Missy Aguilar News

Tony Award winner Beth Leavel will receive the 2025 Sarah Siddons Society Award at the organization’s annual benefit on November 17, 2025, at The Arts Club of Chicago.

Chicago's favorite evening of big voices for a big cause, will return with the 10th annual Belting for Life in May. This year's milestone event has a new home at Evanston SPACE. Learn how to attend.

Join the 9th annual BELTING FOR LIFE benefit concert, presented by Jeff Award-winning director and HIV+ activist Christopher Pazdernik, supporting the AIDS Foundation Chicago. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Chicago's favorite evening of big voices for a big cause, returns with the 8th annual Belting for Life. For one night only on Monday, May 15 at 7:30pm at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre in Evanston, Jeff Award-winning director and HIV+ activist Christopher Pazdernik presents the beloved benefit concert.

Chicago's favorite evening of big voices for a big cause, returns with the 7th annual Belting for Life. For one night only on May 16 at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre.

As literary events converge with National Poetry Month in April and World Book Day and William Shakespeare's Birthday on April 23, Chicago Shakespeare Theater is celebrating with productions and programs onstage, online, and in classrooms across the country.

Turning to the stage to raise funds for the funerals of their dearly departed members, these sisters sing, tap, and puppet their way through a variety show where we learn about their personal stories and the apparently unpredictable life of a nun.

Porchlight Music Theatre begins its eighth season of Chicago's “lost” musicals series with Porchlight Revisits Nunsense, book, music and lyrics by Dan Goggin+ with direction by Michelle Lauto*, musical direction by Kailey Rockwell* and choreography by Jenna Schoppe*.

Porchlight Music Theatre begins its eighth season of Chicago's “lost” musicals series with Porchlight Revisits Nunsense, book, music and lyrics by Dan Goggin+ with direction by Michelle Lauto*, musical direction by Kailey Rockwell* and choreography by Jenna Schoppe*.

Jeff Award-winning director and HIV+ activist Christopher Pazdernik presents the 6th annual Belting for Life (formerly known as Chris’ Birthday Belt Fest), an annual benefit concert for Howard Brown Health, one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ organizations. 

Jeff Award-winning director and HIV+ activist Christopher Pazdernik presents the 6th annual Belting for Life (formerly known as Chris' Birthday Belt Fest), an annual benefit concert for Howard Brown Health, one of the nation's largest LGBTQ organizations.

Porchlight Music Theatre held PorchlightPalooza, a three-day virtual festival Friday, Aug. 21 - Sunday, Aug. 23,  in lieu of its cancelled March 23 ICONS GALA.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced a new three-day celebration and fundraiser in honor of its 25th Anniversary, PorchlightPalooza, Friday, Aug. 21 - Sunday, Aug. 23, which will include performances from Chicago's best talents, an exclusive interview hosted by legendary newsman Bill Kurtis with the 2020 ICON Award recipient Joel Grey and more.

BUYER & CELLAR star Scott Gryder to lead cabaret of songs made famous by Barbra Streisand Emmy Award winner and Chicago Musical Theatre and Cabaret performer Scott Gryder, who in Pride Films and Plays' current production of BUYER & CELLAR plays a struggling actor that manages a make-believe shopping mall in the basement of Barbra Streisand's Malibu home, will lead a cabaret of Ms. Streisand's songs on Monday, April 22 - just two days before her 76th birthday - in The Broadway, Pride Arts Center. Gryder and Music Director Adam LaSalle will be joined in this tribute to the Emmy, Grammy and Oscar-winning actress, songwriter and director by a cast including Jerome Riley Jr., Anslee Rainwater, Missy Aguilar, Matthew Huston, Adam Hibma, and Kimberly Lawson. The concert will be directed by BUYER & CELLAR director Donterrio Johnson.

Jeff Award-winning director and HIV+ activist Christopher Pazdernik presents the 5th installment of Chris' Birthday Belt Fest, an annual benefit concert for Howard Brown Health, Monday, May 13 at 8 p.m. at Greenhouse Theatre Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.Tickets are $30, in advance; $40, at the door on the night of the performance, and are available at GreenHouseTheater.org or by calling 773.404.7336. The performance is suitable for all ages and runs two hours with one intermission.

Jeff Award-nominee and HIV+ director/producer Christopher Pazdernik is pleased to announce the 4th annual Chris's Birthday Belt Fest, a benefit concert for Howard Brown Health, Monday, May 14 at 8 p.m. at Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway. Tickets are $30, in advance; $40, at the door on the night of the performance, and are available at uptownunderground.net or by calling 773.867.1946. Uptown Underground is a 21 years old and older venue and advance reservations are strongly recommended.

Chicago theatre talent comes together for Unidos: Puerto Rico Benefit Concert. This one-night-only charity event will be held at 8:00pm on Monday October 30, 2017 at Uptown Underground, 4707 N Broadway St in Chicago. All proceeds will help aid hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico through the Hispanic Federation.

Jeff Award-nominee and HIV+ director/producer Christopher Pazdernik is pleased to announce the 3rd annual CHRIS' BIRTHDAY BELT FEST, a benefit concert for Howard Brown Health on Monday, May 15 at 8 pm at Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway in Chicago. Featuring 40 award-winning musical theater performers from across Chicago and musical direction by Aaron Benham, this year's benefit will feature a record number of performers and a brand new theme: Duets! Tickets, priced at $25, are currently available at uptownunderground.net or by calling (773) 867-1946. Uptown Underground is a 21+ venue; advance reservations strongly recommended.

Route 66 Theatre Company is pleased to announce the line-up for its 6th annual Mile Markers Benefit Concert: REVOLUTION: SONGS OF PROTEST AND EMPOWERMENT on Today, March 10, 2017 at Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Ave. in Chicago. Tickets for MILE MARKERS are currently available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2879219.

Route 66 Theatre Company is pleased to announce the line-up for its 6th annual Mile Markers Benefit Concert: REVOLUTION: SONGS OF PROTEST AND EMPOWERMENT on Friday, March 10, 2017 at Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Ave. in Chicago. Tickets for MILE MARKERS are currently available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2879219.