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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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, ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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, ...
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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 ...
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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 ) ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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"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 ...
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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 ...
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'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 ...
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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 ...
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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. ...
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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, ...
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Midwest Action; Guided by Voices
Concert-wise, 2018 ended with a shriek while 2019 started with a jolly howl. On Dec. 29, local entrepreneurs and life partners Alyssa Welch and Dan Jarvis threw a season-ending showcase for their label, Midwest Action, at ...
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Sinfonietta's MLK concerts Jan. 20-21
Chicago Sinfonietta will present its signature annual MLK Tribute Concert—featuring the conducting talents of Chicago Sinfonietta Assistant Conductor Kedrick Armstrong and Charleston Symphony Orchestra Assistant Conductor Kellen Gray, both graduates of the Chicago Sinfonietta's industry-leading Project ...
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Camper van Beethoven members on coming out, performing
Alternative rock band Camper Van Beethoven broke into the music scene with "Take the Skinheads Bowling" and enjoyed major success with a cover of "Pictures of Matchstick Men." After disbanding, lead singer David Lowery formed the ...
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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. ...
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SHOWBIZ Gay wrestler, Black filmmakers, music festivals, Britney Spears
Wrestler Anthony Bowens started the new year by coming out on Instagram as gay after previously identifying himself as bisexual. In part, he posted, "As people move on in their lives, the way they view the ...
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Ashley Simpson, Evan Ross aim to be new dynamic duo
Singers, actors and reality stars are just a few ways to describe celebrity couple Ashlee Simpson and Evan Ross. Many may know Simpson as the younger sister of Jessica Simpson who began acting on the TV ...
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Book chronicles local gay disco scene
The new book Dugan's Bistro and the Legend of the Bearded Lady, by author/activist/grassroots historian Owen Keehnen, is a folklore-bio of the local disco era—a time that was key in the evolution of Chicago's LGBT community. ...
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10 questions with Vic: Rapsody
Rapsody is a tour de force in hip hop, both blazing the trail for a new generation of emcees and showcasing effortless lyrical mastery in celebrating the hip hop culture. But this Grammy Award nominee represents ...
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MEASURE FOR MEASURE Singing (and playing) in the new year
Lyric Opera of Chicago is back with the second half of its season, after a month-long hiatus that will be filled—beginning next December—by the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago's annual production of The Nutcracker ( moving from ...
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Critics' Picks
The Winter Wolf, Otherworld Theatre, through Jan. 6. A plucky young girl and a predatory harbinger of death both learn the limits of their powers while discovering the extent of their humanity in Joseph Zettelmaier's smart ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Will & Grace,' Martina's flub, Nick Jonas, Aretha, '9 Months'
The people behind Will & Grace have released a highlight reel featuring some of the show's numerous famous guest stars, NewNowNext.com noted. "So many celebs, so many guest spots over the years," reads the official video's ...
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NUNN ON ONE MUSIC Bryce Vine grows into the big time
Singer/rapper Bryce Vine started early in the music business at the young age of 13. It was under guidance from his mom Tracey Ross—who many know from the soap opera Passions—that he auditioned for a reality ...
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Creative Minds Talks: Chance the Rapper + Renee Fleming event cancelled
[THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED] Lyric Opera House is proud to host Creative Minds Talks once again on Jan. 12, 2019, when award-winning rapper, producer, and philanthropist Chance the Rapper joins celebrated operatic singer, arts activist, ...
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CONCERTS William Elliott Whitmore; The Runnies and Bleach Party
In one of the more unusual year-end concerts that I've seen, acoustic blues rocker William Elliott Whitmore headed a deceptively diverse bill at Thalia Hall on Dec. 15 and managed to both confuse and excite his ...
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SHOWBIZ Queer As Folk, Kerry Washington, Mariah Carey, Hugh Jackman
Bravo is developing a new version of Queer As Folk, Variety reported. Russell T. Davies, the creator of the original British series, is onboard the new project as an executive producer; and Stephen Dunn is attached ...
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Families of Chicago Banquet Jan. 5
The Third Annual Families of Chicago Banquet will take place Saturday, Jan. 5, 6-9 p.m., at the University of Chicago's Cloister Club, 1212 E. 59th St. The family scene is a kinship and cultural formation entity ...
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WBEZ's 'The Morning Shift' host steps away
After six years serving as WBEZ 91.5FM's "The Morning Shift" host, Tony Sarabia is signing off and exploring his story's next chapter. Sarabia, who is openly gay, grew up in Oak Park and has been living ...
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Bev Rage and the Drinks; John Grant
The last month of 2018 got under way with a virtual pile up of shows full of jolly queer cheer. First up was Bev Rage and the Drinks who guested at The Green Mill's Paper Machete ...
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SHOWBIZ Batwoman, Janet Jackson, Carol Burnett, 'Deadpool'
Batwoman and Supergirl met for the first time on the CW's "Elseworlds" crossover event recently—and there was some very clear sexual tension between the two powerful heroines, Out.com noted. This was the first time Ruby Rose ...
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Jingle Ball Tour, Bright lights and kinky boots
The national iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour 2018 stopped at Rosemont's Allstate Arena on Dec. 12, courtesy of radio station 103.5 KISS FM and a unique lineup of music. This was the ninth stop on the tour ...
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Tanner releases new holiday song
Local singer Jeannie Tanner, with the Jeannie Tanner Quartet, has released the new holiday song " Santa's in the Chimney ( I Think He Might Be Stuck )." Tanner sings and plays trumpet on this original ...
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Cavalcade of Queens take over Holiday Land in Visual Album, The Holiday Dragtacular
December 17th, 2018 ( New York )- XS Studio brings you a stocking stuffed-holiday special from some of your favorite queens: Peppermint, Pandora Boxx, Cynthia Lee Fontaine, Jaymes Mansfield, Alexis Michelle, Sherry Vine & Shuga Cane ...
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Carlo Chappelle, born to sing
"Carlo is somebody who loves to sing with every ounce of his body," said Beckie Menzie. "There are people who sing because they want to be heard—and he's certainly somebody who wants to share his music—or ...
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Gay chorus, LGBTQ groups mark holidays
Dec. 2 marked the finale of the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus' ( CGMC's ) three-day "Holiday Hullabaloo" run. Partnering onstage with 10 other LGBTQ performing-arts groups at the Beverly Arts Center to deliver covers of classic ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Rent,' Ariana Grande, Lena Waithe, Elton John
Fox has announced the full cast for the upcoming live musical event Rent, which will air Sunday, Jan. 27, a press release noted. Actress Kiersey Clemons, Emmy nominee and Tony winner Brandon Victor Dixon, singer/songwriter Jordan ...
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Grammy Award-winning artist Common to perform with CSO June 2019
CHICAGO—The League of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association ( CSOA ) presents its 30th annual Corporate Night benefit concert on Monday, June 3, 2019, at 7:30 p.m., featuring Grammy Award-winning artist, actor and Chicago native Common ...
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Carlile, Monae, Lamar get Grammy nods
The 2019 Grammy nominations were announced Dec. 8—and rapper Kendrick Lamar led everyone with eight nominations. Drake scored seven, and lesbian Brandi Carlile and producer Boi-1da followed with six nods apiece. Drake, Carlile and Lamar were ...
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Sinfonietta's MLK concerts Jan. 20-21
Chicago Sinfonietta will present its signature annual MLK Tribute Concert—featuring the conducting talents of Chicago Sinfonietta Assistant Conductor Kedrick Armstrong and Charleston Symphony Orchestra Assistant Conductor Kellen Gray, both graduates of the Chicago Sinfonietta's industry-leading Project ...
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Elton John tribute show Dec. 8
On Saturday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. at the Gallery 1070 Auxillary Building, 1101 W. Granville Ave., the Edgewater Artitsts in Motion will present its second concert with Great Moments in Vinyl ( G.M.I.V. ), now ...
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Event focuses on revolutionary Cuban punk-rock band
Nonprofit arts and education group QUEER, ILL AND OKAY brought a neglected component of Cuban history to the mainstage with a screening and panel discussion on Los Frikis, a group of Cuban punk rockers in the ...
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'We Are Family' Pride Event to Benefit Chicago House Dec. 12
CHICAGO—Revolution Brewing, Chicago's largest independent brewer, is rolling out the dance floor on Wednesday, Dec. 12 for its inaugural We Are Family fundraiser — an event to support the LGBTQ community and raise donations for Chicago ...
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'Stand Up for Red' marks World AIDS Day
On Nov. 29, Center on Halsted partnered with DIFFA/Chicago to host the second annual Stand Up For Red indoor street festival, bringing together local restaurants, musicians and artists to raise HIV/AIDS awareness in preparation for World ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Handmaid,' Kristen Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Viola Davis
Margaret Atwood is currently writing a sequel to her best-selling dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale, TheWrap.com noted. Due out in September 2019 from publishers Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, The Testaments is set 15 years after Offred's final ...
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John Grant weaves 'Magic' spell on fans
Out singer John Grant was born in Michigan, started a band called The Czars in Denver and eventually moved to Europe. Along the way he created a legacy of solo work that included his debut album, ...
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Double Door to reopen in Uptown
The nightspot Double Door—which originally closed in 2016 and which hosted acts as varied as Common and the Rolling Stones—will reopen in Uptown at 1050 W. Wilson Ave., Fox32Chicago.com noted. The old Double Door had to ...
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'Santa Speedo Fun Run' on Dec. 8
The annual Santa Speedo Fun Run will take place Saturday, Dec. 8, at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St. Sign-in and registration will start at noon, with the one-mile run through Boystown starting at 2 p.m. There ...
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MEASURE FOR MEASURE Yuletide tunes
We don't think any music director would program "Oh, Holy Night" and "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" back-to-back, but both are part of the vast array of music which contributes to the holiday season. ...
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Red Bull festival features LGBT talent
Red Bull Music Festival Chicago presented a late-night music event called Futurehood & Friends at the Wicker Park nightspot Subterranean. The concert venue filled two floors with people from the LGBT community ready to be entertained ...
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WINDY CITY TIMES 2018 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Rebel yell As many know, the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots is next year, and this cool "Rebel" T-shirt—which out Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black designed—marks the occasion in a colorful way. ( $27; https://www.omaze.com/made/dustin-lance-black-rebel-tee ...
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City Winery's December shows: Macy Gray, more
Singer Macy Gray and former American Idol finalist Kris Allen are among those slated to perform at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., in December. Gray—whose signature raspy voice is featured in "I Try," one of ...
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SHOWBIZ Rippon retires, 'Moulin Rouge,' Katy Perry, trans actresses
Olympian and U.S. national figure skating champion Adam Rippon told CBS News he will no longer skate competitively—meaning the 29-year-old will effectively retire from professional skating. Rippon competed for the United States in the Winter Olympics ...
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Five Worth Finding: Haunting film, Skydeck and more
—What Haunts Us: This Emmy-nominated documentary—which examines why many boys who graduated from the Porter-Gaud School in Charleston, South Carolina, committed suicide after becoming adults—will haunt you. Filmmaker Paige Goldberg Tolmach, who also attended the school, ...
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Chicago Magic Lounge celebrates New Year's Eve, holds child-friendly night before
Chicago, IL — Chicago Magic Lounge, Chicago's new home for close-up magic, celebrates the holidays with magical performances, specialty cocktails and more. Featured performers in December include Signature Show appearances by TC Tahoe, Francis Menotti feat. ...
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Rachel Eckroth, Rufus Wainwright; Jonathan Jackson, Echo and the Bunnymen
As November drew to a close we witnessed a torrent of old-school queer favorites coming to town for a pile up of sentiment and nostalgia far removed from the homey vibe of Thanksgiving and Christmas. First ...
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Lakeside Pride show spotlights 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
On Nov. 17, The Lakeside Pride Music Ensemble presented "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," a symphonic concert celebrating LGBTQ soldiers and veterans who served during the time that policy, also known as DADT, was in place ( ...
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CGMC's 'Hullaballoo'Nov. 30-Dec. 2
Chicago Gay Men's Chorus ( CGMC ) will celebrate 35 years of making music with its upcoming holiday show, "35th Anniversary Holiday Hullabaloo." The show will take place Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at three different venues. The ...
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Spotlight, Women in Magic' Nov.-Dec.
Chicago Magic Lounge ( CML ), 5050 N. Clark St., will present "Spotlight: Women in Magic," Nov. 29-Dec. 1. While female magicians are rare—research studies estimating that only 5-10 percent of professional magicians and magic club ...
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Concerts by Queer trance, Glitter Guts
The start of the holiday season brought a wealth of queer music and celebration to close out 2018 with a bang. First, The Burlington hosted a night of queer flavored electronic trance music Nov. 13. Queer ...
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