Chicago’s Baton Show Lounge has entertained crowds for more than 46 years with female impersonators. Now the producers of a new endeavor called Transformative are hoping to capture that success in a unique way. Tibsen Entertainment Productions and 47th Street Studios have collaborated on a new project that aims to not only entertain but inform people on the daily life of transgender individuals.
On April 18, auditions were held for three hours looking for possible hosts of a transgender talk show. Inspired by ABC’s The View, CBS’ The Talk and Fox’s The Real daytime shows, Transformative will be flipping the script and filming this show at night with a live audience. The diverse cast of four panelists will be encouraged to discuss themselves in a talk-show format, with news being part of the format also. Plans are to film the pilot and the following shows in about four weeks after casting is completed.
Creative director Marcellus Tye spoke with Windy City Times about the new concept for a talk show. “The Baton is a historic place and Chicago is the perfect area to film this show,” Tye said. “This is the just in the beginning form, currently with eight producers. We are hoping to transform lives in the process of making this show.”