March is Women's History Month, and even Stage Door Jonny—as insouciant and non-PC as he is—wouldn't be as stiff-necked and limp-dicked as not to take notice. The month is crammed with events and programs that take cognizance of the fact that (a) there are women and (b) they all have a history (and the best of them have a past as well). Chicago Cabaret Professionals and Davenport's had a night of women songwriters' last Sunday, and will follow up with a March 28 program, Quiet, Please, There's A Lady On Stage with a top line-up of chick talent.
In between, on March 18, they'll present Ladies with a Song. The gimmick here is that two of the four performers are men, George Howe and Daryl Nitz, which means, of course, female impressionism! They promise a 'tribute to some of America's greatest women and their signature songs,' among them Carol Channing, Patsy Cline, Mary Martin, Streisand, Garland, Eleanor Roosevelt, Susan B. Anthony, Dolly Madison, Gertrude Stein, Margaret Mead, Ethel Rosenberg, ... the list of musical women just goes on and on.
The Sweat Girls—the beautiful, tough, tender, raunchy, clever and thoughtful gang of writer/performers—celebrate their 10th anniversary with a benefit at the Belle Plaine Studios, March 28, (773) 868-4620; $35.
One of Jonny's personal favorites, and certainly one of Chicago's most unique artists, Alison Halstead offers a one-women solo performance March 26 and 28 at Links Hall . Halstead's creation, The Invisible Man, uses the landmark 1950's Ralph Ellison novel of that title as a starting point. Halstead mixes text with movement and music to explore power and the African-American male experience as witnessed by an African-American female. We're talkin' layers here, girl.
The Invisible Man is just one of a series of programs, through March 28, offered by the Running With Scissors Theater Company as part of its Scissors New Works in Progress (SNIPs) Series. (773) 281-0824; just $8.
Jonny supposes it had to happen. After all, Broadway (or London's West End) has made 'original' musicals out of the songs of Abba, Queen, Billy Joel, Buddy Holly and Lieber & Stoller. Perhaps it was inevitable that some Great Creative Minds would turn their attention to The King, and so they have. All Shook Up, billed as 'a new musical comedy inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley,' will have its pre-Broadway world premiere in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, Dec. 21-Jan. 23, 2005. The show will offer 20 songs, among them 'Heartbreak Hotel,' 'Don't Be Cruel,' 'Love Me Tender,' 'Hound Dog' and 'Burning Love.'
Only thing is, of course, Elvis Presley didn't write any of his hit songs, not a single one! An Elvis musical actually is a compilation of songs by many composer and lyricists. All Shook Up really is a textbook example of borrowed interest. It isn't even about Elvis, but makes up a story as a hook to hang hits on. Well, if they do it right and keep their tongues in their cheeks, they might come up with something as good as Mamma Mia, the Abba show, that's as substantial as cotton candy but vastly entertaining.
Jonny recommends Shakespeare, especially free Shakespeare. The Shakespeare Project of Chicago returns with three March staged readings of the rarely seen comedy, The Two Gentlemen of Verona. The weekend performance are March 20 at the Newberry Library, March 20 at the Wilmette Public Library and March 21 at The Artistic Home, 1420 W. Irving Park. Among the all-star cast are sexy John Mossman and Will Clinger of Wild Chicago renown. Call (773) 334-8771; free.
