Latest news with #TrueColors
Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
True Colors drag troupe inspires audiences to be their true selves
On a recent Saturday, Sketchbook Brewing Company's Evanston taproom was filled to standing-room capacity by an enthusiastic crowd that clapped and danced along to performances of music by Christina Aguilera, Avril Lavigne, Lady Gaga and more. The artists who garnered such a warm response are collectively known as True Colors, a local drag troupe featuring individuals with a range of developmental, intellectual and physical disabilities. Coinciding with the first weekend of Pride Month, this show marked True Colors' fourth appearance at Sketchbook Brewing. Founded last year, the group continues to expand both its roster and fan base. True Colors' summer schedule includes performances at the Chicago Disability Pride Parade on July 26. Drag artist Chrysanthemum, a founding member of True Colors who goes by their drag name, has loved performing since childhood. 'I am the performer of my family,' they said, adding that their interest in drag was sparked when they won an Ariana Grande lip-sync battle in college. About two years ago, Karen Forester began working as their personal caregiver, and Chrysanthemum introduced Forester to the art form of drag. Eager for Chrysanthemum to have more opportunities to perform, the two decided to form a new troupe. True Colors was inspired by Drag Syndrome, a U.K.-based drag collective made up of artists with Down syndrome, but Chrysanthemum and Forester found this approach somewhat limiting. 'We decided it could be for anybody who was interested and wanted to participate and learn more about it,' Forester told the Tribune. After recruiting more artists through flyers, Facebook and word of mouth, True Colors performed its first shows in 2024. With the addition of a new member last month, the troupe now includes five regular performers: Amanduh Frost, Chrome Snatchica, Chrysanthemum, George David and ZiZi D-Lite. Forester serves as the troupe's manager. Chrysanthemum said their mom and a family friend helped them brainstorm the name True Colors, which gets at the question, 'What does it mean to show your color, to show who you are as a person?' The troupe's inclusive ethos is also conveyed through its tagline, 'Drag for All!' In a joint interview, four members of True Colors shared their positive experiences with the group, emphasizing the sense of freedom, self-expression and community that they feel when performing in drag. Zachary Wandel, who performs as ZiZi D-Lite, has been with True Colors since their first show, which featured just ZiZi and Chrysanthemum. Wandel said of that performance, 'It felt so amazing to be on stage, to perform in front of people, because it makes me alive.' Chrome Snatchica (who is also identified only by their drag name) began performing in drag while studying dance at Columbia College Chicago, where they graduated last month. 'It makes me feel inspired, and it makes me feel really joyful about performing,' Chrome Snatchica said of drag. 'Expressing myself is just a gift.' Audiences have been welcoming and supportive of True Colors from the start. 'I think a lot of people in the community are seeing that this is important, this is meaningful,' said Forester. 'This is a group of people who deserve to be seen and heard.' Each artist has developed a unique drag persona and takes a personalized approach to their performances. Several lip-sync to their choice of music, while ZiZi D-Lite sings live. Bradley Westmaas, who performs as George David, has hearing loss and uses sign language for his performances. When asked to describe George David, Westmaas said, 'If Boy George, George Michael and David Bowie all had a child, I would be that child.' At the May show, he gave a spirited rendition of Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive' for the first of his two numbers. 'You don't see drag queens who are deaf that often,' said Westmaas. 'The drag community itself is kind of small, so the deaf drag community is smaller.' Chrome Snatchica, who is also deaf, added, 'It's awesome to inspire other deaf drag queens.' Wandel reflected on what it's like to be an artist with a disability, sharing that he has experienced bullying in his life but finds performing in drag to be empowering. '(ZiZi) does not care for (what) the other people (are) saying about her, because she sings live, she knows (how) to perform very well, and she's a strong person,' Wandel said of his drag persona. 'I am a strong person, too, and I think ZiZi D-Lite wants to show the world that she can do this.' Chrysanthemum was also bullied as a kid and wishes those bullies could see them now. 'They should come to our shows and see that we have become stronger because of them,' said Chrysanthemum. As a member of True Colors, 'You are supported and loved by so many other people who just (expletive) love you for exactly who you are meant to be. I'm so glad to be part of a group that is so kind, that is so welcoming and so freaking nice.' 'There are so many people out there who don't know who we are as people,' Chrysanthemum added. 'Don't judge people who have disabilities because once you get to know them, they're kind. They're loving. They're supportive.' 'Drag is an art form that brings people together, brings the community together, and I think that's a wonderful thing,' said Chrome Snatchica. 'The audience is definitely growing, and I think it has inspired people to be their true selves, because that's what True Colors is all about.'
Buzz Feed
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
17 Scenes From Kids' TV Shows And Movies That Were So Devastating, They Ripped My Heart Out Of My Chest And Cut It Up Into A Million Pieces
Kids' TV shows and movies aren't supposed to be overly emotional — because, you know, they're for KIDS. But occasionally, a scene from a kids' show or movie will just take us all by surprise and make us sob, or scream, or both. And TBH, it takes a LOT to make me cry, so these deserve some sort of award. Get your tissues, because here are the most heart-wrenching scenes from kids' movies and TV... 1. I gotta start with the most obvious one: the first ten minutes of Up. It's the most beautiful representation of a love story I've ever seen, including how it feels to lose a loved one. If I ever need to cry, this is my go-to. 2. I don't remember really anything from Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, except for one scene that tore me to pieces: when Justin forgets who Alex is. She tries to remind him she's his sister in a lovingly honest way. It's a rare moment where Alex is actually being serious, and it made me super emotional. If you don't have a sibling you're close to, maybe this wouldn't hit as hard. But it STILL GETS ME. 3. And speaking of Disney shows, we have to talk about *that* episode of That's So Raven: "True Colors," the one where Raven is discriminated against because she's black. It's extremely well done, and I'm genuinely surprised this never got an award of some kind. 4. All of Inside Out had me in tears; that movie was just a compilation of SAD AF events. But the scene that broke us all down the most was Bing Bong's death. A beloved imaginary friend from childhood being forgotten as you get older? That's pretty much a nightmare for any of us that are terrified of adulting. The unusually high level of sadness throughout this movie is the main reason I didn't like it. Sue me!!! 5. The Harry Potter movies are full of character deaths and heartbreaking moments, but I've chosen to include an underrated scene from the most kid-friendly movie in the series: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The part where Harry finds the Mirror of Erised tops my list of saddest Harry Potter scenes, TBH. Seeing little Harry long for his parents just rips my heart out. 6. This one is obvious, but I had to mention it: Mufasa's death in The Lion King probably tops the list of saddest Disney scenes in history. But I honestly think I cried more during "He Lives In You" than Mufasa's *actual* death, though. If I ever need a good cry, that song will do it. 7. Full House had some pretty sad episodes. But the one that tore me up the most was "The Last Dance," the one where Jesse's grandfather Papouli dies. The acting in this episode is just so excellent, and the family dynamic feels impressively authentic. 8. If you watched Saved by the Bell back in the day, you should know exactly what I'm about to say. In the episode "Jessie's Song," Jessie gets addicted to caffeine pills because of the sheer amount of pressure on her — and it's heartbreaking to watch. 9. I cried so many times during the Toy Story movies, but I think my heart physically stopped beating watching the toys fall down the garbage burning site in Toy Story 3. That was so freakin' intense, it makes me genuinely question the writing choice, and makes me never wanna watch the movie ever again. 10. In Zoey 101, when Chase finally told Zoe he loved her (through a TekMate text, duh), it was cause for celebration. But then, all our hearts broke when her phone fell into the fountain. Because OF COURSE it did. We lost the one chance we had at them finally being a couple, and even as an adult, it still hurts. 11. We already know I can't handle it when characters forget each other. So of course I couldn't handle the scene from A Little Princess when Sara screams "Papa! Papa!" while the police take her away. That one's a sure-fire tearjerker. 12. And I hate spiders with a burning passion, as most of us do, but when Charlotte dies in Charlotte's Web, it really strikes a chord. We grow to love her so much throughout that story, and to just take her away feels equally cruel and devastating. 13. We all grew up watching Lizzie McGuire, but perhaps you don't remember the episode "Inner Beauty," where Miranda develops an eating disorder. This episode is pretty heartbreaking to watch as it is, but it hits even harder once you're older and realize just how common these stories are, especially in young women. There's a similar episode of Full House about that topic, too, which was also super well done. 14. I'm not a big fan of alien movies. But the scene when E.T. dies just HAS to make this list. E.T. whispering "stay, Elliott" just completely rips my heart out. And how can you not sob watching baby Drew Barrymore cry? 15. Watching Coraline as a child, I was basically just terrified the whole time. But as an adult, the concept of escaping to a parallel family hits a lot harder, and represents much deeper familial conflicts that kinda just fly over kids' heads. Now, when I watch this movie, I can't help but cry for Coraline. 16. Rugrats is one of the best kids' shows of all time, and it rarely touched on super serious topics. But the writers chose to do something brilliant for the "Mother's Day" episode: they showcased what loss and tough conversations look like for those whose mothers have passed away. It's beautiful, tragic, and so well done — I truly think it's the best TV episode in Nickelodeon history. 17. If you didn't start crying when Miguel started singing "Remember Me" to Mama Coco in the movie Coco, do you even have a heart?! Dare I say, I think that song is the saddest one in Disney history, and Mama Coco is just the sweetest character in the universe.
