Pictured From the Just Married same-sex marriage photo exhibit at Rushmore, opens July 29, and River North Chicago.
Patricia Kane's Pulp, premiered at About Face Theatre last fall, will be produced by Atlanta's Actors Express Theatre Company in the upcoming season. The merry lesbian love story with songs was a huge hit here. Jonny expects the Atlanta production is just the first of many for this perky and entertaining show. Indeed, Jonny hears talk of a possible production at the Celebration Theatre in Los Angeles, too.
Speaking of lesbians, Bailiwick's Lesbian Theatre Initiative continues its Dyke Nytes Aug. 2 and 3 with singer Pam Peterson in Pamme Fatale, Or Funny, You Don't Look Lesbian Aug. 2 and an evening poetry and storytelling Aug. 3 with Sapna Kumar, Kim Crutcher and Rose Tully. Shows 8 p.m.; $10.
Summer theater-goers have picked their hits. The following shows—all favorably reviewed by Windy City Times critics—have been extended: Winesburg, Ohio through Aug. 1, About Face Theatre at Steppenwolf; Dick O'Day's Big, Lovely Liberry through Aug. 10, Annoyance Theatre at the Green Mill; Le Livre Blanc—the racy semi-autobiography by Jean Cocteau—through Aug. 14, The Journeymen at the Gerber/Hart Library (just $10); Strong Poison, the Lord Peter Wimsey murder mystery, through Aug. 13, Lifeline Theatre; and Blackbird, the very serious drama, Profiles Theatre, through Aug. 29.
Rushmore, the American fine dining restaurant at 1023 W. Lake Street, has mounted—you'll pardon the expression—a photo exhibit on the subject of same-sex marriage. Just Married, running July 29-Sept. 30, features 32 photos documenting gay and lesbian marriage ceremonies and weddings that took place over the last few months. The exhibit is the brain child of documentary photographer Rick Rocamora and newspaper photo hound Kim Komenich, both based in San Francisco, who received more than 200 jpeg images from 40 photographers when they called for online submissions. Viewing hours for Just Married are the same as Rushmore's restaurant hours: 5:30-10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs. and 5:30-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Opening party July 29.
Solo performers Lisa Buscani, Edward Thomas-Herrera and David Kodeski all currently are in display in Chicago in their self-written one-person shows. But they also will appear onstage together reading other people's words in a revived edition of Verbatim Verboten, that lively creation of director/ writer/performer Michael Martin that cites and exploits real words spoken in private moments—or so they thought—by celebrated people. The solo artists will be joined in their dirty pleasures by Steve Hickson of Hell in a Handbag Productions, and noted Latina lesbian literati Achy Obejas. Verbatim Verboten will play the Royal George upstairs theatre Aug. 27-Oct. 2, produced by Vicki Quade.
Not that any gay man would care, but Puppetry of the Penis pays a return visit to the Lakeshore Theatre, Aug. 19-29. Jonny can't explain why, but lesbians seem to like it. As she did the first time around, lively Chicago comedienne Patti Vasquez will open the show. Some say she's the best part of it, even though she has nothing to do with puppets or penises.
Back in 1924 when the trial of thrill killers Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb was dominating the headlines, newspapers suppressed the homosexual angle in the relationship between the college-age friends. Chicago playwright John Logan uncovered it in his play, Never the Sinner, produced in Chicago, New York, London and other cities. Now we can see how the Chicago Historical Society frames the matter—80 years after the crime—in the exhibit, Leopold and Loeb: the Perfect Crime, on display through Sept. 26. TimeLine Theatre Company and the Chicago Historical Society have joined forces to present the Chicago premiere of Stephen Dolginoff's new musical
Thrill Me: The leopold and Loeb Story. The one-night only concert reading will be Thursday, July 29, 2004, at 7 p.m.
Jonny's faithful readers know that Jonny rarely promotes benefits in this space. Just like needy boys, there are just sooooo many of them to flog. But every now and then ... .
River North Chicago Dance Company is holding an Aug. 12 benefit that is the troupe's first-ever event aimed at the GLBT community. A cocktail party-cum-performance, Summer Fling (as it's called) kicks off with drinks and appetizers at 5:30 p.m. at the Athenaeum Theatre, followed by a 6:30 p.m. dance performance featuring eight short works by top choreographers, followed by a tent party and supper at Ann Sather's Restaurant (shuttle bus from theater to restaurant included). The event is co-chaired by muscular and still-handsome David Wilshire and politician with muscle Tom Tunney. Tickets are available only in advance; (312) 944-2888; $85. Ketel One Vodka is lead sponsor of Summer Fling, which should guarantee a decent martini. Jonny thinks River North could make even more money by putting David Wilshire in a thong and setting him up in a dunk tank. Jonny would pay to have a crack at him!
