neverland's 'gravity' photos
photo credit // nvlnd/mauricio zapata
Chicago’s favorite high-concept theme parties return to Chicago Metro for their biggest party yet on Friday, Aug 8
Chicago, IL -
After the immense success of their "Summer Olympics" Pride Party, Neverland is excited to return to Metro Chicago for Market Days with "Gravity." This deep-space inspired, high-concept theme party promises everything you've come to expect from Neverland and more: sexy go-go dancers, far-out costumes, some amazing drag performances and an ever-evolving and growing stage and light show.
"I'm a sci-fi nerd at heart, and with the success of the Sandra Bullock movie this year, it just seemed like a no-brainer to do a deep space theme!" Co-Founder and Creative Director Anthony DiFiore told ChicagoPride.com.
Neverland's regular costume designers, Raul Redaggio and Co-Founder Martin Luna, brought in a team for this, their biggest event to date, and partygoers can expect a diverse set of looks from many talented artists. The Neverland crew is expecting lots of sexy astronauts and aliens in attendance, and maybe some retro-space getups ala Stanley Kubrick or Barbarella.
"Gravity" also inspired two pre-party photo shoots, the pictures from which are circulating the Internet as advertising and will be displayed at the event. The first featured the studio of PIlsen-based artist Bryan Sperry, whose studio DiFiore stumbled on during a Pilsen Art Walk last year. The shoot utilizes Sperry's "Warriors of the Apocalypse" -- a project involving mannequins decorated with parts found at junkyards and flea markets.
The second shoot channels the sandy, barren landscapes of foreign worlds, having been shot in a location photographer Mauricio Zapata scouted some 90 minutes from Chicago. The models and crew had to park a mile away, trespass into an abandoned area and climb an insanely steep hill to get their location -- including Kim Chi, who made the trek in full drag.
"It was nice to do a shoot in a place so far removed from people and the sounds of the city," DiFiore said. "It was very quiet and serene, but the landscape had a dark quality to it that was perfect for our theme."
Moving to Metro Chicago for Pride meant that Neverland got the chance to flex their tech muscles on a big, formal stage and the results were electrifying. Reed Rigging and RGB Lights, who created the monstrous stage design for June's party, return with plans to beef up the lighting and decor in many special ways.
Their amazing design will also be utilized for Drag Carnage, the monthly drag show put on by DiFiore and the Neverland Crew, which will take place from 9:30 - 11 p.m., right before "Gravity." Market Days will see a special, bigger-than-ever Drag Carnage featuring an all-star cast from across the country. Host Trannika Rex and locals Gia Gunn and Eddie Couture will be joined by queens from the Easy Coast (Anaol Fetale of Boston and NYC's Maddelynn Hatter), the Left Coast (San Francisco's Porcelian and Rhea Litre of LALA Land) and even the South (Adour from Houston and Nashville's The Princess).
"The best part of the show is that the queens get to use the huge stage we're building for the Neverland dance party, complete with all the special lighting effects," DiFiore said. "It will be one of the most sickening drag shows people have ever seen. We're used to drag shows in small bars—this is going to be on another level!"
Neverland is also thrilled to welcome BORIS, a legend in house music who has been the resident DJ at major clubs across the country, including Pacha, Space and Wet Republic. After hearing him spin at last year's NYC Pride Alegria party, partners DiFiore and Luna had their eyes set on showcasing his awesome talent at Neverland. Also spinning at "Gravity" is DJ Cindel, who makes his return to Neverland, having worked at last year's Pride party and this March's Queen of Hearts party at Hydrate.
Don't miss this night of deep-space exploration, pounding beats and unforgettable visuals! Neverland's unique brand of high-concept theme parties have been making waves in Chicago since their debut in 2012 and recently gained attention on the national scene when they were invited to work it out at Station Nightclub during NYC Pride and will soon be producing four Neverland parties a year for BPM, currently the largest gay nightclub in New York.
With all eyes on them, DiFiore is bringing out all the stops for "Gravity."
"This is in some ways Neverland's debutante ball, because it'll be our biggest party ever, with our biggest DJ ever, on a weekend when thousands of gays are coming in from all over the country," DiFiore told ChicagoPride.com. "People who have been following us on Facebook and Instagram but have never been to a Neverland have reached out to express how excited they are to see what we do. We're truly excited to show the U.S. how we throw a party!"
Kick off your Market Days weekend right with "Gravity" on Friday, August 8, at Metro Chicago, 3730 N Clark. If you want to avoid those surcharges, a handful of hard-copy tickets are available in Boystown at XO Studio, 3428 N Broadway, and Egoist Underwear, 3526 N Halsted, for only $40. Online tickets are also available through www.metrochicago.com for $40 pre-sale and will sold for $50 at the door. For more information check out their Facebook event and RSVP.
"I'm a sci-fi nerd at heart, and with the success of the Sandra Bullock movie this year, it just seemed like a no-brainer to do a deep space theme!" Co-Founder and Creative Director Anthony DiFiore told ChicagoPride.com.
Neverland's regular costume designers, Raul Redaggio and Co-Founder Martin Luna, brought in a team for this, their biggest event to date, and partygoers can expect a diverse set of looks from many talented artists. The Neverland crew is expecting lots of sexy astronauts and aliens in attendance, and maybe some retro-space getups ala Stanley Kubrick or Barbarella.
"Gravity" also inspired two pre-party photo shoots, the pictures from which are circulating the Internet as advertising and will be displayed at the event. The first featured the studio of PIlsen-based artist Bryan Sperry, whose studio DiFiore stumbled on during a Pilsen Art Walk last year. The shoot utilizes Sperry's "Warriors of the Apocalypse" -- a project involving mannequins decorated with parts found at junkyards and flea markets.
The second shoot channels the sandy, barren landscapes of foreign worlds, having been shot in a location photographer Mauricio Zapata scouted some 90 minutes from Chicago. The models and crew had to park a mile away, trespass into an abandoned area and climb an insanely steep hill to get their location -- including Kim Chi, who made the trek in full drag.
"It was nice to do a shoot in a place so far removed from people and the sounds of the city," DiFiore said. "It was very quiet and serene, but the landscape had a dark quality to it that was perfect for our theme."
Moving to Metro Chicago for Pride meant that Neverland got the chance to flex their tech muscles on a big, formal stage and the results were electrifying. Reed Rigging and RGB Lights, who created the monstrous stage design for June's party, return with plans to beef up the lighting and decor in many special ways.
Their amazing design will also be utilized for Drag Carnage, the monthly drag show put on by DiFiore and the Neverland Crew, which will take place from 9:30 - 11 p.m., right before "Gravity." Market Days will see a special, bigger-than-ever Drag Carnage featuring an all-star cast from across the country. Host Trannika Rex and locals Gia Gunn and Eddie Couture will be joined by queens from the Easy Coast (Anaol Fetale of Boston and NYC's Maddelynn Hatter), the Left Coast (San Francisco's Porcelian and Rhea Litre of LALA Land) and even the South (Adour from Houston and Nashville's The Princess).
"The best part of the show is that the queens get to use the huge stage we're building for the Neverland dance party, complete with all the special lighting effects," DiFiore said. "It will be one of the most sickening drag shows people have ever seen. We're used to drag shows in small bars—this is going to be on another level!"
Neverland is also thrilled to welcome BORIS, a legend in house music who has been the resident DJ at major clubs across the country, including Pacha, Space and Wet Republic. After hearing him spin at last year's NYC Pride Alegria party, partners DiFiore and Luna had their eyes set on showcasing his awesome talent at Neverland. Also spinning at "Gravity" is DJ Cindel, who makes his return to Neverland, having worked at last year's Pride party and this March's Queen of Hearts party at Hydrate.
Don't miss this night of deep-space exploration, pounding beats and unforgettable visuals! Neverland's unique brand of high-concept theme parties have been making waves in Chicago since their debut in 2012 and recently gained attention on the national scene when they were invited to work it out at Station Nightclub during NYC Pride and will soon be producing four Neverland parties a year for BPM, currently the largest gay nightclub in New York.
With all eyes on them, DiFiore is bringing out all the stops for "Gravity."
"This is in some ways Neverland's debutante ball, because it'll be our biggest party ever, with our biggest DJ ever, on a weekend when thousands of gays are coming in from all over the country," DiFiore told ChicagoPride.com. "People who have been following us on Facebook and Instagram but have never been to a Neverland have reached out to express how excited they are to see what we do. We're truly excited to show the U.S. how we throw a party!"
Kick off your Market Days weekend right with "Gravity" on Friday, August 8, at Metro Chicago, 3730 N Clark. If you want to avoid those surcharges, a handful of hard-copy tickets are available in Boystown at XO Studio, 3428 N Broadway, and Egoist Underwear, 3526 N Halsted, for only $40. Online tickets are also available through www.metrochicago.com for $40 pre-sale and will sold for $50 at the door. For more information check out their Facebook event and RSVP.
