chicago luminaries

November 17, 2020


storytellers

ANTOINE MCKAY has been acting and directing for over 20 years. He studied acting under the world famous coach, Uta Hagen, at Eastern Michigan. Mr. McKay has also been blessed to work on the Second City Main Stage in Detroit and Chicago, where he wro…

ANTOINE MCKAY has been acting and directing for over 20 years. He studied acting under the world famous coach, Uta Hagen, at Eastern Michigan. Mr. McKay has also been blessed to work on the Second City Main Stage in Detroit and Chicago, where he wrote and performed in over 20 shows. He has starred in numerous commercials and T.V. shows including: Detroit 187 (ABC), ER (NBC), Prison Break (FOX) , Sports Action Team (NBC) and in Feature films such as: “The Weatherman” with Nicholas Cage, ”Someone to Eat Cheese With” with Jeff Garland, “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” and “Osso Bucco” with Mike Starr. Antoine currently stars on the hit shows "Empire" and "Patriot", and he can be seen in "Review" on Comedy Central. His show, "Written off," in which Antoine stars as well s wrote and directed, has received awards and accoladed.

PETER SAGAL is, has been, and perhaps someday will be again, a husband, father, playwright, screenwriter, author, journalist, columnist, marathoner, Jeopardy contestant, dramaturg, podcast host, documentary host, foreign correspondent, wedding officiant, and magician's assistant. Sagal appeared as a panelist on the first broadcast of "Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!", the most listened to show in all of public radio; and he eventually became its host. He has made appearances on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" and other television shows, and he appears on a narrowly popular podcast, "Nerdette Recaps Game of Thrones with Peter Sagal", because he is a giant nerd.

TRACY BAIM is publisher and executive editor at The Reader, and formerly Windy City Media Group, which produces Windy City Times, Nightspots, and other gay media. She started in Chicago journalism in 1984 at GayLife newspaper, one month after graduating with a news-editorial degree from Drake University. She has founded several Chicago-based LGBTQ publications as well as the Pride Action Tank, which works to improve safety, health, and progress in the LGBTQ+ community. She’s written several books, and in 2005, she won the Studs Terkel Award, which honors Chicago journalists that offer new perspectives on social issues. In 2013, Baim founded the March on Springfield for Marriage Equality, and in 2014, she was inducted into the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Hall of Fame.

DAVID PASQUESI has been improvising since the early 1980s, and is half of "TJ and Dave." He wrote and performed four reviews at the Second City (Chicago); has appeared at Steppenwolf and Goodman theaters, among others; and has many TV and film credits including Lodge 49, VEEP, At Home with Amy Sedaris, Strangers with Candy, Angels and Demons, and Ice Harvest.

PATTI VASQUEZ is the host of The Patti Vasquez Show podcast, a stand up comedian, inspirational speaker, and an advocate for individuals with disabilities. Patti was born and raised in Chicago and is an internationally performing comedian. As a host, Patti quickly claimed the number 1 spot for late night radio. She has appeared as a commentator on WGN- TV Morning News and Fox Good Day Chicago. She also served as a fill-in host for WCIU’s You & Me in the Morning. Patti was recently honored by the National Museum of Mexican Art and The University Of Illinois for her contributions to art and advocacy work.

 
 

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