Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 2/16/09

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 7 February 16, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: February 16-22, 2009

MON: 2/16: Hudson Valley, NY: Winter Explosion. popular LGBT African-American winter event. www.winterexplosion.com

WED: 2/18: New York, NY: Michael Musto, Village Voice columnist, hosts Out Professional's "Prelude to the Academy Awards". http://www.outprofessionals.org/op/214

FRI: 2/20: Las Vegas, NV: E. Lynn Harris does a reading/booksigning of his new novel "Basketball Jones". 7PM. Borders. N. Rainbow Blvd. http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780767926270&view=isbn_events

SAT-SAT: 2/21-2/28: Telluride, CO: Telluride Gay Ski Week. www.telluridegayskiweek.com

SAT: 2/21: New York, NY: David Zippel performs "It Started With a Dream: Lyrics He Wrote / Lyrics He Wishes He'd Wrote. The Tony Award winning lyricist ("City of Angels", "The Goodbye Girl") and Oscar nominee ("Mulan", "Hercules") performs a benefit for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS. www.bcefa.org.

SAT: 2/21: Northampton, MA: The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler's play, performed by the Villa Jidiiots, as a benefit for the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts. http://www.villajidiots.com/thevaginamonologues.html

SUN: 2/22: Hollywood, CA: 81st Annual Academy Awards. Hugh Jackman hosts. ABC broadcasts live.www.oscars.org

Newsworthy:

Coming Out: Showtime to Produce TV Series on Coming Out. "Way Out" comes from the A&E team who produced "Intervention". The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid72434.asp

Gay Media Investment Fund in Receivership. Avalon Equity, the investment fund which is the major shareholder in Window Media, which owns the Washington Blade, Southern Voice, Houston Voice, South Florida Blade, Genre Magazine, David Atlanta and The 411 Magazine, has been forced into receivership by the federal Small Business Administration. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/gay-media-inves.html

Blanche Faces Hurricane of Legal Action. The University of the South, which owns the intellectual property rights for “Streetcar Named Desire,” has threatened legal action against a one-man show that features a modern-day Blanche DuBois. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/theater/05ceas.html?ref=theater

Farewell "La Cage": The final curtain has fallen on the long-running Las Vegas female impersonators revue ''An Evening at La Cage.''. The New York Times reports:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/02/10/arts/AP-La-Cage-Closure.html

The Buzz (People Making News)

T.R. Knight, the out star of "Grey's Anatomy" is leaving the series along with Katherine Heigl. The Los Angeles Times reports: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/02/katherine-heigl.html

Awards and Honors:

Winners: Writers Guild of America: "Milk" for Original Screenplay (written by Dustin Lance Black). Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126075.html

Winners: Independent Theatre Reviewers Association (ITRA) Awards: Liza Minnelli for Best Theatrical Performance. www.TheatreReviewers.com

Nominees: Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. Dolly Parton and John Glover make the list. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125999.html

Nominees: Helen Hayes Awards for outstanding theatre in Washington, DC. The Washington Post reports: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/09/AR2009020903596.html

In Memoriam:

Robert Anderson, the playwright famous for "Tea and Sympathy", died on 2/09/09 at age 91. "Tea and Sympathy" was about a sensitive prep school student accused of homosexuality, who sleeps with Laura, a teacher's unhappy wife. Deborah Kerr played the wife, who uttered the drama's famous line "Years from now, when you talk about this, and you will--be kind." The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/theater/10anderson.html?_r=1&ref=theater

Blossom Dearie, a fixture on the New York cabaret scene for decades, died on 2/07/09 at age 82. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/arts/music/09dear.html?_r=1

Photo Shoots and Video

***Liza Minnelli's CD Signing from Playbill.com: http://www.playbill.com/multimedia/gallery/313

***Cheyenne Jackson will guest star as a gay dad on "Ugly Betty" this season. From AfterElton.com: http://www.afterelton.com/blog/snicks/how-do-you-make-a-great-show-even-better-cheyenne+jackson

Features

Friend of Dorothy. "Wicked" writer Gregory Maguire talks about his latest Oz book, "A Lion Among Men" with The Advocate: http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid72265.asp

Cheyenne Jackson gave his dog swimming lessons and other important 411 for Cheyennetologists from New York Magazine: http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/02/cheyenne_jackson_gave_his_dog.html

Partners Onstage and Off. Neil Bartram and Brian Hill, creators of the new Broadway musical "The Story of My Life" are partners off-stage. Brian Moylan reports for Next: http://www.nextmagazine.net/features/2.php

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***Blanche Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire. Mark Sam Rosenthal is Blanche, who leaves New Orleans for the Superdome, is evacuated to Shreveport, and becomes a fragile, alcoholic, sex-addicted belle. to 3/15/09. www.sohoplayhouse.com
***Christine Jorgensen Reveals. Bradford Louryk stars as America's first famous transsexual, in his solo theatre piece which won numerous awards. “Ex-GI Becomes Blonde Beauty: Operation Transforms Bronx Youth” (NY Daily News headline: 12/01/52). to 3/15/09. www.ticketcentral.com
***Distracted. Cynthia Nixon stars in Lisa Loomer's comedy about parenting in the age of the internet and Ritalin. to 5/03/09. www.roundabouttheatre.org.
***The Story of My Life, a musical about two guys and a lifelong friendship. Malcolm Gets stars. www.thestoryofmylife.com

Elsewhere...

***Dolls. World premiere by and starring Michael Phillis. A gay man's doll collection comes to life. to 2/22/09. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org.
***Dusty and the Big Bad World by Cusi Cram. Dusty, hero of "the most popular animated PBS children's television show in America" goes to visit a family with two daddies. to 2/28/09. Denver, CO. www.denvercenter.org
***I Am My Own Wife, Bruce Nelson plays Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, real-life German cross-dresser, who survived the Nazis after WW2. Winner 2004 Pulitzer Prize to 2/22/09. Baltimore, MD. www.everymantheatre.org.
***The Little Dog Laughed. The Tony-nominated comedy. A barracuda Hollywood agent in high heels has a problem. Her matinee idol client plans to come out. to 3/08/09. Washington, DC. www.signature-theatre.org.
***Tennessee in the Summer. Joe Besecker's take on the psyche of gay playwright Tennessee Williams. Winner of the Jane Chambers International Gay Playwriting Contest. to 3/01/09. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org.
***Xanadu, the Broadway musical hit based on the Olivia Newton John movie. "Children's theatre for 40 year old gay men". Chicago, IL. www.BroadwayInChicago.com

On Screen (and Video & DVD)

Resource: Cine-Queer: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: http://www.glaad.org/eye/cinequeer.php

Out on Screen...

***Ciao. Two men meet after the death of a mutual friend. www.ciaomovie.com.
***Doubt, the film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's award-winning drama. A nun (Meryl Streep) suspects a popular priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of abusing a boy.
***I Love You Phillip Morris. Based on Steve McVicker's book about real-life events. Jim Carrey plays Steven Russell, who falls for his cellmate, Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor), after being put in prison and makes regular attempts to escape when the object of his affections is released.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Also starring: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco.
***Shifting the Canvas. Cheyenne Jackson, Scott Thompson and John Paul Pitoc star in this comedy drama about a Brooklyn cafe owner, who acts as "patriarch" to a wayward group of younger gay and lesbian artists. www.shiftingthecanvas.com.
***Were The World Mine, Tim Gustafson's film about a struggling gay teen in a homophobic town, who fantasizes about a potion that turns the town gay. http://www.weretheworldminefilm.com/

Out On Video & DVD

***Brideshead Revisited. In the 1930s, Charles and Sebastian (Matthew Goode and Ben Wishaw) tryst on a country estate. www.bridesheadrevisited-themovie.com.
***Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Neil Patrick Harris stars in Joss Whedon's internet musical.
***Religulous. Bill Maher travels the globe to investigate the current state of world religion, questioning many religious leaders on LGBT rights. www.lionsgate.com/religulous.
***"Rent" Filmed Live on Broadway. Film made of the final performances of the landmark musical New to DVD and Blu-Ray.
***The Yellow Brick Road And Beyond. A feature documentary takes a look at the phenomenon that is The Wizard of Oz, highlighting some of the earliest stage and screen adaptations, and the musical Wicked.

On TV Of Note: All times listed are ET. Check local listings for times in your area.

Resource:TV Gayed, GLAAD's Weekly Guide to What's LGBT on TV: Updated every Friday. www.glaad.org/eye/tv_listings.php

***February: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***WED: 2/18: Jerome Robbins, the genius American dancer/choreographer/director ("West Side Story") is profiled on "American Masters". His genius was tempered by obsessive behavior, perfectionism, and guilt over his bisexualism. PBS. Check local listings.
***SUN: 2/22: 81st Annual Academy Awards. 8PM. Hugh Jackman hosts. ABC. www.oscars.org

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

2/23/09: New York, NY: Defying Inequality: The Broadway Concert: A Celebrity Benefit for Equal Rights, benefiting: Family Equality Council, Empire State Pride Agenda, Equality California, Garden State Equality and The VT Freedom to Marry Task Force. Evening includes Marc Shaiman's "Prop 8 - The Musical". Cast includes: Douglas Carter Beane, Kerry Butler, Lynda Carter, Gavin Creel, Harvey Fierstein, John Gallagher, Jr., Jonathan Groff, Cheyenne Jackson, Carson Kressley, Cameron Mathison, Rue McClanahan, Seth Rudesky, Michael Urie, www.defyinginequality.com.

2/24/09-3/01/09: New York, NY: CineKink NYC. mixed gay/ straight film festival exploring a wide variety of sexualities through documentary, comedy, porn, drama & more. www.cinekink.com

3/01/09-3/07/09: Lake Tahoe, NV: Lake Tahoe WinterFest Gay & Lesbian Ski Week. includes Outlaugh comedy festival. www.LakeTahoeWinterfest.com

3/4/09-3/6/09: Philadelphia, PA: Rethinking Sex: Gender and Sexuality Studies State of the Field Conference. www.sas.upenn.edu/wstudies/rethinkingsex/

3/06/09-3/08/09: Los Angeles, CA: Fusion, LGBT people of color film festival.
www.outfest.org/fusion.html

3/07/09: Chicago, IL: Chicago Takes Off. burlesque show to fight HIV/AIDS in the Chicagoland area. www.rideforaids.org

3/12/09-3/14/09: Storrs, CT: True Colors XVI Conference focusing on the needs of LGBTQ youth and their allies through a comprehensive annual conference. Programs on mental and behavioral health. www.ourtruecolors.org.

3/23/09: New York, NY: Legends, a reading of the infamous James Kirkwood comedy with Charles Busch, Lypsinka, Whoopi Goldberg and Bryan ("Mad Men") Batt. A benefit for Friends in Deed: The Crisis Center for Life-Threatening Illness. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125984.html

3/25/09-3/29/09: Keystone, CO: OutBoard, annual LGBT snowboarding festival. www.outboard.org

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Black History Month

1. Question: Name this young, gifted, bi, black American author and playwright, who became the foremother of African-American drama, and a contributor to the understanding of pro-choice, discrimination, and Africa. She died at age 35, but her work is still read and performed frequently. Answer: Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965), the author of "A Raisin in the Sun". A TV version with Sean Combs and Phylicia Rashad aired last year.

2. Question: Name this American author, playwright and Civil Rights activist. Gay characters appeared in his works, which often dealt with the personal impact of prejudice against those who were young, gifted, black, and gay. Answer: James Baldwin (1924-1987), whose works included "Giovanni's Room" and "Another Country".

3. Question: Name this American-born bisexual dancer, singer and actress, who lived most of her life in France. She was known for her extravagant night club act. She also adopted twelve children from all over the world and called them her "rainbow-family". Answer: Josephine Baker (1906-1975).

4. Question: Name this flamboyant rock and roll legend, who has topped pop music charts since 1956. Answer: Little Richard, who brought pop music "Lucille" and "Tutti Fruitti".

5. Question: Name this American activist in the struggle for human rights and economic justice who helped organize one of the most important civil rights actions in American history. Answer: Bayard Rustin (1912-1987), an assistant to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who was chief organizer of the 'March on Washington for jobs and freedom" in 1963.

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Hooray for Hollywood

1. Question: Name this 1969 film, which featured gay themes and was the first X-rated film to win the “Best Picture” Oscar. Its openly gay director made several mainstream movies with gay characters.

2. Question: Name this 1972 Oscar-winning film, based on a Tony-winning musical based on a gay author’s journals about his life in Europe. It won 8 Oscars. Its in-your-face decadence featured threesomes, transvestites and other club types.

3. Question: Name this actor, who received an Oscar for a breakthrough performance as a real-life transgender victim.

4. Question: Name this actor, who received an Oscar for playing an HIV-infected man who was the subject of discrimination in the first major Hollywood film to deal with HIV.

5. Question: Name this out singer and songwriter who got an Oscar gold with a song about going green. For over a decade, this artist's music has been top of the charts; the artist is a GLAAD Media Award winner, a cancer survivor, and a spokesperson for coming out issues.

The first person to submit the correct answers gets their name in print right here. Email your answers to: OnQYB@aol.com. If you do not want your email address to appear in the blog format of this newsletter, please indicate that. http://cosnewsweekly.blogspot.com/