"Haven't we already seen everything," is a question lingering in the minds of many gays and lesbians, according to Bailiwick Artistic director David Zak, especially those indulging in weekly helpings of the gayest story ever told—Queer as Folk.
"In this post-Queer as Folk summer, is there anything left that live GLBT performances can do that isn't on TV?"
"You bet there is," says Zak, answering his own question.
Among the 13 productions featured in this year's Pride Series is the Chicago premiere of Terrence McNally's Corpus Christi, which offers audiences a group of controversial gay men that make the boys of QAF look like the Von Trapp family.
And it doesn't stop there. Look for the Midwest premier international hit Naked Boys Singing ( yes, the boys are buck-naked, and yes, they are singing ) , the return of the Jeff-Recommended one-man performance piece MotherSON, as well as Sappho in Love, "a Lesbian midsummer night's dream" which kicks off the theatre's Lesbian Theater Series.
Bailiwick, the largest festival of GLBT theater in America, will host performances in its two theaters from May 30 through Sept. 30.
This summer, escape the drama of your own lives and go see it on the stage—where it belongs.
Corpus Christie
July 8-Aug. 12
Corpus Christie is McNally's gay re-telling of the New Testament, in which Joshua ( Jesus Christ ) and his 12 disciples are baptized into gay adulthood against the backdrop of the modern-day American south. The play follows the young Joshua, who has sexual relationships with his disciples, along a very human spiritual journey that is riddled with doubts, fears and pain. Not surprisingly, from the first moment McNally's characters hit the stage, the play has ignited a steady stream of outrage and controversy. The Chicago premier of Corpus Christie, which has been called the centerpiece of this year's Bailiwicks Pride Series, features Randy Goetz, who plays "Joshua" and Patrick Rybarczyk , who takes on the role of "Judas."
Prism
June 3-July 1
The world premier of this explosive drama written by Diann Russell explores the history of gay activism, from the Mattachine Society of the 1950s to the touching story of Matthew Shepard's murder and its unsettling effect on contemporary gay culture. Russell's story moves freely back and forth in time, offering a rare look at the men and women who struggled, loved and fought to establish the seeds of what would one day blossom into the gay movement. Expect a colorful set of characters—from the drag queens that rioted at Stonewall to Judy Garland's "ghost"—to parade across the stage. Look for Randy Goetz to make his Chicago debut as the play's central character, Tony.
MotherSON
June 2-July 1
Last year Jeffrey Solomon's one-man performance piece, MotherSON, drew the praises of critics and audiences alike with its laughter-through-tears portrayal of a Jewish mother and her unsteady relationship with her gay son. Told through a series of phone calls and answering machine messages, Solomon ( who plays both the son, Brad, and his mother, Mindy ) offers a witty, energetically paced performance that appeals to the mother and son characters that inhabit us all. Called a "warmhearted, semi-autobiographical tour-de-truth," by the Chicago Tribune, Solomon's encore performances of MotherSON are certain to once again delight and inspire audiences at this year's Pride series.
Santa Claus is Coming Out
June 1-July 1
Also performed by Jeffrey Solomon, Santa Claus is Coming Out follows the personal struggle of the greatest holiday icon as he attempts to reconcile his sexual relationship with the Italian toy maker Constantine Geppedo, and his desire to fulfill the dreams of children all around the world. As forces begin to mobilize against Kris Kringle, Santa tries to defend his love and devotion for the innocent children. But will parents continue to let their children sit on Santa's lap? Is the rainbow sticker on his sleigh evidence of a newfound price or is an indicator of his plans to convert the world's children into homosexuals? With the help of puppets, multimedia and music, Solomon offers a savage, hilarious spoof of good old-fashioned homophobia.
Sappho in Love
June 10-July 1
Described as a "lesbian midsummer nights dream," playwright Carolyn Gage has the goddesses of celibacy, love and marriage competing for Sappho's attention. Sappho, the great poet and teacher of Lesbos, endures poetry contests, meteor showers, lessons on lesbian love-making, romantic trysting and disguises in this comedy directed by Shifra Werch.
The Second Coming of Joan of Arc
June 17 and June 18
Carolyn Gage takes the stage as Joan of Arc, one of the most important icons of girl power in modern culture. Joan, with her desire to wear men's clothes, her love for women and her unwavering devotion to her own truths, is a character that never fails to capture the minds and hearts of lesbians and gay men alike. The Second Coming of Joan of Arc has been viewed by audiences around the world and was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award.
Naked Boys Singing
August 26-Sept. 30
They're naked, and they're boys and they're singing, what more do you want? The opening number "Gratuitous Nudity," says it all: "Tonight! Get ready for something risqué/Tonight! We throw inhibition away/ Why even bother to make a fuss/ when it's obvious to us/ you're here to see/ gratuitous nudity." They've been described as a Chippendales glee club or a cuter, buffer version of the Full Monty boys. It's not Shakespeare, nor is it trying to be.
