**** Gay/les/bi/queer/trans content or interest
Previews and Opening Nights
Jun 26: Killing Me Softly Romance, jealousy and political intrigue are suspect in the murder of a prominent leader. Thru Aug 10. eta Creative Arts Foundation 7558 S. South Chicago Ave 773-752-3955
Jun 27: A Life in the Theatre by David Mamet thru Jul 13. Two actors: one young and rising into the first full flush of his success, the other older, anxious and beginning to wane in a series of short, spare, often hilarious and emotional exchanges. Thru their relationship we see the poignant, inevitable and endlessly cyclical rhythm of the world. Northwestern University 1949 Campus Dr. Evanston (847) 491-7282
**** Jun 29: Naked Boys Singing! Now in its second year! Caution and costumes are thrown to the wind! See the new musical that has been a sensation around the globe, as the cast of eight men celebrates the thrill of Gratuitous Nudity' in song and dance. Bailiwick Arts Ctr 1229 W. Belmont (773) 883-1090 www.bailiwick.org
**** Jul 2: H20 Three person performance, nearly non-verbal, explores the glorious agony and hideous ecstasy of love relationships using three actor/dancers, slide projections, '50s doo-wop and lots of water. A remount of Neo-Futurist Artistic Director Greg Allen's last full-length production. Thru Jul 6. Thtr on the Lake. 2400 N. Lake Shore Drive (312) 742-7994
Jul 3: Second City presents Second City Reloaded, or My Parents Went to Arlington Heights and All I Got Was This Stupid T-Shirt! Thru Aug 9 Metropolis Performing Arts Ctr , 111 W. Campbell St. Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 www.metropolisarts.com
Jul 5: Travels with Lewis and Clark, Part I, The Principal Stream, world premiere Theatre-Hikes production, one of a trilogy that will follow the journey of legendary adventurers who explored the uncharted wilderness of America. Part I focuses on the early journey. Jul 5, 6, 12 & 13, 2003 at The Morton Arboretum, Jul 19 and 20 at North Park Village Nature Ctr. (630) 719-2465 www.theatre-hikes.org
**** Jul 6: Slap and Tickle Comedy inspired by a series of casual interviews about sexual experiences with gay men whose ages range from 19 to 52. From first kisses underwater to a men's room assault; from high school gyms to public parks, the stories veer beyond sex to explore interrelated issues of promiscuity, intimacy and homophobia. Ostensibly set in a contemporary New York City bathhouse, the play features a towel-clad cast of 4 "Robs" who assume an array of roles, a doorman who serves as narrator and a Lady Di impersonator who becomes a living slang glossary. These characters re-examine their sexual behavior and attitudes 30 years after Gay Liberation, 20 years into the AIDS epidemic and 10 years after political correctness. A world premiere by David Parr, directed by Jason Palmer. Part of P.ride Season, Out All Year, Bailiwick Repertory, 1229 W. Belmont (773) 883-1090 www.bailiwick.org
**** Jul 7: 15 Annual Chicago Directors Festival at Bailiwick Repertory features 15 GLBT Briefs. Fourteen directors represent a strong cross-section of young artists at Off-Loop theaters. Works include William Inge and Edward Albee, an exciting new slant on Moliere, new works by Linda Eisenstein and Ron Nyswaner. First week includes The Time Closet, Just Thinking, Marigold, A Rustle of Wings. Weeks two thru four have new lineups.Bailiwick Repertory, 1229 W. Belmont (773) 883-1090 www.bailiwick.org
VVVV Jul 7: Goodman Latino Thtr Festival Two weeks of performances and staged readings by international and local Latino theater companies. Under the direction of Goodman resident artistic Associate Henry Godinez, the festival will feature Certain Inhabitants' Thtr of Mexico and Compania Marta Carrasco of Spain, a staged reading of Luis Alfaro's electricidad, plus staged readings of classic and new Latino plays from Chicago's own Teatro Vista, Aguijon Thtr Co. and Teatro Luna. The fest will include a world premiere production of the first play by acclaimed Chicago novelist and poet, Ana Castillo. Thru Jul 20 Goodman's Owen Thru 170 N. Dearborn St (312) 443-3800
**** Jul 10: Homebody/Kabul by gay playwright Tony Kushner. In the late 90s, a bored, emotionally imprisoned but wildly intellectual English woman called the Homebody, flees to Afghanistan, a place that she romanticizes with the help of a tourist guidebook. Her disappearance prompts a search by her husband and daughter who arrive in the foreign land unprepared for the adventures and contradictions that await them. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Kushner, author of Angels in America, has turned his penetrating gaze to the arena of global politics to create this suspenseful portrait of a dangerous collision between cultures. Thru Aug 31 Steppenwolf 1650 N. Halsted www.steppenwolf.org
Jul 17: Abraham's Calling, a world premiere production As Abraham began his epic journey into the unknown he and the world changed forever. Through puppetry and percussion, music and masks, Abraham's Calling examines the man who connects half of the world's believers. Muslims, Christians and Jews all claim Abraham as their own. In a time when religious differences are the motive for bloodshed and terror, Abraham's Calling explores the life of Abraham, a potential symbol of hope for reconciliation. Thru Aug 17. TriArts 5315 North Clark Street #142 (773) 866-8082 www.triarts.org/
**** Jul 18: Precious Stones a play by Jamil Khoury, examines the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the turbulent terrain of American Diaspora. Set in Chicago in 1989, as the first Palestinian intifadah rages in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Two women, one Jewish, the other Palestinian, join to form an Arab-Jewish dialogue group, fall in love and discover the disputed territories of sexuality and class. Thru Jul 27. Chicago Temple, First United Methodist Church, 77 W. Washington St. Tix: www.ticketweb.com or toll free (866) 468-3401. Info/group sales (312)236-6881or www.srtp.org .
**** Jul 31: About Face Youth Theatre: The Fifth Anniversary Production A world premiere created and performed by the About Face Youth Thtr Ensemble , presented in association with the Goodman Thtr in the Owen Studio. Thru Aug 17. Goodman Thtr 170 N. Dearborn (312) 443-3800 www.goodman-theatre.org
Theater Ongoing
Beast on the Moon Young newlywed couple, both survivors of the Turkish Holocaust of some 3 million Armenian Christians in the 1920's. Hitler commented on how little history remembers holocausts in his pursuit of the extermination of the Jews. Lincoln Square Thtr at Berry Memorial United Methodist Church, 4754 N. Leavitt, (773) 784-3273
**** Hello Again As though seen through the lens of a time machine/kinescope, crisscrosses beds and jumps from decade to decade, intimately examining the painful secrets that drive characters into each other's arms and towards the bruising effects of reckless passion. Dance and glittering score. Thru Jul 20. Circle Thtr, 7300 West Madison, Forest Park (708) 771-0700
**** Late Nite Catechism Sister, the wise-cracking, lovable nun created by Chicagoans Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan, rules over a traditional 1960s catechism classroom, tickling not only those who went thru parochial school but anyone ever taught by an authoritative figure. Tenth year running for this international hit. Open run. Royal George Thtr 1641 N. Halsted (312) 988-9000
**** The Neo-Futurists Drinking & Writing The Neo-Futurists make their suburban Chicago debut at Metropolis with this critically acclaimed deconstruction of the writer/drunk cultural icon. Also Metropolis' first site-specific production, to be staged in The Boiler Room, the new, urban-inspired nightclub located in the basement of Metropolis Performing Arts Ctr , 111 W. Campbell St. Arlington Heights. Thru Jul 23 (847) 577-2121 www.metropolisarts.com
**** Pinafore Bailiwick Pride Series Production. Mark Savage's wickedly award-winning new adaptation of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic. In this sparkling new version, the The Pinafore, Flagship of the New Gay Navy, is docked in Palm Springs during the White Party. When the Commander arrives with new crewmembers that have different sensibilities from the majority, The Pinafore goes Topsy-Turvy! What follows is pure Gilbert & Sullivan: A secret elopement, the lovers discovered, the Captain forgets himself, our hero is sent to the dungeon, and of course, a last minute confession! Thru Jul 27 Bailiwick Arts Ctr 1229 W. Belmont 773-883-1090; www.bailiwick.org
Race: How Blacks and Whites Think and Feel about the American Obsession a stage adaptation of Studs Terkel's book thru Aug. 10. Inauguration of Lookingglass Thtr Co's new theater in Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. (312) 337-0665.
VVVV Singin' in the Rain Based on the popular 1952 movie about the making of the first Hollywood musical. Features a torrential rain on stage. Cast members from the Drury Lane Evergreen Park production plus Chicago native and Broadway actor Alex Sanchez, will perform. Thru Jul 27. Chicago Ctr for the Performing Arts, 777 N. Green St. www.theaterland.com or (312) 327-2000
VVVV Somos Gringos Malos, Somos Diablos Blancos (We are Bad Gringos, We are White Devils) Twisted tale of seven escaped convicts in an unlikely brotherhood as they hide out near the Texas/Mexico border, waiting for money. Without the familiar structure of prison, their dangerous natures and inherent mistrust of one another spell doom for their volatile union. Can they survive and make it to freedom? The latest thriller by Chicago playwright Arik Martin.(NOTE: NOT in Spanish!) Thru Jun 27. The Space, 4829 N. Damenthru (773) 297-2745.
ART/PHOTO
VVVV 1R Gallery Pimitivo Suarez Open House sculpture/architecture thru Jul 5. 119 N. Peoria St. #3D (312) 738-3915
VVVV Aldo Castillo Gallery Paul Sierra The Secret Garden A Solo Show Born in Cuba, Sierra was key to the GHispanic/Latino art boom in North America and is highly regarded as an exemplary Latin American painter thru July 5. 233 W. Huron St. (312) 944-2888
VVVV Art Institute of Chicago Faces, Places and Inner Spaces for young people, major woks of art from around the globe and through the centuries. Africa, China, Mexico and more. Scheduled to run thru 2006. 111 S. Michigan. (312)443-3600.
VVVV Catherine Edelman Gallery takes a stand against war. Killer Shots is curated by Catherine Edelman. Thirty shots from Viet Nam to El Salvador, Nicaragua, Kosovo, Bosnia, Chile, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Zaire and the U.S. on Sept 11, 2001. Jul 18 thru Aug 31 300 W. Superior St. (312) 266-2350 .
**** Gerber/Hart Library The Art of Rick Young, oils, watercolors and computer graphics. Gala opening Jul 5. Show thru Jul 31. 1127 W. Granville (773) 381-8030
VVVV Havana Gallery features art by contemporary artists living in Cuba, a variety of styles, including portraiture, abstraction, Surrealism and landscape. Havana Gallery is able to promote Cuban art in the United States thanks to a recent Supreme Court decision that allows cultural exchange between the U.S. and Cuba and allowing generation of much-needed funds for artists on the island 1139 W. Webster Ave. (773) 549-2492, HavanaGallery@aol.com
VVVV Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum Weaving a Cultural Testimony tapestries with the rich imagery of Teotitilan de Valle, located in the foothills of Mexico's Sierra Madre Mountains, home to a community of Zapotec weavers for over three thousand years. Thru Aug 31. Verstirse Como Dioses: Oaxaca Prehispanica 200-piece exhibition shows artistic richness and and talent of pre-Columbian Oaxaca. Original Mesoamerican masterpieces in this exhibition display the human body, dress and ornamentation, as anesthetic elements to define the ideals of beauty, importance and relation to the gods. Thru Aug 31. Also: El Ojo Fina (The Exquisite eye) features the works of nine prominent women photographers of Mexico: Lola Alvarez Bravo, Kati Horna, Mariana Yampolsky, Graiela Iturbide, Flor Garduno, Yoplanda Andrade Alifia Ahumada Salaiz, Angeles Torrejon and Maya Goded, artists from three generations who have reached across the 20th century to confront us with the essential stuff of life. Thru Oct 5. 1852 W. 19th St.,(312) 738-1503. www.mfacmchicago.org
Nicole Gallery Haitian Artists: Old Masters and Contemporary Masters Shona sculpture thru Jul 12. 230 W. Huron (312) 787-7716 www.nicolegallery.com
DANCE
VVVV Chicago Human Rhythm Project Bagaceira, choreographed by award-winning director Valeria Pinheiro of the Brazilian tap company Vata Tap. Aug 1 - Aug 3. Museum of Contemporary Art (312) 397-4010
**** Dance for Life benefit Sept 6, Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave. (312) 922--5812
VVVV Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Thtr Opening of Spain in America, 40 dancers, singers, musicians and guest artists from Spain and the Americas including world premiere of multimedia dance drama of Manuel De Falla's El Amor Brujo (Flamenco Passion), goes back in time to Spain's treasured gypsy tale of love, passion and triumph. July 17 thru 19. North Shore Ctr for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie (847) 673-6300
