Category Archives: News and Happenings
New York City Gay Pride Parade
What an amazing weekend!
With the passing of Gay marriage for the state of New York, people celebrated with rainbow flags waving and throbbing dance music blaring, as many as 6,000 marchers in Manhattan’s annual Gay Pride parade celebrated this past weekend.
Cuomo led elected officials at the parade, including Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, the body’s first openly gay leader.
The parade stretched almost two miles (3.2 kilometers) from midtown to Greenwich Village and past the Stonewall Inn, where a 1969 police raid spawned the gay-rights movement. Participants were dressed in everything from feathers and glitter to almost nothing at all, and held signs reading “Thank You Governor Cuomo.” About 2 million people watched, up from the typical 1.5 million, said Britton Hogge, media director for Heritage of Pride, the event’s organizer.
Just before the parade began, Cuomo told reporters, “New York has sent a message to this nation, loud and clear. It’s time for marriage equality.” And marchers held signs proclaiming, “Promise Kept!” There was so much joy and excitement in the air this year, it was truly monumental!
As we left our hotel Sunday to come back to Maryland, we got caught up in the crowds watching the city’s Gay Pride Parade. It was quite an experience. The night before, the New York State Assembly had passed, and the governor had signed into law, a bill guaranteeing marriage equality, so the crowd was in especially high spirits. What impressed us the most were the spectators. Lined up five and eight deep along Fifth Avenue was a cross-section of the city’s population cheering on the gay and lesbian marchers, the politicians who had pushed the bill to passage and all the straight participants who marched with them to show support for their gay neighbors, co-workers, friends and family members.
In the crowd along the avenue were old people and young and folks across the ethnic spectrum as well as families and out-of-town tourists like ourselves. What seemed to most invigorate both the marchers and the watchers was a sense that American freedom had once again triumphed, and small-minded bigotry had been pushed further into the past.
An estimated two million people converged on Manhattan Sunday for the gay Pride march, the annual event that took on an “extra special” meaning, in the words of the day’s star attraction, Gov. Andrew Cuomo….
“I think you’re going to see this message resonate all across the country now,” he said. “If New York can do it, it’s OK for every other place to do it. If New York did it, every other place is now going to be posed with the question, and I think that’s a good thing.”
Photos by Andy T. Dickinson
see more of his work at WHAT ANDY ATE BLOG
MORE 2011 PRIDE PHOTOS
Gay Weddings Equal Big Dollars…NYC Prepares Gay I DO Campaign
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to unveil a campaign to sell the most populous U.S. city as a gay-wedding destination after thousands marched to celebrate the state’s legalization of such marriages.
The “NYC I Do” campaign “will create millions of dollars in additional economic impact to the city’s $31 billion tourism industry,” Kimberly Spell, a spokeswoman for New York & Company, the city’s marketing office, said yesterday in an e- mail. Bloomberg will unveil more details in coming days, she said.
Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a law June 24 to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples after the Republican- controlled state Senate approved it. Passage came about a month after a group of Democratic state senators issued a report finding New York stood to reap $391 million from areas including economic activity and tax revenue within three years.
The benefit to Massachusetts’ economy was worth more than $100 million over five years after legalizing same-sex marriage, according to the institute.
Read More on the topic at the New York Times.New York Becomes Sixth State to Celebrate Gay Marriage!
On this Anniversary weekend of Stonewall,
Americans of all stripes celebrated the passage of marriage equality in the New York State Senate, and gay New York couples affirmed their commitments to one another and began the 30-day countdown until they could finally say “I Do.” Amongst them, one of New York’s most famous gay couples jubilantly told each other “yes” and took to Twitter to announce their big news.
Neil Patrick Harris, the “How I Met Your Mother” star and Tonys host, became engaged late Friday night to his longtime partner, actor/chef David Burtka. Earlier in the night, Harris tweeted words of encouragement to the State Senate and said he’d “sure love to get married,” and following the law’s passage, Burtka took to Twitter and announced that the two had proposed to each other — and both said yes.
“I’d sure love to get married. Please, NY Senate, vote in favor of marriage equality today. My family would really appreciate it,” Harris wrote before the vote; once it was passed, he tweeted his excitement, saying, “It PASSED! Marriage equality in NY!! Yes!! Progress!! Thank you everyone who worked so hard on this!! A historic night!”
In the 35th-floor conference room of a Manhattan high-rise, two of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s most trusted advisers held a secret meeting a few weeks ago with a group of super-rich Republican donors.
With a population over 19 million — more than the combined population of the five states that currently allow gay marriage, plus the District of Columbia, where it is also legal — New York is poised to provide the most complete picture yet of the legal, social and economic consequences of gay marriage.
“I think that having same-sex marriage in New York will have tremendous moral and political force for the rest of the country — in part because New York is a large state, and in part because it hasn’t come easily,” said Suzanne Goldberg, a professor at Columbia Law School.
The new law’s impact can be measured in part by the numbers at play: New York is home to more than 42,000 same-sex couples, according to an analysis of U.S. census data conducted by the Williams Institute.
This means, among other things, that the number of same-sex couples living in states allowing same-sex marriage has more than doubled overnight.
At New York City’s Stonewall Inn, the Greenwich Village pub that spawned the gay rights movement on a June night in 1969, Scott Redstone watched New York sign the historic same-sex marriage law with his partner of 29 years, and popped the question.
“I said, ‘Will you marry me?’ And he said, ‘Of course!'” Redstone said he and Steven Knittweis walked home to pop open a bottle of champagne.
“President Obama has long believed that gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and legal protections as straight couples,” a whitehouse spokesperson said.
“That’s why he has called for repeal of the so-called ‘Defense of Marriage Act’ and determined that his administration would no longer defend the constitutionality of DOMA in the courts. The states should determine for themselves how best to uphold the rights of their own citizens. The process in New York worked just as it should.”
“We made a powerful statement,” Cuomo said. “This state is at its finest whe it is a beacon of social justice.”
THIS IS SO EXCITING! And how appropriate,
that it happened Gay Pride Weekend!
Best Gay New York.com
Ari Gold Music Artist & Gay Activist- Statement on the Passing of Marriage Equality
As someone who grew up as an orthodox Jew its also great to see other people from religious communities understand that this is not a religious issue but an issue of civil rights.
New York is where gay liberation in this country began so it only makes sense for New York to be one of the first states to make marriage equality a reality. And for this to pass during gay pride—it is truly a day to feel proud of being a New Yorker and American on the right side of history.”
Ari Gold/Singer, Writer, Performer and Gay Activist
Highly accomplished and openly gay pop artist Sir Ari Gold is a buzz worthy, subculture celebrity in his own right, quickly winning over critics far beyond the reach of the LGBT community.
Shortly after the release of his captivating and controversial “Make My Body Rock” single, Ari releases the second single off his fourth studio album Between the Spirit & the Flesh. “Sparkle” emerged with instant interest-catching soul and flavor. The track features Sarah Dash of Labelle (Patti Labelle and Nona Hendrix) to add a powerhouse female vocal that plays well with Ari’s range and strength.
This self-empowerment anthem is a rallying cry against bullies, but most importantly one’s own view of self-worth. The music video is directed by acclaimed visual artist and HIV/AIDS activist Duane Cramer. Making cameo appearances in the “Sparkle” music video are underground NYC superstars, LadyFag, Stephan Keating, Mila Jam, Laverne Cox (from VH-1’s Transform Me) and even Sir Ari’s mother.
As the mainstream catches up to this pioneering recording and performing artist’s future-forward genius, “Sparkle” continues Sir Ari’s unwavering commitment to LGBT rights and equality.
“There are some out gay artists who want to sort of push aside their sexuality,” he continues, “and that makes them more palatable to straight people. You’ve got to deal with the fact that I do actually like to have sex with men. I’m not just some funny, campy entertainer for straight people to laugh at.” (Read more of this interview from 2004.)
The NYU and Yale-educated Gold has been doing the national pride circuit — he is promoting his new album but also celebrating his connection with his gay fans.
SPARKLE video
OFFICIAL Ari Gold
Priscilla Wins a TONY and Nick Adams Goes Backstage
Nick Adams is back this week with a new episode of his Muscles and Mascara video blog, for Broadway.com.
In episode 13, he takes you to a gay pride rally in NYC, plus backstage for the all the Tony Award excitement! ( Did you see that performance with Martha Wash and the Priscilla cast, of “it’s Raining Men”?? WOW! If you missed it, here it is on YouTube.)
Also in this newest episode, Nick talks about his 28th birthday and his Fellowship/Award from the American Theater Hall of Fame as a “breakthrough performance” for his role in Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
Congratulations Nick!
Nick Adams blog
Nick Adams Twitter
Nick Adams Facebook
Priscilla on Broadway
Broadway in Bryant Park THURSDAYS
A host of Broadway and Off-Broadway shows will take part in the annual free Thursday afternoon concert series, “106.7 Lite fm Presents BROADWAY IN BRYANT PARK 2011,” which will kick off July 7 at 12:30 PM on the Bryant Park Stage.
The 11th annual presentation of lunch-hour performances will continue through Aug. 11.
Performances are scheduled for 12:30 PM-1:30 PM on Thursdays, July 7, 14, 21 and 28 and Aug. 4 and 11. Bryant Park is located behind the New York Public Library on 6th Avenue between 40th and 42nd streets. Lawn seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
The schedule for the concert series follows:
July 7 (Lite fm Emcee: Victor Sosa)
STOMP, Baby It’s You, Sister Act, Zarkana
July 14 (Lite fm Emcee: Delilah)
Chicago, Million Dollar Quartet, Catch Me If You Can, Newsical
July 21 (Lite fm Emcee: Helen Little)
The Addams Family, Billy Elliot, Memphis, Rock of Ages, Voca People
July 28 (Lite fm Emcee: Christine Nagy)
Anything Goes, The Phantom Of The Opera, The Fantasticks, Hair, Traces
Aug. 4 (Lite fm Emcee: Bob Bronson)
Jersey Boys, The Lion King, Rent, Wicked, Death Takes a Holiday
Aug. 11 (Lite fm Emcee: Rich Kaminski)
Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Avenue Q Priscilla Queen Of The Desert
Judy Gold Back on the New York Stage June 30th
Judy Gold is pretty much your typical New York City Jewish mother of two, but funnier: she’s a comedian with 20 years in show business behind her, she dreams of creating her own sitcom, and oh yeah, she’s gay.
You know Judy, right? Judy Gold! For twenty years I’m telling you; twenty years she’s been performing stand-up all over the world! She’s won two Emmys for writing & producing The Rosie O’Donnell Show. She was a series regular in Margaret Cho’s 90s sitcom, All American Girl and she’s been in all kinds of other shows.
Plus she’s had her very own Off-Broadway one woman show, 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother, based on interviews she did with Jewish ladies all over the United States, all mixed up with commentary about her own life as a lesbian mom of two sons. Two! This month, Judy’s back Off-Broadway appearing in the Vagina Monologues-esque love letter to clothing: Love, Loss and What I Wore, written by Nora & Delia Ephron.
JUDY IS BACK IN
NEW YORK THIS MONTH!
Judy Gold’s The Judy Show: My Life as a Sitcom will play Off-Broadway’s DR2 Theatre-
Emmy-winning actress will return to the New York stage June 30 in a brand-new show entitled The Judy Show: My Life as a Sitcom. The solo show, which was written by Gold and Kate Moira Ryan, will be directed by Amanda Charlton, who helmed the production’s earlier incarnation at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
The Judy Show also features songs by Gold and Ryan with additional material by Eric Kornfeld and Bob Smith. The Judy Show, according to Variety, “chronicles Gold’s current life as the lesbian mother of two as well as the avid television enthusiasms of her childhood.”
Three Easy Ways to Save $20 on tickets to
The Judy Show: My Life as a Sitcom!
Get your $45 (regularly $65) tickets today.
1.CLICK HERE or Visit BroadwayOffers.com and use code JSHHC45
2. CALL 212.947.8844 and mention code JSHHC45
3. *IN PERSON: Bring a printout of this offer to The DR2 Theatre Box Office at 103 East 15th Street (between Park Avenue and Irving Place).
RESTRICTIONS: This offer is valid through 9/10/11 and is subject to availability. Not valid on prior purchase. Offer cannot be combined with other discounts of promotions; blackout dates and restrictions may apply. Limit ten (10) tickets per order. No refunds or exchanges. Offer may be revoked at any time. All discounts include .50 facility fee.
*The DR2 Theatre Box Office Box Office Hours – Opens 1 hour prior to the performance. Please Note: Tickets may also be purchased at the Daryl Roth Theatre Box Office, 101 East 15 Street (Tuesday: 1pm – 6pm Wednesday – Friday: 1pm -8pm Saturday: 1pm -10pm Sunday: 1pm – 7pm)
Priscilla On Broadway Hits 100! And Nick Adams Tells All!
It appears that producer Bette Midler, has a hit on her hands! Following hit productions in Australia, London and Toronto, Priscilla Queen of the Desert opened to critical acclaim on March 20 at the Palace Theatre and recently celebrated it’s 100th performance on Broadway. It’s the feel-good, happy joyous show of the year! Sequins and lights, feathers and fringe, it’s a spectacular big party, not to be missed!
Priscilla’s global success and now Broadway is growing at leaps and bounds. #1 Cast recording on Billboard charts; #1 selling new musical on Broadway this season; Priscilla recently joined the Millionaires Club with box office earnings!
Heck, Governor Cuomo even held his fundraiser at Priscilla last week and Australian actor Tony Sheldon (Bernadette) is up for a Tony this weekend. Sheldon says, “after 3 years of edits of changes and revisions, I think this is the PRIMO PRISCILLA!” – Sheldon has played the part Bernadette over 1,000 times in Australia and London alone! FYI …Tony Sheldon has been nominated for every award he’s eligible for on Broadway this season including Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League awards and a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. He has been honored with a Theatre World Award for his Broadway debut. And his AUNT is 70’s pop star Helen Reddy.
We caught up with Nick last week, who took time to chat with BestGayNewYork.com about the show and other New York things….
BGNY: 20 dance-floor classics and a dazzling array of more than 500 outrageous costumes, 200 hats and headdresses and 72 wigs ! And you wear 21 costumes! WOW!
Nick: I have a dresser who helps me backstage. He is with me the entire show, but we sometimes have 4 people hidden in the bus helping me make a quick change. My favorite is the silver suit I wear atop the shoe.
I know, it’s crazy! When we started rehearsing the show – without even adding in the costumes or lighting – I lost like 15 pounds. It’s like non-stop dancing, cardio and sweating. It’s quite a workout, so I don’t have worry about about cardio – which I hate. And they wanted to me to lose a bit of my muscle – so that has been nice – not having to spend so much time at the gym!
And Nick comments on his co-stars Tony and Will : They are a dream team. I love those men like family. We are a family. The chemistry onstage is so true because we are thick as thieves offstage. I have never worked with such encouraging, inspiring actors. They make me better every night.
BGNY: How does it feel to create an original leading Broadway role?
Nick: Well, it’s interesting cause anytime anybody ever said like, “Do you have a dream role?” That’s what I would say is that “I wanted to originate a role and in a new Broadway show.” I think it’s been the most like exciting and freeing experience because I’ve had the liberty to sort of just play in and bring a lot of like what I thought I wanted to bring to it, and our creative team, our director really allowed me to kind of have my own spin on it and bring a different energy to this part and then in the West End Production and what they had in Australia.
As actors, what we wanna do is to really feel like we’re creating character and not mimicking somebody else’s performance or fitting like a specific mold of a different actor, so to get to like build this person from the ground up has been awesome to know that, for always and like theatrical history that would have been my role. Pretty great.
BGNY: Your first love is Broadway – that’s obvious. But I saw you in An Englishman in New York and Sex and the City 2 , you have done a couple soaps….Do you want to do more acting on film?
Nick: Oh, absolutely. I mean I grew up wanting to be an actor and my dream was to do Broadway shows. I don’t know, I just love live theater and I love that like instant sort of gratification of an audience sitting there and getting to see their response, that’s really exciting to me.
To be completely honest, I mean the most lucrative side of acting is with TV and film, financially. So, absolutely. I absolutely want to explore more of that. I just kept notching off goals, each show that I did sort of fulfilled some type of goal of mine. At times I feel like I’ve maxed out on the Broadway scene and it’s like, what else can I do to top this now? Which is mind-blowing to me that I’ve done it. So now I’ve just set some new sites on some other things. Broadway is always gonna be where I feel like home and my place, but I definitely wanna move into some areas that could help me pay my rent a little bit more.
BGNY: Now that you’ve done so much, is your goal list getting longer or shorter?
Nick: I think it gets longer, ‘cause I think each one unlocks a new possibility. It’s longer ‘cause when I was a kid it was like, “I wanna be on Broadway.” And then it was, “I wanna be starring in a Broadway show.” And now it keeps growing. I think it’s healthy though, keeps me motivated, keeps me pro-active.
BGNY: What about more singing?? I saw (heard) some YouTubes Video of you singing…Is there a Nick Adams CD possibly in your future? ( NY State of Mind and After Party 2 and OnTheOtherSide )Nick: Actually…potentially…there could be. I did a concert at Birdland, it was a one man show, they invited me to come do a night. It was so much work to put together, but yet so much fun and so rewarding. It was like an hour and half of me singing, with a three piece band and it was great. And that was maybe the first time I really thought about a cd or recording….I am not a song writer by any means. But a lot of people have expressed interest in me possibly doing something. I started out as a singer first and foremost as a kid. And now with Priscilla, it’s given me a chance to really show people what I can do. So who knows – we’ll see!
BGNY: As an out actor, do you look to Broadway leading men like Cheyenne Jackson for inspiration?
Nick: Absolutely —If there was a career I could model mine after, it would be Cheyenne Jackson because he is fantastic, incredibly talented, and active in the gay community. I’ve just started to dabble in some TV and film, and I think it’s sort of the natural way it goes. If you have a successful theater career, it’s a much easier transition. I’ve always just wanted to be an actor… in any genre. I’m hoping the opportunities open up even more than they already have. I aspire to be like Cheyenne because he comes from the ensemble and was an understudy and then a leading man. It’s so surreal this is actually what’s happened to me.
On opening night, he sent me this huge bouquet of orchids to my dressing room and this amazing card that’s taped on my vanity. When I was in college, I came to the city and I saw “All Shook Up” and Cheyenne was the star and I thought he was amazing and knew that’s what I wanted to do. So now, being in the same theater and having him send me those flowers, its just crazy how things work out.
BGNY: Since this is Best Gay New York – we’re always looking for what’s hot, what’s new, what’s next – any favorite place you want to share with us?
Nick: There is this new place, I have been raving about! It’s right in the theatre district, in Hells Kitchen, on 9th Avenue between 45-46th, and it’s called Ember Room. It just opened a couple months ago and is some of the best food I have ever had!
It’s sort of an Asian American Fusion sort of Barbeque…they have things like Chocolate Ribs, Red Chilli Sea Bass, Bacon wrapped meatloaf…everything is so beautifully presented and the flavor is unlike anything I have ever had. I have been there three times in the last week! I am trying to get through everything on the menu! And it’s reasonable – especially for this neighborhood. The other night we had 3 appetizers, 2 entrees and a bottle of Proseco, for under $100. The portions are hearty and the quality is amazing. I’m obsessed with the place!
BGNY: Obviously, theater keeps you in NY – do you love, love, love NY? Or could you see yourself anywhere else?
Nick: I love this city. I think even if I didn’t do this, I would still want to be here. When I was about 15 years old, I came here for the first time, and I knew I wanted to do theater and be an actor, but I had never been here. We drove here from Pennsylvania with my family, and the minute I could see the city, the minute the skyline came into view, I was just overwhelmed with this sense of…that’s my home, that’s where I am going to live. And I never get tired or over it here. If leave or go on vacation, I can’t wait to get back. Even though it can be hectic here and the energy like…maniacal at times…I guess I crave that. I love the warm weather and the beaches in Los Angels and California…and that is something I could definitely get into – but I could never not have a place here in the city. I think I will always have to have a place here.
BGNY: It’s the same thing for us when we come to NY – there is this ENERGY here.
Nick: Yeah, it’s like the center of the universe. I love it that someone can come to this city and make shit happen! It’s so crazy to think that I came here from this little small town and now doing the things I dreamt of as a little kid – and this is where I made it happen – and I think with any profession – you come here, and everything is at your fingertips. It really is a magical place. I love it here!
Thank you! Nick Adams for sharing your time with us!
Special links of interest –
For more of Nick Adams check out his blog.
Priscilla on Broadway Tickets, info and news
Plan a Party at Priscialla – use the exclusive Concierge Service!
Sneak peaks backstage at Priscialla from Broadway.com
and Nicks video blog Muscles and Mascara series – over 20 videos!
Sherry Vine is Looking for a Good Time
from Berlin to Budapest,
international superstar
Sherry Vine has toured the world!
Sherry is one of our favorite NY Divas is back this month with a brand new, all original song – LOOKING FOR A GOOD TIME.
CHECK OUT THE NEW VIDEO
Directed by Francis Legge.
Song by Sherry and DJ Gomi
UNNATURAL ACTS – June 14th-July 10
A Riveting New Play Inspired by True Events
UNNATURAL ACTS is inspired by events that occurred at Harvard University in the spring of 1920, when a student’s suicide sparked a campus-wide investigation by a secret court of administrators aimed at purging the university of a group of homosexual students.
Classic Stage Company is proud to share the untold stories of these promising young men. Both intimate and epic, UNNATURAL ACTS explores themes of fear and societal intolerance that are as relevant today as they were 91 years ago.
LIMITED ENGAGEMENT! JUNE 14 – JULY 10 ONLY! DISCOUNT OFFER: $37.50 (reg. $60-$65) – all performances HOW TO ORDER:
and use code HHC37
2. Call 212-352-3101 or 866-811-4111 and use code HHC37
3. Print this offer and visit the CSC Box Office at 136 East 13th Street (Mon-Fri 12-6pm).
RESTRICTIONS: Offer valid for performances 6/14/11 – 7/10/11. Regular price: $60 Tues-Thurs at 8pm, $65 Fri & Sat at 8pm, Sat & Sun at 2pm. Offer subject to availability and may be revoked at any time. Online and phone orders subject to applicable fees. Offer expires 7/10/11. Classic Stage Company 136 East 13th St.
BestGayNewYork.com
Live Out Loud 3rd Annual Pride in the HAMPTONS June 25th
Dedicated to empowering lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth, Live Out Loud is a nonprofit organization that connects LGBT youth with role models and leaders in the LGBT community.
The event will take place at the waterfront home of Bruce T. Sloane (21 North Bay Lane) in East Hampton from 6:00 to 8:30 PM and will include a cocktail reception, dancing, and a silent auction.
Guests will be treated to hors d’oeuvres from Brent Newsom Caterer.
The event is expected to draw a dynamic group of more than 300 leaders in business, arts, politics, community, and culture who are committed to Live Out Loud’s mission of empowering lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth by providing scholarships, after-school programming, rolemodels and leadership opportunities.
Tickets start at $125, $150 at the door. To purchase, please contact Leo Preziosi, Jr., at 212.651.4236
or visit Liveoutloud.info.
About Live Out Loud
Dedicated to empowering, mentoring, and celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth, Live Out Loud is a non-profit organization that produces panel discussions, lectures, and workshops that connect LGBT youth with role models and leaders in the LGBT community. Founded in 2001, Live Out Loud presents programs at metropolitan area high schools and universities featuring panelists from every walk of life, including actress Cherry Jones, author Eric Marcus, director John Cameron Mitchell, and New York Times columnist Stuart Elliott.
Night of a Thousand Judys June 13 Joes Pub
Photo Credit: Christian Coulson
The critically acclaimed gay monthly comedy/variety show “The Meeting,” hosted by fellow “Adaumbelle’s Quest“ participant Justin Sayre will present a very special June edition called “Night of A Thousand Judys” on Monday, June 13 at 7pm at Joe’s Pub in NYC to benefit the Ali Forney Center, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth. AFC’s goal is to provide homeless LGBT youths, aged 16-24, with the support and services they need to escape the streets and begin to live healthy and independent lives.
Celebrating one legend at one legendary location, this edition of “The Meeting” is dedicated to the one and only Judy Garland and is being presented at Joe’s Pub, one of NYC’s famed showcase venues for live music and performance.
“Night of A Thousand Judys” will feature special skits, tributes and songs from Judy’s storied career presented by a host of accomplished performers including the host of “The Meeting,” Justin Sayre as well as Jackie Hoffman (“Hairspray,” “Xanadu,” “The Addams Family”), Kim Smith (award winning cabaret singer), Lady Rizzo (Grammy winning singer and chanteuse), Summer & Eve (the folk-musical comedy band featuring NADIA QUINN of “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson”), Natalie Joy Johnson (“Legally Blonde,” “But I’m A Cheerleader”), Cole Escola (Logo TV’s “Jeffrey and Cole Casserole”), Jeff Hiller (“Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” “30 Rock”) and more special guests to be announced!
“The Meeting” is produced by Adam Rosen and Dan Fortune and this special edition will be directed by Ben Rimalower (“Project: Lohan,” “Leslie Kritzer Is Patti LuPone at Les Mouches”).
“Night of A Thousand Judys” will be on Monday, June 13 at 7pm at Joe’s Pub in NYC (425 Lafayette Street). Tickets are $25 and benefit The Ali Forney Center. Click here for tickets!
Casting Call New York City – Sex and Plus Sized
AMAZING CASTING
OPPORTUNITY FOR A
CABLE NETWORK!
New documentary-style cable network project casting NOW for people of all shapes, sizes, and sexual orientations!
Do you openly prefer, pursue, and date plus-sized individuals?
Are you only physically attracted to full-figured partners?
Are you proud of your voluptuous figure and want to share with the world how fantastic your sex life is?
Do you think being plus size makes sex better?
If so, we want to hear from you!
We are looking for couples/individuals who can show the world that sex can be incredible no matter what your size! We are interested in fun, fearless couples and individuals who want to share with us their experiences and stories about why “bigger is better”!
To learn more and obtain an application, please email your story, contact information and a photo to PlusSizeCasting@gmail.com.
Doric Wilson and the Stonewall Riots Remembered
we wanted to take a moment to
pay tribute to the late Doric Wilson.
Doric Wilson (February 24, 1939 – May 7, 2011) was an American playwright, director, producer, critic and gay rights activist.
Wilson was an early figure in New York’s Off-Off-Broadway scene and was as big a champion of gay theatre as he was of gay rights. He was a participant in the Stonewall Riots (1969) and became active in the early days of the New York Gay Liberation movement as a member of GAA (Gay Activist Alliance). He supported his theatrical endeavors by becoming a “star” bartender and manager of the post-Stonewall gay bar scene, opening such landmark institutions as The Spike, TY’s and Brothers & Sisters Cabaret.
In 2004, Wilson was named a Grand Marshal of the 35th Anniversary Pride Day Parade in New York City.
He was featured in the documentary American Experience: Stonewall Uprising (2010) by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner.
BestGayNewYork.com
David Leddick at Rizzoli June 2
In Love in the Loire, the newest book by David Leddick, Hugo is now in his early twenties, an actor, and working in a summer theater festival in a French village. New York celebrities muster there and Hugo confronts lots of romance and the decision as to what will be next in his life.
BOOK PARTY FOR DAVID LEDDICK’S
NEW NOVEL “Love in the Loire “
Thursday, June 2 at 5:30 PM
Rizzoli Bookstore
31 West 57th St. (Between 5th & 6th Avenues)
New York, NY 10019
David Leddick Online
and David Leddicks Fabulous Blog
Davids Gay Dish
David Leddick is known world-wide for his novels and homoerotic art books. The author of the Lambda Award-winning books: “Naked Men” and “The Male Nude”, David Leddick has published no less than 20 works.
BestGayNewYork.com
Gay Art in Harlem by Patrick Perry
FREE event
“Soft Blows”
@Azucarera Gallery,
414 West 145 Street,
Harlem, New York
between St Nicholas & Edgecombe
646-725-7336
azucareranyc.com
Harlem-based artist Patrick Perry, plays with the concept of ‘subversive cross stitch’ fusing traditional cross-stitch designs with grossly pejorative anti-gay slurs that both seduce and repulse the viewer, ultimately engaging the audience in the exploration of their own feelings of attraction, comfort, disgust or guilt.
The Opening Reception is
June 19th 5-9pm.
Tues 4-7pm, Wed 6-8pm, Sat & Sun 2-6pm. Subways: A,B,C,D,1 to 145th Street.
Adam Joseph Video Release Party June 7 at Industry
Music Video/Single Release Party at Industry Bar on June 7th in NYC.
“Chasing The Dream” Music Video/Single Release Party
with LIVE Performance by Adam Joseph!
Industry Bar- Hell’s Kitchen, NYC 355 W 52nd St, New York, NY 11pm No Cover 21+
Achordial Brio – Innovative Classical Music from 7 Virtuosi
This is NOT your dad’s Classical Music! Founded with the goal of performing live with innovative compositions, styles, and techniques unique from classical music while retaining a foothold in the niche of New York City’s classical music realm, Achordial Brio combines the aforementioned ideas with the talents of seven virtuosi. These classically-trained musicians orchestrate their sounds, blending instrumental voices with influences from various genres, divergences in styling techniques, and energetic chord progressions. Voiding the prim feeling classical music can emote, genres of pop, jazz, indie, and even rock influence the composition process. This is done to help redefine the classical instruments’ capability in performance of sound, energy, and passion. Achordial Brio formulates an ebullient ensemble capable of representing the full scope of today’s musical diversity.
They can be seen around New York City and frequently perform at LGBT events. Pätrick Kiernan is a gay composer and musician based in NYC, with Achordial Brio.
Our Guest Author this week, C. GIBSON, recently had the pleasure to sit down with this talented (and cute!) young gay man to talk about his interesting work. Thier conversation follows below.
[laughs] First, I want to thank you for having me. Our affiliation to the events is through interest of the organization or request from someone within the organization. We’ve played for an HIV benefit at Splash, a variety show for Project Achieve, signed up for The Community Research Initiative gala in New Jersey. So someone at one function sees us and sometimes leads to an invite to play at another. We don’t play exclusively gay events only. Though, I’m most excited for playing at the Human Rights Campaign’s gala this year at the Waldorf. It’s going to be a highlight for me with Achordial Brio.
Do you write all the music for the group?
As of right now, yes. I am pushing Pete, our violinist, to create some works for us. He actually has a background in composition, unlike me. He’s incredibly talented and comes from a focus in genres I have elementary knowledge of. I’m really excited and curious to what he could write for us.
Do you have a process to your composition?
Honestly, I don’t most of the time. Music is very much a numbers game to me, and I have an affinity to prime numbers. I write a lot of things based around 1, 3, 5, and 7, either in chord or beat or cued by a measure number. I tend to create a general formula and then fill in accordingly based on how I want a piece to develop. With that said, I don’t go into writing a piece knowing what I specifically want. There tends to be a draft, revision, and completed score which then goes to rehearsal to be tweaked further.
Where do you see yourself branching out in music? Do you have ambitions to be a conductor?
Conduct? Heavens, no. [laughs] Conducting is best in someone else’s hands other than my own. Outside of playing or writing I suppose I would like to move into installing new artistic direction. I’d love to do something with a field marching band. I do have composition goals for a full scale symphony piece and perhaps a seven movement work made of seven concertos highlighting each of the instruments of Achordial Brio.
What do you see for the future of music?
I think the traditional classical standards played by musicians in their tuxes in a formal semicircle will always exist. With that being said, I also do believe there is a growing and widening interest for new contemporary music and music which is interactive to other senses, primarily with sight.
Where do you see Achordial Brio?
Just with the direction I think instrumental music will evolve into their future mainstream, I want Achordial Brio to have a space to workout what I’ve always wanted it to become. Think, Barbara Walsh’s version of Company where the pit musicians are more involved with the stage part of the show.
What is music to you?
Passion.
Could you please elaborate more?
You’re encouraging my sesquipedalian nature. [laughs] Music, to me, brings out a raw and grandeur feeling. It’s the soundtrack to all of my inner monologues and streams of consciousness. Scored melodies can provoke primal expressions including a range of joy, sadness, fear, and compounded combinations. Music can clear a polluted emotional state as quickly as a verse turns to chorus. Lyrics can validate. Chord progressions embody empowerment. Music has the power to orchestrate reflection to my darkest thought and simplistic view simultaneously. Music is enchanting. It’s premium. Music is a multifaceted entity on its own; a web of which I am often intertwined in. [pasuse] Music equates passion to me.
What has been your most interesting performance to date?
A single most interesting? [pauses] It’s hard to pick just one. I’ve been in a marching band that literally got into a brawl with disgruntled and belligerent Notre Dame football fans after a game on their field, or the time a fiberglass sphinx head swung down from the ceiling of stage we had dress rehearsal on and broke a rib of a tuba player, or tripping backstage only to look up from the ground at a smirking Vanessa Williams… [pauses] Actually, the most interesting performance I’ve been a part of was one that went off without an unforeseen event. I played in the Requiem for Fred Rogers. It was a moment where I got caught up on reflecting on my childhood and this man who was connected to it through television. I mean, come on, I grew up watching ‘Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood’, and there I was playing a piece commissioned because of his death and in honor of his life. It was a surreal performance, and thus my most interesting.
Let’s get in a few light questions. What do you listen to during a workout?
[laughs] For cardio I tend to repeat the soundtrack to The Hours and for any weights I listen to Justin’s, ‘Cry Me a River’ and Incubus’, ‘Dig’ on repeat. Though the library goes on shuffle eventually.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Hands down, my biggest pet peeve is being late. Whether I am unexpectedly held up or others are atrociously late beyond 10 minutes or do worse by cancelling at the scheduled time, I find it incredibly rude and disrespectful of an affected person’s time due to irresponsible scheduling.
What is your favorite word?
Spramp.
Are you single, taken, or dating?
[laughs] How boldly intrusive of you. I’m single.
You can see Achordial Brio
| May 23rd | 9:00pm | Red RoomRed Room | East Village, NY | $10.00 |
| June 27th | 9:00pm | Red RoomRed Room | East Village, NY | $10.00 |
Listen to the work on their site!
Follow them on Facebook!
Thanks to C.Gibson for the interview.
BestGayNewYork.com
Nick Adams Raises $25,000 for the NYC Aids Walk
The AIDS WALK NYC took place this past Sunday and all the stars came out to support it!
Check out the super hot Matt Bomer from White Collar, The Cast of Modern Family, From The Event, Laura Innes, Michael Ruiz, Jack Mackenroth, Broadway Hunk, Nick Adams, and much more!
NICK ADAMS was Over $25,000 thanks to Nicks fans and readers of this site! Funds were still trickling in at press time! YAY!!
“I am so overwhelmed by peoples generosity, ” said Nick.
Michael Cavnaugh from GayLifeNYC.org did some great interviews!
Interview with MATT BOMER and NICK ADAMS
and there is a great piece of the Priscilla Cast performing!
BestGayNews
BestGayNewYork
Broadway.com Announces Audience Favorites – Nick Adams Gets TWO!
Broadway Darling NICK ADAMS is getting more press than Betty White these days!
Broadway fans have had their say, picking their favorites of the 2010-2011 season at the Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards. The winners were announced live at the Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center in a swanky, funny ceremony hosted by Vanessa Williams.
The revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying picked up four trophies including Favorite Musical Revival. Stars Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette each won two, including the shared Favorite Onstage Pair award.
Sister Act was named Favorite Musical, with War Horse being named the fans’ Favorite Play. Acting awards were also awarded to Sutton Foster (Anything Goes), Robin Williams (Bengal Tiger at the Baghad Zoo), Judith Light (Lombardi), Billie Joe Armstrong (American Idiot) and Nick Adams, who triumphed in two categories for his role as Felicia in Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Favorite Diva Performance & Favorite Breakthrough Performance.
“It was an incredible evening & star studded event with celebrity host Vanessa Williams and presenters such as Audra McDonald, Sutton Foster and Gavin Creel. I had a blast, was so honored to be awarded for my performance in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and was very grateful to share the evening with my family.” said Nick “Thanks to all who voted! !
See ALL of the winners at BROADWAY.com More on Nick Adams
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