SEASON35 CHICAGO GAY MEN’S CHORUS ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal Year 2019: July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019 SEASON35 CGMC’s 35th Anniversary Season was filled with historic celebrations on a local and national CGMC BOARD OF DIRECTORS scale. Fiscal year 2019 was a period of artistic and community growth. We performed 47 Lynn Lundgren, President public performances as we continued to build an inclusive, safe and supportive organization. Jamie Nelson, Vice President David Maier, Treasurer Our season began in September 2018 with our cabaret Banned Together, showcasing songs Nancy Rampson, Secretary that were censored in different ways. We performed at Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook John Adewoye and the Center on Halsted. Our holiday show, 35th Anniversary Holiday Hullaballoo, was a Michael J. Anderson, Governance Committee Chair high point of sharing the stage with 10 collegial LGBTQ+ arts organizations throughout the Amanda Draper Chicagoland area, including Windy City Gay Chorus, Artemis Singers, Allegrezza, Lakeside Margaret Gettings Pride Music Ensembles, Lakeview Orchestra, Chicago Tap Theatre, Chicago Spirit Brigade, Pride John Gordon Films & Plays, About Face Theatre, and Gayco. Together members of all organizations greeted Blake Hankins, Internal Affairs Committee Chair the holidays at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, North Shore Center for the Performing Catherine Kenyon Arts in Skokie, and the Beverly Arts Center. The performance ended with every performer wishing the audience happiness and health in A Wish, composed by former Artistic Director Roberto Lopez, External Affairs Committee Co-Chair Patrick Sinozich. Marty Manuel, External Affairs Committee Co-Chair Thomas L. Potter In February 2019, our live singing drag show, Lipstick and Lyrics: Band Together, featured Emily Stewart songs of protest in six shows at The Annoyance Theater. We closed our anniversary season by celebrating the 50th anniversary of Stonewall with the show Stonewalled: 50 Queer Years. The OUR MISSION first portion of the concert focused on our societal and community progress, while still asking Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus is an inclusive, community-based performing arts organization that questions about inclusivity, equity, and justice for all. The second half was a co-commissioned creates musical experiences to entertain and enlighten, inspire change, and build community. piece Quiet No More, which took the audience on a journey through the Stonewall riots and what it means for us today. CGMC premiered many new works in this season-closing show, which was performed at the Athenaeum Theater, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in OUR VALUES Skokie, and the Beverly Arts Center. We Believe: Unique performances celebrate the diversity and talents of ourselves and our community Individual and group creativity is fostered through fun and entertaining musical The Chorus was not limited to the walls of a proscenium theatre stage for our performances. theater Human dignity in all of its forms deserves an environment of mutual respect, fair and While continuing to build community, CGMC performed numerous public performances across ethical treatment, and a sense of community that is inclusive of all Our songs and our stories the Chicagoland area, including three national television performances; one with Sean Hayes change lives for the better on WGN, holiday caroling at Cloud Gate (“The Bean”), Navy Pier, and the inauguration of Chicago’s new Mayor, Lori Lightfoot. We continued to expand our educational outreach to two additional elementary Chicago Public Schools. Over 200 students heard members of the chorus share their personal stories and hear inspirational songs. Students then had the opportunity to ask questions of the singers. The experience was inspiring to both the students and our singers. CGMC plans to continue this program and to expand it in the coming seasons. Our organization could not have done all these things without the support of our members, donors, ticket buyers, and Board of Directors. Thank you! Please enjoy reading the highlights of our season in this report, and we look forward to celebrating many more seasons together in the future! Lynn Lundgren James L. Morehead Kevin Corbett Board President Artistic Director Director of Operations HIGHLIGHTS FROM SEASON 35 Banned Together Cabaret 35th Anniversary Holiday Hullabaloo Concert 47 Public Lipstick & Lyrics: Band Together Live-Singing Drag Show Performances Stonewalled: 50 Queer Years Spring Concert Big Package Auction 2019 Annual Fundraiser Performance for Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Inauguration 55 New COMMUNITY OUTREACH Members DCASE Arts in the Dark Lantern Walk AIDS Run/Walk Opening Performance DCASE Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade 226 BACK ON MY FEET Midwest Fundraiser Performance Total Intercontinental Hotel Tree Lighting Ceremony Caroling Members Opening performance of Dreamboat at iO Theatre WGN TV Appearance with Sean Hayes WGN TV Appearance for 35th Aniv. Holiday Hullabaloo COMMUNITY Magnificent Mile Association Holiday Party Performance PARTNERS Big Package Auction 2019, Photo by Casey Campbell Holiday Concert at Harold Washington Library Roosevelt Collection Caroling Navy Pier Holiday Performance Center on Halsted Holiday Caroling Millennium Park Holiday Performance at CLOUD GATE Windy City Live TV Performance “Tell Me More” Tour with Jen Hatmaker and Kelly Corrigan Downtown Seder Performance at City Winery Outreach at Hamilton Elem. and Burley Elem. Schools Drew’s on Halsted Cabaret Show Performance Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Inauguration AVER Memorial Day Ceremony Andersonville Midsommarfest Performance UNITED Employee LGBTQ Performance Concert with Aretmis Singers at the First Congregational Church of LaGrange Pridefest 2019 Performance Center on Halsted Youth Education Performance Navy Pier Pride Show 2019 Chicago 2019 Pride Parade Cast of Lipstick & Lyrics: Band Together, Photo by Patrick Keefe OUR VISION We Entertain & Enlighten CGMC delivers a unique entertainment experience found nowhere else in the city. We produce shows that combine the best elements of musical theater, cabaret and traditional choral performance... but only CGMC can add that special “twist of gaiety” that can make each show fun, moving and memorable. We Inspire Change CGMC serves as ambassadors and provides a positive image to thousands every year. Sometimes the message to take action can be delivered more effectively through song Members of CGMC and Chicago Tap Theatre perform “Wrapping Paper” as part of “35th Anniversary Holiday Hullabaloo” at the Harris Theater than through speech. for Music & Dance, Saturday, November 30, 2018. Photo by G. Thomas Ward Photography” We Build Community CGMC is a safe haven from discrimination and judgment. And as part of a larger community, when asked to help, CGMC heeds the call. We have sung at the Auditorium Theater honoring the victims of Sept. 11. We sing at smaller memorial services honoring local community leaders…and sometimes our own members. We have also raised our voices in celebration, singing for special events such as a Mother’s Day brunch at a community center and the 2016 LGBT Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. We are humbled to realize that CGMC’s presence can bring comfort, healing, and the spirit of celebration to those around us. Whether you join us as a singer, a donor, or an audience member, the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus cordially invites you to become part of our family. CGMC Artistic Director Jimmy Morehead conducts the chorus during “Stonewalled: 50 Queer Years” Photo by G. Thomas Ward Photography THANK YOU SEASON35 TO OUR SUPPORTERS Number of Donations in FY 2019: 302 Average Gift Amount: $324 Lyric Opera of Chicago Benevity $250 & ABOVE Scott M. Perlman & Jim Davis Chicago Zoological Margaret Gettings Capital One Michael J. Anderson* & Andrew Caruso Henry Perritt Society/Brookfield Zoo Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro City Markets Robert Bach Dr. Jeffrey Port Chuck Jones Music of the Baroque City of Chicago Department of Catherine A Baus Thomas L. Potter* Clearly Cares Dental Octavio Cantino & Kitchen Cultural Affairs and Events Luke Beasley William L. Pry CRAM Fashion Paul Boulis Countryside Bank Eric Boberg Nancy Rampson* David Maier Quenten Schumacher Discover Financial Services Rich Campbell & Jon Niehus Randy Rogers & David Johnston Drew’s on Halsted Ravinia Festival Fidelity Charitable Chris Chen Michael Roman & Gary Paaren Emily Stewart ReAlign Chiropractic GALA Choruses Joseph Colacurcio Mike Ruegg Energize Sports Massage Restoration Salon Givegab.com James Collier & Stuart Verseman Paul Shoun Epic Gourmet Popcorn Rick Aguilar Studios Google Craig Dannenbrink & C.J. Jensen Rob Sierzega Equality Illinois Rose Olea Guggenheim Partners, LLC D. Seth Dibblee Thomas Sinkovic Eric Ledbetter Sanders Fine Portraits Huron Consulting Group Jim Fitzgerald Matthew Staman & Freddie Kaminski Shaw’s Crab House Illinois Tool Works Foundation Eric John Fredericks Marin Alan Quezada G. Michael Ruegg Shedd Aquarium J&L Catering Jacqueline & Daniel Frett Emily Stewart* Gethsemane Garden Center Spirit of Chicago - Entertainment Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Steven Geiermann Richard B. Turner Giordano Dance Chicago Cruises Chicago Legacy & Endowments Margaret Gettings* Billy Vitucci Goodman Theatre Stay - A Modern Dog Hotel John R. Halligan Charitable Fund Curtis Gilbert & Chris Rowland John Wallace and Bruce Williams Hamburger Mary’s Sutton Studios JP Morgan Chase John Gordon* & Bill Salvato Gary T. Ward and Aitor Mendoza Harris