Alan Cumming Performs I BOUGHT A BLUE CAR TODAY At The Harris

Star of the CBS hit series The Good Wife and Tony award-winner Alan Cumming brings his hit one-man cabaret show, I Bought a Blue Car Today, to the Harris Theater for its Midwest premiere on Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 7:30 pm. Described as a "droll, naughty and seriously dishy evening," the Los Angeles Times proclaims "Cumming is a born performer... he is first and foremost fabulous." Accompanied by his multi-talented musical director Lance Horne and a full band, Cumming will belt out his favorite tunes -featuring everything from Dolly Parton to a musical montage including Hedwig and the Angry Itch and Cabaret-in this ever evolving autobiographical show, peppered with intimate tales and juicy gossip from his years in show business.

Premiered in 2009 as part of the Lincoln Center American Songbook series, Alan Cumming has since performed the show at venues all over the world including the Sydney Opera House, the Vaudeville Theatre in London's West End and the Geffen in Los Angeles. I Bought A Blue Car Today is cheekily titled after an expression Cumming was asked to recite when applying to become a U.S. citizen in Fall 2008.

Tickets for I Bought A Blue Car Today range from $35 - $65 and are available at the Harris Theater Box Office located in Millennium Park at 205 E. Randolph Dr., by calling 312-334-7777 or by visiting www.HarrisTheaterChicago.org.

Biography

Alan Cumming is beyond eclectic. Right now he is the political maverick "Eli Gold" on CBS' The Good Wife, for which he has received Emmy, SAG and Satellite award nominations, but over the last couple of years he has also: sung at venues around the globe including the Sydney Opera House; appeared in films opposite Helen Mirren, Cher, James Franco and Christina Aguilera; voiced a Smurf, a goat and Hitler; entered upside down and suspended by his ankles in a Greek tragedy, and sparred with Dianne Wiest in Chekhov; directed and starred in a musical condom commercial; written articles for Newsweek, Harpers Bazaar and Out; recorded an award-winning album of songs and a dance remix; made three documentaries; released a second fragrance (naturally named Second Cumming); hosted PBS' Masterpiece Mystery; spoken out for LGBT equality and civil rights; and gone to Buckingham Palace to receive an OBE for all of the above. Time Magazine also called him one of the most fun people in show business.

He was an award-winning "Hamlet" and he had his own talk show. He shot a video portrait with Robert Wilson and recorded a duet with Liza Minnelli. He made films back to back with Stanley Kubrick and the Spice Girls. He wrote a Sunday Times best-selling novel and has an award-winning signature fragrance. He has played "Dionysus," "the Devil," "the Pope," and was shot by Herb Ritts for Vanity Fair as "Pan." He was a teleporting superhero, a Lee Jeans model and hosted Saturday Night Live. He is an Independent Spirit Award-winning producer and National Board of Review-winning director. He has sung at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, the London Palladium and San Francisco's Castro Theatre. He was named Icon of Scotland. He designed wallpaper. He was the voice of Black Beauty. He isn't nearly done yet.

In 2009, he premiered his cabaret show I Bought A Blue Car Today as part of the Lincoln Center American Songbook series. He has since performed it at venues all over the world including the Sydney Opera House, the Vaudeville Theatre in London's West End and the Geffen in LA. In the spring of 2011 he will play various dates across America. His album of the same name won a Bistro award.

Alan's activism and passion for causes such as LGBT rights, sex education and genital integrity have earned him many humanitarian awards from the LGBT Task Force, The Human Rights Campaign, The Trevor Project, Lambda Legal, The Point Foundation and GLAAD's Vito Russo Media Award. He lives in New York City with his husband, Grant Shaffer, and their dogs Honey and Leon.

* * * All programs, prices and dates are subject to change. * * *

Opened in 2003, the Harris Theater's mission is to partner and collaborate with an array of Chicago's emerging and mid-sized performing arts organizations to help them build the resources and infrastructure necessary to achieve artistic growth and long-term organizational sustainability. The Harris Theater for Music and Dance was the first multi-use performing arts venue to be built in the Chicago downtown area since 1929 and today the Theater continues to host the most diverse offerings of any venue in Chicago, featuring the city's world-renowned music and dance institutions and the Harris Theater Presents series of acclaimed national and international artists and ensembles. To learn more about the season at the Harris Theater, visit www.harristheaterchicago.org or call the box office at 312-334-7777 to request a brochure.

For additional information about the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Chicago's state-of-the art 1,470 seat performance venue, please visit www.harristheaterchicago.org.

The Harris Theater is pleased to announce that UBS is serving as the 2010-2011 Season Sponsor.

United Airlines is the Official Airline of the Harris Theater.

The Harris Theater gratefully acknowledges The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation's support of the theater's collaborative partnerships.

The Harris Theater is partially supported by the CityArts Program 4 grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos

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