CHICAGO─Members of Artemis Singers, www.artemissingers.org, Chicago's lesbian feminist chorus, will perform as part of the Friday, Nov. 1, Dreamboat LGBTQIA+ improv show at The iO Theatre, Chris Farley Cabaret, 1501 N. Kingsbury St., Chicago. Dreamboat begins at 8 p.m.
Inspiring America's comedic entertainers since 1981, The iO Theatre is the birthplace of the longform of improv. The 33,000-square foot complex in Lincoln Park features entertainment seven days a week. The iO Theatre offers a full range of improv comedy shows. The iO Training Center offers classes in improv; TV comedy writing; musical improv; and video production. Alumni of the iO Training Center include Tina Fey, Seth Meyer, Amy Poehler and Jason Sudeikis.
The nonprofit Artemis Singers specializes in performing music written or arranged by women. "Artemis Singers performed with Dreamboat in June and they have invited us back due to enthusiastic response," said composer Allison Downing, artistic director for the Nov. 1 performance and chorus member.
Visit www.ioimprov.com/shows/dreamboat/ for tickets. Tickets for Dreamboat are $16.00 plus a $2.58 fee.
Chorus members will perform "SIGNS: Voices from the Women's March" by Ruth Huber, with lyrics that include messages from poster signs that people carried in the worldwide Women's March, January 2017. The program also includes "What Happens When a Woman" by Alexandra Olsavsky of Chicago-based vocal trio, Artemisia; and Downing's composition, "I Chose the L."
Artemis Singers members Joy Culver, Katy Clusen, Karen Mooney and Midge Stocker are directors for the November 1 performance. Artemis Singers will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2020.
Founded in 1980, Artemis Singers has been a mainstay in lesbian feminist cultural life. The chorus takes its name from the Greek goddess Artemis, who is a symbol of independence among lesbian feminists. The chorus was inducted into the City of Chicago's Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 2008. Audiences have seen Artemis Singers at the Chicago History Museum, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park ( Gay Games ), at Women & Children First bookstore and at numerous universities.
Artemis Singers is comprised of women with diverse backgrounds who are dedicated to effecting positive change in cultural attitudes toward women and women artists. Performances highlight historical, political and personal events common to women.
Artemis Singers is a non-audition chorus open to all women singers, regardless of experience level or music reading ability. Each singer should be able to hold a melody and be excited to sing with a lesbian feminist chorus that performs music written or arranged by women.
Artemis Singers provides creative opportunities for women interested in all aspects of choral production: conducting, song writing and arranging, performance lighting, choreography, audio, artistic direction, stage management and vocal instruction.
Artemis Singers is on Instagram,Twitter and Facebook. For more information on Artemis Singers, email info@artemissingers.org or call ( 773 ) 764-4465.
—From a press release
