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6205 N Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60660

jsmith@threecatproductions.com
Three Cat Productions | Theatre, Cabaret, and Theatre Education Company based in Chicago, Illinois Three Cat Productions | Theatre, Cabaret, and Theatre Education Company based in Chicago, Illinois Three Cat Productions | Theatre, Cabaret, and Theatre Education Company based in Chicago, Illinois Three Cat Productions | Theatre, Cabaret, and Theatre Education Company based in Chicago, Illinois

Chicago's Artist Incubator

  • Home
  • Season
    • Playwright in Residence – 2020
    • Season Seven – 2019/2020
    • Diamond Lil: Remount
    • Cabaret Variety Hour
    • Next Draft Series
  • Playwrights
    • Playwright in Residence – 2020
    • For Playwrights
  • News
  • About
    • About
    • Staff
    • Artistic Associates
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • Past Productions
      • Season Seven
        • Jason and Roy Sing Three Cat – A Cabaret Fundraiser
        • Diamond Lil
        • Perjured Love
        • The Holiday Radio Show: 1944
        • Cabaret on the Lake
        • 2019 Chicago New Work Festival & Next Draft Series Submissions
      • Season Six – 2018/19
        • 2018/19 Season
        • Man of the People
        • The Holiday Radio Show: 1943
        • Maker of Worlds
        • Heart of Fairy
        • 2019 Chicago New Work Festival
      • Season Five 2017/18
        • Spark
        • 2018 SOLO Chicago Festival
        • 2018 Chicago New Work Festival
        • The Holiday Radio Show
        • Blue Fish in a Tall Clear Vase
      • Season Four – 2016/17
        • Chicago Stories
        • 2017 SOLO Chicago Festival
        • 2017 Chicago New Work Festival
        • The Other Side of Christmas
        • Marvelous Madeleines
      • Season Three – 2015/16
        • At Mister Kelly
        • 2016 Chicago New Work Festival
        • Holiday Stories 2015
        • Death in a Beulah Box
      • Season Two – 2014/15
        • Chicago Is! A Hometown Musical Revue
        • 2015 Chicago New Work Festival – Summer
        • 2015 Chicago New Work Festival
        • Holiday Stories
        • Scarlet Sisters Everleigh
        • 2014 SOLO Chicago
      • Season One – 2013/14
        • Hang Your Hat at Mister Kelly’s
        • 2014 New Work Festival
        • 2013 SOLO Chicago
        • Tell Me When It Hurts
        • Joint Attention
      • Chicago New Work Festival – 1st Annual
      • Past Next Draft Readings
      • Past COTL Performers
  • Support Us
  • Calendar

Diamond Lil & The Pansy Craze

A Musical Revue Celebrating the Gay 30s

August 8 to Sept 7, 2019

We first took you to Rush street with “At Mister Kelly”s of the 1950s/60s.   Three Cat Productions is going to take you even further back in time to 909 North Rush and the famed “Diamond Lil’s”.  The musical revue set in Chicago, 1932 explores the famed Pansy Craze club “Diamond Lil” which was packed so tight with partying boys that people were turned away.  Come celebrate Chicago.

directed by Jason Paul Smith
musical direction and arrangements by Roy Freeman

Starring Sam Bowling, Michael Hampton, Lauren Miller, Carolyn Nelson, Orlando Shelly, Maiko Terazawa, and Sophie Vitello.

Reviews Are In:

“You can’t walk away from Diamond Lil without feeling at least a smidge more defiantly hopeful about the future than you did when you walked in. …  On the awesome, growling “BD Women Blues,” Carolyn Nelson sounds like she’s got a choir of ancestors holding her up. “The Cabaret Boys” is a sly ode to chorus cuties. Orlando Shelly shows off some formidable clarinet chops on “Downhearted Blues.”

~  Chicago Reader Recommended

“Sam Bowling brings us a coy and demure “He’s So Unusual” as Crane Gilbert, a Chicago society gadfly who made the papers for his dapper dress sense. Carolyn Nelson aims for the rafters with powerful blues numbers as Bessie Jackson, a performer unapologetic for the strength of her masculine energy. And, as Diamond Lil, Michael Hampton does wonders with spoken word numbers like “She’s My Most Intimate Friend” that invite you to listen close for naughty jokes.”

~ Windy City Times

Audiences:

“There was so much energy and fun on this small intimate stage. For the money, it was one of the best evenings I have spent in the Chicago theatre scene. All in all, a terrific night of entertainment. A “don’t miss” show.”  ~ David

“This is a fun night out with familiar oldies and an engaging and energetic cast. A little bit of Chicago history presented in a very entertaining, review type format. Definitely worth seeing!” ~ Gary

TICKETS

Preview performances start at $20 (August 8 – 9).
Regular performances $15 – $25.

Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 4pm & 7:30pm

PURCHASE NOW

or call (312) 970-9840

 

RUN TIME

Approximately 2 hours with one intermission

LOCATION

6205 N Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60660

 

DIRECTIONS

 

 

AGE RECOMMENDATION

12 and up

PARKING

We strongly encourage our audiences to take public transportation. The Red line stops at Granville.  The 151 bus stops at Granville and Sheridan

FREE street parking is available on side streets. You don’t need a permit to park on Winthrop and Kenmore but availability is limited. Metered street parking is 3-hour on Granville.

If you are a senior or need special parking accommodations, please contact the box office (312-970-9840) to reserve a spot at the theatre.

  • Artistic Staff
  • Cast
  • Press
  • Photos

Artistic Staff

Roy A Freeman

Roy A Freeman

Resident Musical Director and Composer

Roy Freeman enjoys composing for and directing new and experimental artistic endeavors. He is currently the company musical director for…

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Jason Paul Smith

Jason Paul Smith

Director & Artistic Director

Jason Paul Smith is a Chicago-based theater artist specializing in new play development and revitalization of classic works. As a freelance…

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Cast

Sam Bowling

Sam Bowling

Crane Gilbert

Sam Bowling is an actor, singer and comedian originally from Fort Myers, Florida. Sam can has most recently been seen…

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Lauren Miller

Lauren Miller

Nettie A. Miller

Lauren Miller (Nettie A. Miller) is thrilled to be part of this sockdollager of a show! Previously appearing in Spark…

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Michael Hampton

Michael Hampton

Diamond Lil

Michael Hampton is so happy to be working with Three Cat Productions on this new musical endeavor. He was most…

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Orlando Shelly

Orlando Shelly

Mack Swanson

Orlando Shelly is a bass-baritone that graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with a music degree in Vocal Performance and…

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Carolyn Nelson

Carolyn Nelson

Bessie Jackson

Carolyn Nelson is proud to be a part of Man of the People. Additional Chicago credits include Brothers Paranormal, (Consortium…

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Maiko Terazawa

Maiko Terazawa

Marge Price

Maiko is very excited to make her debut with Three Cat Productions!  Chicago credits include Poseidon! An Upside Down Musical…

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Sophie Vitello

Sophie Vitello

Sam Arthur

Sophie Vitello (Ensemble) is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago's BFA Musical Theatre program. Recent roles include Geminae #1 in…

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Press

July 15, 2019

CAST AND CREW ANNOUNCED FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE OF DIAMOND LIL & THE PANSY CRAZE

PDF >HERE     DOC >  HERE    LOGO > HERE    PICTURE >  HERE (Chicago, IL)   Three Cat Productions presents the world premiere of the music revue Diamond Lil & the Pansy Craze at the Chicago Park District’s Berger Park Coach House Theater at 6205 N. Sheridan Road (Edgewater by Granville el stop on Red Line).  You may remember Three […]

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Photos

Diamond Lil

Diamond Lil - Lauren Miller, Sophie Vitello, Maiko Terazawa, and Carolyn NelsonDiamond Lil - Sophie VitelloDiamond Lil - Michael Jack HamptonVersion 2

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