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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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SHOWBIZ #ReadOutProud, Mj Rodriguez, Kate Winslet, Jennifer Lopez
Non-profit organization Pride and Less Prejudice (PLP) has launched a #ReadOutProud fundraising campaign video with LGBTQ celebrities including Adam Rippon, Nicole Maines, Darryl Stephens, Patrik-Ian Polk, Theo Germaine, Nikki Blonsky ...
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'The Best of Cher' on DVD Sept. 15
Time Life will release The Best of Cher on DVD on Tuesday, Sept. 15. The SRP is $99.95. The Best of Cher brings together Cher's life in the spotlight across two loaded volumes and nine DVDs, as well as a collectible ...
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MUSIC
Trans singer Kyler O'Neal debuts music video, talks poetry
Kyler O'Neal is a transgender contemporary, folk artist. She officially released her debut music video for her single Satan's Tears on Sept. 1, and that is currently available for streaming on YouTube and Vimeo. Windy City ...
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SHOWBIZ Disco fundraiser, drag queen dies, Randy Rainbow, Outfest's tribute
Chaka Khan, Gloria Gaynor, Patti LaBelle, Nile Rodgers and Kathy Sledge, and Marti Gould Cummings are slated to perform at a virtual Studio 54-themed event/fundraiser for Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research on Tuesday, Sept. 15, ...
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Artemis Singers virtual panel Sept. 26
Artemis Singers will celebrate 40 years as Chicago's lesbian feminist chorus with a free virtual discussion and Q&A, 3:30-5 p.m., on Saturday, Sept. 26. Gerber/Hart Library & Archives is hosting this online event. Artemis Singers, a ...
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WCPA names William Southerland as new artistic director
Local LGBTQ+ choral organization Windy City Performing Arts (WCPA) has named Dr. William Southerland as the artistic director of Windy City Gay Chorus and Windy City Treble Quire. Southerland joins WCPA following a seven-year run as ...
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MUSIC The B-52s' Kate Pierson takes the stage to urge women to vote
Kate Pierson has been in the public eye in two different aspects. First, she's known worldwide as part of the band The B-52s, which have numerous hits, such as "Rock Lobster," "Roam" and "Love Shack." (She ...
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Holocaust Museum, Resiliency2020 hosting star-studded event
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center has partnered with Resiliency2020 for a star-studded event. On Sept. 10, Resiliency2020 will bring together best-selling singers and songwriters, renowned entrepreneurs, respected mental health ...
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Navy Pier to reclose temporarily
The Chicago landmark Navy Pier will close again after having relatively few visitors because of the coronavirus pandemic, The Chicago Tribune noted. The attraction will shut down again Tuesday, Sept. 8, and stay shut until spring ...
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NATIONAL Streisand/Summer, HIV treatment, Alex Morse, Barney Frank
MeidasTouch, a progressive Democratic political action group, teamed with the LGBTQ voting initiative Vote Proud for their latest video, titled "Enough Is Enough," Billboard noted. The video focuses on rallying queer people to vote by pointing ...
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SHOWBIZ Trans record label, Ruby Rose, gay producer dies, Kamala supporters
Black trans record label Trans Trenderz announced new signings—and it also held the virtual event The Ghostly Beats Conference Aug. 14-15, a press release noted. Launched in 2016 after a successful mixtape of the same name ...
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MUSIC Performer Jane Badler helps present late son's musical vision
Actress/musician Jane Badler said that her late son, Harry Hains, was someone who was "in a different vibration." "He never fit in," said Badler, who is perhaps best known for her role as the villainous alien ...
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MUSIC Cor.Ece: Queer singer on journey, 'The Chi' and 'hopeful electro-soul'
Cor.Ece is a singer/songwriter who, unlike most people, seems to have found his niche: making inspiring music that he calls "hopeful electro-soul." He is now based in Los Angeles, but has literally traveled the country while ...
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Women Take the Stage Aug. 26 national online event
--From a press release
(New York, NY) On Aug. 26 at 8 p.m. CDT , top musicians, changemakers and activist icons gather for a virtual broadcast with one vital call to action: women must focus on voting. Women Take the ...
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SHOWBIZ Sarah Paulson, The B-52s, NBA player, Issa Rae, Ryan Reynolds
Actress Sarah Paulson will be involved on Ryan Murphy's new spinoff series American Horror Stories—but not necessarily on-screen, Deadline noted. "What can I say?," said the Emmy and Golden Globe winning actress at a TCA Netflix ...
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WCPA names William Southerland as new artistic director
Local LGBTQ+ choral organization Windy City Performing Arts (WCPA) has named Dr. William Southerland as the artistic director of Windy City Gay Chorus and Windy City Treble Quire. Southerland joins WCPA following a seven-year run as ...
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SHOWBIZ Janet Mock, 'Pose,' Joan Jett, Sam Smith, 'Digging Up Dorothy'
Transgender writer/director/author Janet Mock is teaming with actor Jeremy Pope (who has received an Emmy nod for his role in the Ryan murphy miniseries Hollywood) on a new drama called Scandalous!, Out.com noted, citing Deadline ...
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Lollapalooza running virtually July 30-Aug. 2
The annual Chicago music event Lollapalooza is running virtually (because of the COVID-19 pandemic) July 30-Aug. 2 on its YouTube channel. Hosted by Perry and Etty Farrell, the free event will include more than 150 performances ...
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SHOWBIZ: Ellen, Scooby-Doo, 'Survivor,' LGBTQ singers, Andy Cohen
The executive producers of The Ellen DeGeneres Show are responding to claims that employees experienced a toxic environment while working on the popular daytime talk show, USA Today noted. In interviews with BuzzFeed News, one current ...
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Concert for Cuba July 18-19
--From a press release
July 15, 2020—(Chicago, IL) — With a final program set, more than 60 renowned musicians from around the globe, from Dionne Warwick to Arturo O'Farrill, to Dayramir Gonzalez to Tom Morello will perform and appear in ...
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SHOWBIZ Seth Rudetsky, LGBTQ films, Janelle Monae, trans singer
Norm Lewis, Megan Hilty and Cheyenne Jackson will join the line-up of talent slated to participate in The Seth Concert Series—the weekly virtual series based on Seth Rudetsky's international Broadway series that began at The Art ...
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Ravinia Festival names new CEO
Ravinia Chairman Don Civgin announced the hiring of Jeffrey P. Haydon as president and CEO of the nation's oldest music festival. Haydon is currently CEO of the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in New ...
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NUNN ON ONE MUSIC Rufus Wainwright on new album, Pride, future
Out and proud performer Rufus Wainwright has always been and continues to be the thinking man's musician. His songs run deep with sometimes heavy lyrics covering topics such as family relationships, politics and religion. For those ...
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SHOWBIZ Terrence McNally, Latino/a/x musicians, singer Harry Hains, Lena Waithe
Tony-winning actors Billy Porter and Rita Moreno, along with director Jeff Kaufman, will celebrate Terrence McNally on Wed., July 1, at 8 p.m. CT, with the International Documentary Association (IDA) ...
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EXPO CHICAGO pushed to 2021
EXPO CHICAGO, The International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art, will present its ninth edition from April 8-11, 2021, at Navy Pier. The decision to move the fair from its traditional September 2020 time slot to ...
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Out local musician releasing album, launching music station
Out local musician Scott Free Scott Free is releasing his new album, The Last Revolution, on Friday, July 3, and is launching Alt Q Radio, an independent queer music station. The Last Revolution, described as a ...
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Old Town's virtual Pride Jam on June 26
Old Town School of Folk Music will host a virtual Pride jam Friday, June 26, 6-7:15 p.m. The event will feature songs for, by and about queer artists. From early blues to modern pop, musicians will ...
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SHOWBIZ Lee Daniels, 'Walking Dead' star, Sylvester, Richard Simmons
Openly gay producer/director Lee Daniels (TV's Empire; producer of the movie Monster's Ball) said he was the original director of the Oscar-winning film Brokeback Mountain, but couldn't get the film made as "nobody wanted to see ...
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Reunion, OTV and Slo 'Mo hosting virtual Pride festival June 26-28
LGBTQ+-centered organizations Reunion Chicago, Slo 'Mo and OTV-Open Television are combining energies and resources to present an intergenerational and intersectional virtual Pride festival that celebrates, centers and advocates for Chicago ...
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Nick Jonas joining Virtual Pride Fest Chicago
Chicago Pride Fest will mark its 20th year with a virtual festival format on June 20-21—and Nick Jonas is the latest name to join the event, as he will deliver a special message to festival attendees. ...
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Sylvester's iconic album 'Step II' to be reissued
Los Angeles, CA (June 17, 2020) — Craft Recordings is proud to reissue Sylvester's iconic 1978 album, Step II, with newly remastered audio. Available this Friday (6/19) across all digital and streaming ...
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WORLD Global Pride, trans woman attacked, Poland items, singer comes out
Organizers of the June 27 virtual event Global Pride said that former U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden, U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ireland Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and artists Laverne ...
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SHOWBIZ Lady Gaga, 'Pride Castle,' Terrence McNally, LGBTQ film
When Lady Gaga's Chromatica album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, it not only marked the superstar's sixth chart-topper, but also just the second chart-topping album by a woman in 2020, Billboard noted. ...
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