As the fall theater season gears up, it's interesting to note that there's already plenty of real-life drama for the LGBT community to look forward to in the upcoming months.
There's the federal court case on same-sex marriage in California and the drama as to whether the courts or Congress will finally repeal of the military's draconian "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. And then there are the upcoming elections, where the officials who end up in office will undoubtedly steer the debate over LGBT rights for better or for worse.
But if you want a break from those real-world dramas, check out what's on tap in terms of LGBT-related theater this fall:
—The Book of Liz, Chemically Imbalanced Comedy, now to Dec. 18: This collaborative comedy by the brother-and-sister comedy duo David and Amy Sedaris returns by popular demand. See what happens when the star cheese-ball maker of a religious "Squeamish" community is forced to leave her sect and try to make it in the big bad outside world. Visit www.cicomedy.com .
—Dog Sees God, Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, Odradek Theatre Company at Gorilla Tango Theatre, now through Sept. 18: Bert V. Royal somehow escaped the copyright police in his comic drama that imagines how the Peanuts characters would be like as high school teenagers. ( Contrary to obvious expectations, Peppermint Patty and Marcie are not the gay characters in the show. ) Visit www.gorillatango.com for more information.
—Mark and Homer Like This, Reuptake Inhibiting Productions at Annoyance Theatre, now to Oct. 14: Bearish comedians Mark Hanner and Homer Marrs met up online and now have crafted a revue full of sketches and songs about what it's like to be a Bear in Chicago today. Visit www.annoyanceproductions.com for more information.
—Cupid: Plugged, The Cupid Players at Stage 773, Sept. 17-Oct. 2: The long-time residents of the iO Theater bring a new comedy revue full of sketches and rock songs about love and sex to the newly re-branded Stage 773. Visit www.stage773.org for more information.
—Love! Valour! Compassion!, Pride Films and Plays at Mary's Attic, Sept. 19: A one-night-only reading of Terrence McNally's drama about a group of gay men who share a vacation house over a succession of holiday weekends. See if you pay more attention to the dialogue without all of the male nudity. Visit www.pridefilmsandplays.com for more information.
—The Apocalypse: Now In 3D, Quixotic at Hydrate, Sept. 24-Oct. 23: The long-established GayCo sketch comedy troupe doesn't have a main show scheduled this fall. So if you want some LGBT comedy, you might want to try Quixotic's new sketch show that pokes fun at mainstreaming aspects of the community versus the niche and fringe holdouts. Visit www.quixoticcomedy.com for more details.
—The Mystery of Irma Vep, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble at College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Sept. 24-Oct. 17: The late and great gay theater pioneer Charles Ludlam is remembered once again with his most famous work, which features two actors switching in and out of drag to play a variety of characters in a gothic murder mystery. Visit www.atthemac.com for more information.
—Corpus Christi, Pride Films and Plays at Mary's Attic, Sept. 26: A one-night-only reading of Terrence McNally's controversial 1998 drama about a gay man named Joshua whose life parallels that of Jesus Christ. Visit www.pridefilmsandplays.com for more information.
—XYZ Festival, About Face Theatre at various Chicago venues, October: About Face Theatre's second annual festival of new work is a must for anyone who wants to keep up with developing LGBT drama. Visit www.aboutfacetheatre.com for more information.
—Big Gay Pudding, White Rainbows at The Call, Oct. 1-23: Another LGBT-theme sketch comedy troupe emerges at yet another community bar with a revue that pokes fun at queer life in 2010. For more information, visit www.whiterainbowschicago.wordpress.com .
—It Takes a Village, People!, Salsation Theatre Company at Gorilla Tango Theatre, Oct. 2-Nov. 6: Another sketch comedy revue, but one that explores the intersection between love, family and Latino culture blended with gay life. Visit www.gorillatango.com for more details.
—The Rip Nelson Halloween Spooktacular, Hell in a Handbag Productions at Mary's Attic, Oct. 7-31: Hell in a Handbag had to scramble to find another celebrity to center this campy 1970s TV variety-show spoof once they discovered they couldn't use the likeness of a certain former center square on Hollywood Squares. But with hilarious Hell in a Handbag stalwart Ed Jones as Rip Nelson, hopefully this seasonal salvage job will rise to the heights of Hell in a Handbag's previous shows of silliness and salaciousness. Find out more details by visiting www.handbagproductions.org .
—Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, Black Elephant Theatre at Raven Studio Theatre, Oct. 7-Nov. 14: Before he became one of the most produced playwright with the collaborative docu-drama The Laramie Project, playwright Moises Kaufman made his mark with his thoroughly researched 1997 drama ( using real trial transcripts and other documents ) on Oscar Wilde's trials for homosexuality in Victorian Britain. This show is a must for any LGBT history buff. Visit www.blackelephanttheatre.com for more information.
—Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Raven Theatre, Oct. 12-Dec. 19: Did Brick really love his now-deceased former football buddy? Try to piece together the mystery in this revival of Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning steamy Southern drama filled with unconsummated sexuality and loads of liquor. Visit www.raventehatre.com for more information.
—The Ritz, Pride Films and Plays at Stage 773, Oct. 24: A one-night-only reading of Terrence McNally's 1975 farce about a guy trying to escape some murderous gangsters by unwittingly hiding out in a gay bathhouse. Cabaret star Alexandra Billings stars in the Rita Moreno-originated role of Googie Gomez, while Honey West hosts the evening. Visit www.pridefilmsandplays.com for more information.
—Float, About Face Theatre at Theater Wit, Nov. 11-Dec. 12: Patricia Kane, the celebrated playwright behind the lesbian comic romance Pulp, returns with a world premiere featuring Wendy Robie, Adrianne Cury, Peggy Roeder, Rengin Altay and artistic associate Amy Matheny. Visit www.aboutfacetheatre.com for more information.
—Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Steppenwolf Theatre, Dec. 2-Feb. 6: Out playwright Edward Albee shook up the theater world with his controversial 1960s drama about a drunken evening full of exposed secrets among two college professors and their wives. Expect some rip-roaring dramatic fireworks with Steppenwolf ensemble members Tracy Letts playing George and Amy Morton as Martha. Visit www.steppenwolf.org for more juicy details.
