Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 18 May 4, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com
The Fine Print
See previous editions
To subscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Subscribe COS News” in subject line.
To unsubscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Cancel COS News” in subject line.
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: May 4-10, 2009
thru SUN: 6/28: Minneapolis, MN: Everything Kushner at The Guthrie. a celebration honoring the work of out playwright Tony Kushner (best known for his epic "Angels in America"). www.guthrietheater.org/kushner
MON-SUN: 5/04-5/17: Dublin, Ireland: Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. www.gaytheatre.ie
TUE: 5/05: New York: Tony Awards Nominations announced. Cynthia Nixon and Lin-Manuel Miranda make the announcement at 8:30AM. www.tonyawards.com
WED-SAT: 5/06-5/09: Toronto, ON: We're Funny That Way. Canada's International LGBT Comedy Festival. www.werefunnythatway.com
SAT: 5/09: San Francisco, CA: 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. www.glaad.org
SUN: 5/10: New York, NY: When You’re Good to Mama: The Mother of All Mother’s Day Concerts. Broadway salutes the bonds between LGBT people and their moms. Cast includes: Kerry Butler, Malolm Gets, and more. A benefit for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. www.gaycenter.org
Newsworthy:
Iowa: An historic day for gay couples as marriage equality becomes legal. USA Toay reports: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-04-26-iowa-gay-marriage_N.htm
New Hampshire is a step closer to allowing gay marriage after a state Senate vote. The Associated Press reports: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ifaEWKe-n6HVbTVUVY2uN4PEDP4gD97SDET80
Yale University's first LGBT reunion was not controversy-free as activist Larry Kramer condemned Yale's "conspiracy of silence" on LGBT issues. Kramer was the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the Ivy League school's gay community. The Yale Daily News reports: http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/28996
DiversityInc announces the "Top Ten Companies for LGBT Employees List": http://www.diversityinc.com/public/5795.cfm
The "Craigslist Killer" solicited men and transsexuals, according to a Today Show report. Bay Windows reports: www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=blog&sc2=news&sc3=&id=90421
Florida Gay-Themed Library Comes Out. The Stonewall Library and Archives, a collection of gay-themed material that was the subject of political controversy two years ago, celebrated its grand opening in Fort Lauderdale. The Miami Herald reports: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/story/1015090.html
Coming to a Film Festival Near You. "Outrage", a documentary by Kirby Dick, director of "This Film Is Not Yet Rated", which exposes closeted policitians and the damage they do to their party, their constituents, and themselves. The film will be screened at the Tribeca Film Festival. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/04/closeted-gay-republicans-hung-out-to-dry-in-outrage.html
Awards and Honors:
Nominees: Drama Desk Awards: "9 to 5" picks up the most nominations; "Liza's At The Palace", Raul Esparza, Christopher Sieber, Bill T. Jones, Elton John, Stephen Sondheim, Liza Minnelli will receive a special award. For details: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/128654.html
In Memoriam:
Beatrice Arthur, the tall, deep-voiced actress whose razor-sharp delivery of comedy lines made her a TV star in the hit shows "Maude" and "The Golden Girls" and who won a Tony Award for the musical "Mame," died 4/25/09 at age 86. She was beloved by the gay community and performed in many fundraisers on the community's behalf.
For BroadwayWorld.com's photo tribute: http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Tribute_Remembering_Bea_Arthur_20090425
Features
Death of LGBT Print Media. Gay papers and magazines are dwindling as the web becomes a more viable source for news and information. EDGE Boston reports: http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=culture&sc2=features&sc3=&id=90385
Transcript: Nick Adams, Broadway actor who hosted the Live Out Loud benefit. Thanks to arts reporter Wayman Wong: http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=1718844
Profile: Kirby Dick is Outraged. the film-maker discusses his new documentary about closeted politicians. the Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid80876.asp
Profile: William Ivey Long, the prolific Broaway costume designer. The Hartford Courant reports: http://www.courant.com/entertainment/stage/hc-williamiveylong.artapr26,0,456975.story
In Print:
Vincente Minnelli: Hollywood's Dark Dreamer by Emannuel Levy. St. Martin's Press. A bio of the late film director of MGM musicals fame (husband to Judy Garland, father to Liza). Minnelli's homosexuality is discussed in the book.
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Billy Elliot, the Elton John/Lee Hall musical based on the movie about a boy who wants to become a ballet dancer. www.billyelliotbroadway.com.
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Confessions of a Prairie Bitch. Alison "Nellie Oleson" Arngrim brings her potty-mouthed recollections of "Little House on the Prairie" to The Big Apple for Mother's Day. Arngrim is a big league AIDS activist on the side. 5/10/09. www.SpinCycleNYC.com
***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***Lesley Gore, the out "It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To" singer, weeps at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency. 5/05/09-5/09/09.
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***Dead Man Walking. The Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally opera based on the film about Sister Helen Prejean and death row. to 5/10/09, Ft. Worth, TX. www.fwopera.org.
***Grey Gardens, the award-winning musical about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, former society queens turned into recluses with 51 cats.to 5/17/09. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. www.ordway.org.
***I Am My Own Wife, the fascinating real-life story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a German transvestite who managed to survive both Nazi rule and the repressive East German Communist regime. to 5/10/09: Boston, MA. http://www.bostontheatrescene.com/season/production.aspx?id=6893&src=t
***The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures. A world premiere by Tony Kushner. 5/09/09-6/28/09. Minneapolis, MN. www.guthrietheater.org.
***New Year's Eve. Out playwright/director Arthur Laurents' new comedy which features Marlo Thomas. to 5/10/09. New Brunswick, NJ. www.gsponline.org.
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...
***Every Little Step. A documentary about the making of the 2006 Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line".
***Little Ashes, Paul Morrison's drama about the young lives and loves of Salvador Dali, Luis Bunuel and Frederico Garcia Lorca. www.littleashes-themovie.com.
***Outrage. Kirby Dick's ("This Film is Not Yet Rated") documentary, a searing indictment of the hypocrisy of closeted politicians who actively campaign against the LGBT community they covertly belong to. Includes analysis by Barney Frank, Jim McGreevey, Larry Kramer, Michelangelo Signorile, and Mike Rogers
***The Universe of Keith Haring, a documentary on the late gay pop artist. Now making the rounds of film festivals and independent cinemas
***Valentino: The Last Emperor, a new documentary about the life of the Italian fashion designer, focusing on his business and romantic relationship with Giancarlo Giametti, who says they've spent a total of two months apart since they met..
Out On Video & DVD
***A Jihad for Love, the daring documentary filmed in 12 countries in which Muslim gay filmmaker Parvez Sharma explores the intersections of Islam and homosexuality.
***Barbra Streisand: The Concerts. 3 DVD set including her concert with Il Divo, the HBO special, and the Broadway Album special.
***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.
***Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About, a documentary about the American dancer/choreographer/director whose genius was tempered by obsessive behavior, perfectionism, and guilt over his bisexualism.
***Kiki & Herb Live at The Knitting Factory. The Tony-nominated gender-bending downtown club act.
***King Lear. Out gay rights activist Sir Ian McKellan stars as Shakespeare's elderly king. www.shoppbs.org.
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
***May: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***THU: 5/07: Grey Gardens, a new movie about eccentric Jackie O cousins Edie Beale and her mother, starring Drew Barrymore as Little Edie and Jessica Lange as her mother Big Edie. 12N & 9PM. HBO. www.hbo.com/films/greygardens
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
Resources: Pride Calendars.
There are too many PRIDE events to list here during PRIDE season (which generally runs May-August). Please check the following resources for events in your area:
***Damron Guides Event Calendars: http://www.damron.com/calendar/index.html
***Pride Events worldwide: www.interpride.org.
***PRIDE Calendars: http://www.gayfriendlybiz.com/calendar.html
***Gay.com’s Pride Calendar: www.gay.com/pride/calendar/
5/14/09-5/24/09: Toronto, ON: Inside Out: Toronto LGBT Film & Video Festival. www.insideout.on.ca
5/14/09-5/17/09: New Orleans, LA: Saints & Sinners. LGBT writers & readers from around the country gather for a weekend of readings, panels & performances including Dorothy Allison, Michelle Tea & Mark Doty. A benefit for the New Orleans AIDS Task Force. www.sasfest.com
5/20/09-5/25/09: Oklahoma City, OK: Annual Gay Bowling Tournament. www.igbo.org
5/21/09-5/25/09: Atlanta, GA: Mondo Homo Dirty South. queer-centric festival featuring music, dance, crafts, performance & more. www.mondohomo.com
5/23/09-5/24/09: Houston, TX: Lone Star Classic Softball Tournament, sponsored by the Montrose Softball League. www.montrosesoftballleague.com/lonestarclassic.htm
5/26/09-5/31/09: Honolulu, HI: Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival. www.hglcf.org
5/28/09-5/31/09: Ft. Worth, TX: Q Cinema. annual celebration of LGBT-themed movies. www.qcinema.org
5/31/09-6/06/09: San Francisco, CA to Los Angeles, CA: AIDS LifeCycle to raise money for HIV/AIDS services. www.aidslifecycle.org
6/01/09-6/30/09: San Francisco, CA: National Queer Arts Festival. performances & exhibitions highlighting artists from around the country. www.QueerCulturalCenter.org
6/01/09: Boston, MA: AIDS Walk & 5K Run Boston. www.aac.org
6/02/09-6/08/09: Orlando, FL: Gay Days at Disney World. http://www.gaydays.com/
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: May Milestones
correct.
1. Question: Name this military strategist and acclaimed warrior, Macedonia’s favorite son, born May 15, in 536BC. His friendship with a young man was the type that was made for the silver screen, although the last attempt to film his life was a box-office bomb. Answer: Alexander (The Great). The boyfriend was Hephaestion.
2. Question: Name this American politician, who came out (under pressure) in the Boston Globe on May 30, 1987. One of the first elected officials to come out, he’s been a leader of the LGBT community ever since. Answer: Barney Frank, US Representative from Massachusetts.
3. Question: Name this newspaper column, which premiered on May 24, 1976. Its author portrayed a group of diverse people in a small San Francisco house. The serial column became a book, a series of sequels, and television miniseries. Answer: Tales of The City by Armistead Maupin. It first appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle.
4. Question: Name this Pulitzer Prize winning play, which opened on Broadway on May 4, 1993. A sweeping chronicle of America in the age of AIDS, it swept up every major theatre award before being adapted into a television film, which did likewise. Answer: Angels in America by Tony Kushner.
5. Question: Name this American author, born May 16, 1921 in Chicago. Among his most unforgettable literary characters is a madcap aunt, who brings up her nephew in non-traiditional ways. Answer: Patrick Dennis, author of “Auntie Mame”.
5/04: This Week’s Trivia Quiz: “PFLAG Moms”
1. Question: Name this “PFLAG Mom”, who turned her daughter’s very public coming out (on television and in the media) into a positive experience for parents everywhere with a book, an internet advice column, and as a spokesperson for a national coming out service organization.
2. Question: Name this “PFLAG Mom”, an award-winning actress, director, composer and singer, who has donated significant monies to LGBT service organizations, both to honor her gay filmmaker son and her many LGBT fans. She recently returned to movie-making and a global concert tour.
3. Question: Name this “PFLAG Mom”, former government bureaucrat and author of a 1981 romance novel about lesbians in the 19th century American west. When her husband’s competitor mentioned her out daughter, this mom called his actions “a cheap trick”.
4. Question: Name this “PFLAG Mom”, also an award-winning actress and singer. Her daughter, a spokesperson and activist for LGBT rights, wrote two books describing her coming out process and her mom’s reactions and eventual support. Mom is a donor to LGBT causes.
5. Question: Name this “PFLAG Mom-in-law” (who would have been a PFLAG supporter had the organization been around in her day). An icon in the LGBT community, she was supposedly married to a gay man and her eldest daughter married at least one. Daughter’s first husband was the subject of a recent Broadway musical which won a Tony Award for its Australian star.
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/
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 4/27/09
Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 17 April 27, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com
The Fine Print
See previous issues.
Subscription Information: This newsletter is available via free email subscription only. Our mailing list is confidential.
To subscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Subscribe COS News” in subject line.
To unsubscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Cancel COS News” in subject line.
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: April 27-May 3, 2009
Ongoing: Portland, OR: Coming Out: Discourses and Resources. A new discussion group led by a of rotating queer-identified trusted individuals. Neither therapy nor lecture. 6PM-7PM on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. www.pdxqcenter.org
thru SUN: 6/28: Minneapolis, MN: Everything Kushner at The Guthrie. a celebration honoring the work of out playwright Tony Kushner (best known for his epic "Angels in America"). www.guthrietheater.org/kushner
theu SUN: 5/03: Miami, FL: Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. www.MGLFF.com
MON: 4/27: Arcata, CA: David Sedaris reads from "When You Are Ingulfed in Flames". Also: WED: 4/29: Los Angeles, CA: THU-FRI: 4/30-5/01: Seattle, WA: SAT: 5/02: Albuquerque, NM: SUN: 5/03: Las Vegas, NV: http://www.barclayagency.com/sedaris_appearances.html
MON: 4/27: New York, NY: Live Out Loud 8th Annual Young Trailblazers Benefit Gala. Hosted by Nick Adams. Chelsea Art Museum. www.livoutloud.info
MON: 4/27: New York, NY: Making The Boys, a documentary about the making of "The Boys in The Band" premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival. 4:30PM. Mart Crowley, the playwright, and Michael Musto, the Village Voice columnist, lead the post-screening discussion. http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/archives/2009/03/more_life_for_t.php
MON-TUE: 4/27-4/28: New York, NY: 23rd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition, the two-day Broadway spectacular that features the companies of more than 20 Broadway, off-Broadway and touring productions singing, dancing, and donning original Easter bonnets. A benefit for Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS. www.broadwaycares.org
MON-SUN: 4/27-5/03: Philadelphia, PA: Equality Forum. largest national & internationall LGBT civil rights forum with 60+ programs, parties & special events. www.equalityforum.com
TUE: 4/28: New York, NY: Gay Parents Night at "Exit Cuckoo", the off-Broadway play about nannies. , Reception, performance, and post-show discussion led by David Strah, author of "Gay Dads: A Celebration of Fatherhood." www.theworkingtheater.org.
WED: 4/29: Philadelphia, PA: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" does a reading and booksigning. 8:30PM. Equality Forum. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php
Newsworthy:
New York: Governor David A. Patterson unveiled his same-sex marriage bill.
The New York Times reports: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/paterson-unveils-same-sex-marriage-bill/?hp
Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/04/ny-gov-david-paterson-introduces-samesex-marriage-legislation.html
New Yorkers Favor Gay Marriage, according to a new poll released by the Siena College Research Institute. 53% of those polled approved of Gov. David Paterson's marriage equality bill, even though his approval ratings have tanked. OnTop reports: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=3684&MediaType=1&Category=26
At The Miss USA Pageant, Miss California says that her answer to Perez Hilton's gay marriage question cost her the crown. The New York Daily News reports: http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/04/21/2009-04-21_miss_usa_controversy_carrie_prejean_says_gay_marriage_answer_cost_crown_but_she_.html
The Gay Marriage Debate: Perez Hilton verses Miss USA California. Editor's Note: What's interesting is the coverage this has gotten from unusual sources such as Larry King and cable news. The Wall Street Journal recaps: http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/04/22/perez-hilton-and-miss-usa-contestant-debate-gay-marriage/
The Buzz (People Making News)
Gavin Newsom, the San Francisco mayor and gay marriage ally, has launched his bid for governor of California. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid79807.asp
Awards and Honors:
Winner GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles: "Proposition 8: The Musical" (which is also nominated for a Webby Award). www.glaad.org.
Nominees: Outer Critics Circle Awards (excellence in New York theatre): "Billy Elliot" nabs 10 nominations; also on the list: playwright Christopher Durang; directors Moises Kaufman and Arthur Laurents; actors Raul Esparza, Nathan Lane, John Benjamin Hickey, Angela Lansbury, Christopher Sieber, and more. www.outercritics.org
Rosie O'Donnell and her project "Rosie's Broadway Kids" were honored at a Dramatist Guild benefit on 4/20/09. www.dgfund.org
In Memoriam:
Tharon Musser, the dean of American theatre lighting designers, has died at age 84. Her work on "A Chorus Line" and "Follies" was legendary. She's survived by her partner, Marilyn Rennagel. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/theater/21musser.html?ref=theater
Photo Shoots and Video
***Broadway Beauty Pageant to benefit New York's Ali Forney Center, which provides shelter for homeless LGBT youth in New York City. BroadwayWorld.com reports: http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_2009_Broadway_Beauty_Pageant_20090421
Features
Op-Ed Piece of the Year!: What Is A Gay Icon? Judy ? Barbra? Liza ? Little Edie? Alan Cumming, the actor, wonders in Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/id/192486
Rev. V. Gene Robiinson, the first out Episcopal bishop, advocates separation of civil and religious marriage.The Los Angeles Times reports: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/04/gay-episcopal-bishop-says-civil-and-religious-marriage-should-be-separate.html
Basil Twist, the gay puppeteer whose recent onstage partnership with Joey Arias was a hit of the Off-Broadway season, has a new work in progress. EDGE New York reports: http://www.edgenewyork.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=theatre&sc2=news&sc3=&id=90146
Gavin Creel, star of Broadway's "Hair", is featured in OUT Magazine this month. He originated the role of the gay boyfriend of Addison Mizner in Sondheim's "Bounce" ("Roadshow"). BroadwayWorld.com reports: http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/HAIRs_Gavin_Creel_Featured_in_OUT_Magazine_20090418
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***9 to 5: The Musical. Dolly Parton has adapted her film for Broadway. www.9to5themusical.com
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***Blind Faith. a world premiere by Harry Cronin. Two teen boys fall in love in conservative Colorado Springs. to 5/03/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***Dead Man Walking. The Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally opera based on the film about Sister Helen Prejean and death row. 5/02/09-5/10/09, Ft. Worth, TX. www.fwopera.org.
***Falsettos, the William Finn/ James Lapine musical doublebill about a man, his ex-wife, child, their shrink, the man’s lover and the lesbians next door. 5/01/09-5/10/09. Northampton, MA. www.pacetheater.com.
***Grey Gardens, the award-winning musical about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, former society queens turned into recluses with 51 cats.to 5/17/09. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. www.ordway.org.
***New Year's Eve. Out playwright/director Arthur Laurents' new comedy which features Marlo Thomas. to 5/10/09. New Brunswick, NJ. www.gsponline.org.
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...
***Every Little Step. A documentary about the making of the 2006 Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line".
***Little Ashes, Paul Morrison's drama about the young lives and loves of Salvador Dali, Luis Bunuel and Frederico Garcia Lorca. www.littleashes-themovie.com.
***The Universe of Keith Haring, a documentary on the late gay pop artist. Now making the rounds of film festivals and independent cinemas
***Valentino: The Last Emperor, a new documentary about the life of the Italian fashion designer, focusing on his business and romantic relationship with Giancarlo Giametti, who says they've spent a total of two months apart since they met..
Out On Video & DVD
***A Jihad for Love, the daring documentary filmed in 12 countries in which Muslim gay filmmaker Parvez Sharma explores the intersections of Islam and homosexuality.
***Barbra Streisand: The Concerts. 3 DVD set including her concert with Il Divo, the HBO special, and the Broadway Album special.
***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.
***Kiki & Herb Live at The Knitting Factory. The Tony-nominated gender-bending downtown club act.
***King Lear. Out gay rights activist Sir Ian McKellan stars as Shakespeare's elderly king. www.shoppbs.org.
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
***May: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***THU: 4/30: Grey Gardens, a new movie about eccentric Jackie O cousins Edie Beale and her mother, starring Drew Barrymore as Little Edie and Jessica Lange as her mother Big Edie. 12:30PM & 8PM. HBO. www.hbo.com/films/greygardens
***SAT: 5/02: Grey Gardens, (see 4/30/09) 8AM & 4:30PM. HBO. www.hbo.com/films/greygardens
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
5/04/09-5/17/09: Dublin, Ireland: Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. www.gaytheatre.ie
5/06/09-5/09/09: Toronto, ON: We're Funny That Way. Canada's International LGBT Comedy Festival. www.werefunnythatway.com
5/10/09: New York, NY: When You’re Good to Mama: The Mother of All Mother’s Day Concerts. Broadway salutes the bonds between LGBT people and their moms. A benefit for the LGBT Community Center. www.gaycenter.org
5/11/09: New York, NY: The Leading Men IV, A benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS with Jonathan Groff, James Barbour, Norm Lewis, Seth Rudetsky and Tony Yazbeck. www.birdlandjazz.com or www.broadwaycares.org.
5/14/09-5/24/09: Toronto, ON: Inside Out: Toronto LGBT Film & Video Festival. www.insideout.on.ca
5/14/09-5/17/09: New Orleans, LA: Saints & Sinners. LGBT writers & readers from around the country gather for a weekend of readings, panels & performances including Dorothy Allison, Michelle Tea & Mark Doty. A benefit for the New Orleans AIDS Task Force. www.sasfest.com
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Death of a Porn Star
1. Question: Name this adult film star, one of the most famous of all time, who appeared in over 2,500 gay and straight loops, stag films, and features in the 1970s and 1980s. He was best known for his endowment, which was promoted as the largest in the industry. His involvement in a famous 1981 crime brought him notoriety; Mark Wahlberg and Val Kilmer played him in two different film treatments of that crime. Answer: John Holmes, occasionally known as Johhny Wadd after a film character he played. He was portrayed by Mark Wahlberg in "Boogie Nights" and Val Kilmer in "Wonderland", two movies about the Wonderland murders. Bob Vosse, the cinematographer, said "John Holmes was to the adult film industry what Elvis was to rock 'n' roll. He simply was The King."
2. Question: Name this popular adult film star, whose tragic demise from prostitution, drugs, and crime was captured in a biography by a writer who is now one of the New York Times' most important arts and entertainment reporters/reviewers. This star outed several major entertainment industry celebrites, including David Geffen. Madonna used him as a model in her 1992 book, "Sex". Answer: Joey Stefano. New York Times theatre critic Charles Isherwood wrote his tragic biography: "Wonder Bread and Ecstasy: The Life and Death of Joey Stefano" (Alyson Publishing).
3. Question: Name this Broadway dancer and director who made a 1971 gay adult film, which was considered a landmark for its day. It took its title from an off-Broadway play that was amongst the first commercially successful and critically-acclaimed dramas to deal with gay men. This director worked with Noel Coward in a Florence Henderson musical and with director Joe Layton staging shows with Angela Lansbury. Answer: Wakefield Poole, director of "The Boys in The Sand".He worked with Coward on "The Girl Who Came to Supper" and with Layton on "Dear World", "No Strings" and "George M". A documentary of his life, "Dirty Poole" is on DVD. www.dirtypoole.com/
4. Question: Name this American adult star who starred in the film made by #3, which cemented his status as a gay film icon. He actually was successful in legitimate theatre, performing on Broadway opposite Ingrid Bergman; appearing in a Lincoln Center production of Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice" and producing and starring in a production of Terrence McNally's "The Ritz". Answer: Casey Donovan, also known as Calvin Culver.
5. Question: Name this adult film star, who, after leaving the industry, produced a Broadway musical with Lesley Ann Warren and John Pizzarelli; wrote cabaret and revue material for numerous theatre artists, and conceived the idea of turning Johnny Mercer's "St. Louis Woman" into a ballet for Dance Theatre of Harlem. He was a board member of the Johnny Mercer Foundation. Answer: Jack Wrangler.
4/27: This Week’s Trivia Quiz: May Milestones
1. Question: Name this military strategist and acclaimed warrior, Macedonia’s favorite son, born May 15, in 536BC. His friendship with a young man was the type that was made for the silver screen, although the last attempt to film his life was a box-office bomb.
2. Question: Name this American politician, who came out (under pressure) in the Boston Globe on May 30, 1987. One of the first elected officials to come out, he’s been a leader of the LGBT community ever since.
3. Question: Name this newspaper column, which premiered on May 24, 1976. Its author portrayed a group of diverse people in a small San Francisco house. The serial column became a book, a series of sequels, and television miniseries.
4. Question: Name this Pulitzer Prize winning play, which opened on Broadway on May 4, 1993. A sweeping chronicle of America in the age of AIDS, it swept up every major theatre award before being adapted into a television film, which did likewise.
5. Question: Name this American author, born May 16, 1921 in Chicago. Among his most unforgettable literary characters is a madcap aunt, who brings up her nephew in non-traiditional ways.
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/
Volume 12 No. 17 April 27, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com
The Fine Print
See previous issues.
Subscription Information: This newsletter is available via free email subscription only. Our mailing list is confidential.
To subscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Subscribe COS News” in subject line.
To unsubscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Cancel COS News” in subject line.
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: April 27-May 3, 2009
Ongoing: Portland, OR: Coming Out: Discourses and Resources. A new discussion group led by a of rotating queer-identified trusted individuals. Neither therapy nor lecture. 6PM-7PM on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. www.pdxqcenter.org
thru SUN: 6/28: Minneapolis, MN: Everything Kushner at The Guthrie. a celebration honoring the work of out playwright Tony Kushner (best known for his epic "Angels in America"). www.guthrietheater.org/kushner
theu SUN: 5/03: Miami, FL: Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. www.MGLFF.com
MON: 4/27: Arcata, CA: David Sedaris reads from "When You Are Ingulfed in Flames". Also: WED: 4/29: Los Angeles, CA: THU-FRI: 4/30-5/01: Seattle, WA: SAT: 5/02: Albuquerque, NM: SUN: 5/03: Las Vegas, NV: http://www.barclayagency.com/sedaris_appearances.html
MON: 4/27: New York, NY: Live Out Loud 8th Annual Young Trailblazers Benefit Gala. Hosted by Nick Adams. Chelsea Art Museum. www.livoutloud.info
MON: 4/27: New York, NY: Making The Boys, a documentary about the making of "The Boys in The Band" premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival. 4:30PM. Mart Crowley, the playwright, and Michael Musto, the Village Voice columnist, lead the post-screening discussion. http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/archives/2009/03/more_life_for_t.php
MON-TUE: 4/27-4/28: New York, NY: 23rd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition, the two-day Broadway spectacular that features the companies of more than 20 Broadway, off-Broadway and touring productions singing, dancing, and donning original Easter bonnets. A benefit for Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS. www.broadwaycares.org
MON-SUN: 4/27-5/03: Philadelphia, PA: Equality Forum. largest national & internationall LGBT civil rights forum with 60+ programs, parties & special events. www.equalityforum.com
TUE: 4/28: New York, NY: Gay Parents Night at "Exit Cuckoo", the off-Broadway play about nannies. , Reception, performance, and post-show discussion led by David Strah, author of "Gay Dads: A Celebration of Fatherhood." www.theworkingtheater.org.
WED: 4/29: Philadelphia, PA: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" does a reading and booksigning. 8:30PM. Equality Forum. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php
Newsworthy:
New York: Governor David A. Patterson unveiled his same-sex marriage bill.
The New York Times reports: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/paterson-unveils-same-sex-marriage-bill/?hp
Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/04/ny-gov-david-paterson-introduces-samesex-marriage-legislation.html
New Yorkers Favor Gay Marriage, according to a new poll released by the Siena College Research Institute. 53% of those polled approved of Gov. David Paterson's marriage equality bill, even though his approval ratings have tanked. OnTop reports: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=3684&MediaType=1&Category=26
At The Miss USA Pageant, Miss California says that her answer to Perez Hilton's gay marriage question cost her the crown. The New York Daily News reports: http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/04/21/2009-04-21_miss_usa_controversy_carrie_prejean_says_gay_marriage_answer_cost_crown_but_she_.html
The Gay Marriage Debate: Perez Hilton verses Miss USA California. Editor's Note: What's interesting is the coverage this has gotten from unusual sources such as Larry King and cable news. The Wall Street Journal recaps: http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/04/22/perez-hilton-and-miss-usa-contestant-debate-gay-marriage/
The Buzz (People Making News)
Gavin Newsom, the San Francisco mayor and gay marriage ally, has launched his bid for governor of California. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid79807.asp
Awards and Honors:
Winner GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles: "Proposition 8: The Musical" (which is also nominated for a Webby Award). www.glaad.org.
Nominees: Outer Critics Circle Awards (excellence in New York theatre): "Billy Elliot" nabs 10 nominations; also on the list: playwright Christopher Durang; directors Moises Kaufman and Arthur Laurents; actors Raul Esparza, Nathan Lane, John Benjamin Hickey, Angela Lansbury, Christopher Sieber, and more. www.outercritics.org
Rosie O'Donnell and her project "Rosie's Broadway Kids" were honored at a Dramatist Guild benefit on 4/20/09. www.dgfund.org
In Memoriam:
Tharon Musser, the dean of American theatre lighting designers, has died at age 84. Her work on "A Chorus Line" and "Follies" was legendary. She's survived by her partner, Marilyn Rennagel. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/theater/21musser.html?ref=theater
Photo Shoots and Video
***Broadway Beauty Pageant to benefit New York's Ali Forney Center, which provides shelter for homeless LGBT youth in New York City. BroadwayWorld.com reports: http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_2009_Broadway_Beauty_Pageant_20090421
Features
Op-Ed Piece of the Year!: What Is A Gay Icon? Judy ? Barbra? Liza ? Little Edie? Alan Cumming, the actor, wonders in Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/id/192486
Rev. V. Gene Robiinson, the first out Episcopal bishop, advocates separation of civil and religious marriage.The Los Angeles Times reports: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/04/gay-episcopal-bishop-says-civil-and-religious-marriage-should-be-separate.html
Basil Twist, the gay puppeteer whose recent onstage partnership with Joey Arias was a hit of the Off-Broadway season, has a new work in progress. EDGE New York reports: http://www.edgenewyork.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=theatre&sc2=news&sc3=&id=90146
Gavin Creel, star of Broadway's "Hair", is featured in OUT Magazine this month. He originated the role of the gay boyfriend of Addison Mizner in Sondheim's "Bounce" ("Roadshow"). BroadwayWorld.com reports: http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/HAIRs_Gavin_Creel_Featured_in_OUT_Magazine_20090418
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***9 to 5: The Musical. Dolly Parton has adapted her film for Broadway. www.9to5themusical.com
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***Blind Faith. a world premiere by Harry Cronin. Two teen boys fall in love in conservative Colorado Springs. to 5/03/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***Dead Man Walking. The Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally opera based on the film about Sister Helen Prejean and death row. 5/02/09-5/10/09, Ft. Worth, TX. www.fwopera.org.
***Falsettos, the William Finn/ James Lapine musical doublebill about a man, his ex-wife, child, their shrink, the man’s lover and the lesbians next door. 5/01/09-5/10/09. Northampton, MA. www.pacetheater.com.
***Grey Gardens, the award-winning musical about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, former society queens turned into recluses with 51 cats.to 5/17/09. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. www.ordway.org.
***New Year's Eve. Out playwright/director Arthur Laurents' new comedy which features Marlo Thomas. to 5/10/09. New Brunswick, NJ. www.gsponline.org.
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...
***Every Little Step. A documentary about the making of the 2006 Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line".
***Little Ashes, Paul Morrison's drama about the young lives and loves of Salvador Dali, Luis Bunuel and Frederico Garcia Lorca. www.littleashes-themovie.com.
***The Universe of Keith Haring, a documentary on the late gay pop artist. Now making the rounds of film festivals and independent cinemas
***Valentino: The Last Emperor, a new documentary about the life of the Italian fashion designer, focusing on his business and romantic relationship with Giancarlo Giametti, who says they've spent a total of two months apart since they met..
Out On Video & DVD
***A Jihad for Love, the daring documentary filmed in 12 countries in which Muslim gay filmmaker Parvez Sharma explores the intersections of Islam and homosexuality.
***Barbra Streisand: The Concerts. 3 DVD set including her concert with Il Divo, the HBO special, and the Broadway Album special.
***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.
***Kiki & Herb Live at The Knitting Factory. The Tony-nominated gender-bending downtown club act.
***King Lear. Out gay rights activist Sir Ian McKellan stars as Shakespeare's elderly king. www.shoppbs.org.
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
***May: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***THU: 4/30: Grey Gardens, a new movie about eccentric Jackie O cousins Edie Beale and her mother, starring Drew Barrymore as Little Edie and Jessica Lange as her mother Big Edie. 12:30PM & 8PM. HBO. www.hbo.com/films/greygardens
***SAT: 5/02: Grey Gardens, (see 4/30/09) 8AM & 4:30PM. HBO. www.hbo.com/films/greygardens
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
5/04/09-5/17/09: Dublin, Ireland: Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. www.gaytheatre.ie
5/06/09-5/09/09: Toronto, ON: We're Funny That Way. Canada's International LGBT Comedy Festival. www.werefunnythatway.com
5/10/09: New York, NY: When You’re Good to Mama: The Mother of All Mother’s Day Concerts. Broadway salutes the bonds between LGBT people and their moms. A benefit for the LGBT Community Center. www.gaycenter.org
5/11/09: New York, NY: The Leading Men IV, A benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS with Jonathan Groff, James Barbour, Norm Lewis, Seth Rudetsky and Tony Yazbeck. www.birdlandjazz.com or www.broadwaycares.org.
5/14/09-5/24/09: Toronto, ON: Inside Out: Toronto LGBT Film & Video Festival. www.insideout.on.ca
5/14/09-5/17/09: New Orleans, LA: Saints & Sinners. LGBT writers & readers from around the country gather for a weekend of readings, panels & performances including Dorothy Allison, Michelle Tea & Mark Doty. A benefit for the New Orleans AIDS Task Force. www.sasfest.com
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Death of a Porn Star
1. Question: Name this adult film star, one of the most famous of all time, who appeared in over 2,500 gay and straight loops, stag films, and features in the 1970s and 1980s. He was best known for his endowment, which was promoted as the largest in the industry. His involvement in a famous 1981 crime brought him notoriety; Mark Wahlberg and Val Kilmer played him in two different film treatments of that crime. Answer: John Holmes, occasionally known as Johhny Wadd after a film character he played. He was portrayed by Mark Wahlberg in "Boogie Nights" and Val Kilmer in "Wonderland", two movies about the Wonderland murders. Bob Vosse, the cinematographer, said "John Holmes was to the adult film industry what Elvis was to rock 'n' roll. He simply was The King."
2. Question: Name this popular adult film star, whose tragic demise from prostitution, drugs, and crime was captured in a biography by a writer who is now one of the New York Times' most important arts and entertainment reporters/reviewers. This star outed several major entertainment industry celebrites, including David Geffen. Madonna used him as a model in her 1992 book, "Sex". Answer: Joey Stefano. New York Times theatre critic Charles Isherwood wrote his tragic biography: "Wonder Bread and Ecstasy: The Life and Death of Joey Stefano" (Alyson Publishing).
3. Question: Name this Broadway dancer and director who made a 1971 gay adult film, which was considered a landmark for its day. It took its title from an off-Broadway play that was amongst the first commercially successful and critically-acclaimed dramas to deal with gay men. This director worked with Noel Coward in a Florence Henderson musical and with director Joe Layton staging shows with Angela Lansbury. Answer: Wakefield Poole, director of "The Boys in The Sand".He worked with Coward on "The Girl Who Came to Supper" and with Layton on "Dear World", "No Strings" and "George M". A documentary of his life, "Dirty Poole" is on DVD. www.dirtypoole.com/
4. Question: Name this American adult star who starred in the film made by #3, which cemented his status as a gay film icon. He actually was successful in legitimate theatre, performing on Broadway opposite Ingrid Bergman; appearing in a Lincoln Center production of Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice" and producing and starring in a production of Terrence McNally's "The Ritz". Answer: Casey Donovan, also known as Calvin Culver.
5. Question: Name this adult film star, who, after leaving the industry, produced a Broadway musical with Lesley Ann Warren and John Pizzarelli; wrote cabaret and revue material for numerous theatre artists, and conceived the idea of turning Johnny Mercer's "St. Louis Woman" into a ballet for Dance Theatre of Harlem. He was a board member of the Johnny Mercer Foundation. Answer: Jack Wrangler.
4/27: This Week’s Trivia Quiz: May Milestones
1. Question: Name this military strategist and acclaimed warrior, Macedonia’s favorite son, born May 15, in 536BC. His friendship with a young man was the type that was made for the silver screen, although the last attempt to film his life was a box-office bomb.
2. Question: Name this American politician, who came out (under pressure) in the Boston Globe on May 30, 1987. One of the first elected officials to come out, he’s been a leader of the LGBT community ever since.
3. Question: Name this newspaper column, which premiered on May 24, 1976. Its author portrayed a group of diverse people in a small San Francisco house. The serial column became a book, a series of sequels, and television miniseries.
4. Question: Name this Pulitzer Prize winning play, which opened on Broadway on May 4, 1993. A sweeping chronicle of America in the age of AIDS, it swept up every major theatre award before being adapted into a television film, which did likewise.
5. Question: Name this American author, born May 16, 1921 in Chicago. Among his most unforgettable literary characters is a madcap aunt, who brings up her nephew in non-traiditional ways.
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/
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 4/20/09
Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 16 April 20, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com
The Fine Print
See previous issues.
Subscription Information: This newsletter is available via free email subscription only. Our mailing list is confidential.
To subscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Subscribe COS News” in subject line.
To unsubscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Cancel COS News” in subject line.
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: April 20-26, 2009
Ongoing: Portland, OR: Coming Out: Discourses and Resources. A new discussion group led by a of rotating queer-identified trusted individuals. Neither therapy nor lecture. 6PM-7PM on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. www.pdxqcenter.org
thru SUN: 6/28: Minneapolis, MN: Everything Kushner at The Guthrie. honoring the work of out playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America). guthrietheater.org/kushner
thru TUE: 4/28: Online: Kristin's Closet Auction. Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth donates several items to her official fan club to benefit AIDS Walk NY. www.kristinchenowethfanclub.org
This Just In!!! FRI-SUN: 4/17-4/19: Albany, NY: Facets of Oppression. North East LGBT Conference, hosted by The University at Albany (Harvey Milk's alma mater). www.NELGBTC.com
MON: 4/20: Oklahoma City, OK: Kristin Chenoweth, star of "Wicked" and "Pushing Daisies", signs copies of her autobiography, "A Little Bit Wicked". 7:30PM. Full Circle Books/Penn Place.
MON: 4/20: Austin, TX: David Sedaris reads from "When You Are Ingulfed in Flames". Also: TUE: 4/21/09: Detroit, MI: WED: 4/22: St. Louis, MO: THU: 4/23: Aurora, IL: FRI: 4/24: Eugene, OR: SAT: 4/25: Modesto, CA: SUN: 4/26: Berkeley, CA: http://www.barclayagency.com/sedaris_appearances.html
MON: 4/20: New York, NY: The Broadway Beauty Pageant. Male cast members from Broadway shows compete for the crown through talent, interview an swimsuit competitions. Proceeds benefit the Ali Forney Center, the nation's largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127418.html
WED: 4/22: New York, NY: Puppetry of the Penis: The Res-Erection Tour. A one-night stand at COMIX. www.puppetryofthepenis.com
THU: 4/23: New Haven, CT: Rufus Wainwright performs a benefit concert for AIDS Project New Haven and GLSEN-CT. www.yalegala.tix.com
THU-SUN: 4/23-4/26: New Haven, CT: Yale LGBT Reunion Weekend.
www.yalegala.org/YaleGayRunion.html.
THU: 4/23: Nationwide: This American Life, live screening of the popular public radio show with Ira Glass, Dan Savage, David Rakoff, and Mike Birbiglia and Dave Hill. http://www.fathomevents.com/upcoming/details/This_American_Life.html?gclid=COnizYiG3ZkCFcZM5QodSyJ6YQ
FRI-SUN: 4/24-4/26: Toronto, ON: All Out Swim 2009, splash and swim competition. www.dsctoronto.ca/alloutswim/
FRI-SUN: 4/24-5/03: Miami, FL: Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. www.MGLFF.com
SAT: 4/25: Fort. Worth, TX: An Afternoon With Jake Heggie, out composer of "Dead Man Walking". www.jakeheggie.com.
SAT: 4/25: San Francisco, CA: Lip Service, a drag fundraiser/concert for the AIDS Lifecycle Team Go Big!. with Lady Miss Kier, (aka Kierin Kirby). Deee-Lite, and Jackie Beat. The Castro Theatre. www.cityboxoffice.com
Newsworthy:
National Coverage for Youth's Suicide. Anderson Cooper is one of several journalists who have brought national attention to the suicide of an 11 year old boy who was bullied and taunted with gay slurs in a Springfield, MA public school. (Editor's Note: This happened in my hometown. The local media and school officials are using this sad example as a springboard to stop bullying in schools. )The Advocate reports: http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid79039.asp
New York: Governor David A Paterson will introduce a same-sex marriage bill on Thursday, April 16. The New York Times reports: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/paterson-will-introduce-same-sex-marriage-bill/?hp
GOProud, a new 527 organization for conservative gay Republicans, has launched. According to its founders, it differs in scope from the Log Cabin Republicans. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24936
Tales of the City: The musicalization of Armistead Maupin's gay-friendly newspaper column turned book turned TV series will preview at Connecticut's O'Neill Center this summer. Jeff Whitty of "Avenue Q" crafted the musical's book. Music is by the Scissors Sisters. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/04/tales-of-the-city-musical-to-debut-at-cts-oneill-center-this-summer.html
The Buzz (People Making News)
Stu Rasmussen, America's first out TG mayor might get her own reality TV show. Queerty reports: http://www.queerty.com/americas-first-trans-mayor-might-get-his-own-reality-show-20090409/
Features
The U.S. Supreme Court and same-sex marriage. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/weekinreview/12liptak.html?hpw
American Idol. Can a gay contestant win ? The New York Times reports on Adam Lambert: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/fashion/12gayidol.html?_r=1&ref=style
Grey Gardens. Backstory Included. The fabled documentary film, a hit Broadway musical of 2007, is now an HBO special. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/arts/television/12roht.html?ref=arts
Gays in Hollywood: A Status Report. As American culture shifts, EDGE ponders whether the cultural change will be reflected in Hollywood's upcoming film projects. http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=culture&sc2=&sc3=&id=89575
Broadway Boys Beauty Pageant. They're hot and they're raising money for a great LGBT cause. EDGE New York reports on the April 20th benefit: http://www.edgenewyork.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=theatre&sc2=&sc3=&id=89491
Backstory: I Am My Own Wife, the award-winning biography of transgender Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, who survived the Nazis and Communists during and after World War II. Newsday reports: http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/stage/etnymyownwife10,0,4268288.story
Dame Edna brings her first "Last Tour" to America as an economic stimulus package. EDGE Boston reports: http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=theatre&sc2=&sc3=&id=89423
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Billy Elliot, the Elton John/Lee Hall musical based on the movie about a boy who wants to become a ballet dancer. www.billyelliotbroadway.com.
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***9 to 5: The Musical. Dolly Parton has adapted her film for Broadway. www.9to5themusical.com
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***Act A Lady. A group of men in a small Prohibition-era town cross-dress to perform a play. to 4/26/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***The Andrews Brothers. Roger Bean's musical about three USO stagehands who long to sing with The Andrews Sisters. to 4/26/09. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. www.risingactiontheatre.com
***Blind Faith. a world premiere by Harry Cronin. Two teen boys fall in love in conservative Colorado Springs. to 5/03/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***Grey Gardens, the musical about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Beale, former society queens turned into recluses with 51 cats.to 5/17/09. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. www.ordway.org. Also to 5/17/09, Stages, Houston, TX. www.stagestheatre.com
***I Am My Own Wife, the real-life story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a German TG who managed to survive Nazi rule and the East German Communist regime. to 4/26/09. Port Jefferson, LI. www.theatrethree.com.
***New Year's Eve. Out playwright/director Arthur Laurents' new comedy which features Marlo Thomas. to 5/10/09. New Brunswick, NJ. www.gsponline.org.
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...
***Every Little Step. A documentary about the making of the 2006 Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line".
***Little Ashes, Paul Morrison's drama about the young lives and loves of Salvador Dali, Luis Bunuel and Frederico Garcia Lorca. www.littleashes-themovie.com.
***The Universe of Keith Haring, a documentary on the late gay pop artist. Now making the rounds of film festivals and independent cinemas
***Valentino: The Last Emperor, a new documentary about the life of the Italian fashion designer, focusing on his business and romantic relationship with Giancarlo Giametti, who says they've spent a total of two months apart since they met..
Out On Video & DVD
***A Jihad for Love, the daring documentary filmed in 12 countries in which Muslim gay filmmaker Parvez Sharma explores the intersections of Islam and homosexuality. .
***Barbra Streisand: The Concerts. 3 DVD set including her concert with Il Divo, the HBO special, and the Broadway Album special. Release date: 4/28/09.
***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.
***Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About, a documentary about the American dancer/choreographer/director whose genius was tempered by obsessive behavior, perfectionism, and guilt over his bisexualism.
***Kiki & Herb Live at The Knitting Factory. The Tony-nominated gender-bending downtown club act.
***King Lear. Out gay rights activist Sir Ian McKellan stars as Shakespeare's elderly king. www.shoppbs.org.
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
***April: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***SUN: 4/19: Grey Gardens, a new movie about eccentric Jackie O cousins Edie Beale and her mother, starring Drew Barrymore as Little Edie and Jessica Lange as Big Edie. 6PM. HBO. www.hbo.com/films/greygardens
***MON: 4/21: Grey Gardens (see 4/19/09) 10:45AM and 7:15PM. HBO. www.hbo.com/films/greygardens
***SAT: 4/25: Barbra Streisand: Excerpts from the 2006 concert tour. CBS. Check local listings.
***SUN: 4/26: Neil Patrick Harris hosts the 7th annual TV Land Awards. 9 PM ET. www.tvland.com.
***SUN: 4/26: Grey Gardens, (see 4/19/09) . 2PM and midnight. HBO. www.hbo.com/films/greygardens
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
4/27/09: New York, NY: Live Out Loud 8th Annual Young Trailblazers Benefit Gala. Hosted by Nick Adams. Chelsea Art Museum. www.livoutloud.info
4/27/09: New York, NY: Making The Boys, a documentary about the making of "The Boys in The Band" premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival. Mart Crowley, the playwright, and Michael Musto, the Village Voice columnist, lead the post-screening discussion. http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/archives/2009/03/more_life_for_t.php
4/27/09-5/03/09: Philadelphia, PA: Equality Forum. largest national & internationall LGBT civil rights forum with 60+ programs, parties & special events. www.equalityforum.com
5/04/09-5/17/09: Dublin, Ireland: Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. www.gaytheatre.ie
5/14/09-5/24/09: Toronto, ON: Inside Out: Toronto LGBT Film & Video Festival. www.insideout.on.ca
5/14/09-5/17/09: New Orleans, LA: Saints & Sinners. LGBT writers & readers from around the country gather for a weekend of readings, panels & performances. A benefit for the New Orleans AIDS Task Force. www.sasfest.com
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Easter/Passover Trivia with a Gay Sensibility
1. Question: Name this state. Nothing could be finer, as a LGBT community bookstore named for an Easter icon serves two of the state's metropolitan areas. Answer: North Carolina, home to White Rabbit Books in Charlotte and Raleigh. www.whiterabbitbooks.com.
2. Question: Name this film which describes the Passover story (which was likely told at the Last Supper). It starred a gun-toting gladiator, a scheming understudy, and a Thai monarch. Answer: The Ten Commandments (1956) with Charlton Heston ("Ben Hur" and the NRA), Anne Baxter ("All About Eve") and Yul Brynner ("The King and I").
3. Question: Name this Chattanooga-born gay community icon. After conquering the Atlanta drag scene with RuPaul, she launched an annual New York City drag show that was captured in an award-winning documentary. She comments on fashion for a supermarket tabloid. Answer: The Lady Bunny, creator of "Wigstock" and a columnist for Star Magazine.
4. Question: Name this 1948 holiday film which featured two stars beloved in the gay community. One's death launched a movement; the other's hair never moved. Answer: Easter Parade, starring Judy Garland and Ann Miller singing and dancing to Irving Berlin's score with Fred Astaire. Garland's death fueled The Stonewall Riots. Miller's hair was
immobile.
This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Death of a Porn Star
We couldn’t help but feel saddened about the death of Jack Wrangler. His career in gay and straight adult films fueled many a fantasy; his ability to use his industry experience to jump to the mainstream was uncanny, and his legit theatre and cabaret career was extensive.
1. Question: Name this adult film star, one of the most famous of all time, who appeared in over 2,500 gay and straight loops, stag films, and features in the 1970s and 1980s. He was best known for his endowment, which was promoted as the largest in the industry. His involvement in a famous 1981 crime brought him notoriety; Mark Wahlberg and Val Kilmer played him in two different film treatments of that crime.
2. Question: Name this popular adult film star, whose tragic demise from prostitution, drugs, and crime was captured in a biography by a writer who is now one of the New York Times' most important arts and entertainment reporters/reviewers. This star outed several major entertainment industry celebrites, including David Geffen. Madonna used him as a model in her 1992 book, "Sex".
3. Question: Name this Broadway dancer and director who made a 1971 gay adult film, which was considered a landmark for its day. It took its title from an off-Broadway play that was amongst the first commercially successful and critically-acclaimed dramas to deal with gay men. This director worked with Noel Coward in a Florence Henderson musical and with director Joe Layton staging shows with Angela Lansbury.
4. Question: Name this American adult star who starred in the film made by #3, which cemented his status as a gay film icon. He actually was successful in legitimate theatre, performing on Broadway opposite Ingrid Bergman; appearing in a Lincoln Center production of Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice" and producing and starring in a production of Terrence McNally's "The Ritz".
5. Question: Name this adult film star, who, after leaving the industry, produced a Broadway musical with Lesley Ann Warren and John Pizzarelli; wrote cabaret and revue material for numerous theatre artists, and conceived the idea of turning Johnny Mercer's "St. Louis Woman" into a ballet for Dance Theatre of Harlem. He was a board member of the Johnny Mercer Foundation.
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/
Volume 12 No. 16 April 20, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com
The Fine Print
See previous issues.
Subscription Information: This newsletter is available via free email subscription only. Our mailing list is confidential.
To subscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Subscribe COS News” in subject line.
To unsubscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Cancel COS News” in subject line.
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: April 20-26, 2009
Ongoing: Portland, OR: Coming Out: Discourses and Resources. A new discussion group led by a of rotating queer-identified trusted individuals. Neither therapy nor lecture. 6PM-7PM on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. www.pdxqcenter.org
thru SUN: 6/28: Minneapolis, MN: Everything Kushner at The Guthrie. honoring the work of out playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America). guthrietheater.org/kushner
thru TUE: 4/28: Online: Kristin's Closet Auction. Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth donates several items to her official fan club to benefit AIDS Walk NY. www.kristinchenowethfanclub.org
This Just In!!! FRI-SUN: 4/17-4/19: Albany, NY: Facets of Oppression. North East LGBT Conference, hosted by The University at Albany (Harvey Milk's alma mater). www.NELGBTC.com
MON: 4/20: Oklahoma City, OK: Kristin Chenoweth, star of "Wicked" and "Pushing Daisies", signs copies of her autobiography, "A Little Bit Wicked". 7:30PM. Full Circle Books/Penn Place.
MON: 4/20: Austin, TX: David Sedaris reads from "When You Are Ingulfed in Flames". Also: TUE: 4/21/09: Detroit, MI: WED: 4/22: St. Louis, MO: THU: 4/23: Aurora, IL: FRI: 4/24: Eugene, OR: SAT: 4/25: Modesto, CA: SUN: 4/26: Berkeley, CA: http://www.barclayagency.com/sedaris_appearances.html
MON: 4/20: New York, NY: The Broadway Beauty Pageant. Male cast members from Broadway shows compete for the crown through talent, interview an swimsuit competitions. Proceeds benefit the Ali Forney Center, the nation's largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127418.html
WED: 4/22: New York, NY: Puppetry of the Penis: The Res-Erection Tour. A one-night stand at COMIX. www.puppetryofthepenis.com
THU: 4/23: New Haven, CT: Rufus Wainwright performs a benefit concert for AIDS Project New Haven and GLSEN-CT. www.yalegala.tix.com
THU-SUN: 4/23-4/26: New Haven, CT: Yale LGBT Reunion Weekend.
www.yalegala.org/YaleGayRunion.html.
THU: 4/23: Nationwide: This American Life, live screening of the popular public radio show with Ira Glass, Dan Savage, David Rakoff, and Mike Birbiglia and Dave Hill. http://www.fathomevents.com/upcoming/details/This_American_Life.html?gclid=COnizYiG3ZkCFcZM5QodSyJ6YQ
FRI-SUN: 4/24-4/26: Toronto, ON: All Out Swim 2009, splash and swim competition. www.dsctoronto.ca/alloutswim/
FRI-SUN: 4/24-5/03: Miami, FL: Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. www.MGLFF.com
SAT: 4/25: Fort. Worth, TX: An Afternoon With Jake Heggie, out composer of "Dead Man Walking". www.jakeheggie.com.
SAT: 4/25: San Francisco, CA: Lip Service, a drag fundraiser/concert for the AIDS Lifecycle Team Go Big!. with Lady Miss Kier, (aka Kierin Kirby). Deee-Lite, and Jackie Beat. The Castro Theatre. www.cityboxoffice.com
Newsworthy:
National Coverage for Youth's Suicide. Anderson Cooper is one of several journalists who have brought national attention to the suicide of an 11 year old boy who was bullied and taunted with gay slurs in a Springfield, MA public school. (Editor's Note: This happened in my hometown. The local media and school officials are using this sad example as a springboard to stop bullying in schools. )The Advocate reports: http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid79039.asp
New York: Governor David A Paterson will introduce a same-sex marriage bill on Thursday, April 16. The New York Times reports: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/paterson-will-introduce-same-sex-marriage-bill/?hp
GOProud, a new 527 organization for conservative gay Republicans, has launched. According to its founders, it differs in scope from the Log Cabin Republicans. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24936
Tales of the City: The musicalization of Armistead Maupin's gay-friendly newspaper column turned book turned TV series will preview at Connecticut's O'Neill Center this summer. Jeff Whitty of "Avenue Q" crafted the musical's book. Music is by the Scissors Sisters. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/04/tales-of-the-city-musical-to-debut-at-cts-oneill-center-this-summer.html
The Buzz (People Making News)
Stu Rasmussen, America's first out TG mayor might get her own reality TV show. Queerty reports: http://www.queerty.com/americas-first-trans-mayor-might-get-his-own-reality-show-20090409/
Features
The U.S. Supreme Court and same-sex marriage. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/weekinreview/12liptak.html?hpw
American Idol. Can a gay contestant win ? The New York Times reports on Adam Lambert: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/fashion/12gayidol.html?_r=1&ref=style
Grey Gardens. Backstory Included. The fabled documentary film, a hit Broadway musical of 2007, is now an HBO special. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/arts/television/12roht.html?ref=arts
Gays in Hollywood: A Status Report. As American culture shifts, EDGE ponders whether the cultural change will be reflected in Hollywood's upcoming film projects. http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=culture&sc2=&sc3=&id=89575
Broadway Boys Beauty Pageant. They're hot and they're raising money for a great LGBT cause. EDGE New York reports on the April 20th benefit: http://www.edgenewyork.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=theatre&sc2=&sc3=&id=89491
Backstory: I Am My Own Wife, the award-winning biography of transgender Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, who survived the Nazis and Communists during and after World War II. Newsday reports: http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/stage/etnymyownwife10,0,4268288.story
Dame Edna brings her first "Last Tour" to America as an economic stimulus package. EDGE Boston reports: http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=theatre&sc2=&sc3=&id=89423
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Billy Elliot, the Elton John/Lee Hall musical based on the movie about a boy who wants to become a ballet dancer. www.billyelliotbroadway.com.
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***9 to 5: The Musical. Dolly Parton has adapted her film for Broadway. www.9to5themusical.com
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***Act A Lady. A group of men in a small Prohibition-era town cross-dress to perform a play. to 4/26/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***The Andrews Brothers. Roger Bean's musical about three USO stagehands who long to sing with The Andrews Sisters. to 4/26/09. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. www.risingactiontheatre.com
***Blind Faith. a world premiere by Harry Cronin. Two teen boys fall in love in conservative Colorado Springs. to 5/03/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***Grey Gardens, the musical about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Beale, former society queens turned into recluses with 51 cats.to 5/17/09. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. www.ordway.org. Also to 5/17/09, Stages, Houston, TX. www.stagestheatre.com
***I Am My Own Wife, the real-life story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a German TG who managed to survive Nazi rule and the East German Communist regime. to 4/26/09. Port Jefferson, LI. www.theatrethree.com.
***New Year's Eve. Out playwright/director Arthur Laurents' new comedy which features Marlo Thomas. to 5/10/09. New Brunswick, NJ. www.gsponline.org.
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...
***Every Little Step. A documentary about the making of the 2006 Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line".
***Little Ashes, Paul Morrison's drama about the young lives and loves of Salvador Dali, Luis Bunuel and Frederico Garcia Lorca. www.littleashes-themovie.com.
***The Universe of Keith Haring, a documentary on the late gay pop artist. Now making the rounds of film festivals and independent cinemas
***Valentino: The Last Emperor, a new documentary about the life of the Italian fashion designer, focusing on his business and romantic relationship with Giancarlo Giametti, who says they've spent a total of two months apart since they met..
Out On Video & DVD
***A Jihad for Love, the daring documentary filmed in 12 countries in which Muslim gay filmmaker Parvez Sharma explores the intersections of Islam and homosexuality. .
***Barbra Streisand: The Concerts. 3 DVD set including her concert with Il Divo, the HBO special, and the Broadway Album special. Release date: 4/28/09.
***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.
***Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About, a documentary about the American dancer/choreographer/director whose genius was tempered by obsessive behavior, perfectionism, and guilt over his bisexualism.
***Kiki & Herb Live at The Knitting Factory. The Tony-nominated gender-bending downtown club act.
***King Lear. Out gay rights activist Sir Ian McKellan stars as Shakespeare's elderly king. www.shoppbs.org.
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
***April: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***SUN: 4/19: Grey Gardens, a new movie about eccentric Jackie O cousins Edie Beale and her mother, starring Drew Barrymore as Little Edie and Jessica Lange as Big Edie. 6PM. HBO. www.hbo.com/films/greygardens
***MON: 4/21: Grey Gardens (see 4/19/09) 10:45AM and 7:15PM. HBO. www.hbo.com/films/greygardens
***SAT: 4/25: Barbra Streisand: Excerpts from the 2006 concert tour. CBS. Check local listings.
***SUN: 4/26: Neil Patrick Harris hosts the 7th annual TV Land Awards. 9 PM ET. www.tvland.com.
***SUN: 4/26: Grey Gardens, (see 4/19/09) . 2PM and midnight. HBO. www.hbo.com/films/greygardens
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
4/27/09: New York, NY: Live Out Loud 8th Annual Young Trailblazers Benefit Gala. Hosted by Nick Adams. Chelsea Art Museum. www.livoutloud.info
4/27/09: New York, NY: Making The Boys, a documentary about the making of "The Boys in The Band" premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival. Mart Crowley, the playwright, and Michael Musto, the Village Voice columnist, lead the post-screening discussion. http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/archives/2009/03/more_life_for_t.php
4/27/09-5/03/09: Philadelphia, PA: Equality Forum. largest national & internationall LGBT civil rights forum with 60+ programs, parties & special events. www.equalityforum.com
5/04/09-5/17/09: Dublin, Ireland: Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. www.gaytheatre.ie
5/14/09-5/24/09: Toronto, ON: Inside Out: Toronto LGBT Film & Video Festival. www.insideout.on.ca
5/14/09-5/17/09: New Orleans, LA: Saints & Sinners. LGBT writers & readers from around the country gather for a weekend of readings, panels & performances. A benefit for the New Orleans AIDS Task Force. www.sasfest.com
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Easter/Passover Trivia with a Gay Sensibility
1. Question: Name this state. Nothing could be finer, as a LGBT community bookstore named for an Easter icon serves two of the state's metropolitan areas. Answer: North Carolina, home to White Rabbit Books in Charlotte and Raleigh. www.whiterabbitbooks.com.
2. Question: Name this film which describes the Passover story (which was likely told at the Last Supper). It starred a gun-toting gladiator, a scheming understudy, and a Thai monarch. Answer: The Ten Commandments (1956) with Charlton Heston ("Ben Hur" and the NRA), Anne Baxter ("All About Eve") and Yul Brynner ("The King and I").
3. Question: Name this Chattanooga-born gay community icon. After conquering the Atlanta drag scene with RuPaul, she launched an annual New York City drag show that was captured in an award-winning documentary. She comments on fashion for a supermarket tabloid. Answer: The Lady Bunny, creator of "Wigstock" and a columnist for Star Magazine.
4. Question: Name this 1948 holiday film which featured two stars beloved in the gay community. One's death launched a movement; the other's hair never moved. Answer: Easter Parade, starring Judy Garland and Ann Miller singing and dancing to Irving Berlin's score with Fred Astaire. Garland's death fueled The Stonewall Riots. Miller's hair was
immobile.
This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Death of a Porn Star
We couldn’t help but feel saddened about the death of Jack Wrangler. His career in gay and straight adult films fueled many a fantasy; his ability to use his industry experience to jump to the mainstream was uncanny, and his legit theatre and cabaret career was extensive.
1. Question: Name this adult film star, one of the most famous of all time, who appeared in over 2,500 gay and straight loops, stag films, and features in the 1970s and 1980s. He was best known for his endowment, which was promoted as the largest in the industry. His involvement in a famous 1981 crime brought him notoriety; Mark Wahlberg and Val Kilmer played him in two different film treatments of that crime.
2. Question: Name this popular adult film star, whose tragic demise from prostitution, drugs, and crime was captured in a biography by a writer who is now one of the New York Times' most important arts and entertainment reporters/reviewers. This star outed several major entertainment industry celebrites, including David Geffen. Madonna used him as a model in her 1992 book, "Sex".
3. Question: Name this Broadway dancer and director who made a 1971 gay adult film, which was considered a landmark for its day. It took its title from an off-Broadway play that was amongst the first commercially successful and critically-acclaimed dramas to deal with gay men. This director worked with Noel Coward in a Florence Henderson musical and with director Joe Layton staging shows with Angela Lansbury.
4. Question: Name this American adult star who starred in the film made by #3, which cemented his status as a gay film icon. He actually was successful in legitimate theatre, performing on Broadway opposite Ingrid Bergman; appearing in a Lincoln Center production of Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice" and producing and starring in a production of Terrence McNally's "The Ritz".
5. Question: Name this adult film star, who, after leaving the industry, produced a Broadway musical with Lesley Ann Warren and John Pizzarelli; wrote cabaret and revue material for numerous theatre artists, and conceived the idea of turning Johnny Mercer's "St. Louis Woman" into a ballet for Dance Theatre of Harlem. He was a board member of the Johnny Mercer Foundation.
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/
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 4/13/09
Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 15 April 13, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com
The Fine Print
See previous issues.
Subscription Information: This newsletter is available via free email subscription only. Our mailing list is confidential.
To subscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Subscribe COS News” in subject line.
To unsubscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Cancel COS News” in subject line.
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: April 13-19, 2009
MON: 4/13: Knoxville, TN: David Sedaris reads from "When You Are Ingulfed in Flames". Also: TUE: 4/14: Greenville, SC; WED: 4/15: Atlanta, GA; THU: 4/16: Tallahassee, FL; FRI: 4/17: Jacksonville,FL: SAT: 4/18: Tampa, FL: SUN: 4/19: Dallas, TX: http://www.barclayagency.com/sedaris_appearances.html
MON: 4/13: New York, NY: Broadway for a New America: Standing Up for Marriage Equality and a Progressive Agenda for Change. A benefit with: Nellie McKay, Rosie Perez, Lillias White, Hugh Panaro, Richard Belzer, Tovah Feldshuh, and Seth Rudetsky. Rescheduled from 3/02/09. www.Jews4Change.com
MON: 4/13: San Francisco, CA: Patty Duke and the casts of "Wicked", "Grease" and "Burn The Floor" perform a cabaret benefit for The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Club Fugazi. 415-421-4222
TUE: 4/14: Northridge, CA: Cloris Leachman, Oscar winner and occasional dancer, signs copies of "Cloris: The Autobiography". 7PM. Borders Books. Tampa Ave.
WED: 4/15: New York, NY: Kristin Chenoweth, star of "Wicked" and "Pushing Daisies", signs copies of her autobiography, "A Little Bit Wicked". 7:30PM. Barnes & Noble, Lincoln Triangle. Also: THU: 4/16: New York, NY: 6PM. Paley Center for Media, W. 52nd Street; FRI: 4/17: Ridgewood, NJ: 5PM. Bookends. SAT: 4/18: Philadelphia, PA: 12N. Free Library of Philadelphia. SUN: 4/19: Tulsa, OK: 2PM. Borders, E. 21st St.
THU-SUN: 4/16-4/19: Miami, FL. Miami Latin Gay Film Festival. www.miamilatingayfilmfestival.com
FRI-SUN: 4/17-4/19: Minneapolis, MN: 2009 Bisexual Empowerment Conference (BECAUSE) at the University of Minnesota. Keynote speaker: Robyn Ochs. Also: screening of the documentary "Bi the Way" including dialogue with director Josephine Decker. www.becauseconference.org.
FRI-SUN: 4/17-4/19: Jersey City, NJ: New Jersey Bowling Gotham Open, an IGBO sponsored gay bowling tournament. www.gothambowling.com
FRI: 4/17/: Nationwide: National Day of Silence. The National Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. www.dayofsilence.org
SAT: 4/18: Los Angeles, CA: 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. www.glaad.org
SAT-SUN: 4/18-4/19: San Diego, CA: Camp Courage. An intensive two-day training institute organized by the California-focused Courage Campaign to provide grassroots activists the practical, hands-on skills to organize in their communities on marriage equality for same-sex couples. www.couragecampaign.org/campcouragearmy.
SAT-4/18-SUN: 6/28: Minneapolis, MN: Everything Kushner at The Guthrie. a celebration honoring the work of out playwright Tony Kushner (best known for his epic "Angels in America"). www.guthrietheater.org/kushner
SUN-TUE: 4/19-4/28: Online: Kristin's Closet Auction. Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth donates several items to her official fan club to benefit AIDS Walk NY. www.kristinchenowethfanclub.org
Newsworthy:
Iowa: The Supreme Court made history on 4/03/09, when it struck down a 1998 state law limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples. Towleroad recaps several news stories about this historic ruling on behalf of marriage equality. And, non-Iowans can be married in Iowa.
Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/04/iowa-gay-marriage.html
The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/04/us/04iowa.html?hp
Vermont: The State Legislature overrode the Governor's veto, making the state the fourth in the US to legalise same-sex marriage. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/us/08vermont.html?em
District of Columbia: Washington, DC: The Nation's Capitol City Council has voted to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/04/district-of-columbia-to-recognize-outofstate-samesex-marriages.html
Tourism Industry Chases Pink Money. As the number of tourists drop, airlines and hotels reach out to the gay community, a demographic with money to spend. The Chicago Tribune reports: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-mon-gay-travel-apr06,0,4546144.story
White House Easter Egg Roll includes LGBT families this year. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24887
The Tribeca Film Festival will honor Stonewall with screenings of a new documentary about "The Boys in The Band". Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127996.html
Singapore: Wilde About Oscar. An all-male cast in a production of Oscar Wilde's classic "The Importance of Being Earnest" has raised eyebrows in conservative Singapore. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/theater/02iht-earnest.html?_r=1&ref=theater
In Memoriam:
Jack Wrangler, the legendary porn star, who turned into a musical theatre performer and producer, has died at age 62. He married the famous big band singer Margaret Whiting later in his life. He was the subject of a recent documentary.
The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid77929.asp
Michael Musto from the Village Voice on Jack Wrangler: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/archives/2009/04/jack_wrangler_1.php
Photo Shoots and Video
***Lypsinka and Charles Busch as dueling divas in the benefit performance of "Legends". Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127939.html
***"Priscilla, Queen of the Desert", the Australian movie about three drag queens crossing the Outback in a bus, is now a London stage musical. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127964.html
Features
Marriage Equality: the push for same-sex marriage across New England. A done deal in Massachusetts and Connecticut but elsewhere ? The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/us/05marriage.html?ref=global-home
Marriage Equality II: Reactions on the marriage equality movement from the Christian Science Monitor: http://www.csmonitor.com/patchworknation/csmstaff/2009/0408/as-gay-marriage-terrain-changes-shrugs-across-patchwork-nation/
Profile: Bobbi Whitacre and Sandi Cote, a Vermont couple, together 42 years, wants marriage equality in the Green Mountain state. The Burlington Free Press reports: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090405/NEWS02/90404009
Newsweek: My Turn: Finding A Child a Gay-Friendly College: http://www.newsweek.com/id/192302
Preview and Backstory: Every Little Step: The Chorus Line documentary. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127967.html
In Print:
A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages by Kristin Chenoweth. Touchstone. The star of "Wicked", "The West Wing" and "Pushing Daisies" has a new autobiography. Release date: 4/14/09
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
.
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***9 to 5: The Musical. Dolly Parton has adapted her film for Broadway. www.9to5themusical.com
***Waiting for Godot. Bill Irwin and Nathan Lane mount Samuel Beckett. John Goodman, and John Glover co-star.
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***Act A Lady. A group of men in a small Prohibition-era town cross-dress to perform a play. to 4/26/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***The Andrews Brothers. Roger Bean's musical about three USO stagehands who long to sing with The Andrews Sisters. to 4/26/09. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. www.risingactiontheatre.com
***Blind Faith. a world premiere by Harry Cronin. Two teen boys fall in love in conservative Colorado Springs. to 5/03/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***Definitely Not The Easter Bunny. The Lady Bunny's seasonal club act for mature audiences only. to 4/11/09. San Francisco, CA. www.therrazzroom.com
***Grey Gardens, the musical about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, former society queens turned into recluses.to 5/17/09. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. www.ordway.org. Also to 5/17/09, Stages, Houston, TX. www.stagestheatre.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...
***Every Little Step. A documentary about the making of the 2006 Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line".
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical.
***Little Ashes, Paul Morrison's drama about the young lives and loves of Salvador Dali, Luis Bunuel and Frederico Garcia Lorca. www.littleashes-themovie.com.
***The Universe of Keith Haring, a documentary on the late gay pop artist. Now making the rounds of film festivals and independent cinemas
***Valentino: The Last Emperor, a new documentary about the life of the Italian fashion designer, focusing on his business and romantic relationship with Giancarlo Giametti, who says they've spent a total of two months apart since they met..
Out On Video & DVD
***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.
***Fashion Victims, a 2008 German film, tells the story of a straight fashion designer’s teen son who falls for his father’s biggest rival in the design world.
***Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About, a documentary about the American dancer/choreographer/director whose genius was tempered by obsessive behavior, perfectionism, and guilt over his bisexualism.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Also starring: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco. Milk comes to DVD with extras.
***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/
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
***April: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***SAT: 4/18: Grey Gardens, a new movie about eccentric Jackie O cousins Edie Beale and her mother, starring Drew Barrymore as Little Edie and Jessica Lange as her mother Big Edie. HBO. Check local listings.
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
4/20/09: New York, NY: The Broadway Beauty Pageant. Male cast members from Broadway shows compete for the crown. Proceeds benefit the Ali Forney Center, the nation's largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127418.html
4/23/09: Nationwide: This American Life, live screening of the popular public radio show with Ira Glass, Dan Savage, David Rakoff. http://www.fathomevents.com
4/24/09-5/03/09: Miami, FL: Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. www.MGLFF.com
4/25/09: San Francisco, CA: Lip Service, a drag fundraiser/concert for the AIDS Lifecycle Team Go Big!. www.cityboxoffice.com
4/27/09: New York, NY: Live Out Loud 8th Annual Young Trailblazers Benefit Gala. Hosted by Nick Adams. Chelsea Art Museum. www.livoutloud.info
4/27/09-5/03/09: Philadelphia, PA: Equality Forum. largest national & internationall LGBT civil rights forum with 60+ programs, parties & special events. www.equalityforum.com
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Who Said That ?
1. Question. Who said or wrote this? “I don’t want to be the greatest lesbian of the western world” said this renowned contemporary gossip columnist, who came out in her autobiography. She made the previous statement comparing herself to Sandra Bernhard. Hint: Her column was recently dropped from the New York Post. Answer: Liz Smith.
2. Question. Who said or wrote this? “Take it from me, the first rule of how not to come out to your parents: do not come out when they are driving. The second rule: do not come out on a major family holiday when the whole clan is around.” Hint: This TV sitcom actor spent his so called life on Broadway in a Jonathan Larson musical based on “La Boheme”. Answer: Wilson Cruz of “My So Called Life” and “Rent”.
3. Question. Who said or wrote this? “I don’t have any problems with my sexuality, whatever you wanna think I am. I’ll never answer the question. I’d rather have you die wanting to know.”. Hint: This singer and talk-show host got rave reviews in a movie musical, where she played a butch jailhouse matron. She’s rap royalty. Answer: Queen Latifah (Matron Mama in the movie “Chicago”).
4. Question. Who said or wrote this? “It took me 49 years to be able to say to a stranger like you that I was gay”. Hint: This actor and activist is currently reprising his role in a hot movie. He was the second openly-gay actor (the first was Nigel Hawthorne) to be nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award. Answer: Sir Ian McKellan, of “Lord of the Rings”.
5. Question. Who said or wrote this? “It is never too late to come out. Never! and, I encourage everyone to come out.”. Hint: This bisexual conductor and composer adapted “Romeo and Juliet” for Broadway and wrote a ballet and musical about three sailors running wild in New York over 24 hours. Answer: Leonard Bernstein, composer of “West Side Story” and “On The Town” (and its ballet “Fancy Free”).
This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Easter/Passover Trivia with a Gay Sensibility
1. Question: Name this state. Nothing could be finer, as a LGBT community bookstore named for an Easter icon serves two of the state's metropolitan areas.
2. Question: Name this film which describes the Passover story (which was likely told at the Last Supper). It starred a gun-toting gladiator, a scheming understudy, and a Thai monarch.
3. Question: Name this Chattanooga-born gay community icon. After conquering the Atlanta drag scene with RuPaul, she launched an annual New York City drag show that was captured in an award-winning documentary. She comments on fashion for a supermarket tabloid.
4. Question: Name this 1948 holiday film which featured two stars beloved in the gay community. One's death launched a movement; the other's hair never moved.
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/
Volume 12 No. 15 April 13, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com
The Fine Print
See previous issues.
Subscription Information: This newsletter is available via free email subscription only. Our mailing list is confidential.
To subscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Subscribe COS News” in subject line.
To unsubscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Cancel COS News” in subject line.
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: April 13-19, 2009
MON: 4/13: Knoxville, TN: David Sedaris reads from "When You Are Ingulfed in Flames". Also: TUE: 4/14: Greenville, SC; WED: 4/15: Atlanta, GA; THU: 4/16: Tallahassee, FL; FRI: 4/17: Jacksonville,FL: SAT: 4/18: Tampa, FL: SUN: 4/19: Dallas, TX: http://www.barclayagency.com/sedaris_appearances.html
MON: 4/13: New York, NY: Broadway for a New America: Standing Up for Marriage Equality and a Progressive Agenda for Change. A benefit with: Nellie McKay, Rosie Perez, Lillias White, Hugh Panaro, Richard Belzer, Tovah Feldshuh, and Seth Rudetsky. Rescheduled from 3/02/09. www.Jews4Change.com
MON: 4/13: San Francisco, CA: Patty Duke and the casts of "Wicked", "Grease" and "Burn The Floor" perform a cabaret benefit for The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Club Fugazi. 415-421-4222
TUE: 4/14: Northridge, CA: Cloris Leachman, Oscar winner and occasional dancer, signs copies of "Cloris: The Autobiography". 7PM. Borders Books. Tampa Ave.
WED: 4/15: New York, NY: Kristin Chenoweth, star of "Wicked" and "Pushing Daisies", signs copies of her autobiography, "A Little Bit Wicked". 7:30PM. Barnes & Noble, Lincoln Triangle. Also: THU: 4/16: New York, NY: 6PM. Paley Center for Media, W. 52nd Street; FRI: 4/17: Ridgewood, NJ: 5PM. Bookends. SAT: 4/18: Philadelphia, PA: 12N. Free Library of Philadelphia. SUN: 4/19: Tulsa, OK: 2PM. Borders, E. 21st St.
THU-SUN: 4/16-4/19: Miami, FL. Miami Latin Gay Film Festival. www.miamilatingayfilmfestival.com
FRI-SUN: 4/17-4/19: Minneapolis, MN: 2009 Bisexual Empowerment Conference (BECAUSE) at the University of Minnesota. Keynote speaker: Robyn Ochs. Also: screening of the documentary "Bi the Way" including dialogue with director Josephine Decker. www.becauseconference.org.
FRI-SUN: 4/17-4/19: Jersey City, NJ: New Jersey Bowling Gotham Open, an IGBO sponsored gay bowling tournament. www.gothambowling.com
FRI: 4/17/: Nationwide: National Day of Silence. The National Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. www.dayofsilence.org
SAT: 4/18: Los Angeles, CA: 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. www.glaad.org
SAT-SUN: 4/18-4/19: San Diego, CA: Camp Courage. An intensive two-day training institute organized by the California-focused Courage Campaign to provide grassroots activists the practical, hands-on skills to organize in their communities on marriage equality for same-sex couples. www.couragecampaign.org/campcouragearmy.
SAT-4/18-SUN: 6/28: Minneapolis, MN: Everything Kushner at The Guthrie. a celebration honoring the work of out playwright Tony Kushner (best known for his epic "Angels in America"). www.guthrietheater.org/kushner
SUN-TUE: 4/19-4/28: Online: Kristin's Closet Auction. Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth donates several items to her official fan club to benefit AIDS Walk NY. www.kristinchenowethfanclub.org
Newsworthy:
Iowa: The Supreme Court made history on 4/03/09, when it struck down a 1998 state law limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples. Towleroad recaps several news stories about this historic ruling on behalf of marriage equality. And, non-Iowans can be married in Iowa.
Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/04/iowa-gay-marriage.html
The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/04/us/04iowa.html?hp
Vermont: The State Legislature overrode the Governor's veto, making the state the fourth in the US to legalise same-sex marriage. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/us/08vermont.html?em
District of Columbia: Washington, DC: The Nation's Capitol City Council has voted to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/04/district-of-columbia-to-recognize-outofstate-samesex-marriages.html
Tourism Industry Chases Pink Money. As the number of tourists drop, airlines and hotels reach out to the gay community, a demographic with money to spend. The Chicago Tribune reports: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-mon-gay-travel-apr06,0,4546144.story
White House Easter Egg Roll includes LGBT families this year. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24887
The Tribeca Film Festival will honor Stonewall with screenings of a new documentary about "The Boys in The Band". Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127996.html
Singapore: Wilde About Oscar. An all-male cast in a production of Oscar Wilde's classic "The Importance of Being Earnest" has raised eyebrows in conservative Singapore. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/theater/02iht-earnest.html?_r=1&ref=theater
In Memoriam:
Jack Wrangler, the legendary porn star, who turned into a musical theatre performer and producer, has died at age 62. He married the famous big band singer Margaret Whiting later in his life. He was the subject of a recent documentary.
The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid77929.asp
Michael Musto from the Village Voice on Jack Wrangler: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/archives/2009/04/jack_wrangler_1.php
Photo Shoots and Video
***Lypsinka and Charles Busch as dueling divas in the benefit performance of "Legends". Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127939.html
***"Priscilla, Queen of the Desert", the Australian movie about three drag queens crossing the Outback in a bus, is now a London stage musical. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127964.html
Features
Marriage Equality: the push for same-sex marriage across New England. A done deal in Massachusetts and Connecticut but elsewhere ? The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/us/05marriage.html?ref=global-home
Marriage Equality II: Reactions on the marriage equality movement from the Christian Science Monitor: http://www.csmonitor.com/patchworknation/csmstaff/2009/0408/as-gay-marriage-terrain-changes-shrugs-across-patchwork-nation/
Profile: Bobbi Whitacre and Sandi Cote, a Vermont couple, together 42 years, wants marriage equality in the Green Mountain state. The Burlington Free Press reports: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090405/NEWS02/90404009
Newsweek: My Turn: Finding A Child a Gay-Friendly College: http://www.newsweek.com/id/192302
Preview and Backstory: Every Little Step: The Chorus Line documentary. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127967.html
In Print:
A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages by Kristin Chenoweth. Touchstone. The star of "Wicked", "The West Wing" and "Pushing Daisies" has a new autobiography. Release date: 4/14/09
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
.
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***9 to 5: The Musical. Dolly Parton has adapted her film for Broadway. www.9to5themusical.com
***Waiting for Godot. Bill Irwin and Nathan Lane mount Samuel Beckett. John Goodman, and John Glover co-star.
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***Act A Lady. A group of men in a small Prohibition-era town cross-dress to perform a play. to 4/26/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***The Andrews Brothers. Roger Bean's musical about three USO stagehands who long to sing with The Andrews Sisters. to 4/26/09. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. www.risingactiontheatre.com
***Blind Faith. a world premiere by Harry Cronin. Two teen boys fall in love in conservative Colorado Springs. to 5/03/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***Definitely Not The Easter Bunny. The Lady Bunny's seasonal club act for mature audiences only. to 4/11/09. San Francisco, CA. www.therrazzroom.com
***Grey Gardens, the musical about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, former society queens turned into recluses.to 5/17/09. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. www.ordway.org. Also to 5/17/09, Stages, Houston, TX. www.stagestheatre.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...
***Every Little Step. A documentary about the making of the 2006 Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line".
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical.
***Little Ashes, Paul Morrison's drama about the young lives and loves of Salvador Dali, Luis Bunuel and Frederico Garcia Lorca. www.littleashes-themovie.com.
***The Universe of Keith Haring, a documentary on the late gay pop artist. Now making the rounds of film festivals and independent cinemas
***Valentino: The Last Emperor, a new documentary about the life of the Italian fashion designer, focusing on his business and romantic relationship with Giancarlo Giametti, who says they've spent a total of two months apart since they met..
Out On Video & DVD
***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.
***Fashion Victims, a 2008 German film, tells the story of a straight fashion designer’s teen son who falls for his father’s biggest rival in the design world.
***Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About, a documentary about the American dancer/choreographer/director whose genius was tempered by obsessive behavior, perfectionism, and guilt over his bisexualism.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Also starring: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco. Milk comes to DVD with extras.
***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/
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
***April: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***SAT: 4/18: Grey Gardens, a new movie about eccentric Jackie O cousins Edie Beale and her mother, starring Drew Barrymore as Little Edie and Jessica Lange as her mother Big Edie. HBO. Check local listings.
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
4/20/09: New York, NY: The Broadway Beauty Pageant. Male cast members from Broadway shows compete for the crown. Proceeds benefit the Ali Forney Center, the nation's largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127418.html
4/23/09: Nationwide: This American Life, live screening of the popular public radio show with Ira Glass, Dan Savage, David Rakoff. http://www.fathomevents.com
4/24/09-5/03/09: Miami, FL: Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. www.MGLFF.com
4/25/09: San Francisco, CA: Lip Service, a drag fundraiser/concert for the AIDS Lifecycle Team Go Big!. www.cityboxoffice.com
4/27/09: New York, NY: Live Out Loud 8th Annual Young Trailblazers Benefit Gala. Hosted by Nick Adams. Chelsea Art Museum. www.livoutloud.info
4/27/09-5/03/09: Philadelphia, PA: Equality Forum. largest national & internationall LGBT civil rights forum with 60+ programs, parties & special events. www.equalityforum.com
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Who Said That ?
1. Question. Who said or wrote this? “I don’t want to be the greatest lesbian of the western world” said this renowned contemporary gossip columnist, who came out in her autobiography. She made the previous statement comparing herself to Sandra Bernhard. Hint: Her column was recently dropped from the New York Post. Answer: Liz Smith.
2. Question. Who said or wrote this? “Take it from me, the first rule of how not to come out to your parents: do not come out when they are driving. The second rule: do not come out on a major family holiday when the whole clan is around.” Hint: This TV sitcom actor spent his so called life on Broadway in a Jonathan Larson musical based on “La Boheme”. Answer: Wilson Cruz of “My So Called Life” and “Rent”.
3. Question. Who said or wrote this? “I don’t have any problems with my sexuality, whatever you wanna think I am. I’ll never answer the question. I’d rather have you die wanting to know.”. Hint: This singer and talk-show host got rave reviews in a movie musical, where she played a butch jailhouse matron. She’s rap royalty. Answer: Queen Latifah (Matron Mama in the movie “Chicago”).
4. Question. Who said or wrote this? “It took me 49 years to be able to say to a stranger like you that I was gay”. Hint: This actor and activist is currently reprising his role in a hot movie. He was the second openly-gay actor (the first was Nigel Hawthorne) to be nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award. Answer: Sir Ian McKellan, of “Lord of the Rings”.
5. Question. Who said or wrote this? “It is never too late to come out. Never! and, I encourage everyone to come out.”. Hint: This bisexual conductor and composer adapted “Romeo and Juliet” for Broadway and wrote a ballet and musical about three sailors running wild in New York over 24 hours. Answer: Leonard Bernstein, composer of “West Side Story” and “On The Town” (and its ballet “Fancy Free”).
This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Easter/Passover Trivia with a Gay Sensibility
1. Question: Name this state. Nothing could be finer, as a LGBT community bookstore named for an Easter icon serves two of the state's metropolitan areas.
2. Question: Name this film which describes the Passover story (which was likely told at the Last Supper). It starred a gun-toting gladiator, a scheming understudy, and a Thai monarch.
3. Question: Name this Chattanooga-born gay community icon. After conquering the Atlanta drag scene with RuPaul, she launched an annual New York City drag show that was captured in an award-winning documentary. She comments on fashion for a supermarket tabloid.
4. Question: Name this 1948 holiday film which featured two stars beloved in the gay community. One's death launched a movement; the other's hair never moved.
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/
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 4/06/09
Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 14 April 6, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com
The Fine Print
See previous editions
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: April 6-12, 2009
Ongoing: Portland, OR: Coming Out: Discourses and Resources. A new discussion group led by a of rotating queer-identified trusted individuals. Neither therapy nor lecture. 6PM-7PM on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. www.pdxqcenter.org
MON: 4/06: Providence, RI: David Sedaris reads from "When You Are Ingulfed in Flames". Also: TUE: 4/07: Athens, OH: WED: 4/08: Columbia, MO: THU: 4/09: Milwaukee, WI: FRI: 4/10: Roanoke, VA: SAT: 4/11: Durham, NC: http://www.barclayagency.com/sedaris_appearances.html
TUE: 4/07: Los Angeles, CA: Cloris Leachman, Oscar winner and occasional dancer, signs copies of "Cloris: The Autobiography". 7:30PM. Barnes & Noble, Grove Drive. Also: SAT: 4/11: West Hollywood, CA: 7:PM. Book Soup, Sunset Blvd.
WED: 4/08: Portland, OR: Toby Johnson, gay novelist and spirituality writer, former editor of White Crane Journal, speaks about his book "GAY PERSPECTIVE: Things our [homo]sexuality tells us about the nature of God and the Universe". www.pdxqcenter.org
THU-SAT: 4/09-4/11: Calgary, AB: Canada Badminton, Bowling, Curling, Running, Swimming, Volleyball Western Cup XXVII, 27th anniversary of North America's longest running annual LGBT multi-sport tournament and trophy event for Apollo, Friends in Sports, Calgary's LGBT sport & social organization. www.westerncup.com
THU-SUN: 4/09-4/12: Washington, DC: International Gay Square Dance Clubs Convention. www.iagsdc.org
SAT: 4/11: New Orleans, LA: Batt on a Hot Tin Roof. "Mad Men" star Bryan Batt does a benefit for the Le Petit Théâtre duVieux Carré, a New Orleans landmark. The out actor, a Big Easy native, starred on Broadway in "Jeffrey" and "La Cage Aux Folles". www.LePetitTheatre.com
SAT: 4/11: Jersey City, NJ: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" does a reading and booksigning. Chillfest. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php
Newsworthy:
Sweden has become the 7th country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid77092.asp
Gay Marriage in USA Update. A setback in one state and a gain in another. The New York Times reports on the issue in Vermont and New Hampshire. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/27/us/27hampshire.html?ref=us
How Much Do They Make ? The Washington Blade charts the compensation packages of the leaders in the LGBT rights movement. http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24698
The Buzz (People Making News)
Corine Mauch, who is openly gay, was elected mayor of Zurich, making Zurich the most prominent international city to elect an out lesbian mayor to date. The historic election also made Mauch the first female mayor of the largest city in Switzerland. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid76796.asp
Damon Romine has left his post as Director of Entertainment Media at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) to join Screen Actors Guild (SAG) as its Director of Communications. Romine led GLAAD's entertainment advocacy efforts for more than four years and was the architect of GLAAD’s multi-platform "Be an Ally & a Friend" public education campaign.
Awards and Honors:
GLAAD Media Awards: Suze Orman, Tyra Banks and Phil Donahue honored in New York. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/my-entry.html
Winners: Kevin Kline Awards for outstanding theatre in metropolitan St. Louis: "The Little Dog Laughed" at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis; Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127854.html
In Memoriam:
James Hoover, former publisher of Boston's Bay Windows and the South End News died on 3/19/09 at age 53. He was one of the founding members of the National Gay Newspaper Guild. Bay Windows reports: http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=88876
Ronald Tavel, a founder of Theatre of the Ridiculous, and a playwright who brought Harvey Fierstein and Charles Ludlam to prominence, died 3/25/09, at age 68. The Village Voice reports: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/03/ronald_tavel_19.php
The Resource Center:
Knights Out is a support and education organization that promotes dignity, diversity, and respect for LGBT alumni of the United States Military Academy at West Point and their family and allies. They offer panel discussions, conference calls, networking forums and a speakers bureau for the benefit of our participants. www.knightsout.org
Live Out Loud is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering, mentoring, and celebrating LGBT youth. Live Out Loud produces panel discussions, lectures, and workshops that connect LGBT youth with role models and leaders in the LGBT community. Since its inception in 2000, the group has presented events at dozens of metropolitan area high schools and universities featuring panelists from every walk of life. www.livoutloud.info
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Accent on Youth. David Hyde Pierce stars in Samson Raphaelson’s 1934 comedy about a backstage love triangle among a playwright (Hyde Pierce), his secretary and a young leading man. www.manhattantheatreclub.com.
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***9 to 5: The Musical. Dolly Parton has adapted her film for Broadway. www.9to5themusical.com
***Waiting for Godot. Bill Irwin and Nathan Lane mount Samuel Beckett. John Goodman, and John Glover co-star.
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***Act A Lady. A group of men in a small Prohibition-era town cross-dress to perform a play. to 4/26/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***The Andrews Brothers. Roger Bean's musical about three USO stagehands who long to sing with The Andrews Sisters. to 4/26/09. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. www.risingactiontheatre.com
***Blind Faith. a world premiere by Harry Cronin. Two teen boys fall in love in conservative Colorado Springs. to 5/03/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***Grey Gardens, the award-winning musical about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, former society queens turned into recluses with 51 cats.to 5/17/09. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. www.ordway.org.
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.
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical, which features interviews with authors James Rado and Gerome Ragni, composer Galt MacDermot and late director Tom O'Horgan as well as Oscar winner Milos Forman, who directed the 1979 film adaptation of Hair.
***Little Ashes, Paul Morrison's drama about the young lives and loves of Salvador Dali, Luis Bunuel and Frederico Garcia Lorca. www.littleashes-themovie.com.
***The Universe of Keith Haring, a documentary on the late gay pop artist. Now making the rounds of film festivals and independent cinemas
***Valentino: The Last Emperor, a new documentary about the life of the Italian fashion designer, focusing on his business and romantic relationship with Giancarlo Giametti, who says they've spent a total of two months apart since they met..
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.
***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.
***Fashion Victims, a 2008 German film, tells the story of a straight fashion designer’s teen son who falls for his father’s biggest rival in the design world.
***Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About, a documentary about the American dancer/choreographer/director whose genius was tempered by obsessive behavior, perfectionism, and guilt over his bisexualism.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Also starring: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco. Milk comes to DVD with extras.
***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.
***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
***April: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
4/16/09-4/19/09: Miami, FL. Miami Latin Gay Film Festival. www.miamilatingayfilmfestival.com
4/17/09-4/19/09: Minneapolis, MN: 2009 Bisexual Empowerment Conference (BECAUSE) at the University of Minnesota. www.becauseconference.org.
4/17/09-4/19/09: Jersey City, NJ: New Jersey Bowling Gotham Open, an IGBO sponsored gay bowling tournament. www.gothambowling.com
4/17/09: Nationwide: National Day of Silence. bringing attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. www.dayofsilence.org
4/18/09-4/19/09: San Diego, CA: Camp Courage. An intensive two-day training institute to provide grassroots activists the practical, hands-on skills to organize in their communities on marriage equality. www.couragecampaign.org/campcouragearmy.
4/18/09-6/28/09: Minneapolis, MN: Everything Kushner at The Guthrie. a landmark theater-wide celebration honoring the work of out playwright Tony Kushner. Featuring three productions on three unique stages. http://www.guthrietheater.org/kushner
4/20/09: New York, NY: The Broadway Beauty Pageant. Male cast members from Broadway shows compete for the crown. Proceeds will benefit the Ali Forney Center, the nation's largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127418.html
4/23/09-4/26/09: New Haven, CT: Yale LGBT Reunion Weekend.
www.yalegala.org/YaleGayRunion.html.
4/24/09-4/26/09: Toronto, ON: All Out Swim 2009, splash and swim competition. www.dsctoronto.ca/alloutswim/
4/24/09-5/03/09: Miami, FL: Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. www.MGLFF.com
4/27/09: New York, NY: Live Out Loud 8th Annual Young Trailblazers Benefit Gala. Hosted by Nick Adams. Chelsea Art Museum. www.livoutloud.info
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: April Milestones
1. Question: Name this American blues singer, born April 15, 1894. One of her most famous songs included the lyrics: "There's two things got me puzzled, there's two things I don't understand; That's a mannish-actin' woman, and a skippin, twistin' woman-actin' man." Answer: Bessie Smith, whose best friend was male impersonator Gladys Fergusson and who had been introduced to the world of 'women-lovin' women' by blues singer Ma Rainey.
2. Question: Name this New York City educational institution that opened its doors on April 1, 1985. Named for a slain gay rights activist, it was the first publicly-funded school for LGBT kids. Answer: The Harvey Milk School, started by the Hetrick-Martin Institute.
3. Question: Name this gay American playwright, born April 17, 1887. He’s best known for his portrayal of a rural American community, but he also wrote a breakthrough role for Talullah Bankhead and a play set in Yonkers which became one of America’s most popular musicals. Answer: Thornton Wilder, author of “Our Town”, “The Skin of Our Teeth” (Bankhead played the wisecracking maid) and “The Matchmaker” which became “Hello Dolly”.
4. Question: Name this young American who died on April 8, 1990. He put a human face to HIV and AIDS, and in his final years, worked tirelessly to raise monies and awareness of AIDS issues. Several funding initiatives are named in his memory. Answer: Ryan White.
5. Question: Name this award-winning play, which opened in New York on April 14, 1968. It was the first commercially successful theatre production to deal with openly gay characters and queer subject matter. Answer: The Boys in the Band, Mart Crowley’s portrait of a birthday party that turns into “truth or dare”. The movie version on DVD and VHS features the original cast.
This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Who Said That ?
1. Question. Who said or wrote this? “I don’t want to be the greatest lesbian of the western world” said this renowned contemporary gossip columnist, who came out in her autobiography. She made the previous statement comparing herself to Sandra Bernhard. Hint: Her column was recently dropped from the New York Post.
2. Question. Who said or wrote this? “Take it from me, the first rule of how not to come out to your parents: do not come out when they are driving. The second rule: do not come out on a major family holiday when the whole clan is around.” Hint: This TV sitcom actor spent his so called life on Broadway in a Jonathan Larson musical based on “La Boheme”.
3. Question. Who said or wrote this? “I don’t have any problems with my sexuality, whatever you wanna think I am. I’ll never answer the question. I’d rather have you die wanting to know.”. Hint: This singer and talk-show host got rave reviews in a movie musical, where she played a butch jailhouse matron. She’s rap royalty.
4. Question. Who said or wrote this? “It took me 49 years to be able to say to a stranger like you that I was gay”. Hint: This actor and activist is currently reprising his role in a hot movie. He was the second openly-gay actor (the first was Nigel Hawthorne) to be nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award.
5. Question. Who said or wrote this? “It is never too late to come out. Never! and, I encourage everyone to come out.”. Hint: This bisexual conductor and composer adapted “Romeo and Juliet” for Broadway and wrote a ballet and musical about three sailors running wild in New York over 24 hours.
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/
Volume 12 No. 14 April 6, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com
The Fine Print
See previous editions
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: April 6-12, 2009
Ongoing: Portland, OR: Coming Out: Discourses and Resources. A new discussion group led by a of rotating queer-identified trusted individuals. Neither therapy nor lecture. 6PM-7PM on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. www.pdxqcenter.org
MON: 4/06: Providence, RI: David Sedaris reads from "When You Are Ingulfed in Flames". Also: TUE: 4/07: Athens, OH: WED: 4/08: Columbia, MO: THU: 4/09: Milwaukee, WI: FRI: 4/10: Roanoke, VA: SAT: 4/11: Durham, NC: http://www.barclayagency.com/sedaris_appearances.html
TUE: 4/07: Los Angeles, CA: Cloris Leachman, Oscar winner and occasional dancer, signs copies of "Cloris: The Autobiography". 7:30PM. Barnes & Noble, Grove Drive. Also: SAT: 4/11: West Hollywood, CA: 7:PM. Book Soup, Sunset Blvd.
WED: 4/08: Portland, OR: Toby Johnson, gay novelist and spirituality writer, former editor of White Crane Journal, speaks about his book "GAY PERSPECTIVE: Things our [homo]sexuality tells us about the nature of God and the Universe". www.pdxqcenter.org
THU-SAT: 4/09-4/11: Calgary, AB: Canada Badminton, Bowling, Curling, Running, Swimming, Volleyball Western Cup XXVII, 27th anniversary of North America's longest running annual LGBT multi-sport tournament and trophy event for Apollo, Friends in Sports, Calgary's LGBT sport & social organization. www.westerncup.com
THU-SUN: 4/09-4/12: Washington, DC: International Gay Square Dance Clubs Convention. www.iagsdc.org
SAT: 4/11: New Orleans, LA: Batt on a Hot Tin Roof. "Mad Men" star Bryan Batt does a benefit for the Le Petit Théâtre duVieux Carré, a New Orleans landmark. The out actor, a Big Easy native, starred on Broadway in "Jeffrey" and "La Cage Aux Folles". www.LePetitTheatre.com
SAT: 4/11: Jersey City, NJ: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" does a reading and booksigning. Chillfest. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php
Newsworthy:
Sweden has become the 7th country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid77092.asp
Gay Marriage in USA Update. A setback in one state and a gain in another. The New York Times reports on the issue in Vermont and New Hampshire. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/27/us/27hampshire.html?ref=us
How Much Do They Make ? The Washington Blade charts the compensation packages of the leaders in the LGBT rights movement. http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24698
The Buzz (People Making News)
Corine Mauch, who is openly gay, was elected mayor of Zurich, making Zurich the most prominent international city to elect an out lesbian mayor to date. The historic election also made Mauch the first female mayor of the largest city in Switzerland. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid76796.asp
Damon Romine has left his post as Director of Entertainment Media at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) to join Screen Actors Guild (SAG) as its Director of Communications. Romine led GLAAD's entertainment advocacy efforts for more than four years and was the architect of GLAAD’s multi-platform "Be an Ally & a Friend" public education campaign.
Awards and Honors:
GLAAD Media Awards: Suze Orman, Tyra Banks and Phil Donahue honored in New York. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/my-entry.html
Winners: Kevin Kline Awards for outstanding theatre in metropolitan St. Louis: "The Little Dog Laughed" at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis; Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127854.html
In Memoriam:
James Hoover, former publisher of Boston's Bay Windows and the South End News died on 3/19/09 at age 53. He was one of the founding members of the National Gay Newspaper Guild. Bay Windows reports: http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=88876
Ronald Tavel, a founder of Theatre of the Ridiculous, and a playwright who brought Harvey Fierstein and Charles Ludlam to prominence, died 3/25/09, at age 68. The Village Voice reports: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/03/ronald_tavel_19.php
The Resource Center:
Knights Out is a support and education organization that promotes dignity, diversity, and respect for LGBT alumni of the United States Military Academy at West Point and their family and allies. They offer panel discussions, conference calls, networking forums and a speakers bureau for the benefit of our participants. www.knightsout.org
Live Out Loud is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering, mentoring, and celebrating LGBT youth. Live Out Loud produces panel discussions, lectures, and workshops that connect LGBT youth with role models and leaders in the LGBT community. Since its inception in 2000, the group has presented events at dozens of metropolitan area high schools and universities featuring panelists from every walk of life. www.livoutloud.info
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Accent on Youth. David Hyde Pierce stars in Samson Raphaelson’s 1934 comedy about a backstage love triangle among a playwright (Hyde Pierce), his secretary and a young leading man. www.manhattantheatreclub.com.
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***9 to 5: The Musical. Dolly Parton has adapted her film for Broadway. www.9to5themusical.com
***Waiting for Godot. Bill Irwin and Nathan Lane mount Samuel Beckett. John Goodman, and John Glover co-star.
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***Act A Lady. A group of men in a small Prohibition-era town cross-dress to perform a play. to 4/26/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***The Andrews Brothers. Roger Bean's musical about three USO stagehands who long to sing with The Andrews Sisters. to 4/26/09. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. www.risingactiontheatre.com
***Blind Faith. a world premiere by Harry Cronin. Two teen boys fall in love in conservative Colorado Springs. to 5/03/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***Grey Gardens, the award-winning musical about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, former society queens turned into recluses with 51 cats.to 5/17/09. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. www.ordway.org.
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.
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical, which features interviews with authors James Rado and Gerome Ragni, composer Galt MacDermot and late director Tom O'Horgan as well as Oscar winner Milos Forman, who directed the 1979 film adaptation of Hair.
***Little Ashes, Paul Morrison's drama about the young lives and loves of Salvador Dali, Luis Bunuel and Frederico Garcia Lorca. www.littleashes-themovie.com.
***The Universe of Keith Haring, a documentary on the late gay pop artist. Now making the rounds of film festivals and independent cinemas
***Valentino: The Last Emperor, a new documentary about the life of the Italian fashion designer, focusing on his business and romantic relationship with Giancarlo Giametti, who says they've spent a total of two months apart since they met..
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.
***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.
***Fashion Victims, a 2008 German film, tells the story of a straight fashion designer’s teen son who falls for his father’s biggest rival in the design world.
***Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About, a documentary about the American dancer/choreographer/director whose genius was tempered by obsessive behavior, perfectionism, and guilt over his bisexualism.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Also starring: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco. Milk comes to DVD with extras.
***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.
***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
***April: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
4/16/09-4/19/09: Miami, FL. Miami Latin Gay Film Festival. www.miamilatingayfilmfestival.com
4/17/09-4/19/09: Minneapolis, MN: 2009 Bisexual Empowerment Conference (BECAUSE) at the University of Minnesota. www.becauseconference.org.
4/17/09-4/19/09: Jersey City, NJ: New Jersey Bowling Gotham Open, an IGBO sponsored gay bowling tournament. www.gothambowling.com
4/17/09: Nationwide: National Day of Silence. bringing attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. www.dayofsilence.org
4/18/09-4/19/09: San Diego, CA: Camp Courage. An intensive two-day training institute to provide grassroots activists the practical, hands-on skills to organize in their communities on marriage equality. www.couragecampaign.org/campcouragearmy.
4/18/09-6/28/09: Minneapolis, MN: Everything Kushner at The Guthrie. a landmark theater-wide celebration honoring the work of out playwright Tony Kushner. Featuring three productions on three unique stages. http://www.guthrietheater.org/kushner
4/20/09: New York, NY: The Broadway Beauty Pageant. Male cast members from Broadway shows compete for the crown. Proceeds will benefit the Ali Forney Center, the nation's largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127418.html
4/23/09-4/26/09: New Haven, CT: Yale LGBT Reunion Weekend.
www.yalegala.org/YaleGayRunion.html.
4/24/09-4/26/09: Toronto, ON: All Out Swim 2009, splash and swim competition. www.dsctoronto.ca/alloutswim/
4/24/09-5/03/09: Miami, FL: Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. www.MGLFF.com
4/27/09: New York, NY: Live Out Loud 8th Annual Young Trailblazers Benefit Gala. Hosted by Nick Adams. Chelsea Art Museum. www.livoutloud.info
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: April Milestones
1. Question: Name this American blues singer, born April 15, 1894. One of her most famous songs included the lyrics: "There's two things got me puzzled, there's two things I don't understand; That's a mannish-actin' woman, and a skippin, twistin' woman-actin' man." Answer: Bessie Smith, whose best friend was male impersonator Gladys Fergusson and who had been introduced to the world of 'women-lovin' women' by blues singer Ma Rainey.
2. Question: Name this New York City educational institution that opened its doors on April 1, 1985. Named for a slain gay rights activist, it was the first publicly-funded school for LGBT kids. Answer: The Harvey Milk School, started by the Hetrick-Martin Institute.
3. Question: Name this gay American playwright, born April 17, 1887. He’s best known for his portrayal of a rural American community, but he also wrote a breakthrough role for Talullah Bankhead and a play set in Yonkers which became one of America’s most popular musicals. Answer: Thornton Wilder, author of “Our Town”, “The Skin of Our Teeth” (Bankhead played the wisecracking maid) and “The Matchmaker” which became “Hello Dolly”.
4. Question: Name this young American who died on April 8, 1990. He put a human face to HIV and AIDS, and in his final years, worked tirelessly to raise monies and awareness of AIDS issues. Several funding initiatives are named in his memory. Answer: Ryan White.
5. Question: Name this award-winning play, which opened in New York on April 14, 1968. It was the first commercially successful theatre production to deal with openly gay characters and queer subject matter. Answer: The Boys in the Band, Mart Crowley’s portrait of a birthday party that turns into “truth or dare”. The movie version on DVD and VHS features the original cast.
This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Who Said That ?
1. Question. Who said or wrote this? “I don’t want to be the greatest lesbian of the western world” said this renowned contemporary gossip columnist, who came out in her autobiography. She made the previous statement comparing herself to Sandra Bernhard. Hint: Her column was recently dropped from the New York Post.
2. Question. Who said or wrote this? “Take it from me, the first rule of how not to come out to your parents: do not come out when they are driving. The second rule: do not come out on a major family holiday when the whole clan is around.” Hint: This TV sitcom actor spent his so called life on Broadway in a Jonathan Larson musical based on “La Boheme”.
3. Question. Who said or wrote this? “I don’t have any problems with my sexuality, whatever you wanna think I am. I’ll never answer the question. I’d rather have you die wanting to know.”. Hint: This singer and talk-show host got rave reviews in a movie musical, where she played a butch jailhouse matron. She’s rap royalty.
4. Question. Who said or wrote this? “It took me 49 years to be able to say to a stranger like you that I was gay”. Hint: This actor and activist is currently reprising his role in a hot movie. He was the second openly-gay actor (the first was Nigel Hawthorne) to be nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award.
5. Question. Who said or wrote this? “It is never too late to come out. Never! and, I encourage everyone to come out.”. Hint: This bisexual conductor and composer adapted “Romeo and Juliet” for Broadway and wrote a ballet and musical about three sailors running wild in New York over 24 hours.
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/
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