DESIGN FOR LIVING and More Set for Pride Films and Plays' Fall 2015 Season

Pride Films and Plays continues to grow into Chicago's most dynamic arts collective, and announces a Fall Season including festivals dedicated to the development of new LGBT work while anchored with a new look at a shocking LGBT work from another era. The Fall Season is the perfect follow-up to PFP's Jeff Recommended and Box Office hits Men on the Verge of a His-Panic Breakdown directed by Sandra Marquez and The Boy From Oz directed by David Zak.

Our Fall Season includes two festivals in which new LGBT works for the screen and stage are being developed, a full production of Noel Coward's Design for Living directed by Derek Bertelsen, Queer Bits Film Festival on November 9, and several special events.

Here are the details arranged by date:

September 11 to 13. LezPlay Weekend at the Hoover-Leppen Theater at Center on Halsted features staged readings of five new works with lesbian characters or themes. The works include: Black-Hearted Bitch, a teleplay by Lynn Kear, directed by Eileen Tull; The Patron Saint of Dead Dogs, a stage play by Katie Grotzinger, directed by Kate Leslie, Resolution, a play by Nancy Nyman & Heather McNama, directed by Charlie Marie McGrath, Missed Connections, a play by Hallie Palladino, directed by Lexi Saunders, and The Terror Fantastic, a play by Nicole Jost directed by Lindsay Bartlette Allen. Tickets are pay-what-you-can ($10 suggested), and more information can be found at pridefilmsandplays.com.

September 20. PFP's Community Day at Marty's Martini Bar brings artists and audiences together to learn about PFP's Fall Season, while raising funds by raising glasses! Find more information on our website.

October 22 to November 22. Design for Living goes from 1930's bohemian Paris to the dizzying heights of Manhattan society, as a tempestuous love triangle unravels between a vivacious interior designer, Gilda (Carmen Molina*), playwright Leo (Kevin Webb*) and artist Otto (Matthew Gall) - three people unashamedly and passionately in love with each other. PFP Artistic Associate Edward Fraim is featured as Gilda?s husband Ernest. Other cast members include Nora Lise Ulrey, Mike Newquist, Joan McGrath*, Amber Snyder*, David Lipschutz and Connor Baty.

The creative team for Design for Living includes PFP Artistic Associate John Nasca (Costume Design); Kendra Kingsbury (Dialect Coach); Melanie Kulas (Stage Manager); Alexandra Bennett (Dramaturg/Assistant Director); Brian Estep (Hair/Make-Up Designer); G Max Maxin IV* (Scenic/Lighting Designer) and Kallie Rolison* (Sound Designer).

Design for Living, by Noel Coward and directed by Derek Bertelsen, has previews on Thursday and Friday, Oct 22 and 23 at 7:30 ($15). Regular performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 3:30pm through November 22. Tickets are $22 Thursdays, and $27 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Discounts are available for students and seniors. The performance is at Rivendell Theater, 5779 N Ridge, and tickets can be purchased at 1-800-737-0984 or online at here.

November 2. Simply Sensational: Legends, featuring Chicago Legend Alexandra Billings will celebrate the talents of the PFP Ensemble and Friends as we Celebrate Transformation at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont. Dean Richards from WGN emcees. Tickets will go on sale September 15, so please watch www.pridefilmsandplays.com for more details.

November 9. Queer Bits Fall Film Festival is our fourth biannual film festival featuring international LGBT shorts in their Chicago debuts. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling 1 800 737 0984. The festival is at Public House Theater, 3914 N Clark.

November 13 to 15. Gay Film Weekend is at Center on Halsted?s Hoover-Leppen Theater. Finalists in PFP?s Great Gay Screenplay Contest will be performed as staged readings directed by some of Chicago?s leading filmmakers. The finalists will be announced October 1. Tickets are pay-what-you-can ($10 suggested) and are available on our website.

December 7. Winter Memories completes PFP?s busy and successful year with a holiday cabaret at Twisted Vine, 3530 N. Halsted. Join us for an evening of holiday warmth and cheer.

The mission of Pride Films and Plays is to change lives through the generation of diverse new work (or work that is new to Chicago) with LGBT+ characters or themes that is essential viewing for all audiences. We accomplish this mission through fully-staged productions, writing contests and staged readings, film screenings, and special events. We foster long term relationships with artists to create programming that is as diverse, unique, and complex as the community we represent. Huffington Post in 2015 called PFP ?A powerful and empowering entity.?

PFP?s activities are grouped in Summer, Fall, and Spring seasons. Ten PFP productions have been Jeff Recommended in three seasons, resulting in 12 Nominations and 4 Awards. PFP has performed at Stage 773, Steppenwolf Garage, Apollo Studio, Collaboraction, Rivendell and Center on Halsted.

Pictured: Kevin Webb, Carmen Molina, and Matthew Gall. Photo by Paul Goyette.