**The beast women revue is coming back to Chicago. There are going to do five shows in August. The beast women is a revue that contains charismatic performers working in difference performance mediums including poetry. The website says that the show celebrates sexuality, life oddities and primal strength found in all women.”
This time around the shows will include poetry (Marianne Schaefer, Marta, and Nikki Patin), monologues (Roberta Miles and Amanda Rountree), performance art (Jillian Erickson), belly dancing (Marci Roesch , Mahira, and Laila), burlesque (Red Hot Annie, Barrett Kern, and the honey buns), singing (Chyna Fox, Elizabeth Bagby, JoBeth Harris, and Jen Stjarna), comedy (Janet Kane, Kelisie Huff, Amada Sumpter, and Leslie Lee) , modern dance (Sarah Heston), and clowning (Noel Williams.)
The lineup looks fairly strong (I’ve seen Nikki Patin do some compelling, thoughtful work at previous Beast Women shows, plus Chyna Fox and Red Hot Annie were great in their Burkhart Underground shows), but I would have liked to see more poetry in the line-ups. I also miss Jacqui Wolk in the lineup because she is usually a highlight of any show she is in.
The shows will take place at The Prop Theater at 3502 N. Elston at 10:30, and there is a suggested donation (last time it was $20). The show dates include 8/1, 8/8, 8/15, 8/22, and 8/29. Not every performance will include every performer. Consult http://www.beastwomenproductions.com/summerseriesnights.html to see the individual evening lineups.
This is overdue, but I am going to reproduce the line-ups at Cathleen Schandlemeier’s Beach Poetry show lineup with a few added comments. If you are taking the train North (I would recommend not driving), it is best to take the Red Line to Morse and walk a block towards the lake then look for the poetry tent (it’s at Loyola Beach). Her shows generally start at 4:30 and end around 6 pm. Cathleen has a strong lineup this year (she’s a Chicago institution), and everyone who loves Chicago poetry should experience her “The Beach is Closed” poem at least once.
July 26 - The Bob and Bob show (Bob Raskow and Lawrence)- I loved this theatrical piece the last time I saw it, and the Bobs are clever, theatrical, and thought provoking.
August 2 - Kate Cullan used to be a stand-up comic, and her work is darkly humorous and wickedly sardonic. Her Columbine poem is particularly shocking and transgressive.
August 9th-Dave Gecic and the Puddin'head Books Posse . I have had him as a guest in my class many times. He is a friendly, everyman, working class poet who writes in a voice of the common man (or is that person), and I’ve never seen him give a bad performance. Make sure that he demands that he reads “Beast with Purple Hair” and “Sex and Violence.” I can’t believe he doesn’t have a book out yet.
August 16- Shelly Davis, Milwaukee's own Slam Champion of the Kentucky Women's Writer's Conference! Shelly speaks! and Blues Poet Wes Heine& The Cousin Bones Band ( I have not seen these people perform here.)
August 23 Second annual Children's Day featuring the poetry of SheilaDonovan - among others! Sheila’s work is consistently interesting and accessible.
August 30 - Celebrate the 50th Birthday of our founder and host, Cathleen Schandelmeier with the best poets s we kiss the Beach Good-bye for the Summer! Featuring the amazing work of Jacqueline Wolkand more! Jacqui is a humorous and witty poet who has one foot in performance art. She has also written one of the most memorable list poems I have heard.
Insert photo caption or credit here
Comments
Thanks for the shout-out, man! :) xo
Fantastic. Just posted a link to this.
www.publishchicago.com
Thank you so much for the kind words! I hope to see you at the show! Let me know when your coming.
Thanks for giving the Beasties your kind attention......This time my presentation is set to music and comical...I reserve the more serious and darkly decadant done previously for another time!
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!