Welcome to the Archive Version of the online On the Purple Circuit, which ran from 2000-2021. Bill Kaiser founded the Circuit as a newsletter in 1991, and, in 2000, Demian joined as co-editor. Demian programmed the site, expanded the scope of the Circuit, as well as retouched all the images. Demian needed to stop working on the Purple Circuit in order to realize his other projects, such as publishing the book “Operating Manual for Same-Sex Couples: Navigating the rules, rites & rights,” now available on Amazon, and to publishing his “Photo Stories by Demian” books based on his more than 6 decades as a photographer and writer. QueerWise and Michael Kearns have committed to offering a continuation of the Purple Circuit. The new Web address is purplecircuit.org. Bill Kaiser continues as editor and can be reached at purplecir@aol.com Bill and Demian express their appreciation for the hundreds of writers, directors, actors, and publicists who sent their articles and play data. They have toiled mightily to bring our gay, lesbian, trans, and feminist culture into public view, and appreciation. |
| Bill Kaiser, founder (1991), publisher, editor - purplecir@aol.com - 818-953-5096 Demian, associate editor (2000), Web builder, image retouch (since 2003) Contents © 2022, Purple Circuit, 921 N. Naomi St., Burbank, CA 91505 |
Chicago Scene by Michael Van Kerckhove February 2004 |
Hello! I’ve finally cracked through winter’s icey prison, softened by a late February “heat wave” of temps in the 40s, to bring you this, my 10th “Chicago Scene” for your reading enjoyment.
Christmas Roundup: The Journeymen once again revived their holiday hit, The Eight: Reindeer Monologues by Jeff Goode. Cupid (the gay one) and company reveal the dark underbelly of the Santa’s workshop. thejourneymen.org Hell in a Handbag Productions was busy this holiday season. First, they presented Rudolph the Red Hosed Reindeer for its 6th season. The show featured Brannen Daugherty as the red stocking clad Rudolph in this parody of the beloved TV special. The show includes holiday favorites such as “Christmas Makes Me Bitter,” “They’ll Hate You If You’re Different,” and “It’s Tough to be a Toy.” You can now hear them on the just released cast recording CD available on their Web site. They also presented Fa La La This 2, an evening of monologues by David Cerda, Brooke Allen, Chad McLaughlin, and Richard Bluestein. handbagproductions.org Roadworks Productions presented its annual offering of Joe Mantello’s adaptation of David Sedaris’s The Santaland Diaries in which Lance Stuart Baker recounts Sedaris’ experiences as a Macy’s Elf. Jack Helbig said in his Chicago Reader review, “Creating a compelling facsimile of the writer-performer, Baker could tour America with a one-man show based on the life and opinions of Sedaris if Sedaris weren’t currently doing that himself.” The production also featured Cyndi Rhoads performing “Season’s Greetings.”
A Tale of Two Twelfths: This Feb-March, Ernie Nolan (yes, my Ernie) presents his 1980’s re-mix of Twelfth Night as part of the New Directors Series at The Theatre School, DePaul University. Illyria meets Studio 54 as a Princess Diana-esque Viola disguises herself as a club kid sailor in her servitude to a Prince-like Duke Orsino and mistakenly wins the heart of Olivia-as-Bianca Jagger. With an original rock score by onstage band Limozeen, “celebutants” partying it up, and plenty of red velvet, this show will be one of Chicago’s little gems of the season. And I’m not just saying that. theatreschool.depaul.edu
Party Like It’s 1962:
A Light at the Goodman:
Pulpy Face:
A Tale of Two Couples:
Wrestling with the Issues:
And Finally: Love to all. See you in even warmer days. |