By Jonathan Abarbanel
Bailiwick Repertory has announced its 2006 Pride Series running May 24-Sept. 3 ( from the IML to the Labor Day weekends ) . Pride 2006 will feature six productions, among them imports from California ( actor Moe Bertran's solo show Love Scenes ) and the United Kingdom ( Shamelessboyz Theatre in Seduction, an all-male update of the sex classic, La Ronde ) . Among indigenous Pride Series presentations will be Pins, Jim Provenzano's coming-out tale of a high school wrestler, and Dorian, adapted by Tommy Rapley from Oscar Wilde's The Portrait of Dorian Gray. Rapley is a performer/choreographer with the hot, hot House Theater of Chicago, and Dorian will feature a strong dance element. See www.bailiwick.org .
FYI: if you need a military uniform ( for IML ) , a pig costume ( for IML ) , a Rainbow Pride thong ( for the parade ) , an old computer or a full-sized Robert Mitchum mask ( for IML ) you'll find it—and thousands of other items—at Bailiwick's spring costume and rummage sale, May 13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at 1229 W. Belmont. Bailiwick will be selling 10 years' worth of items, among them costumes from Kiss of the Spider Woman and Naked Boys Singing. ( Jonny won't make jokes about costumes from the latter. ) Bookcases, rocking chairs, stools, yard goods, lumber, paint and even jeans and shoes will be for sale. There's a $1 entry fee and you should bring your own shopping bags ( or U-Haul ) .
Calling all dancers: The 2006 Gay Games VII is auditioning volunteer dancers for the opening and closing ceremonies who will work with renowned choreographers Joel Hall, Kevin Iega Jeff, Michele Lynch and Michael Schwandt. The open call is May 21 at Joel Hall Studios, 1511 W. Berwyn, in Andersonville. You must make an appointment through dance@gaygameschicago.org . Bring your picture, resume and clothing sizes. Trained dancers will audition from 10 a.m.-12 noon; urban and club dancers from noon-1 p.m.; and dancers with little experience from 1-2 p.m. The opening ceremony is July 15 at Soldier Field and the closing ceremony is July 22 at Wrigley Field. There's no pay, but the Gay Games will provide costumes and feed you on rehearsal and performance days. You might even hook up with a hunky jock or jockette.
Jonny's dear readers know that Jonny is a terrible art snob. It's not about culture; it's about being seen and looking good. Nonetheless, occasionally Jonny will stoop, especially when the word 'free' is involved. Therefore, Jonny recommends the 22nd semi-annual Illegitimate Arts Festival, presented May 12 by students and faculty of the ACM Chicago Arts Program, 3340 N. Clark Street, 3rd Floor. The scheduled events include a world-premiere theater production, live music ( jazz, flamenco and folk-rock ) , visual arts, film screenings and free food! The gallery opening runs 6-8 p.m., followed by two hours of live performances and then flamenco artists from 10 p.m.-midnight.
To tell the truth ( as Jonny always does ) , Jonny knows very little about black bras or the Black Bra Party. Jonny doesn't do drag, and it's been decades since Jonny fumbled with one of those things in his misguided heterosexual youth. But female friends tell Jonny the Black Bra Party, created by Chix Mix Productions, launched the women's circuit dance scene and annually draws a thousand lesbian, bisexual, transgender and even straight women together for a night of passionate fun. Now, the Black Bra Party is headed to Detroit, where the lesbian bar, Stiletto's, will host Black Bra Erotica on June 9, promising an evening of erotic debauchery ( one may hope ) . The Chix Mix folks say they are taking the Black Bra concept to women's nightclubs nationwide, with stops already arranged for Florida and Toronto.
Jonny's friends at Aguijon Theater, 2707 N. Laramie, will present gay poet Federico Garcia Lorca's play Yerma in the Spanish original, May 26-June 25, directed by Marcela Munoz. As always with Lorca's small but vital body of plays ( he was killed at 38 during the Spanish Civil War ) , his focus is on the intense but constrained emotional life of a woman living within a traditional Spanish community.
Jonny's friends at Teatro Luna, the Latina theater collective of performers and writers, also have an event likely to feature a good deal of Spanish ( and probably some English, too ) . Proyecto Latina: More Than Poetry is an ongoing, monthly open mike night that welcomes Latina poets, writers and performers. It's held every third Monday of the month at Cafe Mestizo/Tianguis, 1646 W. 18th. For details, see www.tianguis.biz . The next Proyecto Latina evening is May 15.
Finally, Live Bait Theatre has extended gay performer Joe Steiff's well-reviewed solo show, Golden Corral, through May 6. Catch it this weekend.
