She's BAAAAACK! Jonny is delighted to bring you the almost-exclusive news that Marna, The Last Lady of Song, has returned to the cabaret circuit after too long an absence. Ms. Marna—a Chicago Diva if ever there was one—once was a Gentry regular with a large following. For the last few years, she of the very large eyelashes has been honeymooning with Husband #???, but now has come back from Las Vegas via Iowa to sing again at the Big House, 2354 N. Clybourn. Marna returned May 8, performs again tomorrow night (May 22) and will be back again July 2 with the inimitable Daryl Nitz. With those two on stage together, Jonny will be horn-swoggled if a clean word escapes their mouths.
The worlds of improv and solo performance collide tonight and next Wednesday (May 28) when Scott Duff presents Alone: A Solo Homo A Go-Go at the Del Close Theatre at ImprovOlympic. With a few notable exceptions, the world of improv and sketch comedy is pretty hetero, so it's good to see an out artist raising the GLBT banner in one of the sanctum sanctorums of the field. Scott Ferguson is the director, and Brigitta Victorson the choreographer for the acting, singing, dancing Mr. Duff (also currently performing in Fascination at About Face). (773) 880-0199; $8.
Alexandra Billings will bring an updated version of her one-person show, Before I Disappear, to Bailiwick, June 5-15, in what are billed as the 'final performances' of the piece, that follows Alex's journey from boyhood to womanhood. The work premiered at Bailiwick in 1996, and has been seen there several times in various versions, as well as in New York. (773) 883-1090; $25 & $30. Ms. Billings also will perform a doubles act, Gotta Lotta Livin' to Do, with Honey West at Bailiwick, four performances only, June 5-7. Proceeds benefit Pride Series new play development at Bailiwick.
You can catch some drama with your java this Friday (May 23) at precisely 5:15 p.m. At that time, professional actors will perform original monologues in 10 Chicago Starbucks, co-presented by Starbucks and Chicago Dramatists. All the monologues are written by Chicago Public High School students. Among the participating Starbucks locations are: 2063 N. Clark in Lincoln Park, 5300 N. Clark in Andersonville, 40 W. Lake in The Loop and 2200 N. Halsted.
Popular author and illustrator Maurice Sendak has designed the sets and costumes for two one-act operas, to be presented June 4-14 by Chicago Opera Theatre (COT) at the Athenaeum Theatre, in association with Sendak's own theater company, The Night Kitchen. The COT performances of 'Brundibar' and 'Comedy on the Bridge' will be the world premiere of the new production, and of new English translations by award-winning gay playwright, Tony Kushner. The operas themselves are not new, and have dark histories. 'Brundibar,' by Czech composer Hans Krasa, was written to be performed by children, was premiered by prisoners in a German concentration camp during World War II, and became a popular camp entertainment. 'Comedy on the Bridge,' by Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu, also was written as a response to World War II. (312) 704-8414; $35-$75. Student discount of 50%. The works are suitable for kids.
It's a funny world out there. Twenty Chicago-area theater companies, sketch comedy troupes and improv gangs have banded together to create the Chicago Comedy Association, under the umbrella of the 140-member League of Chicago Theatres. The 20 founders include biggies like The Second City, ImprovOlympic, The Noble Fool and the Free Associates and the Chicago Improv Fest. The roster includes at least two gay or gay-friendly troupes, GayCo and Hell in a Handbag Productions. Purpose of the Chicago Comedy Association is to promote our legendary Chicago comedy scene, both locally and nationally.
A big GET WELL, and a few prayers, for actor, director, dynamite scene coach and man-about-town Dale Calandra, who is recuperating from emergency surgery. Hey, Dale, your many friends and fans, including Stage Door Jonny, have you in their hearts.
