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the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
Sponsorship Kick-Off Party, Pink Party Begins Fundraising Efforts of 12th Gay Easter Parade
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aster Grand Marshals XII Elizabeth Bouvier and Gary Vandeventer will host the Gay Easter Parade Sponsorship Kick-Off Party on Saturday, March 19th from 4-6pm at Cutter's, 706 Franklin Avenue. Anyone that becomes a sponsor at the party will receive a wrist band for FREE well drinks, domestic beer and wine for the duration of the party. Bar Baron Mac McAll will provide great eats courtesy of Cutter's. Guests will have the opportunity to bid on a fabulous Easter Basket as well as on the Easter Treasures Auction. The Pink Party/3rd Eggstravaganza will once again be hosted at Billy's, 2600 Hwy. 190 West in Slidell on Saturday, March 26th beginning at 10:30pm, with a $5 door donation. Under the direction of GEP Board's Opal Masters, party goers can look forward to performances by EGMs XII Gary Vandeventer and Elizabeth Bouvier, Big Mama, Queen Amon-Ra XLIV Rhonda Roget, Amon-Ra Miss America Deja Deja Vu, Georgianna Belle and other guests. Billy's Bar Baron and Easter Grand Marshal XI Chuck Turner will provide a fab buffet, 50/50 raffle and egg raffles with prizes inside. Additionally, the GEP Board will hold both a great Easter Basket Auction and Easter Treasures Auction. The parade minus expenses benefits Food For Friends and $80,825 has been raised for charity in the past nine years. Please join these fundraising efforts and help support Food For Friends, a vital service of the NO/AIDS Task Force. The remaining fundraisers include: The 10th Super Star Studded Drag Extravaganza & Auction under the direction of GEP Board's Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain set for Saturday, April 2nd from 8-10pm at JohnPaul's in New Orleans; 9th Spring Fever: Star-Studded Show & Live Auction under the direction of GEP Board's Electra City and Tittie Toulouse on Friday, April 8th, 10:30pm, at 4 Seasons, 3229 N. Causeway in Metairie; 12th Purple Party Easter Grand Marshals Reception & Auction on Saturday, April 16th, 8-10pm, at Double Play, 439 Dauphine in New Orleans; and 2nd Bunnies in The Big Easy under the direction of GEP Board's Tony Leggio and Rona Conners on Friday, April 2nd, 7-10pm at Harrah’s in New Orleans. The 12th Gay Easter Parade rolls on Easter Sunday, April 24th beginning at 4:30pm on Rampart at St. Ann winding through the French Quarter. Carriages are now available by visiting GayEasterParade.COM and downloading a Parade Entry Form. Carriages will roll in the order of payment and entry forms received. The parade is presented by Ambush Mag and LSGRA. Sponsorships are available at various levels and the Sponsorship Form is available at GayEasterParade.COM. Sponsorships are already arriving and include: Platinum ($1,000)-EGM XII Elizabeth Bouvier; Gold ($500)-EGM XII Gary Vandeventer & Tim Lott, Rhonda & David Roget; Silver ($250)-Dwain Hertz-Al Dugas & Gene Theriot, JoAnn Guidos & Lisa Thomas/Kajun’s Pub, EGM VII Opal Masters & Darwin Reed, EGM VIII Rona Conners & Bob Boler; Bronze ($100)-EGM X Tony Leggio, Bruce Orgeron; and Venue/In Kind-4 Seasons, 700 Club, Billy's, Cutter’s, Double Play, Harrah’s, JohnPaul's, Michael’s On The Park. The Gay Easter Parade Board of Directors includes: Electra City, Rona Conners, Tony Leggio, Opal Masters, Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain, and Tittie Toulouse. Past Grand Marshals include EGMs I Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain, EGMs
Pre-Easter, French Quarter Fest Issue out March 29th DEADLINE: Tues., March 22nd
inside
12th gay easter parade celebrazzi trodding the boards commentary satyricon ball paparazzi armeinius ball paparazzi acadiana happens/lafayette the pink pastor
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acadiana paparazzi/lafayette paparazzi/mobile classifieds under the gaydar lords of leather ball paparazzi ambush paparazzi/new orleans ambush paparazzi/new orleans out & about/mobile
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II Larry Bagneris and the late Miss Do Moreland, EGMs III Timm Holt and Teryl-Lynn Foxx, EGMs IV George Simons and Electra City, EGMs V Brett Messmer and Princesse Stephaney, EGMs VI James Swire and Lisa Beaumann, EGMs VII the late Doc Reed and Opal Masters, EGMs VIII Michael Elias and Rona Conners, EGMs IX Orlando Aloe and Safonda Peters, EGMs X Tony Leggio and Marcy Marcell, and EGMs XI Chuck Turner and Tittie Toulouse.
Same-Sex Couple Files Non-Discrimination Claim Against Dallas Morning News
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ark Reed-Walkup and Dante Walkup, a Dallas area same-sex couple, announced that they have filed a nondiscrimination claim against the Dallas Morning News for the newspaper’s refusal to run their wedding announcement. The couple, married December 10th in a ceremony at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC, placed and paid for a wedding announcement in the Dallas Morning News. However, Jim Moroney, chief executive and publisher of the Dallas Morning News, refused to run the couple’s announcement, citing Texas’ discriminatory law barring same-sex couples from legal, civil marriage in the state. The couple filed a complaint on December 27, 2010, with the city of Dallas’ Fair Housing Office due to the newspaper’s violation of Chapter 46 “Unlawful Discriminatory Practices Relating to Sexual Orientation,” which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, employment and public accommodations. According to James Donovan in the Brooklyn Law Review, “If a newspaper is a public accommodation, then its refusal to grant access to the society pages to gay men and lesbians for the purpose of announcing their unions, likely would violate the nondiscrimination ordinance. Withholding that service would deny privileges available from the newspaper, such as appearance in the society pages, based on the prohibited criterion of sexual orientation.” On May 8, 2002, the Dallas City Council adopted Chapter 46, “Unlawful Discriminatory Practices Relating to Sexual Orientation.” Chapter 46 prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, employment and public accommodations. This ordinance became effective on October 1, 2002. The full Chapter 46 ordinance reads: “It is the policy of the city of Dallas to bring about through fair, orderly, and lawful procedures the opportunity for every person to obtain employment, access to all places of public accommodation, and housing, without regard
to sexual orientation. This policy is based upon recognition of the rights of every individual to work and earn wages through gainful employment, to obtain and enjoy goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations in all places of public accommodation, and to obtain housing. The denial or deprivation of these rights because of sexual orientation is detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Dallas and is within the power and responsibility of the city to prevent.” Mark Reed-Walkup said, “We strongly believe paid wedding announcements constitute a public accommodation and segregating our [continued on 8]
THE OFFICIAL MAG
Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 • Texas-Florida Official Gay Easter Parade Guide Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide Official Gay New Orleans Guide Official Southern Decadence Guide OFFICE/SHIPPING ADDRESS: 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 USA OFFICE HOURS: 10am-3pm Monday-Friday [Except Holidays] Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com PHONE: 1.504.522.8049 ANNUAL READERSHIP: 650,000+ in print/3.5 Million+ On-line NATIONAL CIRCULATION: USA... Alabama-Mobile Florida - Pensacola Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Slidell Mississippi - Biloxi, Hattiesburg Texas - Austin
STAFF: PUBLISHER/EDITOR R. Rip Naquin-Delain, New Orleans PRODUCTION DIRECTOR M. Marsha Naquin-Delain, New Orleans GULF SOUTH/NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Rip Naquin-Delain • 504.522.8049 THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands, Patrick Shannon AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Joey Collins-Lafayette, LA Devin Black, Rev. Clinton Crawshaw, Tony Leggio, Lee Mullen, Jeff Palmquist-New Orleans Bob Brunson, Cieanne & John, Leon WeekleyMobile, AL Roy Williams-Pensacola, FL NATIONAL ADVERTISING REP Rivendell Media~212.242.6863 AMBUSH Mag is published on alternate Tuesdays of each month by Ambush, Inc., R. Rip Naquin-Delain, President. Advertising, Copy & Photo DEADLINE is alternate Tuesdays, 4pm, prior to publication week, accepted via e-mail only: marsha@ripandmarsha.com, except for special holidays. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for the claims of advertisers and has the right to reject any advertising. The inclusion of an individual's name or photograph in this publication implies nothing about that individual's sexual orientation. Letters, stories, etc., appearing herein are not necessarily the opinion of the Publisher or Staff of AMBUSH Mag. Subscription rate is $45 for 1/2 Year; $75 for 1 year. Sample Copy is $3 First Class Mail. ©1982-2011, AMBUSH, INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, MAPS and PHOTOS. AMgrant - AMbush Advertising Grant Donation
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celebrazzi (celebrations-paparazzi)
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ing Cake Queen XVIII Rona Conners reigned as The Chrysanthemum Queen over the 24th annual Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss on Fat Tuesday, March 8, 2011. Joined by some 50 guests, the Krewe of Queenateenas celebrated The Imperial House of Japan Boards The Orient Express tossing thousands of throws from the famous Ambush balcony at 828 Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Guests were welcomed by Queenateenas' CoCaptains Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain serving an open bar along with their famous Mardi Gras Red Beans & Rice, Jay Loomis' Blue Cheese, Roasted Tomato Salsa, South of the Border Queso, Goat Cheese with Black Cherries & Honey, and King Cake with Cream Cheese. For more on Gay Mardi Gras, Krewe of Queenateenas and the King Cake Queens, visit GayMardiGras.COM.
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ord King XXVIII Ben Bourgeois and Lord Consort XXVIII Pat Johnson came out as the Black and White Parties respectively celebrating the Mystic Krewe of Lords of Leather Bal Masque XXVIII Circuit at the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center in Chalmette. Visit LordsOfLeather.COM for more info in the krewe.
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ing and Queen Satyricon IX Kent Roby and Brian Peterson were presented as Magical Evening Stars in the Krewe of Satyricon Bal Masque IX celebrating When You Wish Upon A Star: The Mickey Ball at The Sugar Mill. For additional info visit MysticKreweOf Satyricon.COM.
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oel Haas' (left) costume the Mohawk from the Krewe of Armeinius Ball Hair won Best of Show at the 47th annual Bourbon Street Awards hosted by Oz New Orleans and Bud Light. Second place went to Krewe of Amon-Ra's John Zeringue as the Phoenix, and third place went to Krewe of Armeinius' Freddie Guess as the French Twist.
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ing and Queen Armeinius XLIII Tim Goodwin and David Scheu brought the audience to their feet as the Krewe of Armeinius' 43rd ball culminated with their presentation. Hair was the theme of this year's ball hosted at the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center in Chalmette. For additional info visit KreweOfArmeinius.ORG.
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onathan Silverman, Jennifer Finnigan, Bourbon Pub & Parade's Sandy Sachs, Jennifer Coolidge, Charles Robbins and Reichen Lemkuhl celebrate at the Trevor Project Lundi Gras Brunch raising over $5,000 for the project's suicide prevention hot lines hosted at the Bourbon Pub & Parade. Ambush was one of the proud sponsors of this worthwhile event. Visit TheTrevorProject.ORG for additional information on the organization.
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the "official" dish ...from 4 announcement to the ‘commitment’ section is treating our legal marriage as ‘less than’ other married couples. It is blatant discrimination, as well as false advertising. We had a legal wedding and not a commitment ceremony.” In addition to filing the complaint with the Dallas’ Fair Housing Office, Change.org created an online petition asking the Dallas Morning News to honor their request and payment, since they had been legally married in another jurisdiction. The petition now has over 9,000 signatures from across the country. Reed-Walkup is a board member of GetEQUAL – a national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – and married Walkup via Skype, with a ceremony in Dallas with family and friends, and an officiant in Washington, DC. After that marriage was annulled in DC, the couple traveled to DC themselves, marrying again in the nation’s capital. The couple’s unconventional wedding has generated a good deal of attention nationally. Though there is no legal precedent for same-sex couples to marry via Skype, there is precedent for “e-weddings” among active-duty military couples. GetEQUAL is a national, direct action lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization. Emphasizing direct action and people power, the mission of GetEQUAL is to empower the LGBT community and its allies to take action to demand full legal and social equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way. For more information on GetEQUAL, please visit: http://www.getequal.org. You can follow GetEQUAL on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/getequal, on
Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ GetEQUAL, or on YouTube at http:// www.youtube.com/getequal.
Bravo's Andy Cohen to Lead Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade April 16
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ndy Cohen, Bravo’s Executive Vice President of Original Programming and Development, will be the Grand Marshal of the 2011 Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade on Saturday, April 16. Since Cohen took over the network’s current development and production slate of over two dozen shows, the network has become the home of gay viewers’ reality TV favorites, including hits such as the Emmy and James Beard award-winning “Top Chef,” “Top Chef Masters,” “The Real Housewives” series, “Kathy Griffin My Life On the D List,” “The Millionaire Matchmaker,” “Million Dollar Listing,” “The Rachel Zoe Project,” “The Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection,”
“Bethenny Ever After,” “Tabatha’s Salon Takeover” and “Flipping Out.” In addition, Cohen is the host and Executive Producer of “Watch What Happens,” Bravo’s late night, interactive, weekly talk show that features guests from the world of entertainment, politics and pop culture. The series includes lively debates on everything from fashion, the latest Housewives drama, to what celebrity is making headlines that week. Asked in a recent interview whether Bravo has become a “gay network,” Cohen stated, “I’m always saying we’re bi, but I think it’s kind of how I view [continued on 10]
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trodding the boards by Brian Sands
Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com
The Divine Sister at the Soho Playhouse through April 30 (at least)
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ever mind that klutzy Spiderman. If you can see only one show during a visit to Manhattan make it The Divine Sister in which playwright/ star Charles Busch spins a shimmering web of intrigue and hilarity. The Divine Sister pays homage to nearly every film featuring nuns of all types of habits, from The Bells of St. Mary’s and The Sound of Music to Agnes of God and Doubt. But Busch is not content to stop merely with the Sisters and so gives his Rosalind Russell-esque Mother Superior a back story similar to Russell’s crack reporter from His Girl Friday and tosses in some Da Vinci Code references as well.
commentary WE are Greater Than AIDS by David Furnish his year marks 30 years since the discovery of the first case of what was later identified as AIDS. With that news, our lives and relationships as gay men were forever altered. We witnessed an unthinkable tragedy that has taken the lives of more than a quarter million of our gay and bisexual friends and lovers. In the face of this devastation leaders emerged. The crisis helped to shape our community’s political agenda, and it provided a platform around which gay leaders could advocate for rights and equality. We realized that if we informed ourselves and acted on what we learned, we could be greater than the disease. Thanks to the efforts of gay men and our allies, our community saw a dramatic decline in new infections by the late 1980s. Many of us can look back with immense pride at the collective response in those early years. The availability of effective combination drug therapies in 1996 fundamentally changed how we thought about HIV. No longer was HIV the death sentence it had once been. We had new hope. For many, HIV was a manageable chronic disease. Many of us turned our attention to marriage equality, adoption rights, the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and other pressing issues facing our community. While we broadened our focus, AIDS did not. When we become complacent, HIV thrives. New HIV infections among gay and bisexual men in the United States are on the rise. Yes, on the rise. We are the only risk group for whom this is the case. According to a recent study by the CDC, one in five of us – that is gay and bisexual men — in some of the largest
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the "official" dish ...from 8 myself being gay — it’s just one of things that I am,” he said. “So Bravo may or may not be gay, but I think there’s a lot of other things going on. I think for the gay people on Bravo, it’s one of the things that they are — they’re not on Bravo because they’re gay. The people that are gay on Bravo, like Brad on Rachel Zoe or Jeff on ‘Flipping Out,’ they’re gay but they’re also great at what they do and that’s why they’re on Bravo, and that’s important.” In February, Cohen teamed up with British rugby player Ben Cohen to film a video for the It Gets Better Project, offering a message about acceptance and celebrating differences. He talks about his progression from being a scared teenage boy through his awakening in college and to success as an adult.
Cohen started at Bravo in 2005 as Senior Vice President of Original Programming & Development and since then he has overseen an aggressive slate of unscripted series and specials including past hits “Project Runway,” “Queer Eye,” “Work Out,” “Being Bobby Brown,” “Top Design,” “Make Me a Supermodel,” “Blow Out” and “The A List Awards”. Cohen received an Emmy Award when season six of “Top Chef” won the Outstanding Reality Competition Program at the 2010 primetime awards and has been nominated for nine additional Emmy Awards as Executive Producer of “Project Greenlight,” “Project Runway,” “Top Chef” and “Queer Eye.” In 2005, Cohen was awarded a Peabody Award for his role as Executive Producer of the TRIO documentary “The N Word” and another Peabody in 2008 as an Executive
Given to bold red lipstick, the nuns of St. Veronica’s are a varied bunch. While tough Sister Acacius (Julie Halston) tries to teach little Timothy how to play baseball, Mother Superior goes to the rich atheist Jewess Mrs. Levinson (Jennifer Van Dyck) to try to raise funds to save her down-on-itsluck convent. Sister Walburga (Alison Fraser), a newcomer from Berlin complete with a hissing accent, may not be what she appears to be. And the goony novitiate Agnes sees saints’ faces in urine stains. There’s more, much more, to this tale but the plot’s almost besides the point. Busch’s script provides steady laughs from wry send-ups of comforting wisdom (“What thinking person doesn’t have regrets.”) to the occasional fart. Just when you think Busch & Co. can’t top themselves, they do, with an appearance by an old Irish housekeeper whose boobs defy gravity. Carl Andress’ pitch perfect direction elicits every bit of humor without overdoing it; his sure pacing allows an audience to enjoy each joke without dwelling too long on the finer points of the story. Busch may no longer be the perky ingenue of Psycho Beach Party, but his peerless comic acting skills have aged like fine wine; he can somehow
expand the word “hand” to three syllables and his rubbery face offers grininducing comments without his having to say a word. Fraser, shifting between Teutonic caginess and Gaelic loopiness, and Halston, a riotous Ethel to Busch’s Lucy, add immeasurably to the fun. Van Dyck, all sophisticated brittleness as Mrs. Levinson, is almost unrecognizable as Timmy who’s just a wee bit different from the other boys. Understudy Marcy McGuigan filled in—seamlessly and hilariously—as Agnes the night I saw the show and well-deserved the special recognition Busch gave her at the curtain call. As usual the men’s roles are overshadowed by the ladies’ but Jonathan Walker provides fine support as an old flame of the Mother’s and a sinister Brother. B.T. Whitehill’s sets do a lot with a little space, establishing through witty details the prevailing spoofy atmosphere. Watching The Divine Sister in New York, I easily imagined Ricky Graham starring, divinely, in its future local premiere. But should you have the opportunity to see Sister enacted by its creator and miss it, that would be a mortal sin indeed!
U.S. cities today are living with HIV – and half of those who are positive do not know it. Unless we act now, we will see these numbers rise even higher, and quickly. My partner, Sir Elton John, often talks of his friend Ryan White – a boy whose tremendous courage in the face of AIDS forced our leaders to take action and inspired many of us. Today, Ryan’s story continues to remind us that just as HIV began one person at a time it will end one person a time. Elton and I recently had a baby boy. Becoming fathers has given us
new perspective on what it means to take care of one another –as parents, as partners and as members of a community. And, it reminds us that we cannot be complacent in helping to create the kind of society in which we want our son to grow up. In short, we must take responsibility and each do our part to create a future free of HIV – by being informed, using protection, getting tested and treated, and getting involved. And so, as we mark 30 years of this disease, Elton and I have recommitted ourselves to being greater than AIDS. As Chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, I’m proud of the community organizations with which we are working to fight stigma and prevent the spread of the disease. And, I’m proud that leading LGBT companies, like HERE Media, LOGO TV, and this publication, are refocusing attention on this epidemic, and I hope more will join us. As a community, we once showed that we could be greater than AIDS. Now is our time to do it again. Visit greaterthan.org/pride to get started. David Furnish is Chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation (www.ejaf.org). The Elton John AIDS Foundation is a supporting partner of Greater Than AIDS (www.greaterthan.org/pride), a national movement organized in response to AIDS in America with a focus on the most affected communities.
Producer of “Project Runway.” In 2010, TV Guide Magazine named Cohen one of the “25 Most Powerful People in Television” (along with Oprah Winfrey, Simon Cowell, Tina Fey, and Jon Stewart). Born in St. Louis, Cohen is a graduate of Boston University where he received a B.A. degree in broadcast journalism. Cohen will lead the Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade beginning at noon on Saturday, April 16th at 5th Street and Ocean Drive. The parade continues along Ocean Drive, featuring festive floats and the inspiring LEGACY couples – couples who have been in committed relationships for 20 years or more. Following the parade, the festivities continue at Lummus Park, between 10th Street and 14th Street, with exciting musical performances, a festival featuring LGBT-friendly vendors and businesses, refreshments and a family-friendly playzone. (MiamiBeachGayPride.COM)
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Jane Catalanello McNulty, Mary Pauley & Jennifer Growden in Three Tall Women
trodding the boards ...from 10
Three Tall Women at the Shadowbox Theater
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hree Tall Women was the first offering of Silk Dress Productions’ ambitious The Albee Project which will continue with Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Tiny Alice later this year. Though not without some drawbacks, it was an auspicious debut. When it premiered in 1994, Women revitalized Albee’s career which had been languishing for much of the 1970s & ‘80s after such flops as The Lady from Dubuque and The Man Who Had Three Arms. It was
awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and received productions all over the country; All Kinds of Theatre produced it to acclaim here in 1997. One could say the play actually features five tall women. In the first act, we meet a 92 (or 91) year old imperious grande dame (Mary Pauley), her acerbic home health care attendant (Jane Catalanello McNulty), and a young lawyer who has arrived to help with her finances (Jennifer Growden). In the second act, despite a stroke, the elderly lady returns, now joined by manifestations of herself at ages 52 and 26, for a retelling of family history. In each case, the women are known only as A, B, and C, respectively. As A (supposedly based on Albee’s adoptive mother) bosses B and C around in Act One, she is afraid and childish one minute and then reveals herself to be a vindictive antiSemitic racist the next. Albee does a marvelous job of capturing such reversals, but anyone who has an elderly parent has probably heard such things (self-pity, accusations of being taken advantage of by the help, incomprehensibility about money matters, etc.), or variations thereon, before.
In Act Two, as the versions of A banter back and forth among themselves, Albee anchors his play with more solid material dealing with how people change and evolve into our older selves. If some of it is a bit obvious in its truths about living and dying, nonetheless a haunting family portrait emerges, one of questionable choices made and ill-advised actions taken. Director Ken Pauley did a terrific job of guiding his actresses to full realizations of Albee’s well-drawn characters. Yet in a play in which there is not much actual drama, his overall staging was rather static. While I can appreciate a director who avoids adding in extraneous stage business, at times, this production seemed almost like a mere reading. Yet even when the stillness bordered on a visual tiresomeness, Growden and particularly Pauley & McNulty always made Albee’s words compelling. (Warren J. Usey appeared in the non-speaking role of the Boy.) With her stylish, age-appropriate coiffure and makeup, Ms. Pauley, an actress I had not seen before, so inhabited A’s elderly bearing that I was quite surprised upon meeting her a few weeks after seeing Women at how youthful she is. Immensely trying and given to crying jags, Pauley’s A never overstepped into old age caricature but found just the right rhythms in Albee’s dialog, delivering certain oft-said phrases with endless variations in an extraordinary performance. McNulty continues to demonstrate why she is a most vital member of New Orleans’ acting community. Wisely eschewing the limp and loudness that Marian Seldes brought to the role in the first act of the original production, McNulty’s B was more centered throughout. Hers was a perfect portrait of someone who works close by for someone else, her unexpressed thoughts rippling across her face like a silent Greek chorus. Together with Pauley, she captured the nebulous world of compensated companionship that occupies a territory somewhere between employee and friend. In the second act, McNulty shed her subtle subservience and segued into a more sophisticated, mildly bitter but not unwise middle-aged version of A. Without grandstanding, she gave full force to Albee’s passions in a superb characterization. The least well-written of the three, C is a tough role for sure but Growden, who was so heart-breakingly natural in Uncle Vanya a few years ago, here “act”-ed the lawyer’s callousness a bit too much. In a wig that did Growden no favors, Molly O’Gara’s outfit seemed too chic and not quite right for an attorney; perhaps this led Growden to be more flippant than a young professional would likely be. Happily, though, in Act Two, Growden became much more in sync with her character fulfilling the lyrical demands of passages that seemed like cousins to some of Emily’s speeches in Our Town. Since Three Tall Women’s debut, tales of familial dysfunction have come to permeate our culture, lessening, for me at least, its impact. Yet as Ben Brantley observed in his original, mixed New York Times review “there is an undeniably affecting emotional core” that left some of Silk Dress’ audience members in tears. That the first installation of The Albee Project could elicit such a response augurs well for its future.
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paparazzi
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Krewe of Satyricon Bal Masque IX ~ When You Wish Upon A Star: The Mickey Ball @ The Sugar Mill ~ New Orleans
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snap Krewe of Armeinius Ball XLIII ~ Hair @ Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center ~ Chalmette, Louisiana
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acadiana happens by Joey Collins, Lafayette, Louisiana Email: ejcollins583@gmail.com Twitter: JoeyC_583
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uch! This will be a sweet and short one. Mardi Gras has come and gone and I know I’m feeling the hangover. This definitely means it was a great time. In the spirit of the Mardi Gras hangover, I will make this one short, sweet, and to the point. You’re listening up with Joey Collins, girl!
Bar Spill
C
oming up on Saturday, March 26th, Jules Downtown will be hosting a Leather and Lace Party or simply a Black Party. Come dressed in your most kinky of outfits featuring hot black leather and soft sensual lace. Even if you’re lacking leather or lace, come dressed in your favorite black outfit. Enjoy the evening with amazing drink specials and the infamous shots on the bar. On Saturday, March 19th, Tonic presents the Blush and Bashful Party to raise money for the American Cancer Society. This party will be hosted by Miss Mess and Tammy Tapwater. Don’t
forget to stop by Tonic to visit their newest bartenders, Kira Foxx and Mario! As always, Tonic’s hottest night is still Tuesday Night Talent Show.
Return of Chez Gisele
L
ast Spring we were given the delightful treat of an amazing performance that took us to a different time in Lafayette. This was a time when the LGBT community was not free and open to walk downtown as we do today. Chez Gisele reminded the Acadiana community about the origins of the advancement of the LGBT community right here in our own hometown. Chez Gisele is a drag musical comedy with a tribute to the lovely Gisele Carriton, a French woman who owned and operated the first gay cabaret nightclub in Lafayette during the late 1960s and early 1970s. We are automatically taken back to an era where Civil Rights were at the forefront of American culture. Gisele saw the need to create a place that was accepting of all people regardless of your
race, sex, religion, and more importantly your sexuality. In order to continue this creed, Gisele had to create her club into a private membership only establishment. This act was instrumental in keeping her establishment hate-crime free yet unfortunately, due to lack of police protection of such an establishment, failed to be effective when a patron was murdered one night. Unfortunately during this time period it was culturally acceptable for local police to not give much attention to such crimes as they do today. The murder of the bar patron since then has remained unsolved by the Lafayette Police Department. In memory of Gisele, her friends and patrons, and the LGBT community
a production written by Dennis Ward, Chez Gisele, will commence at Cite des Arts (located at 109 Vine St, downtown Lafayette) on Thursday, March 17th at 7:30pm and run till Sunday, March 27th at 2pm. For more information you can visit www.citedesarts.org.
Closing Out
M
ardi Gras has come and gone and soon the winds of Spring will usher in. This only means that our next big event, Festival International, is right around the corner. Cheers to a great time and many more to come! Keep the party going, Acadiana!
the pink pastor by Rev. Clinton Crawshaw Email: revcrawshaw@yahoo.com
St. Patrick
I
t always comes as a surprise to people to discover St Patrick was not Irish. He was British, which at the time could have meant anywhere on the British mainland south of Scotland. Saint Patrick lived 1600 years ago,
at the beginning of what we call the ‘Dark Ages’ after the retreat of Rome from Europe, and his life gives hints of the sort of world in which he lived. He was captured by Irish slave raiders as a teenager, and taken to [continued on 25]
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acadiana
papar azzi
Such an oxymoron!
Hey Beaux!
Jason, John & Conner enjoying Mardi Gras Macky, Brodie & Tayler @ Tonic
Belinda performing @ Jules Jason!
Whitney serving up drinks
Sheekee & friends Valerie @ Jules What happens @ Tonic... Matt & Tayler @ Jules
Queens Parade, downtown Lafayette
Partying downtown Lafayette! Sam partying downtown Lafayette
Oh, Andre
Curtis, Sam, Joey & Ethan @ Jules
What is this?
Brodie, Kira & Macky @ Tonic
The crowd is amazing @ Tonic!
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Mardi Gras Time ~ Lafayette, Louisiana
Great friends celebrating Mardi Gras @ Jules
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Mobile’s premiere Disc Jockey, BBob’s Christopher Chromatic with Marlon & buddy Giselle visiting from New York for the Mobile Mardi Gras Season with Greg Jimmy & Timothy enjoying Joe Cain Sunday Miss Venus @ B-Bob’s with Melvin & Andreu
mobile Ronnie & Brent visiting friends & family from Atlanta @ B-Bob’s
B-Bob’s owner Jerry Ehlen with World famous Candi Stratton who appeared with the B-Bob’s cast for Mardi Gras
Check out CandiStratton.COM
Joe Cain Merry Widows...
Edward & Lee with friends for Join Cain Sunday
The Dancing Talent that is Robyn Michaels performing @ B-Bob’s Mardi Gras Revelers @ B-Bob’s
Happy Mardi Gras Kirby
Order of Osiris XXX Queen Michelle Rivers-Brown
Order of Osiris Royalty Prince Peter & Prince Zeb enjoying Mardi Gras
Paige & Papa Cherry @ B-Bob’s Thursday College Night
Fowler Family with friends for the parades
Michael & Greg with Michael for Joe Cain Sunday festivities
In Honor of Joe Cain, FowlerAvera Family feed 300 people for lunch
Brandy & Bryant celebrating Mardi Gras Mobile Style
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Mardi Gras Mobile Style ~ Mobile, Alabama
papar azzi
the pink pastor ...from 20 Ireland by them – but after six years he escaped and made his way back across the Irish sea to his family. He entered the church and was eventually made a Bishop, after which he voluntarily returned to Ireland in order to convert them to Christianity and to care for their spiritual needs. In fact, Patrick is like a boulder freshly fallen from the cliffs, after a few centuries it is so covered in moss and lichens that it is hard to tell exactly what its original shape was. What we do know, is that folklore and legend generally accumulate around figures who touched people lives in unique ways. Memories of great men and women become legendary after a while, and people ascribe miraculous tendencies to them to try and convey their miraculous personalities. After a few generations the words ‘he’s a great guy’ ring hollow, but ‘he drove all the serpents out of Ireland with a word’ continue to convey to the listener that he was truly wonderful. We still have two letters surviving from St. Patrick, one of them, ‘confessions’ contains these lines… “I am, then, first of all, countrified, an exile, evidently unlearned, one who is not able to see into the future, but I know for certain, that before I was humbled I was like a stone lying in deep mire, and he that is mighty came and in his mercy raised me up and, indeed, lifted me high up and placed me on top of the wall. And from there I ought to shout out in gratitude to the Lord for his great favors in this world and for ever, that the mind of man cannot measure. Therefore be amazed, you great and small who fear God, and you men of God, eloquent speakers, listen and contemplate. Who was it summoned me, a fool, from the midst of those who appear wise and learned in the law and powerful in rhetoric and in all things? Me, truly wretched in this world, he inspired before others that I could be— if I would— such a one who, with fear and reverence, and faithfully, without complaint, would come to the people to whom the love of Christ brought me and gave me in my lifetime, if I should be worthy, to serve them truly and with humility.” If you have read as many writings from the early church as I was forced to at Oxford, then you would recognize this as a pleasant change. Much of early Christian writing (Patristics) is sanctimonious stone throwing, with a touch of fake humility thrown in. Some are downright nasty – Clement of Alexandria for ex-
ample, banging on about one of the joys of heaven being watching your enemies burn in hell! Perhaps this is why we see St. Patrick remembered and revered nearly two thousand years after his death, and precious few people shedding any tears for Clement, although in his life he was infinitely more important than Patrick! Humility is a rare quality, but it is the outward sign of inward wisdom. Nobody who has the vaguest idea of the grandeur of the universe or the concept of an omnipotent God can be too prideful! St. Patrick looks like he may have studied oratory as well, because he placing his readers at ease by praising their wisdom and greatness, before effectively saying ‘despite all this my work is God’s work, and oppose it at your peril!’. He also shows faithfulness to Gospel symbolism, with his ‘raising up’ which brings to mind the cross, and talk of his humility being a token of his redemption; that paradox whereby we achieve greatness through humility, and we diminish ourselves through vainglory and pride. St. Patrick is more than just a figure and a commemoration, he is virtually a religion in himself – whith places of pilgrimage, and miraculous powers, and relics that convey blessings just by touching them or being near them. The real, factual St Patrick may be almost invisible (like our boulder) through centuries of moss growing round him, but like the
boulder, if he were not there, there would be no moss either. That people chose to ascribe such glories to him show us what impact the living man had upon the people who had first enslaved him, then came to revere him. These legends may not be accurate, but they may be true! They are not historical, but they point to truths that work on the subtle level of allegory and symbolism. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!! Rev. Clinton Crawshaw is an ordained Anglican priest and a minister in Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC). In New Orleans, The Big Easy MCC meets every Sunday at 5pm at 1333 S. Carrollton Avenue as a loving and affirming Christian community. To contact Rev. Clinton email to revcrawshaw@yahoo.com. To contact The Big Easy MCC call 504.214.4340 or go to their website at www.bigeasymcc.com.
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CANAL STREET
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BURGUNDY
400 ST. LOUIS
DAUPHINE
ROYAL
CHARTES
DECATUR
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ST. PETER ORLEANS ST. ANN
800 DUMAINE
900 ST. PHILIP
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1100 GOVERNOR NICHOLLS
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Slidell, LA [985] OLDE SLIDELL ANTIQUE DISTRICT, First & Erlanger Streets, antique malls, gift shops, doll shop & restaurants, 643.4790, SlidellAntiques.COM
autos Metairie, LA [504] WALKER ACURA, 8951 Veterans Blvd., 464.4004, WalkerAcura.COM
bars Mobile, AL [251] B-BOB'S DOWNTOWN, 213 Conti St., 433.2262, b-bobs.com GABRIEL'S DOWNTOWN, 55 South Joachim St., 432.4900 THE MIDTOWNE PUB, 153 Florida St., 450.1555 Pensacola, FL [850] EMERALD CITY, 408 E. Wright St., 433.9491, EmeraldCityPensacola.COM THE ROUNDUP, 560 East Heinberg St., 433.8482 Baton Rouge, LA [225] CAJUN COVE, 4550 Concord Ave., 246.8317 GEORGE'S, 860 St. Louis, 387.9798, HOUND DOGS, 668 Main St., 344.0807
body rubs New Orleans, LA [504] CHARLIE-NOLA'S BODY RUB SPECIALIST: Pics/Rates/Info @ www.men4rentnow.com, search by ID#235049, 504.430.7413 [is511]
bookstores New Orleans, LA [504] FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700 MR. BINKY'S BOUTIQUE, 107 Chartres St., 302.2095 MR. BINKY'S BOUTIQUE OF HARAHAN, 301 Funston St., 305.2160
cable shows New Orleans, LA [504] THE GAR WILLIAMS SHOW, Every Wed. &Sat., 8:30am & 8:30pm, Access Television Channel 99
casinos
FI EL D S RT PA M A R
French Quarter/Faubourg Marigny/Bywater
antiques
LE ROUNDUP, 819 St. Louis, 561.8340 MICHAEL'S ON THE PARK, 834 N. Rampart St NAPOLEON'S ITCH, 734 Bourbon, 371.5450 OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, 593.9491, OzNewOrleans. COM PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264 RAWHIDE 2010, 740 Burgundy St., 525.8106, Rawhide2010.COM RUBYFRUIT JUNGLE, 1135 Decatur St., 373.5431 SOCIETY PAGE, 542 N. Rampart St., 299.0156. TUBBY'S GOLDEN LANTERN, 1239 Royal, 529.2860, TubbysBar.COM Slidell, LA [985] BILLY'S, 2600 Hwy. 190 West, 847.1921
Lafayette, LA [337] JULES DOWNTOWN, 533 Jefferson, 264.8000 TONIC, 2013 Pinhook Rd., 269.6011 Lake Charles, LA [337] CRYSTAL'S, 112 W. Broad, 433.5457 Metairie, LA [504] 4-SEASONS / PATIO BAR, 3229 N. Causeway, 832.0659, 4seasonsno.com CLUB LAX, 2301 N. Causeway, 834.7979 New Orleans, LA [504] 700 CLUB, 700 Burgundy, 561.1095, 561.1098, 700ClubNewOrleans.COM BIG DADDY'S, 2513 Royal, 948.6288 BOURBON PUB & PARADE, 801 Bourbon St., 529.2107, BourbonPub.COM BYWATER PATIO BAR, 3162 Dauphine St., 944.4445 CAFÉ LAFITTE IN EXILE, 901 Bourbon Street 522.8397, Lafittes.COM CORNER POCKET, 940 St. Louis, 568.9829 COUNTRY CLUB, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 CUTTER'S, 706 Franklin, 948.4200, CuttersBar.BIZ THE DOUBLE PLAY, 439 Dauphine, 523.4517 THE FRIENDLY BAR, 2301 Chartres, 943.8929 GOOD FRIENDS BAR, 740 Dauphine St, 566.7191, GoodFriendsBar.COM JOHNPAUL'S, 940 Elysian Fields Ave., 948.1888, JohnPaulsBar.COM
New Orleans, LA [504] Harrah's New Orleans Casino, Canal @ the River, 800.,HARRAHS
FOUR SEASONS FLOWERS & GIFTS, 3482 Drusilla Ln., Drusilla Shopping Center, 924.1386, 1.800.237.5381
framing New Orleans, LA [504] ANGLE CUSTOM FRAMES, 4422 Magazine St., 269.3726
guides America Damron Travel Guide, 800.462.6654, www.damron.com Gulf South/United States AMBUSH Mag, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049, ambushmag.com; email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com International GayBars.COM, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049, marsha@ripandmarsha.com
groceries/delis New Orleans, LA [504] QUARTERMASTER DELI, THE NELLIE DELI, 1100 Bourbon, 529.1416 VERTI MART, 1201 Royal St., 525.4767
hair salons New Orleans, LA [504] BOBBY BLUE CONTEMPORARY BARBER & BEAUTY PARLOR, 906 Bourbon St., 527.5100 MICKEY NOLAN'S SALON, 815 Toulouse St., 587.7782 SALON D'MALTA, 1233 Decatur, 565.5555, salondmalta.com
insurance New Orleans, LA [504] ALLSTATE: Buckwalter Insurance Group LLC, 2002 20th St., Kenner, 504.469.4800;101 Schexnayder Ln., Destrehan, 985.764.3833
chiropractic
lodging/accommodations
New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MICHAEL LECHLEITER, D.C., St. Charles Chiropractic, 1529 Jackson Ave., 566.1833 [is0711]
New Orleans [504] AARON INGRAM HAUS, 1012 Elysian Fields, New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: 504.949.3110, E-mail us at ingramhaus@yahoo.com. Condos with queensize beds, private entrances; located only six blocks from Bourbon Street and walking distance to most New Orleans attractions. Several favorite bars are within one block. [0711] BURGUNDY BED AND BREAKFAST, 2513 Burgundy St., New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE/FAX: 504.942.1463, Toll Free (Continental US only): 1.800.970.2153, theburgundy.com, E-mail us at theburgundy@cox.net. Gay owned and operated in newly renovated 1890's double. Four guest rooms with private baths, guests' parlor and "half-kitchen", courtyard and half-open tubhouse with spa (hot tub/whirlpool). Clothing optional in sunbathing and hot tub area. Walking distance to French Quarter. Immediate vicinity of gay and lesbian bars/venues. [0811] FRENCH QUARTER SUITES HOTEL, 1119 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone 504.524.7725, Toll Free: 800.457.2253, FrenchQuarterSuites.COM. E-mail us at reservations@bpmhotels.com. Official Host Hotel of Oz New Orleans. One of several French Quarter residences that have been painstakingly restored and transformed into spacious multi-bedroom suites, executive townhouses, intimate cottages and comfortable rooms. Adjacent to the French Quarter. Complimentary continental breakfast and off street parking. HOTEL LE MARAIS, 717 Conti St., New Orleans, LA, 800.535.9111 or visit NewOrleansHotelCollection.COM, is the newest boutique hotel property in the French Quarter. This sleek, contemporary hotel offers high level service, a “happening” bar, delightful amenities and an inclusive concept that avoids a
circuit/events March 4-8, Official Gay Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush, GayMardiGras.COM Easter Sunday, April 24, Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade.COM May 26-30, Memorial Day Weekend, Pensacola, FL, sponsored by Ambush, GayPensacola.COM Aug. 31-Sept. 5, 40th Official Southern Decadence Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture, end of Summer Blowout including the Southern Decadence Parade & loads of activities, bringing over 125,000 revelers to New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush & SouthernDecadence.COM Oct. 27-30, Halloween 28, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, halloweenneworleans.com Dec. 29, 2011-Jan. 3, 2012, Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.COM
counseling New Orleans, LA [504] DAVID WAGNER, PhD, LPC, Counseling & Psychotherapy, 3001 Fifth St., Metairie, LA 70002; 836.0000
florists Baton Rouge, LA [225]
26 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Mar c h 15-28, 2011 • Of fic ial Gay East er Parade Guide• GayEast erParade.COM
“nickel and dime” mentality. It features heated saltwater courtyard pool, complimentary daily newspaper, complimentary Wi Fi in all areas and all rooms, complimentary extended continental breakfast, complimentary fitness center, complimentary business center, and complimentary welcome drink. MARIGNY MANOR HOUSE, 2125 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70116, PHONE: 504.943.7826, Toll Free: 877.247.7599, marignymanorhouse.com, E-mail us at info@MarignyManorHouse.COM. 1840’s Grand Greek Revival guest house, large spacious bedrooms, private baths, antique 4 poster queen beds, wireless internet access, tv/vcr/dvd/cable, telephone, complimentary continental breakfast and off street parking. [0112] NEW ORLEANS COURTYARD HOTEL, 1101 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone 504.524.7725, Toll Free: 800.457.2253, NOCourtyard.COM. E-mail us at reservations@bpmhotels.com. One of several historic New Orleans homes and cottages that have been lovingly restored and converted into beautifully appointed rooms, spacious multibedroom suites, luxury townhouses and cottages. Adjacent to the French Quarter. Complimentary continental breakfast and off street parking. BON MAISON GUEST HOUSE, 835 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.561.8498 BOURGOYNE GUEST HOUSE, 839 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.524.3621
marketing & printing New Orleans, LA [504] SIR SPEEDY, 343 Carondelet, 586.9812, 586.9817, offering printing and marketing services including web design and hosting. info@sirspeedyneworleans.com, sirspeedyneworleans.com
massage New Orleans, LA [504] RIGHT TOUCH MASSAGE -- Christopher - Full body therapeutic massage; heated table; private studio; tropical garden; Faubourg Marigny Area, French Quarter. Upgrade (Salt Scrubs Bodywork & thai massage/bodywork). Call 504.458.5996 / website righttouchnola.com for pictures, location & special. License #LA4553 [is1312]
media New Orleans, LA [504] AMBUSH Mag, Official Gay Easter Guide, Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide, Official Gay New Orleans Guide, Official Gulf South Guide, Official Southern Decadence Guide, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com AMBUSHonLINE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049, ambushonline.com, email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
models/escort New Orleans, LA [504] MIKEY NEW ORLEANS #1 MALE ESCORT Pics/Rates/Info @ www.rentboy.com/ mikey9nola1, 504.756.9443 [is511]
museum/arts Baton Rouge, LA [225] LOUISIANA ARTS AND SCIENCE CENTER / RIVERSIDE MUSEUM, 100 S. River Road, 344.5272 LOUISIANA GOVERNOR'S MANSION, 1001 Capitol Access Rd., 342.5855 LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES, 3851 Essen Ln. LOUISIANA STATE CAPITOL, State Capitol Dr. LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY HILLTOP ARBORETUM, 11855 Highland Rd., 767.6916 LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY RURAL LIFE MUSEUM, I-10 at Essen Lane, 765.2437 LSU MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE
and MUSEUM OF GEOSCIENCE, LSU Campus, 388.2855 MAGNOLIA MOUND PLANTATION, 2161 Nicholson Dr., 343.4955 OLD ARSENAL MUSEUM, State Capitol Complex, 342.0401 OLD BOGAN FIRE STATION, 427 Laurel St., 344.8558 OLD GOVERNOR'S MANSION, 502 North Blvd., 344.5272 OLD PENTAGON BARRACKS, State Capitol Dr. at River Road, 342.1866 OLD STATE CAPITOL, 100 North Blvd. at River Road, 342.0500 or 342.4479 USS KIDD/NAUTICAL HISTORICAL CENTER, Government St. at River Rd., 342.1942 New Orleans, LA [504] BEAUREGARD-KEYES HOUSE, 1113 Chartres, 523.7257, Mon-Sat 10am-3pm CABILDO, 701 Chartres, Jackson Square, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm CAC [Contemporary Arts Center], 900 Camp St., 528.3805, cacno.org EDGAR DEGAS HISTORIC HOME, 2306 Esplanade Avenue, tours by appointment: 504.821.5009, the house tour lasts one hour, is led by a great-grand-niece of Degas, and includes the award-winning documentary video, Degas in New Orleans: A Creole Sojourn 1850 HOUSE, 523 St. Ann, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm GALLIER HOUSE, 1132 Royal, 523.6722, Mon-Fri 10am-3:30pm GERMAINE WELLS MARDI GRAS MUSEUM, 2nd Floor Arnaud's, 819 Bienville HERMANN-GRIMA HISTORIC HOUSE, 820 St. Louis, 525.5661, Mon-Fri 10am-3:30pm HISTORICAL PHARMACY MUSEUM, 514 Chartres, 524.9077, Daily 10am-5:30pm HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION, 533 Royal, 523.4662, Tues-Sat 10am4:45pm LONGUE VUE HOUSE AND GARDENS, 7 Bamboo Rd, Metairie, 488.5488, Mon-Sat 10am-4:30pm, Sun 1-5pm MUSEE CONTI HISTORICAL WAX MUSEUM, 917 Conti, 525.2605, Daily 10am-5:30pm NATIONAL D-DAY MUSEUM, 945 Magazine, 527.6012 NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART, City Park, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, 488.2631, TuesSun 10am-5pm OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART, 925 Camp St., 539.9600 OLD U.S. MINT, 400 Esplanade, TuesSun 10am-5pm PRESBYTERE, 751 Chartres, Jackson Square, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL, Jackson Square, Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 1:30-5pm
music New Orleans [504] SKULLY'Z RECORDZ, 907 Bourbon St., 592.4666
organizations Mobile, AL ALABAMA PRIDE FEST, MobileAlabamaPride.COM AQUA, THE PARTY, PO Box 145, Mobile, AL 36601, TheAquaParty.COM BAY AREA INCLUSION, BayAreaInclusion.ORG FUSION, MobileFusion.ORG GULF COAST BEARS & LEATHER ASSOCIATION, b-bobs.com/gcbla.htm THE SOUTHERN RENEGADES, a Levi/ Leather Club, southernrenegades.com Pensacola, FL [850] APPETITE FOR LIFE, INC., provides 2 nutritionally balanced meals a day-lunch & dinner, for some 60 men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, 1842 West Cervantes St.; Mail: P.O. Box 308, 32592-0308; 470.9111, Fax: 470.0201, gaypensacola.com/appforlife GULF COAST TIDE, INC. w w w . G u l f C o a s t T I D E . o r g ; info@GulfCoastTIDE.org Alexandria, LA [318] CLASS [Central Louisiana AIDS Support Services], 103 Bolton Ave., 71301;
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1.800.444.7993, 442. 1 0 1 0, FAX: 443.5216 Baton Rouge, LA [225] AIDSLaw of Louisiana, 4560 North Boulevard, Suite 118, 302.5968, AIDSLAW.org HAART (HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two), 4550 North Blvd., #250, 927.1269, Fax: 927.7367, haartinc.org, haartinc@aol.com GBLSU [Gays, Bisexuals, Lesbians & Supporters United], glsapres@unixl.sncc. Isu.edu, Kristy Price, President, 388.5160 KREWE OF APOLLO / BATON ROUGE, PO Box 3591, 70821; kreweapollobr.org KREWE OF DIVAS, kreweofdivas.com, 343.0380 LAMBDA GROUP, 2937 Greenwood Dr., PO Box 82775, 70884-2775, 907.3665, www.lambdabr.org, info@lambdabr.org METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF BATON ROUGE, 7747 Tom Drive, 70806, Worship Sunday, 11am, Bible Study Wednesday, 7pm, 225.248.0404, mccbr.org PFLAG Baton Rouge, President Harold Truax, 225.218.8320 Lafayette, LA [337] ACADIANA CARES [Concern for AIDS Relief, Education, and Support], PO Box 386, Lafayette, LA 70502; 203 W. 3rd St., 70501; 233.2437, FAX: 235.4178; 800.354.2437 KREWE OF APOLLO / LAFAYETTE, PO Box 53251, 70505 LEAGUE FOR EQUALITY, PO Box 53425, 70505 PFLAG/LAFAYETTE, PO Box 31078, 70503 ROYAL ORDER OF UNICORN, PO Box 3985, 70502 Monroe, LA [318] GO CARE 2121 Justice, 71201, 325.1092 New Orleans, LA [504] ACLU and ACLU Foundation of Louisiana, P.O. Box 56157, New Orleans, LA 70156, 504.522.0628 x25, Fax: 888.537.0384, laaclu.org AIDS HOTLINE, 821.6050 in New Orleans, 1.800.99.AIDS[2437]-9 toll free statewide AIDSLaw of Louisiana, 3801 Canal St., Suite 331, 568.1631, AIDSLAW.org ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, 838.3399 BELLE REVE NEW ORLEANS, AIDS Residence for Families, PO Box 3305, 70177; 945.9455 BIG EASY M.C.C. (Metropolitan Community Church of Greater New Orleans), Sunday 12:15pm Solumn Mass, 5pm Praise & Worship, at St Matthew’s UCC, 1333 S. Carrollton Ave. at Willow. Fellowship after service. Mailing address: 1333 S. Carrolllton Ave. New Orleans, LA, 70118; 213.4340, w w w . b i g e a s y m c c . c o m , pastor@bigeasymcc.com BROTHERHOOD, INC., To decrease the spread of AIDS and HIV among African Americans, 1661 Canal St., Suite 3230, 70112; 566.7955 CHURCH OF CHRIST THE LIBERATOR, Sun. 11am Service, 607 Marigny St. (behind The Friendly Bar), ChristTheLiberator.ORG COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK, a project of the NO/AIDS Task Force which works with the gay community to implement HIV prevention activities, 507 Frenchmen St., 945.4000, noaidstaskforce.com COPS 8 (Citizens' Organization for Police Support in the 8th District), 840 N. Rampart St., #51, 70116; 588.COPS (2677), cops8.org FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 944.6028 FORUM FOR EQUALITY, 336 Lafayette, Suite 200, 70130; 947.2981, ForumForEquality.COM FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE MARDI GRAS (FNBMG), PO Box 791376, New Orleans, LA 70179-1376; 733.3311, fridaynightbeforemardigras.com, fnbmg@cox.net GAY APPRECIATION AWARDS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049; AmbushMag.COM/GAA GAY COUNSELING LINE, 833.1500 GLSEN [Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network], 482.4081, Fax 595.8587, Email: glsenno@hotmail.com, glsenno.org GULF GENDER ALLIANCE [GGA], NonProfit Support Group for Transgender persons. Monthly meetings, socials and political activ-
ism. Privacy respected and expected. Interview required. Nondiscriminatory. Call 504. 324.4035 or write PO Box 56836, New Orleans, LA 701566836; gga.org, E-mail: info@gga.org HALLOWEEN IN NEW ORLEANS, INC., PO Box 52171, 70152-2171; halloween neworleans.com/ambush HATE CRIMES HOTLINE, c/o Family Service of Greater New Orleans, 504.202.2131. The Hate Crimes Project offers to assist those who feel that they may have been a victim of a hate crime. The project provides advocacy for persons victimized due to race, religion, gender and gender identity, age, disability, and/or sexual orientation. IN THIS TOGETHER, HIV/AIDS Case Management, 2511 Bayou Road, Suite B, 70119; Office: 504.962.3245, Fax: 504.962.3246; 962.3245, www.inthistogetherinc.org, michael@ittnola.org KREWE OF ARMEINIUS, PO Box 56638, New Orleans, LA 70156-6638, cetubby@cox.net, KreweOfArmeinius.ORG KREWE OF AMON RA, PO Box 7033, Metairie, LA 70010, KreweOfAmonRa.COM KREWE OF MWINDO, PO Box 51031, 70156; 913.5791, KreweOfMwindo.ORG, krewe@kreweofmwindo.org KREWE OF PETRONIUS, PO Box 71665, 70172, Pres. Arthur Alarcon 451.9507, Capt. Bill McCarthy 430.6695, KreweOfPetronius.ORG KREWE OF QUEENATEENAS / KING CAKE QUEEN ROYALTY CLUB, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM/KCQ LaCARP [Louisiana Community AIDS Research Program], 584.1971 LA-LIFT, Social Club for Lesbians, age 50+, who have fun together on weekends. Email: armyvet20@webtv.net LAMBDA CENTER, 831 Elysian Fields Ave., 70117 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NEW ORLEANS, 234 Loyola, Suite 421, 70112; 581.9106 LESBIAN & GAY COMMUNITY CENTER OF NEW ORLEANS, 2114 Decatur St., 701162013; 945.1103, Fax 945.1102, Email: info@lgccno.net LORDS OF LEATHER, P.O. Box 770435, New Orleans, LA 70117-4035, LordsOfLeather.COM LOUISIANA STATE GAY RODEO ASSOCIATION (LSGRA), 915.3339, lance@lsgra.com, LSGRA.COM MCLNO HOP Clinic, 136 S. Roman Street, 4th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70112; Appts.: 504.903.6959, www.hopclinic.org MYSTIC KREWE OF SATYRICON, PO Box 15889, 70115-5889 MysticKreweOfSatyricon.COM NEW ORLEANS GAY MEN’S CHORUS, 322.7007, nogmc.com; nogmc@aol.com NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL, nojazzfest.com NO/AIDS TASK FORCE, 2601 Tulane Ave., Suite 500, 70119; 821.2601; NOAIDSTaskForce.COM N'R Peace, 3201 Gen. DeGaulle Dr., Suite 201, 70114, 364.1950 OFFICIAL GAY EASTER PARADE, 828A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, info@gayeasterparade.com, GayEasterParade.COM OFFICIAL GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM OFFICIAL GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM OFFICIAL SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM PEOPLE OF SUBSTANCE, INC. (POS), 7210 Arbor Dr., 70126, 244.1920, posnola.com PFLAG/NO [Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays/ New Orleans], PO Box 15515, 70175; 895.3936, 392.0001, pflagno.org, info@pflagno.org PRIDE NEW ORLEANS CELEBRATION: NOLA PRIDE, 2114 Decatur St., 945.1103, NOLAPride.ORG PROJECT LAZARUS, A Residence for
PWAs, PO Box 3906, 70177-3906; 949.3609 REGIONAL AIDS INTERFAITH NETWORK [RAIN], 523.3755 SOFTBALL LEAGUE SPRING SEASON BEGINS AFTER MARDI GRAS. Recruitment day for the NOLA Softball League is February 13, 2011. All skill levels welcome, including beginners. Visit nolasoftball.com for more information. THE COMMUNITY COALITION OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS LGBTQ Organizations & Businesses, tccgno.org, 569.9156 Until It Is OVER, Inc., Executive Director Don S. Evans, Sr., 5837 De Bore Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana 70126, Phone 504 722 1694, Fax 504 286 5784 VOLLEYBALL NEW ORLEANS, PO Box 13306, 70185-3306; volleyballneworleans.com, postmaster@volleyballneworleans.com WILLIAM J. FANNING FOUNDATION [Buzzy’s Boys & Girls], 2301 Chartres, 70117; 943.8929 Shreveport, LA [318] KREWE OF APOLLO/SHREVEPORT, PO Box 4918, 71134 PHILADELPHIA CENTER, PO Box 44454, 71134-4454; 222.6633 YWCA AIDS MINORITY COMMUNITY OUTREACH, 700 Pierre Ave., 71103; 226.8717
pets New Orleans, LA [504] CHI-WA-WA GA-GA, 511 Dumaine; 581.4242; chiwawagaga.com DR. MIKE'S ANIMAL HOUSE, 1120 N. Rampart, 523.4455 FRENCH QUARTER PET ASYLUM, 513 Dumaine St., 302.9845 FRENCH QUARTER VET, 922 Royal St., Office 322.7030, Cell 250.1175, DrScott@TheFrenchQuarterVet.COM
pharmacy New Orleans, LA [504] MUMFREY'S PHARMACY, 1021 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043, 504.279.6312
photography New Orleans, LA [504] GRAHAM/STUDIO ONE NEW ORLEANS, by appointment, grahamstudioone.com
plumbers New Orleans, LA [504] RAMSEY PLUMBING, repairs, repipe, sewer & drain cleaning, water heaters, disposals, 296.6865
real estate agents New Orleans, LA [504] FRENCH QUARTER REALTY, Agents: Gary R. Williams 251.2047, Sandy Preston 319.7500; Office 949.5400 PRUDENTIAL GARDNER REALTORS, Agent Brett A. Rector, Cell: 453.2277, Office: 891.6400, brettinla@aol.com WWW.GAYREALESTATE.COM Free Instant Access to New Orleans and the Nations Top Gay & Lesbian Realtors. On-line: www.GayRealEstate.com or Toll Free 1.888.420.MOVE (6683)
restaurants New Orleans, LA [504] 700 Club Restaurant, 700 Burgundy, 561.1095, 561.1098, 700ClubNewOrleans.COM Bywater Restaurant, Deli & BBQ,3162 Dauphine St., 944.4445 Cafe Amelie, 912 Royal St., 412.8965 Candy Bar, 908 Bourbon, 504.52.CANDY Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, CloverGrill.COM Cooyon's Cajun Cooking, New Orleans French Market, 1100 N. Peters St., 337.339.1131, CooyonsCajunCooking.COM Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742
Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts, CreoleCuisine.COM The Decadence Shoppe (coffehouse, bakery, cafe), 806 N. Rampart, 529.8874, DecadenceShoppeCafe.COM The Green Goddess, 307 Exchange Place Alley, 301.3347, GreenGoddessNOLA.COM Krystal, 116 Bourbon @ Canal, 523.4030 Little Vic's Gelateria, 1912 Magazine St., 309.8236 Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, 95 French Market Pl., 522.9500 Maximo's Italian Grill, 1117 Decatur St., 586.8883, MaximosGrill.COM Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746 Orleans Grapevine Wine & Bar Bistro, 720 Orleans, 523.1930 Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416, QuartermasterDeli.NET Sante Fe Restaurant &Tapas, 1327 St. Charles Ave., 304.9915 Who Dat Coffee Cafe, 2401 Burgundy St., 872.0360
retail/shopping Metairie, LA [504] SUZETTE'S, 3209 Edenborn Ave., 888.7722, Suzettes.COM New Orleans, LA [504] BOURBON-STRIP TEASE, 205 Bourbon St., 70130; 581.6633, bourbontease.com THE HERB IMPORT COMPANY, 711 St. Peter [French Quarter], 525.4372; 5055 Canal St. [Mid City], 488.4889, 712 Adams St. [Uptown], 861.4644, HerbImport.COM LA MINA STERLING, 840 Royal St., 324.3423, laminasterling@gmail.com PANDA BEAR, 415 Bourbon St., 529.8064 RAB DAB CLOTHING AND GIFTS, 918 Royal St., 525.6662 RAZZLE DAZZLE, the newest sensation in a very old place, 524 Royal St. 568.0001, RazzleDazzle.COM Slidell, LA [985] THE HERB IMPORT COMPANY, 1331 Englewood Dr., 643.8007, HerbImport.COM
spas New Orleans, LA [504] SPA ATLANTIS, 740 Gravier Street, 566.8088, SpaAlantis.NET CLUB NEW ORLEANS, 515 Toulouse, 581.2402, www.the-clubs.com FLEX NEW ORLEANS, 700 Baronne St., 598.FLEX [3539]
theatres New Orleans, LA [504] MAHALIA JACKSON THEATRE OF PERFORMING ARTS, 801 N. Rampart, Armstrong Park, mahaliajacksontheater.com, 525.1052 SOUTHERN REP THEATRE, Canal Place, 365 Canal St., 3rd Floor, 522.6545, SouthernRep.COM
websites CRESCENT CITY, CrescentCity.COM GAY AMERICA, GayAmerica.COM GAY BARS, GayBars.COM GAY PENSACOLA, GayPensacola.COM OFFICIAL GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayEasterParade.COM OFFICIAL GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM OFFICIAL GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM OFFICIAL SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM
Next Edition Pre-Easter
504.522.8049 marsha@ripandmarsha.com
28 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Mar c h 15-28, 2011 • Of fic ial Gay East er Parade Guide• GayEast erParade.COM
GayMardiGras.COM • GayNew Orleans.COM • Sout hernDec adenc e.COM • Marc h 15-28, 2011 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 29
under the gaydar by Tony Leggio Email: tonymgp@hotmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
Feel the Rush
M
ardi Gras is over but the rush parties for the numerous krewes have just begun. You have many choices available to you and each one has something different to offer their members. But most importantly I strongly urge people to join a krewe, you are keeping a tradition in the gay community alive. Gay carnival krewes have been entertaining people for fifty years and without the support of members, we cannot continue, so please think hard about joining an organization. Here are just a few of the rush parties. You probably guessed that the one I am more partial to is my own Mystic Krewe of Satyricon, who is having their rush party on Sunday, March 27 from 3 – 5pm. upstairs at Oz. There will be food and drink specials. To find out more information on the rush party, call 504.415.6476. Oz is located at 800 Bourbon Street. The Krewe of Amon-Ra is having their rush party in Sunday, March 20, from 2 – 5pm upstairs at Café Lafitte in Exile located at 901 Bourbon Street. The Krewe of Armenius is having their rush party on April 3 from 2 – 6pm at JohnPaul’s Bar located at 940 Elysian Fields.
Get Renewed The Mystic Krewe of Satyricon is presenting, as a benefit for the krewe, the opening night performance of Ricky Graham’s latest edition of his popular Renew Revue 2011 at Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., on Friday, March 18 at 8pm. This original cabaret show stars Ricky Graham and friends: Yvette Hargis, Amanda Zirkenbach and Matthew Mickal with musical director, Jefferson Turner. Every year since 2008 this very funny cast has taken a new look at New Orleans’ continuing Renewal. It’s a tongue in cheek send off on our favorite city and includes lots of original skits and songs. Tickets for this performance only are $30 and may be obtained by calling 504.525.4498.
New Krazy Cat on Bourbon Street
I
f you are missing the campy shop Alternatives that was on Bourbon Street, just doors down from Café Lafitte in Exile, then you are in luck because there is a new incarnation in its spot. Krazy Katz on Bourbon Street has everything for the freak in you. I just recently went in there over Mardi Gras and chatted with its owner
Philip who said they will are getting more exciting merchandise each day. There is something there for everyone’s taste or fun fetish. From great gifts for your friends and loved ones to those special private rewards you give yourself, they have just the right thing for you. And the owner Philip is just a doll. Definitely make it a point to check out this store. Krazy Kat is located at 909 Bourbon Street.
Book of the Month
J
ames Patterson’s favorite detective, Alex Cross, is back and involved in two simultaneous murder cases, as well as planning his wedding to his fiancé Bree Stone. This sets the scene for Cross Fire, Patterson’s latest outing featuring his widely popular character. Also coming back for this installment is Cross’ nemesis, the Mastermind Kyle Craig. Craig’s unrelenting determination to destroy Alex and his family is the catalyst of this suspenseful storyline. As he battles Craig, a serial killer is carving numbers in his victims around the DC area, while an elusive gunman is eliminating crooked insiders and politicians in a very public and efficient way. As with his other novels, Cross Fire is a fast and easy read, filled with page turning action and thrills. With each chapter, you are led up a very satisfying climax to the Cross/Craig showdown. I have always been a huge Patterson fan and this book is a worthy installment to the Cross franchise. He navigates the narrative effortlessly between the action of the murder cases and the personal life of Alex and his family. And at the end of this book, you are left with a tasty teaser for his newest case which will bring him and the Women’s Murder Club together. For more information on Cross Fire and other Patterson works, go to www.jamespatterson.com.
West Side Story Arrives in New Orleans
T
he tour of the current smash hit Broadway production of West Side Story will be in New Orleans for eight performances from Tuesday, March 15 – Sunday, March 20 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater. This Tony Award-winning Broadway show also has a special New Orleans connection. The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award-nominee Joey
McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life), who is originally from New Orleans. The new Broadway cast album of West Side Story won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway’s finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as “Something’s Coming,” “Tonight,” “America,” “I Feel Pretty” and “Somewhere.” I thought you may want to know a little history on the show and its journey to Broadway. Six years elapsed between Jerome Robbins’s first idea of a modern musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet and its actual Broadway debut in 1957. Originally, the action of the musical was to take place on New York’s Lower East Side with tensions flaring between Jews and Catholics during the Passover and Easter holidays. The original setting left the authors uninspired and the project was put on hold. Years later, when Arthur Laurents proposed changing the basis of conflict from religion to race, the show gained creative momentum and West Side Story was born. Originally directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, West Side Story opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on September 26, 1957 and garnered passionate reactions from critics and audiences alike. The piece has often been credited with changing the entire course of the American musical theatre. The original production starred Larry Kert as “Tony,” Carol Lawrence as “Maria,” Chita Rivera as “Anita,” and won six Tony Award nominations including Best Musical of 1957. Jerome Robbins won the Award for his ground breaking choreography and Oliver Smith took home the prize for Best Scenic Design. Also nominated were Carol Lawrence for Best Supporting Actress, Max Goberman for Best Musical Director and Irene Sharaff for Best Costume Design. West Side Story ran for 732 performances before launching national and international tours and a successful mounting at London’s Majesty Theatre in 1958. The first revival of the musical opened on April 8, 1964 at New York City Center by the New York City Center Light Opera Company. The production closed on May 3, 1964 after a limited engagement of 31 performances. The City Center production was staged by Gerald Freedman based on Robbins’ original concept. A Broadway revival opened at the Minskoff Theatre on February 14, 1980 directed and choreographed by Robbins with the assistance of Tom Abbott and Lee Becker Theodore. The revival was nominated for a 1980 Tony Award for Best Revival as well as nods for Debbie Allen as “Anita” and Josie de Guzman as “Maria.” The revival of West Side Story on
which this tour is based began previews at the Palace Theatre on Broadway February 23, 2009, opened to critical acclaim breaking box office records on Thursday, March 19, 2009, recouping its investment after running only 30 weeks. The musical played 27 previews and 748 regular performances, making it the longest-running production of the ground breaking musical in Broadway history. West Side Story is written by three theatrical luminaries: two-time Tony Award winner Arthur Laurents (book) and multiple Tony and Grammy Award winners Leonard Bernstein (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) in his Broadway debut. The performance schedule is Tuesday through Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm and Sunday at 2pm and 7:30pm. For more information on tickets, visit http:// www.mahaliajacksontheater.com or the Mahalia Jackson Box Office. Tickets are also available at all Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com or via phone at 800-982-2787 (ARTS). The Mahalia Jackson Theater is located in Armstrong Park at 801 N. Rampart Street.
Movie Review: My Dog Tulip
T
here are always movies that target a certain segment of the movie going audience and My Dog Tulip is the perfect example. You need to be in one of two categories to enjoy this movie. The first is a dog lover and the second is a J.R. Ackerly fan. If you do not fit in either of those two categories, I am afraid you may not like this movie much. Even though I fall in both groups, I found the movie enjoyable but still very mediocre. This animated movie features the voices of Christopher Plummer, the late Lynn Redgrave, and Isabella Rossellini. My Dog Tulip is a bittersweet retrospective account of author J. R. Ackerley’s 16-year relationship with his adopted Alsatian bitch, Tulip. The distinguished British man of letters, Ackerley hardly thought of himself as a dog lover when, well into middle age, he came to adopt Tulip – a beautiful, yet intolerable 18-month-old German shepherd. To his surprise, she turned out to be the love of his life, the “ideal friend” he had been searching for in vain for so many years. In vivid and sometimes startling detail, the film reveals Tulip’s sassy, often erratic behavior (and very canine tastes) and Ackerley’s fumbling but determined efforts to ensure an existence of perfect happiness for her. My Dog Tulip was written, directed and animated by award-winning filmmakers Paul and Sandra Fierlinger and is the first animated feature ever to [continued on 33]
30 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Mar c h 15-28, 2011 • Of fic ial Gay East er Parade Guide• GayEast erParade.COM
Krewe of Lords of Leather Bal Masque XXVIII ~ Circuit @ Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center ~ Chalmette, Louisiana
snap paparazzi
GayMardiGras.COM • GayNew Orleans.COM • Sout hernDec adenc e.COM • Marc h 15-28, 2011 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 31
ambush
Queenateenas Co-Captains Marsha & Rip flank King Cake Queen Rona Conners for 24th Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss
Sandy Sachs, Charles Robbins & Jennifer Coolidge @ Trevor Project Brunch fundraiser hosted by Bourbon Pub & Parade
papar azzi
47th Bourbon Street Awards Best Female Winner, Amon-Ra’s Rhonda Roget
KCQs XVII Opal, II Jay, XVIII Rona & XV Marsha @ Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss from Ambush Headquarters balcony
Rhonda Roget & KCQ XVIII Rona @ 24th Bead Toss
Ambush’s Tony with NO/AIDS staff members with Jonathan Silverman, Jennifer Coolidge & Reichen @ Trevor Project Brunch
Harrah’s Tara & Bump hottie from the film crew at 24th Bead Toss KCQ XVIII Rona Conners with make-up/hair stylist Nicole DuBois 47th Bourbon Street Awards Best Leather Winner, Lords of Leather’s Lance
Club LAX’s Toby, Tara & Richard @ Trevor Project Brunch
KCQ XIV Princesse Stephaney & Barbara Ella @ 24th Bead Toss
Robert & John @ 24th Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss
Bourbon Pub & Parade’s Sandy Sachs, Taylor Dayne & Susan Reyes @ Trevor Project Brunch
Gizelle, KCQ XVII Opal, KCQ XVI Tami & Deja @ 24th Bead Toss
Chris Brannon, Keith Thomas, Ambush’s Devin Black, Scott Horner & Warren English @ Trevor Project Brunch hosted by Bourbon Pub & Parade
47th Bourbon Street Awards Best of Show 2nd Place, Amon-Ra’s John Zeringue
Bourbon Street Awards MCs Bianca Del Rio & Blanche Debris
KCQ II Jay Loomis with daughter Theresa & partner Miranda @ 24th Bead Toss
32 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Mar c h 15-28, 2011 • Of fic ial Gay East er Parade Guide• GayEast erParade.COM
24th Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss, 47th Bourbon Street Awards, Trevor Project Brunch ~ New Orleans
47th Bourbon Street Awards Best Group Winners, Amon-Ra’s David & Jessica
Amon-Ra Capt. Barry Rutherford & Lords of Leather Capt. Gary Vandeventer @ 24th Bead Toss
under the gaydar ...from 30 be entirely hand drawn and painted utilizing paperless computer technology. That may be where much of my lack of excitement for this movie comes from. I found the animation to be lackluster and at times just plain amateurish. There were several funny scenes though, especially when he tried to mate Tulip. All in all, even with all its problems, I thoroughly appreciated the message of the unconditional love a dog has for its owner and vice versa, so I recommend you get yourself a medium bag of popcorn and check this movie out. For more information on My Dog Tulip, mydogtulipfilm.com.
Mardi Gras: The Finale
M
ardi Gras 2011, what a ride! I have to admit this was one of the craziest and most exciting Mardi Gras seasons for me to date. Let’s recap my wild adventures over the holiday. On Friday, February 25, it was my turn as the Captain of Satyricon to entertain the masses and I have to admit that this year’s ball was an incredible experience for me and the other members. The theme this year was When You Wish Upon A Star: The Mickey Ball in honor of Mickey Gil. The night began with the presentation of colors and the National Anthem sung wonderfully by Abbi Herschfeld. Then King and Queen Satyricon VII returned as Jazz Funeral and the Jazz Queen. Paul rocked his return with over a dozen dancers and Ty looked just lovely. Then it was my turn out as Fantasia 2011 and all the hard work was well worth every moment of it as I stepped on that stage and paid tribute to our past captain. Becky Allen and Ricky Graham added their usual local charm as the emcees for the evening and George Patterson paid a fitting tribute to his life partner Mickey Gil as he came out as a Mickey Medley. He was followed by several krewe members in old costumes worn by Mickey. All the costumes were inspired and each of the members did an excellent job presenting their theme. There was Prince of Persia, Cruella deVille, Tarzan and the Genie from Aladdin. Performances that night were done by Satyricon’s own Divas of Disney, which were Lisa Picone, Anais St. John and Dorian Rush, who did a show stopping rendition of “Holding out for a Hero” with the NOPD Fire Department. Other noteworthy costumes were Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Pirates of the Caribbean and Up. Adding comic relief to the night was Hoyle as Mary Poppins with her spoonful of cocaine and her oversized Valium bottle attached to her back. But Wedon’s Ursula costume took my breath away and he worked his glittered moving
tentacles on that runway like a catwalk model. There was a short film tribute to Mickey Gil done by Tim Wolfe and then we crowned the king and the queen. Coming out in some of the most amazing and bejeweled outfits I have ever seen before was Queen Satyricon IX Brian Peterson and King Satyricon IX Kent Roby, who just dazzled everyone in the audience. It was an absolutely magical night, congratulations to all my members and new royalty on a night to remember. The following night was a lovely special host soiree at the Bayou St. John home of Eric Hess for the Friday Night Before Mardi Gras. There was wonderful jazz music and free flowing libations as guests mixed and mingled before the big day the following week. Eric’s home set a striking setting for the night as the FNBMG group acknowledged the people who make it possible to put on this event. On Sunday, for the first time in a long time I enjoyed the 19th annual Barkus parade whose theme was a Broadway Tail. There were plenty of extraordinary costumes on man’s best friends. The crowds were huge this year and in high spirits. I spent the day with my friend Michelle who was in town from Washington DC for the weekend. After a day of fun in the sun we maneuvered our way to JohnPaul’s for an Oscar viewing party. The next week packed a hard punch but like a trooper, I kept on going. I went to an off the charts party at Contessa Breaux’s St. Charles mansion for the Muses parade. The catered fete also included a full bar and adding to the festivities was the cast and crew of Treme who was filming across the street. They joined us for all the revelries. And for the record, little Steve Zahn is just a tight little bundle of hotness. Thanks go out to Christie, Mel and Deb and Kelley for the shoes I caught during the parade. This has to be one of my top three favorite parades of the season. It was now the Friday Night Before Mardi Gras and the party that goes by the same name was once again the place to be. This costumed evening included music, dancing, food and cocktails all the while in one of the most elegant and unique venues in the city, the Audubon Tea Room at the Zoo. Extravaganza XII was themed Mardi Gras Gaga and there were plenty “girls” living up to the name. As you entered the Tea Room, you were greeted by my friend Nick, who looked exactly like Lady Gaga dressed in a replica of her outfit from the “Telephone” video. Once inside, guests were treated to a scrumptious fare along with a full bar and specialty cocktails provided by Perfect vodka. They even had on hand the “Perfect Boys” who were hot shirtless men in briefs passing around red and blue elixirs of magic. Well, after six of those, I was feeling the magic.
The costume contest that night was just downright pleasurable, with Bebe and her krewe winning the Best Costume category as the Disney villains. Every guest also received a complimentary photo to remember this celebratory night. The piece de resistance for the evening was the pulling of the raffle ticket for prime seats at the Lady Gaga concert coming to New Orleans in April. Five thousand tickets were sold to this raffle and even though I did not win, I know it went for a worthy cause. All the proceeds after expenses go to several different agencies in the city helping the gay community such as Belle Reve, NO/AIDS Tasks Force, the Gay Easter Parade, Lazarus House, and Forum For Equality. What a great evening for a wonderful cause! Please make sure you do not miss out on this party next year. For more information, go to www.thefridaynightbeforemardigras.com. Saturday was a nasty day and parades were postponed especially the super Krewe Endymoin which rolled the following day on Sunday, but the Extravaganza still went on as planned and it was a party for ten thousand people. My company, Mardi Gras Productions produces the décor and theme talent for the event and I have never seen the convention center look so good. The Superdome is under construction, so that was the reason for the move this year. Twelve foot chandeliers that changed color on cue were positioned strategically throughout the halls as the guests danced the night away to some of the best entertainment at a ball this year. The party really ignited when the
current hit “Hey Soul Sister” was the highlight of their act. It also did not hurt that their members were rock star hotties. God, you have to love a man in tight jeans who knows how to gyrate. We had a fantastic night with wonderful food, great company and the music from famous musicians that spanned my lifetime from early teen years to today. It was a late night for me, or early morning depending on how you look at it. We left the ball at 1am and I still managed to make it to the Armeinius After Party at JohnPaul’s. Armenius, one of the gay krewes in the city, held their ball that night also to record attending crowds. Their theme this year was the Hair ball and after seeing photos of it, the costumes were spectacular. Sunday crept up on me in the night so to speak and I got ready for the Lords of Leather Ball with the theme Circuit. Their event was held at the St. Bernard Civic Center in Chalmette and people were poised for one more night of royalty as the final gay carnival krewe of the season presented their tableau. The ball that night was dedicated to the memory of Lord King XXVII Alan Kelley who passed away earlier this year. After the opening ceremonies, the ball got under way with the return of Lord Consort XXVII, Tim Lott. Then there was a host of costumes each coinciding with a circuit party of merit both past and current. We experienced The Red Party, The Saint (NYC), The Black and Blue Festival (Montreal), the Blue Ball (Philadelphia.), The Fire Ball (Chicago), The Purple Party (Dallas), the Hustlaball (Berlin), Lazy Bear (The Russian River), The San Francisco Street Fairs, Gays
Neil Giraldo & Pat Benatar rock the house at the Endymion Extravaganza floats and the bands came in as planned to the sounds of dance music from the live local band on stage. After the parade, the headlining acts came on and they were amazing. The night started with Ms. Pat Benetar hitting us with her best shot. She sang all her hits and had the entire crowd revved up for dancing the night away. She was phenomenal and sang every one of her hits, and for 58, she is nothing short of brilliant. Next up was Train, whose
at Sea and Viva Las Vegas. Southern Decadence and Halloween New Orleans represented our city properly. The finale of the night was the crowning of Lord King and Lord Consort XXVIII Ben Bourgeois and Pat Johnson as the Black and White Parties. Congratulations on a great ball and an even more fun after party at JohnPaul’s. As many of you know I am heavily [continued on 35]
GayMardiGras.COM • GayNew Orleans.COM • Sout hernDec adenc e.COM • Marc h 15-28, 2011 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 33
ambush
papar azzi
Jeff, Michael & Nigel hail from Lafitte’s
Barry Bareass hosting Mardi Gras Wet Jockey Shorts Contest @ Corner Pocket
The Black Swans @ Friday Night Before Mardi Gras Extravaganza XII
Bar Baron Tom Wood & Lafitte’s DJ Jeff @ Cafe Lafitte in Exile
Dancer Dan on the bar @ The Corner Pocket Ed is a black swan with some hotties @ FNBMG Queen Amon-Ra XLVI Tami Tarmac performs @ FNBMG
Luke behind the bar @ Good Friends
Carl Mack & his dog @ Barkus
Friday Night Before Mardi Gras Costume Winners
Queen Satyricon IX Brian Peterson, Captain Tony Leggio & King Satyricon IX Kent Roby @ King’s Party @ JohnPaul’s
The 19th Barkus Parade
Troy & Joe taking in Bring Your Own Meat Night @ Rawhide
Jeff & Alan from Nashville host Capt. Gary’s tables @ Lords of Leather Ball
The Perfect Vodka hotties @ FNBMG
Tom Conners & Bob Boler off to the Fat Monday Luncheon
Rudy & Joe @ Barkus
Jorge & Gary @ FNBMG
Phoenix manager Clint & bartender Eric @ Lords of Leather Ball
34 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Mar c h 15-28, 2011 • Of fic ial Gay East er Parade Guide• GayEast erParade.COM
“They All Ask’d For You” ~ Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Friday Night Before Mardi Gras Extravaganza XII
country visiting the city for Mardi Gras. So much fun! involved in the hospitality community I came home early that night and and promoting the city. Over the Mardi crashed to prepare for the big day. I Gras weekend, Harrah’s Casino woke up on Mardi Gras morning and brought in Bump, a gay travel show bedecked myself in my Mickey Mouse from Logo to film and I aided by taking Costume sans the backpiece and them to some hot events around the headed out for 9am. I stopped at the city. The show is hosted by one of my lovely Laura Tennyson’s house for her favorite gay actors, Charlie David. They annual Mardi Gras brunch party. Each filmed the Lords of Leather Ball the year, her party is more lively and the previous night and that afternoon, we perfect way to start off Mardi Gras. Her filmed the Trevor Project Lundi Gras husband Gary, who is a chef, prepares luncheon at the Bourbon Pub hosted a spread fit for a king (or queen) made by owner Sandy Sachs. And does she up of salmon, lasagna, fried chicken, know how to throw a star studded gala. potato salad, Jennifer Coolidge, who I got to interbread pudding view in the last issue, was just lovely, as and much more. was Taylor Dayne. Also mingling with After laying a guests was Weekend At Bernie’s foundation in my Jonathan Silverman and Jennifer stomach to start Finnigan from ABC’s “Better With You” a long day of and everyone’s favorite Amazing Race drinking I was off winner Reichen Lehmkuhl. The brunch to Oz to help was delectable and there were about judge the Bour100 guests at this first annual event bon Street that is sure to grow in popularity. The Awards which director of the Trevor Project, Charles were as always Robbins, was on hand and gave an hysterical. inspirational speech about an eleven Blanche and year old gay boy who started his own Bianca outdid anti-bullying club in his school. The themselves this boy was from Louisiana and his mother year with this hiCharlie David, Princesse Stephaney, Tony Leggio & was at the luncheon, talk about an larious event. The Dan at the Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss at Ambush emotional moment when he called her costumes ranged Headquarters on Mardi Gras Day up to speak. from revealing The remainder of that Monday was and stunning to completely unplanned but turned into succulent dishes. In fact at one point I the outrageous and campy. After judgan absolute delight filled with Mardi felt like I was on the menu. It is so nice ing was done, I went over to the AmGras enjoyment and new friends. After to be considered new meat at this age. bush balcony for the Gay Mardi Gras the luncheon, I went over to the Am- Got to love those insatiably hot hirsute Bead Toss, in which King Cake Queen bush to hang out with Rip, Marsha and men. If you are a bear or bear friendly, XVIII Rona Conners kicked off the fesnew King Cake Queen XVIII Rona this is definitely the party for you to be tivities. Everyone was in attendance Conners for an impromptu bead toss. at next year. I met men from all over the including the camera crew from BUMP and my crush Charlie David, who is actually more incredible looking in person than he is on television. We threw more beads and saw more body parts to the point of exhaustion. As the day wore on, I was itching to Step into the Past on the Historic Homes Tour of get down in all the action, so I made my Mobile March 18 & 19 farewells and jumped into the thick of it he 2011 Mobile Historic Homes Tour will feature some of Mobile’s so to speak. I stopped in at Bill most gracious homes and outstanding sacred spaces. This year’s McCarthy’s house on St. Ann for a tour takes visitors down Mobile’s most distinguished and historic libation refill, and then I was off to the thoroughfare, Government Street. Lined with century old oak trees, walking or races. I made guest appearances at driving down Government Street in Mobile brings home the city’s rich and storied all the bars until I finally made it down history. Stops on the tour range from a spectacular 1925 Spanish Revival style to JohnPaul’s for their special Mardi residence to an excellent example of how more recent architecture can be Gras drag show. I alongside Princesse incorporated into historic districts. Stephaney emceed the show this Homes on the tour include a 1925 Spanish Revival masterpiece, 1861 ante- evening which was a great way to wind bellum classical Italian villa style mansion, Romanesque Revival Church, a 1901 down the day. The audience was very Neo-classical Revival mansion and six other architectural gems throughout receptive and ready to escape the Mobile’s significant historic districts. madness of the crowds for the craziA wonderful program of events throughout the weekend is also planned. ness of Eva Las Vegas. These events include lunch at the Richards DAR House, afternoon tea at two of After the show, I went back to the Mobile’s charming house museums, a walking tour of historic Magnolia Cem- house and contemplated on my entire etery, readings from the works of Tennessee Williams and Eugene Walters, and Mardi Gras season. What a wonderful presentations by noted Mobile historians Tom McGehee and Cartledge W. year this has been, and it just goes to Blackwell. Additional costs may apply for some events. Visitors should visit show that there is no greater city in the www.historicmobile.org/homestourevents.htm for full event information. world than New Orleans. Goodbye Fat Mobile Historic Homes Tour tickets are $17 in advance or $20 day of the tour. Tuesday and hello St. Patrick’s Day, For groups of 10 or more the cost is $15 per person. For more information, bring on the cabbage. consumers may visit the newly designed website www.historicmobile.org/ homestour.htm, pick up a brochure at any of the historic homes on the tour or Fort Conde Welcome Center or call 251.432.6161.
under the gaydar ...from 33
It was like getting a preview of coming attractions. I am all about gatherings with small intimate groups where you can get together and visit with each other. We ate, drank, talked and tossed a few beads. I even got to see a body part or two. After I started walking back to my humble abode in the Marigny when I got asked to drop by this incredible party called Bears, Beads and Bubbles at the Auld Sweet Olive Bed and Breakfast hosted by owners Dale and Dave. Talk about a great time with lots of flowing champagne and a multitude of
out & about in mobile
T
Tony’s Tidbits of Gay Wisdom
T
his next word is something that all people, especially gay ones should live by every day of their lives. But yet many people just simply ignore it, like it is some foreign concept that they are not accustomed to in their land of self absorbness. That word is gratitude. Let’s start with a given, if you woke up this morning, you should be grateful. Period, you could be dead, or worse yet one of Charlie Sheen’s children. Could you imagine having all that tiger blood coursing through your veins? Well, Charlie, kiss my ass, I’m a cougar with claws, let’s see how you measure up. Second, the fact that you live in such a magnificent city that tolerates your lifestyle is another one. I love it when I hear gay people bitch about New Orleans. Move! Last time I checked we had no border guards in Louisiana; you are free to go anywhere you like. Take your happy behind to any town America in any part of the country, with the exception of a few big cities, hold hands in the street and see what happens to you. Third, be thankful for every little thing life gives to you, because as you get older, you will find that it can all be taken away in the blink of an eye. There is nothing that makes a gay person shudder than to hear some queen (no matter what age) feeling entitled to something/anything because of who they are, who they know or who they have slept with. Really people if getting ahead was based on who you slept with, I would friggin own the world, or at least most of the Western Hemisphere. It does not work like that. I get having a healthy ego, trust! But this new entitlement complex that some people have is far from cute. If you have the ego, then you better have the talent to back it up. Recently, I gave some tickets to someone complimentary to my ball and they looked like I spit on them when they found out they were general admission tickets. I have 20 tickets at my table and over 1,400 friends, you do the math. Next year they can pay at the door. Whenever someone gives me something (especially free) whether it is a gift, a compliment or just a word to brighten my day, I am grateful. Humility is something that we all should practice, because crow never tastes good no matter how it is served. So when that cheap ass friend gives you a bottle of rat gut vodka for your birthday, just sigh, thank him and know that it will go to good use when you make him his screwdriver the next time he visits your house. What? I said be grateful, not Mother Theresa. If you would like your event mentioned in my article, or have something of interest, please email me at tonymgp@hotmail.com.
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36 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Mar c h 15-28, 2011 • Of fic ial Gay East er Parade Guide• GayEast erParade.COM