CHICAGO: It's time to "Get Your Act Together!" Windy City Media Group, the producers of Windy City Gay Idol, are launching Gays Got Talent. This fall the gay community is invited to take the stage and show all their talents for the crown of the "most talented" in the GLBT community. Along with the title, the grand prize winner will walk away with $1000 cash, American Airlines tickets, a Toronto trip and Broadway in Chicago tickets.

Contestants are invited to a variety of preliminary bars to display their talent in the hopes of winning the $100 cash presented at each venue and/or one of the three coveted top spots which move them to the semi-finals on Saturday, Jan. 10 at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted. Entry for competitors is $10, and there is a $5 cover for audience members.

"People are encouraged to come out and dance, sing, perform poetry, comedy or display their magic or puppetry skills," said Kathleen Ulm, WCMG's promotions and marketing director. "In fact we hope to see the very best in 'stupid human tricks', drag, juggling, you name it. Anything goes!"

And that's the underlying theme of the events, "Anything Goes!" If you've got a talent, this is the time to polish your expertise and jump on stage. The audience will vote each night and send two artists to the semi-finals. The cast of talented judges will also vote each night and send an additional lucky representative to the semis, making a total of three winners from each location. The competitor at each prelim location with the most votes from the audience will walk away with $100.

This series of events is sponsored by: Windy City Media Group, Bud Light, Broadway in Chicago, Toronto Tourism, American Airlines and GayInsurance.com .

Schedule of Events:

Sunday, Oct. 26 — Star Gaze, 5419 N. Clark — 7 p.m. sign up/8 p.m. start time

Thursday, Nov. 6 — Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark — 6 p.m. sign up/7 p.m. start time

Sunday, Nov. 9 — Hydrate, 3458 N. Halsted - 9 p.m. sign up/10 p.m. start time

Tuesday, Nov. 18 — Lee's Unleaded Blues, 7401 S. South Chicago — 7:30 p.m./8:30 start

Thursday, Dec. 4 — Crew — 4804 N. Broadway, 7 p.m. sign up/8 p.m. start time

*Semi-Finals: Saturday, Jan. 10 — Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted — 3 p.m. door/5 p.m. start

* Finals: Saturday, Jan. 24 — Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted — 3 p.m. door/5 p.m. start

Windy City Media Group produces Windy City Times, Nightspots, OUT! Resource Guide, Identity online, and Windy City Queercast. Windy City Media Group is also the producer of these annual events: Windy City Gay Idol, 30 Under 30 and the Windy City Times Theater Series. See www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com for a listing of journalistic and community honors.

Contact: Kathleen Ulm

773-871-7610

WindyCityMediaPromotions@gmail.com