Pansy Craze to Bloom Again in Chicago

An upcoming benefit will pay tribute to the 1930s "pansy craze," an exciting period in the queer and bohemian social underground.

About Face Theatre, a Chicago theater company focused on gender and sexual identity, will present the second annual Black and Tan Supper Club October 10 at the InterContinental Chicago.

A press release for the one-night event invites guests to "travel back to Prohibition-era Chicago, when underground gay social clubs flourished in neighborhoods like Towertown on the northside and Bronzeville and Woodlawn on the southside. During the aptly-named 'Pansy Craze,' gays, lesbians, and other 'non-conformists' flocked to these clubs known for their glamorous fashion, provocative performers, drag balls, and rousing music."

Proceeds from the Black and Tan Supper Club will benefit About Face Theatre programming, including its Youth Theatre, which fosters young performers and activists.

"It's sure to be an unforgettable event, and a fantastic opportunity to support the programming and education and youth outreach of Chicago's premier LGBTQIA theatre company," says Black and Tan Supper Club co-chair Becky Huinker in a statement.

"Taking its cue from queer life in the 1930s, the InterContinental could not be a better venue to host this exceptional evening of drinking, dining, and entertainment with a nod to Chicago's storied past," adds co-chair Rob Abernathy.

Recent LGBT-themed About Face productions include Methtacular! and Brahman/i: A One-Hijra Stand Up Comedy Show.

For tickets and more information visit AboutFaceTheatre.org.