On the Downlow, the Chicago-made indie feature film about gay love between rival Latino gang members in Little Village, has been racking up festival screenings—and awards—around the country and overseas. This film really crosses lines, and has been equally at home—and equally controversial—at both gay and Latino film fests in Turin, Italy, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Florida and New York (three different festivals)where it won the Best Narrative Feature Film at the International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Next up are screenings in Texas, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco (again)following a one-week run at the Miami Beach Cinematheque, Aug. 21-26. The film is the feature film debut of director Tadeo Garcia, and stars the way-cute Michael Cortez. We don’t know whether or not On the Downlow will find a commercial distributor from all the festival exposure, but right now it sure seems like the Little Engine That Could.
One of Jonny’s favorite femme gangs, the Sweat Girls, is surfacing again at the Acorn Theatre in Three Oaks, Mich., just around the tip of the lake. The Acorn has become a regular stop for more and more Chicago cabaret and theater talent. The Sweat Girls are there this weekend with a show offering ‘best of’ scenes from past triumphs, plus scenes from the Girls’ newest show-in-development, Salvaged by Sweat. The new effort promises to deliver monologues from life about garbage picking, thrift shopping, re-use, rebirth and rediscovery. The talented Sweat Girls are Jane Blass, Cindy Hanson, Dorothy Milne, Martie Sanders, Clare Nolan-Long and Pamela Webster. The Sweats perform Aug. 27-28. Call 269-756-3879 for details.
One of Jonny’s other favorite femme gangs is Babes with Blades, a gang capable of inflicting serious damage. The Babes, who specialize in stage combat shows, are offering a self-defense workshop this weekend, led by 4th-degree black belt Patricia Charatin. It’s this Sunday, Aug. 29; 12:30-3:30 p.m. at Shiel Park, 3505 N. Southport. A $5 donation is suggested, although admission is free. The workshop is limited to 30, so call to reserve a place, (773)392-8414. Titled Beat the Streets—Active Resistance, the workshop is designed for women but men won’t be kicked out (just kicked around, eh? and don’t most of them deserve it!). It’s presented with help from the Women’s Theatre Alliance. FYI: the night before, Aug. 28, Babes with Blades will appear at the AIDS benefit, Hullabaloo for Hope, at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont. For $20 you get hors d’oeuvres at 7 p.m. and a great variety show at 8; (773)327-5252.
The cabarets are jumping. Duolicious—which is Amy Matheny and Alexandra Billings—is completing an August run at The Speakeasy with final performances tomorrow and Friday nights, Aug. 26-27. These girls are good and loud. Take that anyway you want. As before, they are backed by talented Trey Maclin on guitar and Russ Long on piano; (773)338-0600; $15 cover.
And something new—well, sorta’—at Davenport’s (1383 N. Milwaukee)is Jeffrey Dean’s first solo show. Jeffrey Dean isn’t new (although he’s newer than Jonny; who isn’t?), but his solo debut is. It’s called I Have a Feeling We’re Not in Kansas Anymore: a Celebration of Harold Arlen, Judy Garland, Queer Culture and Oz. Well, Jonny thinks the title of the show is too long, but it DOES cover just about everything important in the universe, doesn’t it? The date is 8 p.m., Aug. 30; (773)278-1830; $12 plus two-drink minimum. Dan Stetzel is Jeff’s estimable musical director.
Friends of Brad Nelson Winters have reminded Jonny that Aug. 17 was the first anniversary of the hate crime that ended the life of the 38-year-old actor and director. Thanks in large part to investigative reporting by WBBM Newsradio 780, this unsolved case still is open and active, and new information has been released about Brad’s brutal murder. Police neither will admit nor deny links between the killing of Winters last summer, and the similar murder last March of Kevin Clewer, 31. The modus operandi was the same in both cases, as well as the vicious nature of the attacks. Both victims were last seen leaving Little Jim’s with someone. The Clewer death resulted in a widely circulated sketch of a ‘person of interest’ to the police; but so far there have been no breaks in either case. The Clewer family has put up a $20,000 reward. Surely, someone in our community must have heard or seen something more than is known so far?