Category Archives: Theatre and Entertainment

Broadway Darling NICK ADAMS Boycotts the Anti Gay Turtle Bay Grill and Lounge

Broadway’s hottest gay-list celebrity, Nick Adams, took to Twitter and Facebook this past weekend after he and his boyfriend were turned away from Manhattan’s Turtle Bay Grill and Lounge by a bouncer who said their white shirts were a violation of the bar’s dress code. In other words, because Adams was gay.

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.


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More News from Fringe Festival – The Boys Upstairs from Jason Mitchell

Sex, Dating, Friendship, and all the blurry lines in between…The Boys Upstairs invites you into the fabulous living room of Josh, Seth, and Ashley.

These three Hell’s Kitchen Boys encounter all of the challenges, thrills, disappointments, tops and bottoms that young adult New York life has to offer.

Seth is falling in love with his older boyfriend while attempting to seek approval from his single best friends.

Ashley feeds on the variety, availability and accessibility of men in Manhattan.
 
Josh finds inspiration from the antics of his two besties and his own humorously disastrous trials with dating and funnels it all into his newest writing concept.

Just when these three settle into a rhythm of celebrating life and then analyzing it the next morning, they are all thrown for a loop when their incredibly hot neighbor Eric moves in below them. The “is he or isn’t he” question is just one of many that these city boys ponder with style, scandal, and specialty cocktails!

Written by: Jason Mitchell   THE BOYS UPSTAIRS will be playing at the The New York International Fringe Festival August 15-28.
Tickets on sale now  for  $15.      For tickets call 866.468.7619 or visit  FRINGE NYC.

SoHo Playhouse,  15 Vandam Street

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
SAT 8/15 @ 2:30 – 4:05     SUN 8/16 @ 12:30–2:05
TUE 8/18 @ 7:00–8:35        THUR 8/27 @ 5:00–6:35        FRI 8/28 @ 7:00–8:35


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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.


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Homo-Harlem: A Film Retrospective June 19 – 27

 



With arguments often eerily reminiscent of old rationales for black oppression, gays and lesbians remain openly, legally and even, ‘righteously’, discriminated against.

 


For lgbt people of all races, knowing ourselves, making our extraordinary history known to others, much as with blacks, becomes a key component to liberation. If lgbt heritage remains often obscured and belittled, achievements of African American lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people, are less well known still.


In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, the film festival, Homo-Harlem: A Film Retrospective, Friday, June 19th-Saturday, June 27th, cosponsored by the Maysles Cinema at 343 Malcolm X Boulevard with Men of All Colors Together, seeks to help to remedy this lack of recognition.


Through a series of coordinated screenings, critical discussions and walking tours, Homo-Harlem for the first time officially brings Stonewall observations uptown to focus on and honor, figures as diverse as poets Audre Lorde and Langston Hughes, social justice activist Bayard Rustin, composer Billy Strayhorn, photographer Marvin Smith and living legend Storme DeLarverie, whose courageous stand at the Stonewall Bar, 40 years ago, literally helped set in motion the entire Gay Pride Movement.


We lgbt people have always been busy making Harlem better, as one resident reported in 1928, “Never no wells of loneliness in Harlem…” Space is limited for this exhilarating experience, so be sure to make a reservation in advance and get ready to be enlightened, to be amazed and to party hard!


–  Homo-Harlem Curator and Author Michael Henry Adams

$10 Suggested Donation For All Screenings

MORE  Information and Complete Schedules  at  Maysle Institute


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Cirque do Soleil Comes to New York City…Permanently!




Not content with performing in 271 cities in 32 countries and attracting 11 million customers last year, Cirque du Soleil, the Montreal-based circus empire, will establish a permanent presence in New York City next year. I am actually surprised this has not happened sooner.

The New York Times reported that  In February 2010 Cirque, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, plans to bring a new show to the Beacon Theater in Manhattan for a multiple-month run that it hopes will become an annual institution. And in 2011 Cirque is to establish a four-month summer extravaganza in Radio City Music Hall as a warm-weather counterweight to the “Christmas Spectacular” — sans Rockettes, but populated with acrobats and clowns.

These will be in addition to the company’s touring tent productions, which have played New York periodically since 1988; the most recent show, “Kooza,” opened on April 16 at Randalls Island and runs through June 21st.

Also continuing will be “Wintuk,” Cirque’s $20 million annual winter holiday show at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, which will be back in town November 11, 2009 – January 3, 2010.

Cirque has been trying to secure their own permanent space on Pier 40 – but negotiations came to stand still and both parties have walked away.


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Alternative Theatre Company Comes to New York with DIRTY SECRETS


Alternative Theatre Company announces the New York premier of DIRTY SECRETS, a gender-bent thriller by award-winning New York City-based playwright Joe Marshall.

Directed by Marshall, DIRTY SECRETS runs June 4 – 21 to coincide with the Gay Pride celebrations in New York City. Performances are at the Roy Arias Theatre at Times Square Arts Center, located at 300 W 43rd Street.

Show times are 8:00 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, and 2:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Tickets cost $27.50 in advance, $35 at the door, and may be purchased onlineat ATC  or by calling Brown Paper Tickets at (800) 838-3006.


DIRTY SECRETS is a smart, gender-bent thriller that pokes fun at brainless gay stereotypes. Right from the opening scene you know you’re watching a play about homosexuals. Instead of boring us with platitudes about the evils of pigeonholing people, the characters skewer stereotypes by spouting earnest lines like, “You don’t act gay — you’re masculine!” It’s all about Tom, who shows up at the home of Nick and Shane, a gay couple who live in Manhattan. Tom is depressed because he’s just discovered that his lover of eight years has had sex with another man. It turns out that distraught Tom has come to torture Shane, and it’s the ways in which Tom carries out his revenge — first demanding sex with Shane, later seducing Nick — that move the play along. He has a worthy opponent in the snaky Shane, who trumps Tom’s attempts at blackmail, but can’t keep up with his nasty houseguest’s vile temper.


 


Writer/Director Marshall not only uses his trademark quick wit and natural dialogue, but also recognizes the human emotions that bring the characters to the brink of insanity. “This play speaks loudly about the downfalls of cheating in any relationship. It’s something everyone can relate to, regardless of his or her orientation,” says Marshall. “It’s about growing up and learning from your mistakes, and discovering the hard lesson that the easy choice is not always the right choice.”


 


DIRTY SECERTS has previously been produced in Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Tucson, AZ.


 


About Alternative Theatre Company:


The Alternative Theatre Company is a non-profit organization renowned for producing award-winning LGBT theatre.
Founded in 1991 by Joe Marshall, the company relocated from Arizona to New York City in 2009.



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Quentin Crisp Scores at Tribeca Film Festival


I have been waiting for this movie for over a year! It’s finally here – and getting good reviews! 

Michael Musto reported at the Village Voice this week, “Quentin Crisp was the frilly British poufter who ceaselessly spouted aphorisms, his wit hiding the fact that he had come of age through oppression and abuse in puritanical England. In the ’70s, he came to New York to do a live show and stayed, showering us with his wisdoms, hats, and weird viewpoints.

And now, he’s come back to rule at the Tribeca Film Festival, where those later years have provided fodder for a fascinating film. I just saw An Englishman in New York, which is about Quentin’s Gotham years, with John Hurt–who already perfected him in the 1975 TV movie Naked Civil Servant)–as the epigram-spewing, gracious, yet sometimes offensive Brit.


The film accurately shows Crisp’s immersion into the gay New York culture as an observer (and critic for the New York Native), and also documents his tripping up by labeling AIDS “a fad,” adding that homosexuals are always complaining about some ailment or other. Much like that other queen–the one played by Helen Mirren–he then finds hhimself in an ethical quandary as to whether to undo his gesture, apologize for it, explain it, or let it be.


Hurt is absolutely brilliant in the role, as expected, capturing all the grandeur, charm, and defense mechanisms. The only drawbacks are that Crisp’s witty sayings sometimes seem contrivedly woven into conversation (though that’s usually how he DID talk). And that Cynthia Nixon tends to downplay the abrasiveness (and I’m using that word in a good way, sort of) of performance artist Penny Arcade. ( And NICK ADAMS, who we adore!  makes an appearance!! ) Still, I’m very glad this Englishman came back to New York one more time.

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Laurie Krauz Wins 2009 Bistro Award from Back Stage




NEW YORK  singing sensation Laurie Krauz  and  her TAPESTRY REWOVEN show is being honored by the prestigious industry publication, Back Stage, with a 2009 Bistro Award  which will be given during the annual gala event in New York City.

More than 30 of cabaret’s brightest stars will be honored at the 24th annual Bistro Awards, which will take place on Tuesday, April 28 at Gotham Comedy Club. International singer-songwriter-actor Charles Aznavour will be honored with the Bob Harrington Lifetime Achievement Award. Liza Minnelli, Tony-, Oscar-, and Emmy-winning performer, will be recognized in the category of Enduring Artistry. Each of these stars will present the Award to the other–a Bistro first.

Tapestry Rewoven, is a jazz re-imagining of the Carole King classic, which has been playing to packed houses and standing ovations with buzz that’s been, literally, off the charts!  Her show has been playing at New York City’s fabulous
IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB and the critics rave!

Laurie Krauz thrills audiences with her award-winning, blues-influenced jazz vocals and her powerful emotional range. Blazing new musical territory, Laurie combines improvisational elements with the passion and sensuality found in other forms of music to create a unique, soulful jazz – “she creates a mood and weaves a musical story with every cell of her being.” She was recently named  one of the top  jazz vocalists of all time  by noted jazz critic, Scott Yanow. In 2007 and 2008 Laurie was named best Female Jazz Vocalist by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC).

Laurie explains how the whole idea of re-imagining the classic Tapestry came to be..”About four years ago I was at the gym listening to You’ve Got a Friend from Carole King’s legendary recording, Tapestry. From out of nowhere the phrase “Tapestry Rewoven” came into my head. At first I thought about singing this tune, which I had never done. As I continued my workout I realized that the phrase meant something much more—that I could approach the entire album and re-imagine it from a jazz sensibility.

The idea excited me musically and emotionally. For women of my generation, Tapestry was more than just a great album. It was virtually our religion!”

Laurie is currently doing some shows in Los Angeles and Chicago and will be back at the Iridium May 5th, June 2nd, July 7th and August 4th, with 2 shows each night!


“… a masterwork not unlike her idol’s,” David Finkle, Back Stage

WATCH A CLIP OF
LAURIE KRAUZ ON HER SITE

Bistro Awards Gala Tickets

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New York Photo Festival May 13-17 – Gay Men Play with Chris Boot





The goal of the New York Photo Festival is to document the future of photography in all its forms. The group of internationally-respected curators will deliver their personal vision of the newest and most important trends in contemporary photography, each exhibited in their own pavilion and promising to draw the attention of the entire photographic community.

“This year, we are thrilled to introduce an exciting new three-part series of daytime programming called “GAY MEN PLAY – with Chris Boot” led by the NYPH’09 Curator, Chris Boot.  Seating is going to be very limited, so book early!!”  Gay Men Play, promises to be provocative, charged and unlike anything else exhibited during the Festival. Of course, I am limited as to what I can show you here! You can see more of the exhibition and presentation at NYPH



Boot cleverly mixes the work of established photographers and artists with that of non-professional photographers. There are portraits by Stefan Ruiz, who documented gay party weekends from a mobile studio on the streets of San Francisco and Berlin. There are also images culled from gay networking websites by Chris Clary, whose exhibition also features images by another 10 photographers shown on digital screens.

 


Chris Boot is a London-based publisher and editor of photography books who explores the contemporary photographic representation of gay sex and gay recreational sexual identities.

(Photo-“Charles”, by Stephan Ruiz, from San Francisco Berlin curated by Chris Boot, New York Photo Festival 2009)

For complete programming, schedules and tickets please visit
NYPH.


The New York Photo Festival HQ is located at:



37 Main Street
Brooklyn, New York    directions


The neighborhood: Dumbo    
What is DUMBO?


 DUMBO (which stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is located on the Brooklyn waterfront between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. In the early 1800s, steamed power ferries offered service to Fulton Street,  which became a bustling commercial thoroughfare. Industrialists built manufacturing facilities on the waterfront at DUMBO – a location that served as transportation hub where goods could be easily shipped by boat, road and rail throughout New York and beyond. For more information about the history of DUMBO, visit the Brooklyn Historical Society website.


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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.


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Mel England and Swimming with the Polar Bears

 


Upon meeting Mel England, there are no visible scars from the torture he has endured.  It is the strength of his conviction, which is appealing, and which drove him to create the one-man show, Swimming with the Polar Bears, in which he uses his life-experiences to expose the dangers of global warming. (Swimming with the Polar Bears Premieres in a 3-day benefit at the Bleecker Street Theatre April 20, 21, and EARTH DAY April 22.)

 


Swimming with the Polar Bears is a funny, poignant, and devastatingly personal look at the dangers of global warming. Actor Mel England returns to the autobiographical one-man arena, with director Jill André, to explore the parallels between contemporary life, ancient Eskimo mythology, and the tragic loss of endangered species.

The juxtaposition of his personal journey, against the backdrop of video and images by National Geographic’s Tristan Bayer and original music by Thomas Silcott unites in beautiful harmony, mirroring the nature it represents.  Swimming with the Polar Bears transcends from personal anguish to the global world.


Mel is SURVIVOR—he made a choice to survive, and now (after a recent cancer scare) wants to do something about it by propelling people to action—protecting our environment.  A 20 year survivor of AIDS.  He contracted the virus at a time that all of his loved ones were dieing of the disease. Mel is a cancer survivor. Friends call him a “pioneer.”  In the spirit of Magic Johnson, Craig Chester and Tom Duane, coming out with this story is also about realizing that it’s not something to hide or be ashamed of, but something to be proud.


Mel has a history of performing one-man shows. He was in NY and LA premieres of  Israel Horwitz’s 3 Weeks After Paradise about 9/11 and his own Navajo Memoirs (called “ingenious” by Back Stage).  In this show, he takes a profound leap of faith coming out, as a an actor with AIDS.


 Dates: Monday, April 20 at 8 p.m. pre-show presentation from The Climate Project and post-show talk-back;
Tuesday, April 21 at 8 p.m. pre-show presentation from The Climate Project and post-show talk-back; and
Wednesday, April 22 at 8 p.m. EARTH DAY CELEBRATION with The Climate Project.


Length: 75 minutes (no intermission)


Prices: Tickets are $30 and are now available online at TeleCharge  by calling (212) 239-6200.
Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Theatre’s Box Office, 1⁄2 hour prior to the performance. 

Swimming With The Polar Bears


Bleecker Street Theatre (45 Bleecker Street)



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Broadway’s Adams, Holbrook & Hughes Featured in PAPER Mag’s ‘Beautiful People’ Issue

 



 Broadway HOTTIES Nick Adams, Curtis Holbrook and Van Hughes are featured in the April issue of PAPER MAGAZINE on stands now. The talented trio are included in the magazine’s 12th annual “Beautiful People” issue. 


Nick Adams , who I am in love with  🙂 ,  is currently starring as Liver Lips Louis in the revival of “Guys and Dolls“, is best known for his role as Larry in the recent Broadway revival of “A Chorus Line” opposite Mario Lopez. Later this year, he will also appear in the film, “An Englishman in New York,” starring John Hurt, Cynthia Nixon, and Swoozie Kurtz.


Curtis Holbrook is getting acclaim for his work as “Action” in West Side Story at the Palace Theatre in New York City. 


Van Hughes will soon be seen in the new Broadway musical-comedy, 9 To 5: The Musical starring  Allison Janney, Stephanie J. Block, Megan Hilty, and two-time Tony Award nominee Marc Kudisch which will begin preview performances on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 and will open Thursday, April 30, 2009, at the Marriott Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway). 9 To 5: The Musical marks the Broadway debut of seven-time Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and musician Dolly Parton as composer and lyricist.




See the Beautiful Broadway Boys at Paper online!

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NextWorks Networking Event – With Broadway Bares and SPLASH bar – April 7th

 



NextWorks

A Great Networking Night!

Tues April 7th, 6-9pm


Splash bar






 


This is a special celebration where BCEFA will announce the name and theme of the 2009 BROADWAY BARES event in June. Dont miss it!!!!

This event will feature:


– No Cover! FREE REGISTRATION ONLINE
– Cocktail Specials!
– Prizes
– Hundreds of Amazing Guys!
– Stars from the upcoming Broadway Bares!



Splash, 50 West 17th Street B/W 5th and 6th, NYC


Ticket Reservations being taken NOW 
for Broadway Bares 19 – online!
2  shows!   9:30pm  and  Midnight!


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