Jonny blushes to launch this week's column with news about a porn star...ahem, adult video star. Readers will know that Jonny is concerned only with matters of Truth, Beauty and Art, for which adult videos are not widely known. What a surprise to learn, then, that porn power bottom and escort Will Clark is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Speech! I'm sure that Northwestern holds up Mr. Clark, and one of its other luminary graduates, Charlton Heston, as shining representatives of its program; two prime specimens of rugged manhood, so well prepared for life by the School of Speech. As the old Army refrain goes, "This is my rifle, and this is my gun. One is for shooting, and one is for fun."
Whatever. Mr. Clark will be demonstrating his talents as a thespian...something he's never had to do on camera, but may have done as an escort...in a live, stage appearance at Bailiwick, Oct. 18-27, in Altered Ego, a one-person, autobiographical show he's written. Five performances only; tickets, $25.
Meanwhile, another Bailiwick performer appears to be heading for national glory in all his glory. Tim Gallagher, a member of the cast of Naked Boys Singing since the show opened 13 months ago, has been crowned with the coveted title of Mr. Gay Naturist International, 2002 and shortly will begin promotional appearances across the country. Rumor has it that when the tiara was placed on his head, it was all Tim was wearing.
And now Jonny skips blithely and lithely from the pulchritudinous to the sublime. Stellar Chicago leading lady Hollis Resnik has completed her first, solo CD. Advance word is that Make Someone Happy is a total knockout, with superb emotional shadings and great musicians backing up her big voice. Among the 12 cuts, heavy on theater music, are songs by Kurt Weill, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Jule Styne ( composer of the title track ) , Stephen Schwartz, Michael John LaChiusa and former Chicagoan Lou Rosen. The disc is issued by M.A.M. Records, and is available at CDBaby.com, and at Tower Records ( Lincoln Park ) , Borders Books ( North State ) , Act I Bookstore, the Chicago Cultural Center Gift Shop and at the Chicago Shakespeare, Goodman and Steppenwolf theaters.
Winner of eight Jeff Awards and three After Dark Awards, Resnik has sung and acted on every major stage in Chicago, in national tours, on Broadway, at Lyric Opera of Chicago, at the Ravinia Festival and even at Davenport's! Chicago Shakespeare Theatre will hold a release party for Make Someone Happy, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m., at which Resnik will perform. Tickets are $18 and include a post-performance reception ( cash bar ) . Call ( 312 ) 595-5600 to reserve.
Members of the GLBT community piled up exceptionally high numbers in terms of nominations for the 2002 Joseph Jefferson Awards, announced last week. No fewer than two dozen members of our community were nominated for various productions, and several received multiple nominations. Rising star director Gary Griffin, for example, received two Jeff nominations for direction of a musical for Pacific Overtures at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and My Fair Lady at Court Theatre. Both shows were nominated as outstanding musical production. Playwright Claudia Allen received a New Work nomination for Xena Live! Episode 2 at About Face, along with her co-authors, composes Andre Pluess and Ben Sussman. Also nominated in the New Work category, Joel Drake Johnson for A Blue Moon at Chicago Dramatists.
The 34th annual Joseph Jefferson Awards will be presented Nov. 4 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, and the public is invited. Advance purchase tickets at $55 ( or $65 at the door ) and include a supper buffet before the ceremonies and a dessert buffet following ( cash bar ) . Recommended dress is black tie. Call ( 847 ) 945-4733 for details.
Catch Psycho Babble-On this Monday and Tuesday ( 9/30-10/1 ) , the first theater benefit for the planned GLBT community Center on Halsted, scheduled to open in 2004. The evening includes performances of four one-act plays by deranged, out author Christopher Durang followed by a beer and wine reception. Performances are at 7:30 at the WNEP Theatre, 3209 N. Halsted, with the receptions immediately afterward at Spin, across the street. Psycho Babble-On is staged by UT/PR Productions led by Bill Pacholski. All proceeds benefit the Center on Halsted. Tickets, $25; phone ( 312 ) 593-8110.
