue to Choir:  Uniting Voices of Chicago

<description>&lt;p dir="auto"&gt;In the latest episode, we talk to a circus power couple. He is a professional juggler, a AGT finalist, a family man, and proud Ukrainian. His wife, a world famous Mongolian contortionist. Viktor Kee and Ulzii Mergen talk about their experiences in the spotlight, her harrowing journey from war-torn Ukraine and their hopes for their new lives in Chicago.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;The podcast will continue on a monthly basis where we'll give you an inside look at the arts &amp;amp; culture scene around the Chicagoland area.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;-----&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Thanks to Victor Kee, Ulzii Mergen, Broadway In Chicago, America's Got Talent, Cirque de Sole, Moulin Rouge and Cabaret Zazou "Luminaree" for their contribution to this month's episode. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Keep tabs on where Kee and Mergen are in the world:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;-Viktor Kee: &lt;a href="http://www.viktorkeefoundation.com/"&gt;Website&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/viktorkee/?hl=en"&gt;Insta&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/viktorkee"&gt;Twitter&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;-Ulzii Mergen: &lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/ulziikee/?hl=en"&gt;Insta&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsL7U-bApiQ"&gt;YouTube&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://www.facebook.com/UMergen/"&gt;Facebook&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://cyrkulacje.eu/en/masterclass/ulziibuyan-mergen-flexibility-contortion-handstand/"&gt;Masterclass&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;And check out their show: &lt;a href="https://cabaretzazou.com/"&gt;Cabaret Zazou&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://www.broadwayinchicago.com/"&gt;Broadway in Chicago&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;-----&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Have an arts/culture/entertainment idea for us to cover in an upcoming Backstage episode? Tweet &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/Lisa_Fielding"&gt;@Lisa_Fielding&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

rom being an AGT finalist, a professional juggler, a family man, a proud Ukrainian and entertainer, Viktor Kee and his contortionist wife, Ulzii Mergen talk about their experiences in the spotlight.

From Ukraine to Cabaret Zazou

<description>&lt;p&gt;We're back! We're turning the lights on and opening up the curtains for Backstage Chicago with Lisa Fielding. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;The podcast will continue on a monthly basis where we'll give you an inside look at the arts &amp;amp; culture scene around the Chicagoland area.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;In the latest episode, we spotlight the Chicago International Film Festival. We take you back to where it all began, we'll talk to up and coming directors, we'll tell you how films are chosen each year and how the event has become THE platform for new directors to showcase their work. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;-----&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Thanks to Michael Kutza, Mimi Plauche, Mercedes Kane, and Alex Thompson for talking with us for this episode.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Stay up to date the the Chicago International Film Fest on their &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/chifilmfest"&gt;Twitter&lt;/a&gt; &amp;amp; &lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/chifilmfest/"&gt;Insta.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;And follow:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;-Mercedes Kane: &lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/mercedesmkane/"&gt;Insta&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://www.daisymayfilms.com/"&gt;Daisy May Films&lt;/a&gt;; "Art &amp;amp; Pep": &lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/artandpep/"&gt;Insta&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://www.facebook.com/artandpep"&gt;FB&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;-Alex Thompson: &lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/alexthompson416/"&gt;Insta&lt;/a&gt;; "Rounding": &lt;a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/rounding-film-review-1235165437/"&gt;Review&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;-Michael Kutza: &lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/kutzamichael/"&gt;Insta&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;-----&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Have an arts/culture/entertainment idea for us to cover in an upcoming Backstage episode? Tweet &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/Lisa_Fielding"&gt;@Lisa_Fielding&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

We're turning the lights up and opening the curtains wide for Backstage Chicago with Lisa Fielding. We talk with organizers of the Chicago International Film Festival and directors of films who have been featured there.

Chicago Is A Film City

<description>&lt;p&gt;This week on Backstage Chicago, She's one of the few women calling the shots backstage in the live performance industry. Rachel Tobias has been the stage manager for the Lyric Opera for 20 years. She calls herself the air traffic controller of every stage production. We'll talk to Rachel about being a mega multi-tasker and what it feels like when the curtain rises and falls and why the adrenaline rush arrives AFTER the show is over.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

This week on Backstage Chicago, She's one of the few women calling the shots backstage in the live performance industry. Rachel Tobias has been the stage manager for the Lyric Opera for 20 years. She calls herself the air traffic controller of every stage production. We'll talk to Rachel about being a mega multi-tasker and what it feels like when the curtain rises and falls and why the adrenaline rush arrives AFTER the show is over.

Lyric Opera: The woman behind the curtain

Join WBBM&rsquo;s Lisa Fielding for Backstage Chicago. Lisa takes you behind the curtain with entertainment insiders. She&rsquo;ll get a first look at pre-Broadway rehearsals, explore the latest art exhibitions, talk to the artists and creators who are finally back to work, and experience Chicago&rsquo;s long-awaited return to live, in-person performances. Listen to new episodes every Thursday.

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