LEZFEST, a presentation and celebration of queer female and non-binary performance artists, expands to two nights - Tuesday October 22 and Wednesday October 23
Lineup of 13 artists to include song, dance, stand-up, storytelling, and spoken word.
LEZFEST, the popular and ever-evolving interdisciplinary program of performance by queer female and non-binary artists, will return for its ninth session on Tuesday October 22 and Wednesday October 23, 2019. This program, which has consistently sold out in the past when presented for one night only, has been expanded to two nights to meet demand. This edition of LezFest will include performances by 13 artists in The Broadway theater of the Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway.
LEZFEST will be jointly directed by Sara BenBella, Jessica Debolt, and Leah Geis. Tickets are available now at www.pridefilmsandplays.com or by phone at 866-811-4111 or 773-857-0222.
The following week, Pride Films and Plays will present FL!P, a celebration ofFunny Lesbian Plays. The celebration will include four staged play readings in the Broadway Theater, Pride Arts Center. Performances are Oct 29th, and Nov 5, 12 and 13 of November at 7:30 pm. The play titles will be announced shortly.
Other upcoming female-focused programming from Pride Films and Plays includes the company's co-production of STOP KISS, with the Arc Theatre. STOP KISS — a play about two women, Sara and Callie, who are assaulted on the street after their first kiss. STOP KISS will be performed in the Buena Theatre, Pride Arts Center, from January 16 — February 9, 2020.
DIRECTOR BIOS
Sara BenBella ( She/Her ) is a Chicago-based Queer Theatre Artist who obtained her B.A. in Theatre Studies Performance in May of 2018 from Kent State University.
Jessica Debolt ( She/Her ) is a new transplant to Chicago, after traveling the country for three years doing various theatre projects she has gotten out of her pickup truck and settled here.
Leah Geis ( She/Her ) is theatre director, sometimes stage manager, retired horse girl, and cheesecake extraordinaire. She moved to Chicago one year ago from South Dakota, where she had numerous directing credits. In Chicago, she has directed WEDNESDAY for Otherworld Theatre Company. You can find more info on her work and directing career at leahgeis.com .
LEZFEST
Tuesday October 22 and Wednesday October 23 at 7:30 pm each night
Pride Arts Center — The Broadway, 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago
General admission seats $17.00. Students/seniors $12.00.. Proceeds will fund future programming by, for, and about our queer community.
Tickets available by phone at 866-811-4111 or 773-857-0222 or online at web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/10348755 .
LEZFEST, the popular and ever-evolving interdisciplinary program of performance by queer female and non-binary artists. Performances will cover an eclectic range of disciplines ranging from poetry reading to burlesque, with musical performances and stand-up comedy in between.
ABOUT PRIDE FILMS AND PLAYS
Pride Films and Plays changes lives through the generation of diverse new work ( or work that is new to Chicago ) with LGBTQ+ characters or themes that is essential viewing for all audiences. The company produces a four-play season of full productions, shoots one short film each year, and continues our famed play developmental projects. PFP is the principal tenant in Pride Arts Center.
Pride Arts Center, in its own right, produces events complementing the PFP vision, including dance, cabaret, film, and more. Events can be one-night or limited run productions or feature national treasures like Charles Busch. PAC occupies The Broadway at 4139 N. Broadway, which has 85 seats, and The Buena, which has 50 seats at 4147 N Broadway.
Pride Films and Plays is supported by The MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at The Richard Driehaus Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, City of Chicago's City Arts Fund, the Elliott Fredland Charitable Trust, Proud to Run, the AmazonSmile Foundation, Arts and Business Foundation, Tap Root Foundation, Arts and Business Council, and Alphawood Foundation.
PFP is a member of the Smart Growth Program of the Chicago Community Trust. Pride Films and Plays is a member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, Northhalsted Business Association, Uptown United, and The League of Chicago Theatres.
For more information, visit www.pridefilmsandplays.com or call 1.800.737.0984.
—From a press release
