The Venus Cabaret Theater is an intimate theatrical performance space where you’ll find something for everyone!
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER
A cabaret about the journey of a mother & daughter, starring Meghan & Stella Hoyt.
Monday, April 29th at 7 pm
CCPA’s 24K CABARET
Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts Musical Theater Senior Class Part Study Cabaret
April 30th at 8 pm
JEFFEREY COOKE - "OBJECTS IN THE MIRROR..."
Jefferey Cooke returns to the Venus Cabaret Theater with this thoughtful and mostly hilarious look at how our past life experiences create our present-day reality. "Objects In The Mirror..." is not a walk down memory lane, but rather a nod and a wink to how we became who we are in the first place. Our past isn't gone, it's always right behind us... closer than we think.
Friday, May 3rd at 8:00 pm
Saturday, May 4th 8:00 pm
CONFESSIONS OF A PRAIRIE BITCH
Theatrical/standup from the original Nellie Oleson from Little House on the Prairie.
Thursday, May 9th at 7 pm
MIZ CRACKER
Miz Cracker is a New York City drag queen—and a writer, foodie, and comedienne. She launched her drag career in 2011 while participating in marches for marriage equality in Times Square. She went on to compete in RuPaul’s Drag Race Season Ten, landing a spot in the top five and becoming a fan favorite. She later appeared in RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season Five, landing a spot in the top 3. Today, she tours the world with her one woman shows; delights fans on her YouTube channel; lectures on drag at top universities; writes for publications like Slate, ArtForum, Vice and GQ; and engages nearly 1.5 million followers across social media. She recently completed a summer residency in Provincetown, Massachusetts and is freshly back in NYC following a tour of her one woman show in Asia.
May 10th and 11th @ 8PM
May 12th @ 5PM
TOGETHER AGAIN
"FOR THE FIRST TIME"
Join this engaging duo in their "first time together" as they explore some of those "first time" moments in our lives though story-telling and music.......your first: crush, kiss, break up, theater experience, dance and other life-changing moments in our lives.
Friday, May 17th at 8 pm
MARIO MAZZETTI: THE SONGS THAT MADE ME
Having previously taken us on a Journey to the Past with a queer look at their childhood, Mario Mazzetti invites audiences to take a look at the music and events that made them the person they are today. With Michael McBride on the piano, Mario celebrates life with a ew cabaret, “The Songs that Made Me”.
Sunday, May 19th at 7 pm
Thank You For being my friends
Cindy Fee, the woman whose performance of “Thank You for Being a Friend” warms millions TV viewers hearts each week ahead of every episode of “The Golden Girls, sings us songs and shares memories from her long professional recording career.
May 24, 25, 31 and June 1st at 8 pm
DANNY FRANZESE
Best known for his role as Damian in Mean Girls, Daniel Franzese was also the lead of other indie cult classics Bully I Spit on Your Grave. He was most recently a contestant on RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race Season 2, finishing top 5. Previously, he was a series regular on Mark Gordon ABC series, Conviction, and prior to that a series regular on the Freeform series RecoveryRoad. Originally from Brooklyn, Daniel has become a well-known proponent and speaker for the LGBT Community. He reached 8 million views on his YouTube video series Sh*t Italian Moms Say. His comedy tour Yass! You’re Amazing! as well as his one-man show based off his YouTube Series, Italian Mom Loves You! have toured continentally with shows in Europe as well. He is also the co-host for his faith and sexually affirming podcast Yass, Jesus! which is now a part of World of Wonder in 2023.
June 7th and 8th @ 8PM
June 9th @ 5PM
BABATUNDE HIPHOPERA
In December 2018, Babatunde captured the hearts of millions with a video that showcased his groundbreaking fusion genre, Hip Hopera - a fusion of classical operatic vocalizations over hip-hop instrumentation. This uniquely creative video garnered over 10 million views, catching the attention of respected platforms such as Time.com, Classic FM, MSN.com and many more. Embracing his role as "Babatunde_HipHopera"across his social media platforms, he consistently captivates audiences while enlightening listeners about the beauty and intricacies of the art form from his unique perspective. Now, stacked with an arsenal of original music, hilarious stories about his journey, an unflinching charm & unadulterated wit, Babatunde is ready to welcome everyone to the Era of Hip Hopera.
Friday, July 12th at 8:00 pm
Saturday, July 13th 8:00 pm
LEA DELARIA
Lea Delaria was the first openly gay comic on television in America and is an accomplished Jazz performer who has performed in concert venues all over the world. She is best known as ‘Big Boo’ from Orange is the New Black (3 SAG Awards). Lea can currently be seen in the indie feature film Potato Dreams of America, and in the Indigo Girls jukebox feature film, GlitterDoom. She most recently starred in the Off-Broadway Revival of Tennessee Williams play, The Night of the Iguana, directed by Emily Mann. TV credits include East New York, The Blacklist, Physical, Reprisal, Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, Shameless, and Broad City. Film credits include Cars 3, Support The Girls, and First Wives Club. Broadway credits, POTUS Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive (Bernadette), The Rocky Horror Show (Eddie/Dr. Scott) and On The Town (Hildy), Obie and Theatre World Awards. @realleadelaria www.leadelaria.com.
Meet & Greets available!
Friday, July 19 at 8pm
Saturday, July 20 at 8pm
Sunday, July 21 at a 5pm
THE GREAT GATSBY SHOW
The Great Gatsby Show is a comedy extravaganza featuring exclusively Chicago's and America's A-list comedians, handpicked from the stages of HBO, Netflix, Hulu, the Comedy Store, and Comedy Central. The show also includes an interview segment with your favorite senators, musicians, influencers, painters, artists, fashion designers, and poets, along with a special musical guest. But the night doesn't end there! Join us for the unofficial after-party at the vibrant Celeste Nightclub in River North. The show has received rave reviews and promises an enjoyable experience. If you're in Chicago, this is the place to be on a Saturday night for fun, excitement, laughter, and a good time. Whether you live in Chicago or are visiting from out of town, this is a show you want to attend. We take immense pride in curating a stellar lineup of comedians and guests we bring to make the show an amazing experience for you ensuring an unforgettable night that transcends expectations. The Great Gatsby show embodies the glamour, laughter, and sheer brilliance that elevates it to a sparkling gem within Chicago's entertainment scene!
Saturday, July 27th at 7:00 pm
Saturday, September 28th at 7:00 pm
Saturday, November 16th at 7:00 pm
ALEXANDRA BILLINGS AND
HONEY WEST
Alexandra Billings is an actress, singer, author, teacher and activist. Alex starred as “Madame Morrible” in the Broadway production of Wicked, the first trans actor to portray the role. She previously starred on Broadway in Manhattan Theatre Club’s The Nap at the Samuel J. Friedman Theater. Ben Brantley of the NY Times called her performance “a sensational Broadway debut” and “a marvel of glamorous menace.” Alex starred in the Amazon television series The Peripheral, and in the award-winning Transparent. She has been a recurring guest star on The Conners, Never Have I Ever, and many other television series. She stars in and is the Executive Producer of the upcoming feature film release Queen Tut, for which she has been nominated for Best Lead Actress/Comedy by the Canadian Film Awards. She will Executive Produce and star in the limited series Liz, the story of Elizabeth Carmichael, creator of the ill-fated 3-wheeled car the Dale. Ms. Billings was honored to receive the Visibility Award from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). She is the recipient of five After Dark Awards and a Joseph Jefferson Award. She moderated a panel during Transgender Awareness Month at the Obama White House; she won the TPA Award, The Rainbow Spirit Award, and was inducted into the Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in Chicago. Her autobiographical memoir This Time for Me is published by Amazon Books. Alex is a Professor of Theater at USC. She is a Viewpoints Associate at The Steppenwolf Theater Company.
Honey West can be seen in the upcoming A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC as Madam Armfeldt at Theo Ubique. Before that in CLUE and as Bernadette in PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT at Mercury Theater Chicago, the role she previously received a Jeff Nomination for best supporting actress in addition to a best actress award from Broadway world .com. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES as Jacqueline, U/S Albin at Music Theater Works, Danni in IRVING BERLIN’S Holiday Inn at Drury Lane Theater and Mrs. Cratchit and Electra in GYPSY at Porchlight Music Theater. She stared in DIRTY DREAMS OF A CLEAN-CUT KID, VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM, DIVA DIARIES, JERRY’S GIRLS, TONY AND TONY’S WEDDING, AS YOU LIKE IT, PUSSY ON THE HOUSE for which she received a Best Actress Award from BroadwayWorld.com, and TONY AND TONY’S WEDDING. She was a 2012 inductee into the “Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame”. Currently she is working on a new Cabaret Act, and an autobiographical one woman show. She also landed a co-starring role on FOX, PROVEN INNOCENT.
Meet & Greets available!
Friday, August 9th at 8 pm
Saturday, August 10th at 8pm
CLAYBOURNE ELDER
Claybourne Elder currently plays John Adams on HBO’s hit series The Gilded Age and was most recently seen on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning revival of Company starring Patti Lupone. He is a Grammy, Screen Actors Guild Award, Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel nominee and is known for his performances on Broadway in Bonnie and Clyde, Sunday in the Park with George, Torch Song and Sondheim on Sondheim at the Hollywood Bowl. He began his career originating the role of Hollis in Sondheim’s Road Show, he also originated the role of Ollie in Tennessee William’s One Arm. Other credits include: Do I Hear A Waltz at City Center, Allegro atClassic Stage, Two by Two (Starring Jason Alexander), Venice at the Public Theatre, Georgio. In Passion, Tony in West Side Story, Joe in Angels in America, Curly in Oklahoma, Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods, and Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. He also played Pete O’Malley in the CW’s The Carrie Diaries. His solo show has played to sold-out crowds across the country and in London. Recently he launched an initiative called City of Strangers to provide free tickets to Broadway shows for people who might not have the means. They have given away over 3,000 tickets and have gained unexpected attention nationally being featured on This American Life, CBS This Morning and The Kelly Clarkson Show. @claybourneelder
Meet & Greets available!
Friday, October 18th at 8 pm
Saturday, October 19th at 8pm
Sunday, October 20th at 5pm
JUDY GOLD
Judy Gold has had stand-up specials on HBO, Comedy Central and LOGO. She was a part of Netflix Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration. She is the author of Yes I Can Say That: When They Come For The Comedians, We Are All In Trouble, a critically acclaimed book about free speech and cancel culture which debuted as the number one comedy release on Amazon and was featured in the New York Times Book Review. Judy is also host of the hit podcast, Kill Me Now with Judy Gold. You can also check out her website, JudyGold.com or follow her on Twitter, Instagram or Tik Tok - @jewdygold
Meet & Greets available!
Friday, November 8th at 8 pm
Saturday, November 9 at 8pm
Sunday, November 10 at 5pm
