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SHOWBIZ John Waters, Madonna, Miriam Margoyles, Angelica Ross, 'Cassandro'
Openly gay film director John Waters (Pink Flamingos, Serial Mom, Cry-Baby) received his star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, The Hollywood Reporter noted. (Actors Ricki Lake and Mink Stole as well as photographer Greg Gorman were ...
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SHOWBIZ Kim Petras, LGBTQ+ movies, TIFF, canceled shows, yachts
Video below
Ahead of her Feed the Beast world tour, Grammy-winning international trans pop singer/songwriter Kim Petras has shared reimagined, symphonic, seven-piece string-ensemble performances of fan favorites from her debut album Feed ...
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THEATER Queer actor Kyle Patrick reflects on leading 'American Psycho: The Musical'
American Psycho—both the Bret Easton Ellis novel and the Mary Harron-directed film led by Christian Bale—would seem ripe for a musical treatment, given the omnipresent campy elements (despite, or maybe because of, the gore). And, in ...
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Chicago Opera Theater starts 50th-anniv. season with 'Soldier Songs'
Chicago Opera Theater (COT) is kicking off its 50th-anniversary season with David T. Little's Grammy-nominated Soldier Songs—described as "a haunting, heavy-metal infused theatrical cantata about the psychological impact of war." ...
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Porchlight Music Theatre's announces 29th season
--From a press release
This past Friday at our special event, Porchlight ICONS: Celebrating Ben Vereen, we shared the exclusive announcement of our 29th Season! The new season launches with The Cole Porter Festival - A Celebration of the Man ...
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THEATER Jim Henson production in Chicago on Nov. 14-Dec. 31
A live theatrical adaptation of Jim Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas is making its Chicago debut Nov. 14-Dec. 31, at the Studebaker Theater at the historic Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave., Broadway World revealed. ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Sex Education' star, Rotten Tomatoes, Jessica Lange, Queer/Art
Video below
Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa officially came out during an interview with Elle UK, according to Out. "I remember being at Manchester Pride, going through the streets with all my boys, shaking my cha-chas, living it ...
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Theater Review: A Taste of Soul brings music and food center stage
By Brian Kirst
We all know the sluggish quagmire of weekday work mornings. Often the only thing that gets us moving and able to face the day is our favorite songs. While all of the Black Ensemble Theater productions ...
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Steppenwolf to present Broadway's Jeremy Jordan on Jan. 13
Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Mark Cortale will present Broadway star Jeremy Jordan in his Chicago debut, performing two shows only on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 at 2 and 8 p.m. in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. ...
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Mitchell J. Fain explores the American Dream in The Lehman Trilogy
Chicago actor Mitchell J. Fain is one of three performers headlining TimeLine Theatre Company's upcoming production of The Lehman Trilogy. Fain brings over 30 years of performing experience in the Chicago area to the table, including ...
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SHOWBIZ Military drama, Janelle Monae, Conan Gray, Dylan Mulvaney, Whoopi
The LGBTQ+ military drama Eismayer (from Dark Star Pictures and Golden Girls Film) will be out in theaters on Oct. 6, and on DVD and Digital on Oct. 10, per a press release. The plot is ...
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Chicago Gay Men's Chorus leader speaks on group's diversity, 'Sporty Forty'
The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus (CGMC) is marking its 40th-anniversary season this year, and will start this milestone on Sept. 15-16 with "Sporty Forty," an event that is layered in meanings involving stereotypes and the group's ...
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Britney Coleman keeps Company
Company is coming to Chi-town on tour with a fresh take on the classic musical that has already garnered five Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival. The original material in 1970 was nominated for 14 Tony ...
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Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Fest announces 41st edition program
--From a press release
Chicago, Illinois (August 18, 2023) — Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival today announced its full slate of programming for the 41st edition of the second-longest running LGBTQ+ film ...
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THEATER Goodman to run 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' in 2024
Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Susan Booth announced that Chicago will be first to experience the new musical Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil—based on John Berendt's iconic non-fiction book—next summer. With a book by ...
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The Jeff Awards marks 55th anniversary with Equity nominations
--From a press release
(August 14, 2023 - Chicago, IL) — The 2022-2023 Equity Jeff Awards nominees include 214 theater artists across 32 categories of excellence in theater production among shows from 35 companies. During the most recent season, which ...
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Cirque du Soleil holiday show to run in NYC and Chicago
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSG Entertainment) announced that the family holiday event "'Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil" is returning to both The Theater at Madison Square Garden and The Chicago Theatre this ...
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"The Mattachine Family" to open Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Fest Sept. 21
--From a press release
Chicago, Illinois (August 2, 2023) — Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival today announced the dates and opening night presentation for its 41st edition, running Sept. 21 - Oct. 8, 2023. This year, the second-longest ...
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Broadway stars Mitchell, Foster to perform at Oct. 20 Paramount Theatre gala
Two of Broadway's biggest stars—Brian Stokes Mitchell and Sutton Foster—will perform in downtown Aurora on Friday, Oct. 20, to perform live on Paramount Theatre's historic stage. Mitchell is a Tony-winning performer with a long list of ...
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SHOWBIZ Ariana DeBose, Outfest, 'Gay Days,' 'Drag Race,' Keke Palmer
Queer, Oscar-winning performer/actor Ariana DeBose became one of three people who have joined the American Film Institute's board of trustees, The Hollywood Reporter noted. (The other two are Warner Bros. Pictures Group co-chair/CEO Pamela Abdy an ...
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Musical parody 'Murder, Rewrote' to run Aug. 10-Sept. 16
Hell in a Handbag Productions will conclude its 21st season with the world-premiere musical parody Murder, ReWrote, playing Aug. 10-Sept. 16 at The Den Theatre (Upstairs Mainstage), 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. Murder, ReWrote features book and ...
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CABARET 'Swell Soiree' taking place Aug. 16
The Sarah Siddons Society will present the Swell Soiree—an evening of cabaret performances celebrating The Great American Songbook—on Wed., Aug. 16, at 6 p.m. at Piano Forte, 1335 S. Michigan Ave. Some of Chicago's most talented ...
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SHOWBIZ Emmys, 'Top Chef,' Hyphen Hyphen, Da Brat, 'Transparent,' Ben Cohen
Videos below
As the Emmy nominations were announced (with Succession leading with 27 noms), openly gay Paris Barclay made history. According to Deadline, the two-time Emmy winner is the first Black (and, certainly, Black gay) director to sweep ...
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A Transparent Musical debuts at LA's Mark Taper Forum, first Amazon original series on stage
--From a press release
CULVER CITY, California—July 10, 2023—For the first time, Amazon Studios has debuted an original series on stage with A Transparent Musical. The musical began performances at Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles ahead of Pride Month ...
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The Sarah Siddons Society to offer ten professional development grants for theater artists
--From a press release
CHICAGO (July 11, 2023) — The Sarah Siddons Society is proud to expand on its mission to further support the professional growth of the next generation of Chicago area theatre artists. This year is the inaugural ...
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PASSAGES Performer-teacher Jeffrey Stephen Carlson
Jeffrey Stephen Carlson, 48, of Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood passed away July 6. He was both an accomplished Broadway actor and esteemed classical performer, as well as a dedicated teacher of Shakespeare, who leaves behind a legacy ...
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Chicago's Fine Arts Building hosts 125th anniversary celebration Oct. 13
--From a press release
CHICAGO (July 7, 2023)—Chicago's historic Fine Arts Building (410 S. Michigan Avenue) celebrates its 125th anniversary with a major public event on Friday, October 13 from 5-9 p.m. that activates all ten floors of this Chicago ...
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THEATER The Who's Tommy adeptly reconfigured for the 21st Century
Book: Pete Townshend & Des McAnuff; Score: Pete Townshend with additional music and lyrics by John Entwistle and Keith Moon. At: Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.. Tickets: 312-443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org; $40-$160. Runs through Aug. 6 ...
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PASSAGES Music producer, vocalist, business owner Ralph Lampkin Jr.
Music producer, vocalist and business owner Ralph Lampkin, Jr. died June 24 of a heart attack. He was 66. Lampkin was born April 29, 1957, in New York City, where he lived with his parents Ralph ...
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The Den Theatre to host 'Stand Up for Pride' on June 23
--From a press release
Chicago, Illinois — The Den Theatre today announced Stand-Up for Pride, featuring LGBTQ+ comedians Gwen La Roka (she/her), Krystal Ball (she/he/they), Jayleigh (he/him), Princess Gwen Rose ...
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Nonbinary actors make history at Tonys
A Tony Awards ceremony that was already unique when queer Oscar-winning host Ariana DeBose hosted an unscripted event (because of the writers' strike) became even more historic when two nonbinary ...
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Billy Masters: Cattrall passive-aggressively returns just like that
"I kinda look like a 200-year-old pole dancer now! I don't think that's gonna happen, but thank you anyway." —Sylvester Stallone's response when Sherri Shepherd asks if he'll wear his tank top and booty shorts in ...
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THEATER Queer performer Yurel Echezarreta tells his 'Side' of the 'Story'
The classic musical West Side Story (by Jerome Robbins, with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents) has gone through countless iterations from its 1957 origin, including the Oscar-winning ...
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Federal judge rejects Tennessee's anti-drag law
U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker—who was appointed by former President Donald Trump—ruled that Tennessee's anti-drag show law is unconstitutional, per NPR. Memphis-based LGBTQ+ theater company Friends of George's filed a ...
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GALECA reveals winners of inaugural Dorian Theater Awards
--From a press release
Thursday June 1, 2023 - The 35 members of GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics' theater wing announced the winners and finalists of its inaugural Dorian Theater Awards, honoring the best in Broadway and Off-Broadway ...
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THEATER 'Star Wars' burlesque parody at Logan Auditorium
"The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody"—featuring an unmistakable Star Wars theme—is at Chicago's Logan Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie Ave., for an open-ended run. Featuring parodies of the classic fan-favorite ...
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Barela wins International Mr. Leather title
IML45 came to an exciting close at the Auditorium Theater on Sunday Night as the title was awarded to Marcus Barela of Los Angeles, California. Chris Glc of Atlanta, Georgia was awarded first runner up, and ...
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IML 2023 begins
Visitors from around the world gathered in the Florentine Room of the Congress Hotel on May 25 to kick off the opening ceremonies of the 2023 installment International Male Leather. The event was emceed by Thib ...
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About Face Theater hosts Leppen Leadership Awards
On May 14, About Face Theater presented its Leppen Leadership Awards to members of the LGBTQ+ community for their activism and service. The organization normally awards two individuals a year but decided to expand this year, ...
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Hair coming to Skokie Theater June 23 - July 30
Madkap Productions has announced the cast and creative team for the inaugural show of their 2023-24 season, the rock musical HAIR, with book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, and music by Gail MacDermot. ...
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SHOWBIZ Cynthia Erivo, 'Next Level' winner, 'All Out,' Madonna, Omar Ayuso
LGBTQ+ actor Cynthia Erivo will star in a film adaptation of the theater sensation Prime Facie, Variety noted. Oscar nominee Erivo will take on the role originated on the West End (and, currently, on Broadway) by ...
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Belting for Life returns for an 8th edition
On May 15, Jeff Award-winning director and activist Christopher Pazdernik celebrated his birthday with the eighth edition of Belting for Life, his annual Chicago-style theatrical concert and fundraiser for AIDS ...
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MUSIC Billy Porter talks 'Mona Lisa,' authenticity and activism
Billy Porter certainly seems to have it all. The actor/singer/director received numerous awards—including two Tonys (for his role in Kinky Boots and as a producer of A Strange Loop), a Grammy (for Kinky Boots as well) ...
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Chicago Opera Theater announces new General Director Lawrence Edelson
--From a press release
May 12, 2023 (Chicago) — After a three-month nationwide search, the Chicago Opera Theater (COT) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that veteran artistic leader and stage director Lawrence Edelson has been named the next ...
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South Chicago Dance Theatre to debut 'Memoirs of Jazz' on June 10
--From a press release
(May 8, 2023) Through the 1960s and '70s, Jazz in the Alley on Chicago's South Side was a hotbed for jazz and a meeting place for some of the country's prominent musicians, visual artists, poets, activists, ...
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Chicago theaters hold memorial, will dim lights in honor of Frank Galati
--From a press release
CHICAGO (May 8, 2023) — Several major theatres across the Chicago-area will dim their marquees or lobby lights on the evening of Saturday, May 13, in tribute to late playwright, director, actor and educator Frank Galati, ...
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Kayla Boye's 'Call Me Elizabeth' to run at Venus Cabaret on June 16-18
--From a press release
Chicago—"Call Me Elizabeth," a one-woman show about the early life of Elizabeth Taylor, will be presented June 16—18 by KB Productions at Venus Cabaret Theater. Kayla Boye stars in and wrote the production; Michael Weber directs. ...
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SHOWBIZ Barry Manilow, 'The Kardashians,' gay Marine drama, Tonys, 'Unleashed'
The Barry Manilow/Bruce Sussman production Harmony will make its Broadway bow in the 2023-24 season, beginning performances Oct. 18 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, with opening night on Nov. 13, according to Playbill. The musical—featuring music ...
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LGBTQ+ movie 'The Conformist' to open at Music Box on May 13
Kino Lorber will present a new 4K restoration of Bernardo Bertolucci's 1970 LGBTQ+ masterpiece The Conformist—and it will open Saturday, May 13, at Chicago's Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., for one weekend only. The ...
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2023 Leppen Leadership Awards announced, event May 14
--From a press release
About Face Theatre has announced the return of the Leppen Leadership Awards. Now in the 28th season, About Face has been honoring community luminaries since 2001 with the Leppen Leadership Award, named for founding supporter and ...
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Tony nominations are out
The 2023 Tony nominations are out. With 13 nominations, the musical Some Like It Hot led all productions, with & Juliet; New York, New York; and Shucked tying for second with nine nominations, per Deadline. Kimberly ...
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OBAMA-OLOGY coming to Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre in June
--From a press release
Evanston, IL — Tim Rhoze, Artistic Director of Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, has announced the cast for the company's season-opening Chicago premiere of OBAMA-OLOGY by Aurin Squire. The play is about a young gay African American college graduate ...
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GALECA to also honor achievements in theater
GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics announced it is expanding its mission to honor Broadway and off-Broadway productions, across various inaugural categories, beginning with the current 2022-23 theater season. ...
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SHOWBIZ Janelle Monae, 'SNL,' EDM pioneer, Culture Club, Kim Petras, Wilson Cruz
Videos below
Janelle Monae has re-entered the musical realm with the release of her single, "Float," featuring horns by Seun Kuti + Egypt 80, a press release announced. The song was first heard late last year as the ...
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Season of Concern presents an SRO live edition
Season of Concern held its annual live concert fundraising event at Sidetrack Video Bar in front of a sold out crowd on April 10. The event, which raises money to financially assist theater performers and crew ...
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Steppenwolf premieres a queer work of art with Last Night and the Night Before
Steppenwolf Theatre Company is premiering a new production called Last Night and the Night Before, with plenty of queer representation both behind the scenes and onstage. The story centers around a relationship between two sisters with ...
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House History: World-premiere musical was inspired by the early days of '80s house music
Gay composer Scott Free can rattle off the names of several documentaries celebrating the Chicago origins of house music. This style of electronic dance music was pioneered by Black DJs like Frankie Knuckles and Larry Heard ...
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SHOWBIZ Big Freedia, Hannah Gadsby, Billy Porter, Matthew Camp, 'League' ending
Video below
Netflix released a music video with rapper and "Queen of Bounce Music" Big Freedia remixing Netflix's Strong Black Lead series "Hey, Queen" in time for the release of Netflix and Shondaland's Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, ...
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'Belting for Life' returns in May with new partnership with AIDS Foundation Chicago
--From a press release
CHICAGO—Chicago's favorite evening of big voices for a big cause, returns with the 8th annual Belting for Life. For one night only on Monday, May 15, at 7:30 p.m. at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre in Evanston, ...
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The Jeff Awards announce grants to inspire artists of color
--From a press release
CHICAGO—As an extension of its mission to promote and recognize theater excellence, The Jeff Awards is launching a new grant award program called the Jeff Impact Fellowship to help inspire early to mid-career artists of color ...
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Christopher Rudd's ballet Touche explores dynamics of gay love
Jamaican-born dance creator Christopher Rudd premieres his powerful choreography for Chicago audiences at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, on April 14, 2023. The all-male partnering piece titled Touche is part of the ...
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WORLD Queer soldier, anti-trans interview, Eurovision, couple arrested, soccer match
A queer Ukrainian solider has called for same-sex marriage to be legalized in the country, according to PinkNews. Anna "Kajhan" Zyablikova, who is serving in the 47th Brigade of Ukraine's armed forces, told the i paper ...
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SHOWBIZ Trans musicians, NHL, 'Queen Charlotte,' Jinkx Monsoon, Anderson Cooper
The Face published an article about five trans musicians who should be on people's playlists. British queer nightlife legend Mya Mehmi said that those musicians include New York's Ms Boogie, London-based Harve, Arca, Ms. Carrie Stacks ...
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Andy Cohen, drag queens, Hillary Clinton, Stacey Abrams part of Chicago Humanities Festival
The spring schedule for the Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) is out—and there are several LGBTQ+ guests who will be featured. —Bisexual actress/author Mara Wilson (who played the title character in ...
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Pride Film Fest announces streaming features, shorts, in-person screenings for April, May
--From a press release
CHICAGO — Pride Film Fest has announced its slate of LGBT-themed feature, mid-length and short films through early June. In making the announcement, Pride Film Fest Director David G. Zak said, "This spring, Pride Film Fest ...
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Jade McLeod swallows a Jagged Little Pill
Non-binary performer Jade McLeod has one hand in their pocket as Jo in Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill. The other hand is giving a peace sign now that the past controversy is finally settled following the ...
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SHOWBIZ Coming-out film, James Baldwin, Madonna, 'White Lotus,' women's soccer
Director/co-writer Shariff Nasr's intimate coming-out drama El Houb will be out on Digital and DVD on April 4 via Dark Star Pictures (and in L.A. theaters on April 7), per a press release. The film's decorated ...
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House Musical: Coming of Age in the Age of House, celebrating the house music scene, to run April 20 - 30
--From a press release
Chicago, Illinois (March 30, 2023) — Campsongs Productions today announced the on-sale of world premiere musical House Musical: Coming of Age in the Age of House, celebrating Chicago's famed house music scene at the legendary Warehouse ...
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Hell in a Handbag Productions premieres intergalactic queer extravaganza 'I Promised Myself to Live Faster'
--From a press release
Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to continue its 21st season with the Chicago premiere of I Promised Myself to Live Faster, an intergalactic queer extravaganza ...
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Book of Mormon's Sam Nackman knocks on Cadillac Palace door
The Book of Mormon is returning to Chicago on a mission to convert new followers into the musical fold. The masterminds behind the satirical cartoon series South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker created a smash ...
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The Jeff Awards announces recipients of 49th- anniversary non-Equity theater honors
--From a press release
MARCH 27, 2023 — CHICAGO — In its 49th anniversary celebration of non-Equity theater excellence, the Jeff Awards recognized 35 award recipients selected from among 167 theater artist nominees across 28 artistic and technical categories. Awar ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Joy Ride,' Cynthia Erivo, David Bowie, March Madness, Kevin Bacon
Video below
The first trailer for the upcoming comedy Joy Ride has been released, Out noted. The movie stars Ashley Park, queer Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All At Once), bisexual comedian Sherry Cola (Good Trouble) and ...
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Kokandy Productions announces 2023 Season
--From a press release
CHICAGO (March 22, 2023) — Kokandy Productions is thrilled to announce its 2023 season, including two fully produced musicals, plus plans for the return of the Chicago Musical Theatre Festival. This summer, Kokandy will dive into ...
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Opera Preview: Life of gay World War II hero Alan Turing transformed into a world-premiere opera
It has taken a decade for The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing to grow from an idea into a full- fledged opera. Chicago Opera Theater stages the world premiere of composer Justine F. Chen and ...
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Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project to present dance concert 'Sans Pareil'
--From a press release
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater joins the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project again to take the stage in a dance concert entitled Sans Pareil—French for "unparalleled," a nod to the Haitian lineage of Chicago's founder, Jean-Baptiste Pointe ...
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