CHICAGO, October 29, 2019 — Chicago Gay Men's Chorus presents HOLIDISCO, running December 6-8, 2019 at three venues in the Chicagoland area. Experience this unforgettable show complete with all the tantalizing glitz and glamour that the holidays bring. Shiny disco balls and bell bottoms kick off the festive season with disco renditions of beloved holiday favorites and parodies of disco standards. More information and tickets can be found online at cgmc.org/holiday.
Celebrate the holidays with 8 dance numbers, 5 solos, 4 sketches, and 150+ singers. Audiences will be shimmying in their seats as the chorus pays homage to Gloria Gaynor, Earth, Wind and Fire, Kool and the Gang and even a Handel's Disco Messiah. Artistic Director James Morehead programmed the show as part of a season that focuses on family. "I came across a disco Christmas album and realized that I could theme an entire holiday show around it," said Morehead. "I think Disco music is fun and engaging, much like most holiday music." HOLIDISCO will be a fun holiday kickoff show with upbeat music and fun, campy humor.
There is something for absolutely everyone when it comes to disco music. CGMC's mission focuses on entertaining, enlightening, and inspiring change, and when asked how disco relates to the LGBTQ+ community, Morehead said, "Disco music is one of the few genres of music in American history that is not racially specific, offering leading opportunities across gender, race, and identity lines throughout its growth." There is a strong connection to the genre and the larger queer culture. CGMC engages with music that runs the gamut of genres, and a disco-dedicated show needed to happen.
Rehearsals have been underway since late August with a large turnout of CGMC's returning and new members. Members dedicate their time and talents for four months leading up to the performances. Morehead has been enjoying the rehearsal process so far: "There are already so many moments in rehearsal where things are so funny, so gorgeous, or so absurd...it's perfect," said Morehead. "Where else will you get to witness a disco-fied Christmas carol, Hanukkah folk song, or Earth, Wine and Fire parody?" Chicago Gay Men's Chorus, that's where!
Patrons can look forward to a ton of dancing, a costume ball, some sing-a-longs, and maybe even a dance-a-long. Enjoy this one of a kind show by visiting cgmc.org/holiday to purchase tickets!
WHEN/WHERE
-Friday, December 6, 2019 at 8:00 PM
Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
-Saturday, December 7, 2019 at 8:00 PM
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077
-Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 3:00 PM
Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W 111th St, Chicago, IL 60655
TICKETS
Tickets are currently on sale and range from $25 - $40 with additional per ticket fees. All sales are final — no refunds or exchanges. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.cgmc.org/holiday.
PRESS TICKETS
For press tickets to the show, please contact Director of Operations Kevin Corbett at kevincorbett@cgmc.org .
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.
Most recently, CGMC represented Chicago's LGBT community at Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot's inauguration ceremony. The chorus proudly sang "America the Beautiful" for the Illinois Marriage Equality Act bill-signing ceremony and was the featured guest choral performer for the star-studded concert, Broadway Rocks, with the Grant Park Music Festival in 2011. Chicago Gay Men's Chorus was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 2001 and currently has four cd-recordings available. CGMC has performed the National Anthem multiple times at world-famous Wrigley Field and for the WNBA Chicago Sky and Chicago's professional soccer team, Chicago Fire.
—From a press release
