Jess Godwin
Entertainer Jess Godwinrecently signed to Razor&Tie as a writerwill perform at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., on Friday, Dec. 4, at 8 p.m.
Each month, Godwin has dedicated a different chapter to a specific individual. This project will culminate in a live performance of every song at the Athenaeum.
Following the performance, there will be a silent art auction of Godwin's pieces, with 50 percent of the proceeds going towards the various Chicago organizations Godwin has worked with over the year: Lurie Children's Hospital, Center on Halsted, Cradle Evanston, Gilda's Corner, Habitat for Humanity, Sunrise Assisted Living, Harvest Vineyard, and the Youth Empowerment Performance Project.
As she approaches the final chapter, Godwin has recruited more than 100 artists from the Chicago theater and music scene and the Youth Empowerment Performance Project to collaborate on the final video in the series, "When the Snow Thaws," which was released Nov. 19. ( See www.youtube.com/watch . )
Godwin recently performed at the "Out in the Open Sleepout" benefit for 19 youth homeless projects in Chicago.
Visit www.athenaeumtheatre.org .
Bel Canto world premiere
The eyes of the opera world will be on the Windy City this month as the Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the world premiere of Bel Canto on Monday, Dec. 7. In advance of that much-anticipated opening night, a free panel discussion will be held at 6 p.m. on Wed., Dec. 2, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, 20 N. Wacker Dr.
Slated to be on the panel are the opera's composer, Jimmy Lopez, librettist Nilo Cruz, director Kevin Newbury, conductor/Lyric music director Sir Andrew Davis and star soprano Danielle de Niese. Lyric dramaturg Roger Pines moderates the discussion on how Ann Patchett's best-selling novel made its way to the operatic stage. For more information, visit www.lyricopera.org .
WCGC, Quire's'Don We Now' Dec. 5
Windy City Gay Chorus and Windy City Treble Quire will present two performances of their 37th annual "Don We Now" holiday concert on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at First United Methodist Church at The Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington St.
The show will be under the leadership of Artistic Director Paul Caldwell.
Admission is $18-30 in advance, and $10-$20 at the door; visit wcpadonwenow.brownpapertickets.org .
'Irving Berlin' through Dec. 6
Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin is running performances through Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Royal George Theatre , 1641 N. Halsted St.
Berlin's life covers living in czarist Russia to New York's Lower East Side. He went on to compose such songs as "God Bless America," "There's No Business Like Show Business," "Blue Skies," "Puttin' on the Ritz" and "White Christmas."
Tickets are $60 each; call 312-988-9000 or visit Ticketmaster.com .
'Ease on Down' Dec. 6 at Victory
Bailiwick Chicago is presenting "Ease on Down"a one-night-only concert with favorite tunes from The Wiz, Wicked, The Wizard of Oz and surprisesSunday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave.
Some of the performers slated to appear include Jayson Brooks ( Passing Strange, Dessa Rose ), Sydney Charles ( Dessa Rose ), TJ Crawford ( Princess Mary Demands Your Attention ), Varris Holmes ( Aida, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson ) and Sasha Smith ( Dessa Rose, The Wild Party ).
Tickets are $20 ( industry )-$40; visit BailiwickChicago.com .
World AIDS Day-related events
AIDS Foundation of Chicago will hold its annual "World of Chocolate" event Dec. 3 at the Chicago Union Station's Great Hall at 6-9 p.m. ( This year's theme is "Chocolate, Glitz & Glamour." ) See www.aidschicago.org/page/events/fundraising-events/world-of-chocolate-2015 .
Center on Halsted commemorate IV/AIDS progress
Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., will hold an event Dec. 5 at 10 a.m.-2 p.m. that aims to bring together individuals to commemorate strides made in HIV/AIDS research, prevention and outreach work. See CenterOnHalsted.org .
Windy City Times full calendar of events at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/chicago/events/upcoming.php .
'Dynamic Divas' in Dec., Jan.
Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor will present Dynamite Divas, A Tribute to Women of Soul at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark St., on Dec. 12, 2015-Jan. 24, 2016.
The cast includes Shari Addison (Aretha Franklin), Rhonda Preston (Nancy Wilson), and Rashada Dawan (Gladys Knight), among others. Casting for Roberta Flack and Mr. Maurice are TBA.
Tickets are $55 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturday matinees; and $65 on Fridays, Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees. Buy online at www.blackensemble.org or call 773-769-4451 .