Make the Yuletide Gay
By Joseph Erbentraut in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 4, 2009 6:40PM
With temperatures beginning to dip and the snow starting to fall, the holidays are officially upon us, and the city offers many opportunities to get into the spirit of the season: Christkindlmarket, the Lincoln Park Zoo's array of lights, ice skating on Millennium Park... But let's face it: Life isn't a Hallmark greeting card and sometimes you just need more drag queens to spice things up. This month, the city has more gay-centric holiday extravaganzas going on than you can shake a stiletto at. Below are a few of our recommended outings:
Photo by Rick Aguilar
- Friday, Dec. 4: The Flesh Hungry Dog Show presents Christmas With the Crawfords. This monthly queer rock showcase's holiday party is headlined this year by The Joans, a party band dedicated to giving Joan Crawford a punk rock voice. The Handcuffs and Blue Ribbon Glee Club open and there'll be a ton of prize giveaways, we hear. (9 p.m., Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark, $20)
- Friday-Sunday, Dec. 4-6: The Windy City Gay Chorus and Aria's Holiday Concert. This year, the theme is "Winter Wonderland," with music highlighting a selection of holiday jams. (8 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, $20)
- Through Dec. 12: Snow White & The Drag Queen Who Stole X-Mas. This campy sequel to the summer hit Snow White & The Seven Drag Queens, presented by MidTangent Productions, has been turning heads since its opening last month. (9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, Hydrate, 3458 N. Halsted, $10)
- Friday-Monday, Dec. 11-14: Oklahomo for the Holidays. Much-acclaimed About Face Theatre presents a tantalizing retelling of the musical staple, with a winter-rific gay twist. Plus, your ticket includes two free drinks, so you'll be hitting the sauce as well! (7 p.m. Fri., Sat. and Mon., 2 p.m. Sun., Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, $20)
- Through Dec. 19: Delight Before Christmas. Girlie-Q Productions, Chicago's only LGBT burlesque troupe, presents this brand-new variety show exploring the true meaning of Christmas via pasties, fishnets and nipple adornments. (8:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, $15-20)
- Through Jan. 2: Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer. Hell in a Handbag Productions is behind the twelfth outing for Chicago's "favorite transvestite reindeer." This musical romp is, if you haven't guessed it, a parody of the classic children's television special and a perennial favorite, featuring the show's creator David Cerda as the Abominable Drag-Beast. (7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, excluding Dec. 24, 25 and 31, Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark, $10-15)