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SHOWBIZ Terrence McNally, Latino/a/x musicians, singer Harry Hains, Lena Waithe
Tony-winning actors Billy Porter and Rita Moreno, along with director Jeff Kaufman, will celebrate Terrence McNally on Wed., July 1, at 8 p.m. CT, with the International Documentary Association ( IDA ) online discussion of the ...
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Out local musician releasing album, launching music station
Out local musician Scott Free Scott Free is releasing his new album, The Last Revolution, on Friday, July 3, and is launching Alt Q Radio, an independent queer music station. The Last Revolution, described as a ...
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EXPO CHICAGO pushed to 2021
EXPO CHICAGO, The International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art, will present its ninth edition from April 8-11, 2021, at Navy Pier. The decision to move the fair from its traditional September 2020 time slot to ...
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SHOWBIZ Lee Daniels, 'Walking Dead' star, Sylvester, Richard Simmons
Openly gay producer/director Lee Daniels ( TV's Empire; producer of the movie Monster's Ball ) said he was the original director of the Oscar-winning film Brokeback Mountain, but couldn't get the film made as "nobody wanted ...
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Old Town's virtual Pride Jam on June 26
Old Town School of Folk Music will host a virtual Pride jam Friday, June 26, 6-7:15 p.m. The event will feature songs for, by and about queer artists. From early blues to modern pop, musicians will ...
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Reunion, OTV and Slo 'Mo hosting virtual Pride festival June 26-28
LGBTQ+-centered organizations Reunion Chicago, Slo 'Mo and OTV-Open Television are combining energies and resources to present an intergenerational and intersectional virtual Pride festival that celebrates, centers and advocates for Chicago Black LGBTQ+ artists, community and causes. ...
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Sylvester's iconic album 'Step II' to be reissued
Los Angeles, CA ( June 17, 2020 ) — Craft Recordings is proud to reissue Sylvester's iconic 1978 album, Step II, with newly remastered audio. Available this Friday ( 6/19 ) across all digital and streaming ...
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Nick Jonas joining Virtual Pride Fest Chicago
Chicago Pride Fest will mark its 20th year with a virtual festival format on June 20-21—and Nick Jonas is the latest name to join the event, as he will deliver a special message to festival attendees. ...
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SHOWBIZ Lady Gaga, 'Pride Castle,' Terrence McNally, LGBTQ film
When Lady Gaga's Chromatica album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, it not only marked the superstar's sixth chart-topper, but also just the second chart-topping album by a woman in 2020, Billboard noted. ...
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WORLD Global Pride, trans woman attacked, Poland items, singer comes out
Organizers of the June 27 virtual event Global Pride said that former U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden, U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ireland Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and artists Laverne ...
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Gerber/Hart celebrates Hot Wire: The Journal of Women's Music and Culture
Gerber/Hart Library and Archives hosted a look back at Hot Wire: The Journal of Women's Music and Culture with a panel, on May 27. The journal grew out of Not Just a Stage, an organization Toni ...
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SHOWBIZ Ruby Rose, Tamron Hall, actors come out, Billy Porter, Sondheim
Out actress Ruby Rose finally spoke out on her shocking decision to leave Batwoman after one season, NewNowNext.com noted. "I didn't want to not acknowledge everyone involved and how big this was for TV and for ...
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Andersonville at Home online event and fundraiser to replace Midsommarfest
CHICAGO ( June 5, 2020 ): In light of the City of Chicago's recent announcement to issue no special events permits through Labor Day 2020, the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce ( ACC ) has officially canceled ...
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'ABC 7 Celebrates Pride: Fun and Fabulous' to run June 28
Although the Chicago Pride Parade will not take place this year, the celebration of the LGBTQ+ community will continue on ABC 7 during an hour of musical performances, tributes, highlights of past parades and celebrity appearances. ...
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SHOWBIZ Trans movie, Diana Ross, GLAAD study, celebrities take stand
The Netflix original documentary Disclosure will launch Friday, June 19, a press release noted. Directed by Sam Feder and executive produced by Laverne Cox, Disclosure shows how the fabled stories of Hollywood deeply influence how Americans ...
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Global Pride event announces first wave of speakers, artists
A worldwide LGBTQIA+ Pride event has announced the first wave of speakers and artists appearing at the online event Saturday, June 27, and is expected to attract up to 300 million viewers, an InterPride press release ...
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Ann Hampton Callaway Live Stream Birthday Celebration May 31
Tony nominee Ann Hampton Callaway presents a special birthday celebration live stream May 31 at 7 p.m. Eastern, 4 p.m. Pacific. Tickets are $25 and ticket buyers will also receive a download of Ann's new inspirational ...
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SHOWBIZ Rufus Wainwright, LGBTQ films, Billy Porter, Janelle Monae
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright unveiled the latest single from his eagerly anticipated new pop album, Unfollow the Rules, a press release noted. "Alone Time" is available now at all DSPs and streaming services; an official companion ...
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Chita: A Legendary Celebration to stream May 29
Chita: A Legendary Celebration , Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' one-night-only evening of song and dance celebrating the legendary Chita Rivera , returns this Friday, May 29, 2020, in an exclusive stream benefiting Broadway Cares and its ...
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DCASE announces new online series Millennium Park at Home
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events today announced new virtual events for everyone missing Millennium Park's renowned cultural programming. The new online Millennium Park at Home series on YouTube ( youtube.com/ChicagoDCASE ) and Facebook ...
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Patti LuPone: A comeback in quarantine
Talks Hollywood, basement videos, why 'Ladies Who Lunch' never the same
In Ryan Murphy's Hollywood, the wife becomes the boss, the "Black screenwriter" is simply a screenwriter, and the gay leading man is just himself. Naturally, it stars Broadway icon Patti LuPone, who, in conversations like the ...
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Lola Lennox lives a legacy
At the age of 29, singer Lola Lennox is finally ready to release music and show listeners what she's all about. She was raised in the perfect environment for that to happen. Her mother is singer ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Idol' alum, PBS series, LGBT film, concert series, Bad Bunny
Openly gay American Idol alum David Hernandez has premiered his new song—"Sorry"—and the accompanying music video, a press release noted. "Sorry" is described as "a metaphoric letter to those David has hurt in the past as ...
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Melissa Etheridge's son dies at age 21
Beckett Cypher—the son of Melissa Etheridge and her former partner Julie Cypher—died, according to media reports. He was 21. Etheridge, on Twitter, said, "Today I joined the hundreds of thousands of families who have lost loved ...
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Ravinia's production of Bernstein's 'Mass' on PBS on May 15
Ravinia's 2019 presentation of iconic conductor Leonard Bernstein's little-seen music theater masterwork Mass will be shown as an installment of the PBS series Great Performances on Friday, May 15, at 9 p.m. on PBS ( including ...
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SHOWBIZ Lady Gaga, Quibi shows, Alexandra Billings, 'Queer Eye,' podcasts
Lady Gaga announced that her sixth studio album, Chromatica, will be released Friday, May 29, via Interscope Records, a press release noted. The album features collaborations with Ariana Grande, Elton John and Blackpink, and is executive-produced ...
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PASSAGES Rock icon Little Richard dies at 87
Little Richard—a founding father of rock 'n' roll who was known for his flamboyant style and pompadour as well as hits such as "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally"—has died at age 87. People.com said that ...
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COVID-19 Pitchfork Music Festival cancelled
This year's Pitchfork Music Festival has been cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pitchfork was slated to be held in Chicago's Union Park on July 17-19. A note on the event's website reads, "We're heartbroken to ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Homecoming' series, virtual concerts, Janet Jackson, Jeffree Star
The critically acclaimed series Homecoming returns for its second season Friday, May 22, on Amazon Prime Video with a new mystery and a new star: Janelle Monae, a press release noted. Her character wakes in a ...
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COVID-19 Ravinia cancels 2020 season
In response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Ravinia, the oldest music festival in the country, has been forced to cancel its 2020 season. Ravinia has operated continually since its 1904 opening except for 1932—1935, when the ...
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MUSIC Trent Crews on his new song, coming out and Jennifer Lopez
Trent Crews is a singer with several tunes to his credit—but some may know him best from reality TV. Crews made history when he appeared on season eight of Love & Hip Hop: New York, in ...
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10 Questions with Vic
Even with two back to back hit singles, 'Ladies Night' and 'Countdown,' Hollywood Holland is still a midwestern girl in a big city. Holland earned the nickname "Hollywood Holland" after packing up everything she owned in ...
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Anne Steele, Kelli Carpenter raise funds for meals. Online concert April 29
Lesbian singer/ songwriter Anne Steele decided to start online concerts to lift the spirts of her fans, friends and family. While playing the "couch concerts" every Wednesday on Facebook Live, her wife, Kelli Carpenter, a travel ...
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SHOWBIZ Elton John, TV actor comes out, Adam Lambert, 'Queer as Folk'
Sir Elton John postponed the remaining North American dates on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour due to the coronavirus, Rolling Stone noted. John's farewell trek previously postponed its tour dates from March 26 through May ...
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GLAAD digital event raises $225,000
On April 26, GLAAD hosted a digital event to highlight the LGBTQ response to COVID-19 and to raise money for CenterLink and local LGBTQ centers affected by COVID-19. "Together in Pride: You are Not Alone", hosted ...
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Ravinia's production of Bernstein's 'Mass' on PBS on May 15
Ravinia's 2019 presentation of iconic conductor Leonard Bernstein's little-seen music theater masterwork Mass will be shown as an installment of the PBS series Great Performances on Friday, May 15, at 9 p.m. on PBS ( including ...
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COVID-19 Various Chicago music festivals cancelled
Because of the COVID-19 crisis, the 35th annual Chicago Gospel Music Festival ( May 27-30 ), the 37th annual Chicago Blues Festival ( June 5-7 ) and the 5th annual Chicago House Music Conference & Festival ...
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SHOWBIZ Global concert, TV doctors, Sean Hayes, GLAAD event, 'Circus'
Some of the world's top stars helped to raise nearly $128 million for the World Health Organization during the coronavirus pandemic by performing in a concert broadcast globally, CNN.com noted. Dozens of celebrities and musicians—including Lady ...
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COVID-19 World of Wonder, Stonewall hosting all-star concert April 23
World of Wonder Productions and the official 501( c )( 3 ) of The Stonewall Inn, The Stonewall Gives Back Initiative, announced that on Thursday, April 23, at 7 p.m. CT, the partnership will present a ...
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Hamilton's Cervantes new addition to April 19 concert
Miguel Cervantes ( Hamilton ) will perform live during the April 19 Chicago Offstage! Live from Home virtual concert benefiting Season of Concern, the emergency fund for Chicago's theater artists. Cervantes is a late addition to ...
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Against Me! cancels May U.S. tour
Against Me!—the punk-rock band that is fronted by transgender singer/guitarist Laura Jane Grace—is cancelling its May 2020 North American co-headline tour with prog-metal act Baroness because of the coronavirus pandemic. The run was to visit parts ...
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EVENTS Welz Kauffman on what Ravinia will (hopefully) bring this summer
It's not a Chicagoland summer without Ravinia, with its multitude of concerts and other attractions ( including the opening of RaviniaMusicBox, an immersive experience that is slated to open with two Leonard Bernstein installations ). However, ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Call Me by Your Name,' Heath Ledger, superheroes, gay singer
Director Luca Guadagnino confirmed that a sequel to his 2017 film Call Me by Your Name is in the works, although the project is currently on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, NewNowNext.com noted. "Before coronavirus, ...
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SHOWBIZ Sam Smith, Showtime, pro-trans song, Colton Underwood, Shea Coulee
Singer Sam Smith will postpone the release of their third album, To Die For, so it can be renamed due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, LGBTQ Nation noted. "I have done a lot of thinking ...
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WORLD Trans Day of Visibility, Hong Kong judge, Ugandan police, Elton John
On the International Trans Day of Visibility ( March 31 ), Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David issued a message. "Transgender and non-binary people face significant cultural, legal and economic challenges, but continue to bravely share ...
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New Order, Pet Shop Boys in Chicago in September
New Order and Pet Shop Boys confirmed a co-headlining tour of North America. The two British electronic bands announced that The Unity Tour will kick off Saturday, Sept. 5, in Toronto and will stop in select ...
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SHOWBIZ Troye Sivan, Digital Drag Fest,'Killing Eve,' rapper comes out, 'Star Trek'
On March 22, singer Troye Sivan revealed that his brand new single, "Take Yourself Home," would be officially coming out on April 1, Billboard.com noted. Alongside his announcement, Sivan also appeared to give fans a quick ...
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Benjamin Scheuer releases "I Am Samantha" for International Transgender Visibility Day
Canvasback Records/Atlantic Records is proud to announce the release of "I Am Samantha" from singer-songwriter Benjamin Scheuer. The touching track recounts the real-life journey of Samantha Williams — a transgender woman who Scheuer first met and ...
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Chicago DJ taps online music energy
As the coronavirus pandemic unfolds, numerous creative professionals have kept their audiences engaged, and kept themselves working, by taking their work online. Marc Moder—a local DJ who works under the name Moose the DJ and is ...
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SHOWBIZ Martha Stewart, Angelica Ross, gay wrestler, Rosie, COVID-19 items
Emmy-winning television personality, cookbook author and lifestyle expert Martha Stewart helps guide six talented amateur bakers in the new primetime series Bakeaway Camp with Martha Stewart, premiering Monday, May 4, on Food Network, a press release ...
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CONCERT COVERAGE BIPOC Punk Takeover; Floor Show; Of Montreal
Despite the creeping threat of COVID-19 and our federal government's ineptitude in handling it, springtime in Chicago arrived with a jolly vengeance in March. The idea of a "spring awakening" got a whole new definition, as ...
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Chicago Symphony events canceled
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association (CSOA) announces that all CSOA-presented concerts at Symphony Center scheduled through at least the next 30 days (starting March 12) are canceled in an effort to limit community transmission of COVID-19. ...
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SHOWBIZ Janelle Monae, Harry Hains' death, Sam Smith, COVID-19 cancellations
Janelle Monae will headline the 2020 Pride Festival in New York on Saturday, June 27, BET.com noted. The annual event has been headlined in the past by Grace Jones, Madonna and Patti Labelle, among others. This ...
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PASSAGES Ann Morris
Ann Morris passed away March 7. She was 67. Ann was born in Chicago on April 5, 1952, and grew up in Texas. She returned to Chicago to attend the University of Chicago where she earned ...
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Ravinia Music Festival announces 2020 season
HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Welz Kauffman today announced his 20th and final season as President and CEO of the country's oldest and most programmatically diverse music festival. The 2020 season boasts more than 120 events from ...
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'Skates' debut pushed to April 23
Hit Her with the Skates—a musical starring American Idol couple Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young—has pushed its world premiere of the Chicago production at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., from Wed., March 18, ...
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SHOWBIZ Halsey, GLAAD, Jonathan Van Ness, Carol Burnett, 'Stranger Hearts'
Halsey said she won't be touring for a while after the year is over, IHeart.com noted. The singer, who is currently traveling for her "Manic World Tour," made the announcement on Instagram March 1. Posting images ...
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Lady Gaga to return to Chicago on Aug. 14
Lady Gaga will hit the road this summer with The Chromatica Ball Tour—a special six-city worldwide limited run of exclusive performances that will include a return to Chicago's Wrigley Field on Friday, Aug. 14. Other stops ...
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SHOWBIZ Angelica Ross, Madonna, 'Love, Victor,' trans writer/activist, Judge Judy
Better Brothers Los Angeles ( BBLA )—in association with award-winning actress/activist Sheryl Lee Ralph and her non-profit organization, The DIVA Foundation—announced that actress and transgender advocate Angelica Ross is among this year's list of honorees for ...
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Sinfonietta's 'Sight + Sound' on March 7, 9
The Chicago Sinfonietta concert "Sight + Sound: A Sonic Art Exhibition" will take place Saturday, March 7, at 8 p.m. at Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville; and Monday, March 9, at 7:30 p.m. ...
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SHOWBIZ Disney first, queer band, awards events, Aretha, 'Drag Race'
Months after The Rise of Skywalker featured the first same-sex kiss in the Star Wars galaxy, the new animated film Onward introduces the first self-identified lesbian character into the Disney-Pixar universe, Yahoo! noted. Her name is ...
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New Order, Pet Shop Boys in Chicago in Sept.
New Order and Pet Shop Boys confirmed a co-headlining tour of North America. The two British electronic bands announced that The Unity Tour will kick off Saturday, Sept. 5, in Toronto and will stop in select ...
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Ndegeocello, Chin at MCA March 6
Musician Meshell Ndegeocello and spoken-word artist Staceyann Chin will be featured at the Museum of Contemporary Art's Edlis Neeson Theater on Friday, March 6, 7-8:30 p.m. Ndegeocello—who has worked with artists such as Madonna and Missy ...
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Cantonese opera program March 17
"Si-fu: An Evening of Cantonese Opera" will make its Midwest debut at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts Performance Hall, 915 E. 60th St., on Tuesday, March 17, at 6:30 p.m. This program ...
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NUNN ON ONE MUSIC The portrait of Dorian Electra
Dorian Electra is part of a whole new wave of artists currently changing the game. Being gender-fluid has influenced their work in music videos that continue to be a big component to Electra's art. Through this ...
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MUSIC
Mykal Kilgore: Out singer on NAACP award nod, $2 wine and Billy Porter
Mykal Kilgore definitely marches to the beat of his drum. The singer certainly possesses talent ( as witnessed by his current NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding New Artist, which pits him against Ari Lennox, Mahalia, ...
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'Judy & Liza' tribute March 5-April 5
The tribute show "Judy & Liza—Once In A Lifetime: The London Palladium Concert" will be presented at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., March 5-April 5. Shows will be Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at ...
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ShOWBIZ 'Drag Race' judges, Dwyane Wade, 'Porgy,' Of Montreal, Cirque du Soleil
RuPaul Drag Race's season-12 guest judges consist of film, music, television, fashion and political figures such as Nicki Minaj, Whoopi Goldberg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Chaka Khan, Robyn, Leslie Jones, Normani, Jeff Goldblum, Daisy Ridley, Thandie Newton, Olivia ...
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CONCERTS Grammy Awards; Super Bowl's halftime; Yola and Amythyst; Deadmau5
January and part of February felt like springtime in Chicago, with intermittent snow showers, clouds of fog and the rare sunny day. For music fans, the weather could hardly put a damper on things and it ...
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'Lipstick & Lyrics' Feb. 22, 28-29
Chicago Gay Men's Chorus will present "Lipstick & Lyrics: All In The Family,"—a live-singing drag show on Feb. 22, 28 and 29 at 8 and 10 p.m. each night at The Annoyance Theatre & Bar, 851 ...
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SHOWBIZ Sean Hayes, Rihanna, Cher, Billy Porter, Laura Dern
Sean Hayes, Carrie Aizley, Margo Martindale, Jim Rash, Matthew Broderick and Allison Janney are part of the cast of the film Lazy Susan, which is coming to theaters April 3, a press release noted. According to ...
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'Parasite,' Zellweger, Elton among Oscar winners
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences distributed the 2020 Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Feb. 9. The South Korean thriller Parasite was surely the most notable winner for the evening, winning ...
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OKRP Creates Month-Long Multimedia Showcase for Black History Month
CHICAGO, IL, February 4, 2020 — Throughout the month of February — in celebration of Black History Month and in conjunction with 2020 being named the "Year of Chicago Music" — Chicago agency O'Keefe Reinhard & ...
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NUNN ON ONE MUSIC Out singer Tom Goss talks newest work, bears, 'Mean Girls'
Out singer Tom Goss released his newest album, Territories, in 2019. With the record, he created videos for several singles that spotlight relationships. The LA-based singer-songwriter is known for tackling LGBT issues with his studio albums ...
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Chicago Musical Theatre Festival through Feb. 20
Underscore Theatre Company is presenting its sixth annual Chicago Musical Theatre Festival—created to showcase and support the growing field of musical theatre creators from Chicago and beyond—through Feb. 20. The festival will be performed simultaneously on ...
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