Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

WINTER THEATER SPECIAL Queer theater to chill to
by Scott C. Morgan, Windy City Times
2018-01-17

This article shared 761 times since Wed Jan 17, 2018
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


LGBTQ audiences who want to see their lives reflected onstage have plenty to choose from this winter. Productions ranges from developmental festival works to lavish and established Broadway-scale musicals. Here's a sampling of some of those productions. All shows in Chicago unless otherwise noted.

Premieres of note

Blue Over You, Spot On Company at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 2515 Central Park Ave., Evanston. A bisexual high school drama teacher is trying to solve the mystery behind his wife's sudden disappearance in Daniel Noonan's world-premiere one-man drama. ( now to Jan. 28 )

It's My Penis ( And I'll Cry if I Want To ), The Buena at Pride Arts Center, 4147 N. Broadway. Transgender performer Jamie Black takes on outdated gender norms in the Chicago premiere of his solo show. ( now to Jan. 20; PrideFilmsAndPlays.com . )

For the Loyal, Interrobang Theatre Project at Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. Penn State's scandal involving Jerry Sandusky is what has inspired this contemporary Lee Blessing drama. ( now to Feb. 4; InterrobangTheatreProject.com . )

Insurrection: Holding History, Stage Left Theatre at Athenaum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. Gay playwright Robert O'Hara pushes plenty of controversial buttons as history and sexuality come into focus around a thesis project on Nat Turner's slave rebellion. ( now to Feb. 11; StageLeftTheatre.com )

Yank! A World War II Love Story, Pride Films and Plays in The Broadway in the Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway. David and Joseph Zellnik's acclaimed 2010 off-Broadway musical looks at the struggles of gay soldiers during wartime. ( now to Feb. 18; PrideFilmsAndPlays.com ).

GayCo at Fillet of Solo, GayCo Productions at Heartland Studio Theatre, 7016 N. Glenwood Ave. Members of Chicago's oldest LGBTQ sketch comedy troupe look at important first moments ranging from falling in love to breakups. ( 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20; GayCo.com )

Charles Busch: My Kinda '60s, The Broadway at Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway. The playwright, performer and drag legend returns with a new award-winning cabaret revue looking back on the events and music of his childhood. ( 7:30 p.m. Sunday-Monday, Jan. 21-22; PrideFilmsAndPlays.com )

GRINDR: The Opera, Chicago Musical Theatre Festival at Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Erik Ransom finds inspiration from both the well-known gay hook-up app and operatic history for this irreverent and adults-only new musical. ( Feb. 9 to 23; Cmtf.org )

Time Is on Our Side, About Face Theatre at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. New artistic director Megan Carney directs the premiere of R. Eric Thomas' play about two best friends struggling to produce a queer history podcast. ( March 1 to April 7; TheaterWit.org or AboutFaceTheatre.com )

Kingdom, Broken Nose Theatre at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. Michael Allen Harris' world-premiere play deals with African-American fathers and their son reexamining their lives once same-sex marriage becomes legal in the state of Florida. ( March 2 to 31; BrokenNoseTheatre.com )

Through the Elevated Line, Silk Road Rising at Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington St. Novid Parsi's world-premiere drama follows a gay Iranian refugee and the challenges he faces in Chicago while living with his sister and her American husband. ( March 7 to April 15; SilkRoadRising.org )

Fellow Travelers, Lyric Unlimited at Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. Chicago premiere of the 2016 opera by composer Gregory Spears and librettist Greg Pierce. It deals with gay federal workers struggling with their identities at the height of McCarthey era in 1950s Washington, D.C. ( March 17 to 25; lyricopera.org )

The Gentleman Caller, Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St.. Philip Dawkins' world-premiere drama explores the early friendship between the gay playwrights Tennessee Williams and William Inge. ( March 28 to May 13; RavenTheatre.com )

Bull in a China Shop, About Face Theatre at a venue to be announced. Keira Fromm directs Kelli Simpkins in Bryna Turner's play about women's education reformers Mary Woolley and her patner, Jeanette Marks. ( May 24 to July 1; AboutFaceTheatre.com )

Revivals and returns

The Humans, Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St. Stephen Karam's drama about a financially struggling family having an awkward Thanksgiving dinner had its world premiere at American Theater Company. Now it comes back after winning the Tony Award for Best Play as part of a national tour featuring stars Richard Thomas ( The Waltons ) and Daisy Eagan ( The Secret Garden ). ( Jan. 30 to Feb. 11; BroadwayInChicago.com )

Speech and Debate, Brown Paper Box Co. at Edge Theatre, 5451 N. Broadway. Precocious high school students uncover some uncomfortable truths in Stephen Karam's acclaimed off-Broadway comedy. ( Feb. 2 to March 4; BrownPaperBox.org )

Cabaret, Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. The Tony Award-winning Kander and Ebb musical set in 1930s Berlin is back. The tumultuous times help to turn things tragic as a bisexual American writer falls for a British cabaret singer. ( Feb. 7 to March 18; ParamountAurora.com )

Suddenly, Last Summer, Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St. Tennessee Williams' short 1950s Southern Gothic drama is a guaranteed shocker. ( May 2 to June 17; RavenTheatre.com )

Choral concerts with LGBTQ content

Lipstick and Lyrics: Vice Versa, Chicago Gay Men's Chorus at Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway. The drag queens here don't lipsync, but instead sing out twists on iconic songs in this new revue. ( 8 and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23 and 24; cgmc.org )

Bernstein and Broadway, Windy City Gay Chorus and Windy City Treble Quire at St. James Cathedral, 65 E. Huron St. Chicago's oldest gay chorus teams up again with its sister ensemble of higher voices concert to mark the centennial of bisexual composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. ( 7 p.m. Saturday, March 10; WindyCitySings.org )

Under the Big Top, Chicago Gay Men's Chorus at Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. ( May 18 ), then at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie ( May 19 ), then at Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St. ( May 20 ) Chicago Gay Men's Chorus' latest musical comedy extravaganza takes its inspiration from the circus and also features amazing physical feats. ( CGMC.org )

Editor's note: The author of this piece currently is a member of Chicago Gay Men's Chorus and has previously performed with Windy City Gay Chorus.


This article shared 761 times since Wed Jan 17, 2018
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

City Lit Executive Artistic Director Brian Pastor talks theater, comics, queerness 2024-03-26
- City Lit Theater has announced its programming for the 2024-25 season—which will be the company's 44th. It will also be the first season to be programmed under the leadership of Brian Pastor (they/them), who will assume ...


Gay News

The Jeff Awards announces the 50th anniversary awards for non-equity theater 2024-03-26
--From a press release - A complete list of recipients can also be found online in the Non-Equity and News and Events sections at www.jeffawards.org. (March 25, 2024 - Chicago) — Celebrating its 50th anniversary awarding recognition for Non-Equity theater, the ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Queer musicians, Marvel situation, Elliot Page, Nicole Kidman 2024-03-21
- Queer musician Joy Oladokun released the single "I Wished on the Moon," from Jack Antonoff's official soundtrack for the new Apple TV+ series The New Look, per a press release. The soundtrack, ...


Gay News

THEATER Chicago's City Lit has anxiety on tap with 'Two Hours in a Bar' 2024-03-21
- Two Hours in a Bar Waiting for Tina Meyer by Kristine Thatcher with material by Larry Shue Text Me by Kingsley Day (Book, Music and Lyrics). At: City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.. Tickets: ...


Gay News

Jamie Barton brings nuances of identity to her Lyric Opera 'Aida' performance 2024-03-18
- Chicago's Lyric Opera is currently featuring a production of Giuseppe Verdi's Aida starring Michelle Bradley as Aida, Jamie Barton as Amneris and Russell Thomas as Radamès. The opera runs through April 7, 2024, with Francesca Zambello ...


Gay News

Queer Eye's Jai Rodriguez is set to slay at The Big Gay Cabaret 2024-03-05
- Out and proud performer Jai Rodriguez is set to play at The Big Gay Cabaret this March for three days. Presented by RuPaul Drag Racer Ginger Minj, this monthly series highlights the wide world of cabaret ...


Gay News

THEATER 'R & J' puts a female, queer spin on Shakespeare 2024-03-05
- Romeo and Juliet is the theatrical gift that keeps on giving. It's been reworked for the masses numerous times, whether in direct adaptations or musicals such as West Side Story. Shakespeare's plotline points have even inspired ...


Gay News

Center on Halsted hosts 6th Annual Intergenerational Talent Show 2024-03-03
- On the evening of Feb. 29, Center on Halsted held its 6th Annual Intergenerational Talent Show in front of a packed audience at the Hoover-Leppen Theater. The event brought together participants of the Center's youth and senior ...


Gay News

THEATER When growth is paramount: Jim Corti helps fuel Aurora theater expansion 2024-03-01
- Out actor/director/choreographer Jim Corti made his Broadway debut in 1974, in the ensemble of Leonard Bernstein's musical Candide. Director Harold Prince's acclaimed Tony Award-winning revival is often cited as a ...


Gay News

Theater Review: Billy Elliot, The Musical 2024-02-19
- Book and Lyrics: Lee Hall; Music: Elton John. At: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora Tickets: 630-896-6666 or Paramountaurora.com; $28-$79. Runs through March 24 Billy Elliot: The Musical may nearly be two decades old, but ...


Gay News

'West Side Story' gets a sex-positive spin with new burlesque show 2024-02-19
- In partial observance of National Condom Day, which was Feb. 14, Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) presented A West Side Story Burlesque at the Harris Theater for two hour-long performances on Feb. 17. The show, ...


Gay News

Second Glance Productions hosts LGBTQupid Soiree 2024-02-16
- In celebration of Valentine's Day, Chicago based film and media production company Second Glance hosted The LBGTQupid Soiree. The event, which was focused on spinning attitudes on this particular day, was presented at The iO ...


Gay News

Carisa Hendrix mesmerizes as Lucy Darling in Teatro ZinZanni 2024-02-12
- Since 2019, Teatro ZinZanni has gathered together amazing performers from all over the world to create an experience in Chicago under the Spiegeltent in the Cambria Hotel building, 32 W. Randolph St. Over the years, ticket ...


Gay News

THEATER Dot-Marie Jones talks Goodman production, 'Glee,' 'Bros' 2024-02-12
- Running through Feb. 18 at the the Goodman Theatre, the production Highway Patrol works with a script conceived entirely from Emmy-winning actor Dana Delany's (TV's China Beach) digital archive of hundreds of tweets and direct messages ...


Gay News

Dr. Lady J explains how opera can be a drag 2024-02-10
- On Feb. 8, Center on Halsted, in partnership with Lyric Opera of Chicago, presented a lecture by historian, drag activist, podcaster and curator Dr. Lady J. The event, titled "Castrated Superstars, Cross Dressed Divas, and Queer ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.