| |
Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Diplo and more to headline Lollapalooza on Aug. 3-6
--From a press release
(Chicago—March 21, 2023) Lollapalooza has unveiled a powerhouse lineup for the 2023 edition, featuring first-time headliners Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish along with Red Hot Chili Peppers, ODESZA, Lana Del Rey, Karol G, who will make ...
|
| |
| |
Billy Masters: David Geffen sticks to what he knows
"I'm sure I've gotten a blow job from a guy before. For sure. I don't know if it's gay unless you make eye contact while there's a blow job happening." - DJ Diplo answers a question about having gay sex, which ...
|
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ 'Black Adam,' Cyndi Lauper, Sondheim, Oscars, OutFest
Cultured Magazine recently profiled Quintessa Swindell—who became the first out, non-binary actor to play a lead superhero in the DC universe when they portrayed Cyclone in the 2022 movie Black Adam. Swindell grew up in Virginia ...
|
| |
| |
Opera Preview: Life of gay World War II hero Alan Turing transformed into a world-premiere opera
It has taken a decade for The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing to grow from an idea into a full- fledged opera. Chicago Opera Theater stages the world premiere of composer Justine F. Chen and ...
|
| |
| |
Lambda Literary announces award finalists
--From a press release
Lambda Literary has announced the finalists in 25 categories for the 35th Annual Lambda Literary Awards. The finalists were selected by a panel of over 65 literary professionals from more than 1,350 book submissions. These selections ...
|
| |
| |
Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project to present dance concert 'Sans Pareil'
--From a press release
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater joins the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project again to take the stage in a dance concert entitled Sans Pareil—French for "unparalleled," a nod to the Haitian lineage of Chicago's founder, Jean-Baptiste Pointe ...
|
| |
| |
Lyric Opera of Chicago announces its 2023-24 season
--From a press release
CHICAGO (3/14/2023) — Lyric Opera of Chicago, led by General Director, President & CEO Anthony Freud and Music Director Enrique Mazzola, today announces the company's 2023/24 Season, which takes audiences on a global tour of opera ...
|
| |
| |
Editorial: In praise of Drag Story Hour
Drag Story Hours have really come to the fore in our political consciousness in the last few years, as the radical right has strategically targeted events raising the visibility of individuals who are gender-nonconforming, transgender or ...
|
| |
| |
House Musical, Coming of Age in the Age of House, coming to Hoover-Leppen Theatre
--From a press release
Campsongs Productions presents the world premiere of House Musical - Coming of Age in the Age of House, with book by Marcus Waller, music by Scott Free (with Michael Foley) and lyrics by Scott Free and ...
|
| |
| |
Mayor Lightfoot, DCASE announce dates for summer festivals and events
--From a press release
CHICAGO—Today, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced the 2023 dates for some of the City of Chicago's most beloved summertime traditions. Returning festivals and events include ...
|
|
| |
| |
Billy Masters: From the Oscars to the Grebes
"31 years ago in 1992, Brendan Fraser and Ke Huy Quan were in a movie together. . . two actors from 'Encino Man' are nominated for Oscars. Incredible night it must be for the two of you, and what a very ...
|
| |
| |
Anna DeShawn wins prestigious Ambie award for the Queer News podcast
--From a press release
Las Vegas, NV (March 13, 2023) — The Podcast Academy hosted the Ambies, the most preeminent awards in podcasting, at the Westgate Hotel in Las Vegas on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Anna DeShawn, the producer & ...
|
| |
| |
RuPaul's Drag Race WERQ THE WORLD in Chicago Aug. 4
--From a press release
RuPaul's Drag Race WERQ THE WORLD, the largest drag show on earth, returns in 2023 with a show in Chicago Aug. 4 and in 100+ cities across the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia, Europe and Mexico! ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Little Richard, Indigo Girls, Rodriguez's honor, dance film, Pedro Pascal
Video below
Produced by Bungalow Media + Entertainment for CNN Films and HBO Max, in association with Rolling Stone Films, director Lisa Cortes' Sundance opening-night documentary Little Richard: I Am Everything will debut in theaters and on VOD ...
|
| |
| |
Steppenwolf Theatre Company's 2023 Gala May 13 at The Old Post Office
--From a press release
CHICAGO (March 6, 2023) — The Steppenwolf Ensemble and Board of Trustees are pleased to host Steppenwolf 2023 Gala—an unforgettable evening celebrating 47 years of powerful and thought-provoking storytelling. Emceed ...
|
| |
| |
Billy Masters: Raunchier Uncoupled on the rebound with Showtime
"I never liked when she did this in concerts either. I don't like when females are overly sexualized in art. It degrades and objectivy's [sic] women in a way that's not healthy." —TJ Jackson on reports ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Wanda Sykes, Jonas Brothers, 'Queen of Versailles,' 'Bloodshed'
Adam Lambert video below
Award-winning comedian Wanda Sykes' new comedy special, I'm An Entertainer, will premiere globally on Netflix on May 23, a press release announced. The special, directed by Linda Mendoza, was filmed in early February 2023 at Philadelphia's ...
|
| |
| |
Theater Review: one in two
Playwright: Donja R. Love. At: PrideArts at Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway Tickets: 773-857-0222; $35. Runs through March 19 Playwright Donja R. Love stresses that lower case letters should be used for the title of ...
|
| |
| |
Queerties honor LGBTQ+ creatives at Feb. 28 event
The 11th Annual Queerties Awards—which recognizes LGBTQ+ creators, tastemakers, storytellers and newsmakers—took place Feb. 28 at Eden Sunset in Los Angeles. Hosted by drag comedian Bianca Del Rio, the ceremony ...
|
| |
| |
The Jeff Awards to honor Myrna Salazar with special non-Equity honor
--From a Jeff Awards press release
(March 1, 2023 - Chicago) — Recognizing a lifetime of theater excellence, the Joseph Jefferson Awards will honor the late arts activist Myrna Salazar at the organization's 49th Anniversary Non-Equity Awards celebration on Monday, March 2 ...
|
|
| |
| |
Singer Zolita zips through Chicago on a whirlwind tour
Zoe Montana Hoetzel has evolved into the multidimensional artist known as Zolita while cultivating a massive following. Her personality is multifaceted as well. She identifies as a lesbian, an activist and a witch, but she's also ...
|
| |
| |
Billy Masters: Billy lobbies for Bette to co-star in Sister Act 3
"When you see your boyfriend washing his penis in the sink, that's a sign they're probably having an affair." —Pamela Anderson shares a life lesson in her new documentary, "Pamela, A Love Story" I have to ...
|
| |
| |
Author Rafael Frumkin displays Confidence with their latest work
Rafael Frumkin is a transgender author who is heading to Chicago for a March 8 appearance at Women & Children First in Andersonville with their latest offering Confidence. Confidence is the story of Ezra Green, ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ 'Bob's Burgers,' P!nk, sports items, Billy Porter, Ben Platt
Animated sitcom Bob's Burgers marked another major milestone with its 250th episode. Gay actor/comedian/musician John Roberts (who voices Linda Belcher) talked with Queerty and said that one of the most important lessons he's learned from ...
|
| |
| |
'Everything' sweeps The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics 14th Dorian Film Awards
--From a press release
GALECA,The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, has named A24's fantastical and affecting family relationship drama Everything Everywhere All at Once 2022's Film of the Year—and then some—in its 14th Dorian ...
|
| |
| |
Pride Journey: Jacksonville, Florida
The last time I visited Jacksonville, I was probably in my early-mid 20s and living in Orlando. It was a very long time ago. I was eager to visit again as I know much has changed in the city since the ...
|
| |
| |
PrideArts presents 'one in two'
--From a press release
Title: one in two. By Donja R. Love/ Directed by Jordan Ratlliff Monday, Feb. 20 - 7:30 p.m. Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago One in two Black men in America who have sex with other men will be diagnosed ...
|
| |
| |
Billy Masters: What happens at sea stays at sea
"I knew I was gay before I knew I was Asian. " —Joel Kim Booster on one of my favorite podcasts, Mayim Bialik's Breakdown. Whenever I get a break from being on the road, I catch up on messages people leave. ...
|
| |
| |
Christine Heesun Hwang personifies Eponine in Les Miserables
Out performer Christine Heesun Hwang "dreamed a dream" of joining the cast one of Les Miserables—now showing at the Cadillac Palace Theater—and now she's made that dream into a reality. Set in 19th-century France, Les Miserables ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Black queer films, Janet Jackson, Paramore, WNBA, GALECA contest
Queerty ran a piece on 10 films that celebrate Black queer love. Some of them include The Skinny (with Jussie Smollett), Dee Rees' movie Pariah, the Oscar-winning Moonlight, the Marlon Riggs classic Tongues Untied, Brother to ...
|
|
| |
| |
Theater Review: Cabaret continues to reflect on our modern challenges
Title: Cabaret. Book: Joe Masteroff; Score: John Kander & Fred Ebb. At: Porchlight Music Theatre at Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. Tickets: 773-777-9884 or www.PorchlightMusicTheatre.org; prices begin at $25. Runs through ...
|
| |
| |
Billy Masters: Madonna's guilt-trip
"Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny that permeates the world we live in. A world that refuses to celebrate women past the age of 45."—Madonna. I don't know what 45-year-old ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Isaac Mizrahi, Viola Davis, Laura Jane Grace, Elton John, GLAAD
On Sherri Shepherd's talk show, entertainer/fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi said he'd love for out actor Dan Levy to portray him in a potential biopic based on Mizrahi's memoir, I.M., The Wrap noted. "Dan Levy, OK," Mizrahi ...
|
| |
| |
Windy City Gay Chorus, Windy City Treble Quire present Our Common Thread: Songs of Love, Loss, Life
--From a press release
CHICAGO - The Windy City Gay Chorus and Windy City Treble Quire are excited to announce their upcoming 2023 spring concert, Our Common Thread: Songs of Love, Loss and Life, under the direction of Dr. Eric ...
|
| |
| |
Keep on Trockin': Ballet Trockadero dances through Chicago Feb. 11
Keep on Trockin': Ballet Trockadero dances through Chicago Feb. 11 By Matt Simonette Performer Duane Gosa admits that going to the ballet can sometimes be intimidating for some audience. But he is quick to reassure that ...
|
| |
| |
CGMC to re-create music videos in drag with 'Lipstick & Lyrics: On MTV'
--From a press release
CHICAGO—Chicago Gay Men's Chorus presents their annual live-singing drag show, Lipstick & Lyrics. This year's theme: On MTV. Come enjoy CGMC's drag performers as they recreate epic music videos. With dancers, costumes and sass, these live ...
|
| |
| |
THEATER REVIEW Toni Stone at the Goodman
Review by Tracy Baim
Lydia R. Diamond's original play, Toni Stone, is simply wonderful on all levels. Directed by Ron OJ Parson in its Chicago premiere at the Goodman Theatre, the play is about the first known woman to play ...
|
| |
| |
George Santos accused of sexual harassment
Embattled U.S. Congressman George Santos (R-New York)—who is dealing with fallout from a resume filled with falsehoods, including an FBI investigation—is now being accused of sexual harassment. According to CNN ...
|
| |
| |
Billy Masters: Was George Santos lying when he said you looked good in those jeans?
George Santos finally admitted that he actually has done drag—funny how the story changes once a videotape surfaces. And isn't it convenient that the one time he's ever done drag, someone videotaped it? "No, I was not a ...
|
| |
| |
Kim Petras is first openly trans singer to win a Grammy
On Feb. 5, Kim Petras made history, becoming the first openly transgender singer to win a Grammy. The German-born singer won in her category of Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Unholy," her chart-topping collaboration with non-binary singer Sam Sm ...
|
| |
| |
The Jeff Awards announces 2023 Non-Equity theater award nominations
--From a press release
Chicago—The Joseph Jefferson Awards announces its nominations for theater excellence among Non-Equity theater. The Non-Equity awards presented in 2023 spotlight 167 theater artists across 28 categories of excellence in theater ...
|
| |
| |
Beyonce adds second Chicago date to tour
Beyonce—now the most-decorated singer in Grammys history—has added a second Chicago date to her newly announced "Renaissance" world tour, according to The Chicago Tribune. She will now perform at Soldier Field on July 22-23. H ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Jerrod Carmichael, Alan Cumming, Andre Leon Talley, AIDS drama
Openly gay stand-up comic and recent Golden Globes host Jerrod Carmichael is set to star in a comedy documentary series for HBO, according to Entertainment Weekly. The yet-untitled series will center on Carmichael's personal life, following ...
|
| |
| |
THEATER REVIEW Andy Warhol in Iran juggles art, celebrity and geopolitics
Andy Warhol in Iran. Playwright: Brent Askari At: Northlight Theatre at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie Tickets: 847-673-6300 or www.Northlight.org; $30-$89. Runs through Feb. 19 The prolific 20th century gay ...
|
| |
| |
Chicago theater charges on through the cold months
The ongoing 2022-2023 theater season—roughly September to June—will be the first complete production season in Chicago in three years. A few troupes cautiously returned to live performances late last spring, but most companies waited until the ...
|
| |
| |
Billy Masters: Harry Styles' Pleather pants parting, and all the dish you need
"I will always love Pamela, always in my heart. I left her $10 million in my will. And she doesn't even know that. Nobody knows that." —Jon Peters reveals his bequest to ex-wife Pamela Anderson. Pam ...
|
| |
| |
Billy Porter discusses his fashion choices, personal ambitions
Billy Porter—the Tony, Emmy and Grammy winner—needs no introduction—especially to the many fans of his character Pray Tell on Ryan Murphy's hit TV series Pose. Coming up exclusively in theaters Feb. 3, Porter will star as ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Lil Nas X, Sam Smith, tennis items, Oscars, Queerties
Famed children's entertainers The Wiggles sent parents into a frenzy when they posted a photo with out rapper Lil Nas X to their Instagram account and wrote, "New collab in the wind?," according to LGBTQ Nation. ...
|
| |
| |
Director Lukas Dhont's Oscar-nominated drama gets 'Close' to audiences everywhere
Belgian director Lukas Dhont's new French-language film Close—a nominee for Best International Feature Film for the 95th Annual Academy Awards—tells the touching story of two 13-year-old best friends, Leo (Eden ...
|
| |
| |
Billy Masters: George Santos gets to be a real drag, and all the dish you need
"If you're an enemy of drag, you're an enemy of mine." —George Lopez criticizes Ron DeSantis' "War on Drag Queens." There are some stories I try to stay away from, and that includes George Santos—if I ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ 'Planet Sex,' Critics Choice Awards, Madonna, Theo James
The show Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne will debut on Hulu on Feb. 14 (Valentine's Day), Out noted. Planet Sex is a six-episode docuseries following the model/actress. "On this immersive journey, she puts her mind and ...
|
| |
| |
Des Plaines Theater cancels anti-LGBTQ hate group event after outcry from citizens
DuPage County-based Awake Illinois was set to hold an event called "Out of the Echo Chamber: Coalition for Kids" at the city-owned, but not city-operated, Des Plaines Theatre Wednesday, Feb. 8. This event has now been ...
|
| |
| |
Theater Review: Princess Ivona is a dark but comic portrait of power
Playwright: Witold Gombrowicz. At: Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W. Cortland St. Tickets: 773-384-0494 or www.trapdoortheatre.com; $25 (two-for-one admission Thursdays) Runs through Feb. 18 Trap Door Theatre is now tackling the ...
|
| |
| |
ABC Audio launches third season of "Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson"
--From a press release
ABC Audio launched today the third season of "Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson," its award-winning podcast focused on LGBTQ+ issues. The new, six-episode season, hosted by ABC News contributor and Emmy® Award-winning journalist LZ Granderson, ...
|
| |
| |
Billy Masters: Prince Harry tells all and nothing, and all the other dish you need
"As a gay man, I want to apologize for all the gays on behalf of what we tried to do to her on that boat!" —Jerrod Carmichael takes a moment out of the Golden Globes to apologize to White Lotus star ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Indigo Girls, LGBTQ+ films, GALECA nods, Jeremy Pope
Indigo Girls will perform at an opening-night celebration for the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 19 in Park City, Utah, Variety reported. The Grammy-winning lesbian folk-rock duo are debuting their new documentary, It's Only Life After All, ...
|
| |
| |
Chicago Red Stars select four players in 2023 NWSL Draft
From a press release
CHICAGO—The Chicago Red Stars took part in the 2023 National Women's Soccer League Draft, tonight, selecting Penelope Hocking from Penn State University with their first-round pick (seventh overall). In ...
|
| |
| |
Jordan Vasquez treats Chicago to Fosse's Chicago
Actor and openly gay performer Jordan Vasquez, an Illinois native now living in New York City, is giving Chicago audiences "the old razzle dazzle" in the fabulous musical Chicago. This dynamically talented performer brings with him ...
|
| |
| |
Black LGBTQ+ film festival among Chicago NEA grant recipients
The Black Alphabet Film Festival—the world's oldest Black LGBTQ+-focused event of its kind—was part of the first round of grant recipients from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA), receiving $20,000. In a press release, Black ...
|
| |
| |
Billy Masters: A weatherman's thirst trap triggers a bomb cyclone, and all the other dish you need
"Upon arriving home I'd been horrified to discover that my nether regions were frost nipped...While the ears and cheeks were already healing, the todger wasn't. It was becoming more of an issue by the day." —As ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Diversity report, Dave Bautista, Leslie Jordan, greatest singers
The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative's latest "Inclusion in the Director's Chair" report analyzes the gender and race/ethnicity of the directors behind last year's 100 highest-grossing movies in the country, while the San Diego State Center ...
|
| |
| |
Billy Masters: It wasn't Jim Parsons' soul Kirk Cameron stirred up...and all the dish
"Look, the best guess I could probably give you is that I did think Kirk Cameron was awfully cute when I watched Growing Pains. So maybe things arose then." —Jim Parsons' response to Andy Cohen's question of ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Best in theater, TV, film and music; Obama's favorites; 'Glass Onion'
Deadline's Broadway critic revealed his picks for the best of 2022. Leopoldstadt topped his list, but other productions included Kimberly Akimbo, Some Like It Hot, Into the Woods, Hangmen, Ain't No Mo', A Strange Loop, Topdog/Underdog, ...
|
| |
| |
Billy Masters: All the retrospective you'll need to show 2022 the door
"He doesn't like gay people. Doesn't want them in Russia. And then he's got the wonderful basketball player and he won't let her out. Make up your mind! He's always acting so butch and strutting around. You know what that ...
|
| |
| |
PrideArts, Chicago drag artists co-produce story of a drag family's tribulations
-- From a press release
CHICAGO — PrideArts will celebrate the arrival of the year 2023 by teaming up with the Chicago drag performers Tirrany Reigns and Ramona Mirage to stage Reigns' original Queer Family Dramedy, set just after New Year's ...
|
| |
| |
Oak Park Festival Theatre makes history with new artistic director
The Oak Park Festival Theatre (OPFT)—the oldest professional classical theater in the Midwest—announced that Peter G. Andersen will be joining the company as its new artistic director in January 2023. It is the first time that a person ...
|
| |
| |
Billy Masters: Redford won't follow Babs back to the well, and all the dish you need
"These gays — they're trying to murder me!" — Jennifer Coolidge's character, Tanya, on The White Lotus finale. Here's a headline that grabbed me: "Florida man busted for public sex with dog, wrecking church nativity scene". ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Best and worst films, Broadway, Adam Lambert, 'Proud Family,' women's hockey
IndieWire revealed its list of the best LGBTQ+ films and TV series of 2022. Just some of the selections included Benediction, Bros, Do Revenge, Fire Island, Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Inspection, Los Espookys, P-Valley, ...
|
| |
| |
Life is a Cabaret for James Harkness these days
Out performer James Harkness is one of the many performers in Cabaret ZaZou's Luminaire, the latest project from the creative team behind the successful show Teatro ZinZanni. Currently in an open run since Sept. 7, 2022, ...
|
| |
| |
Billy Masters: Anthony Rapp becomes a dad, and all the dish to start your week
"And haters, if you're watching this because I know you are—you work hard, but I work harder!" —Todrick Hall's message to critics. BTW, he's back on the air with HGTV's "Battle of the Bling" with Kim ...
|
| |
| |
SHOWBIZ Jerrod Carmichael, 'Heartstopper,' Lena Waithe, Gyllenhaal, Cher
Out comedian Jerrod Carmichael will host the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Deadline reported. After a yearlong hiatus, the three-hour telecast will air on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 from The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on NBC and ...
|
| |
| |
Theater Review: Mosque4Mosque
Author: Omer Abbas Salem. At: About Face Theatre at The Den Tickets: www.thedentheatre.com; $7.50-$41.25. Runs through: Dec. 17 Sara and her children are Syrian immigrants with a nice suburban house. Sara (Rula Gardenier) is an accountant, ...
|
| |
| |
Filmmaker reworks locally-produced holiday film Scrooge & Marley for upcoming stage reading
It's been 10 years since Chicago writer/musician/perfomer Richard Knight, Jr. co-directed and co-wrote the LGBTQ+ holiday film Scrooge & Marley. "One of the most memorable nights of my life was the premiere at the Music Box, ...
|
| |
| |
Actor Colby Minifie portrays an unfamiliar 'Homebody' in new film
Actor Colby Minifie inhabits a whole new 'Homebody' in new film By Matt Simonette The new film Homebody, featuring actor Colby Minifie (The Boys, Jessica Jones) and helmed by gay director Joseph Sackett, initially seems to ...
|
| |
| |
"A Secret I Can't Tell" book updated and reissued
-- From a press release
NEW YORK, NY — NOVEMBER 14, 2022 — In 2020 the United States Supreme Court ruled that 1964 Civil Rights Act protects gay, lesbian, and transgender employees from discrimination based on sex. But now Florida's "Don't say gay" ...
|
| |
