Risk-taking Queer Cabaret Returns This Weekend In The North Center

By Chicagoist_Guest in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 18, 2015 8:10PM

Sojourner Zenobia is a featured performer at this weekend's installment of Poonie's Cabaret

By Michael Workman

Named after Poonie Dodson, a dancer and choreographer who fell to AIDS, Poonie's Cabaret focuses on presenting a diverse lineup of performers who examine the experience of being queer in an all too-often adversarial culture. For example, it addresses the stigma of being HIV positive in our largely heteronormative society.

Curated by Links Hall's Joseph Varisco—co-director of development of The Inconvenience and co-curator of the long-running Salonathon—each installment of Poonie's offers different members of the community a chance to confound, complicate and share their stories. Staged as a sort of living laboratory on the state of queer and post-queer by those current members involved in fostering its community, this cabaret-style event is staged with minimal preparations, performers arriving night-of to present their work with minimal preparation.

Proceeds from the event go to benefit the Links Hall Duncan Erley Coming Out of the Closet Fund, and even the performers are asked to donate. Fascinating topicality, variegated performance and all for a largely underrepresented and disenfranchised segment of the community.

Performers at this edition of the cabaret include Tiff Beatty, Devan Cameron, Rusty C. Cook, Andy Karol, Jordy Marilyn, Isaac Samuelson, and Sojourner Zenobia.

Attendees are encouraged to bring food to share potluck-style at the event. Poonie would be proud.

Nov. 22 at Links Hall, 3111 N. Western Ave, 7 p.m., suggested donation $5 industry / low Income; $10 general admission.

Michael Workman is a reporter and critic living in Chicago. He is currently working on a cycle of books investigating nihilism in personal relationships and society. Follow his daily updates here.