Tonight, Women of the Now’s first ever film-themed variety burlesque, Cinematic Sexuality, will play two separate shows in the West Loop’s Fulton Market Gallery space.
Designed with fun in mind, the event’s lineup includes dancers, comedians and DJs, as well as an open bar stocked with wine, beer and a variety of spirits from sponsor CH Distillery.
The evening will be hosted by mistress of ceremonies Sarah Little, a Second City performer and accomplished filmmaker. The performance sets will be kept relatively short to allow for “drinking, mingling and having fun,” says producer Laura Day.
“There are huge notes of comedy underlying all of this,” she continues. “It’s a fun time to get silly and let your guard down.”
But first, there’s a show. And what a show it is.
“You can expect to see eight incredible performers, varying from burlesque to comedy to music,” explains WOTN founder Layne Marie Williams. “It’s going to be an uplifting, empowering, entertaining event.”
Gracing the stage will be a lineup of dancers giving their personal nods (and shakes) to “femmes in film through the ages,” she says.
Jasmine S. Sims will portray the Black Dahlia. Kevlar B. Lightning will perform an Oscars Act. Ariel Rogers will impersonate an angry male director. Diore Deulere is going vintage Hollywood glam and Mr. Lanny Fox will be there as Ms. Pam Who.
The bill also includes a comedy set and music by DJ Josh Dubman and DJ Evie TheCool.
Chicago-based Women of the Now is a femme-centric, film-based networking organization that has been defying stereotypes about femme-centric, film-based networking organizations since it launched this year.
WOTN’s inaugural, circus-themed event, “Femme Pyre,” drew hundreds of filmmakers, artists and professionals to Camera Ambassador’s west loop loft space last winter. Cinematic Sexuality promises to keep the good times rolling.
“We’re a group of young women in the film industry building our individual careers and trying to help those around us,” explains founder Williams, whose short film, Dollface, screened at the Anthology Film Archives for New Filmmakers New York last week. “We’re not confrontational. We’re too open. We’re too available. We’re here to learn.”
Friday, July 7, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. · Fulton Market Gallery, 319 N Justine St, Chicago, Illinois 60607 · For tickets and additional information, click here.
