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African American Arts Alliance, Black Ensemble Theater Martin Luther King Day
--From a press release
The African American Arts Alliance of Chicago and Black Ensemble Theater present the 10th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, January 18, 2021 at 6:00pm. The jubilant, online event is free will be ...
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Billy Masters
"I was too innocent and too GAY to deserve a Pardon from Trump."—Joe Exotic. It was the crazy stretch limo sitting outside the prison that made me laugh. Like there's a pardon, and POOF, he could ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Batwoman,' Village People, Neil Patrick Harris, Mariah Carey
SPOILER ALERT: Season two of Batwoman (featuring the lesbian superheroine) began by introducing Ryan Wilder, the new lead character on The CW show played by Javicia Leslie—and explained how first-season ...
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THEATER A Red Orchid Theatre running magical 'Missed Connections' Feb. 2-28
A Red Orchid Theatre is presenting Missed Connections—a live, interactive play with magic, conceived for virtual experience, co-written by Jon Tai and Alex Gruhin, performed by magician Jon Tai and produced by Alex Gruhin—on Feb. 2-28. ...
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Joffrey Ballet announces Feb. 12 world premiere of 'Bolero'
The Joffrey Ballet announced the world premiere of Bolero—named after the acclaimed orchestral piece by composer Maurice Ravel and choreographed by Joffrey company artist Yoshihisa Arai—on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. Bolero, to be performed by ...
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Billy Masters
"Honey … when you got talent, you don't need all this shit."—Siegfried Fischbacher (of Siegfried & Roy) to Bette Midler, after she commented on the magical duo's high-tech show. (The story was related to me by ...
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SHOWBIZ LGBTQ movies, 'Color Purple,' Nick Jonas, gay coach
The film Draw with Me has launched its virtual theatrical release at ArenaScreen through Feb. 9, and was the subject of the first-ever panel at the United Nations on Transgender Health, a release stated. Featuring Jennifer ...
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Virtual OUTspoken storytelling event Feb. 2
The next virtual OUTspoken Storytelling Night will take place Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. The speakers will be as follows: —Donald Bell is a third-generation Chicagoan, South Sider and White Sox fan who is a retired ...
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'Dixie's Happy Hour' streaming Jan. 26-31
On the heels of Dixie's Tupperware Party and Dixie's: Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull (and 16 other things I learned while I was drinking last Thursday), drag personality Dixie Longate is ...
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Hell in a Handbag Productions to present
Out, Darn Spot!
--From a press release
CHICAGO (Jan. 15, 2021) — Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to present the campy comedyOut, Darn Spot!, written by and starring ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith* and directed, filmed and edited by Stephanie Shaw. ...
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Report: Here are the highest grossing LGBTQ+ actors on Netflix
--From a Journalistic.org press release
Highest grossing LGBTQ+ actors on Netflix - Kristen Stewart comes in first, with a net worth of 70 million dollars - Bisexual women are the top earning members of the LGBTQ+ community - The TV industry ...
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Artemisia Theatre announces entirely virtual 2021 season
--From a press release
CHICAGO - In order to continue its strong feminist story-telling tradition, Artemisia Theatre announces an entirely virtual 2021 season. The new season includes two World Premiere theater productions and eight audio performances airing on its podcast ...
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'Mombian Database' released
Mombian columnist Dana Rudolph has released the Mombian Database of LGBTQ Family Books, Media, and More, with more than 500 books, music albums, movies, games and toys for and about LGBTQ families. The site offers multiple ...
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Chicago Dance History Project's Interview Marathon on Jan. 31
Chicago Dance History Project (CDHP) has confirmed the lineup and schedule for its Interview Marathon on Sunday, Jan. 31, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Interviewees will appear live from international locations and ...
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SHOWBIZ Laverne Cox, lesbian coach, Jim Parsons, 'Brokeback,' theater items
Laverne Cox is teaming with Meryl Streep and Rashida Jones to executive-produce a new documentary exploring one of the most critical issues at the intersection of race, feminism, and power: the sex industry, out.com noted. Sell/Buy/Date ...
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Billy Masters
"Harry Styles is looking REALLY good. I'm into the fishnets. And we have very similar tastes. I think sharing a closet, sharing a life together, it just makes sense."—Miley Cyrus. I'd rather see Harry with Miley's ...
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Five Worth Finding: Workout gear, $2 subs, LGBTQ book
1. Lived Experience: Reflections on LGBTQ Life: "Lived Experience," in this case, refers to 60 LGBTQ people in this country who are older than 50—those who especially have so much to offer. This is a generation ...
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African American Arts Alliance, Black Ensemble to present MLK event Jan. 18
The African American Arts Alliance of Chicago and Black Ensemble Theater will present the 10th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, Jan. 18, at 6 p.m. The online event will be free. This ...
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Rip Nelson Holiday Quarantine Special extended through Jan. 17
--From a press release
CHICAGO (Jan. 4, 2021) — Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to announce one additional week of performances of its streaming holiday hit The Rip Nelson Holiday Quarantine Special, now playing through Jan. 17, 2021. ...
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Billy Masters
"Gay man has too much to drink and legally changes name to Celine Dion."—New Year's Day headline from England. Not only is it embarrassing, it's woefully out of date. I mean, Celine Dion—how retro! I know ...
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Billy Masters
"Although self-isolating may at times be hard, many people of all faiths—and of none—are discovering that it presents and opportunity to slow down, pause and reflect in prayer or meditation."—Queen ...
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SHOWBIZ Trans movie, best/worst LGBTQ films, sports items, Whitney
Shout! Studios entered into an exclusive deal with Kirkpatrick & Kinslow Productions (KKP) and Scatena & Rosner Films (SNR) to distribute the new LGBTQ-focused documentary The Sound of Identity, a press release noted. The movie chronicles ...
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Hell in a Handbag announces annual benefit, "The Morning After"
CHICAGO (Dec. 17, 2020) — Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to announce its annual benefit "The Morning After," featuring the streaming world premiere of the smash hit musical that started it all for them, ...
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BOOKS: The best of 2020
You've got a little extra time this month, and you don't want to waste it. You want to read something good, the possibilities are endless, and the best place to begin is with these Best Books ...
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PrideArts to screen one-night-only live virtual readings
--From a press release
PrideArts series of one-night-only live virtual readings resumes with TWELFTH NIGHT on the Twelfth of January Peter Vamvakas to direct a cast of seven Click here for a Word doc version of this release CHICAGO — ...
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Bechdel Fest 8 to highlight femme, female-identifying, non-binary, trans, queer actors
Broken Nose Theatre (BNT) will present Bechdel Fest 8: Realign—the company’s annual festival of new short plays featuring an ensemble of femme, female-identifying, non-binary, trans and queer actors talking about things other than men.
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SHOWBIZ 'Drag Race,' year-end honors, 'Guardians,' Taylor Swift
VH1 unveiled a game-changing twist from the upcoming season of the Emmy-winning RuPaul's Drag Race, premiering Friday, Jan. 1, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, a press release noted. For the first time in Drag Race "herstory," queens ...
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Billy Masters
"You are a weak, scared, stupid, inept, negligent, vindictive, narcissistic, criminal. I hope you live a long life in prison where you become the most popular boyfriend to all the inmates."—Debra Messing's tweet to El Presidente. ...
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Five Worth Finding: Last-minute shopping
—RuPaul Fan Favorites Gift (CannaBellaLux.com): Advertising itself as "a female-forward boutique + lifestyle brand," Chicago-based Canna Bella Lux has a lot of intriguing items, including this gift set. This set includes a RuPaul candle, a 5" ...
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OUTSpoken: LGBTQ storytelling event Jan. 5 on Zoom
Another OUTspoken Storytelling Night will offer the perspective of four Chicagoans telling life stories from their LGBTQ+ viewpoint or that of their close friends and relatives, Tuesday, Jan. 5, starting at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The ...
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'Pose' star headlining virtual talent benefit Dec. 16
Dominique Jackson—an activist and co-star of the FX series Pose—is headlining the #REFUGEE RAINBOW EXTRAVAGANZA Talent Show "Still Here, Still Queer" on Wed., Dec. 16, 5-6 p.m. CT. ORAM (Organization for Refugee, Asylum and Migration) is ...
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Windy City Gay Chorus, Windy City Treble Quire present Let There Be Light
--From a press release
Chicago, Ill. — Windy City Performing Arts (WCPA), the not-for-profit parent organization of Windy City Gay Chorus and Windy City Treble Quire, is proud to announce its 41st annual holiday concert, Let there be Light: A ...
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PrideArts to screen A Not So Silent Night Tuesday, Dec. 15
To honor the tradition of gathering around with family and singing holiday songs, even in a pandemic. PrideArts is hosting a one-time screening of the film A Not So Silent Night tonight, Dec. 15, 2020. The ...
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HotHouse to stream Cuban jazz festival "Jazz Plaza" Jan. 21-24
--From a press release
CHICAGO — Marguerite Horberg, executive director of the award-winning Chicago-based nonprofit arts presenter HotHouse, today announced that it has been awarded the exclusive rights to stream the 2021 legendary Cuban ...
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Billy Masters
"I don't agree that only gay actors should play gay. … I don't agree with having to laser focus the casting of it all, or else you'll be playing yourself the rest of your life."—Juan Pablo ...
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SHOWBIZ Trans acting challenge, NYE parties, Charlize Theron, Diana Ross
Michael D. Cohen, with support from Nickelodeon, is launching the Trans Youth Acting Challenge, according to a press release. Trans and non-binary kids can submit audition self-tapes online (preferably through their parents), and the top 12 ...
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Indoor Voices series spotlights Duke It Out Nutcracker Dec. 18
--From a press release
The Music Institute of Chicago's "Indoor Voices," a free series of virtual visits with arts luminaries featuring conversation and occasional performances, returns with a new episode spotlighting the Music Institute's ...
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Local 'Cheer' star faces new charges
Naperville resident Jerry Harris, who starred on the reality show Cheer, was indicted on new charges Dec. 11 that alleged he coerced teenage boys to send him obscene photos and videos of themselves and solicited sex ...
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Pegasus holding Young Playwrights Festival Jan. 7-31
On Jan. 7-31, Pegasus Theatre Chicago is presenting the 34th Young Playwrights Festival (YPF), which selects winning high school-age scribes to apprentice with theater professionals to workshop and produce their ...
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Kylie Minogue's 'Infinite Disco' to stream New Year's Eve
Singer Kylie Minogue announced that her performance event "Kylie: Infinite Disco" will be streaming New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, at 9 p.m. across respective time zones. The performance premiered last month following the release of Kylie's ...
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Newest competitors on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' revealed
VH1 revealed the cast for the 13th season of RuPaul's Drag Race, premiering Friday, Jan. 1, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. After winning six Emmy Awards this year and becoming the most awarded reality competition show in ...
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New Joffrey Studio Series offers interactive virtual season
--From a press release
The Joffrey Ballet is pleased to introduce the Joffrey Studio Series, a comprehensive roster of virtual programming — from livestream performances and company rehearsals to ...
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Andersonville at Home for the Holidays virtual variety show Dec. 13
--From a press release
CHICAGO (Dec. 8, 2020) — Although we can't all gather for the traditional caroling and festivities that are customary in the Andersonville business district during the holiday season, the Andersonville ...
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SHOWBIZ Naya Rivera, Jodie Foster, MTV, Marc Jacobs
Naya Rivera's Glee co-stars are honoring the late actress with a fundraiser launched in her memory, Page Six noted. A GoFundMe account has been established by the crew in her name, with proceeds going toward Alexandria ...
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Cyndi Lauper's 'Home for the Holidays' event Dec. 11
Award-winning singer, icon and advocate Cyndi Lauper announced that her 10th annual Home for the Holidays benefit concert will premiere on Friday, Dec. 11, exclusively on her TikTok at 8 p.m. ET, with an additional stream ...
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Billy Masters
"You're assuming that I'm completely straight. Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. And it's frankly none of your business."—Viggo Mortensen responds to a reporter's question about whether he should be playing a gay character in Falling."Wh ...
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THEATER About Face airing festival with Black LGBTQ+ artists
About Face Theatre is launching its 25th season with Kickback—an online festival of 10 newly commissioned short plays and performances by Black LGBTQ+ artists, inspired by the Rebuild Foundation's collections at the Stony Island Arts Bank. ...
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Black Ensemble Theater's 'Holiday' event Dec. 18-25
The Black Ensemble Theater is celebrating the 2020 holiday season with The Black Ensemble Virtual Holiday Extravaganza, written and directed by Producing Managing Director Daryl D. Brooks. Filmed from the performers' homes and the theater, the ...
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Big Fat Socially Distant Holiday Adventure Show defies depression
--From a press release
CHICAGO, IL (December 1, 2020) — Experimenting with new forms of live, interactive performance, focused on creating space for conversations on loneliness, depression and anxiety, LevityTV presents the day-long stream-a-thon ...
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Actor formerly known as Ellen Page comes out as trans
Elliot Page has come out as transgender. The star of movies like Juno and TV shows like The Umbrella Academy, formerly known as Ellen Page, posted about his transition on social media on Dec. 1, according ...
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Chicago Cabaret Professionals make a gift of their free gala concert
--From a press release
For over twenty years the Chicago Cabaret Professionals' (CCP) annual Gala has been a festive live event. This association of over two hundred singers refuses to be deterred by the pandemic and will make a gift ...
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SHOWBIZ Singer Justin Utley, Gus Kenworthy, video game, 'Jackplot' film
OUTMusic Award winner Justin Utley has released the single "All Is Bright"—his first holiday release, a press release noted. Utley described the song as a little-bit of Lumineers/Mumford & Sons mixed in with a lot-a-bit of ...
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Laverne Cox 'in shock' but okay after transphobic attack
Transgender actress/activist Laverne Cox (Orange Is the New Black) said she was "definitely in shock" and "triggered" but okay after an anti-trans attack while walking with a friend in a Los Angeles park, USA Today reported. ...
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MUSIC (Colton) Ford tough: Singer is back and 'Stronger' than ever
Colton Ford has been an actor (in mainstream, off-Broadway and adult features) as well as singer, but he had see out of the spotlight for a few years—until now. Ford (who's openly gay) is back with ...
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'The Prom' out Dec. 11 on Netflix
The Prom—a musical-comedy film directed by Ryan Murphy and adapted by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin (from their and Matthew Sklar's 2018 Broadway musical of the same name)—will be out on Netflix on Dec. 11. The ...
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New narrative podcast offers lesbian rocker slice of life
Podcast attached below
For audiophiles in search of punk rock tongue-in-cheek lesbian dramedy-driven narrative storytelling, look no further: "Tampon Rock" is here. The podcast, from Anthem and iHeart Radio, focuses on lesbian bandmates Deja and Chloe as they navigate ...
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SHOWBIZ: Awards, 'Bebop,' Andy Cohen, Mariah Carey, Revry
The American Music Awards aired live Nov. 22 and some of the biggest names in music took home awards; Taraji P. Henson hosted. According to CNN.com, Doja Cat won new artist of the year and Becky ...
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Billy Masters
"I think maybe I had something to do with it, because I was always a big fan of doing fancy dress with them when they were smaller, which Gemma hated, but Harry always embraced. Who doesn't love playing dress up?"—Harry Styles' ...
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MOVIES Paul Bettany talks 'Uncle Frank' and his own closeted father
In the critically acclaimed Amazon Studios movie Uncle Frank, out Nov. 25, Paul Bethany (the Avengers and Iron Man series; Master and Commander; The Da Vinci Code) plays the title character—a literature professor who has two ...
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MOVIES Peter Macdissi reflects on making 'Uncle Frank'
In the Amazon Studios movie Uncle Frank, out Nov. 25, Peter Macdissi plays Walid "Wally" Nadeem—the partner of the title character (played by Paul Bettany). However, the dynamics are a bit different in that Frank Bledsoe ...
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Black transgender artist Heather Hills releases single, video from Trans Trenderz
--From a press release
(New York, NY) Electro-pop/rap artist, Heather Hills, has released the new single and video, "Get Dun," on the Trans Trenderz label. "Get Dun" is not for those expecting trauma porn. "I got a cute beat and ...
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THEATER Harry Lennix to direct Dec. 13 reading of 'Mercy'
Northlight Theatre will present an Interplay New Play Development Program reading of Mercy, written by Felicia Oduh and directed by Harry Lennix (known for his acting roles on TV shows such as The Blacklist and Billions ...
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BOOKS/ART Local man releases sketches by famous artist uncle
Cuban American painter Gustavo Ojeda (1958—89) is best known for lush and meditative urban nightscapes that brought him recognition in the 1980s downtown New York art scene. He exhibited works alongside artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, ...
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Hubbard Street Dance presents surrealist film online Dec. 3, 5 and 6
--From a press release
CHICAGO — Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) continues its 2020/21 43rd season with a virtual premiere presentation of new work from former Hubbard Street dancer and acclaimed choreographer Jonathan Fredrickson ...
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Play development series seeks new plays authored by artists of color
--From a press release
(Chicago, IL) Calling all bold, imaginative new plays authored by artists of color for Future Labs—Goodman Theatre's newest artistic program to develop works authored and directed by Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI and other artists of co ...
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About Face Theatre starts 25th season with Kickback online short play fest
--From a press release
CHICAGO (Nov 9, 2020) — About Face Theatre kicks off its landmark 25th season with KICKBACK, an online festival of newly commissioned short plays and performances by Black LGBTQ+ artists, inspired by the Rebuild Foundation's collections ...
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Artist Riva Lehrer talks new memoir, career, state of the world
In queer artist, writer and curator Riva Lehrer's recently released memoir Golem Girl, she takes readers on a journey through her life via the lens of her being born with spina bifida and the way that ...
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THEATER
Lookingglass to present 'Her Honor Jane Byrne' on Nov. 26, 28
Lookingglass Theatre Company, in collaboration with WBEZ 91.5 Chicago, will present a world-premiere audio play of Her Honor Jane Byrne, written and directed by Ensemble Member and Mellon Playwright in Residence J. Nicole Brooks. Her Honor ...
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MUSICALS 1997 version of Anyone Can Whistle out Dec. 4
On Sunday, Dec. 4, Jay Records will release a 1997 recording of the musical Anyone Can Whistle, which originally had music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim as well as a book by Arthur Laurents. The production ...
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SHOWBIZ Wentworth Miller, Whitney, lesbian author, Mark Wahlberg
Out actor Wentworth Miller said he doesn't want to be involved in a new season of the TV show Prison Break if it happens, according to Deadline. On Instagram, he thanked fans for his support and ...
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MOVIES Trans-focused Born to Be to be released Nov. 20
Born To Be—a hit documentary on the country's first hospital center for transgender medical care—will open in Philadelphia on Friday, Nov. 20 (also the Transgender Day of Remembrance) with Gene Sickle Film Center Virtual Cinema. The ...
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Billy Masters
"You can't say that marriage is a union between one man and one woman. Until very recently, that's what the vast majority of Americans thought. Now it's considered bigotry."—Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. So much for ...
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Jim Verraros: From 'Idol' to now
It may seem just like yesterday when Jim Verraros was among the finalists who performed on the very first season of the reality-competition show with the likes of Justin Guarini and Kelly Clarkson (who won). However, ...
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Hell in a Handbag to present Rip Nelson Holiday Quarantine Special
CHICAGO (November 12, 2020) — Hell in a Handbag Productions celebrates the holidays with the return of America's favorite funnyman, Rip Nelson (Ed Jones*), in the star-studded world premiere of ...
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THEATER Pride Arts artistic director resigns; PFP keeps Zak
Two controversial developments have occurred at Pride Arts (in which Pride Films & Plays, PFP, is the main tenant). According to a letter from PrideArts President Cheri Tatar that Windy City Times obtained, PFP Artistic Director ...
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