Category Archives: Theater in Chicago
Larry Kramer’s The Tragedy of Today’s Gays
Open Space Arts presents a world premiere stage event
THE KRAMER PROJECT to benefit Center on Halsted
The inaugural production is adapted and directed by David Zak
Open Space Arts announced its inaugural production of THE KRAMER PROJECT directed and adapted by David Zak from Larry Kramer’s (THE NORMAL HEART) watershed speech “The Tragedy of Today’s Gays”.
“In this season of anti-trans legislation, looming supreme court decisions, and orders to ‘Don’t Say Gay”, I found myself wondering ‘What would Larry Kramer say?’” recounts Zak. “‘The Tragedy of Today’s Gays’ calls out to be shared in a new way even now, two years after his death.”
This will be the first production for Open Space Arts, a non-profit dedicated to producing works of social relevance. All proceeds of the production will go to the Center on Halsted, a community center for LGBT+ Chicagoans in Lakeview.
The production runs July 22 – July 31 at Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted.
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(sidebar – if you are NOT familiar with Larry Kramer, he was a noted writer whose raucous, antagonistic campaign for an all-out response to the AIDS crisis helped shift national health policy in the 1980s and ’90s.
An author, essayist and playwright — notably hailed for his autobiographical 1985 play, “The Normal Heart” — Mr. Kramer had feet in both the world of letters and the public sphere. In 1981 he was a founder of New York’s Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the very first service organization for H.I.V.-positive people, though his fellow directors effectively kicked him out a year later for his aggressive approach.
He was then a founder of a more militant group, Act Up (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), whose street actions demanding a speedup in AIDS drugs research and an end to discrimination against gay men and lesbians severely disrupted the operations of government offices, Wall Street and the Roman Catholic hierarchy.
He passed away in 2020 at the age of 24
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Demoralized by the reelection of George W. Bush in 2004 and the 60 million voters who chose his ‘Moral Values,’ Larry Kramer gave what he called ‘the most difficult speech I ever had to give.” That speech, titled “The Tragedy of Today’s Gays”, was heralded as a “strident but truthful lecture” by The Boston Globe. In the wake of Trump’s presidency, David Zak revisited the speech and “found it still vibrant and stirring.” Zak initially worked with Kramer to adapt his speech into a theatrical work, having worked with the author previously on the Chicago premiere of Kramer’s comedy about the Reagans JUST SAY NO.
THE KRAMER PROJECT is the first event for Open Space Arts, a new non-profit dedicated to works of social relevance. Ticket sales from the six performances will benefit Center on Halsted, the Midwest’s most comprehensive community center dedicated to advancing community and securing the health and well-being of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) people of Chicagoland.
The Cast includes Tom Chiola, Keith Butler, Elijah Newman, Hailey Hance, Roberto del Rio, Alexandria Moorman, and Ryan Quade. The video design is by Magdiel Carmona, and the original music is by Elijah Newman.
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THE KRAMER PROJECT
Adapted and Directed by David G. Zak from a “The Tragedy of Today’s Gays” by Larry Kramer
Produced by Open Space Arts / July 21, 22, 23, 28, 30, and 31 at 7PM
Hoover-Leppen Theater on the 3rd Floor of Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted, Chicago, IL 60613
Located in Lakeview, north of the Addison Redline stop, near the 36, 8, and 152 CTA Bus lines
Tickets are $30 VIP, $20 General, $10 Seniors and Students.
Tickets on sale starting June 15 at https://www.centeronhalsted.org/
BEST Mariachi Band Comes to Chicagoland Feb 8th
Award-winning Mariachi ensemble to perform at Moraine Valley
Mariachi Herencia De México will perform its award-winning traditional Mexican music on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the Dorothy Menker Theater at Moraine Valley Community College, 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills.
Tickets are $30, $25 for seniors, and free for children and students with ID. Those who qualify for free admission must acquire a ticket to reserve a seat.
This ensemble of students from Chicago’s immigrant barrios started in 2014 as a music education program for Chicago Public school students. The group has earned a Latin Grammy nomination in the Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album category, and its latest album, “Herencia de la Tierra Mia,” debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Latin Album sales chart.
Mariachi Herencia de México has performed alongside major artists, Lila Downs, Aida Cuevas, Los Lobos, Pedro Fernández, as well as some of the most respected mariachi groups from both sides of the border, including Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Los Camperos, Sol de Mexico, Cobre, and the all-female group Reyna de Los Angeles.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Fine and Performing Arts Center Box Office at (708) 974-5500 or visit morainevalley.edu/fpac.
Chicago Premiere of CASA VALENTINA by Harvey Fierstein
You can’t go wrong with a play written by Harvey Fierstein!
I mean, come on! He does no wrong!
Casa Valentina was written by Harvey Fierstein which premiered on Broadway in April 2014 and opened in London in September 2015.
Pride Films and Plays’ Chicago Premiere of CASA VALENTINA, by Harvey Fierstein, one of the giants of gay writing and stagecraft of our time. CASA VALENTINA was nominated for a Tony Award® for Best Play. Pride Films and Plays Artistic Associate Michael D. Graham directs this delightful ensemble.
CASA VALENTINA is set in 1962, in an inconspicuous bungalow colony in New York’s Catskill Mountains that caters to a very special clientele: cis-gender straight men who delight in dressing and acting as women while away on vacation. These white-collar professionals discreetly escape their regular routines to spend certain weekends safely inhabiting their chosen female alter-egos. But given the opportunity to share their secret lives with the world, the members of this hidden society must decide whether the freedom gained by openness is worth the risk of personal ruin.
Read our playbill here! Buy tickets here!
Based on real events and infused with Fierstein’s trademark wit, this moving, insightful, and delightfully entertaining work offers a glimpse into the lives of a group of “self-made women” as they search for acceptance and happiness in their very own Garden of Eden. While the characters of CASA VALENTINA are not men who identify as gay, it continues Pride Films and Plays’ exploration of all things gender related, that are essential viewing for all audiences.
Graham’s cast will include Patrick Byrnes (seen most recently in FROST/NIXON at Redtwist Theatre) as George/Valentina and Nicholia Q. Aguirre (HOME ON THE LAKE with Piven Theatre) as George’s wife Rita, the proprietors of Casa Valentina. Danne W. Taylor, who played “The Playwright” – a character inspired by Tennessee Williams in Pride Films and Plays’ HIS GREATNESS – will be Charlotte. Also in the cast are Kingsley Day (City Lit’s TWO DAYS IN COURT) as Theodore/Terry, Michael Hagedorn (THE LIAR with Promethean Theatre Ensemble) as Albert/Bessie, Robert Koon (FUN HARMLESS WARMACHINE for The New Colony) as Judge/Amy, Micah Kronlokken (HOLDING THE MAN for Pride Films and Plays) as Jonathan/Miranda, Josh Marshall (MACBETH with Saltbox Theatre Collective) as Michael/Gloria, and BethAnn Smukowski (THE FRONT PAGE with St. Sebastian Players) as Eleanor. Jessica Goforth and Casey Coppess are understudies.
CASA VALENTINA By Harvey Fierstein
Directed by Michael Graham.
NOW thru September 29, 2019
Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 5 pm.
Premium seats $40, general admission seats $30, student/senior/military $25 (not valid Saturdays)
Pride Arts Center – the Broadway, 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago
Tickets available by phone at 866-811-4111 or 773-857-0222 or online at www.pridefilmsandplays.com
Pride Films and Plays produces a year-round festival of work centered on LGBTQ characters or themes that are essential viewing for all. Since opening Pride Arts Center in 2016, with our two intimate spaces, Pride Films and Plays is in many ways the center of queer programming in the Midwest thanks to our award-winning full productions, cabarets, film fests, new play development and special events. Founded in 2010, Pride Films and Plays has earned 36 Jeff Recommendations and Awards.
Working with a small staff, a great group of dedicated artists, and a devoted board, Pride Films and Plays continues to bridge LGBTQ history to works of the most exciting new writers.
Cirques Volta – Final Days!
LAST CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THE HIGH ENERGY AND ACROBATIC WONDERS OF ‘VOLTA’ IN CHICAGO!
Cirque du Soleil’s new Big Top production leaves
Soldier Field’s South Lot on Saturday, July 6
VOLTA, Cirque du Soleil’s newest Big Top production, has less than two weeks left at Soldier Field’s South Lot, 461 E. 18th Drive, with its final performance being held on Saturday, July 6, 2019. VOLTA is the 25th Cirque du Soleil production to visit Chicago and marks the 30th Anniversary of Cirque du Soleil’s first engagement here in 1989 (with Cirque Réinventé).
Cirque du Soleil’s commitment goes beyond the performance, as it aims to positively impact people, communities and the planet with its best assets: art and creativity. During its stay in Chicago, more than 500 VOLTA tickets were donated to eight local organizations geared towards at-risk youth, including Children First Funds, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago and Golden Key Youth Services, and a recent Pride Night performance donated 15% of ticket sales revenue to Equality Illinois.
Following the Chicago engagement, the VOLTA company of 50 acrobats, actors, singers and musicians—along with the 71 trucks transporting the 2,000 tons of equipment needed to set-up VOLTA’s tents and stage—will head to Tysons II in Washington, DC where they will perform a limited engagement under the Big Top from July 26 – September 8, 2019.
The show
Energetic, urban and contemporary, VOLTA is a captivating voyage of discovery that showcases never-before-seen under the Big Top acrobatics in a visually striking world. Driven by a stirring melodic score, composted by Anthony Gonzalez from the international electronic group M83, and inspired in part by the adventurous spirit that fuels the culture of street sports, VOLTA is a story of transformation. It is about being true to oneself, fulfilling one’s true potential, and recognizing one’s own power to make it possible. Ultimate freedom comes with self-acceptance, and with the liberation of the judgement of others.
SNEAK PEAK HERE!
Tickets for the remaining Chicago performances are available for purchase by visiting cirquedusoleil.com/volta or calling 1-877-9CIRQUE (1-877-924-7783). Discover the Hennessy Black VIP Experience packagewhich includes a cocktail reception with open bar and hors d’oeuvres inspired by the show, access to the best seats for greater comfort, complimentary parking, and more!
Art on the Mart and Cirque du Soleil
Have you seen Art on theMART yet? It is the largest permanent digital art projection in the world! It’s pretty cool to have this in Chicago!
Cirque du Soleil and its current hit production, VOLTA, now playing under the Big Top at Soldier Field, takes inspiration from the City’s 2019 Year of Chicago Theatre with a vibrant, larger-than-life animated projection as part of the popular public art program Art on theMART. Click here for a preview.
VOLTA – a hit with both critics and consumers, alike, since opening May 21 — is a coming-of-age tale, a story of putting yourself on the line, facing spectacular challenges, and discovering for yourself what comes next. As developed expressly for Art on theMART, the projection named “VOLTA” reflects the state-of-the-art acrobatics, kinetic motion, grandiose scale, and human intimacy of the Cirque du Soleil show that inspired it, as told through the inimitable 3D animation and illusions of Chicago Projection Mapping, LLC. and concepted by creative media agency Empower. “VOLTA” can be seen as part of the Art on theMART program nightly, starting 15 minutes after sundown, through the end of the production’s engagement in Chicago, July 6, 2019.
The 2019 Year of Chicago Theatre is a city-wide celebration of Chicago’s theater community spearheaded by the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and the League of Chicago Theatres.
“VOLTA is set in an urban environment and is inspired by the street fashion and culture. There is no better way to express that energy than by being part of the biggest urban artwork in Chicago,” said Steven Ross, Senior Publicist of VOLTA by Cirque du Soleil. “When we visit a city, we try to get involved and get inspired as much as possible by the local community. Working hand in hand with the Chicago creators and being invited to bring our colors to Art on theMART is a very powerful way for us to connect with the local people and celebrate the talents from here.”
“Art on theMART seeks to activate the façade of theMART with a variety of creative approaches that are accessible to all Chicagoans and visitors. We welcome the opportunity to bring the captivating work of the Cirque du Soleil artists onto our public platform,” added Cynthia Noble, Executive Director of Art on theMART. Watch for more cool visuals, as they change seasonally!
PRIDE NIGHT at Cirque is happening June 18th!
It will benefit Equality Illinois and you can get 15% OFF.
Enter code EQIL to enjoy 15% off tickets!
Cirque du Soleil is presenting VOLTA’s Chicago engagement under its signature Big Top at the Soldier Field South Lot, 1410 Museum Campus Drive, Chicago, through July 6, 2019, only. Tickets, starting at $49, are available for purchase by visiting cirquedusoleil.com/volta or calling 1-877-9CIRQUE (1-877-924-7783).
Penny Arcade at City Winery June 25
Penny Arcade’s one-woman-show Longing Lasts Longer
Tuesday, June 25 at 8:00 pm at City Winery Chicago
JUST IN TIME FOR PRIDE!!! The long-overdue Chicago debut of underground performance legend Penny Arcade and her one woman show Longing Lasts Longer is a rock n’ roll blend of stand-up comedy and memoir in which she offers perspectives on the effects of gentrification. Arcade’s performance is the same week as the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion and PENNY WAS THERE THROWING BRICKS! (Note, she prefers the word “uprising” to “riots.”)
She was on the scene in NYC with Patti Smith, Lou Reed, and Andy Warhol, to drop a few names.
Arcade, also known as Susana Ventura, is an internationally respected performance artist, writer, poet, and experimental theater maker known for her magnetic stage presence, her take-no-prisoners wit, and her content rich plays and one-liners. She is the author of ten scripted performance plays and hundreds of performance art pieces. Arcade’s decade-long focus on the creation of community and inclusion as the goals of performance, and her efforts to use performance as a transformative act mark her as a true original in American theater and performance. The work she does has always focused on the other and the outsider, giving voice to those marginalized by society. Longing Lasts Longer’s street smarts and exuberance open a crack in our planet’s post-gentrified landscape with its razor sharp satire.
Tickets $25-35. citywinery.com/Chicago.
SNEAK PEAK ON YOUTUBE
PRIDE NIGHT at Cirque du Soleil Soldier Field
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL VOLTA is hosting a special PRIDE Night on Tuesday June 18 @ 8pm at Soldier Field South Lot.
It will benefit the state’s top LGBTQ advocacy and education organization, Equality Illinois. The rainbow carpet will be animated by Chicago’s top drag queens from 7-8pm! Use code EQIL to save 15% @ Cirquedusoleil.com/VOLTA
Cirque du Soleil’s latest touring production, VOLTA, is now playing under its signature Big Top at the Soldier Field South Lot, 459 E. 18th Drive, Chicago, thru July 6, 2019. Tickets, starting at $49.
30 years in Chicago
2019 is a special year for Chicago and Cirque du Soleil as it marks the 30th anniversary of the coming of the circus troupe in the Windy City. Indeed, the first-ever Cirque du Soleil touring show to visit the USA, CIRQUE RÉINVENTÉ, stopped by Chicago in 1989 for the first time. This year, VOLTA will then be the 25th production to be presented in the area since the Canadian company first visited.
30 years in numbers:
- Cirque du Soleil visited Chicago for the first time 30 years ago with CIRQUE RÉINVENTÉ in 1989
- VOLTA is the 25th Cirque du Soleil production to visit the Chicago area
- VOLTA is the FIRST Cirque show to be presented at Soldier Field
- Chicago is the 10th city to be visited by VOLTA in the USA
- VOLTA employs 200 local employees from Chicago for the duration of its stay
The show
Energetic, urban and contemporary, VOLTA is a captivating voyage of discovery that showcases never-before-seen under the Big Top acrobatics in a visually striking world. Driven by a stirring melodic score and inspired in part by the adventurous spirit that fuels the culture of street sports, VOLTA is a story of transformation. It is about being true to oneself, fulfilling one’s true potential, and recognizing one’s own power to make it possible. Ultimate freedom comes with self-acceptance, and with the liberation of the judgement of others.
The Costumes
The stunning costumes of VOLTA have been designed by Emmy Award winner Zaldy Goco, famous for his work with Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani and on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
GET A GLIMPSE OF VOLTA HERE
Social Media:
Twitter: @Cirque #VOLTA
Instagram: cirquedusoleil #VOLTA
Cirque du Soleil VOLTA Extended
Cirque du Soleil is excited to add two weeks of performances of VOLTA’s Chicago engagement this spring. The show will be presented under its signature Big Top at the Soldier Field South Lot, 1410 Museum Campus Drive, Chicago, May 18 – July 6, 2019. Tickets, starting at $49, are available for purchase by visitingcirquedusoleil.com/volta or calling 1-877-9CIRQUE (1-877-924-7783).
The show
Energetic, urban and contemporary, VOLTA is a captivating voyage of discovery that showcases never-before-seen under the Big Top acrobatics in a visually striking world. Driven by a stirring melodic score and inspired in part by the adventurous spirit that fuels the culture of street sports, VOLTA is a story of transformation. It is about being true to oneself, fulfilling one’s true potential, and recognizing one’s own power to make it possible. Ultimate freedom comes with self-acceptance, and with the liberation of the judgment of others.
BMX & Street Sports
The creators of VOLTA drew inspiration from the spirit of adventure that pervades the world of BMX, street sports and acrobatics. Whether they are on a bike, hopping from rooftop to rooftop, or double dutch rope skipping, urban sports enthusiasts constantly challenge themselves and defy convention.
Sure to be a Chicago crowd pleaser, VOLTA features a full-blown BMX park mounted on stage in front of the audience’s very eyes for the breathtaking BMX finale as riders invade the stage to deliver a jaw-dropping, fast and furious performance of nonstop acrobatics on wheels. The riders go up the jump boxes and perform air tricks before landing and leaping off the ramps again, crisscrossing and spinning their bikes in midair in a spirit of brotherhood.
The name VOLTA refers to a sudden about-face, a change in emotion or idea often used in poetry. It also speaks to the jolt of energy delivered through the show.
The Costumes
The stunning costumes of VOLTA have been designed by Zaldy Goco, famous for his work with Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefany and for TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Ticket Information
VOLTA will be presented under the Big Top at the Soldier Field South Lot, 1410 Museum Campus Drive, Chicago, starting May 18. Tickets can be purchased online at www.cirquedusoleil.com/volta. Discover our VIP package – a cocktail reception with open bar and hors d’ oeuvres inspired by the show, access to the best seats for greater comfort, complimentary parking and more!
I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE Feb 9th
CHICAGO THEATRE WORKSHOP PRESENTS PREMIERE, LGBTQ VERSION OF
“I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE”
Chicago Theatre Workshop (CTW) with permission from authors, Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts will present a one-night only LGBTQ performance of their long running off-Broadway hit musical, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” as a benefit for the company.
During the show’s nearly 20 year off-Broadway run, audiences celebrated the on stage relationships as a reflection of their own lives. CTW is excited to recalibrate the show’s series of vignettes focusing on the themes of love and relationships with an LGBTQ twist. Characters have now been re-imagined to reflect the lives of the LGBTQ community.
CTW Artistic Director Tom Mullen comments on the uniqueness of this benefit production, “This is a great joy for us, I’ve directed Love/Perfect a couple times before and I’ve always felt that this could really be an exciting version to try to do. It’s a great opportunity to really highlight that when it comes to love and relationships, we are all equal in our wants and wishes. We’ve also assembled an incredible cast and creative team and are so thankful to Joe and Jimmy to allow us to do this.”
Co-Author Joe DiPietro echoed Tom’s message, “When Tom called and asked about doing an all-gay version of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (once dubbed the straightest off-Broadway hit ever,) Jimmy Roberts and I readily agreed. I’ve always been a big fan of Tom’s work, and I can’t wait to see his very contemporary and, I’m sure, very hilarious take on the show.”
WHEN: Saturday, February 9, 2019
WHERE: Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted Street, Chicago
TIME: Doors open at 7:30pm show at 8:00pm
COST: $45 General Admission. Tickets for the performance can be purchased on line at www.chicagotheatreworkshop.org. VIP and Sponsorship ticket packages are also available by contacting CTW.
The cast includes: Karl Hamilton, Charissa Armon, Melissa Young, Honey West, Lars Ebsworth, Noah Berman, and Jessica Vann. More are slated to be added. Musical Direction is by Nick Sula with direction by Tom Mullen.
At Chicago Theatre Workshop, we identify promising new works of music-influenced theatre and continually evolve them through live productions. Through our unique model, audiences can experience the life of a single production as it constantly changes and evolves. Risk. Reward.
Photo: Charissa Armon & Karl Hamilton
Barney The Elf Will Make You Laugh
Pride Films and Plays to produce fourth annual production of BARNEY THE ELF
Michael D. Graham’s new production of LGBTQ-focused holiday musical satire opened this past weekend!
( PHOTO-Back row L-R: Joseph Beal, Maggie Ward
Front row L-R: Brooke Emmerich, Thomas Tong, Danika Bone’t, Maggie Cain. Foreground: Roy Samra as Barney.)
Queer holiday cheer filled with laughs and fun music, this holiday show put’s a smile on your face! It’s a bit naughty and bawdy – it’s not for kids! This a grown up show, a contemporary urban fairy tale, loosely based on the 2003 Will Ferrell film “Elf,” that provides a stocking stuffed with equal parts laughs and earnest “accept yourself” messages.
The musical of an elf who must leave the North Pole to find a new home after Santa Claus retires has itself found a new home for its fourth annual incarnation. BARNEY THE ELF, Bryan Renaud and Emily Schmidt’s LGBTQ-themed musical inspired by the ELF feature film, will be staged in the Broadway theatre of the Pride Arts Center through Sunday, January 6. Michael D. Graham will direct the production.
Musical numbers galore in Renaud and Schmidt’s musical satire. They incorporate parody lyrics to popular songs, The musical parodies are great and the lyric changes will make you laugh! You will recognize I Will Survive, Streisand’s Don’t Rain On My Parade and All By Myself, among others.
Barney the Elf finds he must leave his home at the North Pole after Santa’s retirement causes chaos among the community of elves. He makes his way to a nightclub in Chicago, where he is befriended by drag queen Zooey, and learns to embrace his “inner elf.” The musical was developed by Renaud and Schmidt for The Other Theatre Company, with whom Renaud is an Artistic Associate, and was produced at the Greenhouse Theater Center for the past three holiday seasons.
This new production will be directed by Michael D. Graham, former Artistic Director of Piccolo Theatre, and will feature BARNEY THE ELF veterans Dixie Lynn Cartwright, who will alternate in the role of Zooey with Danika Bone’t, and Maggie Cain as Mrs. Claus and Roy Samra as Barney. Cartwright will perform on Thursday and Saturday evening s and Sunday matinees, with Bone’t taking the role on Wednesday and Friday evenings and Saturday matinees. Cartwright and Cain played their roles in all three prior productions of the musical. Samra first donned Barney’s tights for the 2017 production.
Also in the cast for this new production are Jaron Bellar, reprising his 2017 role as Santa Jr., Alisha Fabbi (Cookie), Christopher Sylvie (Drew, Barney u/s), Joseph Beal (Buttons, Tour Guide), Maggie Ward (Pinecone, Kathy), Thomas Tong (Topper), Larry Trice (Twinkle, Bouncer), Brooke Emmerich (Chorus, Swing), Nico Joshua (Chorus, Swing), Claire Hart (Choreographer), Paul Sottnik (Music Director), Shawn Quinlan (Costumes), Hayley Wallenfeldt (Props), Becs Bartle (Lighting), Michael Starcher (Stage Manager), and Christopher Sylvie (Assistant Director).
BARNEY THE ELF will play weekends throughout the holidays, through Sunday January 6 in the 85-seat Broadway theatre at 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago. Ticket prices are $30 (premium reserved seats), $20 (general admission seats), $15 (student/senior/military)
and are on sale now at www.pridefilmsandplays.com or by phone at 1-866-811-4111.
Cirque du Soleil brings new production, VOLTA May 2019
Cirque du Soleil brings VOLTA, its newest Big Top production, to new Chicago location, Soldier Field South Lot, May 18 – June 23, 2019!
Tickets on sale exclusively to Cirque Club members November 20;
General on-sale begins November 26 (‘Cyber Monday’)
Get a sneak peek of VOLTA here!
Cirque du Soleil returns to Chicago with VOLTA, a captivating voyage of discovery! Inspired in part by the adventurous spirit that fuels the culture of street sports, VOLTA explores the themes of celebrating differences and unique qualities in a world where technology often isolates people from one another rather than freeing them. Written and directed by Bastien Alexandre, with Jean Guibert as the director of creation, VOLTA weaves acrobatics in a visually striking world driven by a stirring melodic score, composed by Anthony Gonzalez from the international electronic group M83. For the first time, VOLTA will perform under its signature Big Top at the Soldier Field South Lot, 1410 Museum Campus Drive, Chicago, May 18 – June 23, 2019.
Access to the best seats and prices are available for existing Cirque Club members beginning Tuesday, November 20. Visitcirquedusoleil.com/cirqueclub to sign up for a complimentary membership. Cirque Club members receive advance access to the best seats under the Big Top, at the best price.
Tickets
Tickets (starting at $49) will be available to the general public beginning Monday, November 26, 2018, aka ‘Cyber Monday,’ by visitingcirquedusoleil.com/volta or calling 1-877-9CIRQUE (1-877-924-7783). Discover Cirque’s Hennessy Black VIP Experience package which includes a cocktail reception with open bar and hors d’oeuvres inspired by the show, access to the best seats for greater comfort, complimentary parking and more!
The show
Energetic, urban and contemporary, VOLTA is a captivating voyage of discovery that showcases never-before-seen under the Big Top acrobatics in a visually striking world. Driven by a stirring melodic score and inspired in part by the adventurous spirit that fuels the culture of street sports, VOLTA is a story of transformation. It is about being true to oneself, fulfilling one’s true potential, and recognizing one’s own power to make it possible. Ultimate freedom comes with self-acceptance, and with the liberation of the judgment of others.
The name VOLTA refers to a sudden about-face, a change in emotion or idea often used in poetry. It also speaks to the jolt of energy delivered through the show.
FOLLOW VOLTA!
Social Media:
Twitter: @Cirque #VOLTA
Instagram: cirquedusoleil #VOLTA
EVIL DEAD – The Musical! Nov 2-11
Moraine Valley hosts
‘Evil Dead: The Musical’
“Camp” isn’t what it seems to be in “Evil Dead: The Musical,” playing in the Dorothy Menker Theater at Moraine Valley Community College, 9000 W. College Parkway, Nov 2 to 11.
The musical is an Academic Theater production performed by Moraine Valley students, alumni and returning cast members. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday performances are at 3 p.m.
Tickets are $15, $12 for seniors and $10 for students with ID Please note this production is for mature audiences.
Follow five college students who travel to a cabin in the woods and accidentally unleash an evil force. Described as more of a comedy and farce than horror, the musical includes hilariously campy songs and depicts how “camp” takes on a whole new meaning.
Directed by Tommy Hensel, Fine and Performing Arts managing director, cast members include Moraine Valley students Ashlyn Wiebe, of Orland Park, as Cheryl; Samm Hilger, of Burbank, as Shelly; Joe Kata, of Crestwood, as Ed; John Kladis, of Palos Hills, as Scott; and Rose Stovicek, of LaGrange, as Fake Shemp.
Moraine Valley alumni performers include R.J. Cecott, of Hickory Hills, as Ash; and Sarah Triolo, of Minooka, as Linda. Cast members who performed in the same show at Moraine Valley nine years ago are Nikki Soriano, of Chicago, as Annie; and Jim LaPietra, of Berwyn, as Jake.
The performance is based on the book and lyrics by George Reinblatt, music by Frank Cipolla, Christopher Bond, Melissa Morris and George Reinblatt, music supervision by Cipolla, additional lyrics by Christopher Bond and additional music by Rob Daleman.
$15 General Public
$12 Seniors, Staff
$10 Students (with ID) and Children unless otherwise noted
Friday-Saturday 7:30 p.m.
Sunday 3 p.m.
BUY TICKETS
For more information and tickets, call the Box Office at (708) 974-5500 or visit morainevalley.edu/fpac.
CHER Dancing Queen!
SEE THAT GIRL…
WATCH THAT GIRL…
SHE’S THE DANCING QUEEN!
She’s back! At 72 and going strong!
The one and only Cher will released Dancing Queen last week, a new album of all Abba hits by Warner Bros. Records.
The Oscar, Emmy and Grammy Award winning icon was inspired to record the album following her stunning performance in the recently-released mega-hit film, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
Commented Cher: “I’ve always liked Abba and saw the original Mamma Mia musical on Broadway three times. After filming Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, I was reminded again of what great and timeless songs they wrote and started thinking ‘why not do an album of their music?’ The songs were harder to sing than I imagined but I’m so happy with how the music came out. I’m really excited for people to hear it. It’s a perfect time.”
Dancing Queen was recorded and produced in London and Los Angeles with Cher‘s longtime collaborator Mark Taylor, who previously produced Cher‘s global smash “Believe” which was number one in over 50 countries. And it does not disappoint! I truly love the last song on CD I think the best, “One of Us”.
Cher is scheduled to be awarded a Kennedy Center Honor on December 2nd in Washington DC.
She is a co-producer of the The Cher Show, the upcoming Broadway musical opening on December 3rd ( we saw it in Chicago and LOVED IT!)
She is currently performing a residency at MGM Resorts. Get tickets HERE!
Cher will be in Chicago with the HERE WE GO AGAIN tour February 8th. Get Tickets NOW
NYC “Drag Darling” PAIGE TURNER Sept 28th
NYC Drag Superstar PAIGE TURNER makes her Chicago debut and exposes the unvarnished truth of how she climbed her way to the top in a world filled with bottoms in this hysterical evening of live singing, outrageous comedy, videos and over the top parodies!
Life can be a drag—and Paige Turner wouldn’t have it any other way! Featuring ALL -LIVE sung songs from LaLa Land, One Direction, Burlesque, Hamilton, and many more. Get ready to ride on a rainbow as this tawdry blonde bombshell takes you into her phantasmagorical world of mayhem and foolishness!
ONE SHOW ONLY!
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28TH at 10pm
This is a small intimate venue – and tickets are going fast!
get your tickets
The critics rave!
“Paige Turner is the ultimate theater queen.” – New York Times
“Paige Turner is delectably witty and talented! “ OUT MAGAZINE
“Paige Turner has the stuff that legends are made of” -Theater in the Now
“Hilarious. Cheeky-old school glamour!” — Huffington Post
Get a glimpse HERE.
Known as the Carol Burnett of Drag, “Showbiz Spitfire” PAIGE TURNER is one the original creators and host of NYC’s live drag reality show “So You Think You Can Drag?” She is a 2 time Glam Award winner and is known for her over the top parodies on you tube.
She tours internationally in her All -Live one woman shows, including her critically acclaimed show “Confessions of an Un-Natural Blonde” and “Make America Gay Again!” She coined the phrase Slurp! which is also the name of the longest running drag show in NYC! She is currently part of the cast Shade: QUEENS OF NYC, on the Fusion Network and has been featured several times on WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE! On Bravo.
Get tickets for her Chicago show!
Dance for Life Chicago 2018
DANCE FOR LIFE 2018
AUDITORIUM THEATRE OF ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY
AUGUST 18
Performance | 7:30pm
Gala Celebration at The Hilton Chicago | 5pm
TICKETS NOW ON SALE
BUY TICKETS
Performance Tickets start at just $15
Gala Tickets: $300 & $650
JOIN US FOR CHICAGO’S BIGGEST DANCE NIGHT OF THE YEAR!
Dance for Life Chicago is the annual benefit performance that showcases the city’s unique diversity of talent, dance traditions, and styles. One night a year, the talented and renowned professional dancers of Chicago come together to share the same stage at the historic Auditorium Theatre—all for a good cause.
Welcoming those looking for either an elegant night downtown or just a relaxed and fun performance, Dance for Life Chicago has presented classic, world premiere, and even improvised dance works in ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz, and tap over the last 27 years.
Since 1991, Dance for Life has united the Chicago dance community and its fans to support local dance community professionals affected by critical health issues. The money raised through the performance goes directly to the Dancer’s Fund. Created by Chicago Dancer’s United in response to the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the dance community, the Dancer’s Fund fund has broadened to include other health and living needs.
We invite you to come celebrate and toast Chicago’s incredible range of dance and choreographic talent. Find up-to-date details on this year’s event by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: #DanceForLifeChicago
“Pick up your ticket, grab a drink, and we’ll see you on August 18th!
Featured Dance for Life Chicago 2018 companies:
- Giordano Dance Chicago
- Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
- The Joffrey Ballet
- Hanna Brictson and Dancers
- Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre
- Chicago Dance Crash
- Nomi Dance Company
- Randy Duncan is reviving his 2007 Dance for Life finale, this year as the program opener.
Beneficiaries: The Dancers’ Fund and AIDS Foundation of Chicago
F*cking Men – Now Playing at Pride Arts Center
Two great plays currently running at the Pride Arts Center in Buena Park; Fucking Men and The View Upstairs!
We are very lucky to have such a vibrant LGBTQ theatre scene in Chicago – I urge you to go out and see some of the wonderful shows that come to the Pride Arts Center in Buena Park at 4139 N. Broadway.
Now playing – Fucking Men. In this present-day updating of Schnitzler’s LA RONDE by Joe DiPietro, ten men – a hustler, soldier, two college students, businessman and his husband, an adult film actor, a movie star, his agent and a playwright – all have physical and emotional desires to connect.
Gay men—just like all human beings—are capable of love, and in fact, spend much of their lives, as everyone does, looking for it. And it is this search for meaning, connection and kindness in a sea of sex that playwright Joe DiPietro attempts to illuminate in his cyclical play Fucking Men.
The treatment of hot topics — promiscuity, monogamy, sexual deception — yields such commonplace insights as: Macho men with forbidden desires lash out with their fists; married couples struggle to stick to their bargains about cheating; some people lie about their HIV status; movie stars screw over ordinary people; can’t we all just get along?; and prostitutes and porn stars really want love.
This play runs through August 25. Performances will be Fridays and Saturdays at 11 pm and Sundays at 8 pm.
Ticket prices are: Previews $15, Regular Run: Premium seats $30, General Admission $25, Seniors/Students/Military $23. Tickets are on sale now at www.pridefilmsandplays.comor by phone at 866-411-4111 or 773-857-0222.
THE VIEW UPSTAIRS, a musical by Max Vernon, which won Best Musical honors in off-Broadway’s Lortel Awards and was also nominated for seven Drama Desk awards. THE VIEW UPSTAIRS, opened off-Broadway in February 2017.
Circle Theatre Chicago is proud to present the Chicago premiere of THE VIEW UPSTAIRS, at Pride Arts Center.
It is inspired by real life events of the 1973 arson attack at the UpStairs Lounge, a vibrant gay bar in New Orleans. Now accepted as a targeted anti-gay attack, the arson resulted in the deaths of 32 people and was, until the 2016 Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting, the deadliest assault on a gay club in U.S. history. The show is inspired by and pays tributes to many of the patrons that frequented the venue.
In THE VIEW UPSTAIRS, Wes, a young fashion designer from 2017, buys an abandoned building in the French Quarter of New Orleans and finds himself transported to the UpStairs Lounge in 1973. As this forgotten community comes to life, Wes embarks on an exhilarating journey of self-exploration that spans two generations of queer history. THE VIEW UPSTAIRS asks what has been gained and lost in the fight for equality, and how the past can help guide all of us through an uncertain future.
TIMEOUT NEW YORK said, “It takes your breath away!” and ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY called it “a moving homage to LGBT culture, past and present.” THE NEW YORKER praised it for its “beautiful love songs.”
THE VIEW UPSTAIRS will be running through Sunday, July 22. Shows will be Thursdays – Saturdays at 8:00pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30pm, with industry performances every Monday at 8:00pm at The Broadway at Pride Arts Center (4139 N. Broadway).
Tickets: $30.00. Monday Industry nights $20. Tickets on sale now atwww.circletheatrechicago.org
Chicago Market Days Entertainment
Northalsted Serves Up Summer’s Best Fest
Market Days Returns August 11-12
The Northalsted Business Alliance delivers a diverse and dance heavy line-up for this year’s Market Days set for August 11 and 12. The must-do Midwest fest returns to the heart of Boystown with non-stop entertainment from four stages, shopping, food and more.
Multi-faceted entertainer Todrick Hall graces the stage as part of his Forbidden tour on Saturday, while Betty Who brings the beat on Sunday with her power pop. MAX, of gold single “Lights Down Low” fame closes out the festival on Sunday night. Additional national and local acts round out the line-up.
Northalsted Business Alliance Executive Director Chad Honeycutt explains the popularity of Market Days. “For more than 30 years Northalsted Market Days has set the bar for Chicago festivals and this year is no exception. We can’t wait to welcome our neighbors and visitors alike to celebrate summer in Boystown.”
About the Northalsted Business Alliance (NBA)
Formed in 1980, NBA represents more than 100 businesses along the Halsted Street corridor. The organization hosts major events throughout the year including Chicago Pride Fest, Northalsted Market Days, the Halloween Parade and Frost Fest. For information about NBA visitwww.northalsted.com.
Northalsted Market Days
North Halsted (From Belmont to Addison)
August 11-12 11 am – 10 pm $10 Suggestion Donation
Northalsted Market Days 2018/Saturday, Aug 11th
Addison North Stage
1:30P-3:30PM Drag Show
2:30PM-3:30PM Todrick Hall
3:30PM-4:15PM Trenyce
5:00PM-6:30PM Cat Fight
7:00PM-7:45PM Kimberly Locke
7:50PM-8:35PM Ultra Nate
8:40PM-9:25PM Martha Wash
Roscoe Stage
1:15PM-2:30PM Hello Weekend
3:15PM-4:30PM Girl Power Night
5:00PM-5:45PM DJ
5:45P-6:25PM Crystal Waters
6:25PM-7:00PM DJ
7:00PM-7:45PM Ty Herndon
8:20-9:45PM Hank & Cupcake
Aldine Jazz Stage
130PM-3:00PM Sam Fazio Quartet
5:30PM-7:30PM Feathered Beaus
NORTHALSTED MARKETDAYS 2018/Sunday, Aug 12th
Addison North Stage
1:00PM-2:00PM DJ
2:00PM-2:45PM Betty Who
3:30PM-4:30PM Sushi Roll
4:45PM-6:15PM DJ
6:15PM-7:00PM Expose
7:00PM-9:00PM DJ
9:00PM-9:55PM MAX
Roscoe Stage
1:00PM-1:45PM Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus
2:15PM-3:45PM Boy Band
4:15PM-5:00PM Kristine W
5:15PM-7:15PM Rod Tuffcurls
7:45PM-9:45PM 16 Candles
Aldine Jazz Stage
1:30PM-3:00PM BMR4
3:30PM-5:00PM Joe Policastro Trio
5:30PM-7:30PM The Flat Cats
Saturday Night Live Exhibit in Chicago
No matter what age you are, you’ve no doubt watched SNL for years!
Now relive 40 years of the show in a way you never imagined. At Saturday Night Live: The Experience at Chicago’s Museum of Broadcast Communications, you can become immersed in the show’s fast-paced creative processes and see how ideas become reality in just days. Interact with sets, original props and costumes. Take selfies on the Jeopardy set, rock out on the Wayne’s World couch, and deliver the “news” from behind the Weekend Update desk.
Now in its 43rd season, most folks can’t remember an adulthood without Saturday Night Live. What’s more, the majority of Americans grew up on (or are growing up on) the late-night sketch show; it’s played, to varying degrees, a role in most viewers’ understanding of our political and cultural surroundings. “SNL: The Experience” was crafted for those fans, for the people who revere the comedy goliath’s space in American culture and in their personal lives, too.
Get a sneak peak HERE
Get a look behind the scenes!
People are calling it “amazing!” and “A must-see!”
SNL – The Experience!
Chicago Pride Fest 2018 Line Up!
Chicago Pride Fest brings big summer fun to the heart of Boystown on June 16-17. The annual festival, hosted by the Northalsted Business Alliance, celebrates pride, diversity and community in Chicago’s famed LGBTQ neighborhood.
Three stages deliver non-stop entertainment options with drag queens, DJs and iconic divas. Featuring Belinda Carlisle, Mya and more, Pride Fest is packed with both national and local acts. More festival fun is found among the 100 plus food, drink and shopping vendors lining the street, offering an eclectic array of options.
No Pride Fest is complete without the annual VIP Pet Care Pet Pride Parade, which brings pets and their people together for a Sunday strut down Halsted.
Northalsted Business Alliance Executive Director Chad Honeycutt explains what makes Pride Fest stand out in a crowded summer festival season. “No neighborhood puts on a better party than Boystown. But more importantly, Pride Fest fosters an atmosphere of celebration, appreciation and hope that is special to this event.”
For more information on Chicago Pride Fest, please visit www.pridefestchicago.com
About the Northalsted Business Alliance (NBA)
Formed in 1980, NBA represents more than 100 businesses along the Halsted Street corridor. The organization hosts major events throughout the year including Chicago Pride Fest, Northalsted Market Days, the Halloween Parade and Frost Fest. For information about NBA visit www.northalsted.com.
Chicago Pride Fest (June 16-17)
11 am – 10 pm
North Halsted from Addison to Grace
$10 Suggested Donation
Saturday, June 16
North Stage
| 1:00PM | Drag Show | |
| 2:30PM | La Bouche | |
| 3:15PM | Carlito Olivero | |
| 4:00PM | Drag Show | |
| 6:00PM | Frenchie Davis | |
| 7:00PM | Drag Show | |
| 8:15PM | Kim English | |
| 9:00PM | Jessica Sanchez | |
| South Stage
12:00PM |
Gay Men’s Chorus | |
| 1:15PM | Hello Weekend | |
| 3:00PM | Don’t Speak | |
| 4:45PM | Cat Fight | |
| 6:45PM | TL Williams & Band | |
| 8:30PM | The Four C’s |
| Sunday, June 17
North Stage |
||||||||||
| 12:30PM | VIP Pet Care Pet Pride Parade Kick-Off | |||||||||
| 2:30PM | Belinda Carlisle | |||||||||
| 3:15PM | Blake Lewis | |||||||||
| 4:00PM | Drag Show | |||||||||
| 6:00PM | Thea Austin | |||||||||
| 6:45PM | Drag Show | |||||||||
| 8:00PM | Brian Justin Crumb | |||||||||
| 9:00PM | Mya | |||||||||
| South Stage | ||||||||||
| 12:30PM | Chicago Spirit Brigade | |||||||||
| 1:00PM | VIP Pet Care Pet Pride Parade Finish | |||||||||
| 1:30PM | One Night Band | |||||||||
| 3:30PM | Abba Salute | |||||||||
| 5:15PM | Boy Band Review | |||||||||
7:45PM 16 Candles
Mentalist Joshua Kane April 7th
Can he read your mind?
Discover your inner superhero in Mentalist Joshua Kane’s amazing interactive performance. Entire audiences experience simultaneous
telepathy, and witness dazzling feats of lie detection and what must be psychic phenomena.
Borders of the Mind is for everyone who wishes that they had gotten a letter from Hogwarts, that what was odd and strange about themselves as teenagers would turn out to be a latent superpower, or that someone would point a finger at them and say “You are the one!” People of all ages leap to participate in the strange happenings at the Borders of the Mind.
joshuakane.com/onstage/borders-mind-psychic-show-whole-family
“A voice that mesmerizes…”
– NY Daily News
Raised in an illegal boarding house and obsessed from an early age with books, magic, spoken word, fire-eating and the theatre, Joshua Kane was destined for a career on the stage, or as an international spy.
Kane is classically trained actor who has studied with Stella Adler, Bobby Lewis, the National Shakespeare Conservatory, and Marcel Marceau. A member of Actors’ Equity Association, Kane has toured internationally. His work as a voiceover actor can be heard every day on radio and television in spots for clients ranging from Pillsbury to the Central Intelligence Agency.
“Borders of the Mind blew me away!”
Thomas Weidemann
Clemens Center, Elmira, NY
“You had everyone in the palm of your hand from beginning to end.”
Lillian Harder
Clemson University, SC
“Borders of the Mind exceeded even my high expectations, selling out all three performances on Super Bowl weekend …; garnering enthusiastic audience response…; and attracting great press.”
Deborah Sommers
Quick Center for the Arts, Fairfield, CT
