A rare interview with Stage Door Jonny's friend playwright Edward Albee will be telecast on WTTW-Ch. 11 Fri., April 4, as part of In the Life, the Emmy-nominated LGBT documentary TV program. Ch. 11 has wavered in its support for In the Life, but now has confirmed the 10:30 p.m. time slot for the show on the first Friday of each month.
Now this is what Jonny calls hot dish! English forensic and historic experts have identified a headless, mutilated body found in an abbey graveyard as that of Sir Hugh Despenser the Younger, reputed gay lover of King Edward II. The remains bear the hallmarks of having been hung and then castrated, disemboweled, drawn and quartered while still alive, which is how Sir Hugh was executed as a traitor in 1326 after Edward's fall. Furthermore, the abbey is on land known to have been part of the estate of Sir Hugh's brother-in-law.
Sir Hugh is an important character in Christopher Marlowe's play, Edward II ( and in the Derek Jarman film adapted from the play, which many readers may have seen ) . As chance would have it, Chicago Shakespeare Theater will produce Edward II as part of its 2008-2009 season, directed by the edgy Sean Graney, who would surprise no one if he exposed body parts.
Speaking of hung men, Jonny's old friend Steve Kimbrough closes the Cabaret Series at Bailiwick Repertory, Sun., April 6, at 4 p.m., sharing the stage with Yolanda Davis. Will Steve twang his ukulele? The three-week festival has featured nine performances, each with two different performers. The final week also offers 7:30 p.m. shows April 3 and 5. Tickets are just $10.
Another songster, Bill Larkin, of the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus, is appearing currently at the Annoyance Theatre as one half ( the gay half ) of Mere Fluff, a sketch comedy act with Robyn Scott. Mere Fluff runs Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. through Wed., May 7. Tickets for this one are just $10, too. Jonny's dear readers may recall that Mr. Larkin is the author of The Ten Commandments: The Musical, which was successfully presented by Chicago Gay Men's Chorus.
The Chicago cast and company of Wicked is repeating the fund-raising effort for Season of Concern, for which it raised $15,000 over the holidays. For its Easter-Passover holiday appeal, which is through April 26, the cast of Wicked will make a curtain-call appeal for donations at every Wednesday matinee and Saturday evening performance. The fun part is that you may be able to help! Season of Concern ( SOC ) needs two volunteers at each performance to help with collections. Volunteers come to the theater shortly before final curtain, join the actors and stage managers in the lobby after the show, and hold an SOC donation bucket to collect the audience donations for half an hour. Then, you just turn in the bucket and try to pick up the cast member of your choice. Wednesday matinees already are fully booked, but a few volunteers still might be needed for Saturdays. Call SOC at 312-332-0518 or e-mail volunteer@seasonofconcern.org . FYI, Season of Concern is the Chicago theatre industry's HIV/AIDS charity.
This month offers several Beat and off-beat performance events. Jack Kerouac, anyone? One of the original Beat writers ( along with Ginsberg and Borroughs and that object of everyone's desire, Neal Cassady ) , Kerouac ( who was actually shy ) is the subject of Visions of Kerouac, presented by the Theatre Conservatory of Roosevelt University, April 11-13, and is directed by David Zak. Performances are at Roosevelt's O'Malley Theatre, 431 S. Wabash, 7th floor; 312-341-3831: $10.
Sketch comedy troupe GayCo indulges in some off-beat erotica as part of a variety show focused on sex. Literally Sexy—burlesque, drag, bondage, erotica, comedy—does its titillating thing one night only, April 11, 10:30 p.m., at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater. Besides GayCo, participants includes the Neo-Futurists, the Flaming Dames, 2nd Story, Arlene Malinowski, and Time Out Chicago sex columnist Dr. Debby Herbenick. Your host ( ess ) for the evening is none other than David Cerda. Cocktails available for purchase. 773-871-3000; $15. Jonny suspects the old Biograph hasn't been riddled with so much sexuality since the mythically endowed John Dillinger was riddled there back in 1933.
Jonny offers a generous tip of the hat to Chicago's own Beckie Menzie, the genial and talented cabaret diva who is marking her 20th anniversary of making music at Gentry. Way to go, girl! Of course, Ms. Menzie performs at other venues and with many other artists. Every Saturday at 8 p.m. this month, Beckie and Tom Michael will perform Postcards from the Road: The Travel Show at Davenport's, 1383 N. Milwaukee ( $18 cover; two-drink minimum ) . The show will feature such classics as Sentimental Journey, April in Paris, Leaving on a Jet Plane and You Belong to Me. FYI: Tom's two CDs have been very well-received everywhere and even written up in The Advocate. Way to go, girl!
Stage Door Jonny is sad to tell you that the Barenaked Lads have ended their multi-year run at Bailiwick Repertory. The Lads now are in residence at Stage Door Jonny's house!
