Gay press empress Tracy Baim (publisher of Windy City Times and its family of publications) has announced the world premiere of Half Life, a play based on her novel of the same name. The piece takes place during the first Gulf War and centers around a closeted lesbian officer and an activist gay reporter as they both try to get the truth behind a female soldier’s discharge. Set in the era before “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” the piece takes a human look at a military policy that put discharge orders on “hold” while gay soldiers were willing to give their lives during the war. Many were then dishonorably discharged upon their return to the U.S. The play was adapted for stage by Bev Spangler, and runs Aug. 27 - Sept. 18 at American Theatre Company. A portion of every ticket sold will go to the Service Members Legal Defense Network, which will also host a benefit night during the run. Baim is also hard at work with former local girl, screenwriter Catherine Crouch on the film version of the novel.

Kevin Wall, who has worked around town with companies such as Chicago Opera Theater and Northlight, recently lost his job as drama teacher at Niles West High School. Parents suspect the reason is the new administration’s objections to his choice of plays, which have included The Laramie Project and The Rose Tattoo. “I was not willing to give in on censorship,” says Wall. “[Principal Dale Vogler] was very upset about the priest being beaten in The Rose Tattoo.” The plays had been okayed by the previous administration. District 219’s public relations coordinator, Karen Bednarz, says that district policy makes it illegal for them to comment on the reasons for a teacher’s dismissal. In the meantime, Wall has moved on to other projects in youth theatre. He’s already aligned himself with One Theatre Company and the Kohl McCormick Story Bus.

ComedySportz is ready to give up their digs on North Halsted and is actively seeking a new location. The 17-year-old, all-ages comedy theatre is looking for a facility that can accommodate two stages (a 150-seat main stage and a 50-seat cabaret space), has a comfortable lobby, acceptable conditions for a liquor license, and additional space for their training center and corporate events division. “There’s nothing better than looking for a new space when you don’t have to move,” says managing director Greg Werstler. “We’re looking because we’ve built our business to the point that we are bursting at the seams in our current space. We have an option to renew our current lease, but would rather move on to a space that raises our profile as one of Chicago’s premier comedy theatres.” While last year proved to be their most successful, not only financially, but also artistically, the group is looking makes it even more accessible to tourists and suburban guests. Werstler says they have entered preliminary negotiations with some potential facilities, but are actively pursuing any and all leads that arise.

Metropolis is still awaiting word on the sale of the property that houses their performing arts complex. The proposed Jan. 26 vote by the Village of Arlington Heights to purchase the real estate from Mark R. Anderson of Banbury Properties has been on hold while the city further hashes over the decision. They did, however, recently include $2.8 million in their FY 2004-05 operating budget to enable the exchange (as well as other downtown development projects), should they vote yea. During the wait, Anderson has stepped down as head of Metropolis’ board, making the relationship between Banbury and Metropolis now strictly a landlord/tenant deal. He was replaced by Arlington Heights resident Monica McCarthy. “The board would like to extend their gratitude to Mark Anderson for his role in establishing the Metropolis Performing Arts Center. The redevelopment of our downtown has been remarkable, award-winning, in fact, and the Village board is to be commended for their vision,” says McCarthy. “As a board, we plan to continue and in fact grow this mission, thereby protecting the Village’s investment in the downtown redevelopment.” While in limbo, the show goes on as usual. Metropolis recently announced their 2004-2005 season, which includes a summer of the sexes rotating rep of The Vagina Monologues and Defending the Caveman. Executive director Tim Rater thinks the decision will be made in the next month or two.

Beginning in the 2004-2005 season, Stage Left will go one step further in fulfilling their politically and socially driven mission by creating Partnerships for Action. Each production will be paired with a relevant not-for-profit organization to cross-promote and raise awareness for both Stage Left and that organization. Partnering organizations will display their materials at the theatre, receive discounted tickets for members, and half of all donations made during performances. The folks at Stage Left are hoping that through these partnerships, audiences will have a means to act on the issues raised by each production to not only be informed, but to become engaged. “Partnerships for Action has emerged from a desire here at Stage Left to not only offer new perspectives and raise debate on contemporary political and social issues, but also to encourage our audience to act on those perspectives — to translate the energy of theatre into an energy of activism,” said Kevin Heckman, Stage Left’s producing artistic director (and PerformInk’s listings editor).

And finally, the show that venerable theatre critic J-Lo termed “disrespectful” is finally on its way to our town. Matt & Ben (as in the Matt and Ben, Damon and Affleck respectively) is set to open Aug. 12 at Theatre Building Chicago. The play took the best overall production prize during its sold-out run at the New York International Fringe Festival and was the only play invited to appear at the HBO-sponsored U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen. But be forewarned that the show doesn’t exactly star the Hollywood hotties themselves...

This is the last “Behind the Curtain” for Christina Biggs. We thank her for all of her hard work. The column will resume in the capable hands of Jenn Goddu. If you have any news, tips or info, you can email Jenn at JQGoddu@sbcglobal.net.

Nicole Bernardi-Reis contributed to this column.

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