| |
MUSIC
Ravinia CEO Welz Kauffman on upcoming season
Tony Bennett, Chicago, Queen Latifah and Common, Lionel Richie, Sting, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Pentatonix, Jennifer Hudson, Steely Dan, OneRepublic, Kesha, Bobby McFerrin, Sarah McLachlan, Mary J. Biige, Fred Hersch, Matthew Polenzani and Ringo Starr are ...
|
| |
Karen Mason's For the First Time cabaret in May
Broadway star Karen Mason will debut her new show, "Karen Mason: For the First Time," May 17-18 at 7:30 p.m. and May 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Cabaret Room at Drury Lane, 100 Drury Ln., ...
|
| |
SHOWBIZ Tegan and Sara, 'The Boys in the Band,' Charlize Theron, Janet Jackson
Twins/indie band Tegan and Sara are releasing their memoir, High School, EW.com reported. It tells their coming-of-age story: growing up in Alberta, Canada, grappling with their sexuality, and facing the pressures of adulthood as the end ...
|
| |
SHOWBIZ Trans baritone, Billboard Awards, Kate McKinnon, Lena Waithe
Kirkpatrick & Kinslow Productions have announced it is greenlighting a documentary entitled Lucia's Voice ( Working Title ), OperaWire.com noted. The new film center on internationally renowned opera star Lucia Lucas will perform the title role ...
|
| |
Big Freedia performances taking place April 20-21
LGBT singer Big Freedia ( known as the "Queen of Bounce" ) is coming to Chicago to celebrate Do312 & Chicago Cannabis Alliance's street festival—the second annual Waldos Forever Fest, at Argyle and Clark streets—on Saturday, ...
|
| |
BOOKS Queer scholar profiles Chicago house music
When Micah E. Salkind was a teenager in Kansas, he found the music that would change his life. "I went to raves and would hear Chicago house music," said the queer scholar, whose first book Do ...
|
| |
Big Freedia to lead April festival
LGBT singer Big Freedia is coming to Chicago to celebrate Do312 & Chicago Cannabis Alliance's street festival—the second annual Waldos Forever Fest, at Argyle and Clark streets—on Saturday, April 20,, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. In addition to ...
|
| |
Chicago Blues Fest to celebrate Chicago's Blues legacy June 7-9
Experience Chicago's rich blues music legacy at the 36th Annual Chicago Blues Festival happening Friday, June 7 to Sunday, June 9 in Millennium Park ( 201 E. Randolph St. ). The Chicago Blues Festival will celebrate ...
|
| |
MUSIC Trans singer-educator talks music, teaching, traveling
For singer-educator Tommy Lamont, living an authentic life as a trans woman has been a decades-long journey that culminated in publicly coming out in 2015 to her extended family, friends and work colleagues. Lamont knew she ...
|
| |
SHOWBIZ 'Drag Race,' George Michael, 'The Talk,' Don Lemon
Production company World of Wonder and Voss Events are presenting The Official RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 11 Tour, to kick off a run of shows on Sunday, May 26, in Los Angeles, a press release noted. ...
|
| |
THEATER REVIEW Pinocchio
Playwrights: Joseph Steakley and Ben Loppries At: House Theatre of Chicago at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. Tickets: 773-769-3832; TheHouseTheatre.com; $30-$50. Runs through: May 19 This new Pinocchio definitely isn't Walt Disney's version, nor is ...
|
| |
Greyson Chance plays new music at Lincoln Hall
Singer-songwriter Greyson Chance played a sold-out show at Lincoln Hall on April 5 to support his recently released album, portraits. Chance—who became famous after a video of him covering Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" as a child went ...
|
| |
Maggie Lindemann's not just a "Pretty Girl"
Singer Maggie Lindemann was introduced to the world through the app Keek and on Instagram. Shortly after that she came out as bisexual publicly and her song "Pretty Girl" began started creeping up the charts. Other ...
|
| |
Navy Pier plans 2019 free summer arts and cultural Events
CHICAGO — As the summer season approaches, Navy Pier is pleased to announce the highlights of its 2019 summer programming schedule, featuring a robust lineup of free events and program series spanning from Memorial Day weekend ...
|
| |
Ella Jenkins to be honored April 13
The DuSable Museum, in collaboration with Smithsonian Year of Music 2019, will honor Ella Jenkins with family programming on Saturday, April 13, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the DuSable Museum, 740 E. 56th Pl. Performers at the ...
|
| |
MUSIC Singer Taylor Trentham: From Dollywood to Laramie
Every artist has a first gig. Taylor Trentham's was at Dollywood. The 22-year-old opera singer recently played the titular role in Roosevelt University's production of Considering Matthew Shepard—a classical music tribute to the gay college student ...
|
| |
SHOWBIZ 'A Star Is Born,' Image Awards, Adam Lambert, Celine Dion
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's A Star Is Born soundtrack surpassed 1 million copies sold in the United States, Billboard.com noted. Star sold 16,000 copies in the tracking week ending March 21, bringing the soundtrack's cumulative ...
|
| |
Beyonce, Sean Hayes among GLAAD honorees
The media-advocacy organization GLAAD announced recipients for 15 of this year's 27 categories for the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on March 27. Beyonce and JAY-Z received the Vanguard Award. HIV/AIDS advocate Morris Singletary; writer, producer ...
|
| |
10 Questions with Vic Featuring Melissa Etheridge
Melissa Etheridge is on top of the world. Her highly anticipated album The Medicine Show drops on April 12, she goes on tour at the end of March, and her namesake cruise takes off on March ...
|
| |
MUSIC Alan Menken talks music, storytelling, Howard Ashman
Legendary score composer Alan Menken—best known for his Oscar-winning work on classic Disney animated films including The Little Mermaid and Aladdin—will be in Chicago playing a retrospective show Saturday, March 30. Menken talked with Windy City ...
|
| |
Ava Max Sings Into a Sweet Life
New pop star Ava Max is taking over the charts these days with her song "Sweet but Psycho." She's already compared to Lady Gaga with the single and video that is at the top of the ...
|
| |
SHOWBIZ Kristin Chenoweth, Lee Daniels, 'Tales of the City,' Janelle Monae
The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus announced that Emmy and Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth will be honored with the Vanguard Award, and that Olympic figure-skating medalist Adam Rippon will receive the Trailblazer Award at the annual ...
|
| |
MUSIC Ravinia CEO Welz Kauffman on upcoming season
Tony Bennett, Chicago, Queen Latifah and Common, Lionel Richie, Sting, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Pentatonix, Jennifer Hudson, Steely Dan, OneRepublic, Kesha, Bobby McFerrin, Sarah McLachlan, Mary J. Biige, Fred Hersch, Matthew Polenzani and Ringo Starr are ...
|
| |
TELEVISION Caity Lotz talks'Legends,' Lady Gaga and helping other women
On Monday, April 1, at 7 p.m. CT, DC's Legends of Tomorrow will resume its fourth season on The CW, entertaining viewers with its colorful characters and unconventional adventures. ( The show is a spinoff featuring ...
|
| |
GLAAD to honor Madonna May 4
GLAAD is set to honor the musical icon Madonna with the Advocate for Change Award at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York City on May 4, Deadline noted. "From the HIV crisis to ...
|
| |
Brandi Carlile show in Chicago June 29
Coinciding with Pride Month, Grammy-winning lesbian singer Brandi Carlile will perform at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island on Saturday, June 29. The special guest will be Lucius. Carlile has released seven albums, including The Story ...
|
| |
CONCERTS No Men and Absolutely Not; The Aces; Arkells; Christian French
CWith the iron grip of 2019's polar vortex finally weakening, spring and sold out concerts made a strong comeback in the month of March. First was a double bill at The Empty Bottle on March 2 ...
|
| |
Renee Fleming stars in multi Tony winning musical The Light in the Piazza
CHICAGO ( March 24, 2019 )—John Berry CBE and Anthony Lilley OBE for Scenario Two are delighted to announce a new production of the acclaimed Broadway musical The Light in the Piazza starring four-time Grammy Award ...
|
| |
Ariana, Gambino, Monae part of Lollapalooza
Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino, Twenty One Pilots and The Strokes are among the headliners for Lollapalooza, which will take place Aug. 1-4 in Chicago's Grant Park. More than 180 acts were announced for this year's music ...
|
| |
Chicago Sinfonietta's "In Darkness We Rise" highlights Jewish experience March 23
CHICAGO ( February 2019 ) — For the world's most vulnerable, persecuted and troubled, even in the most sorrowful times of darkness, moments of light are bound to emerge. Chicago Sinfonietta, the nation's most diverse orchestra, ...
|
| |
"Trans Art Is" Trans Day Of Visibility 2019 Launch Celebration March 31
The Chicago Therapy Collective is at is again, building platforms for Trans and QTPOC* artists to share their voices, sounds, movements, and truths and bringing you a phenomenal lineup of creatives. Get excited, Chicago! Join us ...
|
| |
'Night of Noise' variety show April 14
The Illinois Safe Schools Alliance will be "breaking" the Day of Silence with its third annual variety show, "Night of Noise: Onward and Upward" on Sunday, April 14, at Haymarket Pub and Brewing, 737 W. Randolph ...
|
| |
Ravinia Festival Experience Center, immersive-experience theater, to open
HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Ravinia Festival will open a major addition to the park, the RaviniaMusicBox Experience Center, later this summer. The new building features an immersive-experience, 65-seat theater and a museum gallery space. Described by ...
|
| |
Ravinia announces 2019 summer lineup
HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Ravinia President and CEO Welz Kauffman today announced the not-forprofit festival's complete 2019 summer lineup—more than 140 events from May 31 through Sept. 15— boasting more than 70 artist debuts and 50 ...
|
| |
'Lights, Camera, Sing!' Windy City Performing Arts to perform cinematic scores March 30
Windy City Performing Arts ( WCPA ) will hold "Lights, Camera, Sing!" on Saturday, March 30, at 7 p.m. at Gannon Concert Hall at DePaul University, 2330 N. Halsted St. The group will perform the great ...
|
| |
SPRING MUSICAL REVIEW Singing and swinging through spring
Chicago will see and hear 20 musicals between now and late May. Some are touring hits calling again, such as Jersey Boys ( Nederlander Theatre, April 2-7 ) and Falsettos ( Nederlander, May 28-June 9 ); ...
|
| |
SHOWBIZ: Aguilera, Beyonce, Tribeca Film Festival, Marc Jacobs
The Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) announced the organization will honor six-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Christina Aguilera with the HRC Ally for Equality Award at the 2019 HRC Los Angeles Dinner. ( As previously announced, ...
|
| |
Symphony musicians on strike for first time since 2012
Despite 11 months of negotiations, Chicago Symphony Orchestra ( CSO ) musicians—represented by the Chicago Federation of Musicians ( CFM )—and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association ( CSOA ) did not reach agreement on a new ...
|
| |
MUSIC Lakeside Pride unveils new agenda at inaugural gala
On March 9, the Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles unveiled a bold new agenda at its inaugural gala. The event, titled "Take the Stage," was held on the stage of the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park and ...
|
| |
NUNN ON ONE, MUSIC. Jess Glynne 'Always' in the mix
English singer Jess Glynne come to widespread attention with the hit single "Rather Be," by Clean Bandit. Her debut album, I Cry When I Laugh, debuted at number one on the UK albums chart and her ...
|
| |
Robyn performs at Aragon Ballroom; party continues at Berlin
Swedish pop princess Robyn appeared in a puff of smoke at the Aragon Ballroom on March 6. Although it was only 20 degrees outside, it felt about 100 inside with a sold-out show made popular, in ...
|
| |
Jonathan Zeng to present Songs that Speak
Jonathan Zeng will present Songs that Speak, a cabaret featuring favorite tunes from the worlds of musical theatre and popular music, with Jonathan Zeng ( vocalist ), Michael R. Oldham ( Pianist/composer ), Daniel Eastwood ( ...
|
| |
MOVIES New Madonna docudrama gets into the groove
Who's that girl? Meet Madonna's doppelganger—Jamie Auld, a 23-year-old actress taking on the role of pre-fame Madonna in a new film chronicling the pop icon's early life in Queens, NY. Written and directed by Guy Guido, ...
|
| |
SHOWBIZ 'Pose,' actor comes out, Miley Cyrus, Janet Mock
GLSEN will honor the cast and creative team of Pose with the Champion Award during the 2019 GLSEN Respect Awards: New York, on Monday, May 20, at Cipriani 42nd Street, a press release noted. Golden Globe-nominated ...
|
| |
MUSIC Artemis Singers chorus celebrates inspiring women
In honor of herstory, Artemis Signers begins Women's History Month with a concert Sunday, March 3, at the Irish American Heritage Center titled "Sheroes: Women Who Inspire Us." Founded in 1980, Artemis Singers is a Chicago-based ...
|
| |
MUSIC An evening with Elton John
It was Friday and I was anxious for the final school bell to ring. We were going to visit Aunt Patti for the weekend who had just bought Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album, so ...
|
| |
CONCERT Mike Maimone; Thoom; 'Bowie Celebration'
Out rocker Mike Maimone dropped into Lincoln Hall on Feb. 8 and turned the place into a rowdy honky-tonk juke joint. Advertised as a single release show, the gig effectively strengthened his reputation as one of ...
|
| |
PASSAGES Pioneering trans Jackie Shane dies at 78
Jackie Shane—a Black Canadian transgender soul singer who found fame in nightclubs in 1960s Toronto and who had a Grammy-nominated record in her 70s—has died in Nashville at age 78, The New York Times reported. Shane ...
|
| |
MNEK, in his 'Language'
Singer MNEK is performing in his first ever headline tour and he's heading to Chicago for the first time. Born Uzoechi Osisioma Emenike—later known as MNEK—signed his first publishing deal at 14. His duet with Zara ...
|
| |
Michael Jackson musical skipping Chicago
The Michael Jackson Estate and Columbia Live Stage announced that a Michael Jackson stage musical are canceling a 2019 pre-Broadway engagement in Chicago, citing "scheduling difficulties" caused by the recently ended Actors' Equity strike, according to ...
|
| |
NUNN ON ONE, MUSIC. John Cameron Mitchell bringing 'Hedwig'-inspired songs
Two-time Tony winner John Cameron Mitchell is bringing moments of Hedwig and the Angry Inch back to life for Chicago audiences. The musical has enjoyed a cult following all over the world telling the story of ...
|
| |
SHOWBIZ Troye Sivan, 'Perfectionists,' Janelle Monae, Oprah
SHOWBIZ Troye Sivan, 'Perfectionists,' Janelle Monae, Oprah COMPILED BY ANDREW DAVIS Troye Sivan candidly discussed the correlation between his sexuality and his commercial success in a recent interview, NewNowNext.com reported. On Pop Idol winner Will Young's ...
|
| |
Women rule Grammys
It may have been a man ( Childish Gambino aka Donald Glover ) who won for Song and Record of the Year for "This Is America"—the first time a rap tune accomplished the feat—but women were ...
|
| |
NUNN ON ONE, MUSIC. Donna Missal talks tattoos, Valentine's Day
Singer Donna Missal comes from a long line of songwriters in her family. Her career began in 2013 with writing songs for the film How to Be a Man. Her song "Keep Lying" became a viral ...
|
| |
CONCERT REVIEW Cher entertains in United Center show
The United Center was packed Feb. 8 for Cher's show, filled to the rafters with the LGBT community, drunk middle-aged women and older couples who were possibly celebrating an early Valentine's Day. There were plenty of ...
|
| |
Alan Menken to perform March 30
Legendary songwriter Alan Menken comes to Chicago for "A Whole New World of Alan Menken"—a one-night-only performance at the historic Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr. ( 50 E. Congress Pkwy. ), on Saturday, ...
|
| |
Lipstick & Lyrics: Band Together, live-singing drag show takes up songs of protest
CHICAGO, February 7, 2019 — Chicago's largest live-singing drag show returns with Lipstick & Lyrics: Band Together featuring songs of protest to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Stonewall. This year's queens and kings will perform selections ...
|
| |
SHOWBIZ 'The L Word,' 'The Babadook,' Ben Platt, Ellen Page
Fifteen years after it first aired, Showtime plans to revive the lesbian drama The L Word, LGBTQ Nation noted. Original cast members Jennifer Beals, Kate Moennig, and Leisha Hailey will be returning as their iconic characters ...
|
| |
Judy Collins at Raue Center in Crystal Lake Feb. 16
CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — Raue Center For The Arts is excited to welcome award-winning singer-songwriter Judy Collins to the stage in 2019! The esteemed musician will bring her imaginative interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk standards ...
|
| |
Hamilton, The Exhibition tickets on sale
CHICAGO ( Jan. 29, 2019 ) — Tickets to Hamilton: The Exhibition will go on sale to the general public at 10AM on Friday, Feb. 15. Hamilton: The Exhibition will premiere in Chicago on April 6, ...
|
| |
Chicago Symphony Orchestra announces 2019/20 season
The 2019/20 season is on sale now! Join us for a season of celebration marking Riccardo Muti's 10th season as music director and the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven. Explore the full ...
|
| |
All That He Was benefit concert March 11 at Pride Arts Center
All That He Was, the 25th Anniversary Benefit Concert on March 11, 2019 at Pride Arts Center will support Pride Films and Plays and Chicago-area AIDS services charities including AIDS Foundation of Chicago ( AFC ) ...
|
| |
Nunn on One, TV Kelly Price discusses new series, musical roots
American Soul is a new BET television series dramatizing the rise and fall of Don Cornelius, who created the iconic dance show Soul Train. Singer Kelly Price plays Brianne Clarke, mother of two of the Soul ...
|
| |
SHOWBIZ Lilly Wachowski, Greg Berlanti, Audra McDonald, Pink
Transgender Matrix franchise/Sense8 co-creator Lilly Wachowski has come on board to produce, co-write and co-direct a series to be based on Abby McEnany and Tim Mason's pilot, Work in Progress, which premiered in the Indie Episodic ...
|
| |
CONCERTS Sons of the Silent Age, Fun House, Wing Tips, Michael Shannon
On Jan. 12, local entrepreneur Joe Shanahan presented a benefit concert featuring tribute performances to three queer icons for the Northshore Kellogg Cancer Center at his venue The Metro. First up was Wing Tips, who started ...
|
| |
SHOWBIZ Show renewals, Lee Daniels, Lady Gaga, 'Avengers'
Just a week into the show's second season, NBC has renewed top-rated alternative series Ellen's Game of Games, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, for a third season, Deadline.com noted. Ellen's Game of Games returned to the NBC ...
|
| |
NATIONAL Kansas guv, PFLAG leadership, activist dies, gay chorus
GLAAD hailed Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly for issuing an executive order that adds "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" as a protected class under state law, reinstating an executive order once issued by former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius ...
|
| |
Artemis Singers March 3 Sheroes concert to celebrate women heroes
CHICAGO—Artemis Singers, Chicago's lesbian feminist chorus, will present "Sheroes," a concert of songs and stories of strong women at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 3, at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago, in ...
|
| |
Aaron Alexander on being part of the 'Hamilton' ensemble
Two years and three months into its Chicago run, Hamilton remains one of the costliest and most coveted tickets in town. While the show has gone through multiple leadls—half a dozen Burrs, Elizas, Angelicas and Jefferson/Lafayettes ...
|
| |
"Let Freedom Ring, Chicago" Jan. 21 at City Winery
"Let Freedom Ring, Chicago" a musical tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will take place Monday, Jan. 21 at City Winery. The concert, featuring Lynne Jordan, Jeannie Tanner, Cynthia Clarey, Tecora Rogers, Isiah Mitchell, Frieda ...
|
| |
Same-sex couple rocks records at Rattleback
There's a new retailer in town, called Rattlebake Records, located in Andersonville at 5405 N. Clark St. Husband-and-husband team Paul Ruffino and Mike Weaver opened the place recently and it features vinyl, CDs, cassettes, movies and ...
|
| |
'Nina Simone' through March 2
Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2018-19 season with Nina Simone: Four Women, written by Christina Ham and directed by Kenneth L. Roberson. Nina ...
|
| |
DiFranco book out May 7
On May 7, Viking will publish No Walls and the Recurring Dream, a memoir from longtime singer/songwriter/poet/activist Ani DiFranco. According to a press release, "DiFranco is one of the most prolific indie artists of the last ...
|
| |
New CSO recording with Muti available
The new CSO ( Chicago Symphony Orchestra ) Resound recording Riccardo Muti Conducts Italian Masterworks is now available in international retail outlets including the Symphony Store and SymphonyStore.com, as well as for digital download and streaming. ...
|
| |
SHOWBIZ Deborah Cox, awards events, gay singer killed, 'Family Guy'
The Sin City Classic Sports Festival presented by Toyota—the world's largest annual LGBTQ sporting event—announced that Grammy-nominated, multi award-winning singer and LGBTQ advocate Deborah Cox will perform during the Festival's Toyota Sin City Classic Closing Party, ...
|
