In this edition of The Monthly: The arts and entertainment editor previews Dillo Day 2018 and the year-long process it took to bring the spectacle on stage in this issue’s cover story.

Further reads: After transferring to Northwestern, a Bienen student narrates the twists and turns of finding a new identity through drag. The opinion editor discusses the issue of queer environmentalism in “Call Me by Your Name.” One of our staffers interviews “Dear Evan Hansen” director Michael Greif, while our resident food critic reviews the Lucky Platter diner for the “Open Tab” section.

JUNE

Editor’s Letter: The Voices of Dillo
Of the five artists and bands Mayfest has booked to take on the main stage on Dillo Day, only one is a woman: TOKiMONSTA, featured on this Monthly’s cover. The call for female artists in music lineups is by no means new. In fact, it has been repeatedly raised as a hot button topic by columnists at The Daily Northwestern and national publications alike, with writers describing the need for more positive female role models.
Backstage Pass: How Dillo Day 2018 Came to Life
It’s hard to close down the Northwestern libraries. They’re open in freezing temperatures, low-grade blizzards and pouring rain. Only one thing has proven effective in regularly shutting them down: Dillo Day.
Paul’s Drag Race: A Northwestern student’s twists and turns to finding a new identity
Bienen fourth-year Paul Hunter enters the room wearing black pants and a plain black shirt, looking like any other guy in his early 20s. Well, except for the purple eyebrows. Incongruous with his impeccably groomed stubble and well-shaped buzz cut, these brows clearly belong not to Hunter, but rather to his drag alter ego, Jessica Tour — a play on Juicy Couture.
Off Script: The queer environmentalism of ‘Call Me By Your Name’
I finally got around to seeing “Call Me by Your Name” a couple weeks ago. It was the first time in a while that I really felt something while watching a movie. Since then, I’ve watched it two more times — I even shelled out $15 to buy it on iTunes, which I never do — and I just can’t seem to stop thinking about it. I wouldn’t consider myself a film buff, and I’m not usually one to devote myself so wholly to movies. So why am I so obsessed with this one?
NU alum Michael Greif, of ‘Rent’ and ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’ discusses his journey from Northwestern to Broadway
Although Michael Greif (Communication ’81) may not be a household name for those who aren’t die-hard theater fans, many of the shows he’s directed have gone on to be some of the most iconic musicals in the history of Broadway, such as “Rent,” “Next to Normal” and, most recently, “Dear Evan Hansen” and “War Paint.” The four-time Tony Award nominee and Northwestern alumnus stopped to discuss his career journey with The Daily. The responses have been edited for clarity.
Open Tab: The Lucky Platter offers comfort food with a twist
The diner’s menu is perfect for a jägerbomb-battered body with a refined palate. The Lucky Platter takes your grandma’s greatest hits and adds a modern flourish. Selections range from sourdough pancakes to crab cake eggs benedict. While most menu items have some kind of unexpected ingredient added to them, there’s nothing too shocking to the taste buds: this is comfort food at its most elevated.
The Monthly is an arts and entertainment magazine that delves into student art on campus and the work of alumni in Chicago and across the country. Read past issues of The Monthly and The Daily Northwestern here.