Photo Flash: The Chicago League of Lady Arms Wrestlers presents CLLAW XXIX: CLLAWentine's Day Brawl

Get your heart pumping just in time for Valentine's Day as The Chicago League of Lady Arm Wrestlers (CLLAW) presents CLLAW XXIX: CLLAWentine's Day Brawl on Saturday, February 3 at Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie Ave. in Chicago. CLLAW's 29th benefit match will feature Chicago's biggest, baddest lady-identified arm wrestlers, live musical entertainment and a cash bar. Doors open at 9 pm with the first match beginning at 9:30 pm. Tickets, priced at $20, are available in advance at www.cllaw.org or $25 at the door (the ladies will gladly take cash or credit at the door).

All proceeds from CLLAW XXIX will benefit Sideshow Theatre Company and Chicago Women's Health Center.

The Main Event

Dr. Beverly Crush-her, Elton Brawn, Hermione Danger, Captain Philippines, Aunt Nance ... and returning CLLAW champion Tawdry Horne. Their names echo through the ages. They come from all corners of Chicago, united only by One Dream: to elbow their way through the competition and wrestle their way to the top. Joined by CLLAW's Mistress of Ceremonialisms Harry Scaray, referee (and three-time CLLAW champion!) Macho Ma'Am Candy Savage and commentators Vallery Dolls and Charlie No Pants, the line-up of not-so-lady-like ladies in outrageous costumes volunteer their time to vie for that most cherished prize - the bedazzled CLLAW gloves. Who will leverage their way up the bracket? Or bribe their way to the top? All these questions and more will be answered, and all of Chicago is invited to bear witness.

CLLAWdience Participation and Prizes

Not content to leave the fun in the arms of its competitors, CLLAW XXIX gets everyone in on the action. Audience members have the opportunity to purchase CLLAWBUX, the official currency of CLLAW, throughout the night. With their CLLAWBUX, onlookers can bet on their favorite wrestlers to prevail, and maybe slip a few to the referees to even the score. All CLLAWBUX purchased also go towards fantastic raffle prizes. Half-priced CLLAWBUX are available in advance.

All for a good CLLAWSE

A portion of CLLAW XXIX proceeds will benefit Chicago Women's Health Center. CWHC's mission is to facilitate the empowerment of women and trans people by providing access to health care and health education in a respectful environment where people pay what they can afford. For additional information, visit chicagowomenshealthcenter.org.

Proceeds also benefit CLLAW's creator and producer, Sideshow Theatre Company. Since its first match in 2009, Sideshow's CLLAW events have helped fundraise for numerous Chicago based non-profits including {she crew}, The Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), Barrel of Monkeys, C4 - Community Counseling Centers of Chicago, Girls Rock! Chicago, Marwen, Rock for Kids, About Face Youth Theater, 826CHI, CAPE (Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education), Ayodele Drum and Dance, The Chicago Human Rhythm Project and others.

CLLAW is a member of CLAW USA, the national Collective of Lady Arm Wrestlers. It is the mission of CLAW USA to empower women and strengthen local communities through theatre, arm wrestling, and philanthropy. CLLAW includes a compendium of female-identified participants and seeks to create a safe space for all participants and audience. We seek to mirror the diversity of our greater society and welcome participation from people of diverse identities by age, race, class, ability and gender definition.

Sideshow Theatre Company: Theatre for the Curious. It is the mission of Sideshow Theatre Company to mine The Collective Unconscious of the world we live in with limitless curiosity, drawing inspiration from the familiar stories, memories and images we all share to spark new conversation and bring our audiences together as adventurers in a communal experience of exploration.

Over its 10+ year history, Sideshow is proud to have distinguished itself as a vital member of the Chicago theatre community. Sideshow was awarded the 2016 Broadway In Chicago Emerging Theatre Award by the League of Chicago Theatres. Sideshow is a multiple Jeff Award-winning theatre and has been listed on the "Best of" lists in 2012, 2013 and 2014 by Time Out Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times. Sideshow continues its multi-year residency at Victory Gardens in the historic Biograph Theater in the 2017/18 season.

Sideshow is also the producer of Chicago League of Lady Arm Wrestlers (CLLAW), a wildly popular fundraiser held in benefit of Sideshow Theatre Company and other local community organizations. CLLAW has been featured in local and national press, including The Washington Post, Reuters, Penthouse Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times and on WGN Morning News, ABC 7's Windy City Live and CBS 2. The next CLLAW will be held Saturday, February 3, 2018 at Logan Square Auditorium. For more information about CLLAW, visit cllaw.org.

For additional information on Sideshow Theatre Company, visit sideshowtheatre.org.

Photos by Trainman Photography.

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