Queer New York

QNY Recommends Amanda Lepore

2012-02-03T04:00:00.000-05:00

As always, she's doin' it her way! QNY will be bringing you news about Amanda in the near future.

Don't Miss The Next BLOWOFF

2012-02-02T10:47:00.001-05:00

For more info.

QNY Recommends Cazwell & Peaches

2012-02-02T04:00:00.000-05:00

Unzip Cazwell? Well, sure. QNY will be bringing you news about Cazwell in the near future.

Grand Opening of "Rockit Fridays" at XL

2012-02-01T16:25:00.001-05:00

words & images: Miguel Dominguez

Gio and Avi

On January 27th, Brandon Voss andTony Fornabaio’s Rockit Fridays had a grandopening at XL Nightclub, the latest nightlifedestination by FV Events and John Blair Promotions. Located inside the Hell'sKitchen gay urban resort, The Out NYC (512 West 42nd Street,) this enjoyable weeklyevent—with wall to wall cuties, muscle boys, and the “Fire Hazard”bartenders—takes place in a dance and party space with a 2400-seat cabaret andlounge catering to hotel guests and the queer community.

Angel and Louie

This was the early crowd. By the time the show started, there were hunks hanging by the rafters

Tony Fornabaio with "A-List NY" star and photographer Mike Ruiz and Hubby-to-be Martin Berusch

Ebony Excell, The hostess
with the mostest

"A-List NY" star Reichen, looking more gorgeous than ever

Epiphany Get Paid, MC of the evening

The amazing Jonte. So much appreciated by his fans, that they kept asking me throughout the evening what time he would be performing

Amanda Lepore strutting her stuff in a "Las Vegas" worthy performance

XL Cabaret is designed to properlyshowcase the incredible talent found within New Yorkʼs theater, music and cabaret community. It features aprofessional stage custom built for live performance with state-of-the-artsound and a multimedia system.

Joshua Bailey, Steffen kruz, Karmela Lozina, George Perez, Alexander Asimi

Paris Gotti, Mona and Angel K

Adam Remz with Sherry Vine

Artist Scooter LaForge, famed for
his hand painted T-shirts and accessories,
wearing one of his creations

Jamie Branagh sandwiched between DJ Xavier Mazara
and his manager Matthew Poitras

Another great example of the many "Fire Hazards"
kept contained behind the 3 bars at XL

Amanda's parting shot

To see more images of this event, go to my facebook photo albums page

united in anger - trailer

2012-02-01T08:35:00.001-05:00

a new documentary called United in Anger: A History of ACT UP opens the moma's documentary film festival on february 16th. click on the link for the film's website for trailer and tickets information.

United in Anger - Link

Author Edmund White Has Had A Stroke

2012-02-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

By Tony Adams

Two months after writer Edmund White suffered a stroke, he and his partner Michael carroll talk to me about how that stroke has altered their life. This is my report for 10thousandcouples.com. I like these two men immensely.

The writers Edmund White and Michael Carroll said, “We have not discussed it. We are not big on discussion. Everything is a tacit discussion.”

Such was their first response to the suggestion that White’s having suffered a stroke might have upset their 17-year partnership, enduring companionship, and deep affection for each other—a mutual devotion that rings clearly between the lines of their description of the medical emergency and its aftermath.

Read the rest of the report.

QNY Recommends Adam Tyler

2012-02-01T04:00:00.000-05:00

QNY will be bringing you news about Adam Tyler in the near future. Here's his "Like A Drug" video.

Nick & Nicky

2012-02-01T00:05:00.001-05:00

Words & images: Miguel Dominguez

Actor/Playwright Patrick Askin with supporter Charles Leslie, of Leslie Lohman Museum

On January 19th, at the Leslie Lohman Museum, a reading of the delightful play Nick & Nicky, a very amusing spoof on the sophisticated Hollywood comedies of the 30s, overwhelmingly populated with queer stereotypes and including a gay wedding finale, was presented with the goal of finding a producer and investors, with the possibility of making the script into a movie.

Brian Tweedy and Patrick Askin, who played the soon to be wedded, happy couple

Opera singer Aliya Kamenshikov as a Russian temptress. Derek Flics, Devon Talbott and Frederick Meyer who were superb reading multiple roles. Barbara Rosenblat makes cops likable.

Golden boy Theis Weckesser as Trevor with Anna Lise Jensen as his chum Babs. Julie Berndt, Nicky's society mom. Martin Ewens, who read multiple roles. Adrienne Opalka, plot continuation reader

Actor/playwright Patrick Askin had the role of sleuth Nick with Brian Tweedy as his younger, filthy rich, husband-to-be Nicky. Both shine in the two major roles as the wittily sarcastic couple, helped by a hefty leg up from actress Barbara Rosenblat as the diesel-tough New York police detective, Margery Schwartz. The plot also included a large assortment of bitchy and poisonous queens (the best kind of camp, in my opinion), most of them excellently portrayed by actors Devon Talbott and Frederick Meyer, reading multiple roles. Julie Berndt as Nicky’s Mom delivered a very credible “lady who lunches.”

With the rest of the ensemble cast expertly adding to the frothiness required by the script, I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

Playwright: Patrick Askin
Director: Richard Sabellico

Cast: Aliya Kamenshikov • Derek Flics • Devon Talbott • Frederick Meyer • Barbara Rosenblat • Brian Tweedy • Patrick Askin • Theis Weckesser • Anna Lise Jensen • Julie Berndt • Martin Ewens • Adrienne Opalka

Too see more images of this event, go to my facebook photo albums page.

New York Ladies With Advanced Style

2012-01-31T19:29:00.002-05:00

See Tom Judson (Porn Star Gus Mattox) Tomorrow!

2012-01-31T16:29:00.001-05:00

(I saw him perform in Key West. He'll be at the Metropolitan Room on Wednesday Feb 1st. Get your tickets here.)

When I checked in at Island House, Key West’s fabulousclothing optional gay guesthouse, on December 17^th, owner Jon Allen supplieda ticket to see QNY fave Tom Judson perform that evening on stage at the Tropic Cinema.Jon, who is on the Tropic’s board and is working to get more live gayentertainment in Key West, was also hosting singer/composer/author/Broadwayperformer Judson—aka ex-porn starGus Mattox—at Island House which made the prospect of lounging poolside evenmore attractive. His cabaret-styleperformance that night was a delightful surprise that unleashed the talent andcharming personality of a man known to many of us only by the sweat of his browin the course of his successful two-year gay porn career. Next morning, atpoolside breakfast, I had a chance to get acquainted with Judson who, at aboyish 51 years of age, is attractive, happy, energetic and enjoying a “fourthact” that is really a return to his prepornular musical career. (There was alsoa stint as a house renovator/flipper.)

When I asked him to describe “The Tom Judson Show” in termsof his experience and collaborative decisions about what elements of his pastto include or emphasize, he said, “It feels like I've done just about everythingin showbiz that one can do.

"I’ve sung and danced on Broadway, acted in straightplays, written music for film and television, served as musicaldirector/arranger for other performers. You name it. But one genre that hadsomehow escaped me was "cabaret artiste", so I thought the time wasripe. Michael Schiralli who directs many of the top cabaret performers in NYC agreedto work with me on the show and we put it together last spring. I tried it outone night at a downtown NYC venue I'm associated with and then I spent thesummer in Provincetown doing double-duty with my own show and playing for VarlaJean Merman. Since the summer, I've had a few gigs with the show and tried outnew material in each of them.”

The show includes a Hoagie Carmichael-style “Guess who wrotethis” song that is arrestingly beautiful. I suspected Cole Porter and wasamazed to learn it was one of Judson’s compositions. While he sang it at thepiano, my memory of the naked harnassed muscular Gus Mattox in a writhingerotic tableau was entirely replaced by the tuxedoed entertainer with a wistfulvoice and skillful hands at the keyboard. I still had to ask him about his decision to strip down to his underwearin the course of the show. He laughed and said, “Hah! I suppose ‘pandering’would be a fair description. The stripping down was merely a nod to theProvincetown audiences and their expectations. There was more of it there, infact. I'm happy to say quite a few people told me they thought it wasn'tnecessary. It's a very brief (sorry!) moment in the show now and that's stayedin mostly for my own amusement.” Not knowing many 51-year olds who look as goodas Judson in their skivvies, I asked him how he maintains his physique. Hesaid, “Flatterer. Thank you. I wish I could say I have a trick but it's nothingmore than diet and exercise. When I have shows scheduled I try to stick to a2000 calorie per day diet and a 3-4 days per week exercise routine and 7 days aweek cardio program. B-O-R-I-N-G, I'm afraid. But as I say in the show, knowingI'll be on stage in my underwear is the

best incentive in the world.”

Without specifically mentioning his sojourn in porn, I askedJudson if he had any regrets about his past. He said, “Not a regret in my body.Niente! Nada! Yes, I had a great tragedy in life when I lost my husband, Bruce.

But even taking that into account I have had the mostwonderful, interesting fulfilling life I can imagine. And I'm just getting started! It seemsmy life has undergone a major change every 10 years, and since I was born in1960 those usually coincide with the new decade. In my 20s I considered myself principallya composer/lyricist. In my 30s I added performing to the mix. My 40s broke thattrend when I ended up on Broadway, and then

became quite successful in gay porn as Gus Mattox, along theway becoming a published writer and trying my hand at renovating and flippinghouses in the real estate market. Now in my early 50s I seem to be back to performing.I guess I fit the definition of a true dilettante because I seem to enjoy mostwhatever I'm doing at the moment. Right now it feels like cabaret is the mostnatural thing in the world for me to be doing. I'm having a ball at it.”

While I managed to get into his head, I am sorry to reportthat I did not get into his underwear. I was eager to know who currently mightbe enjoying that honor. He tells me he is newly single and not in love. Havingrecently ended a two-year relationship, he is wondering if he is better offsolo. Legion are the fans of Tom Judson who will want the chance to challengethat thought.

Get his book Laid Bare(which is a collection of his fine essays) on Amazon.com, follow him at www.tomjudson.com,and see his show at New York’s Metropolitan Room on February 1st!

Win Free Tickets to HOW TO SUCCEED...With Joe Jonas!

2012-01-31T10:50:00.000-05:00

Dying to see a Broadway show but don't have the cash? Let Queer New York give you a helping hand.

Just enter our Free Ticket Contest for the current Broadway smash revival of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying and all your problems will be solved! Well, maybe not all. Some may still require you to visit your local Duane Reade, but that's your business.

Two lucky readers can win a pair of tickets. To enter, write a comment on this post noting your favorite musical of all time, maybe include an anecdote about why you love it or a memorable performance that you've seen. The winners will be choosen at random and the announcement will be made here one week from today, on February 7th. Good luck!

See below for more information and additional opportunities for discount tickets!

Nick Jonas, teen star of The Jonas Brothers, is now on Broadway! Follow his riotous rise up the corporate ladder as he struggles to juggle the promotion, the corner office and —of course—the girl.

Joining him are Emmy Award® winner Beau Bridges, (Brothers and Sisters, The Fabulous Baker Boys) and Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) in this charming production that The New Yorker calls “a first-rate, high-stepping musical! This show is luminous!”

We hope you are the winner, but if not, here's how you can still save nearly 40% on tickets!

Now through February 29 get $77 tickets (reg. $132) for Orchestra/Front Mezz seats. Beginning March 1 through April 1 get $87 tickets (reg. $132) for Orchestra/Front Mezz seats. Use the code HSFAN105 at Broadwayoffers.com.
Website: http://www.HowToSucceedBroadway.com/HSFAN105.php

*Restrictions and blackout dates may apply. Can not be combined with any offer. Offer may be revoked at anytime.

in the garment district

2012-01-31T09:47:00.001-05:00

a bolt of fabric amongst the tweed in a garment district shop window.

metropolitan opera house

2012-01-22T17:56:00.000-05:00

Tommy Greco’s Double Party for Yetta and Mark

2012-01-13T17:47:00.033-05:00

words & images: Miguel Dominguez

Mark Schulte and Yetta Kurland, the two recipients of the night's festivities

On January 10th, queer community luminary Tommy Greco, owner of The Ritz Bar & Lounge, had a fundraiser for Yetta Kurland who is running again for City Council District 3 in Manhattan. Yetta ran in 2009 and got a whopping 32% of the votes cast. Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who won the election and currently represents Greenwich Village, Chelsea and Hells Kitchen—New York's queer nightlife mecca—will be term-limited out. Unless of course she votes to extend term limits again!

Yetta and Tommy having a very good time.

Because it was also the birthday of my sweetheart of a friend Mark Schulte, social tell-all at the former HX magazine, Tommy decided to piggyback on Mark’s occasion and make the night an even bigger event.

An unexpected "Thank You" kiss from Mark, catches Tommy Greco by surprise

Chelsea Democrats President Eugene Globerman exhorting Yetta's qualities for office, as she reflects on his praise

Leslie Lohman Museum representative Jerry Kajpust and B'day boy Mark, flank cutie Brian Delshad

Yetta in the center, surrounded by supporters

Tommy generously supplied some very fine wines and spirits from his lounge’s cellar. John Greco, a graduate chef from the Culinary Institute of America and owner of restaurants Philip Marie, 1 2 3 Burger Shot Beer and Bamboo 52 and as well as Posh Bar & Lounge, and as much a luminary as his brother Tommy in his support for the queer community, provided the delicious hors d'oeurves.

Stacy Ledwith, Valerie Perez, Monica Maciel and Danielle Stanziale having a great time

Mark appropriates Alan Anderson

I hope readers who live in the Hell‘s Kitchen, Chelsea and Greenwich Village neighborhoods will support Yetta's campaign. Mark couldn’t receive a better present than having Yetta represent his district on the City Council, and any contribution you can make will be much appreciated.

Beautiful Yvonne Shirles showing off a pair of her best assets (being queer, I am referring to her shoes and not her gloriously shaped legs, of course). With those "Madam Librarian" glasses, doesn't she looks like the perfectly sexy, Hollywood movie secretary?

Revelers John Ciro, Joe Mode and Todd A. Carroll

Khemiras Singh and Marissa Madonia

Many happy returns to you, Mark!

Too see more images of this event, go to my facebook photo albums page.

Outside People

2012-01-10T22:54:00.000-05:00

"Outside People" at Vineyard Theatre, January 7, 2012

Posted by Mondschein

Playwright Zayd Dohrn brings another tale of a stranger in a strange land to the NY stage with his Outside People.

It's an earnest and awkward effort, much like its main character, Malcolm (Matt Dellapina), a recent college graduate with no job or direction in his life. His former roommate David, (Nelson Lee) has returned to his native China to start his own business. He flies Malcolm over to work for his company as repayment for Malcolm's kindness to his when they were students.

David arranges a date for Malcolm upon his arrival with Xiao Mei (Li Jun Li), whose murky connection to David clears up a little obviously as the true nature of David's business is revealed.

Mr. Dohrn treads very similar ground to this season's Chinglish on Broadway, but without the laughs or the interesting characters. Also similar to Chinglish are several scenes in Chinese, yet the audience doesn't get the benefit of super-title translations at the Vineyard. The tone certainly come through with the tone of voice and inflection, but it's a particularly frustrating experience if there are audience members who actually do understand Chinese. Ultimately, Mr. Dohrn cuts through several old stereotypes while managing to support some new ones.

The cast does their best to give depth to their characters, but the writing is a little thin for them to accomplish much. Director Evan Cabnet continues the trend of music loudly underscoring scene changes completed by the cast with no originality in sight. Ben Stanton's combination set borrows a bit from Allen Moyers' 2006 design for Little Dog Laughed.

In the end, it's an unremarkable production performed by competent actors. Outside People runs through January 29. Get tickets here.

David Jarrett’s Seminal Art Collection

2012-01-08T15:13:00.039-05:00

words & images: Miguel Dominguez

David Jarrett sitting under Li Ming Shun's "Untitled, model Chen"

I consider David Jarrett’s collection of male figurative art to be museum quality. The only other collection I would think is its equal, is located at the Leslie Lohman Museum. No surprise that David Jarrett had been chairman of the advisory committee, which was dissolved in the spring of 2010 at the former Leslie Lohman Gay Art Foundation. He’s got the eye of a professional curator. He also writes articles on male figurative art for the Leslie Lohman Museum's Archive Quarterly Journal and occasionally exhibits some of his photography on their premises.

Victor Gadino's superb drawing recalls the masters of the Renaissance. "Resurrection" by William Newhouse

He used to keep his world class collection at three separate locations; his condo in South Beach, his apartment in New York, and his recently sold house in Provincetown. Now he has decided to tear down the wall between his place in SoBe and the adjacent apartment which he also owns, so that he can turn it into a private gallery to house his momentarily homeless Ptown collection. The whole project should be finished by late fall.

"Navigation" by Joe Radoccia

Gene Thornton's "Moon Over Mateo" and "Encounter at Kitty Hawk" next to Matthew Stradling's "Silken Light"

Robert Bliss' haunting portrait of a young man followed by a wonderful full body also by him

Daniel Malisky painting and Campbell Paxton bronze "Eros Hermes". Stained glass art by unknown California artist

"The Fall" by Joe Radoccia and "Summerhouse Boy" by Cornelius McCarthy

David Jarrett with Valentin Bakardjiev's "Night"

I had the privilege of being invited to see and photograph his NY collection—a tiny one, when compared to the amount of art that will soon be housed in SoBe. There he told me he insists on having his art framed almost exclusively by The House of Heydenryk, a New York company which is one of the two top master custom art framers in North America and whose frames hang in the White House & museums such as The National Gallery & Metropolitan Museum of Art. How demanding can an art collector be!?

For his latest acquisition—Valentin Bakardjiev's "Night"—David invited me along with a group of friends to visit The House of Heydenryk, where David Mandel, its president, did a very comprehensive presentation in the ins and outs of custom framing. It was a wonderful learning experience.

Relatively Speaking

2012-01-03T19:06:00.001-05:00

"Relatively Speaking" at Brooks Atkinson Theatre, December 20, 2011

Posted by Mondschein

As the graphic indicates, this is an evening of 3 unrelated one-act plays.

First up, Talking Cure by Ethan Coen. Mr. Coen, you make very interesting movies. Please return when you have an interesting play to show us. Of all the work I have seen you produce for the stage (Offices, Almost an Evening), none have met that category yet.

Second, George is Dead by Elaine May. Coming across as Ms. May's version of Neil Simon, this is the better constructed piece. Doreen (Marlo Thomas) turns up on Carla's (Lisa Emery) doorstep late one night announcing the news that George (Doreen's husband) is dead. We soon learn that Carla is the daughter of Doreen's childhood nanny, and that Doreen remains a child in more ways than one ought at her age. Carla, shoved into the role of nanny, succumbs and takes charge making arrangements.

Ms. Emery makes a valiant effort as Doreen's foil. Ms. Thomas' Doreen seems to have been written (certainly costumed and styled) for Kathie Lee Gifford. She wheedles and whines, sharing an analogy of conversations as "underwear stories" where she gets bored halfway through and stops paying attention. It feels as though Ms. May did the same.

Third, Honeymoon Motel by Woody Allen. Mr. Allen starts with an interesting premise, then gives up and resorts to Catskill-comedy style one-liners for each character to mug.

Santo Loquasto crams a lot of scenery onstage for these three unrelated productions, each exceeding their source material.

It's hardly an auspicious directorial debut for John Turturro. Perhaps he was distracted by his own preparation for his appearance in CSC's Cherry Orchard. Perhaps he was merely underwhelmed by the poor material he'd been enlisted to stage.

Relatively Speaking is on an open-ended run.

window on the world

2012-01-02T16:43:00.000-05:00

A Year Ago Today

2011-12-27T21:03:00.006-05:00

Via The West Side Rag, one year ago today, Central Park was the recipient of 20 inches of snow. Remember that?

(photo: Central Park Conservancy)

Fire and Ice: Prometheus and Zamboni-man

2011-12-25T21:54:00.000-05:00

Immediately after my early morning Bergdorf's photo-fun in early December, I continued south on 5th Avenue to see The Tree, sans throngs of Christmas pilgrims. Like the Bethesda Fountain at midnight or Times Square during Hurricane Irene, the enveloping silence during these magical moments of missing frenetic movement allows New York's other, less celebrated personality some breathing-room. Equal and opposite to the crush of happy tourists and the rush of impatient natives, here at the the intersection of art and architecture, Christmas and commerce, man and machine, sometimes the hush of contemplation is the loudest voice.

Note: The NYT just ran a beautiful profile of the man who has done this job with dignity and discipline for 20 years.

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

2011-12-18T21:34:00.000-05:00

"On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" at St. James Theatre, December 15, 2012

Post by Mondschein

Why?

Why change the focus of the story from Daisy, now David (David Turner) to the psychologist Mark (Harry Connick, Jr.)

Why hire Mr. Connick to perform on Broadway and not let him do what he does best? Did none of the producers and/or creative team see Pajama Game? "Hernando's Hideaway" turned that show on its ear, combined with the infused chemistry playing opposite Kelli O'Hara. We get neither here.

Why not have him accompany Melinda's (Jessie Mueller) numbers, particularly "Ev'ry Night at Seven," among several others of which could have been beefed up to accommodate him.

Why give him book scenes that really require an actor? He's a singer, not an actor. Even here, he's not even trying. He might as well be texting the performance in from his dressing room. He sings solidly, but that, too, comes across as uninspired.

Why did he stick with this show? It's painfully obvious that he'd rather be somewhere else. Is he working his own slowdown in hopes of closing it before his contract expires? That would seem remarkably inconsistent from his last outing.

Why take what was a questionable property and re-write the story to a period when the concept of homosexuality was still highly controversial? If the idea is to ignore the doctor's struggle over the fact that the woman he loves is in the body of a man, shouldn't it be in a time when that isn't such a struggle? There's no reason why Melinda had to be David's most immediate past life. Why not hire a book writer with a stronger gay sensibility like Douglas Carter Beane or Richard Greenberg?

Why does David literally and completely disappear in the flashback scenes, except for "You're All the World to Me?" That number was the only one that really worked, thanks to the rare, effective bit of choreography by Joann M. Hunter.

Why is the rest of the musical staging such a series of park and barks?

Why wasn't David more adorable? Drew Gehling's Warren came across much better. Why was David's BFF Muriel (Sarah Stiles) so obnoxiously written and performed?

Why take such a wonderful song like "What Did I Have That I Don't Have" and reduce it to a single punchline sung by David? Why waste the talent of Kerry O'Malley? Why not give it to Sharone (Ms. O'Malley) as she gets more involved in Mark's apparent self-destructive actions, rather than the disrespectful nod of acknowledgement she gets from the secretary late in Act II.

Why waste the talents of Catherine Zuber on such a fashion-deficient era as the '70s? If that's the look, Mr. Producer, save your cash.

Why?

Two Great Albums by Singer-Songwriters With a Christmasy Song on Them

2011-12-18T15:27:00.000-05:00

By West Village Bill

If it were possible, I'd have worn a digital groove in my iPhone listening to the great new albums by Matt Alber and David Mead over and over again.

I really enjoyed Alber's first album, Hide Nothing, and his second, Constant Crows, is a very successful follow-up. It starts off with the fantastic "Velvet Goldmine," whose second verse mentions Christmasy things like letting it snow, tinsel, and angels getting wings. And he sings Who-ish syllables toward the end of the song, after the listener has been swallowed up in gorgeous strings and horns.

Another favorite song from the album is "Brother Moon," a fun and sweet number Matt performs with his brother, Bryce. I had assumed that was who his singing partner was and confirmed it by asking Matt on Facebook. Look at me doing original reporting for this review. :-)

The river in question from the title of the second song on the album isn't named until the last three syllables. Read all about it here, if you're a geography buff. It's the longest river in North America but only the 13th largest in terms of discharge of water because it drains from rather dry parts of the U.S. and Canada.

Other highlights are the beautifully produced "Wallingford" and a fantastic cover of Madonna's "Take a Bow" that ends the album.

A couple of quibbles: I would have welcomed some more uptempo songs—after "Brother Moon," the rest of the album is decidedly slow—and some more songs period. There are only 10.

But I'm happy to have this new material from Matt, and I'll definitely try to catch him when he performs in New York in 2012.

***

Even though most of the songs are bro-centric, there's quite a bit of variety in the subject matter of the lyrics on Mead's Dudes. There's a tune about a guy who comes out of the closet with the help of a dude named Bob, whom he meets at a bar called The Golden Knob ("Guy on Guy"). One about hanging out with a couple of old guys* who talk shit while playing bocce ball and drinking beer ("Bocce Ball"). And a saxaphone-rific number about the "King of the Crosswords."

The opener, "I Can't Wait," gets the album off to an invigorating start. And "No One Roxx This Town" is as fun as it sounds like it ought to be.

"Tell Me What I Gotta Do," "Don't Forget," and the title song are beautiful, contemplative songs, as is the heartbreaking Christmas tune, which has the very unexpected title "The Smile of Rachael Ray." "TSORR" has gotten some well-deserved publicity thanks to being named NPR's Song of the Day on Wednesday and to Ray's appreciation of the song.

*At first, I pictured these dudes as being a bunch of Jewish alter kockers** because one is named Sol and says "Oi vai." But after listening to the lyrics some more, I realized there are only two guys, and the other one is an Italian named Vito who has agita from eating eggplant parmigiana.

**I love that the mascot for this Yiddish glossary site is a yarmulke-wearing basset named Howard.

Note: Mead has also just released an album of five more Christmas songs called Instant December. I like the three tracks that can be heard here; I'm not sure what the other two are.

Crossposted at Hawleyblog

Theater Review: Lysistrata Jones

2011-12-16T14:57:00.000-05:00

By David

Lysisrata Jones, the new musical on Broadway that opened on Thursday, is quite possibly the most fun I've had in a theater in quite some time. This is geniune, Grade A, frothy musical exhuberance.

First a warning: If you want serious, genre-redefining musical theatre realism, do not under any circumstances see this show. If, however, you are looking for sheer escapism, a cast chock full of talented eye candy of both genders, and don't mind a storyline that you can see a mile off (not that it matters), then run don't walk to the Walter Kerr Theatre and get your tickets. Actually, I don't know why I said that. Go on-line like everyone else and get your tickets. But you know what I meant.

The musical is loosely based on the Greek comedy The Lysistrata by Aristophanes in which women endeavor to stop an endless war by withholding sex from the men of Athens. Instead of war, here we have the basketball team of Athens University, captained by the hunky Mick (Josh Segarra), that has not won a game in decades, and their cheerleader counterparts, led by the spunky transfer student Lyssie J (Patti Murin) that decide to withhold sex until they do.

What makes this show tick, in addition to the winning performances that I will get to shortly, is the whip-smart book by Douglas Carter Beane that peppers the dialogue with contemporary references that appear to be updated hourly. Especially in our modern age of instant news, it is dangerous to try and insert current events into a theater piece, as the shelf life is painfully brief. But here the riffs on Twitter, the Kardashains and iPhones thankfully land with a bounce rather than a thud. The lyrics don't always fair as well, as it is harder to update a song couplet than a one-liner. Also, the cardinal sin of predictable rhymes sometimes comes to the fore. But Lewis Flinn, the shows composer/lyricist, mostly keeps things fresh and his catchy, if not always memorable, tunes pop and sizzle in the ear and make the most of the wonderfully big sound that this cast generates.

So, about that cast. Led by Murin and Segarra, who are charming, attractive and excellent comic performers, the tight group of eleven youngsters has a marvelous ensemble feel. The other basketball team members are Alexander Aguilar ('Uardo), Ato Blankson-Wood (Tyllis), Teddy Toye (Harold) and Alex Wyse (Cinesias). Filling out the cheerleader outfit (heh heh) are Katie Boren (Lampito), Kat Nejat (Cleonice) and LaQuet Sharnell (Myrrhine). The two "outsiders" at the school are the brainy feminist (Robin) played by the phenomenal Lindsay Nicole Chambers, and the introverted activist (Xander) played by the brilliant Jason Tam. If you haven't guessed, these two were my favorites. Rounding out the cast is the diva-licious Liz Mikel as Hetaira, the goddess/muse/one-woman Greek chorus.

What really sells this show, in addition to the book, is the energy and talent of the cast. I've singled a few out for high praise but there is not a dud among this crew. The show's characters could easily fall into caricature, as on the surface they are all archetypes of some kind or other. But the performers are deft with Beane's quips and give poignancy to their characters and the plights they encounter. They are also indefatigable as they dance, shoot hoops and belt out the numbers.

Of course, none of this would exist without the expert direction and choreography of Dan Knechtges. The energy on the stage never lulls yet it is never manic. The balance is always in check and Knechtges keeps you involved and drawn into the story. He recognizes how to inject pathos without flattening the pace and the dance numbers, particularly the ones that incorporate basketball, are visual chocolate cake. He is supported by a fabulous and extremely clever design team with sets by Allen Moyer, costumes by Thomas Charles LeGalley and David C. Woolard, lighting by Michael Gottlieb, and sound by Tony Meola.

This is joyous musical theater at its most infectious. If you want to laugh yourself hoarse and leave the theater with a grin on your face, this is your show.

we want a better america

2011-12-15T02:31:00.001-05:00

Perry Brass: 12 Seductive Gifts for Christmas

2011-12-12T11:32:00.001-05:00

Image courtesy of MySpace.

“Santa baby, slip a sable under the tree, for me.”

I know Christmas is a drag. There are all these rituals you have to do, like office parties and get-togethers with people you’d rather not get together with, and presents you have to accept from your Aunt Yetta that came either from the bargain basement section of Filene’s Basement (sad, ain’t it that F’s B is going out of business: what will Yetta do?), or the aisles of Walmart, when what you really want to do is . . . of course, get laid.

I mean, like who wouldn’t want to spend the holidays in bed with a gorgeous guy? Is there any red-blooded American who’d feel differently? Even gorgeous straight guys want to spend the holidays in bed with a gorgeous guy—namely themselves—if they could find the right person to accompany that idea.

So, with this in mind, I have solicited my own humpy Santa to come up with 12 scrumptious presents for the 12 days of Christmas. You can tailor this list a bit and cut it down to 8 for the 8 days of Hanukah, but the idea is basically the same: unwrapping something that foreplays further unwrapping. And all of this comes from the author of The Manly Art of Seduction , so of course I know what a seductive present should be like.

1) A book of poems. Start here. A good book would be something like Walt Whitman, Shakespeare, or Perry Brass (The Lover of My Soul , which has a genuinely seductive poem called “The Man Sucked Me Off in San Francisco”; who could ask for anything more?), or Gavin Dillard, the Naked Poet. You can find these books and more at most lgbt bookstores, or even Barnes and Noble. But I prefer you patronize your own seductive neighborhood booksmith. Now, after you unwrap the poems, read them in bed. And if he has a favorite poem, read it to him between recitals of licking him all over.

2) A black cashmere sweater. Nothing looks better on a man, aside from chest hair, than black cashmere. My favorite cashmere sweaters come from Brooks Brothers (it’s a fatal weakness; I admit it). But you can get other cashmere variations at J. Crew or some discount place (OK, back to Filenes, but they’re going under . . . ). The point is, as soon as it comes out the box, put it on him and nothing else. Few things look as good on any guys as just a black cashmere sweater. Now, if you can’t/won’t spring for cashmere, then get a black merino wool sweater, but I have to warn you: anything other than cashmere may make his nipples become erect fast. Golly. How awful. But isn’t that the reason hot Guido-type guys have been wearing tight sweaters with nothing under them since the time of Michelangelo?

3) Chocolate. Chocolate is always great to nibble on, especially when it’s cut with vodka, gin, Irish whiskey, or even a dash of rum. You can do this several ways: I prefer dark, dark chocolate. I mean like midnight dark. Put a piece of it in the bottom of a glass, and then add a dash of good gin, a few ice cubes, and swizzle it all around. Do this next to a fireplace (with fire in it), or on a bed, while he’s wearing his black cashmere sweater.

4) A massage. Spend a little money on a nice Christmas card, and inside include a note that you will next give him a great, one-hour-long massage. Now, here’s the good part: you will either do it by yourself, or you’ll get help. And this is where the perfect Christmas gift comes in. Because you can select who will be helping you. It can be either a professional masseur, or a semi-pro one who’s unlicensed but knows how to give a guy a good time. The important thing is that with a massage you don’t have to worry about getting the size right, or it hanging around too long after Christmas, like you do with Aunt Yetta’s presents. Hint: use massage oil that gets warmer the more you rub it. Or, a flavored massage oil. Both of these oils are available in places like The Pleasure Chest.

5) Tobacco. I know, your man doesn’t smoke—but even men who don’t smoke often will indulge in a good cigar. So buy him a really great cigar if he’s a cigar-type guy, or several great cigars (you can get Canadian versions of Cuban cigars at many good tobaconnists). Or, for another, really interesting spin on the sheer manliness of tobacco, which has been around since the time of Queen Elizabeth I, who knew a good man when she saw one (and usually cut his head off soon after, but why quibble?) buy some exceptional-quality loose tobacco, with a bit of flavor in it, like vanilla, and use it as the basic element in a completely unique, personalized potpourri—along with dried orange peel, and a few choice spices like clove and rosemary. Put the whole thing in a nice little jar, and present it to him. He may wonder if it’s pot, but we’re going to try to keep this all legal today.

6) A shave. The barbershop shave has officially come back. It ain’t cheap: a good barber shop often charges $40 for a real shave, with a hot towel, hot lather, a facial massage, the use of a straight razor, another hot towel afterwards, and then some bracing after-shave tonic. You can scope out the barber shops near you, and ask if they’ll sell you a gift certificate for a shave: they probably will, after all it’s money in their bank until they have to do it. Or, you can shave him yourself, following the full ritual: like even do it in bed, with lots of towels covering the sheets, lots of steamy hot towels to get his pores open and his beard soft, and while he’s under the towels, you can do things to him that his barber won’t, certainly not for $40.

7) A plant. Plants are living and they bring instant oxygen and vitality into a room (ask any feng shui specialist). The good thing about giving him a plant for Christmas is that you can convince him it’s important that you take care of it, especially while he’s away. So this is a good way to ratchet up the intimacy level of any relationship without buying him a dog, which usually irritates most men the same way that revealing your pregnant might: in other words, dogs and children are too much of a commitment, but a plant's great. Big fleshy green plants like a jade bush, are good: they don’t droop and require little care. If you want to really get his juices going, get him a wild potted fern, or an orchid, especially a ladies slipper, a native American orchid associated with forests. Places like White Flower Farms sell them, and you can remind him how much you like sex in the woods.

8) A model railroad set: these are pure boy-dick toys. Inside every man is a boy rearing to come out (as a boy!) and model railroad sets are one of the chief delights of these boys. If he had one as a boy, he misses it, and if he didn’t have one, he misses it even more. You can start with just the engine, or even a few cars, and then add more pieces to it as your relationship develops. If you get him a complete set, it will have little lights on it, which look great in the dark and it’s wonderful to have sex while the trains running and the lights are twinkling. Even better than a Christmas tree.

9) A uniform: guys love uniforms, and few things make a man either horny or ready to play than one. You can get them at Army-Navy stores, or even some leather shops (my favorite being a NY state cop uniform done solely in leather). Put the uniform (Navy, Army, fireman, night watchman, Boy Scout, whatever) in a box, put a ribbon on it, and then after he opens it, ask him to close his eyes and put it on him yourself. Things will heat up faster the surface of Mars after a solar storm.

10) A bandana set: a lot cheaper than black cashmere, but, hey, some of us are on budgets this year, just like some of us are on diets. You can get a bandana set also at most Army-Navy stores, or even at K-Mart, and there are so many cunning things you can do with bandanas, like use them for blindfolds, light bondage equipment, and genital restraints (OK, cockrings). But the nice thing about them is that you can use them anyplace, take them to your Aunt Yetta’s on a visit (if you have to do that), and she’ll just say “What nice colors, all these bandanas!”

11) A vibrator. OK, here we get interesting: every guy likes getting a vibrator just like every boy and the man he’ll grow up into likes getting model train sets. But vibrators are extremely personal, and what suits one man may not suit another. So, I would suggest you start with a small one that would work nicely externally. In other words—don’t try this at home with a vibrator he might insert in some place that could malfunction and cause him a trip to an emergency room. Get him a small massage-type vibrator which you can use on him, rather than something more “anatomical” looking that can end up causing him trouble. (Emergency room workers are full of stories of guys who’ve had these damn things stuck “up there” and had to have them extracted on an operating room table.) However, as a toy for two, vibrators are excellent, and are certainly as entertaining and relaxing as a good shave.

12) Dolls. Guys love dolls, especially boy dolls. Many gay-friendly stores carry boy dolls—my two favs are Gay Billy and Gay Carlos—some of them anatomically-incorrect (in other words, hung like Shetland ponies rather than real men, but that’s part of their play element). However, as a really seductive toy, think about an antique-looking boy doll from another era, like Howdy Doody, Gene Autry, the Lone Ranger, or Tarzan. You can find these kind of character boy dolls at many flea markets, thrift shops, or antique stores. The thing is, no matter what kind of doll you get him, make up a story about him and make it as hot as you can, because when you’re not around, your doll will need something to keep himself occupied.

Most seductive gifts of them all: books by gay authors, myself included. For more information about books by Perry Brass: www.perrybrass.com . Amazon . TLA books . And your local library. If you have any questions about seductive gifts, you can email me at belhuepress@earthlink.net . Happy holidays.

hanging out by the wall

2011-12-12T11:21:00.003-05:00

QNY Film Review: "Crazy Wisdom"

2011-12-11T18:26:00.117-05:00

In 2006 through an experience with psychedelic mushrooms I started down the path of becoming an adherent of Buddhism in this lifetime. Since then I have felt a close kinship to Buddhism that I know goes back to one of my past lives on this planet. In 2006 I was living in Colorado and was privileged to visit The Great Stupa of Dharmalaya in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado at the Shambhala Mountain Center. This Dharmadhatu meditation center was one of many founded by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, considered by some to be the best known Tibetan Buddhist Lama to live in the United States. Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche's brand of Buddhism falls under one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, called Kagyu. He was the founder of the first Buddhist University, (Naropa in Boulder, Colorado) in the West.

When I moved to New York two years ago I searched for that well of Buddhist spirituality here in New York and found it at the Shambhala Meditation Center at 118 West 22nd Street, 6th Floor. Since 2006 I have been constantly striving to experience and learn more about Vajrayana Buddhism and specifically Chogyam Trungpa's Shambhala Training. So when I heard that the Shambhala Meditation Center in partnership with the Rubin Museum of Art was going to show a documentary on the life of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, I knew I had to see it.

The documentary is called "Crazy Wisdom: The Life and Times of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche." Imagine if you will, if there had been a camera around in Jesus, Muhammad's or Buddha's day and pictures were taken and key people were interviewed that knew them. Well, Crazy Wisdom is just that.

The film, through historical pictures and interviews with people that were there from the beginning, documents Chogyam Trungpa's life. It starts out by going back to Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche's roots in Tibet and tells the fascinating story of his and the other monks escape through the mountains out of Tibet into India as they outran the Chinese Communists. If that were the only part of the documentary it would be worth seeing, but Crazy Wisdom continues on to give you a rich and insightful history of his life, how he adapted to the west, and saw a vision to bring the ancient teachings to a spiritually shallow and stagnant western society. He went to Oxford and then eventually moved to the United States.

He is known as the film points out as the "bad boy of Buddhism." This is because unlike our views of what a guru or monk should do in his private life, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche drank, smoked, and consorted with women while at the same time was teaching ancient wisdom to his students. I found this surprising for a monk, but was later to find out that in the Tibetan Buddhist tantra, sexual relations is one of the ways of gaining spiritual insights. Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche renounced his monastic vows in 1969. Overall his path to enlightenment reminded me of the path of other great prophets, gurus and spiritual men in our human history from Jesus, Muhammad, and Buddha. Each in his own way was a bad boy and not perfect. But each of them at some point realized (not always willingly) what their sacred contract was in this life and how their path to enlightenment was one destined to point mankind toward a better world.

After watching Crazy Wisdom, I was left with a feeling of sadness and joy. Sadness was watching an example of another enlightened human being that left this earth too early. Joy, was one of gratitude and privilege of being able to view this documentary and share in his life story. Crazy Wisdom is a must see especially in these days and times of change and transformation in our society as we approach 2012.

Due to popular demand for "Crazy Wisdom", additional screenings have been added to its schedule showing at the Rubin Museum of Art at 150 W. 17 St in Chelsea.

Upcoming Showtimes:

Thursday, December 15 - 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 17 - 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 18 - 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Trailer for "Crazy Wisdom":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80jGSadccmY&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL75ED71705CE36019

The Cherry Orchard

2011-12-09T22:47:00.001-05:00

Post by Mondschein

"The Cherry Orchard" at Classic Stage Company, December 2, 2012

(photo: Carol Rosegg)

Classic Stage puts up The Cherry Orchard, the last production of its Chekhov Initiative, that included The Seagull, Uncle Vanya and Three Sisters in a new and very casual translation by John Christopher Jones.

Mr. Jones reportedly worked directly with the cast during rehearsals to make the vocabulary choices for their respective characters. It had to have been great fun for the actors, but the result ends up straddling the border of anachronism and "huh?" It was my first time seeing this play and I can't help but wonder there's something about Chekov that never makes it through translation.

Still, director Orlando Pabotoy manages to massage the tragic material into some laughs, though they range from clever to uncomfortable. Beyond that, it still has plenty of dull moments as the dysfunctional family watches their legacy waste away.

Mr. Chekov spins a standard Russian tale of waning fortunes and prideful nobles falling on hard times. Ranevskaya (Dianne Wiest) dithers, giggles and lives in the past, covering her fear of a future of which she can't grasp control. Lopakhin, a blustering John Tuturro, the former-peasant-made-good, presents the solution, but Ranevskaya can't bring herself to act on his advice. Daughter Varya the cast-aside homebody, is a consistently engaging Julie Rylance. Katherine Waterston is the favorite, dewy-eyed daughter Anya. Their uncle Gaev (Daniel Davis) also teeters on the edge of reality. The more interesting moments come from Michael Urie's Epikhodov, who nearly needs an ER visit as the master of disaster desperately in love with servant Dunyasha (Elisabeth Waterston). Her eyes fall (quite understandably) for Yasha, another peasant-now-servant (a very sexy Slate Holmgren), whose interest beyond pleasure is living in Ranevskaya's trail of dribbling cash. With a couple of other archetypes tossed in, the plot is as Russian as they come.

Pacing, however, was a different issue, and it was leaden this night, pushing the few laughs farther between.

Santo Loquasto's white set creates a sepia tone for this family who lives in the past. I will say that his gauze act curtain around the thrust stage created some difficulty for the audience to get to their seats. Marco Piemontese continues the finely detailed work for Ms. Wiest's gowns, but phones in a bit for some of the supporting roles.

The Cherry Orchard runs through December 30. Tickets here.

In case my husband has not yet done his Xmas shopping.

2011-12-07T12:36:00.001-05:00

THE LEGENDARY JEWELS, EVENING SALE

13 December 2011

Christie's New York, Rockefeller Plaza

Lot 80: THE ELIZABETH TAYLOR DIAMOND

(The Krupp Diamond)

Estimate: $2,500,000 - $3,500,000

Part of the proceeds will support the work of the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation

Lysistrata Jones

2011-12-06T23:11:00.001-05:00

"Lysistrata Jones" at Walter Kerr Theatre, November 18, 2011

Transferring from off-Broadway run downtown, Douglas Carter Beane takes on the Greeks again in this re-telling of the Aristophanes classic. Tongue remains firmly in cheek, much as it did with Xanadu a few years ago.

From one perspective, it's an extended episode of "Glee." But that's slightly dismissive and I did have a great time. Liz Mikel kicks things off as the goddess Hetaira, quickly moving the location from Olympus to Athens University, where the basketball team hasn't won a game in 33 years. Lysistrata Jones (Pati Murin) arrives as a transfer student and starts to stir things up right away, putting together a cheerleading squad to motivate the team.

When the players tell the squad they're not interested in improving, Lys searches for a new plan, coming across the Aristophanes' play for which she was named. Borrowing its plot points for her own devices, Lys has little immediate success. School nerd, Xander (Jason Tam) learns to dance from an app on his smart phone. Adorable team captain Mick (Josh Segarra) delivers what will likely be short-lived jokes about Herman Cain. Women's study major (duck before the subtext knocks you over) Robin (Lindsay Nicole Chambers) makes her own conversion of sorts, too.

Mr. Beane, as usual, plays with gender roles and mixes up the couples with both expected and unexpected pairings, pulling much from pop culture as mentioned above. (By the way, the Athens University team mascot? Yes...the Spartans.) Lewis Flinn's score serves well, moving the story along, though there aren't many memorable songs. Director/choreographer Dan Knechtges keeps the pace moving, borrowing a bit of Bill T. Jones here and there among the basketball exercise drills.

It may not outrun "Chicago," it may not provide the catharsis of "War Horse," but it's lots of fun. There should be plenty of discounts available. Check out Broadwaybox.com and get tickets.

Bergdorf Windows Without the Crowds

2011-12-06T02:02:00.001-05:00

by baad lamb

If you and your camera want to enjoy Bergdorf's window displays without the massive pre-Christmas crowds getting in the way of your shots (Fifth Avenue sidewalks in December seems to rival Times Square for pedestrian density), here's the trick: Get up pre-dawn on a Sunday morning, pour your coffee in a to-go cup to save time, and arrive on site seven-ish. The tourists have not yet left their hotels, the tour buses are still en route, and the locals are still sleeping or still dancing. You will have the place to yourself (except for the 10 other people who had the same idea!)

Unless you're a professional photographer, shop windows are quite difficult to get full photos of, mostly due to the unavoidable reflection of nearly everything surrounding them. Lights, sky, taxi traffic, other pedestrians, the brightly lit windows across the street, and even yourself, all add complications that only occasionally can be used to your benefit. So I leave the "whole window" shots to the pros, and instead focus on details, textures, colors, or eye-catching components. Luckily, the Bergdorf's window dressers seems to think that if "less is more", than way more must be excellent! Minimalism is not practiced here.

Even MORE more after the jump...

One vignette was constructed entirely from intricate cut and assembled paper, including a nearly life sized zebra, snakes and a skunk. I see the spiders are now reading them newfangled "Web books".

Another window was filled with cute, music-making brass monkeys.

Below, some circus mice perform with tigers and bears. A very smartly dressed dog bares his teeth.

I believe the beautiful paper bugs, beetles and butterflies are from a set of accurately sized and colored reproductions that Bergdorf's sells.

Across the street in the Men's Store windows, there was nothing ambiguous about it: Men are beasts.

At left, the wolves get fitted for their power suits; on the right, the bull cautiously sits down in the barber chair while the Bear flashes the razor. Not so subtle Wall Street message?

Below, the Lion in Winter, and Roly-Poly Fish Head

2011-12-04T10:50:00.004-05:00

by baad lamb

Today's "back door" lesson. Just in case you're looking for it...

This is not Roseland... THIS is Roseland

Leslie Lohman Museum Silent Auction

2011-12-01T20:21:00.050-05:00

words & images: Miguel Dominguez

Charles Leslie places a bid

In order to celebrate their change in status, having officially become the Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art (LLM), the former Leslie Lohman Gay Art Foundation (LLGAF) had a wonderful party and silent auction on November 10th, featuring the donated works of well known gay artists. The proceeds benefitted the newborn LLM.

A double shot of Artist/Writer/Musician Dan Paul Roberts

Larry Shatuck, raffle winner of Robert W. Richard's framed art, with the artist

LLM has a permanent collection of more than 6,000 pieces spanning more than three centuries of queer art. LLM’s programs include regularly scheduled exhibitions, video events, workshop presentation of plays, artists' and curators' talks, panel discussions, THE ARCHIVE (a quarterly newsletter focusing on LGBTQ art and artists), a membership program, a research library and an archive of the permanent collection. Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art is the premier resource for anyone interested in the rich legacy of the LGBTQ community and its influence on and confrontation with the mainstream art world. There is no other organization in the world like this new museum.

LLM's Jerry Kajpust, helping himself from the tray being passed around by Film producer/actor Joe Zaso, whom everybody present wished he was being the one passed around on a tray himself

Featured entertainer at the event was unbelievable whistler Michael Barimo, who does Opera just as good as most singers from La Scala or the MET

I had the chance to photograph several artists in front of their work before collectors snapped up many of the pieces.

Michael Harwood by his wonderfully moody photograph

Fashion artist Diana Mattos and escort Gareth Hendee flanking his beautifully cropped torso art

Rob Clarke in front of his Leather Merman

"Antiheroes" artist JC Etheredge and 3D animation artist Szymon Weglarski

Artist Carmine Santaniello and Dan Woods

Homo Erotic artist Anthony Gonzales

Too see more images of these event, go to my facebook photo albums page.

Who Would You Pick For The Job Of HRC President?

2011-12-01T10:58:00.001-05:00

The search is underway. In this piece for 10thousandcouples.com, I review the job description, talk with some LGBT bloggers and highlight a few LGBT leaders who would be good choices. Agree? Disagree? Got a favorite?

World AIDS Day Premiere of "All the Way Through Evening"

2011-11-30T10:20:00.001-05:00

QNY"s Perry Brass sends us this tip: "I hope you will join me on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, World AIDS Day, for the world premiere of Australian filmmaker Rohan Spong's moving documentary tribute to several composers who died of AIDS, "All The Way Through Evening." The film's title comes from a series of 5 "Nocturnes" set to my poetry by the composer Chris DeBlasio who died of AIDS in 1993 at the age of 34. The premiere will be at 7:30 PM at the DMAC-DUO Multicultural Arts Center, 62 East 4th Street, in the East Village, and will also feature a program of live music and dance produced by Downtown Music Productions. Tickets are $20 through Smart Tix, and $25 at the box office."

The trailer, and more information about how you can support the film, are after the break

ALL THE WAY THROUGH EVENING - Trailer from rohan spong on Vimeo.

And, to contribute directly to the film, so that it can be seen at film festivals, and be released world wide, please click in this link, and then to go "Support the Project."

http://www.allthewaythroughevening.pozible.com

Rohan Spong and I are also interested in other venues for this film, so if you know of any please let us know. You can reach Rohan Spong directly at:

rohanspong@gmail.com

QNY Fave: NYC Photographer Andrew Weir

2011-11-29T23:42:00.001-05:00

I love his work. Here is his portrait of twins, Travis and Troy Cannata. Check him out in YVY Magazine. And here.

NYC Designing Men: It Gets Better

2011-11-29T17:27:00.001-05:00

HIDE/SEEK at the Brooklyn Museum

2011-11-28T00:04:00.001-05:00

The exhibition that caused all sorts of hub-bub in the art world when The National Portrait Gallery removed a video piece due to pressure from a congress is now showing at the Brooklyn Museum with the video reinstated. Showing to February 12, 2012.

Link:
HIDE/SEEK at the Brooklyn Museum

shorakkopoch

2011-11-25T22:38:00.001-05:00

ENJOY THANKSGIVING

2011-11-24T16:10:00.001-05:00

Coming Home from a Hike Upstate

2011-11-23T11:45:00.001-05:00

George Washington Bridge at Dusk

Riverside Drive around West 158th St.

The Greatest Love/Hate Relationship in the World

2011-11-22T22:37:00.001-05:00

In a bathroomless New York City, Starbucks offers us more than complicated caffeine. They also provide the life-saving bathrooms that make our daily routines possible. Here's a picture of my Starbucks on Columbus Avenue.

Sometimes a homeless person will tie up the bathroom literally for hours, and God save the person who is next in line.

Do we really want our barristas cleaning those bathrooms? There has got to be a better way to manage this human condition in the greatest city in the world.

museum of the city of new york photo collections

2011-11-22T17:16:00.001-05:00

A fantastic collection of historic New York City photos.
Well worth the time:

Link:
Museum of The City of New York Photo Collections

Turkey Talk: Gag Or Gobble

2011-11-22T09:41:00.001-05:00

These celebs, including some QNY faves, answer the eternal question: "His body's bangin' but his face is booty! Do you do him or don't him? 25 favorite gaylebrities, including MICHAEL MUSTO, ROBBYNE KAAMIL, and COLTON FORD get down and talk turkey!

Wine-Pairing Advice From Astor Wines & Spirits and a DVD Recommendation for After the Meal Is Over

2011-11-21T13:56:00.001-05:00

By West Village Bill

Yesterday, my squeeze Tony P. and I took a walk to the East Village to check out Astor Wines & Spirits. I loved the Match Game–style window display that offered recommendations on which kind of wine to pair with various elements of your Thanksgiving meal.

I realize it's hard to see everything because of the weird angle and the window glare, so I'll note that the pairing suggestions are: cabernet franc with herb (stuffing), pinot noir with roast (turkey), zinfandel with spice (cranberry sauce), chardonnay with butter (butternut squash), sherry with pie (it probably should have said sweet instead), and riesling with char (Brussels sprouts).

I was impressed with the breadth of the bottles inside. There were many wines I'd never heard of.

As you'd expect with any large store, there were some items that seemed like bargains and others that seemed overpriced. Tony and I have been drinking a lot of Oregon pinot noir lately, and we saw one from Benton-Lane Winery that we'd drank before that cost a couple dollars more than at stores in our neighborhood. But we spotted an enjoyable pinot gris from Montinore Estate for the cheapest price we'd ever seen it: $12.99.

Tony had decided to make a fresh cranberry sauce spiked with Cointreau and raspberry liqueur. We got a 375-milliliter bottle of Mathilde Framboise Liqueur for only $9.99—5 bucks off the regular price.

We've also been getting into wines made in New York state, and Astor had a large selection of those. We picked up two cabernet francs to try: those from Whitecliff Vineyard and Sheldrake Point Winery.

The Whitecliff CF was part of an inside display offering more Thanksgiving wine advice. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

***

After you've stuffed yourself on Thursday, unbutton your pants and relax on the couch with a final glass of wine or two while watching the DVD of The Life of Reilly, a 2004 recording of the final performance of Match Game star Charles Nelson Reilly's one-man show, Save It for the Stage. I loved that game show growing up, largely because of Reilly's antics.

Even though he was better known for Match Game and other TV show appearances, Reilly was an accomplished theater actor and director. The Life of Reilly is touching and hilarious. Some of the secrets about his family and the way he was treated as a gay man in Hollywood are shocking and sad. (The links I'm giving above mention revelations from TLOR that I would consider to be SPOILERS of sorts, so you may want to see the movie before reading any of those web pages. I think you'd prefer to hear the dramatic turns his story took being delivered by CNR himself.) I was disappointed that even though we learn an awful lot about CNR's fascinating and, at times, tragic childhood, we hear nothing about his adult love life. (Wikipedia says he was domestic partners with a set decorator and dresser named Patrick Hughes III.) Nonetheless, the late great Charles Nelson Reilly was a terrific story teller whose ultimately triumphant life story is well told here.

Movie poster image via Wild About Movies

Private Lives

2011-11-17T23:36:00.000-05:00

Posted by Mondschein

"Private Lives" at The Music Box, November 15, 2011

This London transfer brings Kim Cattrall back to the Rialto for the first time in 25 years, leading this production of the Noel Coward classic. Her Amanda was hailed in London and she arrives in New York with a new Elyot in the very handsome Paul Gross.

The crossing seems to have had an impact on the production. I will confess that there was much to live up to in my eyes, having basked in the glorious revival of 2002 with Alan Rickman and Lindsay Duncan. (Unfair? Perhaps.)

Mr. Gross' Elyot succeeds best among this cast, urbane, elegant and sophisticated. Lacking is any sense of chemistry between him and Ms. Cattrall's Amanda. Ms. Cattrall, rather than rising to meet Mr. Gross' level of sophistication, goes instead for the physical laughs with a sense of awkwardness that undercuts the lyrical writing in the first act. Fortunately, it's in the power of the writing that this approach still works.

The supporting cast also arrives with mixed results. Anna Madeley is also a new addition and dithers beautifully as Elyot's new wife, Sybil. She's an excellent physical match to Ms. Cattrall, even drawing entrance applause by an eager audience who didn't realize that it wasn't Ms. Cattrall. The more curious appearance is the styling and physical appearance of Simon Paisley Day as Victor. The role is written and usually cast with a more handsome actor who favors the actor playing Elyot. A brief internet search did reveal a more consistent appearance with the London production's Elyot, Matthew MacFadyen. Nonetheless, Mr. Day's Victor is much more of a stick-in-the-mud than I had expected.

It's unclear why director Richard Eyre couldn't help these actors find some chemistry. Each are certainly capable performers, but never manage to deliver any kind of spark. Even Anna Madeley as Louise, the maid, fails to deliver any laughs, instead merely strolling through the carnage with disinterest.

Rob Howell's costumes effect the period beautifully, but his sets didn't quite hit the mark for me. Ms. Cattrall's costumes are particularly exquisite, first the bias-cut, champagne silk gown in Act 1, followed by the lovely navy suit in Act 3. The Deauville balcony felt a bit skimpy where Amanda's Paris apartment stretched credulity in its excessive splendor of art deco chinoise in silver and verdigris. The aquarium in the apartment is particularly impressive, echoing the circular theme of the room. It's a gorgeous set, but hardly Amanda's Paris hideaway. David Howe's lighting draws more attention to itself than truly effective lighting should - too many sharply honed edges in selected zones on the stage.

Private Lives is on a limited run through February 5, 2012. Get tickets here.

A "Burning" Quandry

2011-11-14T00:06:00.000-05:00

Posted by Mondschein

I can't call it a review I have to write about today, though it is about a new play I attended over the weekend.

Let's put some things on the table first, stipulations, if you will:

Getting a new play produced, particularly in New York, particularly by a company of the reputation of The New Group, is an incredible feat of effort.
Provocative topics and situations are excellent fodder for playwrights looking to get attention to their work (see The Submission).
"Downtown NYC" is a great place to exercise those skills.

A few more things to stipulate:

I've seen a lot of lousy theatre in New York and have walked out on the full range, from multi-million dollar Broadway to dusty, uncomfortable black-box off-off-off Bway productions.
I've even performed in a couple of the latter types.

As a member of the ITBA, I see frequent invitations to attend and review theatre of all sorts in the city, as mentioned above, Broadway to black-box, off-off-off Broadway productions. I don't see everything, but I was excited to see the invitation from The New Group for their production of the world premiere of Burning by up-and-coming playwright Thomas Bradshaw. I've seen a couple of other productions from this company and looked forward to this. The premise sounded interesting. The director has made a name for himself.

This play was the first time I've ever walked out despite having been invited to write a review.

I consulted with a few associates about what to do and received a range of responses, two of which I'll paraphrase:

"don't write a review of a show of which you only saw Act 1"
"write about what you did see, then explain why you left"
"write a 'non-review', discussing the circumstances and your decision to leave early"

As you can see, I've opted for the third suggestion.

Producers offer tickets to reviewers like me to get the word out about their shows. I have never had a publicist make any requests or qualifications about what I write, other than holding a post until the show officially opens. As a result, I generally believe my obligation to include seeing the entire show.

Maybe I've been lucky so far. Maybe I've been in more tolerant moods when I saw shows I didn't like. Maybe I've just had nothing better to do on those occasions, but until this weekend, I've never walked out of a show I've been invited to review.

I mentioned having performed in dismal shows produced in less-than-stellar facilities. I've also been in shows when a critic left at intermission and stated that in his review. As an actor, that really hurts. I know that pain.

Still, here's the summary I sent to my associates when I asked their advice on how to proceed:

Tonight I attended a performance of a play following a solicitation to the ITBA. I say attended - actually I left at intermission.

This particular play, with an interesting premise, was produced by a reputable company of notable pedigree, with a notable director. The actors are skilled and the production values are excellent. The playwright has an interesting resume, and appears to be in an early and successful phase of career.

But the play itself is the problem. From the complete lack of compelling (let alone likable) characters, to the unclear shifts in time periods, to the absurd (and not in the Albee style) dialog and reprehensible actions of some characters, to the gratuitous nudity and simulated sex acts, I found no artistic merit in the literary effort.

I am dumbfounded, not even that someone wrote it, but that others read it and said "hey gang, let's spend the cash to put on this show!"

So, dear readers (both of you), what advice would you offer?

Burning runs through December 17. Click here for tickets.

The Imperial Court of New York’s “Carnivale"

2011-11-13T18:30:00.002-05:00

words & images: Miguel Dominguez

ICNY President Gary Cosgrove with reigning Empress XXV Pepperica Swirl and Emperor XX Vanity Society

To celebrate the end of Fashion Week in New Jersey, irreproachable charity champions, The Imperial Court of New York, in conjunction with Eric Alt of Eric Alt-Salon, came up with a fashion show to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund on October 9th at “Room 84” in Hoboken.

Victoria Falls putting on the finishing touches

Gem Stone and Marchioness Cherry Poppins

The Naked Cowboy and Cowgirl

Such fun! I never cease to be amazed by the beautifully deranged imagination that goes into the creation of ballroom gowns and the excessive accessorizing (better known as “High Drag” by those who wear it), that I get to review every time the ICNY makes an appearance. They really liven up any celebration by their mere presence.

TJ Kelly, Martin Berusch with Husband Mike Ruiz of LOGO's "A-List" fame and Empress XXV Pepperica Swirl

In addition, party fashions that were more mainstream were offered by designers Asher Levine, Adrienne Landau, Chris Benz, Gito & Gito Shoes, Phuong My and eDressME.com, with Cat Hernandez and Let’s play Dress Up NYC supplying the jewelry.

Too see more images of this event, go to my facebook photo albums page.

Perry Brass: Lost Gay New York: Who Would You List as the Greatest Gay Activists?

2011-11-13T11:48:00.001-05:00

Perry Brass talks about LGBT History at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, Oct, 2011

Something interesting happened in the wonderfully closed, back-biting, infighting, but definitely useful world of gay historians and politicos. It began when CLAGS, the Center for Gay and Lesbian Studies at CUNY (City U. of New York) announced that it was sponsoring a major conference, Sept. 27 -30, 2012 in New York on the life and work of Harry Hary, on the centennial of his birth. I had heard about this conference a few weeks before it was announced, and was of course ebulliant. To me, you cannot overstate the contribution of Harry Hay to what is now the vast, diverse lgbt movement. What Harry had to say was significant: out of the personal dreams, stories, consciousness, and yearnings of every single one of us can come a movement toward our own liberation--it is singular, personal, and we can't do it alone.

The announcement, though, came right on the heels of another historic event: the death on Oct. 11, 2011--National Coming Out Day--of Frank Kameny, which made the front page of the New York Times (a paper which up to about 20 years ago could not use the word "gay" in it). But Frank Kameny, a life-long curmugeon, professional cranky old man, totally stubborn as all get up, who single-handedly took on the Federal government back when it fired him for being gay in 1958, was now being sited as, literally, the "Father of the Gay Movement."

It. The Whole Deal.

This was unfortunate, although not completely out of left field. One of the problems of our movement has been a lack of visibility in the form of leaders. In the 1950s, there were no visible queer leaders aside from a few, a bare inkling, of people in the arts who for whatever reason had nothing to lose by being open. Often they were European culture figures like Jean Cocteau, fairly exotic and flamboyant, but in this country to be even vaguely open and a "face"--it just didn't happen. We did have Gore Vidal whose professional life was destroyed for about a decade after he published, in 1948, The City and the Pillar, a book that became as national code word for "queer," and that went on to sell a whopping 2,000,000 copies. We had Allen Ginsberg, but he could hardly be taken that seriously (again "exotic and flamboyant") and Tennessee Williams ("Broadway's Sex Poet," said Time Magazine)--and after that, if you dared showed your face in public, you were hung out for the vultures to get you.

So, the word got out among some queer historians--it might be time to start figuring who was the "most important lgbt activists in history." And Paul D. Cain, who, as he put it, had been studying the subject for a decade, and had published in 2002, Leading the Parade, Conversations with America's Most Influential Lesbians and Gay Men (with an intro by Jack Nicols; U. of Michigan Press, $45) decided to venture out there into the WWW ether with a list of the 10 most important gay activists of--well, all time is a hard one. But here's Paul's list.

1. Frank Kameny
2. Harry Hay
3. Harvey Milk
4. Troy Perry
5. Del Martin/Phyllis Lyon
6. Barney Frank
7. Gerry Studds
8. Larry Kramer
9. Leonard Matlovich
10. Barbara Gittings

This of course was a pretty eccentric list, and so a lot of people jumped on him for it, although as Cain put it, it's only a list and everyone can come up with one of his/her own. And there is always the question: is Frank Kameny the most important gay activist in history? And what exactly is gay activism (using the older word "gay" as a cover-all for any "non-straight" categorization)? You have the activism of going on picket lines and demonstrations, which reach a certain number of people, and the activism of simply being visible, but media-rific, so that . . . millions of people see and know who you are.

We also have the questions, when did you come around, and how did you change things? So, someone who came around in 1969 or 1970 or 71, after the Stonewall Explosion (the Big Bang of lgbt liberation) had a much better chanc of catching the national media eye than someone who was there in 1956 when you could not breathe the word "homosexual" except in a clinical setting without getting your eyebrows singed. But there were people willing to get them singed, and these people need to be recognized, highly.

So, do we put Gerry Studds, who was forced out of the closet but became the first elected public official to be that way, on this list (I'd met Studds, and found him to be pretty bland, but presentable--and not someone to frighten any horses); ditto for Barney Frank, or even Leonard Matlovich, who was a significant media figure (again, cover of Time), but hardly a gay activist who consistently worked to change things. Harvey Milk on the other hand did change things, or, did he simply gain from the changes that others had made before him--but, being no dummy, learned how to use them? (Again, I knew Harvey, and he was no dummy!)

Paul Cain actually told us that he had compiled a list of 100 activists, and just as a list it has some interesting additions in it--although so far I have not seen the entire list. But it contains names like Martina Navratiliova, Andy Warhol of course ("St. Andy" as he is known to a new generation of Goth/Pop-hearted club kids), and lots of other usual suspects. Paul did challenge me to my own list, and so I came up with my own--with 15 names in fact, with annotation of the names. Here they are. And of course, you are free to hate them too (I hope you won't: they are, as a breed, a good lot), and come up with your own list.

(The whole darned list idea, by the way, always brings up a lot of bile: Anthony Tomassini, the music critic for the Times did one for the "10 Greatest Composers of the Twentieth Century" and decided that Richard Strauss was the greatest composer of that period. God, did the feathers fly!)

A note about Perry Brass's list:

I decided to name people who put their lives and fate above media recognition: in other words, they were activists rather than media figures. They were also doing it at time when "queer" was not fashionable, in fact, it could basically get you killed. It still can, in the wrong circumstances, as so many people can tell you, but we are in a different world than we were 40 or 50+ years ago at the onset of what became the modern LGBT movement. I have also annotated each listing.

Harry Hay—for obvious reasons at this point.

Hal Call (Harold Leyland)—horrifically controversial character, president of the Mattachine Society after Harry Hay was ousted; "Call" was probably the first real queer face to be seen on national TV; he also bridged that place between gay liberation and gay erotica, by founding several pivotal gay presses back in the 1950s.

Allen Ginsberg—first gay public personality for millions of people all over the world; he was ousted from Cuba for being openly gay, and confronted Castro on Castro's anti-gay policies. He was also the immediately recognizable queer face in the Peace Movement, even though it was a closet filled with them.

Barbara Gittings—long time gay activist, and one of the few women within the second generation of Mattachine's inner circle.

Jack Nichols—with Frank Kameny, he formed the "Mattachine Society of Washington" which had two members and was a front for their activism. Nichols was 18 years old when he became involved with the Gay Movement; he stayed in it for a lifetime, and later tried to merge Gay Liberation with Men's Liberation and Human Liberation.

Frank Kameny—a lifelong gay activist, but one who basically disappeared after Stonewall.

Martha Shelley—pivotal woman and theorist in the emerging lgbt liberation movement, late 60s, early 70s; was originally in Mattachine.

Ralph Hall—very early gay theorist and street organizer in the Gay Liberation Front. Hall was on the front lines of gay activism from Stonewall on.

Marty Robinson—early member of Gay Activists Alliance who became the new face of Gay activism when he went on the David Susskind show in 1970 and declared himself a "gay hard hat" since he worked as a carpenter. Marty's activism spanned from the Gay Liberation front to Act Up.

Michael Brown—early, fearless organizer in the Gay Liberation Front, came out of the labor and peace movements. Was quoted in the New York Times in Sept. 1969.

Kate Millet—lesbian activist and theorist, her book Sexual Politics was pivotal in changing millions of minds about gender politics when it appeared in 1970.

Jim Owles—first president of the Gay Activist Alliance, Jim foreshadowed the transition from radical, leftist gay politics to more mainstream liberal gay politics. He was an open figure in national politics two decades before others ventured into this arena.

Arthur Evans—member of G.L.F. who formulated many policies in G.A.A. including the "Zap," a site-specific public demonstration (as in at the office of a company with a stated anti-gay policy) aimed at embarrassing and humiliating straight oppressors. This same strategy was used by other organizations like Act Up and Queer Nation.

Bob Kohler—first public face of the Gay Liberation Front, Kohler came out of a labor and show business background, with deep leftist roots.

Arthur Bell—G.A.A member, first openly gay columnist in a national newspaper, the Village Voice, Bell was at one time America's only openly gay, regularly published journalist.

As you can see, this might be a fairly eccentric list in itself: most of the people on this list are not celebrities--I keep hearing that Ellen Degeneris invented gay liberation, but that's their opinion--still, it's time that gay history separated the truth from the media b.s. And I am more than willing to learn about someone else who is a part of LGBT history, a history of personal stories writ large.

Perry Brass's newest book, King of Angels, A Novel About the Genesis of Identity and Belief, will be published by Belhue Press in March, 2012. He can be reached through his website, www.perrybrass.com .

QNY's Perry Brass is LGBT History Month Speaker at MCC

2011-11-10T13:31:00.000-05:00

"On October 27, 2011, the Metropolitan Correctional Center, New York staff celebrated LGBT History Month. Renowned author and social activist Perry Brass presented a version of LGBT history that mixed his life story with general societal progress on LGBT issues. In 1969, Mr. Brass co-edited Come Out, the first gay liberation newspaper in the world. LGBT Program Manager Paula St. John and LGBT Alternate Program Manager William J. Ryan, Ph.D. moderated the program, which concluded with a question and answer period."

Laurie Anderson's Forty Nine Days in the Bardo: The baad lamb Interview

2011-11-08T03:20:00.004-05:00

It's no secret I'm a major fan of Laurie Anderson's work. For more than 40 years, this world-famous visual and performance artist has been captivating and thought-provoking in nearly every medium: performance, sculpture, music, painting, spoken word, video projections, photography and pheromones. (OK, I'm not sure about the pheromones, but if she hasn't used them yet, she will!)

I have yet to see Laurie's current multi-media exhibit at the Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philly, Forty Nine Days in the Bardo, where she very publicly works through her grief over the loss of her beloved dog and constant companion, Lolabelle (the Bardo is the 49 day intermediate state of transition from death to rebirth as described in the Tibetan Book of the Dead). I jumped at the chance to speak with her, and ask questions about this new work as well as discuss some of the major themes of her recent (and past) work.

I see the “transitioning” theme of this show - between life and death, death and rebirth, loss and remembrance, underlined in a section of “Animal Stories” from the live lecture: The world as Pre-9/11 and Post 9/11. [note: watch the video above]

“That was just one story, I’m not sure I would be so global about it, but now that you mention it, it is kind of a different world in many ways... I can’t think of any 10 years in my life time that are more different.”

You must be aware of all the people (myself included) who love to quote from your 1981 O Superman and ascribe to you the gift of prophesy? [I'm referring to the entire song, but especially the lyrics Here come the planes. They're American planes. Made in America.]

Photo credit: Carlos Avendano

“I am NOT a prophet. I think the explanation of that is this: it’s more about amnesia because I think people forget that we are still in that war that I was writing about. That was a war about oil in the desert and technology. It was about a failed rescue mission when some helicopters crashed in the desert. It was in fact the same war. The same war. It just gets labeled differently each time it comes up. It’s got the same theme and the same goal. And I think that is what happens in the United States: we forget that this is going on, and I don’t think that many Americans want to face this either.... we don’t want to face the fact that our major industry is war. And that is pretty much what we do, what we make and what we export... It is such a disturbing thing to think about for me that I don’t think about it all the time. That’s my theme - the theme of that song, O Superman, was about the inability of technology to save you, as we incorporate more and more technology into our lives.”

You have often explored themes of death and the mystery beyond death, but it seems to me you are thinking about it even more often in recent works. Would you agree?

“That is the case with the last two things I made. It’s definitely about death.... especially with Delusion... that had themes dedicated to my mother, and also to different ideas about language, because she was a very articulate person...and she gave a speech on her deathbed that was really kind of hair-raising. It was sort of history, and she waited for everyone to gather around her, and it was this great formal speech that stuck her next to a microphone, to the streets, to the world, the environment, and she starts talking to all the animals with it (gathered on the ceiling!)....and I watched this language-thing, these words, rip her apart! And I thought, that's our world in so many ways..... It had other stories in it as well, but that was the main theme, and it seemed to strike a chord with people about how they felt about their own mothers. They said “Why aren’t there more things written about that relationship – to mothers? You'd think there'd be a giant amount of literature and songs and plays about that, but surprisingly, there isn't. So just when you think there is nothing more to write about, there is a lot to write about!”

In that show [Delusion], I don't want to take literally that real life was like the performance, but you portrayed that relationship with your mother as quite turbulent.

“It definitely was. She was a very very judgemental person and it was as I described in the show, a relationship that was really not about love. And of course, as a consequence a lot of guilt about not being able to love your mother, the main one you are supposed to love and be loved by. And I discovered that that is a bit of a taboo. But I’ve talked to a lot of people who said “Wow, I’m so glad you said that. I never had the nerve to say that I didn’t love my mother.”

Well they say you can’t choose your mother.....

Yes, but she didn’t choose me either. The thing about it is, I have a lot of gratitude toward her. She had great curiosity and ability and need to learn things. She taught me that and that's plenty! That's why you have two parents. I had a great dad and I really loved him. I don’t feel like, 'Gee, what a tragedy I didn’t have that relationship'. It’s just the way she was. I’m really grateful to her. She was quite a person.”

Photo credit: Carlos Avendano

Turning the tables to your new exhibition, you certainly seemed to love your dog Lolabelle.

“Aw, she was a sweet, sweet creature!”

I was wondering, was the concept of mourning the death of Lolabelle something you were already working on or was it developed during the residency at FWM?

“Well.... when she died I began to keep a kind of diary, and began to wonder what it would look like if it was a painting. This show was done very very fast – in a couple of months.”

Photo credit: Carlos Avendano

Wow! That's amazing given the huge size of the exhibit. For instance, just one room of the show has 10 charcoal drawing canvases that are 10’ x 14’, many of them dense with swirling activity and movement.

“Well to me it was—I’m not really a painter or a drawer, you know – and for me making those was, well, a few things: it was very much like music. It was very physical. I never knew what I would do, I would just start painting. It very quickly materialized. It was kind of like improvising. It was basically music and also in a really crazy way, painting those images of Lolabelle was sort of like petting her in a weird crazy way or just touching her. It was a really eerie experience, and I enjoyed it very much, I have to say, anything that is very obsessional like that I can relate to.”

When we last talked (after the Delusion show at BAM), you were reading, and actually had with you, How to be Idle by Tom Hodgkinson. Have you reached a blissful state of idleness?

“Yes, because I have been trying so hard to just do it. It's a kind of a contradiction to say ‘I’m working really hard to have fun’ but it’s working pretty well. I’m really just trying to do the things that really give me pleasure, and I know that sounds kind of shallow but it works for me.”

Laurie Anderson's Forty Nine Days in the Bardo

continues at the Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia to Nov. 19th.

Laurie's website: http://laurieanderson.com/home.shtml

Laurie's facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurieAnderson

New York City Marathon 2011

2011-11-07T06:27:00.000-05:00

A beautiful and record-smashing day. A record 47,438 competitors started.

"In the Family"

2011-11-06T00:15:00.000-04:00

Posted by Mondschein

This film by Patrick Wang opened at Quad Cinemas last night with a pretty strong review from the NY Times. Check the review out here. There's not much I would add to Mr. Brunick's observations.

Leaving the theatre, Mr. Wang was standing shyly on the sidewalk, waiting to get some direct feedback about the film. Within minutes, Stone Phillips (who looks even better since he stopped coloring his hair) was leading the conversation among a group of us who had stopped to congratulate Mr. Wang, exploring some of his plot choices and inspirations.

As you'll see in the review, Mr. Wang hasn't had much success in his distribution efforts. The film runs a little long, but it's well worth seeing.

Check it out at the Quad before it closes next Thursday. Get tickets here.

Opening Fireworks New York City Marathon

2011-11-04T23:09:00.000-04:00

At our kitchen window tonight, we watched the fireworks over Central Park signal the opening of the 2011 New York City Marathon.

New York City Marathon - this Sunday

2011-11-04T14:49:00.000-04:00

All week long, the preparations have overtaken Central Park West. The sidewalks are flooded with cables.

BLOWOFF - This Friday

2011-11-02T16:20:00.002-04:00

Always a good time.

Bad Public Art On Broadway

2011-11-02T00:04:00.002-04:00

These animals are just plain boring. What is it about the public art selection process that seems to prohibit any good stuff?
You be the judge.
Here's one. Two more by the same "artist" after the break.

Last Rose Of Summer 2011

2011-10-31T12:08:00.000-04:00

Given Saturday's freakish snowstorm, this photo of a Central Park rose made last week by BaadLamb won't be repeated for many months to come.

Halloween Fright Tonight

2011-10-31T07:19:00.002-04:00

On West 69th Street

2011-10-30T23:00:00.001-04:00

More photos after the break!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-30T05:00:00.000-04:00

Mario Cantone and Jerry Dixon tie the knot

2011-10-29T12:51:00.002-04:00

Mario Cantone is officially a married man.

The comedian and the musical theater director recently married after 20 years together.

"I got married for the same reasons you did," Cantone, 51, said on Friday to The View co-host Joy Behar, who also recently said 'I do.' "We're older now. We've been together 20 years. After 20 years you're like, 'Thanks for the anti-climactic honeymoon government!' "

Pastor Jay Bakker, son of the late Tammy Faye Bakker Messner, presided over the ceremonious affair.

Cantone gushed about his special day with Dixon, saying, "It was beautiful, just my family there. I love him. He's a good man."

Angelica Page induction into Hurley’s Saloon Fame-Wall

2011-10-28T12:15:00.040-04:00

words & images: Miguel Dominguez

Angelica's grand entrance to a cheering crowd

On October 6th, actress/director Angelica Page (AKA Angelica Torn) was inducted into the Fame Wall at the legendary watering hole Hurley’s Saloon, right off Times Square, at an event hosted by Dale Badway to benefit The Actors Fund.

Host Dale Badland and Angelica Page unveiling her portrait

Torn, the daughter of stage and film legend Rip Torn and the late Oscar-winning Geraldine Page, depicted in a sexy, screen goddess gown that belonged to her mother, had her portrait which was painted by Jim Warren, unveiled at the event.

Stage Divas Missy Keene, Dominique Plaisant and Jodi Stevens, who contributed to the evening's entertainment with their voices

Musical director Ken Lundie, supporting the performers with superb accompaniment

Also participating in the event's performances was Aiden Leslie, on the left. Here with sartorialist Jeisohn Fiala, center

Page has this year directed the off-Broadway musical “Soldier’s Song” and starred in a production of Eugene O’Neill’s “Anna Christie” at The Actors Studio (both here and in LA). She also starred as Marie Curie in “The Radiant” last spring.

She received the Helen Hayes Award for her leading role in “Sideman”. Ms. Page has numerous television and film credits and is praised for her work in “Nobody’s Fool” with Paul Newman and “The Sixth Sense”.

Actor/director Federico Castelluccio of "Sopranos" fame and actress/producer/model Yvonne Maria Schaeffer with Ranjeeta Dutt McGroarty

Sevi Regis of Regis Movie Media, with George Kimble

It was a night full of luminaries from the whole spectrum of the performing arts.

Mikey Fazio and Antonio Cedeno with Aiden Leslie

My dear friend actor Max Rhyser, making an impromptu appearance

Too see more images of this event, go to my facebook photo albums page.

Happy 125th Birthday!

2011-10-28T08:36:00.000-04:00

To Lady Liberty, not me. She was only 25 years old when my grandfather first saw her.
I bet every one of us has a Statue-of-Liberty-photo to share?

Go here for livecam views of Lady Liberty, and, at 11AM EST, five live cams mounted in her crown will go live, providing spectacular NYC views. That same link will get you those views.

Pop Souk!

2011-10-25T18:33:00.001-04:00

Last Sunday, we stopped into the Hiro Ballroom for that delightful occasional bazaar known as Pop Souk. Among the merchants was Scooter Laforge who was live-drawing, and offering for sale some of his erotic/nefarious iterations of pop childhood imagery.

Pop Souk founder, Lady Fag, describes the event this way:

"Nightlife personalities, artists, musicians, DJ’s, designers, fashion sluts, drag queens and the rest of us who make up the creative landscape of downtown NYC are usually blessed — and cursed — with fabulously overflowing closets.

For one day only, on Sunday, October 23rd, from noon to 6pm, both floors of the majestic Hiro Ballroom will make way for POP SOUK. More than just a marketplace, it’s an event where some of the most talented New Yorkers will be hanging out in their own personal pop-up shops selling treasures from their own closets or of their own designs.

Come listen to some of your favorite New York DJ’s spin, hang out on the top floor lounge and watch the action of people shopping in the stalls below, saddle up to the bar for a drink, get your nails done, taste the delicacies you never knew these night creatures could make and, of course, shop!

Pop Souk is also perfectly timed to hit the week before Halloween, for costume needs, and just as the season demands changes in wardrobe.

We’re excited to welcome on board our media sponsors OAK, Patricia Field and StyleLikeU who will all have their own sections with goodies for you to scoop up. We’d also like to thank the generous support and corporate sponsorship of Perrier, who are providing us with complimentary bubbles to sip on while chilling out in the lounge or browsing the shops.

Pop Souk: where downtown folk sell, not sell out. Join us!"

2011-10-24T23:10:00.001-04:00

"Milk Like Sugar" at Playwrights Horizons, October 21, 2011

A few years ago, there were news reports of unhappy high school girls who formed pacts to all get pregnant and drop out of school. Playwright Kirsten Greenidge has written this concept into the premise of Milk Like Sugar, in which Talisha (Cherise Boothe), Margie (Nikiya Mathis) and Annie (Angela Lewis) are planning their gift list for their shared baby shower including Coach diaper bags and better cellphones. Margie is already pregnant. Talisha has plans in place. Only Annie seems to be dragging her feet even though Talisha has picked out a partner for her as well, Malik (J. Mallory-McCree).

As the play opens, the girls have turned up at a tattoo parlor after hours for Annie to get free ink from an uncertified tattooist. This only one in a continuing series of bad decisions. Annie's mother Myrna (Tonya Pinkins), cleans offices to support her family. She fancies herself a writer, but doesn't seem to understand why she can't use the computers in the offices she cleans.

Ms. Greenidge seems to surf the story on the backs of stereotypes, from the materialistic, frighteningly misinformed, teen girls (Margie says: "Annie, you should get a red tattoo, cuz Malik's phone is red!"), to the sensitive, poet-type Malik trying to escape his ill mother, to the jaded and bitter mother whose life potential ended with her own teenage pregnancy. Even the tattooist is a misunderstood artist. Ms. Greenidge also overworks a flame motif from Annie's tattoo to one of the many heavy-handed scene transitions with overstated symbolism.

Better served might have been the ladybug nursery rhyme that felt much more organic to the proceedings. It certainly would have made a better title than the line pulled from one of Annie's later monologues when she recounts the image of powdered milk in a cupboard as a hungry child. About the only scene that really played truthfully was Margie's traumatic first visit to the doctor and the reality check that followed.

Director Rebecca Taichman, who directed Classic Stage's recent Orlando, keeps things moving once the scenes start, but pushes too hard with the choreographed transitions and seems no more at home in the 21st century than she did in the 16th.

Production values are well up to Playwrights' standards with sets by Mimi Lien and lighting by Justin Townsend. Toni-Leslie James has some fun with the girls' costumes, particularly Margie's penchant for monochromatic outfits.

Milk Like Sugar runs through November 20, 2011. Tickets are available here.

QNY Film Review: Weekend

2011-10-24T12:42:00.000-04:00

By West Village Bill

Last night, Tony P. and I caught Weekend, the much-acclaimed* British film about two men who hook up at a club on a Friday night and spend much of the following weekend together working out whether they have something between them that deserves to continue. That decision is complicated by a plan that one of the two guys has made to move to Portland, Oregon, on Sunday.**

Russell, a lifeguard at a community pool, lives in council housing and grew up an orphan. He's out as a gay man to his close friends but isn't comfortable sharing details of his life with anyone, including his best mate, a straight man named Jamie who grew up with him in the same circumstances, in and out of foster homes. Glen, an aspiring artist, wears his queerness on his sleeve and rants about the larger heterosexual world's disgust with or disinterest in gay men's lives. Glen is insistent that he doesn't want a boyfriend; his fag hag, Jill, explains to Russell that Glen was hurt by an ex's serial cheating and dishonesty. In their first speaking scene together, Glen asks Russell to talk into a tape recorder about their sexual encounter the night before, explaining that it's for some vague art project he's working on. Later, Glen learns that Russell has been cataloging his own sexual encounters on his computer.

Both actors are terrific: Tom Cullen plays Russell, and Chris New is Glen.

The movie, written and directed by Andrew Haigh, explores themes of emotional and sexual secrecy and openness among the two protagonists and their social circles that are further conveyed by shots of the U.K.'s ubiquitous security cameras. I found the whole movie to be engaging, but it took Tony a while to get drawn in. He found Weekend to be pretty dull until the emotional intensity between Russell and Glen was leveled up.

Given that Tony and I are an example of opposites attracting, I wasn't surprised to learn after the movie that we had identified with different guys. We had a wonderful discussion on the walk home during which I tried to make the case that the guy I favored grew just as much as the other one as a result of the couple's intense weekend together.

Weekend is currently playing at the IFC Center and Chelsea Cinemas in Manhattan and at IndieScreen Cinema in Brooklyn.

*For example, the headline on Gawker's review: "The Best Damn Romantic Movie in a Long Time." And QNY blogger Patrick's sweetie, Bill G., highly recommended the movie when I saw him a week ago Sunday at our mutual friend Mark's word game party.

**I don't see that fact as a spoiler. It's conveyed in the movie's trailer, which can be seen at the Gawker link.

Photo by Quinnford & Scout, at weekend-film.com/stills.

TOM FORD TOMORROW

2011-10-22T15:49:00.000-04:00

@8pm

Our Night At Studio 54

2011-10-19T16:23:00.004-04:00

Linda Morand, Tilal Imani, and David Frank Ray

Having been to the opening night of the original Studio 54, I was excited to attend "One Night Only" with my friends Linda Morand, Jane Thorvaldson and Tilal Imani. It was a mad scene with celebs galore (Cameron Diaz, Susan Lucci, Issac Mizrahi to name just a few that I saw) and I had forgotten just how grand looking the old space was with it's chandeliers etc. Where there used to be white banquettes to lounge on with the likes of Andy Warhol, Liza, and Halston there are now theater seats. But the dance floor remained the same except there were no lights swirling about from above and no moon man with a coke spoon to ogle. And the crowd dancing away to 1970s hits seemed just a little more frantic then I remembered......but all in all it was a fun time. Ah yes I remember it well!

ONE NIGHT ONLY

2011-10-18T12:36:00.001-04:00

NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI - News) announced today that the legendary club Studio 54 will reopen at its original location, for the first time in more than 25 years, for one night only on Tuesday, October 18.

Decades after the opening of one of the most celebrated discos in the world, SiriusXM reunites with members of the original team that worked behind the scenes at the club during its 1977-1981 heyday. They will re-create what will be billed as "One More Night" of the iconic '70s nightlife glamour inside the famed Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street.

The hand-picked collaborators who choreographed Studio's nightly parties will create the Studio 54 experience for one more night. The team includes: Karin Bacon, Studio 54 entertainment producer; Scott Bromley, Studio 54 architect; Marc Benecke, Studio 54 doorman; Myra Scheer, assistant to former Studio 54 co-owner Steve Rubell; Chuck Garelick, Studio 54's former head of security; Scott Taylor, Studio 54's former bartender and other insiders.

On hand to capture the club's liberated atmosphere, original Studio 54 DJs Nicky Siano and Leroy Washington will play the iconic era's dance classics. Celebrity guests, some from Steve Rubell's master call list; and lucky SiriusXM listeners will be in attendance to flashback or dance for the first time in the internationally renowned club.

The evening will feature authentic, over the top details that helped define the Studio 54 experience, including the famed theatrics, backdrops, aerialist performers and dancers.

"There has been a great response to the launch of Studio 54 Radio and we want to continue that excitement with this special one-time event," said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. "We are working with many of the members of the original team that Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell so brilliantly assembled to create one more night."

Tom Ford Looking Good

2011-10-18T11:23:00.000-04:00

The Comfort in Schadenfreude

2011-10-16T23:21:00.007-04:00

by Ivan Vargas

I'm rarely at a loss of words for anything. So imagine my silent gape as I saw the kid puking his guts out in front of Fuse TV last night as I made my way towards the PATH train station which would whisk me home. It wasn't a little bit of puke - this was 13 year-old Linda Blair-possessed-by-the-Devil puke. I'd rate it not as thick, split pea but more of a combination of ham, minestrone, with a hint of pumpkin and chicken pot pie. Let's say I didn't get too close to make an assessment so I decided in my mind this was what he barfed out, what became his contribution to the City.

And thank God for wide sidewalks and the lack of rush-hour people traffic. I was able to observe from a safe distance while never venturing too close into the line of liquid fire. Wouldn't you? Of course you would, you self-involved city-dweller decked in designer labels and living in over-priced apartments, contemplating your fate as you look disdainfully at the Occupy Wall Street people from the safety of your own computer and think, "That poor woman at Citibank getting arrested just for closing her account. Oh well, better her than me!" That was the thought racing through my mind as I saw him regurgitating profusely onto the pavement: "Better him than me."

No, you wouldn't come close to him the same way you wouldn't dare place your fat-ass on top of a piss-drenched subway seat for fear of, well, the horror. And let's face it: no one wants a pissy bottom. Especially being a single gay New Yorker in times of crisis, which to me means finding an adequate husband whilst looking good in the process. Not good if you then spoil the ensemble you are wearing because some overeager Long Island native had the poor judgment to choose booze over sanity and wound up a hot mess in the Middle of it All. A hot mess that morphed into a raging fire-hose packed in nasty. Nasty flying at you at 90 miles an hour. Pee-you.

And would you think his friends, all pretty young things, helped? But of course they didn't. There they stood in a tight little circle around him, detached, desensitized, some with phones, filming the event, and not a single one saying, "Dude. You sure you're all right? You sure we don't need to call an ambulance?" Oh, well. Good for them. It's one of the things I love about New York. People can be so helpful for all the wrong reasons. To think: by tomorrow Spilled His Guts will be on YouTube, a viral sensation, the short clip getting over a million views and counting. And all he had to do was have a few too many drinks by midnight when the night was young and semi-pass out on 33rd and 7th. Sometimes I feel life in the city can't get any better....

modernity

2011-10-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

Orvieto

2011-10-13T18:48:00.004-04:00

One of the most beautiful places on earth.
And the balls of freshly made Mozzarella cheese on the salad at the ClanDestin cafe/bistro were heavenly and paired with a superb local Orvieto vino bianco classico.

Perry Brass: Lost Gay New York: Death of Frank Kameny

2011-10-12T10:39:00.001-04:00

Frank Kameny in front of signs Mattachine used for protests in the early 1960s,

image courtesy Wikipedia.

Franklin Kameny: 1925 -2011

Frank Kameny died yesterday, on National Coming Out Day, which is purely appropriate. A Harvard PhD, he served in World War II, and he was fired from a federal job he held as an astronomer for being gay, in 1957; he openly fought his firing, and came out in the process. With Jack Nichols, he founded the Mattachine Society of Washington, DC, in 1961.

Frank was a great and wonderful guy. I remember, distinctly, hearing him at Columbia University in 1967, when the Columbia Homophile League organized a forum on homosexuality and he spoke. What he said was so incredibly clear and logical—and he was actually booed by closet-case queens in the audience who didn't want to hear it; they'd gone out of some sense of morbid curiosity, but couldn't accept what he said, which was basically that human complexity, like animal complexity, gave sex other dimensions than procreative. He said, "Sheep do not grow wool in order to be sheared by humans; it's the same way with sex." I was 19 years old and just stunned by him. He was already at that time an "old man," in his 40s, and for me to hear a distinguished adult say something positive about myself was wonderful.

What I loved about Frank was his forthrightness and complete lack of fear about speaking the uncomfortable truth. That is something that we took to another level in the Gay Liberation Front, the first gay (and most radical) group to be organized after Stonewall, which I was a member of: speaking the uncomfortable truth. Now in this age, when the business Newspeak has made "comfortability" not only acceptable but required, to be able to say what others need to hear but don't welcome is important. But I am glad that Frank was there early for us.

What people always remember about Frank was how extremely gentlemanly he was, conservatively dressed, and genuinely reticent. But he was a tremendous speaker when the time called for it. He also ran as the first openly gay candidate for Congress, in 1971, from Washington, again, and although he didn't win, he paved the way for other gay politicos to follow.

I saw him at other moments but rarely. One of the last was a large gathering at the LGBT Center in NY several years ago, when Barbara Gittings was there also, one of her last public appearances. I got to speak to Frank for a short while, and just told him how glad I was that he was still around, and that I'd been close to Jack Nichols. He said to me, about the world and culture that we had all grown up in: "We were right and they were wrong, that's what you have to remember."

Perry Brass's latest book is The Manly Art of Seduction. You can learn more about him at his website, www.perrybrass.com . His newest book will be King of Angels, A Novel About the Genesis of Identity and Belief, to be published in March of 2012.

Man and Boy

2011-10-09T23:47:00.000-04:00

"Man and Boy" presented by Roundabout Theatre Company at the American Airlines Theatre, September 10, 2011

Back to reviving classic American theatre, the Roundabout has scored Frank Langella to lead Terrence Rattigan's 1963 story of a corrupt, big-money, business mogul. Set in 1934 New York, Gregor Antonescu (Mr. Langella), who single-handedly saved the the Franc in 1926, is viewed as the Warren Buffett of his day. The parallels to today continue with the Great Depression era during which dissatisfaction with Roosevelt sound a lot like the criticisms of President Obama. The truth turns out to reveal Antonescu as a Madoff-like cretin, who created an elaborate Ponzi scheme which is about to collapse.

Antonescu is laying low in NY, and turns to his estranged, illegitimate son Basil (Adam Driver), for help to complete a last ditch deal to re-supply his organization with cash. Basil has cut ties and abandoned the lifestyle that might have been his after a failed attempt to shoot his father on his 21st birthday.

Mr. Langella is masterful in this creakily written role, finding depth and nuance that likely aren't on the page. Mr. Driver is miscast as Basil. His physical presence is anachronistically buff for the sensitive musician that is this bastard son. Francesca Faridany turns up for another shallow socialite, similar to her role of Vida Philmore from the Atlantic Theatre Company's The New York Idea from earlier this year.

Director Maria Aitken keeps things moving, but the play might have benefited from a bit of adaptation 50 years later. Derek McLane's Greenwich Village basement apartment works nicely, but is more serviceable than remarkable, as do Martin Pakledinaz' costumes.

Man and Boy is scheduled to run through November 27.

John Lennon (1940-1980)

2011-10-09T13:09:00.002-04:00

John Lennon's birthday would have been today

Taverna de' Mercanti

2011-10-07T18:40:00.001-04:00

The BaadLamb and I are in Rome for a hearty dose of La Dolce Vita ( a birthday gift from him to me!) and thought to pause long enough to make a restaurant and neighborhood recommendation. Along the crust of Trastevere where it meets the Tiber is a lovely area surrounding the Church of Santa Cecilia with its excellent excavations and its cortile and beautiful stone bell tower. After touring the church we stumbled upon a glowing and rustic structure that has been turned into a huge restaurant on three levels. It is the kind of authentic old stone structure that panders to people who like "authentic" even though it doesn't have to pander and we wish it had not. The "bufalo" mozzarella in the insalata caprese is freshly made. The garlic and olive oil bruschetta is richly savory. Skip the pizza which was surprisingly bland and go with the wonderfully grilled meats on skewers. After walking more than six miles today, it was good to sit in a warmly lit and comfortable hall.

Interior views after the jump.

Double bill at the Jadite Gallery

2011-10-07T14:54:00.026-04:00

words & images: Miguel Dominguez

Jadite Galley owner and custom framer Roland Sainz with Richard Taddei

On Monday, October 4th, in Hell's Kitchen, the Jadite Gallery hosted the opening of a show of new work by Richard Taddei and Joseph Radoccia, two very accomplished gay artists.

Joseph Radoccia

New York City born Richard Taddei produced the murals at the legendary Tavern On The Green, the Hotel Pierre, the New York Historical Society, and the “1985 Party of the Year” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His work at the Jadite Gallery consists of male portraits and nudes, in a style inspired by Hellenistic and Renaissance figurative imagery, but given a modern twist that one of the guests described to me as Cubist. Rightly so, in my opinion, although nothing reminiscent of Picasso at all.

Stephan Economou, Christina Ladas, Richard and Susanne Tighe

Michael Letzig with Richard

Born and raised in Western New York, Joseph Radoccia moved to Brooklyn in the 80s, focusing his art on urgent social issues of the times, particularly Apartheid and AIDS. In the 90s, after a one year sabbatical in Italy, his attention turned to allegorical subjects, addressing issues of sexual identity and censorship, resulting in many exhibitions in New York, Provincetown, Atlanta and New Orleans. In 2001, he began making regular pilgrimages to Madagascar, the major inspiration for his recent work consisting of contemplative florals.

Art collector/photographer David Jarrett with painter George Towne

To fully appreciate their work, don't be satisfied with the virtual images. Visit the Jadite Gallery before the close of the exhibit on October 29th.

To see more photos of this article, go to my facebook albums page.

Playwrights Horizons - Discount on "Milk Like Sugar"

2011-10-06T17:56:00.001-04:00

Posted by Mondschein

The good folks at Playwrights Horizons have made the following offer.

DISCOUNT TICKETS TO MILK LIKE SUGAR for BLOG READERS:

Order by October 25 and use the code MILKGR
$35 (reg. $55) for Fri, Sat, and Sun evenings, Oct. 14-16; Oct 21-23
$40 (reg. $55) for all other performances Oct. 13-Nov 20

Online: www.TicketCentral.com<http://www.ticketcentral.com/>
Call: (212) 279-4200 Noon to 8PM daily
In Person: Ticket Central Box Office, 416 W. 42nd Street

Jamie Pesavento 2012 Fashion Reveals

2011-10-06T15:26:00.011-04:00

words & images: Miguel Dominguez

Jamie Pesavento presents his latest creations

When His Royal Highness Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, decided to get himself hitched, all the ladies present at the wedding, especially Her Majesty The Queen, would have been better served had they consulted designer Jamie Pesavento for their attire.

Yes, Jamie’s designs are the stuff that women dream to be seen in at the most formal and important occasions of their lives. I was completely dazzled at the new numbers he was showing to buyers this past September 19th. I am sorry I didn’t get to photograph every one of them on a model.

Too see more images, go to my facebook photo albums page.

prince fair

2011-10-06T12:22:00.001-04:00

Lemon Sky

2011-09-29T22:56:00.001-04:00

"Lemon Sky" presented by the Keen Company at the Theatre Row, September 24, 2011

(photo by Richard Termine)

My experience with the Keen Company has usually been very good - solid productions and strong scripts. This production is a tribute to the late Lanford Wilson in this autobiographical play. This is the first time they have missed the mark for me.

17 year old Alan (Keith Nobbs) has traveled west to live with Douglas (Kevin Kilner) his estranged father who has remarried and has two sons by his second wife Ronnie (Kellie Overbey). Douglas is eager to make up for lost time, and Alan is at first receptive, but as time passes, Doug's old habits resurface. Complicating the matter are the two foster daughters, Penny (Amie Tedesco) and Carol (Alyssa May Gold), who bring in needed cash to the household budget with their monthly state allocation.

Director Jonathan Silverstein has some strong actors among the uneven cast, but doesn't maximize their strengths. Mr. Nobbs, last seen in a similar part as narrator/character in Broadway's Lombardi admirably carries much of the load, sharing lots of exposition in direct-address monologues, then quickly stepping into a scene as a confused high school graduate in the early 70s trying to figure out what his life will be. Ms. Overbey also steps up to an underwritten role.

Scenic designer Bill Clark makes excellent use of space for the California suburban ranch house setting, complemented by Josh Bradford's unobtrusive lighting.

Mr. Wilson has many other better-remembered titles in his canon. Other than the autobiographical nature of this play, it's unclear what drew Keen Company to select it.

I'm hopeful for better results with their next production.

Lemon Sky runs through October 22.

The Submission

2011-09-29T22:13:00.000-04:00

Posted Mondschein

The Submission, presented by MCC Theatre at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, September 11, 2011

Writing a play is a daunting task. Getting a new play produced takes "daunting" to exponential levels.

Danny (Jonathan Groff) has been writing for a couple of years, trying to get established on the new play festival circuit. In a unexplained fit of inspiration, he writes a fresh, powerful and highly provocative tale of a young African-American trying to escape from the life his family has led for generations. He shows it first to his best friend Trevor (Will Rogers), an aspiring actor, who gives him the first inclination that he's written something very special. Danny finally shows it to his boyfriend Pete (Eddie Kaye-Thomas), who echoes the praise.

Danny, however, has already made submissions to several new play festivals and has just been accepted by the renowned Humana Festival. All sounds good, looks positive - except for one thing: Danny has submitted under a name that suggests a woman of recent African-American extract. He justifies the action on the rationale that no festival committee would take him seriously as the author of such a play. With the pseudonym, the subject matter doesn't conflict with its source, and it seems to have worked.

That is, until he realizes the playwright is part of the staging process at Humana. He hires Emilie (Rutina Welsey) an aspiring actress to play his playwright and channel information to and from him as the production comes to life.

Playwright Jeff Talbot has taken this Cyrano concept and given it enough twist to make it work. Along the way, he starts a really interesting dialogue on the comparison of discrimination among two disparate groups, gays and blacks. His characters of Danny and Emilie are better drawn than the supporting roles of Pete and Trevor, and interestingly, none of them are thoroughly likeable. Each presents a bristle or mean streak at one point or another. He has a tendency to beat a dead horse, as Emilie and Danny repeat the same argument at least three times. The first time is riveting, the last - deafening.

Mr. Groff is effective as the young man getting a little long in the tooth to be so callow. His Danny rationalizes and justifies each miscalculation as immature young adults do. Ms. Wesley matches him well as Emilie evolves from playing the role of the playwright to developing a real affection and feeling of ownership of Danny's script. Messrs. Rogers and Thomas support well.

David Zinn's set functions well, serving the multiple locations and is suitably complemented by David Weiner's interesting lighting.

Director Walter Bobbie gets caught up in the argument scenes where a bit of trimming would have better served the play, but otherwise keeps things moving well.

The Submission runs through October 22.

A SKIN CARE OPTION FOR MEN

2011-09-29T11:08:00.004-04:00

EVOLUTIONMAN has created a modern skincare and grooming collection with every man in mind. Whether he’s an outdoorsy type, perfectionist, or workaholic, every guy needs to look and feel his best. Many skin care products on the market use cheap synthetic chemicals that should avoid anyone’s face, but with EVOLUTIONMAN you are promised the highest quality with natural extracts, such as Antarctic seaweed and chamomile. EVOLUTIONMAN is not only polished and sophisticated, but the cutting edge formulations provide maximum results with minimal effort. Check it out here.