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Guests at Mary’s Attic on Dec. 5 were treated to a hot preview of Chicago Takes Off, Test Positive Aware Network’s (TPAN) sexy new benefit to help raise money for AIDS education and prevention programming.
Chicago Takes Off is a burlesque revue-style performance that will bring together 25 Chicago-based performers for one night only. These hot men and women will bare all on Feb. 10 at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage, to help raise funds for TPAN.
Dance for Life founders Keith Elliott and Todd Kiech will produce and direct this evening at the airport-themed ‘striptease’, which was inspired by New York’s Broadway Bares (an annual benefit sponsored by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS).
After years of joking about what would be better than Dance for Life than Dance for Life naked—coupled with the desire to create a new fundraising event—the idea of Chicago Takes Off was born.
TPAN hopes to raise the money needed to help continue their mission to empower HIV-positive men and women to take care of themselves.
‘We could think of no way as fun or entertaining to raise much-needed funding for HIV/AIDS programming at TPAN,’ said Rick Bejlovec, the organization’s executive director. We hope to establish a Valentine’s [Day] weekend tradition in Chicago: an exciting new production that will be enjoyed by straight and GLBT audiences alike.’
Postcards for this event have been temporarily stalled, as they have been deemed ‘lewd and obscene’ by the United States Postal Service, but they should be arriving soon in tasteful envelopes. In the meantime, find more information at www.tpan.com.