PAGE 8 VOL 34, NO. 01 SEPT. 26, 2018 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com

JOHN‘INDECENT’ LaSaia Wade speaks at the rally. MOSSMANEXPOSURE Photo by Vern Hester Paula Vogel on haunting play. Photo by Todd Rosenberg 16 SAY HER NAME AFTERMATH Peaceful assembly Rally remembers trans after flag-burning, priest’s removal Photo of Resurrection Catholic Church by Carrie victims of violence Maxwel 6

MOVIE KIND OF LOVE Looking at fall movies. Photo of Jason Momoa by Warner Turn to page 16 Bros. 27 AVAILABLE THIS OUR NEWLY WEEK IN PRINT EXPANDED ‘MIND’ OVER AND ONLINE FROM SAM KIRK’S MURAL BRINGS A CONVERSATION ABOUT MATTER INTERSECTIONALITY TO BOYSTOWN ARTS PAGE 21 Brave Space Alliance WINDY CITY TIMES

Mural of Kiam Marcelo Junio. presents the Pay It No Photo by Jake Wittich COVERAGE Mind Ball. COVERAGE BEGINS ON PAGE 13 Photo by Vern Hester 34

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NEWS When A Great Deal Matters, Shop Rob Paddor’s... Daley Plaza rant; column 4 Gerber/Hart fundraiser 5 Evanston Subaru in Skokie Peaceful assembly after rainbow-flag burning 8 LGBTQ veterans’ convention 7 ‘Say Her Name’ trans anti-violence rally 8 Mass. AG Healey at Chicago event 9 Puerto Rico solidarity groups protest Trump 10 Viewpoints: Baim; letter 12 ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS Arts/diversions—NEW cover 13 INDEX Theater reviews 14 Theater feature: Paula Vogel 16 2019 SUBARU ASCENT Theater feature: ‘Caroline, or Change’ 18 Feature: Author talks ‘Angels’ 19 NOW IN STOCK DOWNLOAD Feature: Talking with a Goddess 20 THIS ISSUE Art: Mural to be unveiled in Boystown 21 Music: Talking with Holly Near 22 AND BROWSE THE ARCHIVES AT Music: A look at Riot Fest 23 www.WindyCityTimes.com Open House Chicago nears, includes 30 areas 24 The Sporting Life: Linda Bache 25 Reeling reviews; checking out opening night 26 Fall movie preview 27 Movies: ‘Colette’ 28 Chicago actress Lila Star 29 PAGE 8 VOL 34, NO. 01 SEPT. 26, 2018 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Travel: Hello, Columbus 30 JOHN‘INDECENT’ LaSaia Wade speaks at the rally. MOSSMANEXPOSURE Photo by Vern Hester Paula Vogel on haunting play. Sports: Talking with Adam Rippon 31 Photo by Todd Rosenberg 16 SAY HER NAME AIDS Run & Walk again marks success 32 AFTERMATH Peaceful assembly Rally remembers trans after flag-burning, priest’s removal Photo of Resurrection Catholic Church by Carrie victims of violence Father, son take part in AIDS Ride 33 Maxwel 6

MOVIE KIND OF LOVE NIGHTSPOTS 34 Looking at fall movies. Photo of Jason Momoa by Warner Turn to page 16 Bros. 27 AVAILABLE THIS OUR NEWLY Book review: Straight Expectations 37 WEEK IN PRINT EXPANDED ‘MIND’ OVER AND ONLINE FROM SAM KIRK’S MURAL BRINGS A CONVERSATION ABOUT MATTER INTERSECTIONALITY TO BOYSTOWN ARTS PAGE 21 Brave Space Alliance WINDY CITY TIMES

Mural of Kiam Marcelo Junio. Photo by Jake Wittich COVERAGE Calendar 38 presents the Pay It No • , lbs OWING Mind Ball. COVERAGE BEGINS ON PAGE 13 5 000 T Photo by Vern Hester 34 • OR ASSENGER @windycitytimes /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com 7 8-P NEW 2019 SUBARU NEW 2018 SUBARU NEW 2018 SUBARU CROSSTREK 2.0i FORESTER 2.5i OUTBACK 2.5i online exclusives at www.WindyCityTimes.com

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Windy City Times received a video of a man— Also on Sept. 19, news broke that Preckwinkle holding a clipboard and wearing a T-shirt sup- had fired her chief of staff for “inappropriate be- Aging gracefully: porting Cook County Board President Toni Preck- havior.” winkle—using anti-gay language in Daley Plaza. “While we are grateful for the countless vol- The person who filmed the video asked that unteers who have stepped up to offer their Don’t speak of overcoats or bowels their name not be used. support of Toni’s campaign, the actions of this The old saw says, “You know you are getting ing. Writing also helps one process the situa- After an initial verbal altercation, the person individual are inexcusable. Our campaign has a old when you begin to talk about the state tion. began filming the man, at which point he sug- zero-tolerance policy against anyone engaging of your bowels.” As a young, newly employed Another thing that happens as you get older gested that “straight men” wouldn’t follow other in homophobic and transphobic behavior. We elementary school teacher, my mother often is that you go unnoticed. People are not at- men around, and said that the person filming had are taking immediate action to track the indi- would ask me, “When are you going to be a tracted to you, are not sizing you up as a sex “sugar in their tank.” vidual and relieve him of his volunteer duties,” grown up and buy yourself an overcoat?” partner, are not necessarily interested in what While the man’s T-shirt was supporting one of said Monica Trevino, Toni Preckwinkle’s campaign At a garage sale, a much older customer low- you have to say. Luckily fantasy still exists. Preckwinkle’s runs for Cook County board presi- spokesperson. “Toni has a proven track record for ered himself into a chair to rest, making loud Even though you have given your best to so- dent, the incident took place Sept. 19, just a day championing the rights of the LGBTQ community, sighing, groaning, aching sounds. My friend ciety during your prime years, you are deemed before Preckwinkle was scheduled to announce a and anyone not in line with her values will be Roger labeled those “Old Man Noises” and somewhat useless. The young do not under- bid for Chicago mayor; a man wearing a similar immediately removed. warned against making them ourselves. stand who you are in today’s world and you do It is said that “you are only as old as you think not understand who they are. you are” and “old age is only a state of mind.” I find myself saying what my parents used Chicago recognizes Grant celebration It is said that if you “act old, you are old.” to say with dismay, as well as, at times, with Well here I am, now 73 years old—and I disgust: “This generation ... I just don’t under- ‘International Day of of life Oct. 2 am older, born in 1945, for which you have to stand them!” Ironically, there are so many more A celebration of life for Harry Hodges, aka en- scroll down quite a way when filling out your things I now understand about my parents and Bisexual Visibility’ tertainer Ginger Grant, will take place Tuesday, On Sept. 21, the Office of the Mayor in the City age in an online form—and it amazes me how the changes they went through as they aged, Oct. 2, at the Baton Show Lounge, 436 N. Clark many years there are in that list between when but hopefully I am doing it more gracefully, of Chicago issued a proclamation in recognition St., at 8 p.m. of the International Day of Bisexual Visibility. I was born and today! having learned from watching them getting Hodges passed away the week of Sept. 10 in Excuse me, but I have to admit that I am older while not becoming curmudgeons. Three bisexual activisits created this commu- Chicago. Hodges, performing under Grant’s per- nity holiday in 1999 to celebrate bisexual people more aware of my bowels, now own an over You know, these are my hips and they can sona, was a longtime emcee at The Baton and a coat, feel the aches and pains while resist- ache if they want to. These are my rotator in the face of invisibility and stigma. close friend of its owner, Jim Flint. The Chicago Bisexual Health Task Force (CBHTF) ing “old man noises” and realize that short cuffs and they can hurt when they want to. No reservations will be accepted. For more in- of thinking or feeling or acting old, the body This is my lower back and if it needs to go out sponsored the proclamation’s development. formation, see The Baton’s Facebook page. Among other things, the proclamation highlights has a mind of its own as it slows down, breaks of alignment, I give it my permission. This is the striking health disparities that bisexual down, lets you down. my headache and I am entitled to it, although people face compared to people of other sexual My podiatrist told me that my feet needed I might share it with a few aspirin. orientations. more attention because “It’s like having a car My body has served me well for 73 years. The mission of the CBHTF is to improve the for 73 years and never being able to change Short of major surgery, which luckily exists if lives of bisexual+ individuals in the Chicagoland the tires.” necessary, there is no neighborhood service area by mobilizing communities, engaging in re- My skin doctor tells me that dry skin and shop that can oil my joints, retread my feet, search, advocacy, and education, and supporting itching is normal for a person my age. My age? tune up my muscle composition, rotate my the development and implementation of policies So the lotion bottle has become a permanent blood vessels, alter my body mass or refill my and programs. fixture on the sink counter. visual ability. More about the CBHTF is on Facebook. The full At my yearly visits to the eye doctor, she I am grateful for all the signs of being old text of the proclamation is there. talks about farsightedness getting better and which means I am still alive: Enjoying the nearsightedness getting worse, which is usual changes in the seasons, the holidays that come as one gets older and one must keep an eye (so and go, a play or an opera or two, the excel- Gursch memorial to speak) on one’s cataracts, which begin to lent meals prepared by friends or enjoyed at cloud. the newest neighborhood restaurant, a good set for Oct. 20 While I usually do not talk about growing deep afternoon nap; I love them all! A memorial gathering for Arthur Fursch, who older, keeping it privately to myself, it is nice Does the quote “Keep calm and carry on,” died June 22, will be held Saturday, Oct. 20, 1-4 now and then to discuss the symptoms with which was a motivational poster produced by p.m., at Grace Place, 637 S. Dearborn St. friends of the same or similar age, just to com- the British government in 1939 in preparation Gursch, in recent years, was a member of Gay pare notes to know that you are not alone in for World War II, (and never actually used un- Liberation Network, formerly Chicago Anti-Bash- your years, and it is possible to learn some- til recently) apply to aging as well? I think it ing Network. Also, he participated in the senior thing you did not know about living with ag- does! program at the Center on Halsted, which had moved to Addison Avenue. Many groups Gursch was involved with go back all the way to the Michael holds his BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana, Stonewall riots, both in Chicago and New York. additional degree work at the Hunter College in New York, his MA as an Education Generalist More about Gursch is at http://www.windycity- with a concentration in Gifted Education from the National Lewis University in Evanston, mediagroup.com/lgbt/PASSAGES-Activist-Arthur- and an Advanced Certificate in Education Administration and Supervision, also from the U Gursch-dies-at-72/63423.html. For more about Ginger Grant. of I in Urbana. the venue, visit http://gracechicago.org/. Photo from Jim Flint book WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 5 Gerber/Hart board president outlines plans at fundraiser

BY MATT SIMONETTE

Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, 6500 N. Clark St., held its Fall 2018 fundraiser, “Open History, Open Future,” at the library on Sept. 22. About 75 supporters attended. Board President John D’Emilio briefly outlined Gerber/Hart’s goals and achievements in brief re- marks, noting that the library “is in a really good stage of its history.” He praised Gerber/Hart’s “solid core of volun- teers” and added that, “The collections are in re- ally good order, better than they’ve ever been.” Among the goals he outlined is an ambitious project to digitize several runs of LGBT publica- tions from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s, an effort whose first phase will likely cost about $7,000. Guests at the Sept. 22 event pledged enough to cover about half that cost. “The digitization project would not only save Report: Trans people no risk to restrooms A new study from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law revealed that there is no evidence that allowing transgender people use public facilities that align with their gender identity increases safety risks, NBC News reported. The study presented findings from sites in Massachusetts with and without gender iden- tity inclusive public accommodation nondis- John D’Emilio at fundraiser. crimination ordinances. Photo by Matt Simonette Moreover, the study revealed that reports of privacy and safety violations in public re- us from the reality of deteriorating paper. … It strooms, locker rooms and changing rooms allows us to index these publications as well,” are extremely rare. D’Emilio said. The study is at https://link.springer.com/ Other fundraising goals for Gerber/Hart would article/10.1007%2Fs13178-018-0335-z. The cover additional high-quality boxes and shelving NBC News article is at https://www.nbcnews. space; finding aids to help patrons better learn com. about and access the library’s resources; and a comprehensive mapping project highlighting lo- Controversial CPD cations that are significant for Chicago LGBT his- tory. commander dies D’Emilio, who only recently began his tenure as Jon Burge—the former Chicago Police De- board president, also celebrated his 70th birth- partment (CPD) commander connected to the day that evening. During his remarks, he noted torture of detained suspects, almost all of that it had been about 45 years since he first them African-American—has died in Florida committed to studying LGBT history. at age 70. “Believe me, I had no idea what kind of path it More than 100 people claimed Burge and was going to take me on,” he said. his detectives tortured them into false con- After his public remarks, he praised his prede- fessions. Burge served more than four years cessor as board president, Carrie Barnett, who in prison for committing perjury about tor- he said worked diligently alongside the board to ture under his watch. shepherd the library through a time of crisis sev- The City of Chicago eventually agreed to eral years ago. pay more than $5 million to 57 of the in- “It was the right time for me to take this on, dividuals. and the right time for the organization,” D’Emilio said. “Carrie created the right foundation.” 6 Sept. 26, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES Peaceful assembly follows rainbow-flag burning at church BY CARRIE MAXWELL wants to have a dialogue with him. Addressing Kalchik’s assertion that pedophilia is connected Chicago Ald. Deb Mell (33rd Ward) organized a with having gay priests in the church’s ranks, peaceful assembly Sept. 19 outside Resurrec- Mell said there is no evidence that “gay people tion Catholic Church, 3043 N. Francisco Ave., are pedophiles more than straight people.” in response to Pastor Fr. Paul Kalchik and seven In terms of Kalchik’s connection to what Dig- parishioners’ unauthorized burning of a rainbow nityUSA calls the extreme, ultraconservative and flag. not officially recognized Church Militant website, Mell and about 30 community members gath- where his writings have been published, Mell ered, with some holding up Hate Has No Home said the site does not equate with the person Here banners and others rainbow flags, across the she knows who has assisted the homeless, immi- street from the church to send a message to Kal- grants and refugees.She added that her relation- chik that his action was unacceptable. ship with Kalchik is strained now and called on “Thank you everyone for coming out on this him to be removed from the parish so he can go rainy day for this very important display of get the help he needs. peace,” said Mell. “This morning, I woke up and One anti-LGBTQ protestor was in the crowd and was going through my Twitter feed and I [saw] shouted out, “You’re lying” and, “You changed, Service at Resurrection Catholic Church on Sept. 23. ‘Priest burns gay flag in exorcism ceremony’ and I he didn’t,” while Mell was answering reporter’s Photo by Jane Rickard did not click on it because I did not think it was questions. in my ward, but somewhere else. Then I learned Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Rev. it was Fr. Paul and right away I became very an- Emily Heitzman also spoke. She said what hap- the passport application, the application was gry because Fr. Paul and I know each other well. pened was “heartbreaking and shameful, and that Little Village wins denied. We deal with the parking situation around the it was instigated by someone of the cloth made Lambda Legal argued that the State Depart- church, street vendors and other ward issues and it even worse. top chamber award ment violated the Administrative Procedure Act I had no idea of the hate in his heart for our com- “What this priest did, and his uninformed and The Little Village Chamber of Commerce in as well as the due process and equal protection munity. I have been hearing from a lot of folks bigoted statements, give scandal to the people Chicago received the United States Chamber aspects of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. throughout this city today and they are also very of God and promote bigotry, violence and ha- of Commerce (USHCC) “Chamber of the Year” Constitution. concerned about the level of incendiary action tred,” said longtime LGBTQ civil rights activist Award during the 2018 USHCC National Conven- “It is well past time for Dana Zzyym and that Fr. Paul took last Friday. and practicing Roman Catholic Rick Garcia, who tion in Philadelphia, a press release from the other non-binary citizens of this country to be “We understand that Fr. Paul is also healing also attended the protest. “As far back as 1976, chamber stated. recognized and respected for who they are, to from his own wounds from the abuse he suffered the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops The USHCC Chamber of the Year Award hon- live openly and authentically, and to be able as a child, but it is not OK to demonize a whole stated that gay people are entitled to ‘friendship, ors chambers that have achieved major accom- simply to travel freely about the world,” Lamb- community and put out hateful rhetoric to make love and justice.’ What Fr. Kalchik did was neither plishments in the areas of business economic da Legal Senior Attorney Paul D. Castillo said in himself feel better. I really wish he would look friendly, loving nor just. development, procurement and access to capi- a statement. “Dana is intersex, and identifies inside himself. We have come so far in the LGBTQ “To his great credit, Cardinal Cupich told the tal. The award spotlights chambers that epito- as intersex and non-binary, but the U.S. Pass- community and have so many things to celebrate. priest not to move forward with the flag burn- mize leadership, commitment to the Hispanic port application did not allow them to identify To think this hatred is being spread in our neigh- ing, and [warned that], if he did, there would be business community, and outstanding accom- themselves accurately. In light of this ruling, borhood is not acceptable. LGBTQ families are the ‘canonical penalties,’ and the cardinal was clear plishments. we call on the State Department to promptly fabric of our neighborhoods.” in affirming the dignity of all people, including Last year, the Little Village Chamber of Com- issue Dana this essential document that accu- Mell praised Cardinal Blase Cupich for telling LGBTQ people.” merce received the USHCC Local Chamber Grant rately reflects their gender.” Kalchik that the church did not give him the Activist TJ Williams-Hauger, who was not at Program to fund an entrepreneurship program authority to burn the rainbow flag. She further the protest, added: “Resurrection Parish Church known as Juntos Emprendemos, which helped spoke about growing up Catholic herself, and has been a parish who has historically been sup- 75 small businesses in Chicago. Victory Fund added that she was encouraged by gradual prog- portive of the LGBT community. The rainbow flag ress she sees in the church around LGBTQ people was previously on display in the sanctuary of the brunch Oct. 14 and issues. church as a testament to Jesus’ radical message Court: State Dept. The LGBTQ Victory Fund—which works to Mell also noted that Kalchik quoted scripture of love and equality. While the voice of protest achieve LGBTQ equality by recruiting, training that called for the killing of LGBTQ people. That is important in all cases of speaking against op- cannot deny and supporting openly LGBTQ candidates for kind of speech, she added, “cannot go unchecked” pression and bigotry, I feel that it is most ap- public office around the nation—will hold a because LGBTQ people, especially trans people of propriate to target not the church, but Fr. Paul passport to Champagne brunch Sunday, Oct. 14, 11 a.m.-2 color, are being killed in Chicago and across the Kalchik, who committed this act of hatred.” non-binary citizen p.m., at Chez Event Space, 247 E. Ontario St. country. She called on Kalchik to come meet with On Sept. 22, the efforts of the protestors and A U.S. District Court Judge ruled Sept. 19 During the reception, Victory Fund CEO Mayor the protestors because she had a rainbow flag for other concerned community members paid off. that the U.S. State Department exceeded its Annise Parker will share her insights on LGBTQ him; he did not emerge from the church, however. Cardinal Cupich announced, via a letter, that Pas- authority under the Passport Act of 1926 when issues and politics of the day, and provide an Speaking with reporters, Mell said that she tor Kalchik had been removed from his parish ef- it denied a passport to Lambda Legal client insider update on LGBTQ candidates running hopes Kalchik is open to change which is why she fective immediately. Dana Zzyym, a U.S. Navy veteran who is inter- across the country. sex and non-binary, and does not identify as See “Victory Fund Chicago Champagne Re- male or female. ception” on Facebook. artsandtheaterweekly.com Because Zzyym could not choose a gender on WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 7 National LGBT veterans’ group meets in Chicago The Chicago chapter of the American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) hosted the 2018 national convention of the American Veterans for Equal Rights Sept. 20-23 at the Center on Halsted and hosted a semi-formal banquet Sept. 22 at Ann Sather restaurant on Belmont Avenue. Amanda Simpson—a former U.S. deputy as- sistant secretary of defense and the only openly transgender woman U.S. presidential appointee (pictured here with Jim Darby, president emeritus of the Chicago chapter of AVER)—was the key- note speaker. Kristin Beck—a former U.S. Navy seal and Purple Heart recipient who, in 2013, came out nationally as an openly transgender woman—spoke at the banquet and received the Sgt. Leonard Matlovitch Award. Danny Ingram, a past national president of Jim Darby and Amanda Simpson. AVER, also spoke at the banquet; outgoing AVER Photo by Jean Albright President Steven Ingram addressed the group at the Center on Halsted. Report: Only 1 in 4 young gay, bi men uses Truvada The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law has found that only 4 percent of sexually active gay and bisexual men in the United States use Truvada as pre-exposure prophy- laxis (PrEP), which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined is a highly effective tool to prevent the transmis- sion of HIV. This is the first study to report on esti- mates of HIV testing and use of PrEP among gay and bisexual men using a national prob- ability sample in the United States. In the study, researchers examined gay and bisexual men in three age groups: young (18-25), middle (34-41) and older (52-59). Other findings include that: —Bisexual and non-urban men were less familiar with PrEP compared with gay-identi- fied and urban men; —Slightly more than half (52 percent) of Saturday, 10.20.18 PARK WEST General Admission $150 young sexually active gay and bisexual men 8 p.m. - Midnight 322 W Armitage RIP $300 were familiar with PrEP as HIV prevention, compared with 79 percent of men aged 34- Chicago At the Door $175 41; and All attendees must be over 21 —Black gay/bisexual men were more likely than White men to meet recommendations for HIV testing, which may be due to recent efforts to target Black men for HIV testing. On October 20, step into a world of light, sound, and spirits (and we aren’t just The full report is at https://journals.plos. talking about the drinks). As Howard Brown Health’s fourth annual kick-off org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal. pone.0202806. to the Halloween season, Big Orange Ball is shaping up to be a fantastic night of dancing, great beats by local DJs, a full bar, light bites, and tons of spooky BREAKING NEWS surprises. SPECIAL FEATURES EXPANDED COVERAGE ARCHIVES WindyCityTimes.com 8 Sept. 26, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES Brave Space Alliance holds transgender anti-violence rally BY VERNON HESTER “This is for our sisters who are afraid to come out. ... We would have more people here, but people On Sept. 21, Brave Space Alliance held a rally are afraid to come out.” Addressing cis allies, in front of Trump Tower at the intersection of Wade said, “You want us to stand by your side Wabash Avenue and Wacker Drive to address the but you refuse to respect us and stand by ours? ongoing epidemic of murder towards transgender We are not asking for handouts saying ‘please, women of color. please, pretty please.’ I am the CEO of our own The event, called “#SayHerName,” was meant as organization on the South Side of Chicago and we a wake-up call following the death of transgen- have the right to say how we want it, if we want der woman Dejanay Stanton, who was found dead it and if we don’t want it.” She then asked those with a bullet in the head in an alley in Chicago. present, “When you leave this space, what are Stanton was the 17th trans female resident in the you going to do? How are you going to support?” LaSaia Wade addresses the crowd at the rally. United States to be murdered this year—and the Activist Karari Olvera Orozco said to the crowd, Photo by Vern Hester number has increased since then. “I’m 34 years old. The life expectancy for trans Speaking to the crowd that numbered about women of color is 35, and you may be marching 100, trans woman and activist Stephanie Skora for me next year.” Orozco pointed out that in this migration status or immigration warrants and said, “There have been so many [this year] that situation, “It does not matter who is in the White Legacy Project to detainers. I have lost track ... but I can tell you: The trans House; it matters who is on the streets.” The VOICES Act, SB 34, would protect immi- community—we own our dead.” She also said, At the close of the rally, those in attendance ob- induct Johnson, grant survivors of domestic violence by stan- “When a cis man or cis woman gets murdered, served a moment of acknowledgement for victims dardizing the process across Illinois for them people hit the streets in hours. When a trans in- by reciting their names in unison followed by the Tchaikovsky in Oct. to get certifications from law-enforcement dividual dies, nobody will claim them. When we phrase, “Say her name.” The names of the vic- The Legacy Project has announced the fall agencies in order to seek federal protections. want people to say, ‘trans lives matter,’ we want tims included London Moore, Diamond Stephens, inductions of transgender activist Marsha P. The Safe Zones Act, SB 35, would develop them to mean it. Our deaths deserve marches, Sasha Garden, Keisha Wells, Catalina Christina Johnson and Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich model policies to protect immigrants against too; we deserve to shut down highways, too [re- James, Antash’a English, Amia Tyrae Berryman, Tchaikovsky onto Chicago’s award-winning out- ICE arrests at courthouses, schools, hospitals ferring to Rev. Michael Pfleger’s anti-gun rally Tonya Harvey, Phylicia Mitchell, Vontashia Bell, door LGBT History Museum “The Legacy Walk.” and other sensitive locations. The Immigrant that closed sections of the Dan Ryan Expressway Shantee Tucker, Celine Walker, Janelle Ortiz, Rox- The inductions will take place on Saturday, Tenant Protection Act, SB 3103, would bar and Lake Shore Drive this summer]. I want to anna Hernandez, Vicky Gutierrez, Dejanay Stan- Oct. 13, beginning with a pre-ceremony recep- landlords from evicting or threatening tenants make sure that trans women are included in this ton and Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien. tion at 1-2 p.m. in the Harris Hall of Center on based on their actual or suspected immigration outrage.” Skora concluded, “There would be no Other speakers at the event included activists Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., that will focus on status. gay civil rights without trans women [of color]. Tanya Cordova and Toni Marie Preston. Johnson’s legacy with several guest speakers. Fred Tsao, senior policy counsel at the Il- Trans women have always been at the forefront.” The reception will be followed by a brief out- linois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Brave Space Alliance CEO LaSaia Wade said, door ceremony at 2 p.m. in front of the Center, where the bronze memorial will be revealed. Rights, said in a statement, “A year ago, Gov. Following Johnson’s induction, there will be Rauner signed the TRUST Act, yet today he an- a similar ceremony at 2:30 p.m. to welcome nounces vetoes for three bills that would make famed Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchai- our state more welcoming. One moment he is kovsky to the Legacy Walk at 3311 N. Halsted addressing the needs of immigrant communi- St. ties, and the next, he is using hateful anti- Both ceremonies will be followed by a “Dedi- immigrant rhetoric to rationalize rejecting bills cation Celebration” at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Hal- that are vital to our communities. Can immi- sted St. grants really trust this governor?” See LegacyProjectChicago.org. Dream Town has Immigrants, ‘Be You’ campaign Real-estate brokerage firm Dream Town Re- officials criticize alty has a brand campaign for 2018, “Be You.” Rauner vetoes The new campaign is inspired by the Oscar Immigrant community members, state leg- Wilde quote “Be yourself—everyone else is al- islators and leaders with the Campaign for a ready taken.” Welcoming Illinois denounced Illinois Gov. The new ad campaign will come to life Bruce Rauner’s vetoes of the VOICES Act (SB throughout Chicago in outdoor, digital and so- 34), the Immigration Safe Zones Act (SB 35), cial/online applications. . and the Immigrant Tenant Protection Act (SB There will be a $10,000 grand prize for the 3103) recently. top photo. Through Sept. 30, anyone can sub- The vetoes come almost exactly a year af- mit a “BE YOU” moment online. Visit BeYouChi- ter Rauner joined community members in Chi- cago.com for all the details and to enter the cago to sign the Illinois TRUST Act—a bill that contest. barred state and local law enforcement from Karari Olvera Orozco at the rally. arresting and holding individuals based on im- Photo by Vern Hester WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 9 Safe Schools Alliance, Lurie study seeks Mass. AG Healey PHIMC to merge LGBTQ youth The board of directors for the Illinois Safe Lurie Children’s Hospital and Northwestern Uni- attends LPAC event Schools Alliance (Alliance) and Public Health versity are partnering with IL DCFS to learn more Institute of Metropolitan Chicago (PHIMC) have about LGBTQ youth in DCFS care. signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) The study is ALLIED (Advancements Leading to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey trum. She also addressed the fight in her state to that expresses their intent to merge in December. LGBTQ Improved Experiences in DCFS), and the attended a small gathering for the national LG- keep transgender rights in place, as they face an Since January, the Alliance has met with local current project aims to understand the percep- BTQ political action committee LPAC Sept. 12 at anti-trans ballot measure this November. and national organizations to explore a partner- tions of adolescents in foster care regarding an an event hosted by attorney Gail Morse at the law LPAC states it “builds the political power of LG- ship that would provide long-term program sus- assessment of gender identity and sexual orienta- offices of Jenner & Block in Chicago. BTQ women by electing candidates—LGBTQ wom- tainability and a stronger infrastructure while tion within the child welfare system. Healey, who is running for re-election, spoke en in particular—who champion LGBTQ rights, preserving the essence of the organization’s They are recruiting self-identified LGBTQ youth passionately about her work and the work of her women’s equality, and social justice.” longstanding core work of policy, public educa- 12 years or older who are in the custody and Democratic attorney general counterparts across See https://teamlpac.com/. Photo by Tracy tion and LGBTQ youth organizing. guardianship of Illinois DCFS for one-on-one in- the United States in fighting back against the Baim PHIMC enhances the capacity of public health terviews (in-person or by phone) lasting approxi- Trump-era rollbacks of rights across a broad spec- and healthcare systems to promote health equity mately 90 minutes each. and expand access to services. Food and travel reimbursement will be provided for those who meet in-person, and all eligible youth will receive a $25 for participating. The Museum exhibit study conductors will travel throughout the state to meet youth at locations of safety and conve- features ‘68 DNC nience for them. The Chicago History Museum, 1608 N. Clark St., Interested persons should call Elizabeth at is exploring a watershed moment in U.S. poli- 312-227-2595. tics—the 50th anniversary of the 1968 Demo- cratic National Convention (DNC) protests—with the new virtual-reality experience “Chicago 00: TransTech Summit The 1968 DNC Protests.” “Chicago 00: The 1968 DNC Protests,” is a vir- Oct. 20 in Chicago tual reality (VR) experience that brings photo- The second annual TransTech Summit will take graphs and documents from the Chicago History place Saturday, Oct. 20, 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m, at Museum’s archives to the site of the demonstra- Groupon headquarters, 600 W. Chicago Ave. tions that took place in Grant Park in August The summit will include workshops in web/ 1968. Chicago ‘68 author David Farber, Ph.D., app technology, media technology, design tech- narrates the 14-minute VR tour that can be nology, and business technology. Lunch will be viewed through YouTube; the Chrome browser; or provided. with Google Cardboard VR glasses. In addition, the keynote speaker will be Angel- Museum visitors can revisit the 1968 DNC all- ica Ross, the founder of TransTech and an actress year round in the Museum’s permanent exhibition on the FX hit TV Series Pose. “Chicago: Crossroads of America.” Early registration is open ($25-$50 each); visit See ChicagoHistory.org; for more on “Chicago https://www.universe.com/events/transtech- Pictured from left: AG Maura Healey, LPAC Executive Director Stephanie Sandberg, LPAC co-founder/ 00,” visit http://chicago00.org/experiences. summit-2018-chicago-tickets-R7DVPK. For nore Board Chair Laura Ricketts and Gail Morse. html#dnc. information, email [email protected]. Photo by Tracy Baim

Activism meet-ups, personal book recommendations, weekly events, Kids Storytime, and more! There are so many reasons to support Chicago’s only feminist bookstore. 10 Sept. 26, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES Puerto Rican solidarity groups protest Trump administration’s neglect BY CARRIE MAXWELL and a sustainable plan be implemented for public education and accessible public health systems Calling attention to what they said was the for everyone on the island. Trump Administration’s neglect of Puerto Rico in Boyte drew parallels between what is happen- the year since Hurricane Maria destroyed much of ing in the Philippines with the U.S.-backed dicta- that U.S. territory, Chicago solidarity groups held tor Duterte and how the U.S. government reacted a protest Sept. 20 at Federal Plaza as a part of a to Puerto Rican’s plight post-Hurricane Maria. He nationwide day of action. called on the audience to chant, “We will bring The protest also denounced the Congress-ap- imperialism down,” and said the way forward is proved Puerto Rico Fiscal Control Board’s harsh resistance to government oppression. austerity measures. Ceballos said that when the hurricane hit both Among the speakers were Chicago Boricua she and Rosario reached out to each other be- Resistance members Veronica Tirado and Emely cause they did not know if their families were Medina; Chicago Committee for Human Rights alive, and could not concentrate on their work. in the Philippines member Michael Boyte; Chi- She denounced politicians who did photo-ops cago Teachers Union Latinx Caucus members and while containers of food and water were sitting union delegates Marlena Ceballos and Victoria in warehouses on the island spoiling because Rosario; Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Po- they were not distributed to the people due to Miguel Alvelo speaks at the rally. litical Repression Co-Chair and Chicago Police Ac- an archaic law. Photo by Carrie Maxwell countability Council member Jazmine Salas; US “Sometimes the laws are not right, and you Palestinian Community Network-Chicago member have to break the law to save lives,” said Cebal- ism, work together to oppress and destroy people during the open mic that was available at Que4. Nareen Askar; Anakbayan Chicago Chairperson los. of color. Twice during the protest a Homeland Security Maya Arcilla; and Mijente member Rebecca Mar- Rosario explained that they wanted to do some- Between remarks, Alvelo led chants in English, vehicle drove by and stayed parked alongside the tinez. thing meaningful and impactful so they took a Spanish and Tagalog. curb for more than five minutes. Prior to speakers’ remarks, emcee Miguel Alvelo group of educators to Puerto Rico during Spring Lester Rey and Rebel Diaz closed out the pro- Arab American Action Network, TAKE ON HATE, read the names of the known dead (out of the Break to help with the recovery efforts. She said test with resistance songs while the attendees La Voz de los de Abajo, Lifted Voices, Teachers for almost 3,000 reported deaths) and called on ev- neo-liberal policies are destroying communities, made their way from Federal Plaza to Trump Social Justice and Gay Liberation Network were eryone to say “presenté” after each name. Alvelo including their educational resources, in Puerto Tower, then to the Que4 community online ra- also on hand to offer support and solidarity dur- said most of these people died due to colonialism Rico and across the rest of the United States. dio headquarters in the West Loop, to heal. Some ing the protest. and racism, not because of the hurricane. “This was not a disaster that was natural,” said attendees also gave spoken word performances “For more than 500 years, Puerto Rico has Rosario. “It was an intentional, calculated act been an occupied land and Puerto Ricans have and opportunity for those who want to capitalize not been considered human,” said Alvelo. “We are on other people’s pain.” change in policy or in the way we adjudicate here to honor the memory of all of the people of Salas said her mother was born in Puerto Rico NCTE: Gov’t changed passports for transgender applicants. The De- the Caribbean who died as a result of these hu- and she spent days wondering if her family mem- partment of State is committed to treating all man rights abuses, and to denounce the actions bers were alive. gender-marker passport applicants with dignity and respect. of the U.S. government. We demand justice.” “It was one of the worst experiences of my life “With regard to recent changes to our web- Luis Tubens read a protest poem in both Eng- and a reminder of the intergenerational trauma website Although the current passport gender-marker site regarding transgender passport applicants, lish and Spanish. that we have been carrying around,” said Salas. policy remains unchanged, language about the we added language to make our use of terms Tirado spoke about losing contact with her Salas explained the history of the island and process for changing those markers on U.S. consistent and accurate and to eliminate any mother for weeks after the hurricane, adding that how the U.S. government’s colonialist policies passports has been altered or removed from confusion customers may have related to the due to neglect by the U.S. and Puerto Rican gov- have stripped the people of their culture and lan- the State Department’s website, according to a passport application process. We apologize for ernments, there was not enough food, water or guage. She said this practice continues to this National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) inadvertently including some language which medicine. day. press release. may be considered offensive and are updating “Bondholders and the U.S. and Puerto Rican “While the doofus in the White House is throw- The longstanding page regarding “Gender the website to remove it. governments are dismantling the island in a crim- ing paper towels and claiming a job well done, Designation” policies—in place since 2010— “Our goal is to make sure our use of these inal way,” said Tirado. “They are making profit the people stepped up to do the job themselves,” has been removed, and a new but similar page terms is consistent and accurate and to elimi- out of other people’s pain.” said Salas. concerning what they now call “Sex Designa- nate any confusion customers may have related “Today, we unite our voices with the people Askar said her organization stands in solidar- tion” has been put in its place, with major to passport application process. U.S. passports around the world in solidarity for the people of ity with Puerto Rico. She explained that it would changes. and passport applications have always used the Puerto Rico.” said Medina. be hypocritical for her to ask people to support Among the changes claimed were the remov- term ‘sex’ marker. Medina explained that the Fiscal Control Board the Palestinian cause if they did not do the same al of resources from the American Medical Asso- “The links to AMA and WPATH were inadver- and FEMA have made the situation worse by for Puerto Ricans, especially since they have both ciation and the World Professional Association tently removed during the website update pro- starving the people of resources in the year since been under colonization for many years. of Transgender Health, and the change of the cess and are being added back: https://travel. Hurricane Maria. She said this includes closing Arcilla explained that her organization is fight- most mentions of the word “gender” to “sex,” state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply- schools and not rebuilding homes, resulting in ing for democracy in the Philippines. among other alterations. renew-passport/change-of-sex-marker.html.” many people attending schools in Puerto Rican “Puerto Rican blood is on the hands of the U.S. However, a State Department official emailed To learn more about the requirements for up- government-funded (millions of dollars) trailers government,” said Arcilla. Windy City Times about the development, say- dating the gender marker on a U.S. passport, and living in tents. People have not been able to Martinez said her organization is “pro-Black, ing things have been changed back: “We want visit NCTE’s ID Documents Center (https:// bury their dead with dignity, added Medina. pro-immigrant and pro-queer.” She explained to state unequivocally that there has been no transequality.org/know-your-rights/passports). Both Tirado and Medina demanded that the that justice transcends borders and that colonial- —Andrew Davis Puerto Rican debt be erased, schools reopened ism and white supremacy, as well as neo-liberal- WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 11

Making contacts at the WERQ! job fair. Photos by Kirk Williamson Successful WERQ! job fair takes place at Center on Halsted More than 80 major corporations, small busi- nesses, government agencies and nonprofits took part in the 4th annual Windy City Times WERQ! LGBTQ job fair Sept. 21 at Chicago’s Center on Halsted The job fair, which was free and open to the public, featured Windy City Times with Center on Halsted, MB Financial Bank, US Bank, Trunk Club, Howard Brown Health, Pride Action Tank, Chicago House, Association of Latino/as Motivating Ac- tion, Affinity Community Services, AIDS Foun- dation of Chicago, Brave Space Alliance, Out & Equal Chicagoland and Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus as hosts. This was the 4th WERQ! LGBTQ Job Fair. The first focused primarily on youth experiencing homelessness, and in 2016 there was a special emphasis on youth, trans and seniors.

An exhibitor (Betancourt Realty) at the WERQ! job fair. 12 Sept. 26, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES viewpoints

LEE LYNCH

VOL. 34, No. 01, Sept. 26, 2018 THE AMAZON TRAIL The combined forces of Windy City Times, founded Sept. 1985, and Outlines newspaper, There is no founded May 1987. place like home PUBLISHER Terri Klinsky

I was recently contemplating my shoes, which, EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andrew Davis along with clothes and boxes of books, are the only closeted things in our home. MANAGING EDITOR Matt Simonette DIRECTOR OF NEW MEDIA AND WEB EDITOR That morning I’d noticed my sweetheart had at- Jean Albright tached a magnet depicting Dorothy’s ruby shoes to ART DIRECTOR AND ASSOCIATE EDITOR our back door. Now, I’m as big a fan of The Wizard Kirk Williamson of Oz as the next gay person, but those shoes were The author, in white sneakers. SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Scott Duff Photo courtesy of Lee Lynch BUSINESS MANAGER Ripley Caine never particularly significant to me. Which might be SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Terri Klinsky, because, as a little kid, I read and reread the 1903 Kirk Williamson, Scott Duff, Kathy Breit, Theresa edition of The Wizard of Oz handed down to me from worked on white leather shoes, but the Mary Jane Surplus stores carried the jump boots of Paratroop- Santos Volpe, Kevin Siarkowski, Amy Matheny NATIONAL SALES Rivendell Media, my considerably older brother and, perhaps, from my style didn’t suit me at all. ers and the Airborne Forces. I felt pretty powerful 212-242-6863 father before him. The inscription from Grandma and My mother always said loafers were bad for my lacing them up my calf and knowing the rigid toe THEATER AND DANCE EDITOR Catey Sullivan Grandpa Lynch is: “To read on train to North Dakota. feet, and they were because I’ve had plantar fasciitis cap could endanger male chauvinist pigs. SENIOR WRITERS Jonathan Abarbanel, Mary March, 1939.” Next came the ankle-high Timberlands which Shen Barnidge, Liz Baudler, Charlsie Dewey, since the days we shopped at the Buster Brown shoe Ross Forman, Carrie Maxwell, Rev. Irene Monroe, Of course, the shoes were not ruby-colored, as store on Main Street in Flushing, New York. But I I bought to wear in chilly Connecticut. The tread Jerry Nunn, Tony Peregrin, Angelique Smith, pointed out by the witty and erudite Kajmeister (ka- loved my loafers, especially the ones that were dyed didn’t cut it on the ice and they did me no good Sari Staver, Sarah Toce, Melissa Wasserman jmeister.com), in her blog “The Page Turns,” which to the shade of a vanilla milkshake. These were the whatsoever in deep snow so I made the sixties jour- WRITERS Sarah Katherine Bowden, Ada Cheng, Eric Formato, Joe Franco, Veronica Harrison, she posted not long after the magnet went up. Kaj- shoes of my coming out time. Nothing made me feel ney a little late (in the eighties), went to California Kelsey Hoff, Aaron Hunt, Eric Karas, Brian Kirst, meister wrote: “L. Frank Baum, author of all the Oz spiffier around town with my girlfriend Suzy than my and bought my first Red Wing boots. Soon those Red Billy Masters, Scott C. Morgan, Amelia Orozco, books, originally put the witch and Dorothy into sil- vanilla loafers. Wings carried me west for good to the lesbian moun- Ariel Parrella-Aureli, Kerry Reid, Dana Rudolph, ver, not ruby, shoes. The color was changed to ruby tains, women’s land, and tall rubber mud boots. Ana Serna, Karen Topham, Joseph Varisco, Except white sneakers, blue jeans and a plain Regina Victor, Sean Margaret Wagner, Lauren so that the new color process used in MGM could white sweatshirt, sleeves pushed up. Not that I left my Birkkies behind. Arizonas, Bos- Warnecke, Steve Warren, Lauren Emily Whalen show the shoes off better against the yellow brick Except white bucks with crepe soles, blue jeans, a tons, I re-soled them until they weren’t fit to wear, SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Kat Fitzgerald, Hal road.” button-down shirt and a golf jacket, collar up. then replaced them year after year. I guess they Baim, Tim Carroll, Ed Negron CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jean Albright I checked the book. The color plates are in orange, Then came the ‘60s. At college by then, I forswore were my middle-age shoes, though I still wear the DISTRIBUTION Ashina, Allan, Dan, John, Sue blue and yellow, no reds. The road, by the way, is shoes. Campus lesbian poet, it was practically ex- Arizona knock-offs recommended by my podiatrist. and Victor definitely yellow and the artist, W.W. Denslow, out- pected. There’s a photo of the barefoot student that By the time one gets to Medicare age, and the plan- WEB HOSTING LoveYourWebsite.com (lead tar fasciitis rages, and everything in Trumplandia programmer: Martie Marro) lined bricks on one of the color pages. Baum de- was me in that yearbook, striding across campus like PRESIDENT Tracy Baim scribes the shoes as silver and pointed and “tinkling Dorothy, very much “a little girl … who had been costs double what it used to, the real thing isn’t as (773) 871-7610 FAX (773) 871-7609 merrily on the hard, yellow roadbed.” suddenly whisked away from her own country and important as it once was. Editorial: [email protected] Sales: [email protected] All that ruby slipper focus led to my footwear con- set down in the midst of a strange land.” Now that I can no longer run, the doc has put me Calendar: [email protected] templations. Aside from tap shoes, the first pair I re- I found my “hippie sandals” at an upscale side- in running shoes. Most of my waking hours are spent Circulation: [email protected] in Asics. Men’s for the wide toe box. Neon green to Art/ad copy: [email protected] member caring about were in a Medford, Massachu- walk sale in Boston. It was also the psychedelic era Theater: [email protected] setts store front and made of faux alligator leather. and sandals, among the liberal arts majors, were de honor the late young writer Sandra Moran, who ran in lively-colored shoes. My sweetheart and I even Copyright 2018 Lambda Publications Inc./Windy City Media Why I longed for them I have no idea, and I never rigueur. Thin-soled, leather thongs with straps, they Group; All rights reserved. Reprint by permission only. Back got them. They were probably too expensive for my were the next best thing to barefoot when you had have waterproof Gore-Tex Asics, for our Northwest issues (if available) for $5 per issue (postage included). Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, family. to go into a store or pizza parlor. rains and for walking our coastal beaches. and photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials. This was back in the unimaginable 1950s. Since Were any of these the silver shoes that would take It seems like I never needed silver or ruby shoes to All rights to letters, art and photographs sent to Windy then, I have spent my life in footwear more likely to me home? Not yet. Not for a long while. get home. City Times will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such, subject to editing be worn by the scarecrow. I wasn’t exactly a demure My generation of women got tired of doing the Copyright Lee Lynch 2018 and comment. The opinions expressed by the columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are their own little girl and went through white sneakers before I behind-the-scenes work for the revolution. We para- September 2018 and do not necessarily reflect the position of Windy City could outgrow demure shoes. I used a lot of white doxically experienced patriarchal oppression within Times. Publication of the name, photograph, or likeness of a person or organization in articles or advertising in Windy liquid polish to cover scuffs and stains on my white the counterculture and got mad. No more Ms. Nice City Times is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such person or organization. While sneaks, which were made of cotton. The stain also Girl, I bought shitkickers. In the 1970s, Army-Navy we encourage readers to support the advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Windy City Times cannot accept responsibility for advertising claims.

WINDY CITY MEDIA GROUP, 5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL, 60640 U.S.A (MAILING ADDRESS ONLY)

Windy City Times Deadline every Wednesday Send columns or letters to [email protected]. OUT! Chicago’s LGBTQ Visitor’s Guide Online annual Windy City Times Wedding and Events Guide Annual Arts and Theater Weekly Online Letters may be edited for brevity or clarity. www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Turn to page 16

WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 13

SAM KIRK’S MURAL BRINGS A CONVERSATION ABOUT INTERSECTIONALITY TO BOYSTOWN PAGE 21

Mural of Kiam Marcelo Junio. Photo by Jake Wittich 14 Sept. 26, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES THEATER REVIEW able a voice for the confusion accompanying his surviving kin to endure the sorrow of separa- upheaval in his immediate universe and the frus- tion and to embrace its inevitability. Frankenstein tration arising from outsiders’ inability to recog- The abstract construct of a single individual’s Playwright: adapted by Robert Kauzlaric, nize the extent of damage engendered thereby. spiritual journey is not easy to depict visually, from the novel by Mary Now, in 2018, he recounts the story of a woman but the collective agility exhibited by the en- Wollstonecraft Shelley whose grief over the death of her beloved father semble convened for this Lifeline Theatre produc- At: Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. compels her to create an imperfect replica of her tion weaves its many elements into an unbroken Tickets: Lifelinetheatre.com; 773-761-4477; late sire, assembled from her memories and her thread leading our heroine (and us) on the turbu- $40 refusal to “move on” as her friends and family lent path through depression threatening to en- Runs through: Oct. 28 have. gulf both the living and the dead and ultimately, Kauzlaric’s entry in the season’s unplanned to recovery and acceptance. BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE Franken-fest (Lookingglass, Court, and Remy Embodying this metaphor is Cynthia Von Bumppo also have Frankenstein productions Orthal’s towering rod-puppet Lazarus whose Two hundred years ago, Mary Wollstonecraft Shel- planned) honoring the 200th anniversary of the countenance reflects a myriad of expressions and ley, struggling with grief over a series of untimely horror classic’s publication is less an adaptation whose multiple-operated limbs facilitate a dex- deaths in her immediate family, told the story of of Shelley’s neogothic fable than a wholly re- terity allowing him, at one point, to physically a man’s audacious attempt to overcome mortality imagined narrative based in an earlier concept. overpower his distraught reanimator, portrayed by creating a human being in his own image. His Our heroine is Victoria, a young woman whose with steely resolve by Ann Sonneville. Oh, and hubristic proposal does not end well. emancipated mien and scholarly pursuits were since an uneasy mind often resembles a mad sci- More than a century and a half later, playwright championed by the parent whose loss she feels Ann Sonneville and Chris Hainsworth in entist’s laboratory, a virtuoso tech team supplies Robert Kauzlaric, struggling with grief over the deeply. The monster conjured by her crippling be- Frankenstein. a kaleidoscope of hissing lights, eerie music and death of his own father, found in Shelley’s par- reavement is a grotesque mannequin beseeching Photo by Suzanne Plunkett evocative shadows.

Conor McPherson.” This despite the fact that tales as a way of exploring grief and loss. That’s an encounter that started her mother on the THEATER REVIEW Idaszak’s atmospheric tale takes place nowhere the way Idaszak tells her ghostly and poignant path of overprotectiveness that Quinn resists. near the Irish settings of either John Sayles’ story about the fragile but persistent bonds of In the second monologue, Sigrid fills us in on Second Skin 1994 movie or playwright McPherson’s dramas. sisters, mothers and daughters. who that stranger is (spoiler alert: it’s Aislinn) Playwright: Kristin Idaszak But in subject matter and structure, the paral- Quinn (Stephanie Shum) fled her small seaside and the guilt she still feels for what happened At: The Den, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. lels are irresistible. Yet Idaszak’s play, by focusing home as soon as she was able. She’s run away to her. In the third part, Aislinn emerges from Tickets: WildclawTheatre.com; on the parallel yet alienated lives of women who from the mother whose nameless fears kept both behind the large round window at the center of $15-$30 are related to each other—but cannot relate to of them shut away inside their home. But now Lizzie Bracken’s set (which looks like a ghostly Runs through: Oct. 13 each other—adds a welcome twist of realism to her mom, Sigrid (Paula Ramirez)—whose name pier) and tells her side of the story. (Sarah D. the mysterious. conveniently rhymes with “secret”—is suffering Espinoza’s sound design provides otherworldly BY KERRY REID Sayles’ magic realist film was about a young from ALS and needs her daughter’s help. A chance mournful notes, while Kaili Story’s lights add a girl in an Irish fishing village who is convinced meeting with a woman in a bar sets off a series of sense of being underwater.) If you were going to give the elevator pitch ver- her baby brother was stolen away by a mythical revelations about Sigrid’s long-lost sister, Aislinn The main details of the intertwined narratives sion of Kristin Idaszak’s Second Skin, now in a half-human, half-seal creature called a “selkie.” (Hilary Williams). don’t really conflict—but the emotions do. Jess world premiere with WildClaw Theatre, you might McPherson has long been lauded for his use of The stranger reminds Quinn of a chance en- Hutchinson’s staging gives each actor breathing well go with “It’s The Secret of Roan Inish meets interlocking monologues and use of supernatural counter on a beach when she was quite young— room to grow their tale, trusting that we’ll follow them through the mists of the past and let us practical Man (or Person) of Action found in all empathize with all three women. It’s not, per- THEATER REVIEW Shaw plays, who challenges others to look be- haps, as dark or gory a tale as some past WildClaw yond artificial barriers of social class, wealth, efforts. But it slowly exudes a clammy sense of Arms and Martin gender, false romanticism and moral or intel- dread and sorrow as the women confront interior Diaz-Valdes lectual cant, if you’re to get anything done in ghosts of guilt, regret and retribution that are the Man harder to shake than any spirits in the night. Playwright: George Bernard Shaw and Chelsee the world. Practical individuals also can be self- At: City Lit Theatre, 1055 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Carter in serving, but Shaw always ignores that! Tickets: City:Lit.org; $32 Arms and the Arms and the Man is half comedy of ideas c Runs through: Oct. 21 Man. and half farce, an unusual blend for Shaw, who spends the play’s second half untangling fairly Photo by BY JONATHAN ABARBANEL Steve Graue standard late-19th century plot complications. This gives directors two general approaches: CRITICS’PICKS Radio Golf, Court Theatre, through Sept. 30. This 1894 comedy is one of George Bernard emphasize comedy and let ideas fend for them- A gifted cast and director bring power to August Shaw’s most frequently-produced works, part selves (which they can), or just the opposite. Wilson’s final play, concerning African-American of a group of early dramas published as “Plays ranoff (Martin Dias-Valdes), the Serbian officer For City Lit’s first Shaw play, director Brian Pas- upward mobility in Pittsburgh’s gentrifying Hill Pleasant and Unpleasant.” It’s one of the pleas- who led the cavalry charge. Bluntschli shocks tor has taken the comedy approach, guiding his District ghetto ... a slippery slope! JA ant plays owing to its happy ending, fast pace Raina by pointing Sergius’s stupidity and the actors to very broad characterizations with large Late Nite Catechism, The Royal George The- and light tone, none of which means it isn’t unromantic realities of battle which, he says, reactions to things. The style works, but it will atre, open run. When you can’t trust your own filled with Shavian satire, sarcasm and ideas. military professionals avoid at all costs. be a matter of taste for audience members with parish priest any more, remember that Vicki It’s set during a 1880s war between Bulgaria Shaw quickly has introduced his life-long anti- fixed notions of Shaw’s dry wit and serious dis- Quade and Maripat Donovan’s teaching nun has (backed by Russia) and Serbia (backed by Aus- war ideas, and goes on to downsize romantic cussions. After all, Shaw’s characters—mostly been ministering to her multicultural flock since tria). As the play opens, the wealthy Petkoff love, material aspirations, social pretensions talking points—rarely are completely convinc- her class first convened in 1993. MSB family is celebrating a final Bulgarian victory, and the idea that ability has anything to do ing, which led the great Laurence Olivier in the The Little Foxes, Citadel Theatre, through brought about when a suicidal old-fashioned with wealth or position. Bluntschli and Raina 1940s to revolt when playing Sergius. Oct. 28. Lillian Hellman’s exploration of greed cavalry charge succeeded because the enemy’s end up together, once he leaves military service Completing the generally competent cast are and family in post-Civil War Alabama has a plot machine gun jammed. Capt. Bluntschli (Adam to take command of his family’s luxury hotels), Eleanor Katz (Mrs. Petkoff), Adam Bitterman that hits like (spoiler alert, sort of) a heart at- Benjamin), a mercenary Swiss soldier for Ser- while Sergius—in what might have shocked (Major Petkoff) and Linsey Falls (Nicola). Ray tack while flaying bare (yes, I do mean flaying) bia, escapes slaughter by taking refuge in the Shaw’s 1890s audiences—proposes to the ser- Toler (set) and Tom Kieffer (costumes) contrib- the racism and misogyny of the Deep South both bedroom of the Petkoff’s daughter, Raina (Scot- vant girl, Louka (Chelsee Carter). ute suitable, colorful designs and a good wig for then and now. CES tie Caldwell), the fiancée of dashing Sergius Sa- Bluntschli is the catalyst for change, the Ms. Caldwell. —by Abarbanel, Barnidge and Sullivan WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 15 literary device, and a good starting point for Lu- shouting in a very small space and taking the boardinghouse room is noticeably crooked, and igi Pirandello’s Naked, a play that explores one audience completely out of the moment. for ex- the bright turquoise windows open, shut and flap woman’s various versions of the truth. Like the ample. according to each character’s moods and whims. secretive governess Ersilia Drei, and like Naked Martinovich handles Naked’s quiet, dramatic Combined with David Goodman-Edberg’s lighting itself, Trap Door Theatre’s production bears a lot moments much better: Ersilia’s final monologue, and Rachel Sypniewski’s costumes, Naked has the of truth. Unfortunately, the production possesses revealing her true vulnerability in the face of look of a sepia-toned What’s Wrong With this Pic- so much slant that it’s extraordinarily uneven. horrible tragedy, is especially haunting. The issue ture? Everything is pretty but something is al- Pirandello’s anti-heroine (played by a luminous is, Pirandello infuses his drama with a healthy ways slightly off. With a little bit of imagination, Tiffany Bedwell) is a survivor. Forever at the mercy dose of dark, absurdist comedy. Martinovich can’t even the floor seems tilted. of men, she’s committed an act of egregious pro- handle these oddly funny moments, choosing to Naked’s production values and Bedwell’s dy- portions—or has she, really? A protagonist like direct them like a 1980s sitcom. At times, I felt namic lead performance reflect what might have Ersilia, young and desperate but certainly not na- like I was watching two different plays, and both been. A more coherent directorial vision would ïve, was certainly unusual for 1922, but both Pi- the truth—and its many slants—were completely have cast a harsh light on the truth—whether randello and translator Nina daVinci Nichols give lost. Ersilia’s or the other characters’—and the slant. her the intelligence and nuance she deserves. A Set designer Nick Schwartz has a better grasp couple of moments are especially relevant in the on Pirandello’s oddities. The back wall of the “me too” era, though playwright and translator Ambrose Cappuccio and Tiffany Bedwell in don’t condone predatory behavior but merely il- Naked. lustrate it as a sad truth of both then and now. In turn, director Kay Martinovich has clearly put Photo by Chris Popio in the time with the script and actress Bedwell to eSPOTLIGHT THEATER REVIEW ensure no facet of Ersilia goes unseen, whether she’s meekly contending with an ambitious older Alexis J. Roston channels Billie Holiday in Naked writer (Bob Wilson) or fighting off the advances Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Lanie Playwright: Luigi Pirandello, of her former lover (Ambrose Cappuccio). Robertson’s gorgeous evocation of the late, translated by Nina daVinci Nichols The problem is, Ersilia’s not the only character great, ground-breaking singer’s life. Set over At: Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W. Cortland Ave. in the play. Far from it: She’s offstage for long the course of Day’s final concert at the titular Tickets: $20-25; 773-384-0494 or portions, during which the other characters ana- locale, the show is packed with music forever ing, powerful performance. The Congo Square TrapdoorTheatre.com lyze her motives and gossip about her effect on associated with Holiday (“Strange Fruit,” “God production runs through Oct. 7 at eta Creative Runs through: Oct. 27 the men around her. Martinovich seems to have Bless the Child” and others) as well as insight Arts Foundation, 7558 S. South Chicago Ave. conveniently forgotten about the rest of her into her struggles with addiction. Directed by $25-$35; CongoSquareTheatre.org BY LAUREN EMILY WHALEN cast—a shame since, typical of Trap Door The- Shanesia Davis, this marks Roston’s fourth time Caption: Photo of Alexis J. Roston cour- atre, they’re a talented bunch. If Martinovich bringing Holiday to life on stage. In terms of tesy of Porchlight Theatre “Tell the truth, but tell it slant,” poet Emily Dick- had spent more time vocal coaching, actors like voice and persona, Roston’s delivers a mov- inson urged. The saying has become a universal Cappuccio wouldn’t spend the entire 100 minutes

NOW PLAYING Quick wit and exceptional beauty propel Nell Gwynn from selling oranges THREE-TIME on the streets of London’s burgeoning TONY AWARD theater district to starring on its NOMINEE stages. She captures the hearts of her audience—and King Charles II—in this joyous song-and-dance-filled romance! BY PULITZER PRIZE- WINNING PLAYWRIGHT OLIVIER AWARD PAULA VOGEL BEST NEW COMEDY DIRECTED BY GARY GRIFFIN AMERICAN PREMIERE INDECENT “A Heart-Stirring Reminder

written by Scarlett Strallen, photo by Jeff Sciortino of the Power of Art” JESSICA SWALE New York Daily News directed by CHRISTOPHER LUSCOMBE NOW–NOV 4 312.595.5600 • chicagoshakes.com GET TIX: 773.871.3000 or VICTORYGARDENS.ORG UNDER 35? A GREAT PRICE FOR STUDENTS & YOUNG PROFESSIONALS. 16 Sept. 26, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES from traveling.”(In addition to playwriting, Vogel Paula Vogel. served for years as a department chair at the Yale Photo by THEATER School of Drama and oversaw the playwriting de- Todd Rosenberg indecency. Vogel, 66, first became familiar with partment at Brown University.) the play roughly 40 years ago. “It just floored me that [Asch], a newlywed Letting go, leaning in man, a heterosexual man, could write such a Now, Vogel says she’s excited to see how direc- beautiful love scene between two women,” she tor Gary Griffin will interpret Indecent at the Vic- said. “Up to that point, I was a little depressed tory Gardens. and concerned that the Lillian Hellman Children’s “Gary and I had a wonderful 24 hours together Hour was going to be the model of theatre and on Cape Cod exploring his ideas, talking about film in which a lesbian commits suicide or a les- the play,” Vogel said. “He showed me the cos- bian is eternally alone and unhappy and her lover tume design, the set design. It’s never been done marries a man and lives happily ever after—that this way before. Every production is radically dif- was kind of the model of the 1950s. ferent; it’s really a director’s vision. When you’re “There were not a lot of plays about lesbians,” doing a premiere it’s a conversation and I’m in Vogel said, and what plays there were tended fo the room making adjustments.” be about lesbians in primarily unhappy relation- Letting go of her creation doesn’t bother Vogel. ships. “I wouldn’t call God of Vengeance particu- “It’s an honor, it’s a thrill to see other people’s’ larly a happy play, but it basically says that the visions. If one is a control freak one, writes nov- love between two women is a pure, passionate els. But if one enjoys the party and the conversa- love,” Vogel said. tion, you basically become a playwright. “As of opening night, the playwright starts to Variations on a theme say goodbye. We’re the first ones to leave the God of Vengeance haunted Vogel for decades. party, and there’s always a kind of mourning, but In 2009, she received a phone call from director it’s very rewarding to know that [the play] has Rebecca Taichman. “She called and said, ‘Do you future lives,” she said. know of this play, God of Vengeance?’ and I said, Many of Vogel’s plays have dealt with LGBTQ+ ‘Oh my God, do I!’ As we talked on the phone it issues. Indecent does as well, but also brings started to take shape.” in issues of censorship, immigration, and anti- Like all of Vogel’s work, Indecent plays with Semitism. structure and form. “I think the thing that made me start to want to write plays is that it wasn’t Human sexuality, human rights just paint by numbers and that every person has For Vogel, LGBTQ+ issues can’t be written about ‘Indecent’ in Chicago: a story and that story demands a new structure in a vacuum. for it, one original to it,” she said. “If there is anything I am ardent about con- The unique structure of Indecent involves a cerning my sexuality, it is to not see our issues as Paula Vogel talks art, play-within-a-play and lots of music.Vogel and separate from issues concerning people of color Taichman came up with the notion of a dead (or) economic issues, inequality, drinking water troupe of actors rising from the dust to tell the in Flint, suppression of the press, separation of policies and haunting play story of God of Vengeance. From there, they took families at the border,” she said. off, trying variations over multiple drafts and “There is a divide-by-fear mentality and we workshops. have to be united; we have to embrace a coali- The process was a departure for Vogel: For pre- tion. So the only thing I worry about at times is vious plays, she had written in a fury, often fin- if younger people say ‘I can get married now and ishing them in as little as two weeks. okay I’m done.’ Like that’s the end of the conver- “I became adept at writing quickly in intense sation. That’s the beginning of the conversation. bouts; that’s basically how I’ve written my plays,” “It’s not about our rights as gay, lesbian, trans, she said. bi, queers; it’s about our rights as Americans; it’s about human rights.” Seven years to premieres At its core, like its author, Indecent is politi- Indecent proved more elusive: “It took me sev- cal. “I wrote Indecent aware of the rise in hate en years to do the research, and then after every speech, aware of the bashing of immigration, BY KAREN TOPHAM The Chicago premiere of Vogel’s Indecent is run- four or five drafts, Rebecca would do a reading or deeply deeply concerned, and I thought there is ning through Nov. 3 at the Lincoln Park’s Victory put on a workshop; I worked on it a long time. an important reason to write this because this Talking with Paula Vogel is the easiest thing in Gardens Theater. At the same time, the Goodman This is a large-scope piece.” happened in our history. In a moment of fear the world. Her friendly, open demeanor makes Theatre is workshopping Vogel’s newest creation, Indecent premiered in 2015 in simultaneous there is no history; there’s just fear about the it feel like a long, warm conversation with your Cressida On Top. Despite a packed schedule, Vogel productions at Yale Repertory Theatre and La Jol- future and the present moment and history be- grandmother—if your grandmother happened to took the time to speak with Windy City Times in la Playhouse.It opened on Broadway in 2017 to comes completely erased.” be a prolific Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright a wide-ranging interview. positive reviews. (The Tribune’s Chris Jones called Indecent runs through Nov. 4 at the Victory and a social radical, unabashed feminist, and it a “deftly structured.”) It won two Tony Awards, Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets proud lesbian. Beyond The Children’s Hour and was nominated for three. are $29—$74. For more info, go tohttps://vic- Vogel has written 16 plays in the last 40 years. Indecent is the story of a 1906 play written by “At age 67, this represents the first time that torygardens.org/event/indecent/ Her work has been produced in more than 30 a young Polish Jew named Sholem Asch. God of I can actually travel to Chicago and work a little Note: This is the first of a two-part look at countries and received more awards than can be Vengeance proved very successful all over Europe, bit with the director and simultaneously work Paula Vogel and the production Indecent. Next listed here. Following the brilliant Artistic Home but when it came to America and was translated at the Goodman on a new play, so that’s pretty week, Topham and Vogel talk LGBTQ issues, production last spring of her Pulitzer-winning into English, authorities didn’t take well to its exciting for me,” Vogel said. “I no longer have theatrical form and the need for theater in to- How I Learned to Drive, this fall brings two new unfettered lesbian content. God of Vengeance an 80-hour-a-week day job that precludes me day’s political environment. Vogel plays to Chicago. was shut down. Its entire cast was found guilty of WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 17 THEATER REVIEW Penelope Walker and Mike Nussbaum in Curve of Departure. Curve of Departure Photo by Michael Brosilow Playwright: Rachel Bonds At: Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie Rudy, master actor Mike Nussbaum is first among Tickets: 847-673-6300; equals, as always. Approaching his 95th birthday, Northlight.org; $30-$88 Nussbaum is a force-of-nature who retains all his Runs through: Oct. 21 chops, instincts and remarkable physical vitality. The characters he now plays permit Nussbaum to BY JONATHAN ABARBANEL indulge in some audience-delighting old geezer shtick—sometimes puckish, sometimes cranky— This new play, in its regional premiere, puts a lot but he knows when to pull it back and give focus on the table—probably too much for an 80-min- to others, both hallmarks of a consummate pro. ute work—but author Rachel Bonds manipulates His younger companions also are impressive. it with such warmth, humor and humanity that Penelope Walker (Linda), Sean Parris (Felix) and you don’t notice. Perhaps wisely, she doesn’t at- Danny Martinez (Jackson) create truthful, caring tempt to fully-resolve the issues of family, rela- but unsure human beings (as we all are or should tionship and choice she raises, but she reveals be). At the end, they cotton to Rudy’s almost- her four characters to us with skillful directness elegiac advice to embrace compassion and the with which we can empathize. future, whatever it may be, even though it re- Rudy, an old man with Alzheimer’s, has come quires a leap of faith. We mustn’t use the failures from New York to Santa Fe to bury his long- of our fathers and grandfathers to create our own estranged son. He’s accompanied by his former limitations, he tells us, and his words resonate daughter-in-law, Linda, now his companion and with Felix and, particularly, Linda who has the caregiver. They are joined by grandson/son, Felix, greatest amount to lose in the future. and his affable, tattooed boyfriend, Jackson, who Walker and Parris are African-American actors, live in Bakersfield, California. The boys are nego- although the script makes no reference to race or tiating Jackson’s wish to adopt his neglected and biracial relationships. Does the script specify the abused two-year old niece, and it threatens their tism of Bakersfield—to hide his deeper insecuri- the desert on the morning of the funeral. casting, or is it a choice made for this produc- relationship. As the child of a broken marriage ties. Rudy, preparing to end his own life in a few The roles are evenly distributed among the tion? You can’t tell, and that’s as it should be himself, Felix creates barriers—legal difficulties, months over Linda’s objections, smooths troubled four characters in this small-scale true ensemble because it shouldn’t matter. cost, gay parenting within the implied conserva- waters with words of wisdom as the sun rises over piece, and the Northlight production benefits Curve of Departure is played on Lauren Nigri’s from four richly heart-felt performances under the handsome, roomy hotel room set, redolent of astute but relaxed direction of BJ Jones. Playing Santa Fe adobe. THEATER REVIEW out. She also twits him about being a terrible journalist. Apparently before his current misad- Odessa venture, his greatest claim to media fame was a Playwright: Michaela Heidemann piece he wrote about trying to survive on nothing At: Otherworld Theatre, 3914 N. Clark St. but peanut butter for a week. And as he him- Tickets: theRBP.org; $10-$20 self admits, a quick Google search (if not native Runs through: Oct. 6 common sense) might have told him that going into the catacombs with people he barely knows Judy Garland: BY KERRY REID wasn’t a great idea. Are they alone in this underworld? That’s a Come Rain or Come Shine The Ukrainian city of Odessa may be best known good question. Before we enter the theater, Ma- in popular culture for the famous “Odessa Steps” sha (Alison Schaufler), a bubbly teenager, leads starring Angela Ingersoll sequence in the film The Battleship Potemkin. us to our seats and tells us how excited she is But what lies underneath the port city provides about the party about to happen in the cata- the setting for Michaela Heidemann’s haunting, combs. October 5–14 Order tickets now funny—and occasionally too impenetrable— Is Masha still wandering the space, too? Is what Nichols Concert Hall (847) 920-5360 chamber piece, now in a production with The we’re seeing real, or something Andrew is imagin- Right Brain Project under Colin David’s direction. ing after a head injury? (Schaufler appearing as 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston MusicTheaterWorks.com Fittingly, Right Brain is using the smaller stage his mother in an interlude suggests the latter.) at Otherworld Theatre for this dark twisty produc- At one point, Andrew exclaims “This doesn’t end tion. Set in the labyrinthine series of catacombs until I do”—as concise an encapsulation of the underneath Odessa—remnants of the city’s existential viewpoint as you’ll find. But it’s un- stone-mining past, and so vast that they’ve nev- clear what we’re supposed to take literally here. er been fully mapped—the main source of stage As Dariya and Andrew wander and argue, the lighting comes from two flashlights. One is held story starts to spin its wheels a bit. However, by Andrew (Logan Hulick), an American journalist both Williams and Hulick excel at negotiating not who was lured to the catacombs, beaten and left only the physical landscape of ramps and plat- for dead. The other belongs to Dariya (Hannah forms in the small dark space, but also the shifts Williams), the Ukrainian woman who helped lure in tone from mundane joking to deeper rage. him there and feels guilty enough to try and get Ultimately, the show feels more successful as an him back out. exploration of atmosphere and uncertainty than The problem is that they keep getting lost. as a fully realized portrait of what an American This enrages Andrew, naturally. While he cer- journeying to the heart of darkness might en- tainly has reasons to complain, we also get more counter. But if you enjoy theatrical conundrums than a whiff of Entitled American Dudebro from that don’t offer up easy answers, the intimate him, which Williams’ Dariya delights in pointing clamminess of Odessa may suit you just fine. 18 Sept. 26, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES No small ‘Change’: Firebrand, TimeLine partner for ‘Caroline’ BY SARAH BOWDEN

Caroline, or Change is set in 1963 Louisiana, in THEATER the midst of the Civil Rights movement, as citi- daughter Emmie (Bre Jacobs) over how much she zens grapple with the assassination of John F. should demand from her employers. Kennedy. But don’t mistake it for a period piece. When Rose tells Caroline that any change left This is not musical-as-history, easily folded neat- in Noah’s pockets at the end of the day is hers ly in the pages of some forgotten book. to keep, it sets off a battle of wills that shakes “This is one of my favorite musicals of all time Caroline’s sense of self and her relationships with because of Caroline,” said director Lili-Anne Emmie and Noah. The extra money is helpful in Brown. “To some extent, I am Caroline, and my Caroline’s home, but it it comes with a price of mother is Caroline, and I know many Carolines.” its own. Brown’s staging of Caroline, or Change— Kushner based the script on experiences from penned by Tony Kushner (Angels in America) his own childhood, but Noah is noticeably not Caroline, or Change’s Bre Jacobs, Rashada Dawan and Blair Robertson. and composer Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home)—runs the protagonist of the play. “He chose to center Photo by Rob Riddle/GhostLight through Oct. 28 at the Den Theatre in a co-pro- the story on Caroline’s internal struggles,” Brown duction with TimeLine and Firebrand theaters. said. “She is surrounded by events, but the musi- serts. Dawan said she believes now is a perfect time The 2004 musical follows the title character cal is not about those events. It’s about how it Dawan agreed. “You don’t get to be too authen- to produce this musical, referencing the ongo- (Rashada Dawan), an African-American woman feels to grow old, and have an ability or inability tic onstage as a Black woman. Usually, you play ing Chicago hotel workers’ strike, which she has who works in the Gellman household, doing laun- to change, and be a mother to girls.” characters full of hope and joy and kindness, and seen firsthand on her commute. “We’re witnessing dry and looking after the Jewish family’s only Caroline’s fight for survival from paycheck to Caroline doesn’t choose those things. But none people in power who have money, and how they child, Noah (Alejandro Medina). Noah is grieving paycheck allows her little time for politeness, of us live inside of hope every day of our lives. act,” she said. “The hint of wealth is impactful. the recent death of his mother. As his stepmother kindness, or optimism. This makes her a “four- “My people may not like see all the dirty laun- To not have it is impactful.” Rose (Blair Robertson) struggles to integrate her- dimensional” character, according to Brown “We dry onstage, but if we don’t deal with it, then we Brown said she hopes to demonstrate the wide self into the household, Caroline struggles with don’t get to see Black women rage out, and deal can’t have a conversation,” Dawan said. gap that exists between Caroline and the other making ends meet in her own household. Caroline with the consequences in a spiritual way,” she Authenticity breeds understanding for the au- characters visually. The Den space allows for an is a mother as well, and is often at odds with her said. Such expression is a gift, the director as- dience, according to the artists working on Caro- expansive design, and she “wanted to explore line. “It’s important to consider historical mo- the relationship of Caroline being low.” There ments that are not mainstream,” said dramaturg are multiple references to Caroline living under- Fatima Sowe. ground, or being underwater. To give the audi- “Domestic technicians”—the preferred termi- ence a similar impression, Brown has the audi- nology for women who work in household or ho- ence on risers, with everyone in the upstairs part tel service industries—were left out of the U.S. of the house on a higher level, while Caroline labor movement that started in factories, primar- stays in the basement, on the deck of the stage ily due to racism. floor. The audience is physically anchored to Car- “But domestic technicians laid the groundwork oline’s place in the world. for people who are freelancers now, as well those Tesori’s music adds another layer to the narra- who work in the service industry now,” Sowe said. tive. The score contains klezmer, MoTown, work Dawan added that dramaturgy materials helped songs, classical music, and musical theatre bal- her understand Caroline’s exhaustion and the fact lads. While wide-ranging, the musical themes that if “domestic technicians” such as Caroline highlight the relationships examined in the show. were less than consistently gracious and giving, “I like the last ‘Underwater’ song because it’s their inhumane treatment gave them good reason a soft lullaby,” Dawan said. “It’s a heart-to-heart to be so. because [Caroline is] surrendered. She’s telling “If people wanted maids back in the time of Noah that he will learn to lose things. You can the play, they would drive to certain corners, and sense the love felt between her and Noah, de- pick women up off the street,” she said. “They spite all her heaviness, and that’s amazing to me. would pick these women by looking at their The characters are seeing each other in each di- knees, looking at how scarred their knees were to rection, and paying attention.” prove they spent all their time working on hands Guiding the next generation into a better fu- and knees,” Dawan said. ture allows Caroline hope at key moments with Sowe said there is a rich context to be shared her daughter Emmie, as well. “The more that you with the audience surrounding Caroline’s narra- are aware you are different, you are then able to tive. The realities of her life parallel figures in see the contrast in society and the potential for the domestic technician labor movement, whose change,” Sowe pointed out. “The past and what stories will be featured in the lobby at the Den. you do with it always determines the present.” “Even when we center on domestic things, they Caroline, or Change runs through Oct. 28 at Lili-Anne Brown. reflect their political time, but change is happen- the Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tick- Photo by Michael Brosilow ing always,” she said. ets are $25-$45; visit Firebrandtheatre.org. WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 19 Author Dan Kois talks ‘Angels in America’ in new book BY LAUREN EMILY WHALEN

As a college theater student, Dan Kois became BOOKS obsessed with Tony Kushner’s epic drama Angels Angels, including actors Jeff Christian, K. Todd in America. That obsession continued for years, Freeman, Philip E. Johnson, Elizabeth Laidlaw, fueling Kois’ just-released book, The World Only Natasha Lowe, Ian Owens, Keith Phipps and Bar- Spins Forward, an Oral History of Angels in Amer- bara Robertson. ica (co-authored by Isaac Butler). The book began as a cover story for Slate, “I engaged with those characters and their where Kois is an editor. “I pitched it as an oral struggles,” Kois said of Kushner’s saga of love history,” he said. “Not only was the history of and survival at the height of the AIDs crisis in the the play full of the great talkers of the last 25 ‘80s. “After reading the first part of the two-part years…but also the play itself is a real act of epic, [I] was waiting to see what would happen conversation. It’s a series of dialectics designed in Part Two, which I know now Tony was also try- to be oppositional voices put in the same room ing to figure out,” he said. as each other, arguing about the things that mat- On Oct. 1, Kois joins with Chicago actors who ter most.” brought Angels in America to life for a discussion When the first draft of the story was 40,000 of the book, the play and its impact on the world. words (roughly 160 pages) Kois and co-author The 7 p.m. event takes place at Victor Gardens Butler knew they had a book. “We did a good job Theater. telling the story of the play’s birth and Broadway, Angels in America Part I, Millennium Approach- but what we hadn’t told was the way the play es debuted in San Francisco in 1991. In 1993, reached the rest of America.” both parts of the roughly seven-hour play—Mil- Was it difficult to get prominent actors, direc- lennium Approaches and Perestroika—debuted tors and writers, including Kushner himself, to Writer Dan Kois. on Broadway. In 1994, Chicago opened the first talk? According to Kois, not a bit. Photo by Todd Hale national tour of Angels in America at the Royal “The stories we got were great and the memo- George Theatre. Chicago’s second production of ries were vivid and the opinions were strongly the piece was David Cromer’s 1998 revival for the worded. People wanted to go to the mat for Journeyman theater. Cromer’s reimagining, Kois something they did 20, 25 years ago,” he said. said, is the only regional production that receives How, according to Kois, has Angels endured OPENING THIS WEEK its own chapter in the book. over two decades? Featuring artwork from over 3,000 artists from 135 leading galleries “Cromer’s production made other theater “We started the interviews in the summer of representing 27 countries and 63 international cities companies feel like it’s possible to do this play 2016,” Kois said. With the presidential election, without breaking your theater company in half,” “the tenor of all those interviews really changed,” Kois said of the Journeyman’s vastly scaled-down he said. TH E INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION OF black-box rendering. People involved with Angels in America produc- CONTEMPORARY AND MODERN ART “It can be a series of chamber pieces where tions that happened at the peak of the AIDS cri- the effects are used sparingly and are even more sis spoke of “creating art at a time of emergency,” effective as a result,” Kois said. Interviews with Kois said. That feeling is prevalent today, he said. artists involved with Cromer’s production made “For many people, it feels like we are once an impression on Kois. The Journeyman’s inti- again at a time when activism is desperately nec- mate staging, he said, resulted in “an amazing essary, and when our art can address the under- community experience in which the entire the- lying energies that require us all to fight back ater community came together to rehearse, cre- against the forces that want to stop the world ate and grab this play for themselves.” from turning,” Kois said. “The lesson of [Angels Angels in America has played throughout the in America] is that there’s always going to be a world and launched many a career. The original crisis and an emergency, and art is the way we Broadway production won the 1993 and 1994 can navigate and negotiate.” Tony Awards for Best Play, and Millennium Ap- The reading and discussion of The World proaches was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1993. Only Spins Forward: The Ascent of Angels in Mike Nichols’ 2003 HBO adaptation featured Mer- America is at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, at Victory yl Streep, Mary-Louise Parker and Emma Thomp- Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. Copies 27–30 SEPTEMBER 2018 son. The recent Broadway revival, a transplant of the book will be available for purchase, and OPENING PREVIEW THURSDAY 27 SEPT from London’s National Theatre, boasted Nathan a book signing will follow. The event is free Lane and Andrew Garfield among its star-studded but reservations are required as space is lim- CHICAGO | NAVY PIER cast. The 250 interviews in The World Only Spins ited. To reserve tickets, call 773-871-3000 or

Forward include conversations with Streep, Lane by Lincoln Schatz (Lake Michigan) Lake Series email [email protected]. Aligned with and Parker, among others. expochicago.com The Oct. 1 event will feature Chicago’s early @expochicago #expochicago Presenting Sponsor

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First-time riders only. Not valid on UberCAB Expires 12/31/18. WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 21 ‘Queer, Brown femme power’ radiates at new Boystown mural BY JAKE WITTICH ART A new mural honoring non-binary people located in the heart of Boystown aims to open a dia- ed painting the wall Aug. 13. logue about intersectionality within the LGBTQ Bellomo said painting the mural was heart- community. warming because they were interrupted almost The 750-square-foot mural on the side of the every few minutes by people commenting on its Howard Brown Health Center in Boystown, 3245 beauty. N. Halsted St., features Kiam Marcelo Junio, a “Lots of people were stopping by and saying, ‘I non-binary interdisciplinary artist and holistic see so much queer, brown, femme power here,’” healer. The artists—Sam Kirk, Andy Bellomo and Bellomo said. “And that’s the idea—from this one Sandra Antongiorgi—hope it’s the first in a series person, you see this higher community of people of murals celebrating queer people throughout they represent.” Chicago. Bellomo said it was important to create a mural “We wanted to open a dialogue about non-bi- that creates dialogue about how groups of people nary and gender nonconforming folks within the can be marginalized within the larger LGBTQ com- [LGBTQ] community,” Bellomo said. “We’re creat- munity so people can learn to better support one ing more conversation around and visibility for another. for non-binary and gender-nonconforming folks “It’s a necessary conversation at this moment, through public art.” and you can see this mural from four blocks away, At the center of the mural is a portrait of Mar- so you can can’t ignore it,” Bellomo said. celo Junio, painted by Antongiorgi. The back- Marcelo Junio said they were honored to be ground, a collaboration between Kirk and Bello- chosen as mural’s subject, and that their inclu- mo, features abstract line work and other designs sion represents intersectionality within the LG- that aim to capture the essence of Marcelo Junio BTQ community. Mural of Kiam Marcelo Junio. as a person. “Being an orphan, a transnational adoptee, Fili- Photo by Jake Wittich “There’s a beauty to how centered [Marcelo pino and queer, I know from the outside it can Junio] is and their confidence, peacefulness and look very conflicting and complicated,” Marcelo healing qualities,” Antongiorgi said. “They are Junio said. “I’m gay, but I’m different from the such a presence and have a power within that gay people I see on magazines and TV. I’m Filipi- you can see in the mural.” no, but not like all the other Filipino boys I know. The artists applied a 22-carat gold leafing to So every group I belong to, I’ve always felt like create Marcelo Junio’s lips, eye makeup and some an outsider at some point. Intersectionality ties of the line work in the background. all that together, and this mural is a statement “Kiam is big, majestic, royal and regal, and the that people like me belong here too.” gold captures that,” Bellomo said. “The gold leaf- Before starting work on the mural, Antongiorgi ing is innovative and makes the mural more spe- met with Marcelo Junio to learn more about their PUCCINI cial and celebratory.” character, practices, politics and beliefs so they Planning for the mural started about two years could be accurately represented in their portrait. ago, according to Kirk. After securing funding “We are all mirrors to one another,” Marcelo and finding a location for mural, the artists start- Junio said. “I understand my own complexity, A KISS IN THE DARK LEADS beauty, place in space and time, and that I’m worthy of love. I hope that people can feel that TO ONE OF OPERA’S MOST from the mural and see themselves just as big and HEARTWARMING LOVE STORIES Danai Gurira just as worthy of being celebrated.” play to debut Bellomo said they are working on a proposal to Steppenwolf Theatre Company is present- start a series of queer murals throughout Chica- OCT  ­€ ing the Chicago premiere production of Fa- go, but they need funders to make future projects JAN ƒ€ ­„ miliar, written by Danai Gurira (actress from possible. The first mural was funded by Howard TV’s The Walking Dead; the films Black Pan- Brown Health, Chicago’s Department of Cultural ther and Avengers: Infinity War; and Broad- Affairs and Special Events, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th way’s Eclipsed) and directed by Danya Tay- Ward) and the Northalsted Business Alliance. mor. “We hope future murals would be not just in Familiar begins previews on Nov. 15, with Boystown and spread throughout Chicago, espe- the opening being Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. and the cially its South and West sides, where there’s a production running through Jan. 13, 2019, need for more LGBTQ visibility,” Kirk said. “I hope Œƒ­.Ž­‘.„€€ in the Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted to get the city out of its segregated mindset.” St. Antongiorgi, Bellomo, Kirk and Marcelo Junio LYRICOPERA.ORG Single tickets ($20-$109) are now on sale will officially unveil the mural at a celebration through Audience Services at 312-335-1650 starting 2:30 p.m. Sept. 29 outside Howard or Steppenwolf.org. Brown Health Halsted, 3245 N. Halsted St., in New Lyric coproduction of Puccini’s La bohème generously made possible by the Julius Frankel Foundation, Abbott Fund, Liz Sti el, The Michael and Susan Lake View. Avramovich Charitable Trust, Howard L. Gottlieb and Barbara G. Greis, and Roberta L. and Robert J. Washlow. 22 Sept. 26, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES teresting thing as a songwriter to keep thinking about because on the other hand I don’t want to abandon truth-telling or radicalism. Black Ensemble to WCT: “Coup d’état” has a coy sound, but then when you listen to the lyrics it’s the opposite. Holly Near. add ‘Women Something that’s recurrent throughout the Photo by Irene Young song is that a coup d’état is described by what of Soul’ Black Ensemble Theater continues its 2018 it’s not, as in, “It’s not a dance, a Mardi Gras.” season (“Movers and Shakers”) with Women What, in the terms of the song, would you say of Soul (With a Tribute to the Queen), writ- is a coup d’état? ten and directed by Black Ensemble Theater HN: By definition, a coup d’état is an over- Associate Director Daryl D. Brooks, whose throw of government. For example, after Trump hits with the company include Men of Soul. was elected I was in Chile and they had a mili- Women of Soul will be performed at the tary coup there for many years, and artists who Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 I met in Europe and the United States had not N. Clark St., beginning Oct 20, with an un- been able to go back to their countries for 11 or limited run. 12 years for fear of being murdered. I met them The previously announced production of A when they were in Europe or the United States Revolution in Rhyme has been postponed and and did some collaboration work with [them]. will be produced at a later date this season. So I was familiar with coup d’état from the Women of Soul guides us through the life coup in the early ’70s. I started watching what of some of the most powerful women in soul was going on in this country. I was in Chile when music, including Chaka Khan, Diana Ross it happened and people were coming up to me and Teena Marie—with a special tribute to saying, “What just happened in your country Aretha Franklin. [was] a coup.” There was messing with the elec- Tickets are $45 each for previews (Oct. 20- tions, there’s underbelly reports of who was going 21, 26-27), $55 (Saturday matinees) and $65 to get in, there was a lack of truth-telling. So (Fridays, Saturday evenings and Sunday mati- it was observing that through the eyes of the nees); visit BlackEnsemble.org. Chileans. WCT: In the liner notes of “Someone Was Brave Before Me,” you mention a “brave ex- ercise” that led to the creation of the song. Christina Aguilera Could you talk a little bit about what that ex- in Chicago ercise entails? HN: It started with an acoustic show that I did Oct. 16-17 Year and far: in New York and I asked some of the performers, As part of her first tour in more than a de- if I sang this kind of riff would they be willing cade (The Liberation Tour), Grammy winner to step forward and tell a story of someone who Christina Aguilera will stop at The Chicago Holly Near had influenced their life. … That was the be- Theater, 175 N. State St., on Oct. 16-17. ginning of it, and when I would do songwriting Christina released new song “Accelerate,” workshops or I would give talks featuring Ty Dolla $ign and 2 Chainz, earlier talks ‘2018’ I would use it as a way to get people to partici- in May; it is the first song from her forth- pate and remember that they were part of a long coming album, Liberation (which will be out history of people who had stepped forward, not June 15). because they were trained organizers or because Live Nation is producing the tour, which BY JOHN STADELMAN they knew what they were doing, [just that] the started Sept. 24 in Hollywood, Florida, and moment happened and they stepped forward— will take place in 22 cities, ending Nov. 13 in Singer-songwriter/longtime feminist/anti-war MUSIC and so it’s worked. It’s been a structure to get St. Petersburg, Florida. activist Holly Near’s new album, 2018, is a detail, or you can start with the detail and pull people to come forward and tell stories. See LiveNationEntertainment.com and thoughtful mirror on the craziness, worry and fear back to see the big picture. I decided that I could put [the song] on the https://www.christinaaguilera.com/. that defines the year of its namesake. In my songs, I try to have that motion of lens recording. At the end it’s a little tag that says Windy City Times: The album is titled 2018, and in doing so what I have discovered is that after all these songs and these ideas we didn’t which is an interesting choice. What was the the listener can find themselves somewhere in start here. And it didn’t end here. And there’s driving force behind this? ‘Homos’ ends that moving … of the lens, even if it’s a subject that last rhyme that talks about the rising of the Holly Near: We went through the lyrics and they’re not familiar with. new movement, so it tries to say in that short Sept. 30 at Pride song titles and everything felt a little shallow. WCT: We see that in [the song] “Casualty in period of time: “That which came before us and I was sitting with my co-producer of the record My Own House,” starting from talking about that which is now and that which is carrying on.” Arts … and I said, “What about 2018?” And she said, Homos, or Everyone in America will run violence in a relationship, to a child, then WCT: Part of a legacy. “That’s it.” It was as if with 2018 everybody through Sunday, Sept. 30, at Pride Arts Cen- broadening that out to America’s violence— HN: It’s that lens again. If you’re put close, knows what’s going on this year and what kind ter-The Broadway, 4139 N. Broadway. that lens movement. you’re looking at Black Lives Matter. And if you of catastrophes we’re living with. It just felt like Jordan Seavey’s play follows the relation- HN: I think that’s a good example, and in some pull back you see the whole Civil Rights Move- it landed the CD in time, and hopefully the music ship of two thirtysomething gay male resi- songs it’s not like that. “Coup d’état” doesn’t ment. Or if you’re back even farther you look will live on beyond 2018. dents in Brooklyn over five years. Pride Films have a going in and out as much, but it has little at the whole movement in this country toward WCT: You have a background in acting and and Play Associate Artistic Director Derek surprises in order to keep it lighthearted, and at humanitarianism … and then come in close to I’m curious how that affected your songwrit- Van Barham is helming the production. the same time it’s actually extraordinarily seri- whatever’s going on in your personal life at the ing, especially lyrically. Seats are $20-$30 each; tickets are avail- ous. I have written some songs that were ham- moment, then I hope it can be used and it will be HN: From early on, my songwriting has been able by phone at 866-811-4111 or 773-857- mers over the head [laughs], but I didn’t really sung at rallies and marches. defined by my ability to tell a story in about 0222, or online at PrideFilmsAndPlays.com. like them that much. See Holly Near in Chicago at the Old Town three minutes. … That was strong in my early My interest in the song came when I figured School of Folk Music on Friday, Sept. 28 at 8 development as a songwriter, and with the whole out how to go in through the back door: Stay p.m.; visit https://www.oldtownschool.org/ idea of a camera lens, where you can start way away from rhetoric … and get down to talking concerts/2018/09-28-2018-holly-near/. back and see the big picture and focus in on the with people about what we want. … It’s an in- WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 23 BENT NIGHTS MUSIC CSO performing alternative rock (Costello, Beck, Young the Giant, Health) and straight-up punk/metal (Sum 41, Suicidal Tendencies, with ‘Bride of Frankenstein’ Riot Fest Dillinger Four, Clutch, Direct Hit, The Wonder Years and BY HESTER screening Oct. 26 Interpol) to satisfy the most finicky of tastes. Chicago Symphony Orchestra will perform Academy Award-winning composer Although there were no out performers on the bill, there The number 13 turned out to be lucky for the 2018 edition Franz Waxman’s score to Bride of Frankenstein at an Oct. 26 screening of the film were plenty of queer favorites (Blondie, Johnny Marr, Gary of Riot Fest. at 7:30 p.m. at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Numan, Cat Power) and friends of the community (Andrew The future for this festival started looking dim after the The 1935 film, directed by gay filmmaker James Whale, follows Dr. Frankenstein W.K., Jack Antonoff of the band fun. fronting his side band death of founder Sean McKeough in 2016—just before the (Colin Chive) as he is goaded by the wicked scientist Dr. Pretorious (Ernest The- Bleachers) to make things frolicsome. The Chicago scene glut of Chicago-area summer festivals started choking it- siger) into creating a mate (Elsa Lanchester) for the monster (Boris Karloff) that was represented by Liz Phair, DIY upstarts Twin Peaks and self. (The Open Air Festival, Common’s AAHH! Fest, and he created in the original film. good-natured goofball Archie Powell who snagged honors The Warped Tour have since ended in that time.) The 2018 Conductor Emil de Cou, music director of the Pacific Northwest Ballet, will lead from the Chicago Tribune as one of the ‘best dressed’ at the Riot Fest got hit with a wave of expected (Fest headliner CSO in the performance. The audience is invited to dress in Halloween attire. festival (for his fetching pink jacket and shorts ensemble Elvis Costello’s cancer treatments and surgeries) and un- Bride of Frankenstein runs 75 minutes, and will be followed by a screening with floral embroidery). expected hurdles and misfortunes (Headliner Blink 182’s of Mel Brooks’ 1974 parody Young Frankenstein, starring Gene Wilder, Madeline And then there were the must-see sets, which included abrupt cancelation, a snafu in ticket availability and the Kahn, Peter Boyle and Cloris Leachman. Pussy Riot (who mixed activism with funk in a dance-per- alleged poisoning of festival signee Pussy Riot’s drummer Tickets are available at Symphony Center, by phone at 800-223-7114 or 312- formance piece in front of a banner swearing vengeance Peter Verzilov) and rumors swirled that the show would 294-3000, or online at CSO.org. for that poisoning), Father John Misty (whose subversive not go on at all. funk was enlivened by his vaudevillian dance moves) and The show did certainly go on, and this 13th version of ‘50s legend and sole survivor of the Million Dollar Quartet the punk-rock/metal/hard-rock festival and traditional Jerry Lee Lewis (who, along with Little Richard, started the close of summer went on without a hitch. For three days, outrage and scandal which became punk rock). under a forgiving sun and not one drop of rain (or the With overall attendance estimated to hit the festival av- ocean of mud and swarms of bees that have followed in CULTURECULTURE CLUBCLUB erage of 40,000 a day despite no big-name reunions (The their wake), an eclectic mix of 88 bands and performers Misfits in 2016 and Jawbreaker in 2017) and an absence of entertained a generally happy and joyful overflow audience zombies and circus performers (the later were contained in on five stages, with nary an incident or arrest. a circus tent and performed every three hours), the 2018 On the musical front there was plenty of hard rock (Wee- Riot Fest looks like one for the books and a fitting close to zer, Taking Back Sunday, Alkaline Trio, Killing Joke, GWAR, one of the most memorable musical summers in Chicago. The Jesus Lizard, Bad Religion and Dropkick Murphys), rap/ See more photos from Riot Fest at WindyCityMediaGroup. hip-hop (Cypress Hill, Digable Planets, Run the Jewels), com. straight up pop (Matt and Kim, Incubus, Speedy Ortiz),

Would you know what to ask for if the Devil came knocking on your door? Blondie’s Debbie Harry at Riot Fest. Photo by Vern Hester PICTURED: RYAN HALLAHAN AND AUDREY FRANCIS. PHOTO BY SAVERIO TRUGLIA. HALLAHAN AND AUDREY FRANCIS. PHOTO BY SAVERIO PICTURED: RYAN NOW PLAYING 847-242-6000 | WRITERSTHEATRE.ORG 24 Sept. 26, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES tin Community Family Center, the Catalyst Circle ARCHITECTURE Rock restored auditorium and school and four historical churches. One that stands rich with Open House Chicago: that brings back hates from earlier decades of history is the Fraternité Notre Dame, 502 N. Cen- style. This site is only open Oct. 13 at 9 a.m.-5 tral Ave., which was once home to Chicago’s larg- p.m. est Methodist congregation. Designed by Sidney Exploring historical The Ingersoll-Blackwelder House at 10910 S. R. Badgley in 1909, the church is an ode to Our Prospect Ave. is one of three neighborhood sites Lady of Fréchou. The Fraternité Notre Dame—a in Morgan Park. The Victorian mansion was built religious order that started in France in 1977— sites—for free in 1874 for real estate magnate John Ingersoll by hosts daily mass, a soup kitchen and a food pan- Morgan Park’s developer, the Blue Island Land and try in the space, which it acquired in 2001 after BY ARIEL PARRELLA-AURELI and residential backbone. Building Company. A Queen Anne style expansion the church was empty for almost 30 years. It also There are five sites to see there, such as Chi- was added the next decade for new owner Isaac is home to after-school programs for children to Ever wondered what it looks like inside the Ukrai- cago’s most famous castle, The Givens Castle; the Blackwelder, president of the then-independent keep them off the street and offer them nutri- nian National Museum or downtown architecture Ridge Historical Society; and the Wild Blossom Village of Morgan Park. His wife, Gertrude Black- tious meals they don’t often get at home, accord- gems like the Railway Exchange Building or the Meadery and Winery. An eye-catching visit will welder, was a founder of the Morgan Park Wom- ing to the church’s website. Its open house hours Civic Opera Building? surely be at Optimo, the city’s only custom men’s en’s Club and the first woman to cast a vote in are Oct. 13 at 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Oct. 14 at 10 On Oct. 13-14, people can take a peek inside hatmaker business, known for its classic fedoras, a.m.-5 p.m. these historical buildings for free and stop the It’s close to impossible to say which sites are wondering. The eighth annual Open House Chi- Rockefeller Chapel. the best worth your time, but some more that cago, sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Cen- caught our eye are the Logan Square Auditorium, Photo by Eric Allix Rogers ter, will provide access to more than 250 sites in the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel in Hyde Park and 30 neighborhoods and suburbs. Beverly, Morgan the Colvin House in Edgewater. Park and Austin join the 2018 neighborhoods of The Logan Square Auditorium was built in 1915 architectural gems, as well as a few new sites in and has a terra cotta eagle on its front facing other neighborhoods. the signature area monument. The space hosts all The event offers views of buildings rarely open kinds of events, from weddings, concerts, ben- to the public and will show behind-the-scenes efits and movie screenings. The inside is virtually access to repurposed mansions, stunning sky- unchanged albeit the enhanced sound system, scrapers, lavish theaters, industrial facilities, bookings and professional light shows that can new apartments and breathtaking sacred spac- be seen from the square or boulevard. This site is es—many that have contributed to Chicago’s rich only open Oct. 13 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. architectural history and stature. The Rockefeller Chapel on the University of Chi- “[Open House Chicago] gives Chicagoans the cago’s campus was designed by Bertram Grosve- rare opportunity to discover hidden gems in ar- nor Goodhue in 1928 and is all about the details chitecturally significant buildings all across the in Gothic style. It has one of the world’s largest city,” said Lynn Osmond, President and CEO of carillons (an instrument of musical bells) and a the CAC. “But OHC attendees are discovering not sizable Skinner organ. Its open house hours are only what is near their homes, they are exploring Oct. 13 at 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Oct 14 from 9 a.m.- new neighborhoods across town and in the pro- 5 p.m. cess changing preconceived notions about their Designed by architect George Maher in 1909, neighbors.” the Colvin House Prairie-Style mansion at 5940 N. She said that, last year, 60 percent of attend- Sheridan Road has gothic ceilings, carved pillars ees ventured out to see new neighborhoods and Cook County, according to the house’s site. It is and excessive plaster ornamentation. It’s now hopes this year will be an even larger turnout and straw Panama hats and even a limited-edition now an entertainment venue and a museum on home to Creative Coworking, which has modern- that people will discover new city establishments hat modeled after Frank Lloyd Wright’s signature the second floor that houses antiques collected ized some of the house for offices and events. Its and learn architectural history. headwear. The building, at 1700 W. 95th St., is by recently deceased owner Jack Simmerling. The open hours are Oct. 13 at 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Oct. a century-old firehouse and was repurposed this house’s open house hours are Oct. 13 at 9 a.m.-5 14 at 10 a.m.-5 p.m. New sites to see year by architect firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. p.m. and Oct. 14 at 9 a.m.-5 p.m. See the full list of the 2018 Open House Chica- Beverly is known for its residential, tiny-town The design used blackened steel, walnut and cork Austin has 13 sites to visit, such as the Aus- go sites at https://openhousechicago.org/sites. feel and relies on 95th Street as its commercial to show the unique craftsmanship of the business

Left: Interior of the Ingersoll Mansion. Photo by Eric Allix Rogers

Right: Ukranian National Museum. Photo by Maksym Prokopiv WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 25

Linda Bache. THE SPORTING LIFE: Photo courtesy of Bache Linda Bache BY ROSS FORMAN

The one-year anniversary of the last game in Chi- SPORTS cago Force history on July 8 brought mixed emo- “We were a dominant team throughout our tions—and certainly a tear or two. 15-year existence and that was accomplished After 15 seasons, the highly successful wom- through a complete commitment and sheer force en’s football team ended its run with a playoff of will from the top of the organization on down,” loss. Tears of sadness from 2017 have grown into Bache said. “It’s tough to do because you essen- tears of pride for what the Force accomplished, tially go through some kind of roster rebuild ev- highlighted by its 2013 national championship. ery three to five years, [but], we kept reinventing “I really miss it; I miss spending time with my ourselves based on each season’s roster and our Force family,” said Linda Bache, the team owner [longtime] head coach John Konecki was always who also was a standout defensive player for six looking for another way to elevate the program, seasons. “I’ve been acutely aware of how differ- stay a step ahead of the competition, and push ent things are in my life since football ended. the sport forward.” This has been a weird spring and summer. Nor- The final Force event was last September—the mally I’d be working on Force stuff daily and at- final team banquet, which Bache tagged as both tending three or four practices a week. I’m not memorable and emotional, and definitely filled accustomed to having flexibility of schedule or with laughter. time on my hands, so it’s been a little strange. My The 2017 banquet also featured the induction wife Yvette and I have been traveling quite a bit, of quarterback Sami Grisafe and coach John Ko- which we love and will continue to do.” necki into the Chicago Force Hall of Fame, which Bache, who lives in Chicago’s Rogers Park naturally was met with thunderous applause. Af- neighborhood, is a senior account manager for ter the banquet, they took a group photo, and Ferrellgas. She is originally from Farmington Hill, Becky Thuestad then announced she was preg- Michigan, and has called Chicago home for 24 nant. “It felt like a wonderful way for us all to years. bid farewell to the past and embrace the future,” “My Force memories are divided into two parts: Bache said. my six years on the field as a player, and the nine After the banquet, Bache and Holt went on a years on the sidelines [after] I stopped playing,” two-week vacation and met up with former Force Bache said. “My last three years as a player, I also players and owners Amanda Malsch and Tricia was an owner and general manager, so that was Charbonneau. “The four of us have talked many Australia to play for the Force.” incredibly difficult and all-consuming. [Since] I times about what a life-changing experience it So, will we see another women’s football team was so busy, it kind of flew by, [and] we had so was to be a part of the Force,” Bache said. “I hear Extra Point with … in Chicago? much fun. There were so many wonderful people that sentiment expressed repeatedly by former “I have not heard of a new women’s tackle [who] were a part of the team over those 15 players, coaches and staff. When a team becomes football team starting here, but I hope one does. years. I’m sure I could have done a lot of dif- a family, it creates lasting bonds, and the memo- FavoriteLinda pro sport: Bache I’d like the women of Chicago to have the oppor- ferent things with my life during that time, but ries and relationships live on. I’m really proud to Football tunity to play tackle football,” Bache said. I doubt anything would have been as enjoyable share in that.” Favorite pro team: And, yes, the Force will be back, eventually— or would have fed my soul as much as the time I Bache said she still sees many of the former Chicago Cubs with a reunion of some sorts. spent with the Force.” Force players. For instance, Bache and Holt vis- Favorite pro athlete: “I could see myself putting something together Nothing was more memorable than the summer ited Grisafe in California as she worked on a new Serena Williams in the next year or so,” Bache said. of 2013, when the Force dominated opponents album and a documentary film. They also attend- One pro athlete you’d like to meet: “Our 2017 season ended one game too soon and ultimately captured the team’s lone national ed Cassey Brick’s graduation from the Chicago Po- Billie Jean King when we lost in the conference championship, championship. That season was, without ques- lice Academy this past spring, and Bache recently One pro sports event/game you’d like to but it’s not a huge regret for me. We were worthy tion, “the pinnacle of our success,” Bache said. had dinner with Darcy Leslie who has a summer Attend: of being a championship team, but we didn’t play “We were head and shoulders better than every internship with the New York Jets. “A Cubs’ World Series [championship].” well enough for four quarters to win the qualify- other team during the time when the women’s “I still get lots of calls from coaches, players, Still in sports: ing game. I’ve been able to appreciate that last game was at its most competitive. Everyone was sponsors and fans,” Bache said. “I was especially Bache is a member of the Women’s Football season fully and the Force in its entirety. Having completely committed and totally dialed in, and happy to receive an invite recently to the wed- Alliance (WFA) Advisory Council, along with that final season was a gift, really—I appreci- we were unstoppable. I think our 2013 squad was ding of a favorite former player (Emilie Belanger) former Force player Liz Okey. ated each moment and was very cognizant that the best women’s football team ever. When you that will be held in Canada this October. She was the clock was ticking. By stating from the outset look at our roster that year, the stats, the point one of our first international players and I’m [of the 2017 season] that it was the team’s final as a powerhouse team and an organization that differential, the complete domination. … I think thrilled for her and honored to attend her wed- year, it allowed all of us to approach the season was always evolving,” Bache said. “We became a it’s indisputable that we were the best women’s ding.” with an understanding of its finite commitment. hub for international players as our reputation for team ever assembled.” Many former Force players have had babies and It gave everyone a chance to author their own excellence spread throughout the women’s world- The Force was dominant in 2013—and many several more are pregnant, so there’s another final chapter of Force football, so I’m glad we did wide football community. We had players travel other seasons. It was never uncommon for the generation of potential female football players in it that way.” here from Finland, Canada, Norway, the Czech Re- Force to win games by 40, 50, 60 or even 70 the pipeline, Bache said. public, Poland, France, Germany, New Zealand and points. “I’m extremely proud of the legacy we created

@windycitytimes /windycitymediagroup @windycitytimes www.windycitymediagroup.com 26 Sept. 26, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES —Studio 54 (***) (Sept. 27, 5 p.m.): When a time machine is invented, this documentary FILM will make Studio 54 (1977-80) a top destination. Reviewing the Everything unfolds slowly and subtly in Yen The creators of the Manhattan disco tell the tale. Tan’s expansion of his 2016 short. The Malaysia- Steve Rubell, who died of AIDS in 1989 and is born, Texas-based gay filmmaker has been turn- seen in old interviews, was the face of the club— movies of Reeling ing out excellent product for nearly two decades, a gay man who loved the celebrities and the ce- BY STEVE WARREN It’s Christmastime 1985, and Adrian (Cory Mi- and it’s time the industry at large took notice. lebrity. Ian Schrager, with whom Rubell became chael Smith) has flown from New York to pay his One minor quibble: Except for the reformed friends in college, was the brains, the man behind Reeling—Chicago’s film festival dedicated to il- first visit in three years to his conservative Texas high school bully who appears in one scene, no the curtain; in recent interviews he says he’s dis- luminating the diverse facets of the LGBT com- family. Though he can’t find a way to tell them, one sounds like they’ve lived their lives 45 min- cussing those days for the first time. Be warned: munity—kicked off its 2018 edition on Thursday, it’s probably also his last visit. utes from Dallas. Perhaps this was to avoid over- this is largely a sad story of those happy times Sept. 20, and festival organizers are promising a Learning that his acne-aged brother Andrew stereotyping or to make the story more universal. and their aftermath. wide range of entries this year. (Aidan Langford) has switched his after-school It lessens the regional authenticity but nothing For complete festival information including can take away from the film’s emotional authen- locations, and to buy tickets, visit reelingfilm- ticity, which packs a real wallop.. festival.org.

Cast of Freelancers Anonymous. Photo by Jerry Nunn better.” Cordileone said that Alexandra Billings, who ‘Freelancers’ plays her boss in the film, “is the real deal. I screens at was intimidated by her at first, then I relaxed and we went to work.’ Reeling’s opening After the screening, a question and answer BY JERRY NUNN portion was moderated by Chicago Reader’s Amy Matheny and Windy City Times’ Scott Duff. Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Director Sonia Sebastian recalled that movie Film Festival kicked off its 36th year at The was made in 19 days. When an audience mem- Davis Theater on Sept. 20. The movie Freelanc- ber asked for advice on how to be a filmmaker, ers Anonymous screened after a red carpet with she replied, “Go out and shoot with a phone several members of the cast and crew. or camera. Work with actors that will tell your The 2018 comedy combines an office worker, story. Practice and just do it.” a wedding and a start up app with a strong A reception followed at Carbon Arc Bar & female perspective. Board attached to the theater, complete with 1985. Freelancers Anonymous star Natasha Negov- food and drinks to celebrate the debut of Free- Photo courtesy of Reeling anlis mentioned she was sent the script after lancers Anonymous. being seen in her web series Carmilla. She said, Other significant screenings throughout the The following are reviews of a couple of the activities from sports to theater, and is also a “What impressed me about it was it’s a very festival are planned with cast and crew in at- movies that will run at this conclusion of this Madonna fan, tells Adrian his difficult footsteps broad American style comedy, but instead of a tendance, such as Rupert Everett on Sept. 27 at year’s festival: are being followed in. straight white male lead, it’s a queer woman. It Landmark Century Centre Cinema at 7 p.m. for —1985 (***) (Sept. 26, 7:15 p.m.): What a His parents haven’t changed. Dad (Michael is completely normalized. I think it has broad his film The Happy Prince, and Jason T. Gaffney difference 33 years makes! Chiklis) wants his sons doing manly, godly things appeal outside of the LGBT community. We with Kevin Held for Analysis Paralysis, also at This movie is shot in black-and-white to em- and Mom (Chicago native Virginia Madsen) wants have to show the straight world that we are Landmark on Sept. 27 but at 9:30 p.m. phasize the time-machine quality (even though Adrian to hook up with his old girlfriend Carly just people.” Closing night on Sept. 30 features the docu- B/W movies had already been virtually obsolete (Jamie Chung). He does see her, but not for the Lisa Cordileone who stars and also co-wrote mentary Studio 54 at 5 p.m., screened at Chi- for a couple of decades), and it will be seen dif- reason his mother intended. the film, explained that they made Freelancers cago Filmmakers, 5720 N. Ridge Ave. A wrap ferently by viewers of different ages. For those Adrian’s farewell tour may keep you on the Anonymous a year ago in Chicago, adding, “We party in the new space will follow the movie, who were there, it will be wistful, bitter nostal- verge of tears throughout, or leave oblivious shot in Bethany Church for two weeks, Ange- with this year’s award winners announced. gia; for the younger set, a synopsis should prob- viewers (though why would they be seeing this?) lina’s and the West Loop.” Visit ReelingFilmFestival.org for tickets and ably come with spoiler alerts, though hopefully wondering what those Kaposi’s Sarcoma lesions She also said “This is about a group of wom- information. not for readers of this paper. are on Adrian’s chest. en that help each other and make something WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 27 join her onscreen for this romantic comedy. —The Favourite: (Nov. 23) Director Yorgos Lan- FILM thimos reunites with Olivia Colman and Rachel ley’s memoir, Boy Erased has the not straight in Weisz (after working together on The Lobster) for real life Lucas Hedges playing the son of two reli- this lesbian love triangle period piece. gious parents who put him in conversion therapy. Gay singer Troye Sivan and lesbian actor Cherry December Jones are among the cast. —Anna and the Apocalypse: (Dec. 7) A zombie —Instant Family: (Nov. 16) Mark Wahlberg and Christmas musical has a lesbian character in the Rose Byrne adopt foster children and out comic main cast. Can Ella Hunt and the gang sing their Tig Notaro plays a social worker involved in the way out of the situation or is this dead in the process. water? —Widows: (Nov. 16) Strong female cast includ- —Aquaman: (Dec. 14) Game of Thrones hunk ing Viola Davis and bisexual actor Michelle Rodri- Jason Momoa returns as the Superfriend perhaps guez in an intriguing caper movie brought to us least likely to have their own dedicated motion by Gone Girl writer Gillian Flynn. picture. Amber Heard also reprises her Justice League role as Mera; Patrick Wilson (Angels in Lady Gaga and —Second Act: (Nov. 21) Jennifer Lopez por- America), Willem Dafoe and Nicole Kidman co- Anthony Ramos in trays a big box store worker who has big dreams. Real life bestie Leah Remini and Milo Ventimiglia star as well. A Star is Born. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Fall movie preview BY JERRY NUNN fying costumes and casting.

Movies fall into award season with Oscar-pleasing October true stories from around the world and a lineup —A Star Is Born: (Oct. 5) Watch Lady Gaga be- that will captivate many cinephiles in the upcom- come a movie star in her first cinematic leading ing months. role as a waitress named Ally. She meets estab- Among them are Ryan Gosling walking the lished musician Jackson Maine, played by Bradley moon in First Man and Robin Hood taking an- Cooper, at where else? A gay bar! other shot at the bullseye with Taron Egerton. —Halloween: (Oct. 19) Who else besides Cher More comic-book movies are on the way before doesn’t know how to say farewell? Michael Myers the end of 2018, with Venom, Spider-Man: Into returns 40 years later to battle it out once again the Spider-Verse and Aquaman. The popular Au- with Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode for the tobot Bumblebee spins off from the Transformers’ last time. This is a direct sequel to the 1978 film world and Mary Poppins Returns with Emily Blunt which murders the previous continuity. in the starring role. Who is ready for a car chase —Can you Ever Forgive Me?: (Oct. 19) Melissa or a singalong? McCarthy stars as Lee Israel, a best-selling celeb- There are holiday happenings with Pharrell rity biographer and actor Richard E. Grant plays Williams narrating Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch and the her gay best friend. Many of the scenes were shot star-studded The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. at the gay bar Julius in the West Village that still Kiera Knightley and Richard E. Grant are both in exists today. Jason Momoa from Aquaman. The Nutcracker and portray LGBT characters in —The Happy Prince: (Oct. 19) Out actor Rupert Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. films based on true-life people from our history Everett multitasks as a writer, director and star of books. this biopic about Irish poet Oscar Wilde. A couple There are several fall opportunities to see mov- of Colins are along for the ride with Firth and ies early in film festivals around Chicago with Morgan as standout stars. The title refers to a ‘La Boheme’ at EXPO Chicago Reeling: The Chicago LGBT International Film children’s story that Wilde wrote. Festival Sept. 20-30 and the 52nd Chicago Inter- —Suspiria: (Oct. 26) Call Me By Your Name Lyric Oct., Jan. Sept. 27-30 national Film Festival Oct. 10-21. director Luca Guadagnino shifts genre gears by Giacomo Puccini’s romantic opera La Boheme EXPO Chicago: The International Exposition Here are a few films with upcoming release remaking horror maestro Dario Argento’s 1977 (which, among other things, inspired Rent) will of Contemporary & Modern Art will take place dates that have special interest for our rainbow classic, bringing Dakota Johnson, Chloe Grace run at Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Dr., on Sept. 27-30 at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall. community: Moretz, Tilda Swinton and original star Jessica Oct. 6-20 and Jan. 10-25. The seventh annual exposition will host 135 September Harper along for the ride. The two-hour, 15-minute co-production (be- galleries from 27 countries and 63 cities, and —A Simple Favor: (Sept. 14) This is a murder tween Lyric Opera of Chicago, London’s Royal introduce diverse programming. Said program- mystery thriller starring Anna Kendrick and Blake November Opera House-Covent Garden and Teatro Real ming will include the /Dialogues panel series, Lively in some of the best fashion seen on the —Bohemian Rhapsody: (Nov. 2) British band Madrid) will mark Lyric’s 64th season. Note that featuring artistic discourse with leading art- screen recently. Girl-on-girl kisses and past lesbi- Queen will rock you with the story of singer Fred- the new curtain time for performances Monday ists, curators, designers and arts profession- an relationships are all part of the fun in a movie die Mercury, leading into the group’s performing through Friday will be 7 p.m. als on the current issues that engage them; that will keep you guessing until the very end. No at Live Aid in 1985. Some in the LGBT community La Boheme centers on a group of young, spir- IN/SITU, featuring large-scale sculptures and spoilers, please! were concerned Mercury’s gay backstory might ited Bohemians living in the Latin Quarter of site-specific works; EXPO VIDEO, highlighting a —Colette: (Sept. 28) This is a biographical not be in the forefront, so stay tuned. 19th-century Paris. dynamic screening program for film, video and drama about the life of French novelist Gabrielle —The Girl in the Spider’s Web: (Nov. 9) Claire It will be sung in Italian, with projected Eng- new media works; and more. Sidonie Colette who had lesbian affairs during her Foy stars as bisexual hacker Lisbeth Salander in lish translations above the stage. See https://www.expochicago.com/. marriage. Keira Knightley stars in the movie along the film version of the popular novel. Visit LyricOpera.org/Boheme or call 312-827- with several trans actors spotlighting gender-de- —Boy Erased: (Nov. 9) Based on Garrad Con- 5600. 28 Sept. 26, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES NUNN ON ONE tuming. WW: When you see old sepia tone photos, FILM people are buttoned down. Colette is the oppo- sure everyone had the right chemistry with site. You can’t believe how far she goes by us- Wash Westmoreland Keira? ing clothes to express herself. Rather than going WW: The most crucial role, of course, was the frilly and over adorned, she goes for simple lines. role of Willy. I thought Dominic West had the It is very striking and [utilizes] looks that would creatively connects right approach to it, because he takes characters work now. When Keira wears them they look really that behave badly and uses charm to get away astonishing. with it. He and Keira knew of each other’s work, Our costume designer, Andrea Flesch, had a to ‘Colette’ but had never met. The first time they read to- theory that everyone in the background should BY JERRY NUNN committed to both. gether, it was like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers have multicolors, feathers and beads. Colette WCT: What attracted you to Colette in the dancing together. It was magical! should have a simplicity and be the modern one. Independent film director Wash Westmoreland first place? They had a rapport and it was a filmmaker’s As Colette progresses, she should move away from continues to take on new endeavors that push WW: The initial attraction was the character of dream come true. We had a long shot where they feminine clothes to more masculine signaling. the mainstream idea of cinema, such as The Fluff- Colette herself. She has a very dynamic personal- were just talking to each other and it was fasci- WCT: I almost didn’t recognize Keira at the er and the doc Gay Republicans. ity and a brilliant writer. nating because it was like playing tennis with beginning of Colette. He paid his dues as a camera assistant on the My co-writer, co-director and late husband their minds. WW: She is amazingly convincing as a teenager movie Hustler White, then worked his way up to Richard Glatzer was an avid reader and started The other people were either incredible actors at the beginning of the film. She goes from 19 to co-writing and co-directing Quinceanera with his reading a lot about Colette. He felt there was a or discoveries that we auditioned for the roles. 34. We worked on her body language being freer husband Richard Glatzer, making it a hit at Sun- movie there and that being the ideal marriage to We put together a very inclusive and diverse as a young person. Her voice was higher and less dance in 2006. show in a feature film. It’s the story of a hetero- cast, including trans actors that were playing cis- confident. You see as she progresses, all of these With Still Alice he broke into mainstream sexual marriage with an unexpected queer explo- gender roles, lesbians that were playing straight things change. thanks to Julianne Moore winning an Oscar for sion in it. roles and straight people that were playing les- WCT: What does Colette say to women in cur- Best Actress. Glatzer was fighting amyotrophic WCT: That reminded me of another movie bian roles. Actors of color who were playing char- rent times? lateral sclerosis in the hospital at the time of the win, then later died in 2015. Westmoreland’s latest project, Colette, is based on the life of Gabrielle Sidonie Colette, and stars Keira Knightley. The film tells the story of a hus- band-and-wife writing team, wherein the wife, Colette, is determined to break free of her hus- band Willy’s hold, at any cost. Windy City Times: How was working with Keira Knightley for Colette? Wash Westmoreland: I really enjoyed working with her, and she’s an incredible actress. She’s also a lovely person. We got along very well straight away. I heard she was interested in the film. I was at the Shanghai International Film Festival. We were Facetiming and I only had two percent left on my battery. I told her, “No one else can do this Eleanor Tomlinson and Keira Knightley talking with Wash Westmoreland on set of Colette. role but you.” She said, “Let’s do it then,” and my Photo by Robert Viglasky/Bleecker Street phone died! I was just left looking at my phone. Keira has a lot of things in common with Co- acters in history who were white. It was about lette. She has a spark, intelligence, sensuality called Professor Marston and the Wonder Wom- letting actors explore different lives, but includ- WW: One thing that caught me by surprise and a wry sense of humor. She has it all. She en about a polyamorous relationship also. ing everybody within the casting process. was the extraordinary relevance to this film to really invested in researching the character, read- WW: Colette and Willy had an open relationship WCT: Isn’t that something you have done the discussions that are happening around the ing a lot of books and immersing herself in the too, so it is interesting to see from that perspec- throughout your career, by showing things not #MeToo movement, Time’s Up and LGBT issues. world of Colette. tive. He laid down the rules of it. He felt Colette usually depicted on screen? The story is essentially about a man who takes WCT: I had heard she was a diva. Were there could have affairs as long as they were women, WW: Yes. Richard and I always approached films credit for a woman’s work. That is happening a moments like this? feeling that was not threatening. by seeing the genre rules and breaking them. We thousand times a day all over the world. I think WW: No. She was completely down to earth and This was a time when the feminist underground want to see something new so in all of our films the Colette story finds resonance with a lot of really nice. She has an assistant who was lovely. was rising with some radical thinking lesbians we have tried to do that. women who are kept down by male power struc- She had a child with her and is a working mom. that altered her world view. They were very in- With Colette, we tried to do something that tures in the workplace. She balances being an actress during the day and strumental to the path for her liberation. wasn’t a typical period piece. In many period As far as LGBT issues [go], it shows that queer taking care of her daughter very well. She’s very WCT: How was casting the movie to make pieces you wait two hours for a couple to be en- characters are part of history. There were a lot gaged. In Colette, she’s in the barn with Willy of secret histories of queer people in the past, within the first five minutes having sex. There’s but Colette was actually public about it. I think in 60 businesses, vacant storefronts and pub- no consequence for a woman being sexual, which it is astonishing that she kissed her girlfriend at Beverly Art lic art locations across the neighborhood. The is something else revolutionary in this genre. the Moulin Rouge, causing a riot. She went with self-guided walking event will take place from WCT: I noticed you dedicated Colette to what felt natural above and beyond what society Walk Sept. 29 noon to 7 p.m. from West 95th Street to 111th Richard at the end. allowed. I feel she is inspiring for anyone facing On Saturday, Sept. 29, The Alliance (Beverly St., and from South Western Avenue to the Me- WW: It was really his baby and his idea. He barriers in their lives. They should just charge Area Arts Alliance) will host the fifth annual tra line on South Wood Street. wrote the first draft in 2001. He passed away through them like Colette did! Beverly Art Walk, a free event to highlight the Free trolleys will be available to guide visi- about three and a half years ago, but before that, Colette challenges the norm at Landmark’s arts uprising in the Beverly and Morgan Park tors on the route. he said he wanted Colette to be our next film. Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark St. on neighborhoods. Visit BeverlyArts.org/events/5th-annual- It was part of the grieving process to make this Friday, Sept. 28, with showtimes at Landmark- The Beverly Art Walk will feature works by beverly-art-walk/. creatively connected to him. Theatres.com/Chicago. nearly 200 area artists and artisans displayed WCT: Talk about the androgyny of the cos- See the film review of Colette on page 29. WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 29 FILM REVIEW discussed around the table today. As Willy of- gender film critic heartily approves! fers opinions of theater, art, books, etc., he gets The casting goes beyond this. Westmoreland FILM into a disagreement with his mother-in-law-to- seems to draw from the Hamilton playbook in Their marriage is a real depiction of the sexism, be, Sido (Fiona Shaw). She suggests that she’ll other roles. The film has an Asian-British actor New movie much less the feminism, of their time. Willy is see it and make up her own mind, reminiscent of and a person of color cast as people who were an author, but when money troubles become too present-day situations wherein large numbers of white in real life. The casting in general seems to real, he revisits an old manuscript written by Co- white men offer their critical thoughts as women go with the vibe of who Colette was as a person. reclaims lette. The resulting Claudine à l’école becomes and other minorities struggle to break through. The film ignores some of the typical tropes a huge hit. Three sequels would follow over the Knightley handles the role brilliantly, taking that audiences associate with period films. Cin- next three years. Claudine becomes popular and on the character from ages 19-34. Colette was a ematographer Giles Nuttgens tends to keep us voice of there’s discussion of stage plays and film rights. woman who had no fear. For the era in which she focused in on Colette’s every move as the cam- Feeling trapped in a marriage and without a lived, some of the things Colette did were uncom- era follows her. First-time film composer Thomas voice, Colette starts to explore herself sexu- mon for women, especially in public. Adès pays tribute to the innovative music of the ‘Colette’ ally. There’s a fling with Southern belle Georgie I do have to applaud director Wash Westmo- era with his score. BY DANIELLE SOLZMAN Raoul-Duval (Eleanor Tomlinson), followed by a reland for some of his casting decisions. While A film such as Colette speaks to the current long-term relationship with Marquise de Belbeuf transgender talent are starting to become more times, especially with its commentary on sexism. Telling the story of French literary icon Sidonie- or “Missy” (Denise Gough). Missy dresses in a common on screen, casting trans actors in cis- It speaks to the women working hard at lifting Gabrielle Colette, Colette is a film that is appro- masculine manner. History describes Missy as a gender roles is still rare. But Westmoreland did up their voice. After all, Colette wasn’t allowed priate for this new era following the start of the lesbian but Colette refers to Missy using the mas- so anyway in Colette, by casting Jake Graf and to have her voice. While her husband was get- Times Up movement. culine pronouns, which may suggest that Missy Rebecca Root as Gaston De Caillavet and novelist ting all of the success, she was the one doing all The film starts as Henri Gauthier-Villars, best should be viewed as a transgender man. Rachilde, respectively. Never mind the fact that the ghostwriting. It wasn’t until after their failed known as Willy (Dominic West), gets engaged Right off the bat, the film drives into some this film is a period piece, but it’s still a rare feat marriage in which she starts getting the credit to Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (Keira Knightley). critical commentary that could seemingly be in films taking place in present day. This trans- she rightfully deserved.

NUNN ON ONE WCT: What do you think about the RuPaul found a Latin trans actress for two years to play controversy with trans performers on his show? that role. It was a beautiful thing with timing LS: It upsets me. I had auditioned for the show for everybody. and couldn’t make it because of the boob thing. Two months after getting that part I landed Aptly named Lila Star If you go on YouTube you can find my audition my second role in a film. It hasn’t been released tape. I was told to talk deeper and act differently. yet. I have to film the last scene of it because it When I went to DragCon someone told me to is being shot in 35mm and is more expensive. I takes Chicago not waste my time by auditioning again since I play leader of a group of activists and it is never have boobs. I was so sad because I love drag and even discussed in the film that I am trans, which I think if I was on the show I could keep up! I love. scene by storm WCT: You also do make-up? WCT: Isn’t that more validating that you can BY JERRY NUNN Star also spent some time talking about her life LS: Yes. I was self taught, then I majored in play any role? during the making of TranHeist. cosmetology. My dad passed away when I was LS: I think so. I don’t want to be defined play- The multitalented Lila Star is the mother to the Windy City Times: Is your last name an hom- in college so I left that to perform full time. I ing the escort or the prostitute. That is the prob- House of Escada and currently lives in Chicago age to Brenda K. Starr? got my bartending license and a few years ago lem with a lot of trans roles. where she performs regularly. Star is known as Lila Star: No. As a child I always fascinated by started studying at Second City. I think things are getting better. Laverne Cox the first, Latina trans rapper and nothing can stars so I took that on. I was born on the North WCT: You rap also? has opened a lot of doors for trans actresses. She take away that crown. In 2011, she released a Side of Chicago. I grew up singing in church and LS: I rap! I am the first Latina trans rapper. I has shown they can be more than escort. She hip-hop single, “I’m a Killa,” and has released mariachi with my grandfather, but English is my just wrapped up my first music video with a reg- even started that way. I saw in her bio she played several songs since. first language. I am Puerto Rican and Black. gaeton song with Lester Rey called “Ni Santa.” an escort early on. For many years she has continued to perform in WCT: How is your family? He is so soulful. When you hear the song it has an I am not oblivious to it all. I know there will be drag at The Baton Show Long as well as the Kit LS: Super-supportive. My dad passed in 2007, acoustic, reggae-type feel to it. It is beautiful. bumps in the road. I know I have to prove myself Kat Lounge and Supper Club. Star competed in but he was my biggest fan. I am one of the lucky WCT: Talk about your film Lakeshore Drive. and don’t mind doing that, whether as a person, the ballroom scene more than 10 years ago and ones, because not everyone has that support sys- LS: That was my first film—right out of school, a businesswoman or a trans actress. I am down won Miss Latina Continental 2015. tem. which I was lucky enough to land. When I first for it. I’m a gangster. I can do it! Her film debut came with the short movie Lake- I was put in a bubble until I was 19, because got the audition for the part, that project was Read the full interview with Lila online at shore Drive, leading her to the new project Tra- my parents were very strict with me. I finally shelved by the director because they hadn’t WindyCityMediaGroup.com. nHeist. went to my first drag show at a gay club. I didn’t Chicago filmmaker Maureen Maundu is a stu- know a transgender person. After that, it sparked dent at Tribeca Flashpoint College and is the di- a light bulb and I could relate. rector and producer on the film. It’s the story of You know Monica Beverly Hillz from RuPaul’s Lila Star. a trans strip club manager named Morgan, played Drag Race? She was the first one to take me to Photo by Maureen Maundu by Star, who is anxious to have her gender-reas- a gay club. signment surgery. Her friend Iffy asks her to help WCT: She used to work at the teen clubs. steal money from her drug-dealing boyfriend and LS: She did. She wasn’t doing drag then, she they come up with a plan to do so. was living in Indiana. I reached out and got her Maundu took a break from filming to talk about booked for her first job by pretending to be her creating TranHeist, saying even though she is manager. Then we started to perform. straight she wanted to learn more about the LGBT That is when I learned about the transgender community: “When I saw the tape of Lila audi- community and reached out to Howard Brown. tioning I knew I had found her! When I met her I started to transition and my parents realized she was so relaxed and I asked deep questions. it was not a phase. I learned that I could still I didn’t want my script to offend people. Morgan perform as a transgender person. I didn’t want to is a character from the culture and not anyone I just do shows even though I do it to this day. I knew, so Lila made me feel great about the proj- wanted to act and make music. I love drag so I ect.” always go back to it. 30 Sept. 26, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES Hello, Columbus: Much more than a college town BY ANDREW DAVIS

I’ve had the good fortune to travel to Columbus, TRAVEL Ohio, a few times—and I’ve convinced more and self. (By the way, the five-year-old Kitchen has more people that it’s a great place to visit. a newer event space, The Studio at The Kitchen, Why is that? Because, despite some individuals’ conveniently located next door.) perceptions that The Ohio State University (and Then, it was the fabulous and friendly drag don’t forget to put “the” in front of the school’s queen Plenty O’Smiles (aka Plenty O’Cookies; name) dominates the city, there really IS a lot to http://www.plentyocookies.com/) who took the see and do. After all, it is the state capital. reins and instructed us in the art of decorating My most recent trip to Columbus involved doing cookies. She was incredibly patient, even with some of the same things I’d previously done—but some of us stragglers (ahem). Be sure to book also involved some exploration, revealing new as- her; she really is adorable. pects of this charming city. And from there we went to Club Diversity (863 S. High St.; http://clubdiversity.com/), a DIY and diversity very laid-back space with friendly staff and stiff After checking in at Hotel LeVeque (50 W. drinks—the kind of place where one could easily Broad St.; http://www.hotellevequecolumbus. become a regular. (For a list of Columbus’ LGBT com/)—which still looks and feels as fabulous as clubs, see ColumbusGayBars.com.) The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. ever—I was in an LGBT media group that checked Photo by Andrew Davis out the scene at The Kitchen (231 E. Livingston Clintonville, COSI and vets Ave.; http://thekitchencolumbus.com/), which The next day, I decided to hit a part of Co- lives—to defending this country.) www.karavancolumbus.com/) had Turkish trea- employs a concept called “participatory dining.” lumbus I’d never experience: Clintonville. What After that serious visit, things turned a bit sures I couldn’t resist. Make your own custom- I honestly didn’t see the point of preparing dish- resulted were some nice surprises. lighter upon visiting Basi Italia restaurant (811 ized candles at The Candle Lab (751 N. High es myself (that’s why I pay THEM), but the point Clintonville is a large neighborhood, and it Highland St.; http://www.basi-italia.com/), with St.; https://www.thecandlelab.com/); marvel of doing this became clear (even if it was clear reminded me of Chicago’s Andersonville—and I charismatic chef/co-owner Johnny Dornback. The at the leather goods at Fount (668 N. High St.; that I’m not the next Rachael Ray): bonding. As later understood why. I discovered after I arrived menu is as audacious Dornback, with tantaliz- http://fountleather.com/); and pore through the we made such dishes as olive bread swirls, it was in the area that it’s extremely LGBT-friendly, and ing items such as arancine fumo (with saffron, vintage CDs at Magnolia Thunderpussy (1155 nice to have conversations with other people, many lesbians call the district home. (In fact, my smoked mozzarella and crushed tomato marina- N. High St.; https://www.thunderpussy.com/), even comparing cooking skills—and the items Uber driver from Clintonville to my next desti- ra), braised beef shortribs and cannoli awaiting a 47-year-old store named after a San Francisco turned out quite well, if I do say/write so my- nation happened to be a lesbian who said she customers. burlesque performer. and her wife hoped to move there.) By the way, For a fantastic meal, Service Bar (1230 Court- those in the area must check out the wonderfully Short North sojourn land Ave.; https://servicebarcolumbus.com/)) is named Dough Mama (3335 N. High St.; https:// The area of Columbus known as the Short North definitely a place to hit. Among the cool dishes www.dough-mama.com/), which not only has is, simply, a treasure. from Executive Chef Avishar Barua are Cheese a nice selection of bakery items but an all-day It may hold a special place in my heart because & Poof (with fire-roasted pimento spread, pork menu that includes biscuits smothered in deli- my initial stay in the city was a Hampton Inn rinds and barrel-aged hot sauce), lamb wontons, cious sausage gravy. in this neighborhood. However, to me, the Short sticky pork shank (with papaya salad, sticky rice And in a shift, this writer (who was a biology North has practically something for everyone. and Thai basil) and cinco leches cake. major in college) decided to check out the sci- Now, the Hotel LeVeque doesn’t have a spa Then, there is the Gallery Hop (http://short- ence museum COSI (333 W. Broad St.; https:// (yet)—but Le Meridien Columbus, The Joseph north.org/arts-galleries/gallery-hop/), during cosi.org/). Yes, there were approximately 5,000 (620 N. High St.; https://www.marriott.com/ which people visit galleries and witness the tal- kids when I went (and I might be lowballing that hotels/travel/cmhdm-le-meridien-columbus-the- ents of street performers the first Saturday of number), but hurdling the little ones was worth joseph/) has pretty cool spa suites, and includes each month. It’s a can’t-miss experience that’s it, as this place has some incredible exhibitions, a warmed marble seat that feels like heaven. And been going on for more than three decades (and, including the Dinosaur Gallery. (For the kids and this hotel is pretty unique, as it has everything by the way, be sure to check out the many murals kids at heart, there’s now a “Hot Wheels: Race to from innovative artwork to athletic gear that it along the street, including a recent one of late Win” exhibit through Jan. 6. loans its guests. comedian Richard Pryor). Speaking of museums, our group was allowed And no visit to the Short North is complete However, there is still so much more to do in to take an early look at the National Veter- without stopping by North Market (59 Spruce Columbus, including visiting nationally known at- ans Memorial and Museum (300 W. Broad St.; St.; https://www.northmarket.com/), with doz- tractions such as the Columbus Zoo and Franklin https://www.nationalvmm.org/), which officially ens of merchants offering everything from choc- Park Conservatory, along with the renowned art opens Oct. 27, complete with a keynote speech olate-bacon donuts to Indian dishes to stone- museum Pizzuti Collection; and quaint neighbor- from Gen. Colin Powell. We were informed that crab claws—and there’s a large dining area on hoods like German Village. Columbus—take it all the facility will include timelines, interactive ki- the second floor. in! osks and 25 stories from veterans, among other Walking along the main strip of the Short Many thanks go to Experience Columbus and things. (When asked if any LGBT veterans will be North—High Street—reveals a cornucopia of Weirick Communications for arranging this visit. profiled, Windy City Times was told that the me- stores and inviting opportunities. Big Fun (672 Also, I’m grateful to Short North Trolley (https:// morial/museum “scoured the country.” I’m really N. High St.; https://bigfuncolumbus.com/) has www.shortnorthtrolley.com/), and very interest- A lamp at Karavan. hoping this results in at least one LGBT vet being vintage toys (Albert Einstein bobblehead, any- ing co-founder Jeff Shugarts, for the transport. Photo by Andrew Davis profiled, after so many devoted time—and their one?), while Karavan (771 N. High St.; https:// WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 31 NUNN ON ONE Adam Rippon skates into success BY JERRY NUNN SPORTS Figure skater Adam Rippon won a bronze medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics, making history by confident in who I am. Everybody will have an becoming the first openly gay U.S. athlete to do opinion. I think it is better to be vocal than to so. He followed that by being the first openly gay be silent. To be silent means you don’t stand for celebrity to win Dancing with the Stars. Rippon anything. came out publicly in 2015. WCT: Is that why you started talking about The road to success was full of ups and downs politics? for Rippon, who started skating at 10. The hard AR: I started talking about politics because I work has paid off with many medals and acco- was asked about it. I didn’t go to the Olympics lades over the years. to talk about politics; someone asked me a ques- He also joined other celebrities on Sept. 24 tion. If I get a question about it, then I will an- for a benefit reading of The Laramie Project for swer it. I thought it was important and wanted to a video leading up to Laramie: A Legacy in New be honest about what I was asked. York City. If I was asked about the competition, I would Before his recent Chicago House Speaker Se- say I was nervous or just doing well. I answered ries appearance with Wanda Sykes, Rippon spoke honestly. When I was asked a question about the about his current life and upcoming projects. current administration I answered it honestly. Windy City Times: How did you wind up WCT: Has that spiraled into more questions working with Chicago House? asking about politics in interviews? Adam Rippon: I just had a great meeting with AR: I have been more politically involved now. the team, and they went over everything that I think some people wonder why, because it can they do. It is such an incredible organization. I be such a taboo subject matter and really polar- am super grateful to be working with them. izing to talk about, but I think it’s important. If WCT: Do you work with charities often? we don’t talk about it, then we are never going to AR: I try to. I get so much joy out of helping be on the same page. other people. I try to be involved with as many WCT: Why do you think more sports figures different communities as possible. are not out of the closet? WCT: What is your day-to-day schedule like? AR: There is an underlying notion that if you AR: Each day, I open up my Google Calendar are gay then you are more effeminate, or not and see what is on it, because I usually don’t strong. There is a mentality that women can’t be know. I have a great group of people around me as strong as men, and if you are feminine like who keep me organized. It has been a lot of trav- a woman, you are not a fierce competitor. It is el with a few things sprinkled in. obviously bullshit. WCT: Why did you decide to come out pub- I think you never want to be perceived as weak. licly in the first place? I know in my experiences as a competitive ath- AR: For a really long time, I thought it would lete, I never wanted anyone to think I was weak. be something that I wouldn’t share with anybody. When I finally came out publicly, I felt so much stronger and was no longer hiding a part of who Life kind of takes over. I felt it was really im- Adam Rippon. I am, especially in my sport where you are out portant. Photo by Jerry Nunn I am from a really small town. Two weeks ago, a there by yourself. You have a few minutes to religious university outside of my hometown just show who you are and what you are made of. The ultimately it was my choice. ate, but I wasn’t one of those people so… expelled someone for being gay. That is the area best way to show all of me was to be honest with WCT: What do people misunderstand about WCT: What are you working on next? I come from and why it is important to talk about everybody about who I was. ice skaters? AR: I filmed an episode of Will & Grace; that who I am and where I come from, to normalize it. WCT: What are your thoughts on Johnny AR: They think it is a lot easier than it really was great. I just filmed an episode of Dancing I have been really lucky to do things where Weir? is. Being an athlete of any kind is a full-time job. with the Stars: Juniors that premieres Oct. 7 and someone who is out can get in the home of AR: I think someone like Johnny Weir helped When I was training for the Olympics, I would we run through December. someone who wouldn’t necessarily be accepting make the road for me a lot easier. Are we the skate for about four hours, then there was an- I started working with the When We All Vote of someone who is gay. same person? No. He’s way more flamboyant than other four hours of work off of the ice. It was campaign for the midterm elections. WCT: Do people reach out to you through so- I am. I appreciate someone like Johnny Weir so eight hours of working out. I think every sport WCT: One special thought from the Dancing cial media about this? much, though—especially within my own sport. takes about that much time. with the Stars experience? AR: Yes. I have heard from tons of people. The WCT: Do you pick the music you skate to? WCT: Wearing the harness at the Oscars AR: It was on of the busiest times of my life. stories are really amazing. AR: I do. When I was younger I had some input made a splash. What were the best and worst It was fantastic. It is crazy because I still feel like me. I haven’t from choreographers and coaches, but when I got moments of wearing it? I have been able to work with that Dancing changed and things aren’t really that different. older, it was really a collaboration between me AR: In men’s fashion, there is a limited amount with the Stars family more with Juniors, so I felt That I was able to reach so many people and and my choreographer. of choices. With a woman’s gown it can be so right at home. It was great to be with everybody. share who I was, then to have them reach out You can have a great idea, but when you talk many shapes and cuts, but a tuxedo is pretty WCT: If they made a movie about your life— and say I have been helpful to them, has been to somebody they may think it’s awful. You want straightforward. like I, Tonya—who would you want to play amazing. to talk to someone you really trust, because you Getting to work with Jeremy Scott—who loves you? WCT: Is there the other side to it where peo- can’t see yourself skate. cutouts, straps and harnesses—was such a bless- AR: I thought Allison Janney was so good. I ple ask why are you involved in politics? I had a great team around me getting ready for ing. I did it because I thought it was interesting would want her to play me! [Laughs] AR: Of course, but I am 28 years old. I am the games. They helped me pick my music, but and fun. Some people felt like it wasn’t appropri- 32 Sept. 26, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES many corporate and community teams partici- Photos by Carrie Maxwell pating. This is the largest HIV event in Chicago where the whole community is uniting in the fight against HIV.” AFC Board Member Craig Johnson led The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt presenta- tion. Volunteers carried one of the two panels featuring Chicago-area people who have died of the disease throughout the crowd while Johnson read their names. “Coming back from D.C. where things are tough, and being a part of this extraordinary event, gives me hope,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-5). “The common question I get in the time of Trump is, ‘What can I do?’ … [T]he answer is love each other through word and deed, and there is no better deed than what people are doing here to- day. After we flip the House, this should be a lot more fun run, because we are going to have the money to provide the healthcare and do the criti- cal research to make this an AIDS-free world.” State Rep. Thaddeus Jones (29th District) spoke about his two nephews who died of AIDS being the driving force behind his HIV/AIDS advocacy. Jones also called on everyone to sign the peti- AIDS Run & Walk tion to have the state legislature override Gov. Rauner’s veto of HB 4096. That bill would estab- lish a Medicaid single drug formulary and provide unveils ‘Live True. access for HIV/AIDS drugs sooner. The Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus performed “Sea- sons of Love” and “True Colors” while Jeff Award Be You’ at annual event nominee Donica Lynn sang “You’ll Never Walk BY CARRIE MAXWELL dernik kicked off the event with his special brand Alone.” of humor. He also spoke about being diagnosed Austin Head from Fitness Formula Club led Amidst perfect weather conditions, approximate- with HIV in 2009, adding that, about five years warm-up stretches for participants ahead of the ly 2,500 participants gathered for the AIDS Foun- ago, he decided to get involved with this event run/walk while DJ Harry Tyner spun tunes during dation of Chicago’s (AFC) 17th annual AIDS Run after he saw an ad for it on the CTA. the race. & Walk Sept. 23 at Soldier Field. This year’s theme WGN entertainment reporter Dean Richards First-place winners in the 10K race include Beth was “Live True. Be You.” emceed the opening ceremonies. He emphasized Mask in the female category and Ryan Mork in the Since the event began 16 years ago, over $5 that the event’s significance to the community male category. There were no participants in the million has been raised to help many organiza- is one reason why WGN has hosted it since its gender-neutral category. The 5K race first-place tions do their work. inception. He also called on everyone to vote on winners were Vanessa Righeimer in the female AFC and 34 CommunityDirect partners from Nov. 6. category, Mark Begovich in the male category and across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs are “We remember and honor those who we have Irvin Almonte in the gender-neutral category. the fundraising beneficiaries this year, with 90 lost in this crisis through the years, and salute The event also featured free flu shots courtesy percent of the money raised going directly to those who are living healthy with HIV,” said of Walgreens, a MillerCoors Beer Garden, free hot these organizations. Over $360,000 has been Richards. “There is still so much more work to be dogs from the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile and raised so far and fundraising will be ongoing done.” many sponsor booths. through Nov. 15. “The AIDS epidemic has taken the lives of so See http://events.aidschicago.org/site/ These partners are Agape Missions, Alexian many of our friends and loved ones,” said AFC TR?fr_id=1480&pg=entry to make a donation Brothers Housing and Health Alliance, Catholic President and CEO John Peller. “What would the and https://gtzillinois.hiv/ for more informa- Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Center world look like if we were able to learn from and tion. on Halsted, Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus, Chi- be inspired by the people we have lost? Their cago Center for HIV Elimination, Dance for Life, voices and vision have been taken from us by the Chicago House & Social Service Agency, Chicago most stigmatized disease on the planet. Today we Recovery Alliance, Chicago Women’s AIDS Proj- are here to carry on their legacy.” ect, Children’s Home & AID, CORE Foundation, Peller called on everyone to observe a moment Erie Family Health, Heartland Alliance, Howard of silence for two leaders in the community who Brown Health, Legal Council for Health Justice, have passed away in the past few months—Mar- Loyola University Medical Center, Lurie Children’s cia Lipetz, AFC’s first full-time executive direc- SID, Men & Women in Prison Ministries, Michael tor; and Dan Bigg, Chicago Recovery Alliance’s Reese Research & Education Foundation, Midwest founder and executive director. AIDS Training + Education Center, New Age Ser- “We are almost done building a roadmap to- vices, Night Ministry, Open Door Clinic, Pediatric ward the day in Illinois without a single new AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative, Pride Action HIV transmission,” said Peller. “The campaign is Tank, Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chi- called Getting to Zero Illinois and the goal is to cago, Puerto Rican Cultural Center—Vida/SIDA, end the HIV epidemic in the state by 2030.” Specialized Assistance Services Inc., Season of Peller also told this publication that “we are Concern, Sinai Health Systems, UI Health Com- elated by the weather and that fundraising is munity Clinic Network and Youth Outlook. looking really strong. The support from the com- Jeff Award-winning director Christopher Paz- munity is incredible. We are thrilled to have so WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 33

John Schneider and son Mahin. Photo courtesy of John Schneider SPORTS of day one, when he rode 103 miles. When asked about being the youngest Ride par- Father, 12-year-old ticipant ever, Mahin simply shrugged his shoul- ders. John Schneider, 44, who is married to Nammi, son take part in said the Ride was a “privilege” to cycle alongside “so many fighters and people passionate about Ride for AIDS what they do.” The Ride exceeded his pre-event expectations, he said. Chicago “The outpouring of support for Mahin was in- credible and not what I had expected,” he said. “He was like a mascot. Mahin was very nervous because I always bring him to events where he is the only kid. He kept asking, will there be other kids. I kept saying, probably not. I think includ- ing him in these sorts of activities are so impor- tant to his development.” John acknowledged the challenge that is the annual Ride, but added, “I am part of something special.” “The final 10 miles of the first day were the hardest, particularly for Mahin,” John said. “His hardest point was a fall he had and then the fi- nal 10 miles. Particularly when his odometer said 100 miles, but then we had another 5 [miles or so] to go. The first day was 103 miles and [the] odometer was off by 2. I bought him the odom- eter so I didn’t have to hear ‘are we there yet?’ the entire Ride.” John said his personal highlights of the Ride BY ROSS FORMAN After the Ride, Dad was brimming with pride, Mahin is in the seventh-grade at Lab School in were the long beach and coastal riding [areas particularly for his son. Chicago. He plays competitive soccer and admit- and] seeing people who had not previously rid- John Schneider lives on the North Side, yet “I did a long walk at his age, but that was ted that he had “some trepidation” before the den using their mental power to get through.” has been working on the South Side of Chicago it. He has a special capacity for these sorts of Ride. When asked about participating in the Ride to around HIV prevention since 2001. He is a fierce things,” John said. “We were both very tired,” Afterward, Mahin said the Ride was “just as support those impacted by HIV/AIDS, Schneider advocate for ensuring resources are available in after the two-day, almost-200 mile ride. hard as climbing Mt. Olympus.” said he is “hopeful that we will reach no new neighborhoods most impacted by HIV and that When asked if they’d do it again, John said But the youngster also was filled with pride. cases by 2041, which is our Center’s projection. clinical settings are affirming, responsive to cli- they absolutely would “I was happy [to finish] and excited to get [to The official Illinois projections are for 2030, so I ent needs and a fun place to work. “In the final mile of the Ride, we made a pact eat] Cheetos,” which he normally doesn’t get to am optimistic and driven to do all I can to con- “I specialize in providing high quality primary to do it again in the next five years, maybe for enjoy, he said. tribute to this effort.” care, sexual health, hormone therapy and HIV the 20th anniversary,” of the Ride, Schneider Mahin said his Ride highlight was cycling along care to young Black gay, bisexual and other MSM said. the beach and crossing the finish line at the end as well as Black transgender persons,” he said. “My clinic is at Howard Brown 55th Street, where Admission is $25, and $20 for Frank Lloyd PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or call 773-777- I am medical director. My five hours of clinic each Wright Trust members; University of Chicago 9884. week is busy and the highlight of the week. I Architect to discuss alumni, faculty and staff; and AIA Chicago have learned so much about what it takes to live local projects members. Student admission is $5. For more intersectional (SGM and Black) and how that im- information, visit FLWright.org/thinkinginto- Pro-LGBTQ group pacts health outcomes. Oct. 2 in Loop thefuture. “I work in HIV and know firsthand what people Mark Sexton—co-founder of the firm that HomeField forms living with HIV go through as well as those who designed the Millennium Park’s Crown Fountain Looking to fill a gap in networking, knowl- are vulnerable to HIV.” (2004) in collaboration with artist Jaume Plen- E. Faye Butler in edge and training for LGBTQ employees and Schneider also is a biker, so participating this sa—will tell the story behind the fountain and their allies in the sports and entertainment September in the 15th annual Ride For AIDS Chi- other projects in the 40-year history of Chicago- ‘Gypsy’ Oct. 12- field, a group of industry professionals has cago seemed logical. based Krueck + Sexton Architects on Tuesday, launched a new nonprofit organization called The catch was, he did the two-day Ride along Oct. 2, at the the University Club, 76 E. Monroe Nov. 25 HomeField Alliance. with his 12-year-old son, Mahin, who is believed St. (The venue has changed.) Porchlight Music Theatre’s Mainstage 2018-19 The organization seeks to create relation- to be the youngest Ride participant ever. The evening will start with a 5 p.m. cocktail season launches with Gypsy, A Musical Fable, ships and professional development opportuni- “I take him to many HIV prevention or other reception followed by Sexton’s presentation at Oct, 12-Nov. 25, at The Ruth Page Center for the ties across teams, leagues, organizations and health fair events that our Center runs on the 6 p.m. Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. other stakeholders through member networking South Side, so this was just another one,” Schnei- Another important Chicago project by Krueck E. Faye Butler will star in the production, events and public programs. der said. “He is a young athlete and I have seen + Sexton is the Spertus Institute of Jewish Stud- which features a book by Arthur Laurents, music A registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, Home- him accomplish some other long endurance ac- ies (2007). Also, the firm recently completed by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Field Alliance, Inc. NFP is headquartered in Chi- tivities, like hiking. I thought he could do it. He restoration work on two Mies van der Rohe mas- Single tickets are $20-$66 and are on sale cago, with a focus on membership from across tends to be shy and I thought it would help him terworks: the 860-880 Lake Shore Drive apart- now, as are subscriptions to the entire Main- the United States and Canada. to interact with many people.” ments and Crown Hall at the Illinois Institute stage season that includes Gypsy, A Gentleman’s Those interested in membership can apply And it didn’t take much convincing for Mahin of Technology. Guide to Love & Murder and A Chorus Line; visit through HomefieldAlliance.org. to agree to ride, his dad said. 34 Sept. 26, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES

Ball celebrates contributions of trans pioneer BY VERNON HESTER DRAG/NIGHTLIFE On the evening of Sept. 22, Mothers LaSaia, Lauren and Jahari Mizrahi presented The Pay It known as “the mayor of Christopher Street,” a No Mind Ball in celebration of the contributions founding member of The Gay Liberation Front, co- of LGBTQ activist Marsha P. Johnson. founder of a trans-advocacy organization (Street The free event (which Brave Space Alliance pre- Transvestite Action Revolutionaries or S.T.A.R.) sented) featured a number of ball competitions, with close friend Sylvia Rivera, a model for Andy a buffet dinner and cash prizes with several icons Warhol, and an activist with ACT UP for the last of the ball scene in attendance. Emcees for the years of her life. She and Rivera also started Star evening included the Legendary Father Kentrele, House—a living space for young drag queens, Sha Sha Lauren and Denim Mizrahi, and judges trans women, gender non-conforming individuals for the competitions included, among others, La- and other LGBTQ+ street kids. Johnson died July Saia Wade and Solomon Arnold. 6, 1992. Johnson was a prominent figure at the Stone- For The Pay It No Mind Ball, the overflow crowd wall Uprising in 1969 and is often cited as throw- was treated to several performance categories ing the first brick that ignited the riot. Apart from and a seemingly endless night of entertainment being named by a number of Stonewall veterans as contestants competed in areas like New Vogue, interviewed in David Carter’s book Stonewall: The New Realness, Pretty Girl Realness, Executive Re- Riots that Sparked the Gay Revolution (Macmillun alness, Revolutionaries vs. Hippies, Hand Perfor- Publishing, 2004) for her actions, she was also mance (in white gloves), Sex Siren and Glitz and Glam. WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 35 BILLY MastersMasters

“America’s Got Talent got a bigger audience than the Emmys. Write your own punch line. It’s a Jewish holiday.”—Perennial awards show scribe Bruce Vilanch’s quip on the ratings for the Emmy Awards. If you missed the Emmy Awards, you weren’t alone. Not only were the ratings down 11 percent from last year; the show hit an all-time low. But don’t take these numbers as a waning interest solely in television—ratings for this year’s Oscars telecast were down 19 percent, while the Gram- mys tanked more than 23 percent. The decline for a televised awards show about television is also Bruce Vilanch pointed his usual acerbic lens deceptive—the vast majority of nominees were on the Emmys. for cable and streaming services, while the show WCT archival photo was hosted by Saturday Night Live cast members on NBC. Relevance is as hot a topic as diversity, Adam Rippon is officially an American treasure. which was the theme of the Emmy’s opening mu- Last week, he announced (on Twitter, of course): sical number. “Pretty cool to soon have something on display Since most of you missed the show, here are in the American History Museum. Now, I just some of my highlights. Jenifer Lewis showed her need to convince someone that they need to be support for Colin Kaepernick by arriving clad next to the ruby slippers.” Rippon donated his head to toe in Nike (and she threw in a high kick Olympic costume and skates to the Smithsonian on the red carpet just to show those bastards Institution’s National Museum of American His- she still could). After his first nomination 42 tory. years ago, Henry Winkler finally won an Emmy! I’d say Sesame Street qualifies as an Ameri- I’m not entirely sure Betty White knew where can treasure. And I’d place Ernie and Bert near she was, but she managed to pull it off ... even the top of the list of indelible inhabitants. Ev- though she was dangerously close to exclaiming, ery once in a while, people wonder whether the “Gladiator!” “roommates” are gay or straight. Former “Sesa- RuPaul presented an award with Leslie Jones. me” writer Mark Saltzman added fuel to the fire, Girl, would it kill you to wear a gown? Yes, I’m saying, “I always felt that without a huge agen- talking to you, Leslie! As to Ru, congrats on da, when I was writing Bert and Ernie, they were making history by winning Best Host of a Real- gay. I didn’t have any other way to contextualize ity Competition Series and snagging Best Reality them.” Competition Series with RuPaul’s Drag Race. Dar- It should be noted that the characters were ren Criss never misses an opportunity to remind actually created in the original Sesame Street us he’s straight. I LOVED the “Reparation Emmys” pilot in 1969; Saltzman didn’t start writing for sketch. Why is it that Tina Fey always looks as the show until 1984. The Sesame Workshop is- comfortable walking in a dress as Jodie Foster or sued a statement of their own: “Sesame Street have been). This particular honor is for her body Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg? Taraji, you work has always stood for inclusion and acceptance. of work on the silver screen. The presentation will that train! Sandra Oh is still trying to explain to It’s a place where people of all cultures and take place at the 10th Annual Governors Award her mother that she didn’t win (but as she said, backgrounds are welcome. Bert and Ernie were on Nov. 18—because, of course, they don’t have “It’s an honor just to be Asian”). I’m still not created to be best friends, and to teach young time to give it out during the Oscars telecast. convinced Tim Gunn isn’t being held hostage by children that people can get along with those Those of you in Southern California will want Heidi Klum and possibly the Symbionese Libera- who are very different from themselves. They also to save the date of Oct. 6. That’s when the AC tion Army. Lastly, that was an awfully chaste kiss added “they remain puppets, and do not have a Gallery in Hollywood will host a “red-carpet” life between Ricky Martin and his hubby. sexual orientation.” Tell that to Miss Piggy, who celebration of Tab Hunter, which will coincide I am proud to announce what is likely destined constantly lusts after an ambivalent amphibian: with a series of life-size paintings of the actor by to be one of this year’s Billy’s Holiday Gift Giv- Kermit. video director Vance Lorenzini. Hunter’s partner, ing Suggestions—the Stormy Daniels comic With all the buzz about Bradley Cooper’s re- Allan Glaser, came up with the idea of remember- book. Political Power: Stormy Daniels is available make of A Star Is Born, many media outlets say ing Hunter with this event, which will start at 6 digitally and in two collective and one hardcover that the one film you have to see FIRST isBarbra p.m. The exhibition runs through Nov. 28. edition on Amazon. It’s not what one would call Streisand’s remake of A Star Is Born. The 1976 When we’re saying goodbye to Tab (the actor, heavy reading—the 24-page comic will likely version has been available in the home video not the drink), it’s time to end yet another col- hold the attention of an 8-year-old boy or a market for years. However, Streisand recently re- umn. And what a long column it was. I barely 72-year-old commander-in-chief. Written and mastered it, added in some deleted scenes and have time to remind you to check outBillyMas- drawn by Joe Paradise, it chronicles Stormy’s spruced it up for Netflix. Well, you didn’t expect ters.com—the site that doesn’t need remaster- “journey from scrappy opportunist to unlikely her to sit back and let Lady Gaga have a moment, ing. As always, send your questions to me at Bil- feminist icon.” The artist kinda made Stormy look did you? [email protected] and I promise to get back like Pamela Anderson as Stripperella or Barb Wire, When I heard that Cicely Tyson was receiving to you before Ernie and Bert get married in a very and shows her in such situations as spanking a an honorary Oscar, I was sure it was for her stir- special episode of Sesame Street! So, until next sitting president. We’ll show some of the more ring performance at Aretha’s funeral—except, of time, remember: One man’s filth is another man’s choice illustrations on BillyMasters.com. course, that wasn’t a film (but it might as well bible. 36 Sept. 26, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES tacos come with chipotle-marinated pineapple, bacon wrap and tomatillo; and the Mama Gallucci salad features charred romaine, mandarin orange, avocado, blue cheese and a red-wine vinaigrette. the DISH One can’t-miss item is the smashburger, which Weekly Dining Guide in has a cheese skirt cooked into it—and is even better with egg and/or bacon. WINDY CITY TIMES For your pleasure, Merchant also has all-day breakfast items. They only number two (the SAVOR braves burrito and parfait bowl) but, hopefully, that will expand. And there’s only one dessert: Merchant; a budino that, unfortunately, wasn’t ready for breakfast at The Palm Smashburger at Merchant. patrons dining mid-afternoon. I have high hopes Photo courtesy of C. Louise PR for it, though—just like I do for Merchant. BY ANDREW DAVIS The restaurant also features a nice selection of Breakfast at The Palm One of the most challenging things for a drinks as well as cuisine that could be classified Not so long ago, I profiledThe Palm Restaurant restaurant is to retain the patrons from a similar as “globally influenced American fare”—items (in the Swissotel at 323 E. Upper Wacker Dr.; business that occupied the same spot. that ranged from solid to excellent. www.thepalm.com/restaurants/chicago/), and This was the daunting task facing the co- Regarding small plates, we tried items that lauded the quality of the food. (There’s also some owners of Merchant (3137 W. Logan Blvd.; managed to hit the highs and lows in one fell cool people-watching and you can even marvel https://www.merchantchicago.com), a Logan swoop. The elote fritters should be eaten with at the caricatures on the walls of members of the French toast at The Palm. Square restaurant that replaced longtime favorite the accompanying garlic aioli and cotija to get spot’s 837 Club, which offers exclusive benefits to Photo by Andrew Davis Dunlay’s on the Square. And, so far, Merchant the full effect—but the standout was certainly Palm regulars.) has met the challenge, according to co-owner the addictive broccoli gratin with mornay and Well, add breakfast to the reasons to swing poached lobster is cooked with egg and tomatoes, Christopher Huizar, attracting everyone from charred toast. (Think of your creamiest macaroni by The Palm. Sure, there are plenty of the usual chives and cheddar cheese—making for a can’t- families to couples to late-night guests. (Nick ’n cheese, but with the cruciferous vegetable In suspects, but there are also some unique items miss option. Even my dining partner raved about Barone and and Chef Matt Skolarus—of Girl & The place of the pasta.) That second dish is definitely that are practically sinful. the breakfast sandwich. Goat and Japonais, among other places—are the worthy of a return all by itself. Other small plates Start with the cinnamon-streusel Pullman The Palm’s breakfast menu isn’t the most other owners). By the way, there’s even a DJ to include the fried-rice arancini (same caveat as French toast. I don’t know exactly what’s in expansive—but the few items on there are bound entertain patrons on the weekends. with the fritters) and wings. this seemingly normal concoction, but these to make your day. Give this place a try. Overall, Merchant is a pretty attractive spot, There are many other intriguing-sounding were the best slices of French toast I’ve had in Note: Restaurant profiles/events are based with a cool decor and welcoming staff (and my items on the menu. A watermelon salad comes ages. And if you’re feeling truly indulgent, the on invitations arranged from restaurants and/ dining companion apparently loved the music, with feta, basil oil and shaved jalapeño; pastor lobster omelette is a phenomenal treat; perfectly or firms. as she sang along to the diverse mix of tunes).

BERLIN Harem of Oddities, Friday, Sept. 21. CHARLIE’S Joseph Stevens Photography Happy 25th anniversary! Joseph Stevens Photography WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 37 FOR SALE – Sidetrack’s REAL ESTATE MULTIUNIT BUILDINGS CLASSIFIEDS ANDERSONVILLE TWO FLAT Meticulously maintained OUTspoken! Series: ADVERTISE HERE TWO BEDROOM APT FOR RENT 2 Flat in Hot Andersonville, each unit 2 bd 1 bth, October’s featured storytellers ADVERTISE HERE: Want to advertise your product, ser- STRANDED ON EARTH? Close to beach, bus, red line new electrical, large high ceiling basement perfect for vice, etc. to thousands of readers? Place an ad in the and shopping. Big bedrooms walk in closets. Awesome extra space or convert to income producing unit, new Windy City Times! We offer affordable rates, conve- living room. Large updated kitchen with new sink, 2 car garage, larger city lot, fabulous building to rent Anna DeShawn nient service, and as a bonus, your ad runs in our floor and a formal dining room.$1550 with heat. Plus out or become live-in landlord. Contact Paul Hickman online section for free. To place an ad, contact Terri patio, laundry, bike storage and parking available. Compass Real Estate for more info. paul.hickman@ at 773-871-7610 ex 101, terri@windycitymedia- Call 773-275-3216 (10/3/18-2) compass.com . (10/17/18-4) group.com, or go to our website http://www.windy- citymediagroup.com/placeaclassified.php. BOOK REVIEW Gearah Goldstein ANNOUNCEMENTS HUGE COMMUNITY YARD SALE Sunday September Straight James Jones 30th, 2018 9am-3pm 4250 N. Marine Dr. South Tower Driveway 20 + Vendors with a Huge Assortment of Items (9/26/18-2) Expectations: The Story of a CLEANING SERVICES CHESTNUT CLEANING SERVICES: We’re a house clean- Family in ing service for homes, small businesses and small Victor Salvo buildings. We also have fabulous organizational skills Transition (a separate function at a separate cost that utilizes by Peggy Cryden (with Rick Schlattman your assistance) for what hasn’t been cleaned in many Janet E. Goldstein-Ball) months or years due to long-term illness, depression, $17.95; Jessica Kingsley physical/mental challenges, for the elderly, if you Publishers; 183 pages have downsized and more. Depressed about going REVIEW BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER home to chaos? We can organize your chaos, straight- en out your chaos, help you make sense of your chaos Always be prepared. and finally clean what is no longer chaos. Can we help Brandon Strawn That’s not just a motto to wear on a badge; it you? Bonded and insured. Chestnut Cleaning Ser- could save you money, time, or health. It might vice: 312-332-5575. www.ChestnutCleaning.com get you where you’re going, faster or easier. Be- (11/28/18-52) ing ready for anything can you feel secure and —Anna DeShawn is a Chicago-born media pro- safe, it can help you bounce back against any ad- fessional and social entrepreneur. She is deter- COUNSELING & PSYCHOTHERAPY versity and, as in the new book Straight Expecta- mined to ride media into its next era by utilizing ARE YOU GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME? tions, by Peggy Cryden (with Janet E. Goldstein- online radio streams to tell the stories that need Feeling overwhelmed, anxious or depressed? Is Ball), it can make you a better parent. to be heard. your relationship struggling? I can help you better Everything in her life, it seemed, had readied she always dreamed of having: two children, a —Gearah Goldstein is a nationally recognized understand these situations and create solutions for her for what was to come. girl and a boy, and a supportive husband. Theirs diversity and inclusion consultant. Gearah has them. My practical approach entails a therapeutic Adopted as a small infant, Cryden grew up with seemed to be the perfect, TV-ready, typical family been the lead trainer at the Center on Halsted, alliance that is affirming, empathic, and interactive. a father who was a genius, but was distant; and down the block until Julia, who was just a teen, training over 2,000 new volunteers over the past Michael J. Bland, Psy.D., LCPC. Northside location. a mother with emotional issues and what Cryden confessed to her mother that he’d come to the 773-404-8161. [email protected], www. two years. indicates was probably mental illness. Cryden understanding that he was really a boy. Shortly BlandTherapy.com (9/26/18-52) —James Jones grew up in Baltimore, Maryland didn’t completely understand the latter until she after this, fragile Jay, who’d always felt left out, and is one of 12 kids. He majored in computer was an adult and a working therapist, and it took came out to his family… science and theatre and works for the Children’s HELP WANTED many decades for her to make peace with her Although it has steel-strong messages of af- CONN’S CATERING Seeking Captains, Chefs, Bartenders Hospital as a Senior IT Engineer and started his mother’s legacy. firmation, unconditional love, acceptance, and and Waitstaff for busy Holiday Season Weddings. own production company for film and music two Before that, however, as children, Cryden and healing, Straight Expectations is a rough read. Please forward us your resume and indicate your years ago. her brother were often left to their own devices. Cryden (with Goldstein-Ball, who offers per- availability for interview. Illinois DL required info@ —Victor Salvo is the founder of Chicago’s The They woke themselves, prepared themselves for tinent information in her introduction) tells an connscatering.com (10/10/18-4) Legacy Project. He brings 30 years’ experience as school, learned to swipe lunch money from their absorbing story of childhood neglect and how both an LGBT activist and a business owner to his father’s pocket change, and they tried not to be HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING she turned her own experiences into self-lessons work. embarrassed by their mom’s antics, eccentricities, on raising her two sons confidently. Readers will WE MAKE HOLES IN DRYWALL GO AWAY. We also do —Rick Schlattman is currently a student in or melt-downs. Untaught by her mother, Cryden clearly see that there’s power in those words but Remodeling, Bathrooms, Carpentry, Tile Backsplashes, Rush University’s College of Nursing MSN program learned resilience and basic skills from her grand- there’s also repetition, often within the same Painting. “A+” with BBB. Licensed-Bonded-Insured, and will be starting what someone called his mother, her grandmother’s Black housekeeper, half-page, causing the sentiment to wither like One year Warranty. Free Estimates! Andy OnCall 847- “encore career” as a nurse when he graduates in and from a neighbor woman who obviously noted a pinpricked balloon. Add in an overabundance 328-3100 www.andyoncallchicago.com (4/17/19- August 2019, a week after turning 59. a child in need. of choppy sentences and you’ve got frustration in 60) —Brandon Strawn describes himself as an edu- Though she was generally independent much the form of a book you very much want to read … cator, a musician and a delight. He has lived and earlier, Cryden moved out of her parents’ house but will you? worked in the Chicago region for 10 years, leav- when she was still in high school. Later, while Yes, it’s worth a try. Straight Expectations con- ing a trail of math, music and mirth behind him. attending community college, she met the man tains is a basically good story plus resources, but she would marry, although Cryden indicates that it needed love with an editing pen. Yes, you may she sometimes felt she couldn’t “bond.” like it enormously—just be prepared. The September edition of OUTspoken! LGBTQ That feeling extended to her firstborn child, a Want more? Then look for Raising the Transgender storyteller series takes place Tuesday, girl she named Julia. Child: A Complete Guide for Parents, Families, and October 2, at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St. She was a little better centered when her sec- Caregivers, by Michele Angello and Ali Bowman; Doors open at 6 pm, stories begin at 7. ond child, a boy, Jay, was born. or The Transgender Teen, by Stephanie A. Brill See www.outspokenchicago.com Finally, Cryden had stability and the family and Lisa Kenney. for more info. 38 Sept. 26, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES Saturday, Sept. 29 7:30pm Various locations http://chi- Wed., Oct. 3 Queer mural unveiling Artists Sandra cagofringe.org OPALGA Scholarship Gala Dine, dance, COMMUNITY Antongiori, Andy Bellomo, and Sam celebrate, honor peers, help emerging Kirk have completed the first of what Tuesday, Oct. 2 leaders. 6:00pm Nineteenth Century they hope to be a series of LGBTQ trib- Crown Fountain Architect Mark Sexton Club 178 Forest Ave Oak Park, IL 60301 CALENDAR ute murals. Honoring Chicago artists, At the intersection of architecture, art http://opalga.org hard-working activists, healers, teach- and 21st century technology, Crown Fountain in Millennium Park, is one of Wed., Sept. 26 ers, leaders, queers working to bring Friday, Oct. 5 our community together. 2:30pm - the city’s recognizable works of public Tootsie Pre-Broadway World Premiere Book Launch Party: The Eggshell Skull 5:30pm Outside at Melrose/Halsted art. Co-founder of the firm that designed The story of a talented but difficult actor Rule Amy Strauss Friedman also au- at Howard Brown Clinic, 3245 N. Hal- the project in collaboration with artist who struggles to find work until an auda- thor of the chapbook Gathered Bones sted St. http://www.facebook.com/ Jaume Plensa, will tell the story. 5 p.m. cious, desperate stunt lands him the role are Known to Wander, nominated for events/1914075525561034/?active_ cocktail reception 6:00pm New loca- of a lifetime. Through Oct. 14. 7:30pm the Pushcart Prize 7:00pm Women & tab=about tion University Club, 76 E. Monroe St., Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph Children First Bookstore 5233 N Clark In Search of Pure Lust: A Memoir by Lise Chicago http://flwright.org/thinkingin- http://www.BroadwayInChicago.com St Chicago http://www.womenandchil- Weil Reading and Discussion A Quest tothefuture Joan Baez: Fare Thee Well...Tour 2018 drenfirst.com/event for Love During the Heady Lesbian Femi- OUTspoken monthly storytelling eve- Tickets now on sale. 8:00pm The Chica- Genderqueer Chicago Discussion based ANNE DO nist Movement of the 70s & 80s 4:00pm ning OUTspoken occurs on the first Tues- go Theatre (Chicago) 175 N State St Chi- group for genderqueer and nonbinary Barbaras Bookstore, 111 N. State St., day of every month, new storytellers, cago http://www.msg.com/calendar/ transgender related topics. It is open Friday, Sept. 28 Chicago stories from the perspective of LGBTQ the-chicago-theatre-october-2018-joan- to all (with the exception of reporters Author Anne Balay will persons Doors 6pm 7:00pm Sidetrack baez-fare-thee-well-tour-2018 and researchers), but has an emphasis Sunday, Sept. 30 3349 N Halsted St Chicago on being an intersectional safer space be at Women & Chicago Fringe Festival Fest offers 24 for nonbinary trans people. 7:00pm Children First. shows, one hundred performances. - 9:00pm Center on Halsted 3656 N Photo by Riva Lehrer Halsted Chicago http://centeronhal- sted.org L Lounge The L Lounge is an informal, so- cial space for lesbians to come together out the documents required for a name for friendship and support. 6:00pm CONNE IONS change. Last Friday of every month in - 9:00pm Center on Halsted 3656 N room 1202. 9:00am - 3:00am Daley X Halsted Chicago http://www.centeron- Center Plaza 50 W Washington St Chi- halsted.org cago http://www.facebook.com/trans- formativejusticelawproject/ Thursday, Sept. 27 SexuWellness For women and TGNC in- Peer-led grief support group Coping with dividuals, a wide variety of sexual and loss is an ongoing process. This peer reproductive health-related services like lead support group is an informal way chest/breast exams, mammogram refer- to connect with others who have expe- rals, pap tests including HPV screening rienced loss and gain support for your and pelvic exams, STI testing, birth 312-855-0875 | 221 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL journey. 12:00pm - 2:00pm Center on control prescription, IUD placements. [email protected] Halsted 3656 N Halsted Chicago http:// Fourth Friday of every month. whs@ 24/7 Emergency Phone : 847-309-7777 www.centeronhalsted.org/newevents- howardbrown.org 5:00pm - 8:00pm details.cfm?ID=15342 Howard Brown, 6500 N. Clark, Chicago • State & Federal Courts • Weapon & Gun Charges Successful Aging: A Self-Management 773-572-8359 http://howardbrownorg/ • Felonies & Misdemeanors serving: Artists • Internet & White-Collar Crime • Drunk Driving Program Four-session weekly educa- womens-health/ • All Drug Charges • Orders of Protection tional session to learn how to manage Official Chicago release party for Cher’s Professionals • Expungements your health including physical activity/ Dancing Queen Get on stage with your Business owners exercise, fatigue, mood, and nutrition. host Debbie Fox and win in the Cher 1:00pm - 2:30pm Center on Addison, SyncIt! contest and SLAY to drag from Speak to an experienced Conference Room http://www.cen- Chamilla Foxx & Jasmine Phoenix. Sing attorney within minutes who teronhalsted.org/newevents-details. along and dance to your favorite Cher www.abd-cpas.com • (847) 257-7330 cfm?ID=15491 hits all night long mixed in with our Fri- LatinXs en Accion Activism Panel More day Night Dance Party. Giving away Cher information and ticket link 6:30pm concert tickets 9 pm Sidetrack 3349 N - 8:30pm Center on Halsted 3656 N Halsted St Chicago Halsted Chicago https://community. The Sip online show Live show every Fri- Family Law centeronhalsted.org/pages/latinx day night, three gay men from diverse The Caregiver After author Samuel Park occupations and life journeys discuss Mulryan died after a long batter with stomach everything from world headline news to Donald B. Boyd, Jr. cancer, his literary friends meet to cel- pop culture from a Black LGBTQ perspec- ebrate the publication of his new and tive. 6:00pm - 7:00pm On line http:// • Pre-Marital Agreements • final book 7:00pm - 8:30pm Women goo.gl/pL7wWA LGBT Issues • Divorce/Wills/Trusts • Real Estate Closings & Children First Bookstore 5233 N Clark Anne Balay, author Semi Queer Queers, Custody Violation • Child Support St Chicago http://www.womenandchil- truck stops and 18-wheelers. Also read- & York drenfirst.com/event/presenting-caregiv- ing in Indiana the same weekend, and er-samuel%E2%80%99s-friends-curtis- then in New York and Philadelphia. Attorneys At Law Free Initial Consultation sittenfeld-rebecca-makkai-nami-mun- 7:00pm Women & Children First Book- and-shauna store 5233 N Clark St Chicago 708-848-1005 Holly Near Celebrates her first album 402 Lake St., Ste. 200, Oak Park, IL, 60302 Friday, Sept. 28 in three years, Peace Becomes You 4001 N. Wolcott Evening & Weekend Trans/Gender Affirming Name Change 8:00pm Old Town School of Folk Mu- Appointments Available Mobilization Hosted by Transformative sic 4544 N Lincoln Ave Chicago Tick- Chicago, IL 60613 Major Credit Cards Accepted Justice Law Project. Volunteers will as- ets: http://www.oldtownschool.org/ (773) 248-8887 www.BoydDivorce.com sist Cook County residents with filling concerts/2018/09-28-2018-holly-near/ WINDY CITY TIMES Sept. 26, 2018 39 CONNE IONS

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