Category Archives: Celebrity
Blake Lewis at Borderline Music February 13th
Saturday, February 13th 2:00pm
at the Boystown store, 3333 N. Broadway.
His second album HEARTBREAK ON VINYL was released this past October. You can come hear some of his favorite music and he will be signing autographs!
The Best of Gay Chicago
Lesbian Comic Kate Clinton in Chicago Sunday January 24th
Kate Clinton has been a comedian for over 25 years, specializing in political commentary from a gay/lesbian point of view. She was born in Buffalo, New York. She grew up Catholic in New York State and taught high school English for eight years before becoming a comedian. She began her stand-up career in 1981 using her lesbianism, Catholicism and current politics for her jokes. Clinton is a self-described “fumerist,” or feminist humorist, who has set out to prove that being lesbian can be, and often is, funny.
Clinton takes on the burning issues of the day – popes, politics, marriage, sex, pop culture. You’ll laugh ’til you think!
Sunday, January 24th 6pm, @ Center on Halsted
Tickets $40
The Best of Gay Chicago
The Addams Family Pre-Broadway Run in Chicago – Thru January 10th with Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth
Tony Award® winners
Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth
put on a fresh new
THE ADDAMS FAMILY
on Broadway last night.
It was the official Pre-Broadway World Premiere last night in Chicago at the Ford Center Oriental Theatre. The show runs thru January 10th then heads to New York City at the Lunt-Fintanne Theatre in March.
It’s an Addams Family portrait slightly different than the television and movie versions. So at times, it is difficult to grasp the new Gomez and the new and changed Pugsley. John Astin was a brilliant Gomez! And Raul Julia was suave and romantic. Nathan Lane – is Nathan Lane – as Gomez. It’s not necessarily a bad thing – just different than what you would expect.
Gomez, is still all mad impetuosity, Bebe Neuwirth is a convincing Morticia, equal parts fire and ice, eye-popping Uncle Fester (Kevin Chamberlain), is entertaining, restless and romantic, the crazy Grandma (Jackie Hoffman) is brilliantly funny and underused, Pugsley the little brother is still Pugsley and Wednesday, who is now eighteen years old and finally feeling what it means to be a woman, really brings something different to the character and the story. It’s a family that’s quite shockingly, and endearingly dysfunctional, probably just like yours!
The last time Nathan Lane was similarly in Chicago – for the pre-broadway premiere of Mel Brooks’ The Producers – the show quickly turned into international gold, so hopes are high for The Addams Family.
It’s important to remember, that this original musical by Tony-nominated librettists Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (Jersey Boys) and Drama Desk Award winner Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party) is not based on past Addams Family properties, but uses characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams. The Addams illustrations inspired a TV sitcom, a TV cartoon series and two live-action feature film comedies.
I grew up with the TV show – and I adored Raul Julia, Angelica Houston, Christopher Lloyd and Christina Ricci in the film versions! Just go with an open mind, knowing it will be different. It’s the Addams Family – Meets Broadway.
I think in New York, the 1,400-seat Lint-Fintanne will be much better suited for the show and it’s wonderful stage – as oppposed to the much larger 2,400-seat Oriental Theatre here in Chicago.
I LOVE the Oriental Theatre! But the intimacy of being in the Addams house, is sometimes lost, especially for those further back from the stage. The staging and set itself is gorgeous and costumes and lighting are all great.
Ford Oriental Theatre
24 W. Randolph
Chicago 60601
Broadway In Chicago Ticketline
at (800) 775-2000.
Heather McDonald – Comedians of Chelsea Lately in Chicago At Zanies December 29
Heather McDonald is a seasoned stand up comedienne, actress and writer.
For the last 2 years she has gained popularity on Chelsea Handler’s Chelsea Lately show on E! She is a full-time writer and story producer on the show and makes regular appearances at the show’s “round table discussions”.
ZANIES in Old Town December 29th,
ZANIES in St. Charles December 30th,
and ZANIES in Vernon Hills December 31st
Zanies Box Office at 312-337-4027
What can we expect from Heather? “I talk about my life. I’m married and have been married for 9 years and I have two kids and a stepdaughter and I talk about all that. I don’t know what they edited from it but I did a lot of my impression stuff since I know that’s what I’m known for but I tell stories…my life is pretty funny. I live next door to my parents; I chose to buy a house next door to my parents. [laughs] It’s great if I run out of milk or chardonnay or if my husband used one of my last Vicodin but it’s also like sometimes there’s a lot of pressure. My Mom is practically having an affair with my husband because she wants him to fix things but my Dad is this former Marine that has major ego problems so she’ll be like “Peter, Bob is going to the doctor. Can you come over?” And I talk a lot about pop culture and things. I watch a lot of TV and I can act out episodes and stuff.”
And NO, she doesn’t really have LONG BOOBS, as Chelsea affectionately likes to imply! “Oh my God! I was at the Playboy mansion and someone was like ‘Long Boobs!’ Or someone will come up and say ‘I’ve got long boobs, too!’ I say ‘Listen, it’s a joke. I don’t. But if you want to go to the bathroom to show you, I will.’ But I don’t care because it is such a funny name and one time I did a show with Chelsea and this woman gave me a joke thing that was this long boobs bra, like something you’d get at Spencer’s, and it was hilarious. I mean, I show them off a lot so they deserve to be made fun of. I’m huge on the cleavage so fine, go ahead and do it.”
See you at ZANIES!
Follow Heather on twitter! Join Heather Facebook Fan Page!
Add Heather on Facebook! Add Heather on MySpace
The Best of Gay Chicago
The Original Vampire Lesbians of Sodom…Charles Busch and Julie Halston..in Chicago December 7th
ALMOST SOLD OUT!
The original Vampire Lesbians of Sodom will be together again, if only for one night, when alt-theater mainstays Charles Busch and Julie Halston present an unpredictable evening of fun and conversation, Monday, December 7 at 7:30 pm at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago.
Known for his drag star alter-egos in works like Die, Mommie, Die! and Psycho Beach Party, as well as the Tony nominated Broadway hit, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, writer-director-actor Charles Busch will take the stage with his best friend and muse, Julie Halston. She is the acclaimed actress most recognized as Bitsy Von Muffling from Sex and The City who began her career originating roles in Busch’s Vampire Lesbians of Sodom.
For one night only, the pair will recount their theatrical climb from campy cult success to critical acclaim on film, television, and Broadway. Through anecdotes, film clips and recreating scenes from Busch’s plays, the duo will share the triumphs and tribulations that made for longevity in not only their professional lives but their friendship as well.
An Evening with Charles Busch & Julie Halston is presented as part of Victory Gardens Fresh Squeezed, a series of offbeat performance-based events targeting younger and diverse audiences, featuring a special spotlight on LGBTQ-focused work in 2009/2010.
Tickets to An Evening with Charles Busch & Julie Halston are $30 in advance; $35 at the door – if available .
For tickets and information, call 773.871.3000, or purchase online at Victory Gardens .
The Best of Gay Chicago
Eduardo Sanchez: Reaching for Seventh Moon with Blair Witch’s Passionate Creator… By Guest Writer Brian Kirst
Co-Director and Writer of
BLAIR WITCH PROJECT,
Eduardo Sanchez will be appearing at Movieside Film Festival’s Terror in the Aisles 3 in Chicago on Saturday, Dec 5th at 7PM at The Portage Theater, 4050 N. Milwaukee Avenue along with writer/director ‘Night of the Creeps’ Fred Dekker.
This week, our guest writer Brian Kirst caught up with Sanchez who shared his thoughts about the Blair Witch Project and reflects on his other projects….
“Blair Witch gave me a career. I could buy a house, a car. And as for making films, it gives me a reputation that sets me above the average person,” the down to earth Eduardo Sanchez (co-creator of the phenomenon known as The Blair Witch Project, now celebrating its ten year anniversary) gratefully explains. “It’s a recognizable brand for the rest of my life.”
“That movie was so huge,” he continues, “It was like hitting a grand slam the first time at bat – the stars couldn’t have aligned any more. But, we are mortal filmmakers. I’m not going to make a Blair Witch every time. I got lucky and made it once!”
As for the reaction to his follow-up films, Altered and Seventh Moon, the realistic Sanchez states, “It’s not only public opinion – it’s my own. I put as much energy into those films as Blair Witch – I’m always trying to make a great film so I can’t help but be disappointed when they go straight to DVD. Still, I am as excited about movies as I’ve ever been – and I’m trying to find out where I belong. Am I going to make movies that come out in theaters? – I’m fine being a modest film maker. – I know people really hate my films or love my films. But – most movies are like that. No movie is everything to everyone. But a bad review – even if it’s some punk-ass 14 year old kid blogging – still bugs the crap out of me – even though I know it’s ridiculous.”
But despite any negative reaction, Sanchez provides, “I’ve only done three films. One was the biggest success (Blair Witch), one was not the biggest success (Altered) and one – who knows what will happen (Seventh Moon)? So, I say let’s keep batting! I’ve gotta keep making films that excite me. When I’m not excited anymore – then I can hang it up. As long as I can keep the energy – that’s all I can do!”
And that Sanchez brand of energy has truly produced some remarkable scares since Blair Witch’s heyday. Altered provides an intense psychological sci-fi gore show (although the studio, wanting a Hostel-Saw combination, initially shelved it) and Sanchez asserts, “It’s the exact movie I wanted to make. I loved the idea of the initial script called Probe and it’s slowly building an audience. It’s still making money.”
Meanwhile, Seventh Moon, recently debuted to much publicity and praise and the proud Sanchez recalls, “Seventh Moon was an experiment. I worked one of the cameras for the first time since film school. I developed a feel for what the movie was supposed to be like and was able to do it. I decided I was going to make a movie that scares people in a few places. I probably went too deep into Hell due to some reactions, actually. It’s one night of Hell for this couple and what it does for them”
What lead Amy Smart did, though, was make a true fan out of Sanchez. “Amy was cool – is one of those people that is just a pro. She turns it on! She’s Amy Smart – all bubbly and cool – and then I yell action and she is all terrified and in it. I would love to work with her again.”
Until that time, Sanchez is definitely keeping his plate full. “Jamie Nash is my favorite collaborator and we’re doing a second season of the online series ParaAbnormal and we’re working on a film called Possession. With that, I am going back to first person cinema. It’s low budget, probably under half a million, and I’m very excited about it.”
Of course, not nearly as excited as the many fans that can’t wait to see what other dark spaces the deep and provocative Sanchez’s mind will take them in to.
Don’t miss this weekends event!
Films shown will be the unrated director’s cut of Dekker’s Night of the Creeps, the original 1974 slasher classic, Black Christmas and celebrating its 10th anniversary, and Sanchez’s Blair Witch Project. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at the door or online at Brown Paper Tickets !
More info on MySpace and also at Best Gay Chicago.
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