WHAT'S THE TEA, CIS at Pride Arts Center

n celebration of Trans Awareness Month this NOVEMBER, PrideArts will honor transgender pioneers and showcase ten Chicago trans performers who are reshaping our history. Artistic Director Donterrio Johnson today announced the multi-platform educational and entertainment effort called, WHAT'S THE TEA, CIS?* Twice weekly, from NOVEMBER 3 through NOVEMBER 19, Chicago performer MJ Rawls will host a one-minute video on PrideArts' Instagram page (@PrideArtsChicago), providing historical profiles of trans pioneers such as Marsha P. Johnson, Jackie Shane, Miss Major Griffin, and Willmer "Little Ax" Broadnax. These segments will post on NOVEMBER 3, 5, 10, 12, 16 and 19. On Monday, NOVEMBER 30, PrideArts will stream on YouTube a Trans Showcase cabaret of performances from ten incredible Chicago trans performers. Acts will range from stand-up comedy to singers belting today's top radio hits. Cast to be announced. This will be a Pay-What-You-Can event, and tickets are available at www.pridearts.org. A portion of the funds raised from this event will be donated to Brave Space Alliance a trans/non-binary organization here in Chicago.

Johnson says, "We are very excited to be bringing you all WHAT'S THE TEA, CIS? this NOVEMBER during Trans Awareness Month. I am also thrilled to be collaborating with MJ Rawls who's patiently guiding and educating me on this process. It's going to be fantastic, Let the education begin HENNY!"

*The phrase, "what's the tea?" means something like "what's the gossip?" or "what's the inside scoop?"