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Martha Wash Dance Diva Dishes on Chicago Musical and New Cd

Martha Wash Dance Diva Dishes on Chicago Musical and New Cd

Oct. 10, 2018

MARTHA WASH DIVA DISHES ON MUSICAL AND NEW CD

PAGE 11

Martha Wash. Photo by Sean Black Oct. 10, 2018 2

INDEX VOL. 34, No. 03, Oct. 10, 2018 The combined forces of Windy City Times, founded Sept. 1985, and Outlines newspaper, Theater reviews 4-7 founded May 1987. Music: Composer Libby Rudolph turns music into activism 8 PUBLISHER Terri Klinsky Theater: ‘Les Innocents’: City of bones 9 9 TV: Leslie Jordan is now one of ‘The Cool Kids’ 10 EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andrew Davis

Music: Martha Wash: Dance-floor diva talks Chicago musical, new CD 11 MANAGING EDITOR Matt Simonette DIGITAL DIRECTOR Jean Albright Book reviews: On My Way to Liberation; Black Queer Hoe 12 ART DIRECTOR AND ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kirk Williamson Music: Trans singer on family, transition, big break 13 SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Scott Duff BUSINESS MANAGER Ripley Caine SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Terri Klinsky, Kirk Williamson, Scott Duff, Kathy Breit, Theresa Santos Volpe, Kevin Siarkowski, Amy Matheny NATIONAL SALES Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863 THEATER AND DANCE EDITOR Catey Sullivan SENIOR WRITERS Jonathan Abarbanel, Mary 15 Shen Barnidge, Liz Baudler, Charlsie Dewey, Ross Forman, Carrie Maxwell, Rev. Irene Monroe, Jerry Nunn, Tony Peregrin, Angelique Smith, Sari Staver, Sarah Toce, Melissa Wasserman WRITERS Sarah Katherine Bowden, Ada Cheng, Eric Formato, Joe Franco, Veronica Harrison, Kelsey Hoff, Aaron Hunt, Eric Karas, Brian Kirst, Billy Masters, Scott C. Morgan, Amelia Orozco, Ariel Parrella-Aureli, Kerry Reid, Dana Rudolph, Ana Serna, Karen Topham, Joseph Varisco, Regina Victor, Sean Margaret Wagner, Lauren Warnecke, Steve Warren, Lauren Emily Whalen SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Kat Fitzgerald, Hal Baim, Tim Carroll, Ed Negron CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jean Albright DISTRIBUTION Ashina, Allan, Dan, John, Sue and Victor WEB HOSTING LoveYourWebsite.com (lead programmer: Martie Marro) PRESIDENT Tracy Baim (773) 871-7610 FAX (773) 871-7609 Editorial: [email protected] Sales: [email protected] Calendar: [email protected] Circulation: [email protected] Art/ad copy: [email protected] Theater: [email protected]

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Oct. 10, 2018 3

Saturday, 10.20.18 General Admission $150 8 p.m. - Midnight 322 W Armitage RIP $300 Chicago At the Door $175 All attendees must be over 21

On October 20, step into a world of light, sound, and spirits (and we aren’t just talking about the drinks). As Howard Brown Health’s fourth annual kick-off 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 surprises. howardbrown.org/BOB2018 Oct. 10, 2018 4 THEATER REVIEW adapted by Simon Stephens from Mark Haddon’s and teacher advise Christopher on how to move acclaimed novel, and performed as part of the through the world. Christopher may feel singular The Curious Incident Steppenwolf for Young Audiences programming, and alone, but it is very clear he is not. never identifies Christopher’s condition, but it is Director Jonathan Berry’s attention to detail of the Dog in clear he is neurologically atypical, a deeply intel- matches Christopher’s. When Bell moves across ligent young man who works hard to process the the spare stage to meet his next challenge, those the Night-Time confusing and sense-driven world around him by around him create not only the background at- By: Simon Stephens breaking his experiences into mathematical pat- mosphere of a comfortable park or a full tube car, At: Steppenwolf Theatre Company, terns and maps. they watch, curious about his investigation and 1650 N. Halsted St. Although he lives on a quiet street, Christo- protective of his progress. Dan Plehal’s precise, Tickets: 312-335-1650 or Steppenwolf.org; pher’s (Terry Bell) world is shaken one night poetic movement work allows actor to exagger- $20-$30 when he discovers a neighborhood dog has been ate their physicalities into dance-like sweeps and Runs through: Oct. 27 killed with a garden fork. He sets out to solve the dips, showcasing how Christopher’s senses can mystery of who murdered Wellington, despite his The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night- be overloaded during the simplest interactions. BY SARAH KATHERINE BOWDEN father Ed’s (Cedric Mays) warnings to keep his Time. And Joseph Burke’s projection design invites the nose out of other people’s business. His teacher Photo by Michael Brosilow audience to experience Christopher’s overload, Christopher is always watched. As he goes about Siobhan (Caroline Neff) encourages him to write which often resolve from a fuzzy TV static into a his afternoon routine, his father hovers. At his investigation down in a notebook, believing Stephens’ script follows the outline of Haddon’s clear image and resolute decision. school, talking about taking his A-level exams, it could be staged as a play. Kindly neighbor Mrs. first-person novel, but he makes Christopher an The joy of this production is that the audience his teacher listens with a supportive eye. When Alexander (Meg Thalken) provides vital informa- equal member of his town by allowing other ac- experiences the world as Christopher experiences interrogating a neighbor about gossip at a local tion about Judy (Rebecca Spence), Christopher’s tors to narrate his story along with him. The en- it. We, too, are watching. And by witnessing park, strangers are on the lookout for his well- recently deceased mother, that destroys Chris- semble of eight actors embody his experiences Christopher when he succeeds, or when he re- being. topher’s controlled world, and sends him on an with neighbors and strangers, but they also guide treats into himself, our understanding of those Because Christopher is not like most teenag- adventure to , so he can solve an entirely him physically through the use of ATM machines we might excise from our daily life expands, and ers in his southern community. The different sort of mystery. or paying for a train ticket. Memories of his father our own community grows, just as his does. Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,

an eye-witness, up-close account of Edgar Allen and darkness with both the audience and the ac- ica Bittner), who he we when she was 13. Her THEATER REVIEW Poe’s life in Theatre’s production of The tors. presence is all-pervasive in his writings, which Madness of Edgar Allen Poe: A Love Story. The story starts inside the bedroom where “The bring her fragile life and tragic death into frame. The Madness of The location, Mayslake Hall on the grounds of Tell-Tale Heart” unfolds and the Madman (Sam Bittner’s Virginia is the portrait of innocence, her the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, lends Pearson) tells of his mania and obsession with own life a sacrifice and gift to the troubled writ- Edgar Allen Poe: itself for exploring the darkness and the creativ- the “pale blue vulture eye.” He confesses his hor- er. Rice’s production brings Poe aficionados into A Love Story ity of one of America’s most talented writers. rible deed mere inches from theatergoers; be pre- his life by allowing them to step inside the parlor By: David Rice David Rice’s adaptation of Poe’s life and works pared for a jump-out-of-your-seat moment. room where Virginia sips tea and speaks directly At: First Folio Theatre, Mayslake Hall, takes theatergoers through six different scenes, Poe (a convincing Christian Gray) paces, runs to her guests. Mayslake Peabody Estate, moving them through six locations inside the and writes “The Bells” in all his madness, papers She was his biggest supporter, his “sissy” (his 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook looming mansion. Under Skyler Schrempp’s direc- askew, eyes wild, passionate, dreadful and furi- favored term of endearment for her), and fuel for Tickets: firstfolio.org; $34 - $44 tion, the audience feels as if it has stepped not ous. Outside, the wind whistles and eerily whips his creativity. Runs through: Oct. 27 only inside the mind of the writer, but also into around the home. Gray embodies Poe fully. Each The depth of Poe’s despair is measurable by the threadwork of his literary works as they are tear seems marked with agony and despair. The the layers found in his writing. His imagination BY AMELIA OROZCO being pieced together one agonizing thought af- agony is over the curse Poe felt befell him as he unwound itself and wrapped him tightly inside. ter another. lost loved ones – first his mother, later his wife - Perhaps that is why he says in Eleonora, “Those Shadows tell stories that eyewitness accounts Wear comfortable shoes and travel lightly, as to tuberculosis. who dream by day are cognizant of many things cannot; they mimic and follow one’s every move. the ambulatory production involves a little walk- Behind the macabre is a love story about Poe’s which escape those who dream only by night.” This fall, theatergoers can enter the shadows for ing and stair-climbing. You’ll be in close quarters marriage to first-cousin Virginia Eliza Clemm (Er- A stroll through this mansion with Poe and his Virginia is one way to dream with eyes wide open, as shadows amble near. cer’s play, making its debut at the Side Project, ences’ perceptive powers. In order to ensure our THEATER REVIEW which portrays a nation once more under attack full recognition of the lesson inherent in the c from within, only this time the addicts are hon- misfortune we witness, his characters periodi- Oxy, Ohio est job-holding citizens, while the purveyors cally break the fourth wall to apprise us of the Playwright: S J. Spencer of the toxic substances are licensed physicians bigger picture—backstories, statistics, analy- CRITICS’PICKS At: The Side Project Theatre Company and the deadly potions dispensed at commercial ses, news items et al.—underlying their warn- Indecent, Victory Gardens at the Biograph, at McKaw Theater, 1439 W. Jarvis Ave. vending outlets like Walmart. ing. through Nov. 4. The history of a play surviving Tickets: TheSideProject.net; $15-$20 We’re talking about Opioids, of course—a col- This cross-generic approach renders the prog- through good times and bad invites us to look at Runs through: Oct. 14 lective term covering OxyContin, Vicodin, Fen- ress of his personnel less a tale of innocents ourselves and decide what kind of world we live tanyl, Percocet and a number of other exotic- battling a pervasive menace than a school-as- in today. MSB BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE sounding palliatives that inflated advertising sembly lecture augmented by live-action illus- Nell Gwynn, Chicago Shakespeare Theater at budgets have rendered familiar at all levels of trations—elements absolving its author of the Navy Pier, through Nov. 4. This based-on-a-true- More than a half-century ago—1956, to be ex- a populace represented by four residents of necessity for integrating his factual material story history play features all the elements we act—Michael V. Gazzo called our attention to the economically crippled town called Dayton, into the dramatic action, but ultimately under- love: music, romance, politics, a sassy feminist the dangers of pharmaceutical drug addiction Ohio: a single mother employed in a nursing mining the efficacy of both. heroine, scrumptious costumes—even a dog. MSB in a play premised on a returning war hero’s home; her teenage daughter, clerking for budget Director Adam Webster and his four-person The Little Foxes, Citadel Theatre, through craving for the morphine administered by med- hotels and big-box stores; the latter’s likewise cast struggle mightily to forge coherent person- Oct. 28. Lillian Hellman’s exploration of greed ics during his recovery from wounds received peripatetically employed boyfriend, and a doc- alities from their author’s overstuffed text, but and family in post-Civil War Alabama has a plot in action. His entire family’s happiness is soon tor striving to ease his charges’ injuries. the emotional distance imposed by its instruc- that hits like (spoiler alert, sort of) a heart at- threatened by affliction arising from his desper- Where Gazzo’s prototype focused on the hu- tive purpose ultimately defeats the connection tack while flaying bare (yes, do mean flaying) ate search for the now-illicit curatives. man dynamics of the contagion under scrutiny, needed for us to share in their sorrow when the racism and misogyny of the Deep South both Nowadays we know better than to allow such however, Spencer appears to mistrust his audi- tragedy inevitably strikes. suffering, right? Not according to S.J. Spen- then and now. CES —by Barnidge and Sullivan Oct. 10, 2018 5

Jones’ choreographed blocking complements and contrasts with the world of set and costume designer Stewart Laing’s sparse, vibrating, geo- metric . This La Boheme is defined by gar- rets of gray girders and the starched-linen white- ness of Cafe Momus, the bohemian cafe where the city’s artists love to gather. Laing uses a distinctive color palette—the black rectangle of a tavern, the blacks, whites and grays of along snow—throughout the production. That makes the sudden, almost intrusive golden arcades and Christmas-card color and light of Act II’s opening all the more powerful. Rather than inviting us in, the colors push us into the world of La Boheme. Human bodies seem more alive against all the cold, sharp angles. Making his long-awaited Lyric debut as La Bo- Michael Fabiano and Maria Agresta in La heme’s struggling playwright Rudolpho, tenor Boheme. Michael Fabiano is tall and handsome, and sings with a ringing tone that echoes back to the gold- Photo by Todd Rosenberg en days of such tenors as Mario Del Monaco and “Thrilling... OPERA REVIEW Franco Corelli. (Rudolpho’s romance with Mimi has a happier parallel in real life: Fabiano is set La Boheme to marry Bryan McCallister later this month.) Astonishing... By: Giacomo Puccini As the doomed Mimi, soprano Maria Agresta At: , 20. N. Wacker Dr., shines. It is Puccini’s genius that this character’s Tickets: 312-827-5600; sweetness is depicted in music that falls on the Magical” LyricOpera.org; $49-$279 ear as tinkling tunes, but she is no easy sing. The — The New York Times Runs through: Oct. 20 chiaroscuro of Agresta’s voice, and her generous, Italianate phrasing conjured thoughts of Mirella BY AARON HUNT Freni. As Musetta, Danielle De Niese sings her famous Opera takes the elevated form of classical theater waltz aria while weaving atop the café’s tables, and replaces spoken word with music. From that love-besotted, half-drunken and Lucille Ball- lofty perch, how do the artists share the souls of funny. (Spoiler alert: Panties can be weapons.) their characters? Musetta’s last act prayer aria has to be earned. De With the Lyric’s season opener La Boheme, they Niese always evokes vulnerability on some level, do it with seeming ease. In Giacomo Puccini’s and when that vulnerability floats to the surface, famous love story, the cast sings with such vocal it’s without a false note. assurance that their technique is invisible and As Musetta’s ex, Marcello, Zachary Nelson reads unheard. You’ll be so engrossed in their charac- masculine in that distant way we once preferred ters’ lives, you’ll forget they are singing. Lofty in our male movie stars. His passions are shared artifice falls away, and all that’s left is all human- with his buddies, but his inability to be emotion- ity. ally open with Musetta makes fantastic sense. Director Richard Jones has talked about the Adrian Sampetrean’s Colline is sweet, and Ricardo importance of backstory, biography and research. Jose Rivera is a lovable, goofy-gus as Schaunard. He’s a fan of clarity of intention and not averse Here’s De Niese on La Boheme: “Everything is so to having his actor/vocalists study Stanislavski. heightened and dramatically extended. It’s what You can see that approach in La Boheme: Under we do vocally—we extend emotional thought. his direction, all the players “speak” their lines [Jones] is trying to juxtapose that with natural as if for the first time, finding the emotions anew. human behavior.” Consider the attempt achieved in this production. SWAN From awakening to catharsis, they seem to live rather than telegraph their emotions. eSPOTLIGHT LAKEBUY TODAY! Chief Hell in a Handbag hellion David Cerda | conjures a special kind of camp for 10 perfor- OCTOBER 17–28 TICKETS START AT $34 mances with The Golden Girls: Bea Afraid! JOFFREY.ORG | 312.386.8905 The Halloween Edition. Herein, Bea and her crew of extraordinary crones deal with priests, devils and hair-raising drag. Bea Arthur may 2018–2019 SEASON SPONSORS PERFORMS AT: be dead (*kisses fingertips, look skyward) but surely she is looking down with bemusement. The Hell in a Handbag production runs through Nov. 3 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. 50 East Congress Parkway, HandbagProductions.org Chicago Caption: Photo by Rick Aguilar Studios Victoria Jaiani and Dylan Gutierrez | Photography by Cheryl Mann Oct. 10, 2018 6 THEATER REVIEW Quadrino) and their more tech-savvy world that bring this story to the 21st century. Violet’s desire Roald Dahl’s to really pop comes true after she ingests forbid- den fruit—er, gum—that is supposed to replace Charlie and the a full meal. Her agent-dad (David Samuel) is the quintessential dance mom, showcasing his little Chocolate Factory Hollywood starlet on and Instagram—at By: Roald Dahl (original novel), least until she really starts blowing up. David Grieg (book), Mike Teavee is a moody kid permanently at- Marc Sharman (music and lyrics) tached to his earphones, eyes glued to video and Scott Witt (lyrics) games. He all but shoots the middle finger to his At: Oriental Theater, 24 W. Randolph St. mom (Madeline Doherty), a self-medicated 50s- Tickets: $27-$95; BroadwayInChicago.com era housewife swilling “grown-up” juice to cope Runs through: Oct. 21 with her little man. (Keep a close eye on Mike to see how the brilliant tech work in this production BY AMELIA OROZCO made the audience gasp on opening night.) Each child demise is proof that too much of one Liquid chocolate may inspire erotic fantasies. But thing is like too much marzipan—sweet at first, the newest musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s but cloyingly nauseating after too much. 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The final golden ticket goes, of course, to Char- strikes that and reverses it, delivering a produc- lie. His mom (Amanda Rose) works to provide tion filled with heartfelt, wholesome moments. Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. with a song in her heart and a skip in her step Dahl’s children’s classic is no stranger to ad- Photo by Joan Marcus despite the family’s gray-hand-beige existence aptation: The 1971 movie version starred Gene and cabbage-heavy diet. The Buckets are poor, Wilder as the candy man Willy Wonka; in 2005, ary surprises. The delectable treats serve their Augustus Gloop (Matt Wood) gorges unabash- but it’s not just poverty or old age that keeps Johnny Depp took on the role amid Oompa Loom- purpose in exposing the ugliness of gluttony. The edly at Willy’s many edible delights, hardly be- Charlie’s grandparents in bed throughout the pas (Wonka’s factory workers) with steampunk at- Oompa Loompas are half-body puppets designed lieving marshmallows and a chocolate river are story—it’s their lack of hope. As in Dahl’s origi- tire that would fit in at Burning Man. with cartoonish effect by Basil Twist. Joshua free for the taking. Veruca Salt (Jessica Cohen) nal book, Grandpa Joe (James Young) as springs Directed by Jack O’Brien, the new stage pro- Bergasse’s choreography (for both puppets and is the bratty Russian princess that dances circles back to life and is Charlie’s chum and crusader duction (book by David Grieg, music by Marc people) in this highly mixture of human talent, around her daddy (Nathaniel Hackmann), who throughout the magical journey. Shaiman, lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Witt) of technology and chocolate is to be lauded. gives her whatever her little heart desires. (It’s a Their adventure—filled with Charlie’s innocence Charlie and the Chocolate Factory captures Dahl’s Like the book, the plot follows a group of “gold- treat seeing Cohen’s ballet skills, which include a and Mr. Wonka’s unapologetic demeanor— are original nuggets of goodness, albeit with a techy en ticket” winners—impoverished, noble Charlie number with the giant squirrels.) just the right combination of sweet and sour in a twist. Bucket and a group of insufferable children—as But it is Golden Ticket winners Violet Beaure- stay-on-your-toes-or-you’ll-miss-it production of The stage is a world of wonders and confection- they tour Wonka’s factory. garde (Brynn Williams) and Mike Teavee (Daniel a favorite classic.

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THEATER REVIEW tional bones. They feel real, breathing life into issues such as race and male entitlement in vivid, Zurich non-didactic example. The fifth...well, the fifth Playwright: Amelia Roper could stand on its own as a short, gut-busting, At: Steep Theatre, 1115 W. Berwyn Ave. tear-jerking absurdist satire about what causes Tickets: $10-$38; 773-649-3168; people to do drastic things. Unfortunately, it’s SteepTheatre.com the scene that ends Zurich, and it does an abys- Runs through: Nov. 10 mal job of tying the previous four scenes togeth- er. We’re left with only place and fate as a uniting BY LIZ BAUDLER factor, and the characters’ fate remains somewhat unclear. Roper’s slightly skewed timeline doesn’t A monochrome luxury Swiss hotel room encased help, leading to maddening after-show conver- in glass is the only set you’ll get throughout sations about what is supposed to occur when. Amelia Roper’s Zurich. And a very poor choice of scene transition, whose The play, in its Midwest premiere at Steep The- implication only becomes clear after the lights atre, is told in five scenes, none starring more go out for the final time, had audiences cringing than three people. Plot points and occasionally and covering their eyes each of the four times it characters intertwine with previous, if not nec- was deployed. This is the only off-note in other- essarily chronological moments within a similar wise sound staging, but it’s a big one: audiences sliver of time. Each scene unfolds a relationship should not be in danger of having a seizure each between two usually unnamed people: man and time the scenario shifts. woman, two siblings, mother and daughter. All Given how unsatisfying Zurich’s conclusion can five are tense, tightly told affairs, and a few in- feel, it feels awkward to recommend four-fifths volve weaponry. Brandon Rivera and Valerie Gorman in Zurich. of a play. But Roper’s topical dialogue weaves While they alternate in dramatic potential, the Photo by Lee Miller neatly between humor and tension, and human- first and third scenes stand out. Sasha Smith and ity abounds in the space between the characters. Jeff Kurysz open the play as a couple negotiat- Maya Lou Hlava and Cole Keriazakos are siblings little brother to the teenage Hlava, and their dy- The fault is hers for an imperfect concept, but ing the aftermath of a hookup, including a heart- who make an unexpected discovery in their par- namic grows more complex yet heartfelt as the the cast carries out the best parts of Roper’s vi- stopping moment where Kurysz literally shoves ents’ luggage, equals the opening in intensity. scene progresses. sion with finesse--all within the confines of an past Smith’s stated boundary. The third, where Keriazakos in particular is a spot-on annoying Four of these five scenes have the same emo- innovative, effective set. Oct. 10, 2018 7 THEATER REVIEW I want to speak, but I get so tired, I just get so Audrey Francis and Ryan Hallahan in Witch. tired that in the end it’s easier not to.” Witch Photo by Michael Brosilow Catch Hallahan’s expressions during Francis By: Jen Silverman understated, tsunami-powerful delivery. You can At: Writers, Gillian Theatre, see the scales dropping. And then Scratch silently 325 Tudor Ct., Glenview emotes denial, pouting, dismay, anxiety and—as Tickets: 847/242-6000 or the acceleration toward panic ratchets up—de- Writerstheatere.org; $20-$80. nial again. Because she’s got to be exaggerating, Runs through: Dec. 16 right? Elizabeth and Scratch are surrounded by deft BY CATEY SULLIVAN subplots that make the primary story richer, deeper and more entertaining. The entire sup- It’s tough to think of a world premiere this year porting cast fills even the smallest moments with more resonance than Jen Silverman’s Witch. with. Potent, telling details. Arti Ishak as the Raging, hopeful, weeping: No matter how you maid in the the local castle; Steve Haggard as leave Witch, you won’t leave unscathed. Cuddy, the gay, depressed son of Lord of the Set in vaguely Shakespearean-era Britain, Jen Manor Sir Lawrence, David Alan Anderson as that Silverman’s script creates a world of long ago, jocularly entitled lord and Jon Hudson Odom as when men were allowed to marry/rape/kill whom- Cuddy’s machismo rival for Lawrence’s love—they ever they want, generally with impunity—and are all vivid and meticulously recognizable. where women of outspoken intelligence are con- The action (including Matt Hawkins’ stunningly demned and ostracized as witches. Witch takes realistic-looking brawl) plays out Shibagaki’s im- place 500 years ago. Witch takes place today. mersive set which moves from hovel to castle Directed with tremendous impact by Marti, Ly- with brevity and grace. The story is further en- ons Witch opens with a monologue from Eliza- hanced by Mieka van der Ploeg’s costumes, which beth, aka the Witch of Edmonton. It closes with reference Elizabethan fashions with a minimalist a monologue from Scratch, aka the Devil. These elegance. Paul Tobin’s light design and Mikhail inverted bookends create a portrait of 16th-cen- Fiksel’s sound design give the world beauty and tury England that is as specific and meticulously dimension. detailed as the needle-point chair-cushion tapes- Under Lyon’s diamond-clear direction, Witch is tries that adorn the set. a shard of light, a rip in the muck that makes it Through Elizabeth (Audrey Francis, whose com- The plot centers on a transaction. Scratch of- sessions. Here’s Elizabeth, talking to Scratch: known that light still exists. To address the final, mand of the stage increases and intensifies with fers Elizabeth and vengeance in exchange for her “There are so many times in which I want to quiet, thunderingly-impactful seconds of Witch: every passing year) and Scratch (Ryan Hallahan, soul. She’s not having his petty nonsense. She say something and then I don’t—because there’s There is hope in that realization. Maybe not for covering a vast spectrum from abject evil to vul- wants to hear the pitch he’d give a man. As the a voice in my head, it says, ‘What’s the use?’ It your future, but for somebody’s. nerable-as-a-puppy), the story unfolds. play winds on, his sales pitches become listening says, ‘Do you really want to draw attention?’ And

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written by Scarlett Strallen, photo by Jeff Sciortino JESSICA SWALE 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. Oct. 10, 2018 8

“I can flirt with everybody on stage. It’s Off- Loop storefront, so nobody cares,” she said. “I Libby Rudolph. MUSIC always sang boy songs, girl songs. Change the Photo by Elizabeth McQuern collective, Third Eye Theater, and Opera on Tap- octave and you’re fine. I came out in 1994 as a Chicago. lesbian, but then I realized I still liked men too. “In writing music, I discover myself. Creation So I’ve identified as bi forever,” she said. is a form of mediation. I need that. We all need “Although,” Rudolph added, “somebody re- that. Now, more than ever, creation is impor- cently reprimanded me on the Internet for call- tant,” Rudolph said. The intersection of art and ing myself that. They said ‘bi’ enforced the binary politics is also paramount, she said. and I was actual pansexual. I’ve had relationships “It’s so important to make things political right with men, women be people who didn’t identify now. My dad (and other conservatives) like to pa- as either gender.“ tronizingly dismiss my concerns by saying that Rudolph’s coming the concert is at once perfor- ‘politics isn’t personal.’ But politics is totally per- mance and a testimony to art as resistance and sonal. resilience. “If you’re feeling overwhelmed and “I have a pre-existing condition and I have to sad, go home,” she said. “Lock the door. Create.” get individual insurance. Before the Affordable “Finding Home, Finding Self: The Music of Care Act, I couldn’t get insurance at any price. Elizabeth Rudolph” is at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. Anyone who votes for a candidate who pledges 16, at the Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, to eliminate the ACA without providing another 600 W. Fullerton. Tickets are $15. Proceeds way for me to get insurance, is voting for me to bgo to the Chicago Women’s Health Center. live in constant fear and stress. That’s just one For more information, go to https://www. example.” facebook.com/events/1615725035199317/; In the wake of the 2016 presidential election, ticket info is at https://findinghomefinding- Rudolph turned the fear and stress toward amp- self.brownpapertickets.com/. ing up up her powers of creation. “I had no comprehension that the conserva- tive movement was so strong. I was absolutely confident Hillary would win. The composition I eventually wrote about it is called ‘Sickness.’ It’s about the sickness that has taken control of our Marin culture. Alsop. “It’s potent here in the U.S.A., but it’s happen- Photo ing all over. Look at Doug Ford in Ontario. Look by Kym at what’s happening in . Look at Theresa Thomson Composer Libby May and Brexit. It’s important for artists to ex- press themselves. If we don’t say anything now, we might not be able to say anything later,” she Rudolph turns said. Rudolph’s work also takes on Shakespeare, who gets his own set in the Oct. 16 concert. The seg- Alsop leading CSO in music to activism ment includes compositions Rudolph set to Rich- concerts Oct. 18-20 ard III’s most harrowing monologues: Lady Ann’s Marin Alsop—the openly lesbian music di- inconsolable sorrow and rage over the Richard’s rector of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra butchering of her husband and father-in-law, and and Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra and chief BY CATEY SULLIVAN worked to provide works to empower women and Queen Margaret’s hair-raising, Cassandra-like in- conductor designate of the ORF Radio trans* people with pay-what-you-can-afford, cantations. Symphony—will lead the Chicago Symphony When composer/vocalist Elizabeth “Libby” Ru- high-quality health care and health education. Many of Rudolph’s compositions are set to po- Orchestra (CSO) in subscription concerts on dolph was an undergraduate at the University “I don’t believe it’s actually music until some- ems penned by her aunt, Appleton Wisconsin- Thursday, Oct. 18, at 8 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 19, of Illinois, one of her professors gave her some body performs it,” Rudolph told Windy City Times. based Julia Ball. “Family Relations,” featuring at 1:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. guidance that changed the shape of her educa- “It’s not music when it’s just sitting on a page. I Ball’s lyrics, includes “Perfect Fog,” a song about The concerts (at the , 220 tion. have all these black-and-white notes I’ve written Rudolph’s grandfather and his decline into Al- S. Michigan Ave.) are part of a larger set of “He told me I was shouldn’t write music be- over the past 40 years, all these pieces that in my zheimer’s. “The last eight years of his life, it was public programs, “A Time for Reflection—A cause I was too female and too emotional,” Ru- mind, aren’t really music yet.” like he wasn’t there. (The song) is about the Message of Peace,” organized to commemo- dolph said. At the time, Rudolph had been al- Rudolph has been writing songs since 1980, transition between grandpa being grandpa and rate the 100th anniversary of the World War I ready composing for years, was a veteran of the when she was a teenager growing up in tiny New grandpa being gone,” Rudolph said. Armistice on Nov. 11, 1918. world-renowned Interlochan Arts Academy and , Wisconsin. She describes her sound as The concert also has an instrumental section, These programs are presented with lead- an award-winning tutor in the more-complicated- minimalist, contemporary and classical. She loves where musicians including Meghan Guse, Rachael ership support from Colonel (IL) Jennifer than-calculus study of musical theory. Stravinsky, Strauss and big band, loves and hates Long, Samantha Attaguile and Katherine Dalin, N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (retired), who is the She had a ready response for her university ad- Wagner and once loved Philip Glass, but “burned will be in the spotlight. Other pieces feature the president and founder of the Pritzker Military visor: “I told him to go piss up a rope. Then I out” on his music in high school. Her friends say words of August Strindberg (‘The Third Night,’ two Foundation and the president/CEO of TAWANI found a new college.” they can hear jazz in her compositions. She in- songs with lyrics by Strindberg for bass-baritone, Enterprises, Inc. A few decades out from that exchange, Rudolph sists she’s not good at lyrics (“I’m not confident bass clarinet, and piano) and mezzo soprano/ Tickets for all CSO-presented concerts can is both an acclaimed vocalist and composer. On writing in English. I am confident writing in mu- composer/poet Yvonne Strumecki (‘e Gustaria be purchased by phone at 800‑223‑7114 or Oct. 16, the queer-identifying artist is turning sic.”). Hablar,’ a song cycle for soprano, violin, and pia- 312-294‑3000; online at CSO.org; or at the over a recital’s worth of her own compositions With degrees in vocal music and composition no). Symphony Center box office, 220 S. Michigan to other vocalists and musicians. Finding Home, from Minnesota’s prestigious St. Olaf College, Rudolph’s queer identity and bisexual orienta- Ave. Finding Self: The Music of Elizabeth Rudolph be- Rudolph can deliver Cole Porter and operatic art tion shows up in subtle ways in her performances. Windy City Times interviewed Alsop recent- gins at 8 p.m. at the Lincoln Park Presbyterian songs with equal verve, and works regularly with “I don’t know that my sexuality shows up that ly; the conversation is at http://www.windy- Church, 600 W. Fullerton Ave. Proceeds from the Chicago’s Transgressive Opera, New Moon Opera much in my composition so much as it does in my citymediagroup.com/lgbt/MUSIC-Marin-Al- deeply personal concert will go to the Chicago and The Floating Opera Company. Her pieces artistic choices as a performer. sop-the-maestra-returns/63457.html. Women’s Health Center, which since 1975 has have been performed and/or recorded by VOX3 Oct. 10, 2018 9

Les Innocents. Photo from (re)discover theatre THEATER and fight dirty.” The eerie underground setting is crucial to au- dience immersion into the world of Les Innocents. “It’s epic. It’s huge. It takes the audience through the catacombs. Really gives them a whole immersion experience. Maybe scares them a little bit. So they can be vulnerable as well,” Kreitman said. Co-artistic director (with Janet Howe) if (Re) Discover since 2017, Kreitman saisd part of her job is bring a fresh set of eyes to the company. “As (ReDiscover) really developed, we got more and more specific, audience immersive and inter- active,” she said. “I have seen the landscape and the ecology of . I am trying to see where we fit. Chicago has a reputation for being very experimental, and we are trying to live up to that expectation,” she said. Kreitman is proud that the production team and cast members for Les Innocents are predominant- ly LGBTQ theatre professionals and performers. It is important for her to make room for people of diverse identities and backgrounds. “This is a col- laborative and a community effort. This is what queer means to me. It’s about family. Bringing on collaborators has been fantastic for me,” she said. ‘Les Innocents’: Les Innocents runs through Nov. 4 at Mason Hall in the Preston Bradley Center, 941 W. Lawrence. Tickets are $30; visit rediscoverthe- City of bones atre.com/the-innocents.

BY ADA CHENG But Kreitman wants to tell this queer story dif- ferently than many others. “A lot of times we are Ann Kreitman was surrounded by bones when she made out to be tragic heroes. There is a real dan- dreamed up Les Innocents. ger to always be portrayed as tragic heroes. We Touring the catacombs of Paris—an under- are so much more than that,” she said. “We are ground ossuary where the remains of more than allowed to be flawed. We have the right to reckon a million people rest—(re)discover theatre’s co- with our death. I want to create a story about my artistic director learned that the cavernous space life in a mythical proportion,” she said. had been a popular place for concerts in the late Kreitman said she hopes to disrupt the sim- 19th century. She dreamed of creating a stage plistic narrative about queer people and human play set against the ghostly backdrop of the City beings in general. While she started the project PUCCINI of Light’s tomblike, subterranean city of bones. while she was wrestling with her own sexuality, “It’s literally a city underneath a city. The Nazis the play itself is not about coming out. ”It’s not had a bunker down there. At one point there was a coming out story,” she said. “This is a myth a movie theatre there. I found it fascinating,” with queer stories. Coming out is important to us A KISS IN THE DARK LEADS Kreitman said. because that’s how we enter the community. We TO ONE OF OPERA’S MOST (re)discover Theatre’s Les Innocents is the re- have to start talking about ourselves in order to sult Kreitman’s inspiration. Running through find our community. HEARTWARMING LOVE STORIES Sunday, Nov. 4 at Uptown’s Preston Bradley Cen- “But we have more stories to tell, stories about ter, 941 W. Lawrence Ave., Kreitman’s queer, im- flaws, stories about fucking up, stories about be- mersive thriller is set in the Parisian Catacombs ing selfish, not being the perfect role model. I OCT  ­€ in a mythical era. Kreitman’s new play investi- think that’s actually a necessary representation JAN ƒ€ ­„ gates our relationships to death, duty and defeat. as well. If we put ourselves on a pedestal, how How did the queerness enter into the concep- do we live up to that? ... Just because we are tion of the play then? “I created this show as I a marginalized community doesn’t mean we are was coming out,” said Kreitman, who directs the perfect,” she said. piece she created. “[T]hat was when I was 24. In essence, the play is about all human beings I had to unpack the 24 years of repressing my wrestling with flaws and vulnerabilities; which truths. I wanted to explore how nasty that re- makes the piece’s Catacombs setting important pression can make you. How it comes out in small as a backdrop. The story Les Innocents tells “is Œƒ­.Ž­‘.„€€ and unsettling way. That’s what this story about about living in the gut. Living in those impulses. for me. The story is about the things we hide from In those base desires that we are trying to re- LYRICOPERA.ORG each other. About the essential selfishness about press,” Kreitman said. “Paris is the head, the logi- being human,” Kreitman elaborated. cal center for us. We are seven stories below that 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 Avramovich Charitable Trust, Howard L. Gottlieb and Barbara G. Greis, and Roberta L. and Robert J. Washlow. Oct. 10, 2018 10

but not bad. On Thursday, we camera-block all Leslie Jordan and day and, [on] Friday, we bring in the audience. It in The Cool Kids. is the best gig in the world! Photo by Crystal Shin WCT: I saw actor Jamie Farr on the first epi- sode. Is this giving opportunities for people that are overlooked in Hollywood? LJ: Absolutely. We want to trot everyone out. That’s our plan. I am fighting for Tina Louise to play my mother! I told Vicki to ask Carol Burnett and Lyle Waggoner. Jamie Farr is 84 and was so happy to be there for the job. He was willing to do anything we asked. People just want to work. That older group has been so overlooked. One time, Debbie Reynolds told me that a cast- ing girl asked her what she had done and she said, “I’m Debbie fucking Reynolds. That’s what I’ve done!” WCT: Are you going to be back on ? LJ: No. This time it is a recap of Coven and some of the other seasons. I saw Ryan Murphy at the up-fronts in New York and we talked a bit, but I am not on it. NUNN ON ONE I am back on Will & Grace; I can only do two episodes. When Fox pays you that kind of mon- ey for series regulars, there are a lot of rules. I told them I won an Emmy for that show so they Leslie Jordan allowed me to do two. If Will & Grace goes up against Cool Kids in the same time slot, I can’t do any. is now one of WCT: Are you doing any upcoming one-man shows? LJ: I am. I have one called Exposed. I had to ‘The Cool Kids’ cancel Provincetown this year so I can only do it on a Saturday night because of shooting. I am going to to host a GLAAD event and BY JERRY NUNN 73-year-old, straight, Jewish man from Brooklyn. Dallas doing Exposed for the Legacy Counseling A lot of my lines were “meh.” I walked in and Center in a few weeks. Out actor Leslie Jordan may have finally landed said, “I’m going to put a different spin on this!” TV My fee has gone up. I keep thinking they won’t his dream role of Sid on a new television show Now, Sid is an aging gay man. There is an ag- urinal. pay it, but they do! called The Cool Kids. ing African-American man, [and] an aging, quite WCT: I saw in the pilot you have some really WCT: Do you ever go back to Tennessee? Brought by executive producer , the straight hippy full of conspiracy theories and Re- great one-liners. LJ: I do. We have long hiatuses during Thanks- series stars , and Vicki publican ideas. Vicki Lawrence plays a woman of LJ: I do. I love the fact that the characters on giving and Christmas. Lawrence along with Jordan, and is the story of a certain age, and we are all best friends. It is Cool Kids don’t care that he’s gay. I am bringing my mom, her sister, who is almost four friends living in a retirement community who about friendship and deals with a gay man grow- WCT: Who’s the Blanche Devereaux of the 90, and my identical twin sister out for a taping. get into screwball situations. ing old. group? This is the first time they have traveled in a re- This makes his first regular cast member role I have had many gay men write for me, from LJ: I am. They have really tailored these char- ally long time. The greatest thing I ever did was in a series since Hearts Afire in 1995. His many Del Shores to Ryan Murphy, but this is so differ- acters to us. This is the first time I ever been al- buy them a place in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The guest appearances on television include ent because it is not the nail on the head. It is a lowed to play me. From someone who came from house is so beautiful. It looks like Laura Ashley Legal, and Reba. He received an Emmy roomful of straight boys, but they are so open to the background I did with so much internalized threw up in there! for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Will & suggestions. homophobia growing up I can now look you in The Cool Kids runs Fridays on Fox. Grace. They had me in drag on the second episode. the eyes and say I am one hundred percent com- Movie credits include Sordid Lives, The Help and David Alan Grier asked me if there were any gay fortable with who and what I am. Leslie Jordan: My Trip Down the Pink Carpet. men that don’t do drag. I said, “Yes, of course.” I It is a marriage between Charlie Day, from It’s Windy City Times: Are you thrilled about have done drag so much, I thought maybe there Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Patrick Walsh, your new show? is a better way to say things without it. It was a from 2 Broke Girls. They have created a play- Leslie Jordan: Yes. For something like this to hilarious episode about catfishing. I didn’t even ground that is so safe. We shoot in front of a live Jungr-McDaniel fall in my lap at age 63 is great because I think it know what that was… audience. cabaret show Oct. 25 will have some longevity. I go online because my character has had suc- WCT: How does a multi-camera show differ Barb Jungr and John McDaniel will bring My manager called and said something was cess on Grindr and try to help my straight friends. from other projects you have worked on? their cabaret show to Davenport’s, 1333 N. cooking at Fox from the boys that wrote Always I make up a character named Destiny and both LJ: The last hour show I did was American Hor- Ave., on Thursday, Oc.t 25, at 8 Sunny in Philadelphia. They are so cute and just the men fall in love with her. Vicki Lawrence says, ror Story and I don’t know how they do it. They p.m. adorable. They are big ol’ straight boys! “Honey, you are not going to be able to land this have 5:30 a.m. makeup calls and work until the British singer Jungr has been making music We all had to audition. Some actor’s managers plane!” I walk out in a wig and she says they will sun goes down. of all kinds since the ‘70s in London. McDan- will call and say that they don’t audition. That is know who I am. With three camera it is amazing. We come in on iel, who sometimes partners with Jungr, was bullshit. Meryl Streep auditions. There is nothing The writers were able to make it the right way a Monday and do a little table read. We will go on the music director on The Rosie O’Donnell worse that showing up and not being right for for the gay community. We are not tackling big the set to rehearse until 1 p.m. then we go home. Show during its entire run. the part. issues. This is The Golden Girls on crack! Our big- We come in on Tuesday and will get it ready for Tickets are $25 each, plus a two-drink min- WCT: Talk about your part as Sid in The Cool gest problem is that the four of us have no moral the Fox people then go home by 3:00 p.m. We imum; visit https://tinyurl.com/ycfhhqum or Kids. compass. People get stabbed. We crawl through never have a call before 10 a.m. On Wednesday, call 773-278-1830. LJ: I had reservations because Sid was a windows trying to get into clubs. I fall into a we show it to the network so a little stressful, Oct. 10, 2018 11

Martha Wash. Photo by Sean Black MUSIC Now, Wash is keeping her body Martha Wash: working in a different way: as part of the cast of WaistWatch- ers The Musical!, running at Dance-floor diva Chicago’s Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St. (Wash is there through Sunday, Oct. 28.) talks Chicago Windy City Times: Of course, you’re known for your legend- musical, new CD ary voice. I’m wondering what your thoughts were regard- BY ANDREW DAVIS Factory song “Gonna ing another legendary singer: (Everybody Dance Now)” and the Black . Even those who may not heard Martha Box tune “Everybody Everybody,” Wash’s Martha Wash: Oh, she was my Wash’s name have certainly heard her voice has been a staple at clubs as well all-time favorite. I worshipped voice. as events such as weddings. In addi- her. I sang one of her songs in From the dance classic “It’s Rain- tion, she has recorded several of her junior high school. I thought ing Men” (recorded with the late Izora songs as well as dance-club number-one the world of her; I admired her Armstead, Wash’s partner in the duo hits such as “Carry On” and “Keep Your talent very much. ) to the C&C Music Body Working.” My favorite song of hers was “Chain of Fools,” which I sang in junior high. I sang “Ain’t No CULTURECULTURE CLUBCLUB Way”in high school. I have all of her Columbia and Atlantic al- bums. WCT: I assume your interac- GIORDANO DANCE CHICAGO tion with the LGBT commu- nity goes back to singing with live in the [‘70s artist] Sylvester. Could you provide some in- sight into what he was like? MOMENTUM MW: It does. Sylvester was OCT 26 & 27 a gay Black man who was a fantastic singer, and he didn’t care if you liked him or not. He wasn’t going to bow down to Featuring a what you thought. He was this world premiere by great talent—and he was way Ray Leeper ahead of his time. WCT: Let’s jump to Waist- Watchers. MW: Yes. It’s a musical set in a women’s gym. It’s a great de- Tickets start at $15 parture for me, in a way. This TICKETS 205 E. Randolph Drive 312.334.7777 harristheaterchicago.org is a high-energy show, and it’s fun. There’s no intermission. Think about going to a gym— the kind of people you meet Would you know what to ask for there. There are five characters, if the Devil came knocking on your door? and each one has her own story. It’s real life. WCT: What drew you to this musical? Was it the challenge of doing something different? Was it the message of the show? MW: Oh, it’s the challenge. [Laughs] And I’m hoping and praying that I’m up to the chal- lenge. WCT: But this isn’t the first time you’ve done theater. MW: I did theater in 2003.

PICTURED: RYAN HALLAHAN AND AUDREY FRANCIS. PHOTO BY SAVERIO TRUGLIA. HALLAHAN AND AUDREY FRANCIS. PHOTO BY SAVERIO PICTURED: RYAN it was a show called Love on Layaway; it was written by NOW PLAYING David Talbert, and it starred Deborah Cox. I was in the 847-242-6000 | WRITERSTHEATRE.ORG Turn to page 12 Oct. 10, 2018 12 time or for the thousandth. The refrain “I want BOOK REVIEW trans lit…” reveals H. Melt’s motivations for writ- ing, but also calls out to anyone and everyone to rethink their own relationship to trans lit: how Black Queer Hoe (and if) they write it, consume it, and circulate by Britteney Black Rose it. Kapri Melt’s introduction states, “I yearn for trans $16; Haymarket; 55 pages spaces within the cis world and try to imagine REVIEW BY KELSEY HOFF living outside of it.” Most of the early poems end with a point of misrecognition or deliberate ig- In her poem “a reading guide: for white people norance for the reader to linger on in the shoes reading my book,” Britteney Black Rose Kapri of a transgendered person, giving cis readers a writes “this book isn’t for you. it’s a celebration taste of the emotional burden these lapses cre- of my Blackness, my Queerness, my Hoeness, ate. Later poems end with affirming messages to none of which exists without the other.” In full trans people who’ve lived these situations. The disclosure, as a white reviewer, I cannot under- final poems begin to outline fundamental chang- stand this book the way Kapri’s intended read- es that would enable non cis-normative life: a ers do—the foreword by Danez Smith welcomes city “Where there are/no borders between/who Black readers and contextualizes Kapri’s work for we were and who we are/Becoming.” The speaker them. What I can do is tell you about my experi- is not asking for a specific set of conditions, but ence reading it as an outsider and why it’s impor- re-tracing social situations to highlight where tant that all kinds of people read this book, even trans identities are being rejected by cis people though it’s not meant for us. and opening up ways to recognize and appreciate Kapri stated in an interview for another Windy them, always upholding freedom over restraint. City Times article, “the only speaker in this col- The speaker/poet teases out interactions with lection is me.” She brings her entire experience, line measured by the date and time stamps on all different kinds of people: strangers and fam- her entire self to the page, calling her readers to BOOK REVIEW the tweets, not in the imaginary realm of poetry ily, cis people and other trans people, friends and do the same—at the same time maintaining com- that aims for universal appeal. celebrities. One source of cognitive dissonance is plete control of what she’s revealing to her read- Obviously, a few of the messages in this book On My Way detailed in the introduction: “I am in the strange ers and when, with an exacting attention to her were for (white) people like me. For instance, position of being an openly trans writer while modes of speech. This book is powerful because to Liberation “purple” gives a nuanced account of how white simultaneously not being recognized as a trans it doesn’t allow you to “accidentally forget who by H. Melt people demonize Black life with their language, person on a daily basis.” The speaker can walk you are. or where you are.” It challenges readers even when race isn’t the issue at hand. But what $10; Haymarket; 28 pages away from a stranger’s verbal assault “trying to to keep up with turns both sharp and sly, speak- REVIEW BY KELSEY HOFF do outsiders do with the bulk of this book, the forget / what will die / in a few days / time,” but ing on levels far below the surface—though the experiences we will never have, the jokes we deadnaming and misgendering by family mem- surface messages pack their own punches. On My Way to Liberation, by H. Melt, is a chap- can’t laugh at? Kapri addresses this in “a read- bers is much more difficult to resolve. No single These poems live in the real world. Screenshots book-length preview of their forthcoming book ing guide: for white people reading my book.” solution is going to improve trans visibility and of Kapri’s tweets scattered throughout the book There Are Trans People Here from Haymarket Read this poem first if you want. As for me, I liberation—misrecognition occurs on many dif- with proclamations like “Sia ‘leaking’ her own Books. can remember the pain and fear in poems like ferent levels, for many reasons. nudes so someone couldn’t sell them is the cor- In just 16 short poems and a page-long intro- “pink crayon”, the joy in poems like “the day The title comes in at the final poem, the point nerstone of my feminism” call attention to the duction, Melt approaches the insidious problem my nudes leak,” the humor in many of the po- where the speaker leaves the reader. Without re- art of a good tweet, a super-decontextualized of gender misrecognition and microagressions ems, especially “before they can use it against telling the whole story (this book needs to be medium that requires readers to bring their own from many directions, in numerous settings. Their you” and “pansexual,” the lust in “bad feminist,” read slowly, experienced line by line), if both par- awareness and sensibilities to each encounter, poems oscillate between straightforward testi- and the tenderness. I can respect their value to ties have succeeded, the speaker and the reader as Kapri demands in her poems. The content in monials of firsthand experiences and provocative the speaker and be less judgmental of others for have renewed senses of their quests concerning Kapri’s tweets puts poems with similar messages lyric poems that juxtapose reality with possibil- these things I haven’t experienced myself. And trans literature and recognition. Both have been and references into the context of her day-to-day ity. also encourage others to go pick up a copy of re-contextualized in history and in the contem- consciousness, adding another dimension of real- The first poem, “Trans Lit Is Bullshit,” immedi- ity and community. These poems exist in a time- Black Queer Hoe. ately smashes expectations and meets all readers porary climate of social justice; they have an un- where they are: picking up a book of poems by a derstanding, but the work remains of making it manifest in their lives off the page. trans person, approaching trans lit for the first to people using telephones; now there’s [more WASH from page 11 advanced] technology. original production but not in the version on WCT: And with you having been involved in Mona DVD. music for a while, is that the biggest change Gay film wins top Ambegaonkar WCT: The last CD was Something Good, with you’ve noticed—the technology? and Devansh the song “It’s My Time.” MW: Well, yeah, I would say. In terms of getting award at CSAFF Doshi in MW: Yes, and that whole was great. I’m music, I would say yes, with the downloads and The Indian feature film Evening Shadows won Evening in the studio working on another one. It won’t be the streaming. People just get their music any the audience award for Best Feature Film at the Shadows. out until next year sometime. It’ll have a little kind of way now. recently concluded Chicago South Asian Film Photo from blues and a little R&B. WCT: So, after WaistWatchers, you’ll be de- Festival (CSAFF). Sridhar voting your time to the new CD? “We are happy that our film Evening Shad- WCT: And you also have a YouTube series Rangayan MW: Well, I will be focusing on that; I have ows is being awarded and appreciated even at called 10 Minutes with Martha Wash? MW: Yes. I’ve interviewed Paul Shaffer [the about four more tracks to do. Then I’ll probably mainstream film festivals, apart from LGBTQ bandleader from Late Night with David Letter- take some time off because I’ve been really busy film festivals. This fulfills one of the objectives and received support from the local LGBT South man, and who co-wrote “It’s Raining Men”] and for the last couple of months. Then I’ll do another of the film—to reach out a mass audience with Asian group Trikone Chicago. Local transgender some others. It has me talking with people and show: The First Ladies of Disco, with Linda Clif- the message of acceptance. Now we push for artist Sal moderated the Q&A. singing. It’s about grabbing your attention for 10 ford and , of Chic. the second objective—of releasing the film The festival presented more than 70 films minutes; then you can go about your business. Tickets start at $45 each for WaistWatchers commercially, in theaters and television—in at the Showplace ICON Theater and Columbia [Both laugh.] People can’t seem to concentrate The Musical!; visit WaistwatchersTheMusical. India,” director Sridhar Rangayan said in a College in downtown Chicago as well as AMC for too long. com or call the Royal George Theatre Box Of- statement. Oakbrook Center on Sept. 20-23. fice at 312-988-9000. Evening Shadows screened to a full house, WCT: You’ve noticed that, too? MW: Oh, yes. It’s been like that—going back Oct. 10, 2018 13

get out of some of them. There has been a lot of Kim Petras. frustration. It’s a lot of work to release stuff and Photo by Thom Kerr MUSIC have a shot. rap hook. Let’s hope it comes out. We are doing an old school radio tour and play- WCT: How did you wind up working with ing lounges acoustically. Radio Disney is playing Charli XCX? my music, which is amazing! KP: A singer named Sophie works a lot with WCT: Has your family always been supportive Charli XCX. I went to Sophie’s break out show in of your transition? LA. It was the first show she had done as an art- KP: Yes. I told them, “I am a girl and want to ist herself. Charli was there so we went backstage live as one.” I wanted to mutilate myself. I did and partied. She hit me up two days later to do not want to have a male gender. the song. My mother told me we could go see doctors to- WCT: How did the tour happen? gether once I was old enough that there was a KP: My management called me and asked me way to live as a girl. I didn’t feel hopeless after to be on the tour. Troye messaged me before and that so that helped me around the age of 10. I said he liked my music. It is like 32 dates across woke up everyday and was scared I would grow a the country so I am excited. beard. I would cry and was terrified. I was scared WCT: You have new music to perform. “Can’t my voice would get lower. Do Better” sounds like an anthem. Some doctors told them to shave my hair off KP: I love Pat Benatar and big ‘80s moments. and send me to school in boy clothes. I did and It is about me having a crush on a boy having a nothing changed. It hasn’t been easy. crush on another girl. I can be insecure and it is We found a doctor when I was 12 that started a hype yourself up song. I have been sitting on it me on hormone therapy. I got the blockers for for a year and it’s a very special song. male puberty and ever since then I have been WCT: “Heart to Break” is a jam. happy. After I had the surgery I didn’t hate my- KP: Thank you. It is very hard to sing live be- self anymore. I finally felt connected to my body. cause the verse is so low and the chorus is so WCT: Was the process easier in ? high. I am getting more and more used to it. I KP: It was, in a way. My family is not rich, but love the music video. health insurance covered it there, so that was in- WCT: Did you have a lot of input on the video credible. I hope health insurance will change in treatment? America. It’s really important. KP: Yes. The creative director is my homie and If you are different and face struggles in school we just hang out. We wrote the treatment while it will be hard enough for you. at Harry Potter World at Universal in LA. WCT: You have brought a lot of attention to NUNN ON ONE WCT: Are you into Harry Potter? those struggles through your story. KP: Yeah, I’m a Hufflepuff all the way! KP: That was my whole childhood and teen- WCT: What have been challenges in the mu- age years. I was all about doing documentaries. sic business? I think my first one was at 12 and my last one Trans singer KP: I think you need to know everything about at 16. I wanted to help people. Not every child it in order to be a success and make money off is lucky to have supportive parents. We have a of it. My goal is to be touring my whole life and responsibility to be a good example. I get to live Kim Petras talks really build a real fanbase. a completely normal life as a girl and I am happy! It took me awhile to find myself as an art- Petras will perform on Troye Sivan’s Bloom ist. It’s about timing. I have been talking with Tour on Friday, Oct. 19, at The Chicago Theatre, family, transition, people about contracts. I have had to wait and 175 N. State St., at 7:30 p.m. Visit MSG.com/ big break The-Chicago-Theatre for ticket information. Save the date! The Lakeside Pride BY JERRY NUNN Windy City Times: Tell our readers about Jazz Orchestra is celebrating the joys yourself so they can get to know you. of wedded bliss for people of all Transgender singer Kim Petras is performing for Kim Petras: I’m a pop songwriter. I was ob- genders and you’re invited! Whether the first time nationwide at large concerts, thanks sessed with pop music since I was 10 years old. to Troye Sivan, who is on his “The Bloom” Tour. I listened to music from Carole King, Max Martin you’re married, single or just love Born in , Germany, Petras knew her and the Bee Gees. I knew people weren’t going weddings, bring your handkerchiefs identity at age 2. She received medical treatment to write me a song so I would need to be a good and your dancing shoes! in Hamburg and announced on her blog that, at songwriter like them. That was my way into the age 16, she had completed gender-reassignment whole thing. A night of nuptial-themed jazz. surgery in 2008. (Under German law, a person At age 16, I wrote a laundry detergent jingle. would normally have to be 18.) That was my foot in the door—my big break! I Her dreams of becoming a singer began with a got a publishing deal in Germany and at 19 I debut single “I Don’t Want It at All” and video came to LA. I wanted to write pop music and featuring Paris Hilton. She has released several become amazing at it. successful singles, such as “Hillside Boys” and Nothing happened for two years, then I wrote Saturday, October 13th @ 7:30 pm “Heart to Break.” a song for Fergie that was going to be her big Then, Petras was part of mixtapes, including single when “M.I.L.F $” came out. It was called Center on Halsted Charli XCX’s Pop 2; also, just in time for October, “Dancing.” It might still come out. It is my mom’s 3656 N Halsted St, Chicago Petras has released a Halloween-themed mixtape favorite song that I ever wrote. $10 online or at the door titled Turn Off the Lights Vol. 1, featuring Elvira WCT: Did you record it? on one of the eight new tracks, with songs like KP: Yes. In the beginning I had me singing it, lakesidepride.org/loveandmarriage “TRANSylvania” and “Boo! Bitch!” so I still have that version. It has a really good Oct. 10, 2018 14

it comes to the characters, costumes and humor. And who doesn’t Kathy Griffin. love that? Photo by Jerry Nunn WCT: Do you feel pressure to be funny all the time during your daily life? Is there an expectation?

Gerami headshot by Stephen Blaha KG: I’m pretty “on,” as they say. I would say I am a little atypical compared to most comedi- ans I have known, in that I am similar off stage to my incredibly delightful persona on stage. 6 Many comedians are very shy and often pensive, bruiting types off-stage. I like my quiet time, but I really do try to make the people around me laugh every day. WCT: What does your average day look like? KG: When I’m on tour, I’m on a nighttime schedule. Sleep in, have a healthy meal three hours prior to show time, and it usually takes me about three hours to come down after the show. I watch a lot of late-night cable. When questions I’m off the road, I do a lot of writing, produc- 7 ing fun little videos for my social media, and I’m just now starting to be asked to do guest appearances on television again. I was very BY10 VIC GERAMI with Vic honored to play Kellyanne Conway twice this season on Comedy Central’s The President Show. Kathy Griffin is officially on the A List—period. An army of fans WCT: What’s new on your play list? around the world rejoiced seeing Kathy overcome and conquer the KG: I like to let my friends contribute to my onslaught of over-reaction, aggression and bullying by Donald playlist. It is quite varied. If it were up to me, it Trump, his administration and the Federal Government. We love her would pretty much be Céline, Backstreet Boys, as a comedian, a courageous public figure—and a bad-ass who tells Britney—you get the idea. But my more musi- it like it is at the pinnacle of her career. We first tuned in to Sud- cally sophisticated friends keep me in my place. denly Susan to watch Kathy’s character, Vicki Groener, because she Although I wish I could get Josh Groban to stop was the most interesting person to watch, and because we knew she 8 taking off all my Michael Bolton songs. was headed up Hollywood’s alphabetical pecking-order. Two Emmy WCT: You have a massive army of fans awards for her hit show on the Bravo network’s My Life on the D List around the world, tell me about them. and a Golden Globe award followed, and in 2013 Kathy attained the KG: Well, they sure showed up this year, didn’t Guinness World Records title for most televised stand-up specials they? One thing that gave me a sliver of hope with the premiere of her 20th show on HBO. We live vicariously days after the Trump photo was a video on Twit- through her victory as she leaves the small d behind and steps into ter of a group of gay guys dressed as I was in the big A, while laughing our heads off. the photo (blue dress and all), carrying Donald Windy City Times: Modesty aside, how 9 Trump masks and parading around Fire Island. would you describe yourself? The LGBT community is ahead of the curve, Kathy Griffin: I’m a goddamn legend! Alright, I once again. And yes, I know that is a pun. I will admit the photo may not be one until I’m dead, but, oh, what a that has caused me so much angst is the photo that this year has legend I’ll be! I describe myself as someone who single-handedly turned me into a global touring artist. Before North lives to make people laugh. Yes, I like to stir power to try and decimate a single American citizen. I have actually America, I started this show in , and ended up things up and push boundaries, but hey, if you enjoyed fighting back one joke at a time. in Reykjavik, Iceland and everywhere in between. 1 want to see some nice, homespun clean humor, WCT: What have you learned in the last WCT: Tell me a secret—a good one! watch the 700 Club. year, having gone through what you did? KG: After the infamous Trump photo, Cher sent WCT: How does it feel to receive the Come- Would you do anything differently? me the following text that made me laugh out dian of the Year Award from the Palm Springs KG: I would do many things differently! I loud: “You wanted to be famous bitch!” International Comedy Festival? think it is hilarious when celebrities jump to For information on Kathy Griffin’s World KG: What a difference a year makes! This the “I wouldn’t change a thing” B.S. This ex- Tour, including tickets, please visit www. award is so meaningful to me because I have perience, which started with a photo amplified kathygriffin.net. spent decades truly trying to hone my craft and 4 on TMZ, to Federal agencies investigating me, 10 being the very best comedian, actress and im- and being put on the “No Fly List” as if I am a 2 proviser I can be. After my Trump mask scandal, terrorist, is so over the top I had to make many missteps to try to I learned very quickly that I simply had to up figure my own way out of this unique and historic situation. Look- my game with my material and be truly fearless about it. ing back, I am probably most grateful that I ultimately listened to ‘ACE Comic Con WCT: You went through a tough, tumultuous my inner comedy gut and decided to basically Midwest’ Oct. 12-14 and controversial year and came out victori- put my middle finger in the air and get back on The pop-culture experience ACE Comic Con Midwest (involv- ous. Your world tour, Laugh Your Head Off, is the road. ing ACE Universe) will take place Oct. 12-14 at Chicago’s Navy a smashing success, selling-out quicker than WCT: You volunteer your time and open the Pier. you can add dates. How is the sweet smell of drag pageant, Best in , which is an According to the event’s website, founders/brothers Gareb victory? annual fundraiser for Aid for AIDS. Why is Shamus and Stephen Shamus are “producing the first live- KG: Like a brand new lavender scented candle. this cause important to you? streaming platform combined with the most curated and im- 3 Honestly, it has been a slow and laborious claw KG: Best in Drag Show benefits a great orga- mersive Comic Cons.” 5 nization called Alliance for Housing and Heal- back, but completely worth every up and down. Slated guests include actors Tom Hiddleston (the Thor mov- I have enjoyed doing the Kathy Griffin Laugh Your Head Off World ing, formerly known as Aids for AIDS. The event ies and Avengers: Infinity War), Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity Tour, even though it has been the most difficult tour of my life. If started out very organically in the living room of Alexis Pittman’s War; Deadpool 2), Matt Smith (Doctor Who), Zazie Beetz (Dead- nothing else, it is vital to me that anyone who is interested and apartment. We lost Alexis to HIV, and in his honor, the show gets pool 2), among others. watching sees that this president or any other should not have the bigger and better every year. It is an over-the-top drag show like See ACEUniverse.com. you have never seen. The evening is also wildly inappropriate when Oct. 10, 2018 15

WCT: Was working at McDonald’s a hard job? CH: It was when it was super-busy. Lunch hour MUSIC gave me anxiety! Carlie Hanson: Yes, about six hours away from WCT: Was there something you would never here in Chicago. I was born and raised there in eat again from McDonald’s menu? Onalaska. I live in LA now. I just moved there in CH: I didn’t eat it until I started working there NUNN ON ONE February. because we had 50 percent off the menu, but I WCT: Did you always want to make music? was obsessed with McDoubles for a long time. I CH: My mom said when I was two years old that try not to eat McDonald’s anymore. I sang a Destiny’s Child song called “Survivor” in WCT: How was turning 18? Carlie Hanson the car. I have always been singing. CH: I didn’t want it to happen. I wanted to stay When started being big—that­ is 17 forever. I was going to buy a pack of ciga- when I knew I wanted to be a singer. rettes to celebrate, but you have to be 21 in LA. talks new CD— WCT: Did you start on YouTube? What can I do at this age? Vote? A strip club? CH: I tried, but I did not do as well as he did WCT: How do you feel about opening for obviously. I put out videos and had my friends Troye Sivan? and coming out watch them. It never went anywhere and they CH: I am pumped, but nervous. I have a tour were really embarrassing. I thought it was easy that I am going on before that to get prepped when I watched Justin, but it’s not that easy! with Jeremy Zucker. His fans are diehard and sing WCT: How is your family with your career? every word to his songs. CH: My mom and my sisters are very support- WCT: I spoke with another opener for Troye ive. I started this whole music thing by going to named Kim Petras the other day. and working with some producers called CH: We just hung out at an event that Bebe House of Wolf. My mom was invested in it from Rexha was hosting. that time forward. WCT: There is a whole new generation of WCT: What was it like being in the studio LGBT performers in the music business now with House of Wolf? with Troye and Kim. CH: It was everything. They have made my CH: I don’t know if you saw my Twitter, but I ac- sound and I still work with them. I wanted to be tually came out the other day. I had a girlfriend, in the studio when I was little. It is a dream to but we are no longer together. I had never been be in there. with a girl before. I was always dating guys. I WCT: Talk about your song “Only One.” met this girl and completely fell in love. They are CH: It was one of the first songs I ever record- just people. Gender doesn’t mean anything to me ed. My best bud Dale Anthoni wrote on it and at all. It is whatever is inside; as cheesy as that has been a huge help in developing me. Dale and sounds, it’s how I feel. I got matching tattoos for that song. The song WCT: What do you want to tell people as a blew up and I didn’t expect that all. new artist? I am more excited about my new music. It is CH: Always be yourself. If you are feeling ner- more urban sounding and not as pop. I am ner- vous about going for it, just do it. Everyone is vous, but excited to see what people say about worried about themselves, so just worry about it. yourself. Don’t hold yourself back! WCT: Is there a certain genre that you want Hanson opens for Troye Sivan’s Bloom Tour to try but haven’t yet? on Friday, Oct. 19, at The Chicago Theatre, 175 CH: I don’t want a certain genre. A good ex- N. State St., at 7:30 p.m. Visit MSG.com/The- ample is Post Malone. I can’t put him in a genre. Chicago-Theatre for ticket information today. He’s one of my biggest dream collaborations.

Carlie Hanson. Photo by Jaxon Activism meet-ups, Dobbins personal book recommendations, weekly events, Kids Storytime, and more! There are so many reasons to support Chicago’s only feminist bookstore.

BY JERRY NUNN You Lie” and “Only One,” which was featured on ’s Playlist curated by . Singer Carlie Hanson has gone from serving hun- The two then went to California to make more gry customers at McDonald’s in Wisconsin to per- music that has now led to her performing at Troye forming for huge crowds in large venues across Sivan’s shows. Sivan and his boyfriend shot her the country. first artwork. YouTube videos were her inspiration to make Her song “Mood” was written by her and Brett music and, after posting a cover of Zayn’s “Pil- McLaughlin (also known as ), who closely low Talk” on Instagram, producers noticed her. worked with Sivan and Selena Gomez. The song After traveling to Canada with her mother, she was released on her 18th birthday this year in made two songs with those producers “Why Did May. Windy City Times: You are from Wisconsin? Oct. 10, 2018 16

Ryan Serhant. PR photo

NUNN ON ONE Selling It like Ryan Serhant

BY JERRY NUNN not to temp or be a waiter. With real estate, I York is a different beast with a different type of could run around and make my own hours. I still energy. I think there are people that like one ver- Everything is coming up roses for Ryan Serhant thought acting was what I would do. I thought TV sus the other. these days. This year, the Bravo celebrity cele- real estate was the better bet for longterm hap- WCT: Is selling a certain personality trait or WCT: What do you think of gay cast member brates a seventh season of Million Dollar Listing piness. It took five years for it to turn over and can anyone learn? Fredrick Eklund? New York; a spinoff called Sell It Like a Serhant work. RS: Anyone can learn it. There are some people RS: He’s great and has a big personality. We’ve premiered; his book of the same name hits the Million Dollar Listing played a role in that. We that have the personality traits of a good sales gotten to know each other really well over the shelves: and his podcast debuted on iHeartRadio. started shooting in 2010 and it came out with person. I think anyone can learn because I didn’t years. We are the O.G.’s of Million Dollar Listing. He describes the podcast as “a rags to riches fo- the first season in 2012. It didn’t blow up my have the personality of a sales person. I was very The third guy on the show has come and gone. cused show interviewing people that have built a business. People don’t call up a person they see shy and introverted. I had to build it on my own. We are a lot more alike than we ever anticipated business from the ground up.” on TV. It helped me in a room that I already had WCT: When I did sales for Windy City Times, or will admit. Windy City Times: Where are you from origi- gotten in, but took me a while to get up on my it was hard to stay motivated sometimes. Any We are both competitive and want to be the nally? feet. tips for that? best. I think I am successful because of him and Ryan Serhant: I was born in Texas. My passion WCT: Was it hard to get on the Bravo show? RS: I call it the four Ws in the book: the wall, he is someone to push against. was in acting. I was terrible at sports. RS: I went to an open casting call at the Hud- win, why and work. The wall is your motivation. WCT: How about another gay man involved When I graduated college I went to New York son New York with 3,000 agents. It took nine For me it was running out of money in the sum- with the show, Andy Cohen? City, but ran out of money. I got my real estate months, then they cast us and we started that mer of 2008. I never want to do that again. I am RS: He has always been a huge supporter and a license. December. constantly afraid of that. big fan. He loves the show. We just did his radio WCT: Did you have odd jobs? WCT: Your new book is not a biography, but WCT: What would you tell people about real- show. He’s the dad of Bravo and everyone treats RS: The oddest job I did was a hand model for a instead a sales book? ity shows? him as such. while. I held cell phones for AT&T for a long time, RS: It is my playbook. I didn’t want to be an- RS: They are a lot more work than people think. WCT: Have you heard from gay Bravo fans? and watches, to pay the bills. other Bravo person writing a book. I wanted a It takes a lot of time. Million Dollar Listing shoots RS: Yes. They are awesome and really like my WCT: Was there money in that? sales guidebook for the people that work for me. for nine months out of a year. They follow me for moustache! RS: It was $150 an hour. I would work 10 hours, When I did Sell It Like Serhant for Bravo, I real- the majority of the year and I have been doing it For more on this million dollar seller’s proj- so it was great for me. ized I could apply my real estate skills to sell- for seven years. It is my life for better or worse! ects, visit RyanSerhant.com. WCT: Was it hard to conquer real estate? ing anything. I put everything into a book, then WCT: Thoughts on Million Dollar Listing Los RS: I didn’t know anyone in New York and had fleshed it out with stories and humor. It is not my Angeles? no money. I only did it because a friend told me memoir, that’s for sure. RS: They are the tentpole. They started it. New Oct. 10, 2018 17

is here. Several of them also gave me insight on what life would be like having a career in the NFL while trying to make time for your family. I am Former Chicago Force grateful for their inclusivity and affirmation of the LGBTQ community.” Leslie added, “I’m so grateful that Sam Rappa- star gets taste of NFL port and the New York Jets saw something in me that allowed me to earn this opportunity. Being BY ROSS FORMAN a minority in nearly every space I have played

SPORTS sports in, worked in, and trained in, I understand Darcy Leslie spent eight years playing for the the importance of including as many people from now-defunct Chicago Force, establishing herself Football Forum, [which] helps the NFL identify different walks of life as possible. What people as one of the best women to ever put on the qualified women to join its next generation of see on camera and on sports teams is what they pads. She was a national champion, and was leaders,” Leslie said. “I was accepted and went see as possible. Without such representation, fu- decorated with many individual awards every to Orlando [this past] January for two days of ture generations won’t know what is possible. My season, including perennial team Defensive MVP panel discussions, presentations and breakout son will be here in November and when he grows and league All American. She also was Women’s sessions. It was a very educational experience up, I want him to be able to turn the television Football Alliance (WFA) Conference Player of the and it helped me gain knowledge about various and see someone who he can relate to and I hope Year in 2013. fields within the NFL that I was interested in, I could offer that now to some little girl or boy.” “My Force [career] entails some of my great- such as strength and conditioning, scouting and Despite a taste of NFL life, Leslie has certainly est athletic accomplishments,” said Leslie, who coaching. not forgotten her Force roots. lives in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood and “That weekend help solidify my desire to pursue “The Force is the reason why I’m experienc- is a general manager for Canine Crew and CrossFit a career in the NFL. Since then, I was able to ing this amazing opportunity,” she said. “I was Coach at Hardware Crossfit. make some invaluable connections, with individ- coached by the best coach in women’s football, Football is still in her blood, though now re- uals such as Sam Rappaport, NFL senior director [John Konecki]. I learned so much from Coach K tired from playing. Leslie was a Summer Scouting of football development, and Scott Pioli, assis- and I believe having him as my coach and utiliz- Specialist for the New York Jets. tant general manager of the Falcons. Sam Darcy Leslie. ing all that I’ve learned from him will help me on Yes, the Jets of NFL fame. and I have been in contact since the Forum and Photo by Ross Forman my path to a career in the NFL. I would also say, “Last year, I applied for the Women’s Careers in she was a huge advocate of mine. Because of her advocacy I was able to go to the Chicago Bears’ so much in that hour about his role and how he the Force helped me grow into the woman I am training facility to watch practice and meet some manages to balance his job and family. He then today. I started on that team at a very young age. of the players and coaches. After that experience, invited me to sit in on the players’ workout. It I had the opportunity play and be mentored by the opportunity to intern with the New York Jets was definitely one of my highlights while being some amazing women who were older and wiser was introduced to me and it is an offer I could here. Justus and his two assistant coaches, Aaron than me. Linda Bache, Rosalyn Bennett, Pam not be more grateful for.” [McLaurin] and Joe [Giacobbe], were very knowl- Schaffrath, Jessica Mcpeake, and Keesha Brooks Leslie assisted the Jets’ Scouting Department edgeable. They are always busy, but were so open played pivotal roles in my development as a play- throughout training camp. “I was responsible to answer any questions that I had and I was er and a young adult. If it wasn’t for them and for learning the ins and outs of football scout- never made to feel like I was wasting their time. the Force, I’m not sure what my life would look ing, operations and analytics,” she said. “The I was grateful for that.” like today.” Jets taught me how to identify and differentiate Leslie is convinced that women are capable of Former Force owner Linda Bache was the first between players. I learned how to evaluate the holding more “nontraditional” roles in the NFL. person Leslie called to tell her about the Jets’ talent of football players and the critical factors “We might have to work harder to get there, but gig. for each position. With that, I was then in charge it is not unrealistic,” she said. “I learned that “Linda has been a big part of my life since I of writing weekly scouting reports for the posi- the most important thing is winning. If what you joined the Force [and] the one who suggested I tion group I was assigned. In these reports, I had bring to the table will help the success of the apply for the Forum in January, and she is the one to differentiate and articulate different athlete team, then you are an asset, regardless of your who wrote my letter of recommendation,” Les- body types, list their strengths and weakness and sex. lie said. “She’s always had my back and has only evaluate where this player stood on making our “Some people are skeptical when it comes to wanted the best for me. I’m not sure what will roster. It warranted a high attention to detail and having women in football and as a woman, when come from this internship, but I do know I am helped me look at football from a different lens.” you get your foot in the door, there tends to be grateful for Linda and for all that she has done Leslie spent six weeks with the Jets, through- an even larger focus on the fact that you are a for women’s football and all that she continues to out training camp. woman. My focus is putting in the work and mak- do for me.” “I also learned that football at this level is made ing sure I work hard and have there be no ques- Leslie said she developed good friendships with possible by the countless efforts of hundreds of tion whether or not I belong there. I wish I could some of the Jets, such as Leonard Williams and people,” she said. “Everyone is here putting in say me being a female shouldn’t matter, but it Trumaine Johnson. the long hours to help do what they can to make does. It matters to me, it matters to the other “I was able to interact with the players and the team successful. It was pretty unreal to get a women trying to pursue a career in this field and coaches daily,” she said. “Coach [Todd] Bowles is glimpse of what all goes on. I love football and sports in general and it matters to that little girl a great man, very knowledgeable about the sport have been a fan of the sport my whole life. As a that turns on the television. It’s crucial that our and his players. I would chat with him several fan, we just see what happens on game day. I had young girls can see representations of women in times a week. Since I was there as a scouting the pleasure of interacting with so many different the media, that they can see a female referee intern, I would be assigned a different position departments while I was here, whether you are in or coach during an NFL game and ultimately see group each week and had to write scouting re- the business department, equipment, operations, what is possible.” ports about each player in that position. This video etc, [and] everyone is working extremely Leslie also is a proud representative of the LGBT meant that each week I was interacting with a hard day in, day out. It was truly one team, one community, as she’s an out, married lesbian. new set of players. Daily I had the chance to goal around here.” “I was open about my sexuality my entire time spend time with Coach [Karl] Dorrell, Coach [Jim- Leslie, with a strong passion for fitness and nu- with the New York Jets and was never once made mie] Johnson, several of the other coaches and trition, asked the Jets’ strength and conditioning to feel uncomfortable or less than,” she said. “I in time, all the players. I got to know many of coach out to lunch to talk about his role and shared with some of the coaches, players and the coaches and players on an individual level, what his workload entailed. “I was expecting a staff that my wife was pregnant with our son and as we ate all three meals together in addition to spending countless hours together on and off the Photo courtesy of Leslie ‘No,’ but instead, Coach [Justus] Galac welcomed I got several congratulations and tips on the best the opportunity to share his knowledge. I learned products my wife and I will need once our son field.” Oct. 10, 2018 18

From left: The artwork of Roberto Balderas, Gail Mancuso and Justin Suico. Images courtesy of Art For Life Chicago

tion. estimates that they raised $80,000 last year. This “It’s been a great introduction to other cura- is less than DIFFA auctions in other cities, but tors and collectors,” Suico said. “So often when he notes that those cities, such as Dallas, are ‘Art for Life’ gears you donate to auctions, you don’t know what partnering with major art museums, while Chi- happens to the piece.” By contrast, he stayed in cago’s Art for Life is still growing up from the touch with the buyer of the painting he donated grassroots. up for annual auction last year. Through the connections he made with One poignant aspect of the auction is the “Me- BY KERRY REID the auction, he’s also participated in some “live” moriam” section. This year, work by the late Ki- painting events (creating art on the spot) as well eran McGonnell, donated by his partner, Gregg For years, the Chicago branch of Design Indus- ART as other pop-up parties with DIFFA. Driben, will be featured. The Irish-born McGon- Fine-art photographer Gail Mancuso noted that nell, who had relocated from Brooklyn to Chicago tries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA), an or- tions painted by several of the artists participat- the mix of “cultural event and community effort” before his death from a head injury in 2011, was ganization composed of architecture and inte- ing in this year’s auction. Buyers acquire parts makes Art for Life stand out. “Art is almost sec- celebrated for working across a wide range of rior design professionals, has raised money for of it through bidding on square footage. So, as ondary to the community vision,” she said. subjects—some inspired by Celtic themes. At the AIDS nonprofits. Some of those who’ve received Aguilar explained, “I think we started at $200 But as Aguilar noted, the quality of the work, pop-up party, one of his abstracts as well as a DIFFA grants include the AIDS Legal Council (now per square foot last year. Every 30 minutes it goes even from artists who may not be well known yet, Warholian Pop Art homage to a Van Gogh self- known as the Legal Council for Health Justice), down to a lower number. Thirty minutes before has been improving. This year’s jurors included portrait adorned the walls. Chicago House and VIDA/SIDA. the end of the event, it’s $5 per square foot. But Richard Bentham of the Smithsonian Institution, Aguilar noted that raising awareness about HIV However, DIFFA stepped up its profile in the you may not get the section you want, which is and AIDS is perhaps even more important now last year through the “Art for Life” auction, which your risk if you wait.” that the disease isn’t dominating headlines as it returns for a second year on Thursday, Oct. 18, at The committee did have to put some restric- did at the height of the crisis. “I think we need to Venue West, 221 N. Paulina St. Around 60 works tions on the kinds of art submitted. Aguilar noted have an understanding that even though it’s not of art—selected through a juried process—will that they’ve also limited the number of pieces. a deadly disease based on the media reports any- be available at the auction. (Online early bidding “We had way too much last year because I think more, extensive research still needs to happen. I begins Monday, Oct. 15.) we were just super-excited to receive so many am doing this work for my friends and people I For Art for Life committee co-chair Oliver Agui- artists who wanted to participate,” he said. He know that have it and I want to support them.” lar, a senior designer with Gooch Design Studio, added “We can’t take anything bigger than six Suico noted that for people of his generation (he the auction isn’t just about raising money and feet by six feet.” (The Off the Wall piece is an is in his early 30s), there’s “a false sense of secu- awareness. It’s also about creating community obvious exception.) Aguilar also noted that video rity” about the risks of the disease. and connections for the artists themselves. And art isn’t featured, although the auction does have Many of the organizations that benefit from Art as an avid art collector himself (he estimates he a sculpture this year. “We have photography, a for Life work with chronically underserved popu- owns about 500 pieces of original work), Aguilar variety of painting styles such as abstract and lations, including homeless people and youth also wanted to help people just starting out as figurative in all types of mediums, from decoup- of color. Aguilar said “I actually see and shake collectors be able to find good work at affordable age to oils and acrylics and other mixed media.” hands with the people who receive the money, prices. But Art for Life isn’t just a one-night event. Art for Life committee co-chair Oliver Aguilar. along with the rest of my DIFFA team.” Build- “We want to have everyone that comes to our As Aguilar noted, there are “pop-up” parties Photo from Art For Life Chicago ing lasting connections with them is part of the auction to be able to go home with an original throughout the year, where participating artists continuum with building connections with the piece of art,” said Aguilar. “We believe everyone give a sneak preview of the work they’re donat- Aron Packer of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, and artists who contribute their work. deserves good original art.” So he advocated for ing. On Thursday, September 20, the BLNC yoga Laura-Caroline Johnson of the DePaul Art Muse- “It is so much more than them giving their art creating an auction similar to those that have studio in the West Loop provided the wall space um. for a donation,” said Aguilar. “We consider them been held by DIFFA chapters in other cities. In for several pieces. Artists and patrons mixed Bringing in new patrons from outside DIFFA’s as a family from now on.” the past, Aguilar said “We auctioned off furniture and mingled over hors d’oeuvres and drinks as a usual target audience has also been important Art for Life Chicago will take place 6 p.m. and things that were related to the architectural string trio played in the background. for Aguilar. “Last year we succeeded in having on Thursday, Oct. 18, at Venue West, 221 N. and interior design businesses.” Justin Suico, a painter and native Chicagoan, a mixed group of people coming in. We did have Paulina St. Tickets are $100 (including cock- One way to get original art for less at the auc- was there with one of his pieces titled Invictus, our steady supporters in the architectural and tails and “bites”); call 312-644-6412 or visit tion is through the “Off the Wall” piece. This a vibrant abstract in red and gold with elements interior design industries, but we had new buy- DIFFAChicago.org. collaborative effort consists of a large canvas of graffiti art. He was also part of last year’s auc- (around eight feet tall by 20 feet wide) with sec- ers out there who were not part of it.” Aguilar Oct. 10, 2018 19

TOUCHE Feeling the togetherness of American Brotherhood Weekend. Joseph Stevens Photography

Our list of all the regular drag shows in and around Chicago. To include your show in DRAG IT UP! our listings, please submit info to [email protected]. Drag shows at Manuevers: 1st Sat.: Raven’s Ravishing Revue, MONDAYS THURSDAYS hosted by Raven Samore; 2nd Sat.: The Dymond Standard, Chicago’s Best Worst Drag Show, hosted by Arby Barbie, Babes In Boyland, featuring Monica Beverly Hillz, Lila Star, hosted by Diamond Calloway; 3rd Sat.: Diva’s Den, hosted weekly, 2 a.m., no cover. The Jackhammer Complex, 6406 Teri Yaki and Otter Chaös, weekly, 1 a.m., no cover. The by Sasha Love; 4th Sat.: Noche Latina, hosted by Aleyna N. Clark St. Jackhammer Complex, 6406 N. Clark St. Couture. All shows at 11:30 p.m., no cover. Maneuvers, Vamp, featuring Mimi Marks, hosted by Mercedes Tyler, Sirens of Splash, featuring Lila Star, Mimi Marks, Aura 118 E. Jefferson St., Joliet weekly, 11 p.m., no cover. Progress Bar, 3359 N. Halsted Mayari and Silky, weekly, 9 p.m., no cover. Splash Chicago, Stardust, hosted by Natasha Douglas, 1st Sat. (starting Nov. St. 3339 N. Halsted St. 2018), 8:30-10:30 p.m. @mosphere, 5355 N. Clark St. Lipstick & Mascara, hosted by Mz. Ruff ‘n Stuff, weekly, POP ROCKS, dance party with drag from Alexis Bevels and Sofia’s Dragtacular Review, hosted by Sofia Saffire, every 11:30 p.m., no cover. Hydrate, 3458 N. Halsted St. Saya Naomi, get on stage to Win with Dixie Lynn Cart- 2nd Sat., 10:30 p.m., Shakers on Clark, 3160 N. Clark St. Plot Twist, hosted by T-Rex, every 3rd Monday, 10:30 p.m., wright, weekly, 9 p.m., Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St. Ashley Morgan Presents A Drag Revue, featuring Coco Sho- Berlin, 954 W. Belmont Ave. Body Beautiful, hosted by Danika Bone’t and Alexandrea Nell, Dominique Diamond, Vivian Dejour and Juan M. Diamond, 4th Thu. of each month, shows at 11:30 p.m., Wette, hosted by Ashley Morgan, every 3rd Sat., 9:30 p.m. 12:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m., no cover. Charlie’s, 3726 N. seating, $5 suggested donation, The Call Bar, 1547 W. TUESDAYS Broadway Killer Babes, hosted by Lady Ivory, every 3rd Tues., 10 p.m. Bryn Mawr Ave. The Baton Show Lounge, shows weekly at 8:30 p.m., 10:30 @mosphere, 5355 N. Clark St. 6 1 Diva, hosted by Muffy Fishbasket, every 4rd p.m. and 12:30 a.m. 436 N. Clark St. Roscoe’s Drag Race, Chicago’s longest-running amateur Sat., 10 p.m., $5 cover, The Call Bar, 1547 W. Bryn Mawr weekly drag competition hosted by Frida Lay, Roscoe’s, Ave. 3356 N. Halsted St. FRIDAYS Dining With the Divas, featuring Angel LeBare and CeeCee Dixie Wins a Talent Show (while Alexis Bevels stage-man- Beauties and Beaus, hosted by Naysha Lopez, Mimi Marks LaRouge, shows weekly at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Hamburger ages), featuring Dixie Lynn Cartwright and Alexis Bevels, and Mz. Ruff ‘n Stuff, weekly, 9:30 p.m., no cover. Hy- Mary’s Oak Park, 155 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Ill. a showcase for local drag queens, performance artists and drate, 3458 N. Halsted St. The Baton Show Lounge, shows weekly at 8:30 p.m., 10:30 comedians, last Tues. of the month, 9:30 p.m., Sidetrack, Dining With the Divas, featuring Angel LeBare and CeeCee p.m. and 12:30 a.m. 436 N. Clark St. 3349 N. Halsted St. LaRouge, shows weekly at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Hamburger Mary’s Oak Park, 155 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Ill. The Baton Show Lounge, shows weekly at 8:30 p.m., 10:30 SUNDAYS Reinas de la Casa, featuring Windy Breeze, Veronica Pop, WEDNESDAYS p.m. and 12:30 a.m. 436 N. Clark St. Honeys on Halsted, hosted by Mimi Marks and Mz. Ruff ‘n Zafina Hasheesh and Danika Bone’t, hosted by Alexandrea Stuff, weekly, 11:30 p.m., no cover. Hydrate, 3458 N. Diamond, 2nd Sun. of each month, shows at 11:30 p.m., Halsted St. SATURDAYS 12:30 and 1:30 a.m. Charlie’s, 3726 N. Broadway All Things Beyonce, hosted by Dixie Lynn Cartwright, featur- Drag Matinee, hosted by T-Rex, weekly, 10:30 p.m., Berlin, Angel LeBare’s Fish Hatchery, contest for aspiring drag ing Dida Ritz, Saya Naomi and guest queens, 2nd or 3rd 954 W. Belmont Ave. queens, every 4th Sun., 8 p.m. @mosphere, 5355 N. Clark Wed. of the month, 9 p.m., Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St. #POPular, featuring 2018 Fan Favorite Tiffany Diamond, St. The Baton Show Lounge, shows weekly at 8:30 p.m., 10:30 hosted by Veronica Pop, weekly, shows at 10:30 p.m., The Baton Show Lounge, shows weekly at 7, 9 and 11 p.m. p.m. and 12:30 a.m. 436 N. Clark St. Charlie’s, 3726 N. Broadway 436 N. Clark St. Beauties and Beaus, hosted by Naysha Lopez, Mimi Marks and Mz. Ruff ‘n Stuff, weekly, 9:30 p.m., no cover. Hy- drate, 3458 N. Halsted St. Oct. 10, 2018 20 BILLY MastersMasters

“Please give it up for Garrett Colton.”—Mariah Balenciaga introduces Garrett Clayton at Gay Days Anaheim. Oops. Clayton said, “Thanks, Mariah, for getting my last name wrong.” I would have added the word “bitch,” but y’know, I’m a professional. With all the news we’re being bombarded with day in and day out, it’s not surprising that most media outlets didn’t cover my being detained by TSA. It all happened after leaving Masters Manor in Boston for . At Boston’s Logan Airport, security flagged what was termed as a “suspicious mass” in my luggage. Excuse me—did they inadvertently give my bag a mammogram? Upon further inspection, the officer discovered a large unidentified metallic item. That’s when it hit me—Big Mama Masters had sent me off with a baked potato wrapped in aluminum foil. Imag- ine: I almost missed my flight over a suspicious potato. Thank God it wasn’t loaded! Moments after I landed at LAX, the police Garrett Clayton (center) did not get a proper raided Cher’s Malibu estate! Although the Danc- introduction recently, Billy says. ing Queen was not in residence, the fuzz weren’t Photo by Jerry Nunn looking for her—they wanted her assistant’s nephew. Allegedly, said 23-year-old lad is ac- last week, Michael Darby, who is the husband cused of supplying narcotics to someone who had of one of the Real Housewives of Potomac, was a drug overdose. My God—hasn’t Cher suffered accused of getting “handsy” with another man enough? on the set! According to the report, 59-year-old In addition to many fabulous things I have Darby has been charged with criminal sexual as- on my upcoming agenda (including my virgin sault and improper sexual contact for allegedly excursion to New Orleans—and for Halloween, groping a male cameraman. no less), I am thrilled to be attending the Point That’s the legalese, but lemme break it down Foundation’s Gala on Oct. 13. As I’ve told you for you: Cameraman Orville Palmer claims Darby many times in the past, this is one of my favorite grabbed his butt and gave it a firm squeeze. When non-profits. Point supplies scholarships to LGBTQ Palmer said, “What the fuck?” (an appropriate re- (and probably other letters of the alphabet) kids sponse from a union cameraman), Mikey allegedly to attend college—and most of these kids have gave him a “flirtatious look.” That’s one way of been thrown out by their families because they’re looking at it. But I have found that the “flir- gay! At the upcoming gala, Eric McCormack is tatious,” “nauseous” and “Do you smell that?” being honored with the Impact Reward, and there looks are all pretty similar. I’m gonna need more in New Orleans over Halloween. But people ev- will be a performance by Leona Lewis. Check than that. I didn’t have to look far: It turns out erywhere can celebrate Oct. 28 when NBC airs A them out at PointFoundation.org. this is not the first time Darby has been accused Very Wicked Halloween. This special, subtitled Britain’s Royal Family is always good for some of groping another man. During the first season “Celebrating 15 Years on Broadway,” centers on scandal. This week, we hear one of Queen Eliza- of the show, he was seen grabbing a guy’s butt Wicked, and brings together the musical’s origi- beth’s gay footmen has quit. First, I have no on the dance floor. His wife said, “It’s a joke. My nal stars Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth to idea how many footmen QEII has—I mean, she’s man has sex with me, he loves me and he gives host and perform. Must see, indeed. only got two feet! Be that as it may, the gay it to me good. Whatever he does in joking man- The cast of the Broadway hit Head Over Heels footman (as if there’s only one gay footman) quit ners is not a reflection of my man’s sexuality.” just recorded its original cast album—with a bo- because he was told by the royal household man- Or is it? As it turns out, the Montgomery County nus track. The performers assembled the classic agement that he needed to “tone down the gay- state’s attorney’s office has dropped charges due Go-Go’s lineup to re-record “This Town,” which ness!” Girl, he’s the queen’s footman—it doesn’t to “insufficient evidence.” will be the first new studio recording from The get gayer than that! As it happens, Ollie Roberts Have you heard about this ill-conceived remake Go-Go’s in over 15 years. It drops digitally Oct. is not only the queen’s first openly gay footman; of West Side Story that Steven Spielberg is mak- 12 and physically Nov. 9. he was her personal footman. Apparently, the ing? After all the hullabaloo about finding un- When I’m head over heels about a new release 21-year-old Ollie is quite active on social media knowns through an open casting, Spielberg end- from The Go-Go’s, it’s definitely time to end yet and has given interviews to lots of gay press. He ed up casting Ansel Elgort as Tony. Here’s a little another column. You don’t need a Presidential was accused of “courting publicity” and demoted footnote to the story—your beloved Billy was alert to remind you to check out BillyMasters. to just being a regular footman—which is ulti- actually privy to a conversation between com- com—the site that features lots of guys with mately why he quit. Unless he was taking selfies poser Leonard Bernstein and Michael Eisner their heels over head. If you have a question, with Lizzie’s feet or wearing open-toed shoes, I when he was heading Disney. Eisner wanted to send it along to [email protected] and I say leave him be. remake “WSS” as an animated feature with cats promise to get back to you before that gay foot- I don’t watch any of those Real Housewife shows playing all the roles. Needless to say, it never man gets a job giving pedicures! So, until next (except for the one where I confronted Kim Zol- happened—but he bought us all lunch. time, remember: One man’s filth is another man’s ciak—P.S. Where are my residual checks???). But I’ve already mentioned that I’ll be cavorting bible. Oct. 10, 2018 21

sandwiches and other dishes with names like Holy that had various toppings to choose from, such Bologna, Mama Bear and Pho-Show. as scallions, bacon bits—and more cheese. And, yes, Winged Warrior has wings—but It’s not hard to see why Conn’s has been around there’s so much more, including pizza and for decades. the DISH charcuterie (!). Lastly, Hot Licks was probably my Note: Restaurant profiles/events are based Weekly Dining Guide in favorite stop, as guests can get baked potatoes on invitations arranged from restaurants and/ or sweet potatoes and choose from dozens of or firms. WINDY CITY TIMES toppings, ranging from marshmallows to pulled pork. SAVOR Not only does Showroom have enough variety to keep you coming back for me, but you may not Showroom even want to vary things because you’ll become Food Hall; addicted to the guilty pleasures you order initially. Try the spot—you’ll like it, indeed. Conn’s Catering Showroom Food Hall. BY ANDREW DAVIS PR photo Conn’s caters to couples On Oct. 3, Conn’s Catering held an event at The purposes of a food court or hall is to make Revolution Coffee & Sweets, The Nomad, Argosy, Chicago Mosaic School that was primarily for sure patrons have a variety of culinary items to Winged Warrior and Hot Licks (seriously). engaged couples, event planners and others. choose from—and to make said items are tasty. What Revolution offers is quite obvious— Various exhibitors were present, such as Dish On both counts, the Marriott Marquis’ Showroom and delicious. I’m not a coffee drinker, but the & Decor (which loans vintage —a current Food Hall (2121 S. Prairie Ave.; https:// wondrous sweets are enough to attract anyone. trend—for various events) and AngiLily Floral www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-information/ Towering pies (including the phenomenal Studio. However, all eyes and taste buds were restaurant/chimq-marriott-marquis-chicago/) banana-cream option) sit next to tempting hand mainly directed toward Conn’s (1535 W. Devon succeeds. The first of its kind at any Marriott pies and other desserts—and the dispositions of Ave.; http://www.connscatering.com/), which restaurant, the food hall manages to incorporate the workers are almost as sweet as the items they offered a variety of tables and passed hors an automotive theme (hence the name) with sell. d’oeuvres for attendees to enjoy. stops that offer everything from pizza to baked For those who need to unwind during lunch, Among the standouts were the chicken piccata potatoes—along with tables that feature games The Nomad might be the solution; get a brew, (a simple dish that was expertly done), rumaki, (tic-tac-toe and more), outlets for charging and wine or cocktails while chatting with a co- focaccia with pesto aioli, and corn fritters. From the Conn’s Catering event at Chicago even a retro music player with headphones. worker or friend. And Argosy is a great retro food However, the main attention-grabber was a mac’n Mosaic School. As for the stops at Showroom, they include truck where one can choose from a selection of cheese bar (with martini glasses for the pasta) Photo by Andrew Davis

PROGRESS BAR VAMP in full effect every Monday night. Jerry Nunn

JACKHAMMER Take a bite of Kink It: Vampirism, Sat., October 5. Joseph Stevens Photography Oct. 10, 2018 22 BOOK REVIEW campaign trail, dancing with potential constitu- anyone who shimmies and bops, “And Then We ents. Or think of the Cakewalk, a dance that was Danced” will have you on your feet. “Originally devised as a way for slaves to mock Want more? Then look for “Would It Kill You And Then We their masters…” to Stop Doing That” and “How to Live,” both by Danced: Teenagers know that dance can be a form of Henry Alford. rebellion; icons such as Isadora Duncan and Mar- A Voyage into tha Graham knew that, too. Dance can be a form of emotional release, happy, sad, or angry, and the Groove it can involve one’s entire body, almost without by Henry Alford thought. Any good church choir can tell you that $26; Simon & Schuster; 229 dance is spiritual. With the right group, it can pages bring on feelings of nostalgia. And dance, if you REVIEW BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER need it, can be healing. There’re a few pleasant little surprises to this You can’t stop your feet. book about moving your body: it’s also author They need to move, to tap-tap-tap, to side Alford’s memoir, and it’s a series of mini-biogra- step, and do-si-do. The music’s on and you gotta phies of dancers you may know and admire. And move. You can’t help it, your toes gotta go and in it’s delightful. And Then We Danced, by Henry Alford, you take Part of the reason is that Alford uses his youth the lead. as example here: he was a gawky kid who tried Think of all the times you danced in your life. very hard to ignore his gayness, an attempt that Your first was likely some bouncy-toddler thing made junior high boy-girl dances understandably you did, and the adults around you laughed. Lat- more awkward. His tales are mostly universal er, you endured embarrassing and awkward boy- (who didn’t hate forced dance class?) and they’ll girl classes, or school events until you became make you laugh, while anecdotes of research- cool (even if only in your mind) and snuck into ing to write this book—Alford dives into dance, clubs. You’ve danced at weddings, for fun, for joy; doing. It’s an art, yes—but it’s so much more. remember—are woven between the life stories and Alford has danced for work. He’s a journalist Dance, he says, is a way of “Social Entrée.” Co- of Murray, Duncan, Graham, Savion Glover, Toni who immerses himself in his subject in order to tillions and debutante balls are good examples, Bentley, and other dancers, as well as lighter-side write about it but, in the case of dance, he’s been dancing in a club falls into this category, and dance history through the ages. immersed his whole life. if you ever took classes from an Arthur Murray Yes, there are “Awww, naw” moments along here Dance, he says, is a “universal language.” If you studio, you get the picture. with the Nae Nae, but the joy in this book su- suddenly found yourself in Siberia and you began Politics can step onto the dance floor, Alford persedes any sadness. All in all, it’s a quickstep- Henry Alford. dancing, nobody would mistake what you were says. Think about your favorite candidate on the per, and for a hoofer, ballet lover, line dancer, or Photo by Greg Villepique

NOW OPEN Through June 23, 2019

CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO THROUGH THE LENS OF A CAMERA Experience the breadth of the civil rights movement, as well as vivid portraits of celebrities who challenged - and changed - our cultural norms.

Ilholocaustmusuem.org

© Steve Schapiro courtesy of Fahey Klein Gallery. Oct. 10, 2018 23 Judy Garland: Come Rain or Come Shine refreshments. Part II outdoor inductee Sunday, Oct. 14 Jeff Award-winning dynamo Angela In- dedication ceremonies follow at 2 p.m. 2018 Victory Fund Chicago Champagne COMMUNITY gersoll (End of the Rainbow) superbly Free and open to the public 1:00pm Brunch Meet President & CEO, former captures the emotional and vocal power Begin with reception at Center on Hal- Houston Mayor Annise Parker, and hear of Judy Garland live in concert. With her sted, 3656 N. Halsted. Followed by a about Victory Fund’s groundbreaking CALENDAR great big voice and naturally winning Dedication Celebration featuring live LGBTQ candidates this cycle. 11:00am humor, Ingersoll soars in this loving music and a silent auction at Sidetrack, - 2:00pm Chez Chicago, 247 E Ontario homage. Iconic songs include Over the 3349 N. Halsted St. Tickets: http://www. St 2nd floor; https://victoryfund.org/ Wed., Oct. 10 Rainbow, Get Happy and The Man That eventbrite.com/e/legacy-walk-dedica- event/chicago-champagne-brunch/ Self-defense class for LGBTQs As a part Got Away. Through Oct. 14. 8:00pm tion-7-tickets-50592824500 of its series of events for Domestic Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Little Black Pearl Women’s Action Council Tuesday, Oct. 16 Violence Awareness Month, Center on Evanston http://angelaingersoll.com at Center on Halsted presents a night of Putting the ‘T’ First: Honoring the Role Halsted will be hosting 90-minute self- Tickets: http://musictheaterworks.com celebration and recognition of Tamara of the Transgender Community in the defense classes, taught by IMPACT Chi- Allen, Lora Branch, and Megan Carney. LGBT Rights Movement Part Two Coali- cago, to help empower LGBTQ commu- Saturday, Oct. 13 DJ Lineup: Rae Chardonnay, Rhated R, tion of community agencies will focus on nity ebers to protect themselves in the Open House Chicago 2018 Free public and DJ Castro. Hosted by Gwen La Roka. expanding awareness of the transgender face of interpersonal violence. 6:00pm festival that offers behind-the-scenes $50 early tickets include open bar and community. Part 2 will focus on the Center on Halsted 3656 N Halsted STRIKE UP THE BAND access to more than 250 buildings across gourmet bites 1:00pm Center on Hal- lived experience of members of the trans Chicago http://www.facebook.com/ Chicago. Tour soaring skyscrapers, repur- sted 3656 N Halsted Chicago http:// community, behavioral health support events/1106911946126486/ Saturday, Oct. 13 posed mansions, opulent theaters, exclu- bit.ly/2MkrZvw services, and support services for iden- Lakeside Pride Jazz sive private clubs, industrial facilities, By Women for Women Presents: Harlem tity issues from childhood and up. Free Thursday, Oct. 11 Orchestra will hold a “Love cutting-edge offices and breathtaking Renaissance Women’s Action Council 3:00pm - 5:00pm Lake View Presbyte- Personal PAC 25th Annual Awards Lun- throws a night of celebration and recog- and Marriage” concert at sacred spaces. Free 8:00am Chicago Ar- rian Church 716 W Addison St., Chicago cheon Illinois organization whose sole chitecture Center http://openhousechi- nition of outstanding contributions from Center on Halsted. mission is elect to pro-choice leaders cago.org honorees Tamara Allen, Lora Branch and Thursday, Oct. 18 and defeat anti-choice candidates with Photo by Chuck Kramer Women’s March Chicago March to the Megan Carney. The Harlem Renaissance DIFFA/Chicago’s Art For Life Chicago Ju- former two-term Michigan governor and Polls 2018 March as the polls open for themed event will feature sultry perfor- ried art auction and exhibition. Painting, attorney general Jennifer Granholm early voting in Illinois. Celebrate new mances, music and dancing. Early ticket photography, sculpture, other 3D media, speaking. 12:00pm Chicago Hilton ing her identity as a lesbian. 6:30pm - voters, in particular young women, im- $50 includes open bar from 6-8 pm and live and silent auctions, ranging in price and Towers 720 S Michigan Ave Chicago 8:30pm Oak Park Public Library Maze migrants, and other youth, and get gourmet bites from Premier Catering & from $50 to $5,000. 6:00pm Venue http://PersonalPAC.org Branch, 845 Gunderson Ave, Oak Park facetime with elected officials, guest Events. 6:00pm - 10:00pm Center on West, 221 N. Paulina St. http://artfor- Proud To Run kickoff party $20 suggested Athleisure Underwear Collection Rich- speakers and live musical performances. Halsted 3656 N Halsted St.; http://com- lifechicago.org. donation gets you one drink ticket and a ard Dayhoff, celebrity catwalk and local 9:00am Grant Park 337 E. Randolph munity.centeronhalsted.org/bwfwevent Jill Soloway Discussing forthcoming chance to win a fabulous prize. Sign up designers. Latino Fashion Week Chicago. St Chicago http://www.womensmarch- Lakeside Pride Jazz Orchestra’s Love memoir She Wants It: Desire, Power, for Proud To Run 2019 for a low registra- Reception 7 p.m. 8:00pm Block 37, chicago.org and Marriage Musical nuptial favorites and Toppling the Patriarchy. Guests tion price. 7-9 pm Sidetrack, 3349 N. 108 N. State St, Chicago., http://www. Phase VII Dedication of the Legacy Walk performed by the Lakeside Pride Jazz Hannah Gadsby, Pidgeon Pagonus, Pre- Halsted St. https://www.facebook.com/ latinofashionwk.com/ Two bronze memorial plaques on Halsted Orchestra, Strayhorns Jazz Combo, and cious Brady Davis, Faith Soloway, Elaine events/1858183790939444/ commemorating Marsha P. Johnson and the Wilde Cabaret. Presented by 90.9fm Soloway 7:00pm Women & Children More Than A Month: Pariah Screen- Friday, Oct. 12 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky complete the WDCB. 7:30pm - 9:30pm Center on First Bookstore 5233 N Clark St Chicago ing & Discussion Adepero Oduye, por- Queer Genre Fiction Book Group Each only outdoor LGBT history museum in Halsted 3656 N Halsted Chicago Tick- http://jillsolowaychicago.brownpaper- trays Alike (pronounced ah-lee-kay), a second Friday 7:00pm - 9:00pm Gerber the world. Doors open 12:30p.m. for ets: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/ tickets.com/ 17-year-old African-American woman Hart Library and Archives 6500 N Clark pre-ceremony reception 1 p.m. - 2 p.m love-and-marriage-presented-by-909fm- who lives in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene St Chicago http://www.gerberhart.org “Remembering Marsha P. Johnson.” $10, wdcb-tickets-49321559111 neighborhood, quietly but firmly embrac-

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‘TO SURVIVE ON THIS SHORE’ NEW COLLABORATIVE EFFORT SPOTLIGHTS OLDER TRANS, GNC INDIVIDUALS artsandtheaterweekly.com

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Portrait: Caprice, 55, Chicago, IL, 2015. Photo by Jess Dugan 24 Oct. 10, 2018 WINDY CITY TIMES LGBT CRUISES & TOUR EVENTS cruises from $699 pp from Mediterranean $939pp June 29, 2019 7-day Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona on MSC Seaview

from GAY PRIDE - Rhine River Cruise $1499 July 27, 2019

7-Night Rhine Cruise CELEBRATE GAY PRIDE POST CRUISE IN AMSTERDAMPP

Canada - New England from October 8, 2019 $699pp

10-Night Canada Cruise on MSC Meraviglia

from Halloween Western Caribbean Cruise $899pp October 27th - November 3, 2019 FREE drinks & Tips 18th Annual Halloween Western Caribbean on Norwegian Breakaway African Safari from November 30, 2019 $4899pp

10-Night African Safari with A&K (800) 592-9058 - AquafestCruises.com

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