Around the World in 80 Minutes will give audiences a taste of diverse sounds, cultures and languages. In a time where traveling is dangerous due to COVID-19, the Chorus is aiming to provide a means to explore the world through music. "In these quarantined times, this will be a virtual world tour that is safe and entertaining to enjoy!" said CGMC Artistic Director James Morehead. There are several familiar pieces to look forward to including Toto's "Africa," songs about traveling like "Steppin' To The Bad Side" from Dreamgirls and Noel Coward's "Why Do The Wrong People Travel?" Additional tunes will explore various countries and languages like Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Tagalong, German, and more.

One of the main themes of the cabaret is a celebration of differences, identities, and embracing multiculturalism. Representation is extremely important. "I paid special attention to ensuring that all continents of the world are represented in the show to showcase the variety and beauty of music from all places," said Morehead. The cast is currently working hard to learn various kinds of music with two full-ensemble numbers that feature an Argentinian composition in Spanish and an American composer's original folk song in Swahili.

Chicago Gay Men's Chorus is currently rehearsing and performing virtually due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Members currently do not need to live in Chicago to participate. There is still quite a bit of preparation in rehearsal and extensive work behind the scenes to make sure virtual performances can happen. "We don't see a virtual performance as a replacement for live music, but rather a new and different way to approach performances in these odd times," said Morehead. "Keeping our own members and community engaged is important to grant some relief, ease and normalcy to our staff, singers, donors and audiences." The major obstacle is not being able to make music together, but CGMC is finding ways to keep everyone entertained, enlightened and part of a community.

The rest of CGMC's 2020-21 Season continues to structure performances around famous literature. The upcoming holiday show is an original LGBTQ+ spin on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, with original material by James Morehead and long-time writer and supporter of the Chorus, Ashlee Hardgrave. Next up is a live-singing drag show based very loosely on Bram Stoker's Dracula, Lipstick and Lyrics: Diva Dracula. Audiences will enjoy creepified drag performers with a scarily fabulous array of beasts, goblins and blood-sucking vampires. They then round out the season with another Hardgrave-Morehead original show based on L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. In true CGMC humor and sass, skip down the Rainbow Brick Road in this lesbian love story called The Wizard of Oz: Debbie does Dorothy.

Visit cgmc.org/cabaret for more information and to purchase tickets. Chicago Gay Men's Chorus hopes to see you online soon!

WHEN/WHERE

-Friday, October 16, 2020 at 8:00 PM CDT - Virtual Performance

-Saturday, October 17, 2020 at 8:00 PM CDT - Virtual Performance

- Sunday, October 18, 2020 at 3:00 PM CDT - Virtual Performance

TICKETS

Tickets are currently on sale for $15 with an additional per ticket fee. Only one ( 1 ) viewing ticket per device, per household. Additional tickets must be purchased separately. Patrons will receive a specialized link to view the performance at their selected date and time. All sales are final — no refunds or exchanges. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit cgmc.org/cabaret.

ABOUT CHICAGO GAY MEN'S CHORUS

The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus ( CGMC ) has been an integral part of Chicago's cultural and gay communities since 1983. For more than three decades, the chorus has entertained audiences across the continent with innovative musical programming exploring everything from love to politics to the sometimes fabulous, sometimes challenging world of being gay; often all at the same time. Our always-memorable performances have included original musical revues; full-length book musicals; traditional choral concerts and intimate cabaret presentations; all punctuated with our signature joyous irreverence. Chicago Gay Men's Chorus was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 2001.