Pride goes digital
While there’s no parade or street festival this year, there are plenty of online celebrations for the final weekend of Pride Month:
• Pride City Sounds: Chicago with Slo ’Mo Party is a celebration of music and the LGBTQ+ community at 8 p.m. June 25. And celebrate with Janelle Monae when the singer performs an intimate concert at 7:30 p.m. June 28. For more information on both events, go to humanbyorientation.com.
• The Neo-Futurist Theater streams its annual Pride show, “The Infinite Wrench Gets Prideful: 30 Queer Plays in 60 Straight Minutes,” at 8 p.m. June 25. Tickets: $15. Visit neofuturists.org.
• A Queer Pride presents Chicago Is a [Digital] Drag Festival, hosted by Shea Coulee (“Ru Paul’s Drag Race All Stars 5”), at 8 p.m. June 30. Visit twitch.tv/aqueerpride.
• “Porch Pride: A Bluegrass Pride Queer-antine Festival” offers more than 10 hours of music performed by two dozen musicians and singers. Begins at 3 p.m. June 27-28. Visit bluegrasspride.net.
• Through July 12, About Face Theatre streams “Packing,” Scott Bradley’s solo piece charting his journey of self-discovery. Tickets: $15. Visit aboutfacetheatre.com.
• Pride Films and Plays present a reading of Jonathan Tolins’ “Last Sunday in June” (7 p.m. June 28), a story of friends and lovers set amidst a Pride Parade celebration. Tickets: $10. Visit pridearts.org.
• Playmakers Laboratory streams “That’s Queer, Grandma” (8 p.m. June 29, July 6), a romp through student-written stories centered on inclusivity, equality and what it means to be authentic. Visit eventbrite.com.
Movies by moonlight
With the successful opening of its SeatGeek Stadium location in Bridgeview last week, Chicago Drive-In is now inviting movie fans to catch a film under the stars at a second location, Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. Opening June 25 at 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, the venue will screen “The Goonies’ on a 70-foot screen, with audio via your car’s FM radio. Doors open at 7 p.m; show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets, $30-$50 per car, are available at www.chicagodrivein.com. Concessions will be available from a central kiosk as well as mobile units, offering sodas, popcorn and candy. Social distancing protocols will be in place.
Dance to the music
The summer season won’t be complete without SummerDance and, in this time of temporary adjustment, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events has concocted a way to bring dancing fun into homes, backyards, porches and balconies via a live stream. Included are a 30-minute dance lesson (salsa, swing, line dancing and more), followed by 60 minutes of music. Streams Wednesday evenings beginning July 1. For more information, visit chicagosummerdance.org.
Jazz legend
Award-winning jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis continues his Saturday Salon performance series at 1 p.m. June 27. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Jazz Foundation of America. “Throughout my career people have always been there to help me. Now that I’ve retired from touring, my wife Jan and I thought since I’m still playing everyday anyways why not share it with my fans and help those in need.” Tickets for the streamed performance are $20. Visit ramseylewis.com.
Drive-in music
A one-night-only Garth Brooks concert is coming to 300 drive-in theaters across North America including Chicago Drive-In Theater at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview (7000 S. Harlem). Filmed in Nashville exclusively for this event, the concert features Brooks, the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, and his band digging into his extensive songbook, which includes a recently released song, “We Belong to Each Other.” Shows begin at 9 and 11:59 p.m. June 27. Tickets ($100/vehicle with no more than six people) are available at universe.com.
Laugh in your beer
The Drafts & Laughs Virtual Beer & Comedy Festival is headlined by comedian Tom Green and features Ben Glieb, Ian Edwards, Jeff Richards and emcee Stephen Kramer Glickman. Viewers will be able to interact with the comedians during their sets while enjoying a selection of local and regional beers curated for this event, which streams from 8-10 p.m. June 27. Tickets: $10-$45. For more information, visit draftsandlaughs.com.
Ravinia at home
Tony Award-winning actress Kristin Chenoweth hosts and performs at the Ravinia Festival’s virtual fundraiser, “Living Room Lawn Party,” at 8 p.m. June 27. Additional performers include soprano Patricia Racette, pianist Kevin Cole, jazz artist Ramsey Lewis with trumpeter Marquis Hill, soprano Michelle DeYoung and more. Proceeds will help support Ravinia’s music education programs. Visit ravinia.org/lawnparty.
Fitness fun
- The Lincoln Park Zoo streams a Zoomba class (9:30 a.m. June 28, $15), an upbeat dance and aerobic workout. Visit lpzoo.org/events.
- Through Aug. 29, Millennium Park at Home presents an ongoing series of workouts including pilates, zumba, tai chi and yoga from 8-9 a.m. Saturdays. Visit millenniumpark.org.
- Every Wednesday at noon the Irish American Heritage Center streams a yoga class for all levels. Visit irish-american.org.
Mary Houlihan is a local freelance writer.
