10 Groovy Things to Do in October starring Tom Judson and Cheyenne Jackson

Since there are so many groovy plays, musicals, concerts and events, this is my monthly list to help promote a few of them (click on a title for more information or to purchase tickets):

1) Kinky Boots
October 2 - November 4 at Chicago's Bank of America Theatre
From Grammy Award-winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper and four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein comes this new musical based on the 2005 British film about a young man who enlists the help of a sassy drag queen to save his family's shoe business. This Pre-Broadway World Premiere is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, and the show will begin Broadway previews at the Al Hirschfeld Theater on March 5, 2013.



2) Betty Buckley in The Other Woman: The Vixens of Broadway
October 2 - 27 at Feinstein's at Loews Regency
The Tony Award-winning actress and singer returns to Feinstein's to perform her new concert, which will feature tunes from Broadway shows sung by second female lead characters. Songs include “When You're Good to Mama” (Chicago), Another Suitcase in Another Hall (Evita), “I Know Things Now (Into the Woods), “Ribbons Down My Back” (Hello, Dolly!), “Whatever Lola Wants” (Damn Yankees) and “The Miller’s Son” (A Little Night Music). The show will also feature a segment from her new CD, Ah, Men! The Boys of Broadway, in which she performs show tunes traditionally sung by men.



3) Out on Film
October 4 - 11 in Atlanta
This LGBT film festival celebrates its 25th year with some groovy new films, including Gayby, I Do, I Want Your Love, Keep the Lights On, Married and Counting and many others.



4) Hello Gorgeous! A Salute to the Streisand Songbook
October 12 at the Kaye Playhouse at NYC's Hunter College
As New York City celebrates the return of everyone's favorite Funny Girl as she delivers two sold-out concerts in Brooklyn, the worlds of Broadway, TV, cabaret and the recording industry will come together to salute her at this one-night-only concert to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The impressive list of performers include Lorna Luft, Ann Hampton Callaway, Daisy Eagan, Nick Adams, Marty Thomas, Jim Caruso and Steven Brinberg. The evening will be hosted by award-winning TV personality Scott Nevins.



5) Music Box of Horrors
October 13 - 14 at Chicago's Music Box Theatre
Now in its 8th year, this 24-hour horror film festival returns with special guests Sybil Danning (presenting her campy 1985 werewolf flick, Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf) and '70s cult director Jeff Lieberman (showing both his 1976 debut feature, Squirm, and the Chicago premiere of his latest movie, Satan's Little Helper). Also screening will be a new print of Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead 2 (1987), an uncut print of 1981's The Burning (starring a young Jason Alexander and Holly Hunter), a rare Techniscope print of the 1965 British horror film Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (starring Donald Sutherland and Christopher Lee) and the 1987 cannibal-diner-disguised-as-a-vegetarian-restaurant horror comedy, Blood Diner.



6) Tom Judson in Nature Boy - Songs of the Earth & Sky
October 14 at NYC's 54 Below
You saw him on Broadway in Cabaret, he toured the country in 42nd Street, his autobiographical show, Canned Ham, has been received with waves of ovation in New York and on tour and the discerning eye might even recognize him as his gay porn alter ego, Gus Mattox. Celebrated vocalist Tom Judson presents a brand new evening of music featuring songs that use the natural elements of the universe to tell their stories. The song list is drawn from writers as diverse as Claude Debussy, Lionel Hampton and The Beatles, with even a couple of cowboy songs thrown in for good measure, all diverse in the richness of their melody and depth of lyric. Be sure to mention or use the code "menevent10" to receive a Special BoysNight Ticket Offer of only $20 (reg. $30) in Main Dining Room - and it includes a complimentary drink.



7) The 23rd New York Cabaret Convention
October 17 - 19 at NYC's Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center
The three-night event will pay tribute to the late Donald Smith, the cabaret impresario who was the founder and executive director of The Mabel Mercer Foundation and creator of the annual convention. Scheduled performers include Karen Akers, Christine Andreas, Klea Blackhurst, Ann Hampton Callaway, Jim Caruso, Jeff Harnar, Andrea Marcovicci, Karen Mason, Marilyn Maye, Amanda McBroom, Beckie Menzie, Tom Michael, Steve Ross, Billy Stritch and KT Sullivan.

And if you live in Chicago and love cabaret, check out:

The Chicago Cabaret Professionals 14th Anniversary Gala Benefit
October 14 at The Park West Theatre
CCP presents "Our Kind of Tune" honoring Marilyn Maye (with a Lifetime Achievement Award), Spider Saloff and The Mabel Mercer Foundation and its founder, Donald Smith. Hosted by Daryl Nitz with Music Direction by Beckie Menzie, this special evening will feature performances by Joan Curto, Jeff Dean, Laura Freeman, Carla Gordon, Scott Gryder, Tom Michael, Bob Moreen, Suzanne Petri, Denise Tomasello, With a Twist and Melissa Young.




8) The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Broadway previews begin October 19. Opens November 13 - February 10 at Studio 54
The Roundabout Theatre Company stages the first Broadway revival of the 1986 Tony Award-winning musical whodunit. Directed by Scott Ellis, the production stars Stephanie J. Block, Gregg Edelman, Chita Rivera, Jessie Mueller and Will Chase.



9) 20th Anniversary Screening of Death Becomes Her
October 20 at San Francisco's Castro Theatre
This Halloween Peaches Christ Productions is proud to present a special screening of the deliciously dark 1992 film starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn. The evening will begin with a neck-twisting pre-show featuring drag queens Peaches Christ and Heklina in the roles they were born to play - undead Beverly Hills rivals Madeleine Ashton and Helen Sharp.

10) The Performers
Broadway previews begin October 23. Opens November 14 at the Longacre Theatre
Henry Winkler (TV's Happy Days) returns to Broadway to play a porn star in David West Read's new romantic comedy about the ins and outs of life and love in the adult entertainment industry. Evan Cabnet directs this World Premiere production, which also features the sizable talents of Cheyenne Jackson, Alicia Silverstone, Ari Graynor, Daniel Breaker and Jenni Barber.