David Cerda

American dramatist
David Cerda
David Cerda in 2019
Born (1961-06-13) June 13, 1961 (age 62)
Hammond, Indiana
OccupationPlaywright

David Cerda (born June 13, 1961, Hammond, Indiana) is an American performer and playwright based in Chicago. He is currently the artistic director for Hell in a Handbag Productions, which he co-founded in 2002. His campy, highly theatrical plays have made him a notable presence within the Chicago theater scene. He has written and appeared in many of his works, including a transgressive adaptation of Rudolph, the Red-Hosed Reindeer, How ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?’ Happened and POSEIDON! An Upside-Down Musical[1] which won the New York International Fringe Festival Best Ensemble Award and was the most attended show of the festival that year.[2][3]

Cerda’s theatre group has araised money for Chicago LGBT non-profits such as Season of Concern, AIDS Legal Council, Howard Brown, the Legacy Project, Windy City Alliance for the Deaf, and Groceryland.[4]

Selected works

Hell in a Handbag has produced over 70 original plays, of which Cerda has written several.[5]

  • The Drag Seed, a parody of The Bad Seed[6][7][8]
  • Snowgirls: The Musical, a parody of Showgirls[9][10]
  • POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical (2002, 2009),[11][4] a musical parody of The Poseidon Adventure[12][13][14][15]
  • The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes (since 2017), a spoof of The Golden Girls[16]
  • Rudolph, the Red-Hosed Reindeer, a parody of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer[17]
  • How ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?’ Happened, a parody of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane
  • The Birds[4]
  • Christmas Dearest[4]
  • Caged Dames[4]

Awards

References

  1. ^ "Hell in a Handbag Productions: Poseidon". Archived from the original on 2016-04-21. Retrieved 2007-02-10.
  2. ^ a b "Poseidon! An Upside Down Musical Wins FringeNYC Award". GoPride Chicago (ChicagoPride.com). Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  3. ^ a b Douglas, Colin (2019-03-24). "It Ain't Over Until the Fat Lady Swims | Chicago Theatre Review". Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "DAVID CERDA – Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame". Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  5. ^ "David Cerda: Pioneer of Camp Theater Hell in a Handbag Productions in Chicago". AMBER LIVE | The Drag Queen Comedy Talk Show. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  6. ^ Helbig, Jack (2019-07-17). "There's nothing bad about The Drag Seed". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  7. ^ Velasquez, Diana (2021-11-05). "'The Drag Seed' brings satire, killer drag queens to the stage". The Pitt News. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  8. ^ "The Drag Seed | Theater in New York". Time Out New York. 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  9. ^ "Hell in a Handbag casts world premiere of 'Snowgirls — the Musical'". Chicago Tribune. 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  10. ^ Douglas, Colin (2018-12-08). "Reindeer Games and Jazz Hands | Chicago Theatre Review". Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  11. ^ Cerda, David (2019-03-19). "Upside Down with David Cerda. An "Inside" look at POSEIDON!". PerformInk. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  12. ^ Forbes, Harry (2019-11-04). "Poseidon! An Upsidedown Musical". Backstage. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  13. ^ "Chicago - Poseidon! An Upside-Down Musical - 1/2/03". www.talkinbroadway.com. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  14. ^ Morgan, Scott C. (2009-07-01). "THEATER REVIEW Poseidon! - Windy City Times News". Windy City Times. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  15. ^ Reid, Kerry (2019-03-29). "Poseidon! is still shipshape". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  16. ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe (2022-10-27). "THE GOLDEN GIRLS: THE LOST EPISODES, THE OBLIGATORY HOLIDAY SPECIAL to be Presented by Hell in a Handbag". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  17. ^ "Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer Returns". Best Gay Chicago. 2014-11-10. Retrieved 2023-10-17.

External links

  • Hell In A Handbag Productions
  • v
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1990–1999
1991
  • Ortez Alderson
  • Jon-Henri Damski
  • James W. Flint
  • Gay Chicago
  • Renee C. Hanover
  • Howard Brown Health Center
  • Judith S. Johns
  • Carol A. Johnson
  • William B. Kelley
  • Marie J. Kuda
  • Chuck Renslow
  • Adrienne J. Smith
  • Max C. Smith
  • Richard B. Turner
1992
1993
1994
  • Robert J. Adams
  • Tracy Baim
  • George S. Buse
  • James A. Bussen
  • Lori Cannon
  • John Chester
  • Chicago House and Social Service Agency
  • Samuel F. Davis Jr.
  • Adrienne J. Goodman
  • Earnest E. Hite Jr.
  • Bruce Koff
  • Ellis B. Levin
  • Lionheart Gay Theatre Company
  • Open Hand Chicago
  • Gregory A. Sprague
  • Elizabeth E. Tocci
  • Steven F. Wakefield
1995
1996
1997
  • Toni Armstrong Jr.
  • Miguel Ayala
  • Roger Chaffin
  • James C. Darby
  • Dignity Chicago
  • Ida Greathouse
  • John Hammell
  • Rick Karlin
  • Corinne J. Kawecki
  • Larry McKeon
  • David G. Ostrow
  • Mary Ann Smith
1998
1999
2000–2009
2000
2001
2002
  • Affinity Community Services
  • Evette Cardona
  • C. C. Carter
  • Jim Gates (Chicago businessman)
  • Louis I. Lang
  • Mattachine Midwest
  • NAMES Project Chicago Chapter
  • Charles Edward Nelson II
  • Mona Noriega
  • Christina Smith
  • Lauren Sugerman
2003
  • Angel Abcede
  • About Face Theatre
  • AIDS Legal Council of Chicago
  • Buddies' Restaurant and Bar
  • Tania Callaway
  • Armand R. Cerbone
  • Chicago Black Lesbians and Gays
  • R. Sue Connolly
  • Bon Foster
  • The Graham Family
  • Tonda L. Hughes
  • Patricia M. Logue
  • John Pennycuff
  • Laurence E. Spang
  • Sheron Denise Webb
  • Albert N. Williams
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010–2019
2010
2011
  • Paul Adams
  • Greg Cameron
  • Antonia Flores
  • Grant Lynn Ford
  • Robert Garofalo
  • Good Shepherd Parish Metropolitan Community Church
  • Ted Grady
  • Marcia Hill
  • Tony Jackson
  • Jenner & Block LLP
  • Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles
  • The Night Ministry
  • Brett Shingledecker
  • Jon Simmons
2012
  • Lois L. Bates
  • Chi-Town Squares
  • Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus
  • St. Sukie de la Croix
  • Sanford E. Gaylord
  • William W. Greaves
  • Keith R. Green
  • Mark Ishaug
  • David Orr
  • Proud to Run, Chicago
  • Bill Pry
  • Chuck Rodocker
  • Heather C. Sawyer
  • Laura S. Washington
  • Honey West
2013
2014
2015
  • Jean Albright
  • Fred Eychaner
  • Emmanuel Garcia
  • Stanley Jencyzk
  • Lesbian and Gay Police Association
  • Gay Officers Action League
  • Phoenix Matthews
  • Gail Morse
  • Michael O'Connor
  • Jan Schakowsky
  • Barbara Smith
  • Camilla B. Taylor
  • Lauren Verdich
2016
2017
2020–2029
2020
2021
  • Ginni Clemmens
  • Lisa Isadora Cruz
  • Lana Hostetler
  • Thomas Hunt (activist)
  • Wayne Johnson (graphic designer)
  • Otis Mack
  • PrideChicago
  • Ralphi Rosario
  • Betty Lark Ross
  • Urban Pride
  • Kirk Williamson
    2022
  • Maya Green
  • Zahara Monique Bassett
  • Matthew Harvat
  • Paul Highfield
  • Thomas (T.L.) Noble
  • Joey Soloway
  • Dan Wolf (Chicago)
  • Windy City Performer Arts
  • Outspoken (Chicago)
  • Homocore Chicago
  • Patty the Pin Lady
  • Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center
  • Season of Concern Chicago

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