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Jim Caruso’s Cast Party Boston Event

Jim Caruso’s legendary star-powered Cast Party open mic event that’s been a NYC institution for over 2 decades is heading to greater Boston with Billy Stritch at RegattaBar Jazz Club on Saturday April 25th for one show only at 7P. Part concert, part variety show & part anything-can-happen theatrical experience Cast Party is where Broadway bravado, jazz virtuosity, comedy & pure showbiz joy collide. Jim Caruso presides over the festivities keeping the evening moving at a thrilling pace. Guiding the musical mayhem is his longtime collaborator the brilliant Billy Stritch at the piano providing the swinging heartbeat that turns spontaneous performances into showstopping moments. From seasoned theater & cabaret stars to fearless rising talents & the occasional surprise guest Cast Party is equal parts polished & unpredictable. The one thing guaranteed is you never know who will take the stage next & that’s exactly the fun. Billy Stritch stated, “Hey Boston! Jim Caruso & I are coming your way with Cast Party for one night only on Saturday April 25th at the fabulous RegattaBar Jazz Club in Cambridge. It will be our first time bringing this show to Boston & we really want to pack the place so if you’re in the area grab your tickets now for one show at 7P. We already have a slew of great singers lined up so it promises to be a really fun evening. See you there!” Since 2003 Jim Caruso’s Cast Party has been turning Monday nights at Birdland in NYC into a glittering anything-goes variety spectacular. With renowned pianist Billy Stritch at the piano Broadway legends, jazz divas, crooners, tap dancers & total surprises collide in the most rollicking open mic on the planet. Tix run $36 to $48 
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Chicago Critics Film Festival 12th Year

The Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) has announced the complete lineup, schedule & special guests expected for the 12th annual Chicago Critics Film Festival that takes place May 1st to 7th at the city’s historic Music Box Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. The festival opens with a screening of “The Invite” with director & star Olivia Wilde scheduled to attend. The week-long event closes with Joe Swanberg’s “The Sun Never Sets” with Swanberg & star Cory Michael scheduled to attend. Additional selected films for the 2026 festival include Chicago premieres of the most anticipated films of the year such as John Carney’s “Power Ballard” starring Paul Rudd & Nick Jonas, John Early’s “Maddie’s Secret”, Adrian Chiarella’s “Leviticus”, Sara Dosa’s “Time & Water” & Edd Benda & Stephen Helstad’s “Chili Finger” with the filmmakers scheduled to attend. In addition to the more than 20 acclaimed new feature films & two short film programs making their Chicago premieres the festival will present several anniversary screenings including 40th anniversary screenings of David Cronenberg’s classic “The Fly” & Jonathan Demme’s “Something Wild” as well as a 25th anniversary screening of Steven Spielberg’s “A.I.: Artificial Intelligence” all presented on 35mm. The Chicago Film Critics Association supports & celebrates quality filmmaking that has something to say about our world, our lives & our society. Rotten Tomatoes joins the CFCA in presenting the CFCA / Rotten Tomatoes as an official sponsor of the festival’s Audience Award. For more than 30 years the Music Box Theatre has been the premier venue in Chicago for independent & foreign films, festivals & some of the greatest cinematic events in Chicago. 
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New Abortion & Gender Care Resources

A new report from the Guttmacher Institute & the Task Force reveals how policymakers are weaponizing parental rights language, state surveillance & criminal penalties against providers. Kimya Forouzan, Guttmacher Institute Principal State Policy Advisor stated, “It is no surprise that attacks on gender-affirming care & abortion are coming from the same playbook—these are coordinated efforts to stigmatize & undercut essential health care & strip people of the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies & futures. Looking at both forms of care, young people & communities already facing systemic barriers are most impacted. In both cases, patients, providers & support organizations are being targeted by policies rooted in fear, surveillance & political ideology rather than standards of care or evidence. We cannot treat these as separate fights when the strategies & the harms are so deeply connected. Everyone deserves access to the abortion & gender-affirming care they need.” Rajput, National LGBTQ Task Force State Policy Analyst concluded, “The National LGBTQ Task Force has long advocated for abortion access & reproductive freedom as fundamental aspects of our struggle for bodily autonomy & queer liberation. In the current political climate, our work must connect the dots across communities to educate the public on the ways reproductive justice is directly connected to gender-affirming care.” The National LGBTQ Task Force builds power, takes action & creates change by organizing people & money in pursuit of liberation for all. The Guttmacher Institute is a leading research & policy org committed to advancing sexual & reproductive health & rights (SRHR) worldwide. 
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Creative Coalition Night Before Dinner

Kicking off the White House Correspondents’ Dinner weekend in DC the Creative Coalition's annual Night Before Dinner takes place on Friday Aril 24th at Penn Quarter’s PubKey at 7P. The event brings together a high-wattage mix of Hollywood talent, media leaders, policymakers, philanthropists & industry insiders hosted by The Creative Coalition’s 2026 Capitol Hill Delegation chaired by actor Michael Chiklis (The Shield, Fantastic Four) along with actor & President of The Creative Coalition Tim Daly (Leanne, Madam Secretary). Daly stated, “When we stop defending expression, we start accepting silence. That silence begins when we fail to protect both the First Amendment & the institutions that make creativity possible, including vital federal support for the National Endowment for the Arts. Defending the NEA means defending the artists, storytellers & cultural voices that help define who we are as a nation.” Chiklis concluded, “I was incredibly fortunate to be a part of the opening of the Merrimack Regional Theater at the age of 14 in my hometown. A grant from the NEA helped make the existence of that theater possible & it’s still thriving to this day! My career as an actor started that year when I appeared in the opening production of ‘Romeo & Juliet,’ & I have no idea what my life would have looked like had I not been given that glorious opportunity!" The stellar delegation also includes Wendie Malick (Shrinking, The Chicken Sisters), Pamela Adlon (Better Things, Californication), Zachary Levi (Shazam!, Chuck), Ian Armitage (Young Sheldon, Big Little Lies), William Stanford Davis (Abbott Elementary), Asher Grodman (Ghosts, Succession), Rob Morrow (Billions, Murdaugh: Death in the Family, Northern Exposure) Rebecca Wisocky (Ghosts), Jazz Raycole (The Lincoln Lawyer) & more.
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Night of a Thousand Judys NYC Event

The 14th annual “Night of a Thousand Judys” to benefit The Ali Forney Center takes place at Joe’s Pub on Monday June 1st. This fabulous all-star concert honors Judy Garland with songs from her legendary career as movie star, recording artist & stage performer & is written & hosted by Justin Elizabeth Sayre. The Ali Forney Center is the nation’s largest agency dedicated to helping LGBTQ homeless youth. Justin Elizabeth Sayre stated, “For Pride this year, we are thrilled to bring you a fabulous lineup of talented singers to celebrate our beloved Judy Garland & raise funds for The Ali Forney Center.” In previous years the concert event has featured the musical talents of downtown stars Cole Escola & Bridget Everett, TV & theater stars Alan Cumming & Nathan Lee Graham, R&B legends Martha Wash & Sarah Dash, jazz vocalists Madeleine Peyroux & Jane Monheit, singer/songwriters Nellie McKay & Erin McKeown, Broadway divas Liz Callaway & Tonya Pinkins, leading men Howard McGillin & Daniel Reichard, nightlife fixtures Maude Maggart & Karen Akers & New York personalities Michael Musto & Austin Scarlett among many others. The show is directed by Peter James Cook & choreographed by Jason Wise featuring Drew Wutke as the event’s music director. “Night of a Thousand Judys” is produced by Dan Fortune & Adam J. Rosen with Dan Fortune serving as executive producer. “Night of a Thousand Judys” takes place at Joe’s Pub on Monday June 1st at 7P. Tickets run from $85 to $160. Joe’s Pub has a $12 food 2 drink minimum per person & is located at the Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street in NYC. 
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Day Of Silence Celebrating Thirty Years

The “Day of Silence" is Glisten's (formerly GLSEN) annual Day of Action that began in the mid-1990s as a student-led protest against the silencing & marginalization youth in schools. Each year on the 2nd Friday in April students & allies across the country take part to bring visibility to the bullying, discrimination & lack of affirmation that many LGBTQ young people still face in learning environments. “Day of Silence" has grown into a national movement uplifting student voices & calling for schools where every young person can learn safely & authentically. In Glisten’s most recent National School Climate Survey (NSCS) released last month reported that 2 in 3 students feel unsafe due to their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, Glisten Chief Executive Officer stated, “Today’s administration in the U.S. wants us to stay silent, submit to their biased & hurtful conformity & stop fighting for our right to be authentically ourselves. We urge supporters to use their social platforms & check in with local chapters to be boots on the ground to help LGBTQ+ students feel seen, heard, supported & less alone. By participating in the ‘Day of Silence,’ you are showing solidarity with young people as they navigate identity, safety & belonging. Our voices matter.” K-12 students with more supportive educators, anti-bullying policies that address sexual orientation & gender identity with inclusive learning & GSA presence report a higher sense of belonging, higher GPAs & higher attendance. For over 35 years Glisten has been dedicated to establishing inclusive K-12 schools & learning environments. 
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Lambda Literary Awards 2026 Finalists

The 2026 Lammy Awards shortlist finalists have been announced marking 38 years of celebrating our community’s outstanding voices. The 38th Annual Lambda Literary Awards will take place Friday June 12th at the illustrious Sony Hall in the heart of NYC from 7P to 10P. With 1,371 submissions across 26 categories this is the highest submission volume year ever. J. Clapp, Lambda Literary Executive Director stated, “I am thrilled that we are yet again celebrating the works of so many talented authors & artists across our 26 categories. This is my first full cycle witnessing the magic & diligent work that goes into the Lammys. At this point in history, I am thankful we can joyously fellowship with our community at Sony Hall on June 12th. Congratulations to all the finalists featured on our shortlist!” Lambda Literary continues to proudly recognize works by self-published authors as well as independent & academic presses alongside works supported by traditional big 5 publishers. 76 judges reviewed so very many vibrant voices & histories reflected in the enormous amount of submissions confirming our stories are still being published, read & celebrated even in our dangerously chaotic times. Since 1989 Lambda Literary the fabulous non-profit org has been dedicated to developing writers & amplifying LGBTQ storytelling. For more than 30 years Lambda Literary has fought to uplift LGBTQ stories, nurture emerging voices, preserve our legacies & fought for our lives on a national level. The 38th Annual Lambda Literary Awards on Friday June at Sony Hall in the heart of NYC will honor the voices that have shaped the LGBTQ literary landscape. 
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Jim Caruso’s Cast Party Boston Event

Jim Caruso’s legendary star-powered Cast Party open mic event that’s been a NYC institution for over 2 decades is heading to greater Boston ...

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