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Jody Watley: Conversation with an icon
Singer Jody Watley has been many things during her illustrious career, including an activist, fashion plate—but, most certainly, a musician. Among her many achievements in that latter area are a Grammy win; a Lifetime Achievement Award ...
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SHOWBIZ Tig Notaro, films, E. Lynn Harris, Nick Jonas
Emmy- and Grammy-nominated stand-up comedian Tig Notaro (HBO's Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted), will return to HBO this summer with the first-ever fully animated stand-up special, HBO announced. The special ...
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Ravinia Festival announces 2021 summer programming
--From a press release
HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The Ravinia Festival, under the direction of its new President and CEO Jeffrey P. Haydon, announced the concert schedule for 2021 today, celebrating the reopening of the park for the first time ...
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Mayor Lightfoot, DCASE announce Chicago summer events
--From a press release
CHICAGO — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Choose Chicago, and Chicago's cultural community today announced "Open Culture" — the next phase of ...
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Northalsted plans to hold Market Days Aug. 6-8
The Northalsted Business Alliance plans to host Market Days August 6-8, adding a Friday night edition, the first in its 38-year history. As vaccinations increase and Illinois begins planning for stage 5 reopening, organizers of the ...
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Heather Headley to headline Goodman Theatre's May 22 virtual gala
Goodman Theatre announced that Tony-winning Broadway actor and Grammy Award-winning singer Heather Headley will headline the company's "Together Center Stage" virtual 2021 gala fundraiser. "Together Center Stage" is slated to stream Saturday, May 22, ...
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Jeannie Tanner show at City Winery on May 20
On Thursday, May 20, at 7 p.m., City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph St., will host the first in-person performance of "3 Martini Jeannie." Throughout the pandemic, every Friday at 5 p.m., Tanner celebrated the close ...
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Vintage House show honoring Chicago House Music with DJ Lori Branch May 5
--From a press release
Chicago, IL. May 3, 2021. Paving the way for every DJ behind her, DJ Lori Branch is continuously receiving flowers for her talents and dedication to music. Currently, through May, Spotify (spotify.com/chicago) billboards highlighting Chicago music ...
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Windy City Smokeout to return July 8-11
The outdoor country-music/BBQ festival Windy City Smokeout will return to Chicago on July 8-11 outside the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. Hosted by BBQ joint Bub City and the venue Joe's Bar, the event will ...
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Pride in the Park' on June 26-27
There will be at least one big LGBTQ+ event in Chicago this summer. Pride in the Park is slated to take place June 26-27 in Grant Park. It will be 2-10 p.m. on June 26, and 3-10 p.m. the following day. ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Joe Exotic' series, Luther Vandross, singer's announcement, star couples
Hedwig and the Angry Inch's John Cameron Mitchell has been tapped to play the title character opposite Kate McKinnon in the series Joe Exotic (working title), Deadline reported. The limited series centers on Carole Baskin (McKinnon), ...
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Belting for Life Sunday May 16, streaming through May 31
--From a press release
CHICAGO - Jeff Award-winning director and HIV+ activist Christopher Pazdernik presents the 6th annual Belting for Life (formerly known as Chris' Birthday Belt Fest), an annual benefit concert for Howard Brown Health, one of the nation's ...
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SHOWBIZ Trans singer, 'Pose,' Kate Winslet, Lil Nas X, Broadway
Trans femme indie-punk artist Evan Greer (she/her) released a dystopian new music video for the song "Surveillance Capitalism," a press release noted. She is using it to launch StopSpotifySurveillance.org with Fight for the Future, where she ...
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Story of Chicagoan and Broadway influencer Sister Rosetta Tharpe on to Broadway
--From a press release
NEW YORK (April 4, 2021) — Prolific writer and Chicago native Cheryl L. West (FANNIE: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer; Jar the Floor), will be joined on the creative team of SHOUT SISTER ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Special,' Bonnaroo, Broadway items, Rita Moreno, Bridgerton
The second season of the Netflix comedy series Special will premiere May 20, a press release noted. The series revolves around Ryan O'Connell, a gay man with mild cerebral palsy, and is based on his memoir ...
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Chicago's LGBTQ+ Armenian community aims to 'Cher the Love for Artsakh'
Entanik—a queer Armenian-American organization based in Chicago and operating online and whose name means "family" in Armenian—is holding its first event, "Cher the Love for Artsakh." The event is a virtual drag show featuring 12 Armenian ...
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MOVIES 'The Sound of Identity,' about trans opera star, out June 1
Winner of the 2020 Outshine Film Festival's prestigious Programmers Award of Excellence, The Sound of Identity is a feature documentary that Shout! Studios will present on digital and on demand June 1. Profiling international opera star ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Batwoman,' Adam Lambert, 'Glee,' Janet Jackson, 'Genera+ion'
The character of Kate Kane is coming back to the CW series Batwoman—but Ruby Rose won't be, according to out.com. British actress Wallis Day is joining the cast as Kane, the same character Rose played, after ...
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MUSIC North Coast planning for Labor Day event at new spot
Organizers of the North Coast Music Festival announced that the event will tentatively take place Sept. 3-5 at a new venue: SeatGeek Stadium, in the Chicago suburb of Bridgeview. A press that Windy City Times received ...
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SHOWBIZ Tamron Hall, 'Killing Eve,' speedskater, DJ dies, 'Pariah'
On the March 16 episode of Tamron Hall, Hall highlighted groundbreaking transgender trailblazers in Hollywood, a press release noted. Pose/American Horror Story actress and tech CEO Angelica Ross opened up about her difficult coming-out experience in ...
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k.d. lang to release dance-remix album 'makeover' on May 28
In celebration of Pride Month, Nonesuch Records is releasing k.d. lang's makeover—a new collection of classic dance remixes of some of her best-loved songs—on May 28. The album brings these remixes, made between 1992 and 2000, ...
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Ravinia plans to present live music this summer
Taking a step toward resuming pre-pandemic conditions, the Ravinia Festival announced that it plans to reopen in July for the 2021 summer season, presenting its signature mix of classical, popular, and chamber music programming. A press ...
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Women dominate 63rd Grammys
At this year's Grammys (which took place March 14), it was the year of the woman. The winners in the top four categories were Taylor Swift (album of the year, for Folklore), Billie Eilish (record of ...
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Chicago Fringe Opera announces the spring half of the 2020-2021 season
--From a press release
Chicago Fringe Opera (CFO), called Chicago's "alt-opera company" (John von Rhein, Chicago Tribune), announces the spring portion of its seventh season. Built within the parameters of our global pandemic, the ...
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LGBTQ members of Lyric Opera of Chicago's Ryan Opera Center perform online
Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Lyric Opera of Chicago was forced to scrap its season of live performances in favor of filmed online concerts. And in many of those presentations, the featured performers were ...
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SHOWBIZ Leslie Jordan, Zendaya, 'Handmaid's Tale,' Hulu, Chaka Khan
Emmy winner and viral sensation Leslie Jordan announced his debut album. Company's Comin', will drop April 2 via Platoon, a press release noted. Inspired by his weekly "Sunday Mornin' Hymn Singin'" live stream, the album has ...
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Chicago Gay Men's Chorus' 'Diva Dracula' in March
Chicago Gay Men's Chorus (CGMC) will present a virtual production of "Lipstick & Lyrics: Diva Dracula," on March 6, 12 and 13 at 8 p.m. CT. Featuring 15 drag performers, Diva Dracula embarks on a journey ...
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Showbiz: Black gay director, Oscars, soccer couple, Demi Lovato
Paris Barclay, the Emmy-winning TV director and former president of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), will receive the guild's Honorary Life Member Award at the 73rd Annual DGA Awards on April 10, TheWrap reported. Barclay ...
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Queer musician Ari Gold dies at 47
New York City-based dance artist Ari Gold has died at age 47 after a long battle with cancer, according to out.com. Gold—who was also known as Sir Ari and GoldNation— released seven albums as a part ...
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Original Supreme Mary Wilson dies at 76
Mary Wilson, a founding member of The Supremes, died Feb. 8 at her home in Las Vegas at age 76, media outlets reported. Wilson was an original member of the iconic Motown group known for hits ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Tunde Johnson,' John Waters, Jane Lynch, Billie Eilish
Wolfe Releasing has slated the film The Obituary of Tunde Johnson for a theatrical and digital release on Feb. 26, a press release noted. The film—written by Stanley Kalu; directed by Ali LeRoi; and starring Steven ...
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Ravinia Women's Board unveils winner of poster competition
The Ravinia Women's Board unveiled the winner of its annual Ravinia season poster competition. Minneapolis graphic designer Sean Quinn, 28, is the recipient of the competition's top prize for a second time; his entry in the ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Batwoman,' Village People, Neil Patrick Harris, Mariah Carey
SPOILER ALERT: Season two of Batwoman (featuring the lesbian superheroine) began by introducing Ryan Wilder, the new lead character on The CW show played by Javicia Leslie—and explained how first-season ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Tales' star dies, 'Wonder Woman 1984,' holiday songs, 'Drag Race'
Marcus D'Amico—the original Michael "Mouse" Tolliver from the miniseries Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City—died at age 55, Queerty noted. In 1992, he also originated the role of Louis in the National Theatre's London run of ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Drag Race,' year-end honors, 'Guardians,' Taylor Swift
VH1 unveiled a game-changing twist from the upcoming season of the Emmy-winning RuPaul's Drag Race, premiering Friday, Jan. 1, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, a press release noted. For the first time in Drag Race "herstory," queens ...
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Windy City Gay Chorus, Windy City Treble Quire present Let There Be Light
--From a press release
Chicago, Ill. — Windy City Performing Arts (WCPA), the not-for-profit parent organization of Windy City Gay Chorus and Windy City Treble Quire, is proud to announce its 41st annual holiday concert, Let there be Light: A ...
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PrideArts to screen A Not So Silent Night Tuesday, Dec. 15
To honor the tradition of gathering around with family and singing holiday songs, even in a pandemic. PrideArts is hosting a one-time screening of the film A Not So Silent Night tonight, Dec. 15, 2020. The ...
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HotHouse to stream Cuban jazz festival "Jazz Plaza" Jan. 21-24
--From a press release
CHICAGO — Marguerite Horberg, executive director of the award-winning Chicago-based nonprofit arts presenter HotHouse, today announced that it has been awarded the exclusive rights to stream the 2021 legendary Cuban ...
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Indoor Voices series spotlights Duke It Out Nutcracker Dec. 18
--From a press release
The Music Institute of Chicago's "Indoor Voices," a free series of virtual visits with arts luminaries featuring conversation and occasional performances, returns with a new episode spotlighting the Music Institute's ...
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PASSAGES Ravinia producer Stephen R. Smoot, 57
--From a press release
Stephen R. Smoot, who produced hundreds of concerts for Ravinia Festival since 2005, died suddenly on Friday, Nov. 27. He was 57. Known for his quick wit and generous impulse to shine the spotlight on others, ...
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Kylie Minogue's 'Infinite Disco' to stream New Year's Eve
Singer Kylie Minogue announced that her performance event "Kylie: Infinite Disco" will be streaming New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, at 9 p.m. across respective time zones. The performance premiered last month following the release of Kylie's ...
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Cyndi Lauper's 'Home for the Holidays' event Dec. 11
Award-winning singer, icon and advocate Cyndi Lauper announced that her 10th annual Home for the Holidays benefit concert will premiere on Friday, Dec. 11, exclusively on her TikTok at 8 p.m. ET, with an additional stream ...
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Chicago Cabaret Professionals make a gift of their free gala concert
--From a press release
For over twenty years the Chicago Cabaret Professionals' (CCP) annual Gala has been a festive live event. This association of over two hundred singers refuses to be deterred by the pandemic and will make a gift ...
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SHOWBIZ Singer Justin Utley, Gus Kenworthy, video game, 'Jackplot' film
OUTMusic Award winner Justin Utley has released the single "All Is Bright"—his first holiday release, a press release noted. Utley described the song as a little-bit of Lumineers/Mumford & Sons mixed in with a lot-a-bit of ...
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MUSIC (Colton) Ford tough: Singer is back and 'Stronger' than ever
Colton Ford has been an actor (in mainstream, off-Broadway and adult features) as well as singer, but he had see out of the spotlight for a few years—until now. Ford (who's openly gay) is back with ...
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New narrative podcast offers lesbian rocker slice of life
Podcast attached below
For audiophiles in search of punk rock tongue-in-cheek lesbian dramedy-driven narrative storytelling, look no further: "Tampon Rock" is here. The podcast, from Anthem and iHeart Radio, focuses on lesbian bandmates Deja and Chloe as they navigate ...
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SHOWBIZ: Awards, 'Bebop,' Andy Cohen, Mariah Carey, Revry
The American Music Awards aired live Nov. 22 and some of the biggest names in music took home awards; Taraji P. Henson hosted. According to CNN.com, Doja Cat won new artist of the year and Becky ...
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Black transgender artist Heather Hills releases single, video from Trans Trenderz
--From a press release
(New York, NY) Electro-pop/rap artist, Heather Hills, has released the new single and video, "Get Dun," on the Trans Trenderz label. "Get Dun" is not for those expecting trauma porn. "I got a cute beat and ...
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Jim Verraros: From 'Idol' to now
It may seem just like yesterday when Jim Verraros was among the finalists who performed on the very first season of the reality-competition show with the likes of Justin Guarini and Kelly Clarkson (who won). However, ...
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The African American Arts Alliance announces 2020 Black Excellence Awards
--From a press release
Chicago, IL—The African American Arts Alliance (AAAA) will host the 20th annual Black Excellence Awards, an evening celebrating Black artists, Black voices, and Black stories across artistic disciplines, on November 10, 2020 at 7pm. The 2020 ...
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SHOWBIZ Viola Davis, Tyler Posey, Elton John, Tegan and Sara
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom will premiere on Netflix on Dec. 18, a press release noted. The movie—based on the August Wilson play—will star Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman and Colman Domingo. In the film and ...
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Jeannie Tanner releases inspirational song, art-inclusive video
Local singer-songwriter Jeannie Tanner has released her new single and video, "I Wanna Be the Change." According to a press release, the song was inspired by many of the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ...
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Queen + Adam Lambert release first live album
Queen + Adam Lambert have released their first-ever live album, Queen + Adam Lambert: Live Around the World. The release is in CD, CD+DVD, CD+Blu-ray and vinyl formats. The set presents a compilation of concert highlights ...
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Linda Ronstadt, Danny Glover, Beto O' Rourke in 'All Souls to the Polls'
More than 50 artists, social justice and grassroots activists from across the country have created two nights of concerts to spur national voter turnout, with "All Souls to the Polls" on Oct. 17-18 at 7 p.m. ...
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50-50 All Souls to the Polls benefit concert to get out the vote
--From a press release
Oct. 13, 2020-(Chicago, IL) - A coalition of the nation's top arts presenters have joined forces to create a 6 hour "People's Benefit Concert" to spur Get Out The Vote action in all fifty states. More ...
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Sarah Brightman in Chicago in Dec. 2021
Soprano Sarah Brightman will bring "HYMN: Sarah Brightman In Concert" to the historic Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr., on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at 8 p.m. CDT. To enhance her world of enchantment, ...
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Philharmonic orchestra's free virtual concert Oct. 24
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO), named 2020 Professional Orchestra of the Year by Illinois Council of Orchestras, announced its virtual opening night concert, "IPO Reimagined," featuring 30 IPO string players performing ...
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Collaborate Arts Institute to mark 10th anniversary
Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago (CAIC), 7409 N. Greenview Ave., is celebrating its 10th-anniversary season with fall offerings that include the annual Collaborative Works Festival, two recitals as part of the Lieder Lounge series and the ...
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SHOWBIZ Diversity report, Zachary Quinto, 'Schitt's Creek,' Mariah Carey
In a new report from the UCLA-based Center for Scholars and Storytellers titled "Beyond Checking A Box: A Lack of Authentically Inclusive Representation Has Costs at the Box Office," researchers found that bringing authentic diversity to ...
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"All Souls to the Polls" concerts to help fund GOTV efforts
--From a press release
Chicago, IL—Adding art to the urgency of ensuring a robust voter turnout for what all consider to be 'the most important election of our lifetimes, more than 50 artists and activists from 50 states have created ...
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SHOWBIZ Whitney Houston, all-trans 'Brokeback,' Sam Smith, 'Chicago Med'
A hologram of the late Whitney Houston was used in a livestream show—allegedly without permission from her estate, NME.com reported. Hologram USA founder Alki David had originally worked on Houston's likeness in 2016. The hologram appeared ...
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Around the World in 80 Minutes, Chicago Gay Men's Chorus virtual cabaret in October
--From a press release
CHICAGO, October 1, 2020 — Chicago Gay Men's Chorus kicks off Season 37 with Around the World in 80 Minutes, a virtual cabaret featuring a small cast of 24 virtual performers that will take you on ...
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Feminist icon/singer Helen Reddy dies at 78
Helen Reddy—the Australian-born singer whose 1972 hit song "I Am Woman" made her a feminist icon—died Sept. 29 in Los Angeles. She was 78. According to The New York Times, Reddy suffered for decades from Addison's ...
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MUSIC Davis Mallory name-drops Jane Fonda with new song
Openly gay singer Davis Mallory has debuted a new pop song called "Jane Fonda" for the masses. The track was written in Stockholm, Sweden and the video was directed by Cooper Smith in Nashville, Tennessee. Many ...
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Artist-led "Retreat" to provide platform for creatives in food, music, art
--From a press release
CHICAGO — Rebuild Foundation, the arts, education and cultural development organization founded by artist Theaster Gates, and Dorchester Industries today announced the opening of "RETREAT," an artist-led activation aimed at ...
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Legacy Walk to honor Freddie Mercury, Sylvester Oct. 11
The Legacy Project will honor the late music superstars Freddie Mercury and Sylvester in a virtual event Sunday, Oct. 11, 3-5 p.m., featuring multimedia, historians, tribute performances and a ceremony revealing their bronze memorials at the ...
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Artemis Singers marks 40th anniversary with virtual panel
To celebrate Artemis Singer's 40th anniversary, Gerber/Hart Library and Archives hosted a Sept. 26 virtual panel discussion on the past, present and future of the chorus. Artemis Singers holds the distinction of being the first lesbian ...
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National LGBTQ Task Force to stream "The Power of US" gala Oct. 3
--From a press release
NATIONAL LGBTQ TASK FORCE ANNUAL GALA OCTOBER 3, 2020 AT 8PM ET/5PM PT Washington, DC. September 24, 2020. The National LGBTQ Task Force has announced it will stream the 2020 National LGBTQ Task Force Gala, presented ...
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Alicia Keys joins After School Matters event
Grammy winner Alicia Keys joined teenagers and their families across Chicago Sept. 24 for a live virtual conversation about current racial and social justice events, as well as her life and music career, including her recently ...
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SHOWBIZ Julia Child movie, Janelle Monae, 'Ammonite,' Harry Styles
David Hyde Pierce will star opposite Sarah Lancashire in Julia, HBO Max's drama pilot about the famous chef, trailblazing cookbook author and TV personality, Deadline reported. He replaces Tom Hollander, who originally had been tapped for ...
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Local musician/comic Becky Raisman aims to show passion in performing
Becky Raisman—a 38-year-old singer and comedian who is part of the LGBTQ+ community—has been singing ever since she was in elementary school. She now both covers and writes her own songs, performing them in local venues. ...
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SOCIAL MEDIA Sam Cushing talks COVID-19, creating meaningful content
Sam Cushing is a multihyphenate talent—musician, fitness consultant, digital content creator and mental-health advocate—with a focus on building his social media presence to pursue his interests and generate a positive ...
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Sarah Brightman in Chicago in Dec. 2021
Soprano Sarah Brightman will bring "HYMN: Sarah Brightman In Concert" to the historic Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr., on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at 8 p.m. CDT. Tickets will go on sale to ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Pose,' Matt Bomer, 'Mr. Soul,' Lil Nas X, Halsey, Dave Koz
SHOWBIZ 'Pose,' Matt Bomer, 'Mr. Soul,' Lil Nas X, Halsey, Dave Koz COMPILED BY ANDREW DAVIS FX's award-winning series Pose is planning to return to production in October, Variety noted. Production on season three was halted ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Star Trek,' Julianne Moore, benefit album, 'To Wong Foo'
The producers of Star Trek: Discovery announced that next season they will be introducing the first nonbinary and trans characters in the history of the Star Trek franchise, Advocate.com noted. Nonbinary character Adira, played by Blu ...
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