Gay film, 'Homestretch' parts of PBS series
A film about a couple's decades-long fight for the right to marry and a documentary about homeless Chicago youths are in the line-up of PBS' Independent Lens' winter/spring 2015 season.
Limited Partnership, which will air June 15, centers on a gay couple's 40-year fight for the right to marry in the United States. The Homestretch, which will run April 13, features three ambitious Chicago teens who deal with "frigid winters, high school pressures and homelessness as they fight to stay in school, graduate and build a future," according to a press release.
Kicking off the 2015 season Jan. 5 was Tracy Droz Tragos and Andrew Droz Palermo's Rich Hill, a look at poverty in a small Midwestern town. It will be followed by Darius Clark Monroe's acclaimed Evolution of a Criminal, in which the filmmaker returns to his Texas hometown to explore what led him to rob a bank as a teenager.
All programs are at 9 p.m. CT. Visit pbs.org/independentlens.
Frida Kahlo exhibit at South Shore through Jan. 25
"The Complete Frida Kahlo: Her Paintings. Her Life. Her Story" is at South Shore Arts Gallery, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, through Jan. 25, 2015.
The exhibit features licensed re-creations of Kahlo's paintings, costumes and artifacts.
Admission is $2-$5, with South Shore members admitted for free.
'Love Is Strange' out on DVD Jan. 13
Academy Award nominee John Lithgow (Best Supporting Actor, Terms of Endearment) and Alfred Molina (The Normal Heart) star in the modern-day love story Love Is Strange, available on Digital HD Jan. 6 and debuting on Blu-ray and DVD Jan. 13 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
After nearly four decades together, Ben (Lithgow) and George (Molina) finally tie the knot among family and friends. But when George loses his job soon after, the couple must sell their apartment and temporarily live apart until they can find an affordable new home.
The film also stars Cheyenne Jackson and Oscar winner Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny).
Bonus features include a 23-minute look behind the scenes in "The Making of Love Is Strange" a commentary with Lithgow, Molina and filmmaker Ira Sachs, as well as a Q&A from the Los Angeles Film Festival with Lithgow, Molina, Jackson and Sachs.
Frankie Knuckles tribute at Smart Bar Jan. 18
A tribute to late house-music pioneer Frankie Knuckles will take place Sunday, Jan. 18, at Smart Bar, 3730 N. Clark St., at 9 p.m.
Queen!, in association with D/E Entertainment, Def Mix and Vega Records, will present "For Frankie! A Celebration Of His Life And Birthday."
Among those slated to appear and/or perform are David Morales, Louie Vega, Tony Humphries, Derrick Carter, Michael Serafini and Garret David, among others.
Tickets are $15 each; visit http://www.etix.com/ticket/online/performanceSearch.jsp?performance_id=4425088
SEX(ED) launches Dyke Delicious series Jan. 10
Season 12 of Dyke Delicious at Chicago Filmmakers will launch Saturday, Jan. 10, with SEX(ED): The Movie at 5243 N. Clark St.
The social hour will start at 7 p.m., with the screening at 8 p.m.
In the 77-minute movie, writer/director Brenda Goodman explores how many people first learned about sex, using clips from sex-education films from 1910 to the present day.
An encore screening will take place Saturday, Jan. 17, at Doc Films at The University of Chicago, 1212 E. 59th St., at 4 p.m.
Chicago Filmmakers and Reeling: The Chicago LGBT International Film Festival are co-presenting the series. Black Cat Productions is co-sponsoring, and Sharon Zurek is curating.
Admission is $10; visit https://www.facebook.com/events/354280431416559/?source=1.
About Face's 'A Kid Like Jake' in Feb.
About Face Theatre will present the Chicago premiere of A Kid Like Jake Feb. 6-8 and Feb. 12-March 15 at The Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.
It will run Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.
The plot is as follows: Alex and Greg's intelligent and precocious 4-year-old son is a leading candidate for enrollment in one of Manhattan's top kindergarten programs. However, when attention turns to his passion for Cinderella and dress-up, his imagination and behavior becomes a lightning rod for all involved.
Tickets are $10-$35; visit greenhousetheater.org/kid-like-jake / .
Disney on Ice presents 'Frozen' in January, February
Feld Entertainment, Inc., is bringing the Oscar-winning animated feature film Disney's Frozen, to life, in its 34th Disney On Ice spectacular.
Disney on Ice will present "Frozen Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt" Jan. 21-26 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, and Jan. 28-Feb. 8 at Chicago's United Center.
In the event, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse take the audience through the magical story based in Arendelle, with special appearances by Disney princesses and favorite characters from Disney/Pixar's Toy Story and Finding Nemo and Disney's The Lion King.
Tickets start at $20 ( United Center )-$25 ( Allstate ); call 800-745-3000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com .
Queer Contra Dance Chicago Jan. 17
Queer Contra Dance Chicago will hold its next dance Saturday, Jan. 17, 6-9 p.m., in the community hall at St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Logan Square, 2649 N. Francisco Ave.
Contra dance is a form of folk dance similar to square dancing, but with lines of dancers rather than squares.
Lessons for newcomers will take place 6-6:30 p.m., with contra dance at 6:30-8:30 p.m., and pot-luck refreshments 8:30-9 p.m.
Admission to Queer Contra is a sliding scale of $0-10; email scu@pobox.com or visit www.facebook.com/ContraChicago .
See more at www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/chicago/events/upcoming.php .
