BLAZING TRAILS

WINDY CITY TIMES
April 20, 2016 23
Gayby.
‘Gayby’ screenings
April 30 in Chicago
“Our Families: A Conversation,” a special
screening of the film Gayby Baby followed by a
discussion, will happen in two showings Saturday,
April 30, in Chicago.
The goal of the event is to create a community-building
opportunity and discussion for LG-
BTQ+ families who often do not see themselves
reflected in the world around them, and sometimes
feel their voices are silent in schools and
public places.
The film is a springboard for the conversation
and a means to empower children of LG-
BTQ+ parents to embrace their diversity and
celebrate their families. Aside from the panel
experts, the audience will hear stories from
the perspective of children and young people
living in diverse families. The film’s director,
Maya Newell, and family advocate Zach Wahls
will also be sharing a special recorded message
with the audience.
Gayby Baby is an Australian feature documentary
in which four kids take viewers into
their homes and share what it’s like growing
up with same-sex parents. The film takes an intimate,
character-driven approach to issues at
the heart of modern social politics: family, gender,
sexuality, parenting and youth; skewering
some of the most hotly debated contemporary
issues with rarely heard voices that work to
cut-through the saturation of political rhetoric—the
voices of the kids.
Entry for the first screening is at 12 p.m.,
with a panel discussion to follow at 3 p.m.;
entry for second screening and discussion panel
will open at 2:20 p.m. (Second-screening
guests will hear the 3 p.m. panel discussion
first and then view the film 4:45 p.m.)
See gaybybabychicago.splashthat.com for
tickets and location.
The panelists are: Kara Ingelhart of Lambda
Legal; Katie Slivivsky, exhibit development director
at the Chicago Children’s Museum; author
Jerome Pohlen (Gay & Lesbian History for
Kids); Julie Toole is the mother of two children
and teaches art to Grades 1-8 at Baker Demonstration
School where she advocates for inclusion
of gender expansive students; and Kim
L. Hunt is the mother of two and is executive
director of the Pride Action Tank. Moderators
will be Theresa Volpe, a children’s book author,
LGBTQ+ family advocate and mother of three;
and Erin Flynn is a mother, children’s musician,
teacher, and the Wiggleworms and Kids’ Music
Program Manager at the Old Town School of
Folk Music.
Hannah Free cast and crew at re-release celebration.
Photo by Hal Baim
Gless part of ‘Hannah Free’
re-release celebration
Sharon Gless—star of the feature film Hannah Free, shot in Chicago in 2008—was in town for
a special re-release party and screening at the Gene Siskel Film Center April 16.
Several of the stars of the film, directed by Wendy Jo Carlton and written by Claudia Allen,
were at the event. Pictured front are Gless (Cagney & Lacey, Burn Notice, Queer As Folk) and
Claudia Allen. Back row, from left: Taylor Miller, Meg Thalken, Maureen Gallagher, Pat Kane, Ann
Hagemann and Elita Ernsteen, who played one of the young girls in the film.
Also at the screening were many of the film’s crew, producers, extras and investors.
The film will be available as a DVD and for streaming soon on Amazon.com. See HannahFree.
com.
Photo by Hal Baim
Black Playwrights
Festival April 24-27
Black Ensemble Theater has announced its
11th annual Black Playwrights Festival, to
be held April 24-27 as part of the company’s
Black Playwrights Initiative (BPI).
The festival will take place at the Black Ensemble
Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark
St.
The 2016 BPI Black Playwrights Festival
opens on Sunday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m.,
with opening ceremonies honoring director,
playwright and MPAACT Artistic Director Carla
Stillwell and playwright Reginald Edmund.
The evening will also feature three BPI
“Shorties” (10-minute plays) by BPI members
Audery Naomi Smith, Jill Ross and Viola
Irvin, along with selections from work by the
honorees. The festival’s full-length plays include
works on April 25-27 by Wendell Etherly,
Ervin Gardner and Leonard Maceo Ferris.
Tickets are $15 per evening or $40 for a
festival pass. Items are available at the box
office, online at BlackEnsemble.org or at
773-769-4451.
PFP holding film
festival April 25
Pride Films and Plays announces five short
films receiving their Chicago premieres during
Queer Bits AltReels Film Festival at the
Public House Theatre, 3914 N. Clark St., on
Monday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m.
The program includes a documentary about
the toll of an illness on a long-term relationship;
a thriller about a quiet man whose dragqueen
alter ego starts to take over his life;
a pop musical about heartbreak and hope;
a comedy about a brother and sister saving
their video store; and a fairy tale about two
men who give each other newfound purpose
in life.
Some of the shorts contain adult themes
and strong language.
Tickets are $15 each, with student and senior
admission going for $10; call 800-737-
0984 or visit PrideFilmsAndPlays.com.
FRIDAY, JULY 22
ON SALE FRIDAY, APRIL 22 AT 11AM
WWW.THECHICAGOTHEATRE.COM
The Chicago Theatre provides disabled accommodations and sells tickets to disabled individuals through our Disabled Services department, which may
be reached at 888-609-7599 any weekday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Ticketmaster orders are subject to service charges.