Pride Films and Plays today announced five more live online readings of LGBTQ-themed plays, following its enthusiastically received April 14th reading of Terrence McNally’s MOTHERS AND SONS. The new series, Pride Arts Presents “Pride in Place” will include an encore of Scott Gryder's Jeff-nominated 2019 performance in Jonathan Tolins' BUYER & CELLAR along with four scripts not previously produced by PFP. The series of live online readings allows the organization to continue its mission for patrons from the comfort of their own home as they continue to “shelter in place.” Executive Director David Zak says, “We found the online performance of MOTHERS AND SONS to be a great way to stay connected to audiences and artists around the country, and not only because of the quarantine. We had a great response from others who even in normal times have difficulty attending live performances, like many seniors and those with limited mobility.” This series of plays will be performed live by actors, each appearing via Zoom from their own homes.
The first production in the series will be LONELY PLANET, by Steven Dietz, on May 14. LONELY PLANET is a two-hander set during an earlier pandemic, the AIDS crisis. The other plays in the series will include Jane Camber's lesbian drama A LATE SNOW, to be directed by Sara BenBella (Thursday, May 28); BUYER & CELLAR, directed by Donterrio Johnson (Thursday, June 4); Jonathan Tolins’ look at gay life in the 1990s - THE LAST SUNDAY IN JUNE, directed by Michael Rashid (to be presented on the last Sunday in June - June 28); and Brad Fraser’s provocative political comedy UNIDENTIFED HUMAN REMAINS AND THE TRUE NATURE OF LOVE, directed by Jacob Van Hoorn (Wednesday, July 1).
In LONELY PLANET, Jody, a reclusive gay man in his forties, has been hiding from the world in his map store to avoid infection. His thirty-something friend Cal, who has been bringing into the shop chairs that had belonged to their friends who fell to the illness, convinces him to leave the safety of the shop to go out and get tested. This leads to him taking a week off from the shop to see the world he abandoned. For many years, LONELY PLANET was one of the most often performed plays in America, and its brilliance sparkles again against the backdrop of this different public health crisis.
David Lipschutz, assistant director for Pride’s upcoming production of I PROMISED MYSELF TO LIVE FASTER and an ensemble member with Hell in a Handbag, will direct a cast including Shane Roberie as Jody, Tyler Anthony Smith as Carl, and Sydney Genco narrating. Roberie has been seen recently in SUNSET BOULEVARD (Porchlight Music Theatre), HEAD OVER HEELS (Kokandy Productions), POSEIDON! (Hell in a Handbag), and EVIL DEAD, NIGHTMARE & NIGHTCAPS (Black Button Eyes). Smith recently performed in THE GOLDEN GIRLS: THE LOST EPISODES - THE HOLIDAY EDITION, VOL. 2 and THE DRAG SEED (Hell in a Handbag), and BABY WITH THE BATHWATER (Eclipse). Genco is Head of Ensemble, Company Makeup Designer and a frequent performer with Hell in a Handbag Productions.
Ticket price for each reading is $10.00. Tickets are available at pridefilmsandplays.com or by phone at 773-857-0222.
L-R: Shane Roberie, Tyler Anthony Smith, Sydney Genco.
Scott Gryder in BUYER AND CELLAR. Photo by Heather Mall.
LISTING INFORMATION
LONELY PLANET
By Steven Dietz
Directed by David Lipschutz
Thursday, May 14 – 7:00 pm
In this often-comedic drama set during the height of the AIDS crisis, Jody is in his forties and runs a map store. Not one for the outside world, he stays in his store all the time. His friend, Carl is in his late thirties and has been bringing chairs of dead friends into Jody’s store and leaving them there. When Jody finally leaves the map store to take his HIV test and returns to find Carl sitting in a chair of his own.
A LATE SNOW
By Jane Chambers
Directed by Sara BenBella
Thursday, May 28 – 7:00 pm
A LATE SNOW, written in 1979, is the story of Ellie, a woman trapped in a snowstorm with her first, last, current and, possibly, next lover. Ellie is a professor at a conservative college in a conservative state who worries that being openly gay might cost her her job. A LATE SNOW is about how we find love, how we decide the right partner for us, and how to finally choose to live an authentic life.
BUYER & CELLAR
By Jonathan Tolins
Featuring Jeff Award nominee Scott Gryder
Directed by Donterrio Johnson
Thursday, June 4 – 7:00 pm
In this one-man comedy, Alex More is a struggling actor who takes a job managing a make-believe shopping mall in the basement of Barbra Streisand’s Malibu home. Scott Gryder returns in the role he performed in Pride Films and Plays’ full production from spring 2019, directed by Donterrio Johnson.
LAST SUNDAY IN JUNE
By Jonathan Tolins
Directed by Michael Rashid
Sunday, June 28 - 7 pm
In 2002, Tolins’ penned THE LAST SUNDAY IN JUNE. the day of the annual Gay Pride Parade. Tom and Michael, his partner of seven years, intend to spend the day planning their impending move from the Big Apple to the upstate town of Nyack, but their plans are rerouted as one friend after another drops by to view the parade from the window of their apartment. A series of conversations about relationships follows amid the partying. Since this is the first time in decades the Pride Parade will NOT go down Broadway, the Pride reading celebrates a tradition as it looks at friends and lovers.
UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN REMAINS AND THE TRUE NATURE OF LOVE
By Brad Fraser.
Wednesday, July 1 - 7 pm
Directed by Jacob Van Hoorn
Shocking when it first premiered in 1989, this Canadian work follows the lives of several sexually frustrated "thirty-somethings" and one teenager who try to learn the meaning of love — during a time in which a serial killer is terrorizing the city. Candy is a heterosexual woman trying to meet the perfect man but who along the way finds herself experimenting with lesbianism; her gay roommate David no longer believes that love exists; Kane is a sexually confused teenager who idolizes David; Bernie is David's troubled best friend; and Jerri is a lesbian who falls in love with Candy. Overlooking the proceedings is the otherworldly Benita, a prostitute with psychic abilities. Fraser’s drama still carries a punch.
Online – instructions on how to enter provided after tickets are purchased
Tickets $10.00. Tickets available by phone at 866-811-4111 or 773-857-0222 or online at www.pridefilmsandplays.com
ABOUT PRIDE FILMS AND PLAYS
Pride Films and Plays is working to produce year-round theater and film projects that change lives through the generation of diverse new work (or work that is new to Chicago) with LGBTQ+ characters or themes that are essential viewing for all audiences. The company produces a season of full productions and was recently honored with seven Jeff award nominations for the 2019-20 season and continues our famed play developmental projects. PFP is the principal tenant in Pride Arts Center.
Pride Arts Center produces events complimenting the PFP vision, including dance, cabaret, film, and more. Events can be one-night or limited run productions or feature national treasures like Charles Busch. PAC occupies The Broadway at 4139 N. Broadway, which has 85 seats, and The Buena, which has 50 seats at 4147 N Broadway.
Pride Films and Plays is supported by The MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at The Richard Driehaus Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, City of Chicago’s City Arts Fund, the Elliott Fredland Charitable Trust, Proud to Run, The Pauls Foundation, The Heath Fund, The Service Club of Chicago, the AmazonSmile Foundation, Arts and Business Foundation, Tap Root Foundation, Arts and Business Council, and Alphawood Foundation.
PFP is a member of the Smart Growth Program of the Chicago Community Trust. Pride Films and Plays is a member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, Northhalsted Business Association, Uptown United, and The League of Chicago Theatres.
For more information, visit www.pridefilmsandplays.com or call 1.773 857 0222