Harris Theatre Welcomes 'Pope of Trash', 12/14

Legendary cult filmmaker, author, actor and originator of the Hairspray dynasty John Waters brings his critically-acclaimed one-man show A John Waters Christmas to the Harris Theater for its Chicago premiere on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 7:30 pm. The "Pope of Trash" will put the "X" back in X'mas with a rapid-fire monologue that explores, explodes and exploits traditional holiday customs, with Waters sharing his compulsions, desires and stories, including his urge to give and receive inappropriate gifts, a religious fanaticism for Santa Claus, and an unhealthy love of true crime holiday horror stories. The performance says Waters, "will hopefully make you feel better when the Christmas season is making you mental." Tickets for A John Waters Christmas, which range from $35 - $65, 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.

John Waters will also meet and greet fans at an exclusive on-stage cocktail reception, limited to 100 guests, following the performance. Reception tickets are $150 each and must be purchased in addition to performance tickets. Cocktails are provided courtesy of GREY GOOSE Vodka.

Born in Baltimore, MD in 1946, John Waters was drawn to movies at an early age, particularly exploitation movies with lurid ad campaigns. Dubbed "The Pope of Trash" by writer William Burroughs, Waters began making 8mm and 16 mm underground movies as a teenager using Baltimore, which he fondly dubbed the "Hairdo Capitol of the World," as the setting for his films. In 1972, Waters created what would become the most "notorious" film in the American independent cinema of the 1970's, Pink Flamingos, which turned Waters into a cult celebrity. 
Waters achieved box office and mainstream critical success with his 1988 film Hairspray, starring the then unknown Ricki Lake; the film was turned into a hit Broadway musical that swept the 2003 Tony Awards, and was then adapted and released as a 2007 feature film starring John Travolta and Queen Latifah. The success of Hairspray brought Waters major Hollywood backing for his next feature, Cry-Baby (1990), starring Johnny Depp. 

Pink Flamingos, the ultimate trash masterpiece, was re-released in theatres for a 25th Anniversary in 1997, complete with newfound footage.  Commenting on the long-lasting popularity of the film, director Waters proudly boasts, "it's hard to offend three generations, but it looks like I've succeeded." His other films include Serial Mom, Cecil B. Demented, and his most recent release A Dirty Shame (2004) which was called "wicked, kinky fun" by Rolling Stone.
In addition to writing and directing feature films, Waters is the author of six books, including his newest Role Models, published in May, 2010, which earned spots New York Times, Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle best seller lists.  An artistic visionary, Waters is also a photographer whose photo-based artwork and installations have been internationally exhibited in galleries and museums.

Waters has performed his one man spoken-word lecture entitled "This Filthy World" to sold-out audiences around the world; in 2006, Netflix released a film version of the live act that was screened at the Toronto, Berlin and Edinburgh Film Festivals. In 2004, his cynical and hilarious CD "A John Waters Christmas" was released by New Line Records, featuring an outlandish compilation of musical obscurities chosen by Waters himself, including songs by Tiny Tim, Fat Daddy and the Chipmunks.

Waters is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and is on the Wexner Center International Arts Advisory Council.  Additionally, he is a past member of the boards of The Andy Warhol Foundation and Printed Matter.
 
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.

 

Test and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia?	Play the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
How well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends.	Can you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!