Category Archives: Celebrity
Brian Scott Bagley Pays Tribute to Josephine Baker in Montclair, New Jersey
Dancer/Producer/Choreographer Brian Scott Bagley never imagined his homage to the late Josephine Baker, a dance piece he’s ingeniously titled ‘Josefiend’, would steal thunder from the unstoppable sexpot Dita Von Teese. But that’s just what happened – unintentionally of course, as Bagley and Von Tesse are friendly colleagues – when “La Gentry de Paris Revue” opened to raves overseas just two weeks ago.
Now Bagley’s visiting stateside through the end of next weekend as both a choreographer and dancer in another Baker-related production, Jerome Savary’s “A La Recherche de Josephine” (“Looking for Josephine”), in which Jersey homegirl Nicolle Rochelle has her turn playing the revered icon.
Not unlike the late Baker herself, Bagley is an American in Paris, having lived there for the past three years (though he hasn’t surrendered his citizenship as Baker eventually did). Residency there has allowed his career to morph into something far more complex than what American Idol viewers might recall from the 2005 season when Bagley was one of the more memorable DC auditions, thereafter dubbed, ‘The Dancing Janitor,’ (a reflection of his employment at the time).
The Idol connection may have brought some fleeting recognition, but it wasn’t until he moved to Paris that Bagley – a former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Student – found some real footing in his career. Working on Savary’s ambitious storyline that celebrates African-American spirit through song and dance while juxtaposing Baker’s fiery legacy against a post-Katrina New Orleans (thus mirroring the civil rights issues from two different periods in American history), Bagley networked his way into the newly revitalized Parisian burlesque culture. At the center of the revival is a performer called ‘Gentry de Paris’ (Gentry Lane), and it was through Lane that a connection with Dita Von Teese was forged. Choreographic work on another Savary production has since followed, “Don Quichotte Contre L’Ange Bleu” (“Don Quioxte against the Blue Angel”) starring Arielle Dombalse, (you may remember her from “Miami Vice” but Bagley insists her current status as ‘France’s opera singing Aphrodite’ is a more accurate representation).
So, you can just imagine Bagley’s astonishment when the European press erupted over his performance of ‘Jospefiend’ in Lane’s “La Gentry de Paris Revue.” Known for her affinity toward Betty Grable and an aura that marries Bettie Paige with a miraculous concoction of depravity and elegance, surely Von Teese would steal the stage. And yet the European tastemakers still made plenty of room for Bagley.
CURRENTLY PLAYING AT MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY’S KASSER THEATER THROUGH SUNDAY, 9/28.
BUT TICKETS ONLINE AT PEAK PERFS
The Best of Gay New York
The Gay Housewives of New York City
Move over you
New Jersey Mafia bitches!
Get out of the way you
bleach blondes from Orange County!
And Step Off!
You Atlanta wanna-bes!
There’s a gay version of the ‘Real Housewives’ in the works and the cast will be gay men only. Well to do gay men. Hopefully hot and sexy gay men who have lots of sexcapades. High drama. And High Camp? My head is spinning already!
The people behind Real Housewives of Atlanta, are casting a gay version of the franchise—in New York!
Leave it to the gays to take a tired concept, put a belt on it, give it a new pair of shoes, and call it fiiiiiiierce.
Casting call details are as follows:
I’m looking for the hottest young, fabulous gay men NYC has to offer for an upcoming docu-series. These boys need to be living the good life, keeping up with all the hottest shopping, restaurants, and clubs, and preferably have lots of drama keeping them busy at all hours of the day…and night. I’d love for them to be in a relationship, and we’re looking for diversity in those relationships – especially younger/older dynamics.
The cast still needs to be selected and no official network has signed on. (HELLO? Bravo?) Meanwhile Fox’s new show Househusbands of Hollywood premiered on August 15. AND ONLINE, you can watch The Real HouseBoys of West Hollywood! The times are a changin’.
The Best of Gay New York
LITTLE BOOTS…..The Next BIG THING?
There is no accounting for taste in this country, we know that! I STILL CAN NOT believe people have went so ga-ga, over Lady Gaga!
The next up coming pop sensation could very well be LITTLE BOOTS. Rolling Stone is calling her the Featured Artist to Watch this week. She is winning awards around the globe. And generating a LOT of BUZZ!
Her debut album Hands will be out stateside early next year and right now we have the digital EPs: Illuminations & New in Town.
And she will be live in New York September 16, 2009 – Bowery Ballroom.
The REMIX of NEW IN TOWN is pretty hot!
Watch the Little Boots Video
What do you think???
HOT? or NOT?
A new kind of megastar –
Rolling Stone
More than just a flash in the pan –
LA Times
I love female vocalists and I
love pop music, I love Little Boots! –
Perez Hilton
Little Boots on MySpace
Best of Gay New York
Jack Mackenroth – Guide to Gay New York
Jack Mackenroth is not only a popular fashion designer and hot reality TV star, he’s also a successful World Outgames 2009 swimming competitor, having taken home a staggering eight medals from this year’s games held in in Copenhagen.
“I was really not expecting to win medals in all eight of my events,” said Mackenroth. “Needless to say, I’m ecstatic. However, it’s not just about winning medals. One of the most fun events was the Random Rainbow Relay where the meet organizers randomly picked swimmers from all different teams and we swam in a friendly relay with colored rainbow swim caps. It was a great way to meet swimmers from different countries.”
He recently chatted with PLANET OUT
about living in NEW YORK CITY.
What is the best date you ever had in this town? Why?
A guy took me on a midnight helicopter ride around Manhattan. We got pretty close to the buildings. It was pretty amazing to fly around the Statue of Liberty.
What are some of the things you love most about your city/town?
I love that you can get anything you want delivered to your door at anytime. I can get a hooker, a bamboo plant and a diet coke all at 2 AM. Then I can make that hooker water the bamboo while I drink my diet coke. Good times.
I also love the subway. Manhattan is so compact that you can get anywhere in the city on the subway in less than an hour. Plus you can sit next to a crack whore and a supermodel in the same ride. It’s a great equalizer.
What are some great restaurants for a night out with gay friends there?
Well almost all restaurants in New York are gay friendly. If they are not they are stupid. I like Buddakan in Chelsea and all the BLT restaurants. BLT Prime is my fave. www.bltrestaurants.com/. I also LOVE Freeman’s in a little alley way downtown. Cool scene and morbid decor.
For a big gay scene Elmo and Cafeteria are hot messes for Sunday Brunch. Bring your healthy liver and some sunglasses.
What are your favorite gay bars and/or dance clubs? What do you like about them?
There are so many bars here its hard to pick a favorite. For a tourist I would suggest picking up a Next or HX magazine that lists every thing going on each night and lists all the bars and clubs. There really aren’t any big dance clubs anymore since the Roxy closed. I like a more intimate bar like the Phoenix in the east village. No pretense or attitude.
If you had gay friends visiting from out of town for the first time, what are some “musts” that you’d recommend they see or do?
Skip the tourist sites and just buy the postcards. If you absolutely have to do one touristy thing I suggest the top of the Empire State building. On a clear day the view is redic. Also if you can splurge a little bit the helicopter ride around the city is incredible during the day or night.
They charter them from both sides of the island and they are not outrageously expensive. Definitely see a broadway show or two. I would reccomend going to see Central Park. It’s beautiful in the spring.
And you can trick in the bushes.
Check out Jack Mackenroths blog – Memoirs of a Gaysha! and his main site Jack Mackenroth.
GRACE JONES! Back in New York City Tonight!
JAW-DROPPING!
EYE-POPPING!
UNBELIEVABLE!
This is what EVERYONE was saying after Grace Jones first US appearance in over 30 years! (She performed all over Europe earlier this year to sold out crowds). She played the Hollywood Bowl this week and TONIGHT is at the Hammerstein Ballroom.
Few artists command the microphone and the stage as Jones. It makes you yearn for a world in which Madonna was the one-hit wonder, with Jones occupying the Earth’s Most Celebrated Diva throne. From her odd accent, which has tinges of French, British and Jamaican patois within, to her carved, menacing face, to those legs, which seemed forged from steel, Jones somehow seemed too large for even the Bowl stage. THIS IS A PERFORMER AND A STAR! Go back and sit down Britney.
At 61, you would never expect the caliber of performance that she delivered. Throughout the night Jones had, if we’re counting correctly, seven amazing costume changes. And while she was off stage changing, she talked to the audience via her mic and you could actually hear her rustling into the next outfit and next pair of 6 inch stilettos backstage!
(Her costumes were designed by infamous costume designer Eiko Ishioka, known for her Oscar winning wardrobe in Bram Stroker’s 1992 Dracula, Cirque du Soleil: Varekai, and the costumes for the Beijing-2008 Olympics to give you an idea of a few iconic pieces of her work.)
Sitting in a box seat at the Hollywood Bowl, Halle Barry and beau Gabriel Aubry (and pals) danced up a storm during Grace’s performance, while Gabriel just rested his chin on Halle’s shoulder. “During ‘La Vie en Rose’ the actress stood up and went crazy and applauded,” an onlooker told People. “It was wild!”
SEE MORE IMAGES FROM THE LA SHOW AT TREND LAND
This whole rebirth of Grace was not even planned! There was never supposed to be a new album, let alone a TOUR! “Hurricane was an accident. Blame it on Ivor Guest. I’d decided never to do an album again. Record companies today don’t allow artistic freedom, and I just couldn’t be bothered anymore. But when Ivor brought me the music to ‘Devil In My Life’, from there we had a creative chemistry and the music just flowed.
We followed where my voice was taking the music and where the music was taking my voice. We didn’t work to some industry formula of what the Grace Jones sound is. It doesn’t matter that it’s taken twenty years because me and the music are always in the same place. It doesn’t sound like the past or the future. It sounds like now, whenever now is. I don’t count. Quality surpasses quantity at any time.” – Grace Jones
Will there be a world tour???? God, I hope so!
Follow Grace Jones on MySpace.
The Best of Gay New York
Broadway Darling NICK ADAMS Boycotts the Anti Gay Turtle Bay Grill and Lounge
After moving out of line, Adams then watched as the bouncer allowed a group of straight guys in white t-shirts enter the bar. Adams was furious but decided to Tweet rather than cause a scene. His loyal fans and followers then retweeted and voiced their complaints to the mostly hetero bar whose PR manager, in turn, emailed Adams the following ‘apology’:
“I feel terrible about this impression/misconception and want to do everything I can to rectify the situation as soon as possible,” Kristi Paris said. “May I please invite you and your friends in as my guests for lunch/dinner and drinks on us? I’d love to meet you and your friends and have the chance to personally apologize for any negativity you experienced here.”
(The email, of course, made no mention of the guys in white t-shirts who were allowed into the club.)
Nick replied… Kristi- I do appreciate that you sought me out after receiving complaints from my friends, fans, and supporters regarding the other night at Turtle Bay.
I completely understand that you have a policy regarding capacity and dresscode. My posts via Twitter, facebook, and my blog comment on how your bouncer made me feel unwelcome and uncomfortable. I watched him let a group of gentlemen into the bar, one of whom had an identical shirt to mine.
I do have to inform you that some messages posted on my blog by your general manager truly negate any goodwill you attempted in your deflection.
I will not attempt to become a patron of Turtle Bay, nor do I plan to mention it any further. Perhaps now your establishment and staff will be hyper aware of these situations and hopefully others in the gay community of New York will avoid an uncomfortable situation like I experienced.
Nick
Adams appreciates the bars attempt to reconcile the matter but says, bottom line, “I was discriminated against. I will not give my business to Turtle Bay and I urge you to do the same. This womans attempt to brush this aside as a misunderstanding is disingenuous at best if not hurtful and offensive to myself and the gay community of New York City.
Look for Adams’ solo cabaret show at NYC’s Birdland on August 17th!! Can’t wait!!
Book your reservations soon as it’s limited seating. Birdland is located at 315 West 44th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenue). Tickets are $25 and $35 with a $10 food/drink minimum.
For more information visit Birdland Jazz or by Telephone 212-581-3080.
The Best of Gay New York
Naked Cowboy – To Run For Mayor of New York City!
The Naked Cowboy plans to run against Mayor Bloomberg on a platform of “bringing transparency to a whole new level.”
A fixture in Times Square for a decade, Robert Burck has made a profitable business from strumming a guitar dressed only in cowboy boots and hat and tight-fitting white briefs, asking tourists to pay a fee to take a picture with him. He travels widely marketing products ranging from underwear to comics.
The Naked Cowboy, in a statement announcing the official launch of his candidacy, said his platform would include a stimulus plan for small businesses.
“No one knows how to do more with less than yours truly, and that’s the kind of thinking I plan on sharing with my fellow New Yorkers when you elect me,” he said, promising new ideas on tax breaks, tourism, gay marriage, transit and homeland security.
He also vowed to have a Times Square wedding chapel built in order to rival Las Vegas’s marriage profits, while stating that he could see the venture become a billion dollar boom for the metropolitan area.
Meanwhile, Michael Bloomberg, the current mayor of New York City, is expected to run for an unprecedented third term in office.
YEAH! We’d VOTE FOR ROBERT!
The Best of Gay New York
Jonny “The Gay Pimp” McGovern Debuts One-Man Comedy Show at the 13th Annual New York International Fringe Festival
Comedian Jonny McGovern, star of MTV-LOGO’s Big Gay Sketch Show, debuts a new version of his GLAAD Media Award nominated one-man show, DIRTY STUFF, at the 13th annual New York International Fringe Festival-Fringe NYC. The limited run engagement will take place August 14th through August 30th at The Actors’ Playhouse, 100 Seventh Avenue South, between Bleecker & Christopher Streets.
What do a gay pimp, a blaxploitation movie diva, a spoiled Arab circuit boy, a trailer park superstar wannabe and closeted gay boy have in common? McGovern plays them all in this shockingly un-p.c. tour de farce. DIRTY STUFF sets the lives of these characters into loopy cartoon club crawl through a world where glamour reigns supreme and a fake Chanel bag is worth its weight in gold!
Writer/Performer Jonny McGovern is best known as a cast member on “The Big Gay Sketch Show” produced by Rosie O’Donnell and for his hilarious music videos including “Soccer Practice” and “Somethin’ for the Fellas (That like the Fellas)” which have played on MTV, VH-1 and LOGO. He is also the host of iTunes’ #1 LGBT podcast “Gay Pimpin’ with Jonny McGovern” which reaches 15,000 listeners weekly.
DIRTY STUFF, which will also feature a live DJ, is directed by Courtney Munch who helmed the original production which was nominated for “Best Gay Themed Play” by HX magazine and Best NY Stage Production by The GLAAD Media Awards.
Show times are Friday, August 14th at 10:15pm; Sunday, August 16th at 6:15pm; Wednesday, August 26th at 4:15pm; Thursday, August 27th at 7pm; and Sunday August 30th at 2:45pm.
Tickets are $15. For additional information, please visit FRINGE NYC.
The Best of Gay New York
Yorkies Take Manhattan! Follow Schmitty and Pudge in NYC!
Two famous Yorkies, Schmitty and Pudge, invite you to tour New York City. Follow the adventures of these delightful dogs as they visit all of New York City’s famous landmarks. Starting at Grant’s Tomb in Harlem, they head south to visit the Seinfeld gang’s favorite restaurant and then rest their tired paws with a carriage ride through Central Park.
After a hot dog at Gray’s Papaya the pooches bump into Regis on their way down to Times Square to meet the Naked Cowboy before catching a matinee on Broadway. Then it’s off to the Empire State Building for a dog’s eye view of Manhattan. A taxi to Tiffany’s for a little retail therapy is the perfect prelude to an afternoon massage. Nothing caps off a day in NYC better than sitting in Battery Park watching the sunset over the Statue of Liberty.
So when you come to visit NYC keep an eye out for Schmitty and Pudge.
WATCH THE VIDEO and Follow the further adventures of Schmitty and Pudge at Gotta Visit NYC!
The Best of Gay New York!
More Photos of Carnival Night Wednesdays with Amanda Lepore
Photos by Michael Hardgrove …
Marc Jacobs and Lorenzo Martone Are Planning a Big Gay Wedding!
Lorenzo Martone confirms to New York Magazine that he and fashion designer Marc Jacobs are in fact engaged and the Brazilian hunk shares the story about how he proposed to Marc.
NY Mag writes:
Marc Jacobs’s trip to Brazil to meet Lorenzo Martone’s family was a success. “It went very well,” Lorenzo told us at the Cinema Society premiere of Obsessed last night. “He met my entire family — mom, dad, brother, grandmother. Everyone adored him. Like they should, right?” Lorenzo says that despite all the talk about their matching rings, this was not intended as an engagement trip. “It was just a trip to meet my family.” That said, he confirms that the two are, in fact, engaged.
Turns out Lorenzo proposed to Marc! Lorenzo bought the rings at Boucheron — Marc’s favorite jeweler — in Paris during Fashion Week. “I was in Paris for Fashion Week, for the Vuitton show, so I had a little planning beforehand to do that,” Martone says. The rings are pink-gold triple bands, and he surprised Jacobs with them during dinner at the Mercer Hotel, shortly before the trip to Brazil.
“That’s an iconic place for us, you know? [Marc] lived there for ten years. When I proposed, the rings came with our starters in the restaurant,” Lorenzo revealed. “I bought the rings in Paris, brought them here, and then before the trip to Brazil, I proposed.” Martone says he was nervous, and is relieved that it worked well. They haven’t set a date, but he thinks December in St. Barts would be lovely.
The Best of Gay New York
Miss Fag Hag Pageant to Benefit HETRICK-MARTIN INSTITUTE home of the HARVEY MILK SCHOOL May 17th
The producers of The Miss Fag Hag Pageant announced today that Miss California Carrie Prejean is banned from its competition taking place on Sunday, May 17th at Comix.
In lieu of a contender who only supports “opposite marriage”, Paul Case and Shawn Hollenbach are presenting 10 contestants representing their Gayborhoods fighting for the title of Miss Fag Hag.
The candidates will compete in categories including:
— Evening Wear
— Fabulous Talent
— Presenting Her Gay in a Swimsuit
— And Sassy Question & Answer
“It is our belief that Miss California, Carrie Prejean may not compete in our pageant. The opposites in our contest have supported us samesters since day one. These gals would love to see us walk down any aisle. The only isle we’d like to see Prejean on is Rikers!”
Proceeds from the pageant which features celebrity judges, special performances and guests, will go to THE HETRICK-MARTIN INSTITUTE home of the HARVEY MILK SCHOOL.
JUDGES include Caroline Rhea (NBC’s Biggest Loser & Logo’s Sordid Lives)
Michael Musto (Village Voice, VH1)
Hedda Lettuce (Project Runway)
Katina Corrao (Daddy on HBO)
Special Performances by
Shayna Steele (Bette Midler: Vegas, Orig Rent & Hairspray)
Bridget Everett (Sex & The City, At Least it’s Pink)
Britney Houston (MTV and YouTube Star)
Mel & El (Fagnet) & MORE!
Sunday, May 17th at 8:00 PM
Comix 353 West 14th Street 212.524.2500
.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 day-of-show plus a two item minimum in the show room.
A portion of ticket sales will go to the Hetrick-Martin Institute, home of the Harvey Milk School.
The Best of Gay New York
Adaumbelle’s Quest – New York Theatre Blog Ask’s The Burning Questions!
Adaumbelle’s Quest was created to ask performers in New York, the everyday burning questions others were too afraid to ask, but secretly wanted to know! Have you ever wondered who Charles Busch is dying to work with? Does Gavin Creel wear boxers or briefs? Who’s the wind beneath Ann Harada’s wings?
Adaumbelle’s Quest was born out of the passion to learn more about people. Here we find the answers to your burning questions by cozying right up to your favorite stars! From Broadway hoofers to comedians and musicians, everyone is opening up on Adaumbelle’s Quest.
Writer Adam Rothenberg has interviewed Cortes Alexander, Jeff Bowen, William F. Brown, Cubby Bernstein, Charles Busch, Carolee Carmello, Jim Caruso, Gavin Creel, Tom D’Angora, Natascia Diaz, Ari Gold, Ann Harada, Francis Jue, Andy Karl, Hedda Lettuce, Wendy Liebman, Mark Price, Billy Porter, Dyllun Von Ritter, Eddie Sarfaty and Robb Sapp.
His site is only a few months old, but growing quickly in popularity.
New posts every Sunday!
Find him at Adaumbelles Quest and Facebook.
The Best of Gay New York
Meet JD, Scott & Baya of the “Real World” at the Center! March 20th
Stop by the Center after work on Friday…
Meet JD, Scott, and Baya from “Real World: Brooklyn”
at this Open Bar Cocktail Reception at the Center!
RSVP now!
Friday, March 20, 6:30-8:30PM
The Center, 208 W. 13th Street, NYC (Map)
Event is 21+
Meet the Cast!
Have your photo taken with cast members!
See photos online the day after the event!
Win Prizes!
Win these exciting prizes in the raffle:
• A Personal Training Session with
Scott Herman of scott herman fitness.com
• Autographed Photos with JD
• A Night Out with Baya: Drink Tickets to Baya’s Trainwreck Party
• Tickets to Hot New Off Broadway Shows: The 39 Steps, Irena’s Vow,
ROOMS – a rock romance
• Tickets to Center Bingo and Lesbian Cinema Arts Screening
…and more!
Support the Center by Attending!
JD, Scott, and Baya are all Center Members…and now you can become a Center Member, too!
Admission to the Cocktail Reception with “Real World” Cast:
$15 for new Center Members: includes Center Membership
(normally valued at $35), open bar & raffle!
$10 for existing Center Members: includes open bar & raffle!
RSVP online now!
Limited space; priority given to those who register online!
The Best of Gay New York
Make Me A SuperModel Ronnie Kroell at SPLASH BAR
RONNIE KROELL –
former Make Me A SuperModel contestant,
is in New York this week performing at SPLASH BAR.
Wednesday March 18th at the SIX DEGREES PARTY.
Meet Ronnie and hear him sing his first single, “Miserable Attraction.” 10pm.
Ronnie Kroell, most recently of Bravo’s “Make Me a Supermodel” season one, is one of the most motivated, creative, and talented artists of his generation.
Not only has he moved from Chicago to NYC to pursue his dream of being a Supermodel, but he now has become a triple threat as he explores his acting and musical career.
The Best of Gay New York
