Photo Flash: Sneak Peek at Chicago Gay Men's Chorus LIPSTICK & LYRICS Drag Show

Chicago Gay Men's Chorus is gearing up for its annual presentation of Lipstick & Lyrics: Save the Unicorn Club! This vivacious drag show features 16 of CGMC's most colorful and talented performers and 16 sexy dancers. The premise: A gay bar is in trouble! A bus of drag queens breaks down out front and they must rescue the bar through song and dance. The show is a collaboration between Artistic Director James J. Morehead and long-time chorus member Marty Miller, who will be directing. Scroll down for a sneak peek at last year's show!

The songs are TOP SECRET but you can expect this magical, tongue-in-cheek variety show to have everything from sultry ballads to lively dance numbers, all mixed together with glamour, comedy, and cheese. "We're getting to utilize the talents that we have in the chorus, and I'm so happy for that," said Miller. A team of choreographers will be lead by chorus member Nico Nepomuceno.

Unlike your usual drag show, Lipstick & Lyrics will contain absolutely no popstar-style lip syncing as the queens will be singing live. Miller commented, "Have you ever seen a drag queen sing live? A lot of people haven't." During the audition process, performers were asked to bring their own material. Almost everything that they brought in will be used. "Inevitably there will be at least one number that you fall in love with," remarked Morehead.

This year Lipstick & Lyrics m oves to Uptown Underground on the north side of Chicago. Both Miller and Morehead expressed excitement for moving to a new and more intimate venue. Miller said that he was looking forward to getting back the personal, one-on-one feeling with the audience this year.

So get ready to be up close and personal with the fierce and loving queens of Chicago Gay Men's Chorus. In Miller's words, "Get a ticket, Heather!"

The show is set for Friday, February 26, 2016 - 8:00 & 10:00 PM and Saturday, February 27, 2016 - 8:00 & 10:00 PM at Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640. Special VIP receptions both nights start at 7:00pm and include reserved seating and a beverage from the bar. Only $55 a ticket and they are very limited. General Admission tickets are $25. Doors open at 7:30 for the 8:00pm show, and 9:45 for the 10:00pm show. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.cgmc.org or call 773-296-0541.

The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus (CGMC) has been an integral part of Chicago's cultural and gay communities since 1983. For more than three decades, the chorus has entertained audiences across the continent with innovative musical programming exploring everything from love to politics to the sometimes fabulous, sometimes challenging world of being gay; often all at the same time. Our always-memorable performances have included original musical revues; full-length book musicals; traditional choral concerts and intimate cabaret presentations; all punctuated with our signature joyous irreverence.

Most recently, CGMC represented Chicago's LGBT community at Mayor Rahm Emanuel's second-term inauguration ceremony. The chorus proudly sang "America the Beautiful" for the Illinois Marriage Equality Act bill-signing ceremony and was the featured guest choral performer for the star-studded concert, Broadway Rocks, with the Grant Park Music Festival in 2011. Chicago Gay Men's Chorus was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 2001 and currently has four cd-recordings available. CGMC has performed the National Anthem multiple times at world-famous Wrigley Field and for the WNBA Chicago Sky and Chicago's professional soccer team, Chicago Fire.

Photo Credit: Adam W. Hart