the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: ripna@ambushmag.com
Persana Shoulders, Princesse Stephaney & Coca J Mesa Chosen 2017 Southern Decadence Grand Marshals @ Oz SDGMs XLII Jeffrey Palmquist, Derek Penton-Robicheaux, Tony Leggio, and Felicia Phillips made it "official" on Thursday, May 18 when they announced the 43rd Southern Decadence Grand Marshals: Persana Shoulders, Princesse Stephaney and Coca J Mesa! The exciting 2017 SDGM Announcement Extravaganza was hosted at world famous Oz New Orleans, 800 Bourbon Street, and emceed by the reigning grand marshals. Last year's grand marshals brought to the stage an interesting array of current and past grand marshals for some memorable performances before the BIG announcement. Now the entire city is readying itself for the Official Press Party in June. Yes, Persana, Princesse and Coca will reveal the official theme, colors, song, charity(ies) and sponsors. It's going to be another historic year! Friends of The Golden Lantern (The Official Home of Southern Decadence) has already raised $2,500 for this year's festivities! The Southern Decadence XLVI (46) celebration of LGBT+ life, music and culture is Labor Day Weekend, Wednesday, Aug. 30-Monday, Sept. 4, 2017. For official information, visit www.SouthernDecadence.com.
Gear Up for a Giant Memorial Day Weekend May 26-29 in New Orleans, Metairie & Mobile Both New Orleans, Metairie and Mobile are gearing up for a giant Memorial Day Weekend blowout. The Sister Cities in the Gulf South are enticing visitors with an action packed weekend May 26-28. In New Orleans there are a multitude of events. The largest event is the 18th Annual MASCARa Run hosted by Wood Enterprises. There's the Dildo Derby Saturday at Good Friends Bar, the Crawfish Boil and Beer Bust on Sunday at Rawhide, and on Monday beginning at The Clover Grill and Cafe Lafitte in Exile, the eagerly anticipated MASCARa Run, all benefiting the NOCCA Institute. Since 2002, the race has raised over $126,153 for the institute. Contact Chris Ward at Wood Enterprises for more information 504.525.6724. The Corner Pocket affectionately known as "The Ballet", brings their annual South Seas Island Party with the hot "what's under the sarong" contest, and the world famous Corner Pocket Dancers. The Double Play brings you The Retro Review on Saturday, and the Celebration of Life for Frank Zolan on Sunday. The Home of Southern Decadence: The Golden Lantern has special shows all weekend with The Doll House Review on Friday, Divas R Us on Saturday, and Sunday Sister Jubilee on Sunday. GrandPre's, home of the original Watermelon Mojito, brings us Bayou Boylesque on Friday presented by Scorpio Boys, It's Showtime on Rampart Saturday, and Memorial Day BBQ on Monday. Dance Club of the Year Oz is your #1 stop on Bourbon Street for the dance crowd, and the hot "Men of Oz". Over at New Orleans premiere soul and r&b dance club, The Page, they boast the "best Jello Shots" in the French Quarter! Look for other hot spots in town with for the latest on the weekend. You can catch Jimmy James on Friday at Four Seasons Bar in Metairie. Hailing from New York and Los Angeles, Jimmy James is renowned for his LIVE vocal impressions Ranging from Barbra Streisand to Elvis Presley. His New show
Official Pride Guide out June 6 DEADLINE: May 30
inside commentary moments in gay n.o. history out front snap paparazzi celebrazzi 43rd sdgms mobile paparazzi
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Gulf South LGBT+ Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 828-A Bourbon St. • New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 • 504.522.8049 ripna@ambushmag.com
‘FASHIONISTA & his Legendary VOICES’ takes the audience on a vocal journey of uncanny contemporary and classic impressions. And over at Sister City Mobile, Alabama, B-Bob's is bringing in famous Regine Phillips for the weekend, while Flip Side Bar & Patio has those hot Alabama men and women!
"Broadway" Coming May 28 & 31 to Oz On Sunday, May 28 at 9:30 pm and Wednesday, May 31 at 10:30 pm, the Ladies of Oz present "BROADWAY!" Join the GAA Show Bar of the Year as they bring a brand new monthly theme edition of Show Night! The Ladies are taking you to the Great White Way with your favorite show tunes! The show is hosted by 6x GAA Cheridon Comedy Award winner Persana Shoulders and stars the award-winning Ladies of Oz: Lisa Beaumann, Coca J Mesa, Gia GiaVanni, ChiChi Rodriquez, Connie Hung, Anastacia Davenport, and Nicole Lynn Foxx. 13x GAA DJ of the Year Tim Pflueger, spins all night long. Stay tuned for new themes each month!
Clover Grill Features NEW Breakfast Burger This just in from Clover Grill Manger Errol Rizzutto: “The Clover Grill’s NEW featured Breakfast Burger is made with our 7 ounce hand made chuck beef patty cooked to juicy perfection. On the burger we put bacon, egg and a crispy hash brown layer and cheese is optional (I prefer the cheese) and it is dressed with lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and pickles. The Clover Grill Breakfast Burger is so good you will be licking your fingers!” (www.CloverGrill.com)
Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic Bartender Finals Set for June 7-11 KEY WEST, Florida Keys - Seventeen regional bartending champions are to converge on Key West Wednesday through Sunday, June 7-11, for the final rounds of the Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic, believed to be North America’s largest annual LGBT bartender competition. Now in its fourth year, the cocktail classic is presented in partnership with the Key West Business Guild and is a highlight of Key West Pride. The contest features regional winners from LGBT bars in 17 North American cities including Daniel Dean from Oz New Orleans, all competing to create an original Key West cocktail that reflects the island’s creativity and spirit. The first-prize mixologist is named honorary grand marshal of the 2017 Pride Parade and receives $12,500 for charity — $5,000 for a Key West charity and $7,500 for the winner’s home-
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Saints & Sinners Literary Festival Hall of Fame/2015, Louisiana Excellence Award: Media & Internet/2014, New Orleans Print Media Award/ 2014, 25th NO/AIDS Task Force Humanitas Award/2013, New Orleans Print Media Award/ 2013, Krewe of Mwindo Media Honoree/2009, Krewe of Petronius Carnival Spirit of Gay Mardi Gras XLVIII Award/2009, Forum For Equality Acclaim Awards X Media Recipient/2008, NO/AIDS Task Force Prometheus “Torch of Truth” [media] Award/2001 OFFICE/SHIPPING ADDRESS: 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 USA OFFICE HOURS: 10am-3pm Monday-Friday [Except Holidays] Email: ripna@ambushmag.com PHONE: 1.504.522.8049 ANNUAL READERSHIP OVER 1 MILLION: 260,000+ in print/780,000+ On-line CIRCULATION: Alabama-Mobile Florida - Pensacola Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Slidell Mississippi - Bay St. Louis, Biloxi
STAFF: PUBLISHER/EDITOR R. Rip Naquin, New Orleans PRODUCTION DIRECTOR M. Marsha Delain, New Orleans GULF SOUTH/NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Rip Naquin • 504.522.8049 THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Misti Gaiter, Tony Leggio, Hubert S Monkeys, Felicia Phillips, Frank Perez, Rev. Bill Terry-New Orleans MIss Cie-Mobile, AL National Advertising Rep: Rivendell Media 212.242.6863 Ambush Mag is published on alternate Tuesdays of each month by Ambush, Inc., R. Rip NaquinDelain, 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. ©1982-2017 AMBUSH, INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDINGAD LAYOUTS, MAPS and PHOTOS. AMgrant - AMbush Advertising Grant Donation
town charity of choice. Events are to begin with a Pride kick-off gala where cocktail fans can meet the Stoli contestants and judges. The all-welcome event is set for 5 pm Wednesday, June 7, at Key West’s acclaimed Island House, 1129 Fleming St. Two runoffs are scheduled Friday, June 9, each featuring multiple bartenders battling to advance to Saturday night’s final round. Spectators can watch them demonstrate their talent and creativity at 5 pm at the 801 Bar, 801 Duval [continued on 8]
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commentary Trump at Four Months by Frank Perez Four months into Trump’s presidency two things are clear. First, those who predicted, or at least hoped, Trump’s policies would not be as harsh as his campaign rhetoric were wrong. And second, Trump’s greatest campaign asset— his lack of political experience—has turned into his administration’s greatest weakness. Trump’s travel ban on Muslims, despite being ruled unconstitutional, proved that his bigoted campaign promises were not just empty rhetoric. Trumpcare, his proposal to replace Obamacare, is more horrific than his critics expected, so much so that Senate republicans assert the bill will be dead on arrival when it reaches their desks. And Trump’s appointment of Neil Gorsuch, a right-wing ultraconservative, to the Supreme Court has the homophobic religious-right jumping for joy. And those who hoped Trump’s policies affecting the LGBT+ community would not be that bad have been sorely disappointed. Consider: President Trump has revoked Obama-era guidelines on transgender use of bathrooms in public schools. Trump has cut government funding for HIV/ AIDS research. Trump has rescinded the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Order, issued by President Obama in 2014, effectively eliminating workplace protections for LGBT employees who work for companies that have contracts with the Federal government. Trump has also supported the notion of “religious freedom,” a euphemism for legalizing discrimination against LGBT+ people. However dangerous and harmful Trump’s policies are, his opponents may find comfort in the fact his administration is perhaps the most incompetent one in presidential history. During the campaign, Trump touted his lack of political experience and his status as an political outsider. While these claims certainly aided his campaign, his political naiveté has made him a laughing stock. Presidential historians, political junkies, journalists, and others have been constantly amazed and astounded at how inept the President is. The colossal failure of Trump’s first attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare is the most obvious illustration of how it’s amateur hour in Washington but there are many other examples: insulting the entire intelligence arm of the federal government, hanging up the phone on world leaders, naming Sean Spicer and Kelly Anne Conway as spokespeople, and naming wholly unqualified candidates to lead agencies they know nothing about and in many cases despise. But there is one thing Trump has proven adept at—NOT “draining the swamp.” While political observers and thinking people in general are stunned by Trump’s unorthodox manner of running the government, Wall Street insiders and corporate fat-cats are nothing short of delighted that he has offered absolutely no resistance to the GOP’s pro-business agenda. A deregulation bonanza is in full swing in Washington and corporate lobbyists are giddy with their newfound carte blanche powers. Economic equality and the nation’s welfare be damned; greed rules the day! Far from draining the swamp, Trump has added more mud, more snakes, and more alligators to the swamp. And as everyone who is not a wealthy, white, straight, Christian male sinks further into the muck, Trump and the Republican Congress continue to do what they are best at—enriching themselves.
the "official" dish ...from 7 St.; and at 7 pm at the Sidebar, 504 Angela St. Following the runoffs, contestants and cocktail fans can attend a 9 pm prefinals party at the Sidebar featuring the artistry of the Luna Storme Aerial Performers. Saturday’s final round is scheduled for 7 pm on an open-air stage in the 700 block of Duval Street in the heart of Key West’s LGBT entertainment district. Stoli USA’s national LGBT ambassador Patrik Gallineaux is to host, accompanied by “Real Housewives of Dallas” star LeeAnne Locken. A panel of celebrity judges is to rate the dueling bartenders. Judges include singer/actress and former “American Idol” finalist LaToya London and renowned Key West female impersonator Sushi.
Hit recording artist Kym Sims is scheduled to entertain the audience.
The festivities culminate in the Pride parade, led by the Stoli winner and slated to begin at 5 pm Sunday, June 11. The parade route proceeds up Duval Street from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. Following the parade, Pride participants can attend Stoli’s official afterparade party at La Te Da, 1125 Duval St., home of Key West’s popular Sunday Tea Dance.
LGBT+ Archives Project to Hold Its Annual Meeting on June 8 The LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana will hold its annual membership meeting at the Marigny Opera House on Thursday, June 8, from 7:00pm—9:00pm. Special guest speakers will include Bonnie Gabel and indee mitchell, Directors at Last Call: Queer Histories/ Queer Futures, and Mark Cave, Senior Curator and Oral Historian at the Historic New Orleans Collection. In addition to these keynote speakers, Officer and Board of Directors elections will also be held. Wine and refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public.
Pridelicious Pasta ThrowDOWN June 18 @ Double Play Grand Reveler III Rip Naquin, presents "A Pasta Contest" Sunday, June 18th 3 to 5 pm at The Double Play, 439 Dauphine St. in New Orleans. Entries must Include 2 ingredients: 1) pasta and 2) meat or seafood. Entry fee is $10 per entry/winner takes all! Winner also takes home championship trophy. It is $10 to Taste/Judge benefiting LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana.
Miss Gay New Orleans America June 28 @ Oz Oz New Orleans and Persana Shoulders proudly presents: Miss Gay New Orleans America 2017 on Wednesday, June 28 at 800 Bourbon Street. Celebrating 21 years of excellence as the oldest preliminary pageant in the Miss Gay Louisiana America pageantry system, it celebrates the the reigns of Miss Gay New Orleans America 2016 Arilyn Roberts, and Miss Gay Louisiana America Imani Nye Black. For more information on on MGNOA or to sign up please contact: persana@ozneworleans.com. Competition begins at 10 pm.
ACLU of Louisiana Sues Orleans District Attorney for Failure to Comply with Public Records Law The ACLU of Louisiana sued Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro for refusing to provide public records identifying the lawyers in his office who have issued or authorized false subpoenas, or documents that claim to be subpoenas but were not issued by a court. The suit seeks to compel the District Attorney to respond to an inquiry, sent on May 5, 2017, which requested documents sufficient to show the names and Louisiana bar numbers of those lawyers. In response to the letter, Cannizzaro’s office said that his office “does not maintain” those records, suggesting that it would require a review of documents stored off-site. “The District Attorney should know what his lawyers are doing, and he must be able to find out if he wants that information,” said Marjorie R. Esman, Executive Director of the ACLU of Louisiana, who sent the May 5 letter. “We didn’t ask for the fake subpoenas; we asked for the names of lawyers who had issued them. Surely the District Attorney can find out what his employees are doing with a simple search of e-mail and document servers, if not by asking them directly.” “The public has a right to know what its officials are doing in their name,” Esman continued. “If prosecutors are sending documents that are not what they purport to be, the public is entitled to know who those lawyers are. The public has been deceived, and some people have been intimidated by these tactics. We should be able to find out who did this.” The denial letter sent by Cannizzaro is similar to denials sent to The Lens and to the MacArthur Justice Center, organizations which requested related but different information. “Cannizzaro didn’t respond to the letter we sent,” said Esman. “He sent a stock denial referring to records that are not what we asked for. The law requires him to respond to the request we sent, not to simply deny it out of hand.” The lawsuit seeks to compel Cannizzaro to supply the information, as well as reimbursement for attorneys’ fees and costs. “This shouldn’t be necessary,” said Esman. “If the District Attorney won’t answer questions about his staff’s activities, he is violating public trust. What is he trying to hide?” The lawsuit, styled Esman v. Cannizzaro, was filed today in the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans. Representing Esman are Bruce Hamilton, Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Louisiana, and Ron Wilson, a longtime civil rights attorney.
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moments in gay new orleans history by Professor Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
Artist Frederick Guess Frederick Guess first visited New Orleans when he was fourteen and was immediately captivated by the city. Little did he know he would one day live in New Orleans and become one of the city’s premiere artists. Guess grew up in Florida and exhibited artistic talent at an early age, a talent his parents encouraged. His formal art training began at the University of South Florida. He received his Fine Arts degree from the American Academy of Art in Chicago, Illinois in 1975. He then returned to central Florida to study as the protégé of renowned artist Marilyn Bendell for three years. He then moved to Manhattan, where he worked as a portrait artist for five years. In 1997, Guess moved to New Orleans and opened the Frederick Guess Studio, which doubled as a retail space as well as a working studio, in the 900 block of Royal Street. It was one of the first art studio / galleries on lower Royal Street. Guess first lived in the French Quarter before moving to the Garden District. After ten years Uptown, Guess moved to Lafitte, a small fishing village about twenty five miles south of the city. Nestled in the coastal wetlands, he draws inspiration from the Cajun knack for joie de vivre and the environment’s serene waterways and picturesque settings. Recalling his career, Guess observes: “Life is a wonderful thing. The colors, movements, sounds and shapes that surround me inspire me. It doesn’t matter whether I am looking at French Quarter architecture or a pelican flying over the bayou or a pile of hot, boiled crawfish – they all move me.” “My career began as a portraitist – a reflection of how much I enjoy people. But as life changed, so did my work. I still do portraits, and still love painting them. There’s just so much else in the world that I have seen and experienced that is so incredibly important to me, I had to expand my subject matter to include as much as I could. And especially since first moving to New Orleans and now gaining familiarity with Louisiana, I’ve come to appreciate what a marvelous abundance exists all around us for our taking.” “To me, picking up a brush or palette knife is an act of communing. I take in what’s around me, let it become part of me, and let it out again. In that step of letting it out, when it takes form on canvas, I get to not only re-experience it, but also to share it with someone else and hope that they make it part of
their life. That’s when I feel that I’ve made a difference because my satisfaction doesn’t come from the taking in – it’s with the passing along.” Apart from painting, one Guess’s passions is Gay Carnival. He has been a member of Armeinius since 2007 and served as Co-Captain three times and President once. He reigned as Queen Armeinius XLV and Queen Petronius XLVIII. He has also been a member of Amon Ra since 2014. Guess’s work has been featured in a number of one-artist shows, including: Polk Public Museum - Polk County Florida 1976, Florida Southern College – Lakeland, Florida 1983, Beechwood Gallery - Tampa, Florida 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, Parkshore Gallery – Naples, Florida 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, Galerie Mihalis – Boca Raton, Florida 1992, Galerie Louisiane - New Orleans, Louisiana 1997, 1998, 1999, J. Proctor Gallery – Seaside, Florida 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, L2 Gallery – Seaside, Florida 2006. Guess’s professional honors include: Art Auction Catalog, Cover Artist, WYES PBS, New Orleans, Louisiana 2000; Opera Association of New Orleans, Honored Artist, New Orleans, Louisiana 2000; New Orleans Ballet Association, Harlequin Ball, Special Recognition, New Orleans, Louisiana 2001; Save Our Cemeteries, Invitation Cover, New Orleans, Louisiana 2003; Krewe of Cork, Poster, New Orleans, Louisiana 2004; WYES Showboat Auction, Featured Artist & Poster, New Orleans, Louisiana 2004; Greek Festival poster 2004; Tournament Players Club, Commemorative Painting at Opening, New Orleans, Louisiana 2005; Opera Association of New Orleans, Honored Artist, New Orleans, Louisiana 2007; Love In the Garden, Honored Artist, New Orleans Museum of Art, September 2007; Forever New Orleans, Travel Channel, Featured artist, TBA 2007; Smithsonian Magazine Culture Fest, Expert to lead Art Tour of Royal Street, October 2007; and Commemorative Portrait of Pope John Paul II for St. Louis Cathedral 2011. Guess is a generous artist and has donated paintings to a variety of charitable organizations as diversified as the Faulkner Society, Project Lazarus, Bravo – New Orleans Ballet Society, PBS, the Krewe of Petronius, the Krewe of Armeinius and Parkway Partners, to name only a few. In 2006, in the aftermath of Katrina and the levee failures that devastated so much of his beloved New Orleans, Guess pulled together a
out front John Deshotel Selected Honorary Grand Marshal of 2017 BR Pride The Baton Rouge Pride team has selected community leader John Deshotel to serve as the honorary grand marshal of the 2017 Baton Rouge pride festival on June 17 at the Raising Cane’s Baton Rouge River Center. Deshotel, who has served in leadership roles for the Krewe of Apollo Baton Rouge and the Baton Rouge Pride team for many years, was the overwhelming selection of this year’s Baton Rouge Pride team. “We couldn’t think of anyone better qualified to serve as the honorary grand marshal for the 11th annual celebration of the Baton Rouge Pride festival,” said Christopher Bradford, co-chairman of the Baton Rouge Pride festival organizing team. “John is much more than a great community leader. He’s a friend to almost everyone he meets and a tremendous asset to any organization he joins.” Deshotel joins a distinguished list of grand marshals of Baton Rouge Pride, which began recognizing community leaders as honorary grand marshals for the third year of its celebration in 2009. The former grand marshals include the late Richard Dykes, owner of George’s, in 2009; the late Larry Fremin, a founder of the Krewe of Apollo Baton Rouge, in 2010; James Chinn, also known as Trixxie LaRue, a longtime entertainer and activist, 2011; Daphne Mushatt, longtime entertainer and community supporter, 2012; Carol Frazier and Jody Huckaby, leaders of PFLAG locally and nationally, 2013; Cami Miller and Joe Traigle, early organizers and leaders of Capital City Alliance, 2014; Rev. Keith Mozingo, pastor of MCC of Baton Rouge and one of the founders of Baton Rouge John Deshotel with one of his creations for Pride, and Whitney Vann, TV 2015 Baton Rouge Pride personality and longtime community friend, 2015; and Kayla Mulford, president of Capital City Alliance and a diligent community activist, in 2016. A native a Baton Rouge, a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University, and a nurse by profession, one of Deshotel’s interests in his spare time is cake decorating. As a result, he has been responsible for the elaborate creations displayed for the blessing of relationships at BR Pride since 2011. “While everyone is in the midst of the hectic activity of getting ready for BR Pride every year, John is doing his part for the Pride team, working his regular job, and staying up nights and weekends to produce those huge cakes,” said Tom Merrill, chairman of Baton Rouge Pride Inc. “He’s just an amazing person!” Deshotel has served eight years on the BR Pride team, most of those as its vice chairman. In addition, his involvement in the Krewe of Apollo Baton Rouge also includes an impressive record of leadership – serving two terms as its president, twice as its bal masque captain, its king in 2012-13, and multiple times as a board member, officer or bal lieutenant. He also has been recognized with a variety of honors including being named the 2016 recipient of “The One Award” from Pride 1 for his “outstanding accomplishments and commitments to better the lives of the Baton Rouge LGBT community.” He also has been inducted into the Apollo Hall of Fame, recognized twice by other Apollo president’s with the Hal S. Philips Jr. Memorial President’s Award for service to the Krewe of Apollo Baton Rouge; awarded the Apollo Truman May Memorial Captain’s Award twice, and honored with Apollo’s Founder’s Brotherhood Award. The Baton Rouge Pride festival is the largest indoor family friendly GLBTQ pride celebration in the South. group of friends to organize a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity’s Musicians’ Village. That event alone raised over twenty-three thousand dollars.
To learn more about this year’s Baton Rouge Pride festival from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at the Baton Rouge River Center Arena, visit www.BRPride.org or follow Baton Rouge Pride on Facebook at Facebook.com/BRPride.
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Oz (Photos by Dwain Hertz)
GrandPre's
Cafe Lafitte in Exile
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celebrazzi
It's official! Persana Shoulders, Princesse Stephaney, and Coca J Mesa will reign as the 43rd Southern Decadence Grand Marshals. Jeffrey Palmquist, Derek Penton-Robicheaux, Tony Leggio, and Felicia Phillips announced their successors May 18 at the exciting 2017 SDGM Announcement Extravaganza hosted at world famous Oz New Orleans. The Southern Decadence XLVI (46) celebration of LGBT+ life, music and culture is Labor Day Weekend, Wednesday, Aug. 30-Monday, Sept. 4, 2017. For official information, visit www.SouthernDecadence.com. Friends of The Golden Lantern (The Official Home of Southern Decadence) has already raised $2,500 for this year's festivities!
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mobile paparazzi Happy Birthday Miss Cie & LeRoy in New Orleans & Mobile, RuPaul's Trinity K. Bonet @ B-Bob's, Mobile Gay Pride, Venus & Company, The Midtown Pub
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A-List Party: Amon-Ra & Armeinius @ The Balcony Bar (Photos by Darwin Reed)
Sinful Sister Sunday Social (Photos by Darwin Reed)
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ambush paparazzi Friday Night Before Mardi Gras presents Charity Checks @ 700 Club, Zoo To Do, Project Laraus Guardian Awards, Miss Cie & Bradley Latham's B-Day, Celebration of Life for Eva Las Vegas @ The Golden Latern, Stars @ Four Seasons in Metairie (Photos by Misti Gaither, Tony Leggio)
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bookstores New Orleans, LA [504] FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700
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Aug. 30-Sept. 4, 2017, 46th Official Southern Decadence Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture, end of Summer Blowout including the Southern Decadence Parade & loads of activities, bringing over 180,000 revelers to New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush & SouthernDecadence.com Oct. 20-22, 2017 Halloween 34, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, HalloweenNewOrleans.com Dec. 29, 2017-Jan. 1, 2018 Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.com Feb. 9-13, 2018, 69th Official Gay Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush, GayMardiGras.com Easter Sunday, April 11, 2018, 19th Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade.com
costumes New Orleans, LA [504] QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633
galleries New Orleans, LA [504] CASSELL-BERGEN GALLERY, 1305 Decatur St., cassellbergengallery.com, 504.524.0671
guides AMBUSH Mag, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; marsha@ripandmarsha.com
groceries/delis New Orleans, LA [504] QUARTERMASTER DELI, THE NELLIE DELI, 1100 Bourbon, 529.1416
bars Mobile, AL [251] B-Bob's Downtown, 213 Conti St., 433.2262, B-Bobs.COM Flip Side Bar & Patio, 54 S. Conception St., 431.8819, FlipSideBarPatio.COM GABRIEL'S DOWNTOWN, 55 South Joachim St., 432.4900 THE MIDTOWN PUB, 153 Florida St., 450.1555 Pensacola, FL [850] THE ROUNDUP, 560 East Heinberg St., 433.8482 Baton Rouge, LA [225] GEORGE'S, 860 St. Louis, 387.9798, SPLASH, 2183 Highland Rd., 242.9491, SplashBR.COM Lake Charles, LA [337] CRYSTAL'S, 112 W. Broad, 433.5457 Metairie, LA [504] FOUR SEASONS & PATIO STAGE BAR, 3229 N. Causeway, 832.0659, FourSeasonsBar.com New Orleans, LA [504] 700 CLUB, 700 Burgundy, 561.1095, BIG DADDY'S, 2513 Royal, 948.6288 BIG EASY DAIQUIRIS, 216 Bourbon, 501 Bourbon, 409 Decatur, 617 Decatur
THE BLACK PENNY, 700 N. Rampart BOURBON PUB & PARADE, 801 Bourbon St., 529.2107, BourbonPub.COM CAFÉ LAFITTE IN EXILE, 901 Bourbon Street 522.8397, Lafittes.COM CORNER POCKET, 940 St. Louis, 568.9829, CornerPocket.NET COUNTRY CLUB, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 CUTTER'S, 706 Franklin, 948.4200 THE DOUBLE PLAY, 439 Dauphine, 523.4517 THE FRIENDLY BAR, 2301 Chartres, 943.8929 GOLDEN LANTERN, 1239 Royal, 529.2860, Facebook.COM/GoldenLanternBar GOOD FRIENDS BAR, 740 Dauphine St, 566.7191, GoodFriendsBar.COM GRANDPRE'S, 834 N. Rampart St., 267.3615, Facebook.com/grandpres KAJUN'S PUB, 2256 St. Claude Ave., 947.3735, KajunPub.COM MAG'S 940, 940 Elysian Fields Ave., 948.1888 OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, 593.9491, OzNewOrleans. COM THE PAGE, 542 N. Rampart St., 875.4976 PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264, www.phoenixbarnola.com RAWHIDE 2010, 740 Burgundy St., 525.8106, Rawhide2010.COM
hair salons New Orleans, LA [504] Two Guys Cutting Hair, 2372 St. Claude Ave., Suite 125, appointments: Adikus 215.519.5030, Trent 504.239.2397
hardware New Orleans, LA [504] MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER HARDWARE, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465
accommodations New Orleans [504] AARON INGRAM HAUS, 1012 Elysian Fields, New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: 504.949.3110, www.ingramhaus.com/xqey, e-mail us at ingramhaus@yahoo.com. Condos with queen-size 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. [0118] BLUES60 GUEST HOUSE, 1008 Elysian Fields Ave. New Orleans, LA 70117, Phone: 1.504.324.4311, www.blues60guesthouse.com, info@blues60guesthouse.com. The Blue60 Guest House with 5 suites provides a peaceful retreat in the center of the Faubourg Marigny, just blocks
from the French Quarter and Frenchman St. [1115] 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, www.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 "halfkitchen", 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. [0815] THE FRENCH QUARTER GUEST HOUSES, 1005 St. Peter, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone: 1.800.367.5858, FrenchQuarterGuestHouses.com, email: Info@frenchquarterguesthouses.com. Four meticulously restored boutique inns located in the heart of the French Quarter's most popular LGBT neighborhood. Each building's individual character and charm provides an unforgettable authentic French Quarter experience!
media New Orleans, LA [504] AMBUSH Mag, Official Gay Easter Parade Guide, Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide, Official Gay New Orleans Guide, Official Gulf South Guide, Official Pride Guide, Official Southern Decadence Guide, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; email: ripna@ambushmag.com AMBUSHonLINE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049, ambushonline.com, email: ripna@ambushmag.com
organizations FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 504.821.2601 ext. 254 FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE MARDI GRAS (FNBMG), 504.319.8261, www.fridaynightbeforemardigras.com GAY APPRECIATION AWARDS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049; AmbushMag.COM/GAA GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, info@gayeasterparade.com, GayEasterParade.COM GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM HAART (HIV/AIDS Alliance Region Two, Inc.), 4550 North Blvd. Ste. 250, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, 225.927.1269, www.haartinc.org, offers a complete continuum of care to people living with HIV/AIDS including housing, primary care, medications, case management, and an array of supportive services. In addition HAART provides HIV prevention education and FREE testing to the Baton Rouge area. HALLOWEEN IN NEW ORLEANS, INC., PO Box 52171, 70152-2171; halloween neworleans.com/ambush KREWE OF AMON-RA, PO Box 7033, Metairie, LA 70010, KreweOfAmonRa.COM KREWE OF ARMEINIUS, PO Box 56638, New Orleans, LA 70156-6638, kreweofarmeinius.org KREWE OF MWINDO, PO Box 51031, 70156; 913.5791, KreweOfMwindo.ORG, krewe@kreweofmwindo.org KREWE OF NARCISSUS, PO Box 3832, New Orleans, LA 70177. Contact: 504.228.9441 KREWE OF PETRONIUS, PO Box 1102, Kenner, LA. 70063-1102, www.kreweofpetroius.net KREWE OF QUEENATEENAS / KING CAKE QUEEN ROYALTY CLUB, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM/KCQ LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, 1308 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.475.7911, www.lgbtarchivesla.org LORDS OF LEATHER, 1631 Elysian Fields, #161, 70117, www.lordsofleather.org
26 • The Of g©: Amb ushMa g.com • Ma y 23-J une 5, 2017 • Of .or g • Souther nDecadence .com Offficial Ma Mag©: AmbushMa ushMag May 23-June Offficial Pride Guide since 1985 • NOLAPride NOLAPride.or .org SouthernDecadence nDecadence.com
MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER KITCHEN & BATH, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465 QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633 XXXSHOP, 1835 N. Rampart St., 504.232.3063
services New Orleans, LA [504] Formal Connection, 299 Belle Terre Blvd. LaPlace, LA, 985.652.1195
MYSTIC KREWE OF SATYRICON, 2443 Halsey Ave., New Orleans, LA 70114, 504.906.7990 Todd J. Blauvelt / Secretary, krewe.of.satyricon@gmail.com, MysticKreweOfSatyricon.COM NO/AIDS TASK FORCE, 2601 Tulane Ave., Suite 500, 70119; 504.821.2601; NOAIDSTaskForce.COM PRIDE, NOLAPride.ORG RENEGADE BEARS OF LOUISIANA, PO Box 3083, New Orleans, LA 70177; renegadebearsoflouisiana@gmail.com SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM ST. ANNA'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1313 Esplanade Avenue New Orleans, LA 70116 947.2121, stannanola.org
pharmacy Mumfrey's Pharmacy, 1021 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043, 504.279.6312, www.MumfreysPharmacy.COM. Supporting & serving the LGBT Community for over 20 years. Local pharmacy offering personalized family-like service, automatic refills & free metro wide confidential pickup & delivery. Also offering shipping for out-side our delivery area. When you call us you speak to a person, not a machine. See our ad.
819 Rue Conti, 581.3866, http://broussards.com Cafe Sbisa, 1011 Decatur St., 522.5565, www.cafesbisanola.com Cheezy Cajun, 3325 St. Claude Ave., 265.0045, www.TheCheezyCajun.com Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, www.CloverGrill.com Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., www.TheCountryClubNewOrleans.com, 945.0742 Gene's Po-Boys & Daquiris, 1040 Elysian Fields Ave., 943.3861,
theatres New Orleans, LA [504] CAFE ISTANBUL, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #140, 504.974.0786, CafeIstanbulNOLA.COM
tours New Orleans, LA [504] Gay New Orleans Walking Tour, Crescent City Tour Booking Agency, (LGBT Business of the Year) 638 St. Ann St., 568.0717. follow Gay New Orleans Walking Tour @ Facebook.COM
REAL ESTATE
www.genespoboys.com Ilys Bistro, 1040 Elysian Fields Ave., 947.8341, www.Facebook.com/ILYSBistro Kingfish Kitchen & Cocktails, 337 Chartres St. 598.5005, www.KinfishNewOrleans.com Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746 Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro, 720 Orleans, 523.1930, www.OrleansGrapevine.com Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416, www.QuartermasterDeli.net
Royal House Oyster Bar, 441 Royal St., 528.2601, www.RoyalHouseRestaurant.com
photography
real estate
New Orleans, LA [504] GRAHAM/STUDIO ONE NEW ORLEANS, by appointment, grahamstudioone.com
restaurants
New Orleans, LA [504] Latter & Blum, Steven Richards Realtor, 504.258.1800, SteveRichardsProperties.com New Orleans Relocation, Realtors — gayowned boutique real estate agency for locals and newcomers. 504.273.0088 www.NOLArelo.com
Metairie, LA [504] Chef Ron's Gumbo Stop & Pub, 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., 835.2022, GumboStop.com New Orleans, LA [504] The Bombay Club, 830 Rue Conti, 577.2237, www.bombayclubneworleans.com Broussard’s Restaurant & Courtyard,
New Orleans, LA [504] BOURBON PRIDE, 909 Bourbon, 566.1570 COK (Clothing or Kinkl), 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264
retail/shopping
1224 Piety Street, NOLA $189,000 Just renovated Bywater historic home on a deep lot. Features include real hardwood floors, new stainless appliances, tall ceilings & new HVAC. Call/Text Mark @ 504.655.2233.
Official Pride Guide DEADLINE:
Tues., May 30 504.522.8049
GayMardiGras.com • GayEasterParade.com • May 23-June 5, 2017 • Facebook.com/AmbushMag • The Official Mag©: AmbushMag.com • 27
under the gaydar by Tony Leggio Email: ledgemgp@gmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham
Hot Happenings Summer is officially beginning with the Memorial Day weekend in NOLA. There will be plenty of hot happenings (literally) to keep your summer busy. Here are just some ideas. Wednesday, May 24, 2017 The Maison Dupuy Hotel (1001 Toulouse Street) hosts Sippin’ in the Courtyard from 5 – 8 p.m. This month’s benefactor is the S.P.C.A. Come and enjoy live entertainment, small plates, and drinks to benefit the kittens and puppies of NOLA. Friday, May 26, 2017 Join the Krewe of Armienius for a military themed drag show and fundraiser entitled PERMISSION TO SHOOT, SIR. This benefit for the Krewe takes place at the Three Palms Bar and Grill (3813 Tulane Avenue) from 7 – 11 p.m. Hosted by Natasaha Sinclair, this drag show will feature some creatively patriotic performances. Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27, 2017 Join The BIG EASY SISTERS for a 2 night event at the Phoenix (940 Elysian Fields Ave). Friday is a $10 Beer Bust from 9 p.m. to midnight and Saturday is BINGO! Starting at 8 p.m. All money raised at these events will be donated to CAGNO & BORN THIS WAY FOUNDATION in memory of Sister Cathi Terr. Friday, May 26, 2017 NOBODY DOES IT LIKE JIMMY JAMES! And the Four seasons has him performing with doors opening at 9 p.m. Hailing from New York and Los Angeles, JIMMY JAMES is renowned for his LIVE Vocal Impressions Ranging from Barbra Streisand to Elvis Presley. His New show ‘FASHIONISTA & his Legendary VOICES’ Takes the audience on a vocal journey of uncanny contemporary and classic impressions like: ADELE, CHER, STEVIE NICKS, BILLIE HOLIDAY, LANA DEL RAY, JUDY GARLAND, LIZA MINNELLI, PATSY CLINE, BETTE DAVIS, DIANA ROSS & LIONEL RICHIE, EARTHA KITT, MAE WEST, KAREN CARPENTER and so many more. Regular and VIP tickets are available. For more information, check out the Jimmy James LIVE AT THE FOUR Facebook page. Monday, May 29, 2017 The “WACKIEST RACE” you will ever see on Bourbon Street (and that’s saying something) will be the MASCARA RUN! This event is to be held on Memorial Day at 1 p.m. to benefit the
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) Foundation. This foundation assists all students who need help with tuition and supplies. It also helps with each production NOCCA puts on. Guests will race around the Quarter going from gay bar to gay bar getting a piece of drag wear put on them at each “pit” stop by their appropriate “pit” Krewe. From nails and makeup to heels and wig, you need to witness the hilarious event. To make things even more exciting, at each stop there is a challenge for the contestant. For more information on running please email clovergrill@woodenterprises.com. Friday, June 2, 2017 NOLA PAH invites you all to let your geek flag fly at their Sci Fi themed June beer bust! Whether you hail from the Klingon Empire or a small hut on Alderaan (sorry for your loss); trading Spice or even just bouncing around in your T.A.R.D.I.S., you are welcome to join the fun which is from 9 p.m. – midnight at the Phoenix (941 Elysian Fields). $10 all you care to drink draft beer, and $1 Jell-O shots will be the specials. Sunday, June 4, 2017 Come out an enjoy an afternoon of PURE FUN with a star studded cast at the 1st Annual Belle Reve Circus Show at the Four Seasons Bar (3229 N. Causeway Blvd). There will be many Stage and Screen Characters, Including Johnny Passion as the Barker, Cozy the Clown, Chatty The Mime, Fire Cat, Special Tiger Displays and Special VIP Auction Items! The evening begins at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 6 – Sunday, June 11, 2017 Get your Abba freak on at the Saenger Theatre (1111 Canal Street). Over 54 million people all around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story and the music that make MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feel-good show! Writer Catherine Johnson’s sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, and every night everyone’s having the time of their lives! For tickets, go online at BroadwayInNewOrleans.com or by calling (800) 218-7469, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and
5 p.m. CST. Friday, June 9 – Sunday, June 11, 2017 Now, more than ever, it is time to stand up and have your voice heard in the community! New Orleans Pride Weekend will host more than 20 parties and events geared towards all ages and walks of life. For more information on Pride and the events, go to NewOrleansPrideFestival.com.
Bartender of the Month My bartender for the month of May is my epitome of the modern bartender. He meshes charisma, professionalism and great mixology skills to create the perfect cocktail behind the bar. He is none other than Billy Thomas from Lafitte’s in Exile. Billy has a sexy hipster swagger about him that makes him a favorite for locals and tourists. You can normally find him working the upstairs bar creating delicious and potent cocktails, and he even puts his own twists on the classics. He makes a mean grapefruit martini. With an
May Bartender of the Month Billy Thomas @ The Balcony Bar award winning smile, perfectly coiffed beard, and killer skills behind the bar, Billy handles the crowds easily. One of his true assets is his ability to remember faces (and drinks) of his patrons. Definitely go by Lafitte’s and grab a libation from Billy. Lafitte’s is located at 901 Bourbon Street.
Party Down I love festival season, it is always such a busy time in the city and this year was no different. My two weeks were filled with festivals, fundraisers, theatrical offerings (both local and national) and just a little bit of cocktailing. I began on Wednesday with the first of three of three theatrical experiences I had. I attended Tartuffe at the brand new Valiant theatre in Arabi. If you have not had a chance to check out this great space go. It is located only ten minutes from NOLA with a fabulous full bar, spacious theatre and lots of parking.
Tartuffe is a classic comedic play first performed in 1664 (cool, right). But you definitely have to be in the mindset to watch it and takes place on Fire Island which I have no clue why, except maybe their costume budget was not big. The show was good but the actors were amazing having to remember the dialogue (all that rhyming). I am looking forward to more fun shows in this new space. I started the fun-filled weekend at one of my favorite events of the year – Zoo To Do at the Audubon Zoo. This year did not disappoint, although the band could have been a little better. This fundraiser is an incredible evening meandering through the zoo trying delicacies form the city’s finest restaurant and enjoying copious amounts of libations. The Page even had a bar at the event. The gay community definitely came out in force this evening. It was a beautiful night for this noteworthy black tie event. Saturday was my day to play at Jazz Fest. God, I love everything about Jazz fest; the music, food and even the crowds. My favorite part is shopping for great art at all the three craft areas (Louisiana, Congo Square and Contemporary). My friend, Beaux, Barrett, Matt and I played all day and enjoyed the festival form the moment the doors opened to late in the evening. It felt like we closed it down. We also got to spend a lot of time in the Miller tent which is always a relaxing area. My favorites this year was the lovely Amanda Shaw and Stevie Wonder. Sunday was the second theatre offering when I went to see Bye Bye Birdie at Rivertown. It was a very lighthearted play with a young cast filled with lots of exuberance. The sets and performers were great, although you can tell the play is very dated. By for a frivolous and flighty way to spend an afternoon, it was ideal. Tuesday, I let me inner child free when I attended the premier of Finding Neverland at the Saenger Theatre. This magical musical is the story of how Peter Pan came to life. Finding Neverland is an original musical with music and lyrics by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy and a book by James Graham. Inspired by the 1998 play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee and his 2004 adaptation Finding Neverland, the musical made its world premiere in 2012, with the reworked version making its world premiere in 2014 at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Following completion of its Cambridge run, the production transferred to Broadway in March 2015. After 17 months on Broadway, the production of Finding Neverland closed on August 21, 2016, and began a US national tour in October 2016. The play was excellent with a stellar cast, lively musical numbers and a cool set. Loved this show! The entire weekend was all about them fundraisers starting on Friday with The Project Lazarus Annual Guardian Angel Award Gala at the trendy Ace
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28 • The Of g©: Amb ushMa g.com • Ma y 23-J une 5, 2017 • Of .or g • Souther nDecadence .com Offficial Ma Mag©: AmbushMa ushMag May 23-June Offficial Pride Guide since 1985 • NOLAPride NOLAPride.or .org SouthernDecadence nDecadence.com
under the gaydar ... from 28 Hotel. This event is the opportunity to celebrate the contributions of Project Lazarus’ most incredible friends and supporters. This year Vincent Saia, Jr., and Bruce Gallassero were honored. Bryan Batt hosted the festivities for the evening that included a cocktail hour, seated three-course dinner, silent and live auctions and unlimited cocktails. All proceeds of the evening benefited their mission of housing and supporting people living with HIV/AIDS in New Orleans. The night was pretty much a veritable who’s who in the gay community. I was able to mix and mingle with old friends and make new ones. Both honorees have done so much for the cause over the year, it was heartwarming to see the videos that was made for each recipient. It was a fun night at a very cool place. Then afterwards, we continued the festivities by going for after cocktails at the new champagne bar on Rampart called Effervescence. If you have not been there yet, go! It is a great vibe in a historic New Orleans redone mansion with decent prices. We only had a few nosh style nibbles which were fantastic also. On Saturday was two events, the first was the Friday Night Before Mardi Gras hosted a little gathering at the 700 Club to hand out the funds they raised for charities from their Mardi Gras Ball. Monies were given out to Breakout, NOAGE, Food for Friends, NO/AIDS Task Force and the Gay Easter Parade. They also announced the theme for next year with a rousing drag number by Princesse Stephany looking like BarbaraElla (the Jane Fonda character, not Chris Arthur’s alter ego) which is 2018: a Space Oddity. Can you imagine the costumes? Congrats to this wonderful organization for all they do for the community. The second event was a joint social between the Krewes of Amon Ra and Armienius called the A List Party upstairs at Lafitte’s in Exile. Members got to mix and mingle with each other in a fun social environment. This truly was a very fun event hosted by the presidents of both organizations. It is good to see the gay Mardi Gras Krewes getting back to doing more social things with each other. My weekend ended with a lovely Mother’s Day spent
with my fabulous mother Dawn. I am not ashamed at all to admit I am a Momma’s Boy through and through. Most people joke that momma’s boys are week and not strong. Misguided people always relate strength to the physical (which does play a part). But strength of character is probably ten times more important than anything else. I do not care how much you can bench press, if you can’t handle life’s hardships, than you are weak. So I celebrated the day with the woman who taught me how to be strong, stand on my own two feet and handle any problem that comes my way. Some friends and I took mom to Marche (the old Bella Luna) for a gorgeous meal overlooking the Mississippi River. The food and ambiance were superb, an ideal way to spend the day rejoicing the woman who not only gave me life, but taught me how to live it. And on that note, with these wise words, keep calm and party down!
GayMardiGras.com • GayEasterParade.com • May 23-June 5, 2017 • Facebook.com/AmbushMag • The Official Mag©: AmbushMag.com • 29
trodding the boards by Brian Sands
Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com
The Spider Queen in NOMA’s Sculpture Garden through May 28 Kenneth Thompson’s puppets astound. Alex Smith’s lighting dazzles. Jon Greene’s direction is worthy of an epic. Yes, a “But” will follow, but that can wait for now. Having presented Shakespeare (A Midsummer’s Night Dream, et al.) and adaptations of classic works (Robin Hood, Don Quixote) in NOMA’s Sculpture Garden over the past six years, The NOLA Project now tackles its first wholly original production there, The Spider Queen by company members James Bartelle & Alex Martinez Wallace. The play begins with the cast standing in a circle, humming a mysterious chant. It’s a nice touch that brings us into the Spider Queen world, creating an almost religious feeling. The sequence ends with the actors sliding Tony Fuemmeler’s fantastic, character-defining masks over their faces as an eight-member Council of Elders convenes. Unlike previous productions in the Garden which were either immersive (Adventures in Wonderland) or more-or-less proscenium-styled (As You Like It), Spider Queen occurs in-the-round in a fairly constricted area. Though some action does spin off into entry radii and around the perimeter, it mostly stays centered, keeping the close-by audience tethered to the tale. And what a tale it is! Graham Burke in The Spider Queen Elves and Tree Trolls and Amazonian warriors all join forces to fight the Weplings who “are ruthless, more so than dragons” so we’re told. But who exactly are these Weplings? Meanwhile, uptight Park Ranger Clark (Jake Bartush) discovers a disgruntled teenager, Esme (Becca Chapman), who wants to dig up something in the park where her Dad used to work. Dad perished in a mysterious fire that destroyed virtually the entire parkland. It’s as though Bartelle & Wallace had binge-watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy along with a season’s worth of Scooby-Doo to come up with their script. I don’t mean that in a bad way. Not at all. Both those vehicles are wildly entertaining. And to the young authors’ credit, so is Spider Queen. With vast imagination, Bartelle & Wallace have created a credible fantasy world populated by highly individualized creatures. Each member of the Elder Council has his/her own body language which Hope Bennett’s magnificent costumes reinforce. (Her only misfire is the wicked Draybeck’s outfit which looks like it came from goth night at the roller disco.) With talk of annihilation and portals, which Greene has his cast deliver with utter conviction, as well as the wild mash-up of humans and otherworldly beings, the playwrights grip an audience’s attention in this monumental battle of good vs. evil. But—told ya there’d be a “But”—Spider Queen sometimes feels as though it’s a work-in-progress. I didn’t mind the long stretches of exposition with its cannily repurposed vocabulary (“cadavering” for “killing”) and heightened dialog (“The Goblins shall no longer be shackled to the bottom of the food chain.”) What’s missing, though, is a clear sense of what’s at stake and why we should care. We hear of an usurped inheritance and the various claims of one group against another yet I kept wondering which realm Draybeck (John Neisler) wants to rule. And how did these worlds collide? (The whole portal thing seems a bit arbitrary.) And what rivalry was going on between Draybeck and Esme’s father? And why? Because, despite the big “Conflict”, Spider Queen could use more drama. Clark and Esme too readily accept their wild circumstances and plunge into the fight; missing is a sense of their gradually trying to figure out the overall mystery. Bartelle & Wallace do a fine job of vividly populating their universe, but by the time a Minotaur comes on, it begins to seem overpopulated (although Hebert
Benjamin and his sinuous dancer’s body make him (it?) come to exciting life. Benjamin also impresses as a wise, blind Elder). Yes, Clark and Esme both grow in the course of the play, but something seemed missing. By the second act, I actually wanted some sort of romance to develop between them; methinks the play would be richer and more emotionally rewarding for it. Of course, as it stands, Esme is a high school student so there’d be an ick factor, but make her a 20something and voila! None of these reservations should keep you from seeing The Spider Queen, however. I bring them up because it has such great potential that, with a little tweaking, it could become a major work, performed across the country. Until then, Greene’s fluid staging propels the story forward. While expertly guiding his actors into bold performances, he wisely never lets them descend into campiness. He only falls short (as does Smith’s otherwise terrific lighting) at the very end with the introduction of the Spider Queen outside the main staging area; she’s simply too far away and lacks the mysterious grandeur she should project. Apart from that, the cast digs into their roles with relish. Neisler oozes a grand malignity as Draybeck. Bartush makes Clark charmingly bumbling but, ultimately, finds his inner backbone; along the way he’s slyly funny, finding humor in a simple line like “There’s a saying about park rangers.” Esme provides Chapman with a more limited pallette from which to draw, mostly variations on “tough” or “angsty.” I preferred her in fierce mode which, gratifyingly, accounts for about 80% of the role; for someone small of stature, she is 100% convincing as she fights for family honor. Though her mask entirely covers her face, Anna Toujas amuses as a flighty Elder Petal, a kind of flower sprite, who’s probably tougher than she seems. Leslie Claverie and Monica R. Harris embody two different types of feminine strength, and, though their battle could’ve used a little more suspense, how cool to see two women sword fighting. Levi Hood as an earthy satyr and Morrey McElroy as a regal Elf also register strongly. Eli Timm and Julie Dietz bring to pulsing life the large endangered Adoxis bird and speak its lines concurrently; the result is a weird, haunting sound. Graham Burk and Chris Silva embody two huge ogres, ingeniously rendered by Thompson as cousins to Der Ring des Nibelungen’s giants, Fasolt and Fafner. Bartelle & Wallace’s most glorious creation, however, proves to be Bonehead, a humpbacked, lumpenproletariat who’s the butt of others’ bawdy insults. Enacted impeccably by Dietz, he reminds one of those
Shakespearean characters who suffer wounded pride. With parts of Caliban and Falstaff in his DNA, Bonehead ultimately triumphs, the only one of the Spider Queen’s subjects who organically develops in the course of the play’s 2+ hours in an emotionally compelling way. If the playwrights can spread such magic throughout the rest of their narrative web, The Spider Queen might some day reign over a vast empire.
Ain’t Misbehavin’ at The National WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen thru June 25 With 30 marvelous songs—including T’ain’t Nobody’s Bizness If I Do, Honeysuckle Rose and the title number—by or associated with the inimitable “Fats” Waller, Ain’t Misbehavin’ promises an audience a sporting time. The new production of this Tony Awardwinning musical at the WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen fulfills most of that promise though it might’ve misbehaved a little bit more. Last seen locally three years ago in a rousing production at Delgado, I’d usually be apt to call for a new or different approach to this familiar work. Created by Richard Maltby Jr. in 1978, Ain’t Misbehavin’, however, demands a particular style. At the Stage Door Canteen, the five performers (Erica Fox, Jarrell Hamilton, Polanco Jones, Jr., Jessica Mixon, Lawrence J. Weber, Jr.) all sing beautifully. There’s charm and fun aplenty. But, after a perky opening medley, some of the fizz goes out; perhaps Co-Directors Heidi Malnar and Victoria Reed could have asked the cast to dig a little deeper into the full meaning of the sparkling lyrics. Fox and Mixon, especially, are hampered by their costumes which mostly come from Syracuse Stage. They’re simply too chaste for the playful sensuality that Waller demands. This is the rare time when I would’ve liked to have seen a little more cleavage. But just as I was wondering what was going on at the dependable Canteen, Ain’t Misbehavin’ came to tremendous life with the Act One finale, The Joint Is Jumpin’. This newfound esprit carries over into the second act which features elegantly snazzy allwhite outfits and, more importantly, performers who viscerally connect with their material. In The Viper’s Drag, an ode to reefer, Jones gets to show off not only his fine slinky dancing but that his smooth, velvety voice has a jigger of Jack Daniels in it. Unlike some who would do it more lightheartedly, Fox reveals the underlying pain in Mean to Me. For Your Feet’s Too Big, Weber [continued on 32]
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a community within communities by The Very Rev. Bill Terry, Rector St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, New Orleans Email: fr.bill@stannanola.org
Memorial Day In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place: and in the sky The larks still bravely singing fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead: Short days ago, We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved: and now we lie In Flanders fields! Take up our quarrel with the foe To you, from failing hands, we throw The torch: be yours to hold it high If ye break faith with us who die, We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields “In Flanders Fields” was composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915 during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium by Col. John McCrae who was a Physician at “The Front.” His dear friend Canadian officer Alexis Helmer was killed and McCrae was called upon to fill in for the Chaplain and perform the burial service. It is thought that after that experience he wrote the above e poem. When my father was a child he would recount his memories of New York City in the 1920’s recalling the poppies being sold on street corners. It was then a matter of National pride and respect to do so. But that was an age ago and it seems no longer vogue or cosmopolitan to do such things. I suppose it was in the 1970’s and the return of our defeated military to the United States from Southeast Asia that turned such remembrances into an excuse to have a bar-b-que or such. That said, I was assigned to the Navy Ceremonial Guard in Washington D.C. and on this day was always a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Now we saw a lot of memorials and did a lot of military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery as well as Lincoln National Cemetery. The solemnity of the occasion at the Tomb was deep, abiding, and spiritual. The reverence shown to fallen soldiers and sailors was and remains I expect, profound. Do we remember Memorial Day? Will anyone take any time out to remember the war dead. Usually such casualties are younger men and women sent to fight wars at the behest of older men and women who do not have the capacity for civil and peaceful resolutions to disputes. Currently religion and lack of resources are “the cause” or justification for war – radicalized faith howsoever it plays out is dangerous. That is now. Then it was about capitalism vs. communism, before that it was Democracy vs. Fascism. Before that it
was about colonial hegemony. So, things seem never to change and it has been an age perhaps an eon of strife. Yet, some sacrifice themselves for others. There are contemporary memorials that are vastly more important than our statue controversies. The Vietnam War Memorial is one, Arlington National Cemetery is another. There are National Cemeteries scattered about all around us and perhaps a visit just once is in order. There is a Veterans cemetery in Slidell and one in Chalmette. “Between the crosses row on row.” “No, sir, I am here to serve” said Andrew Wilfahrt. Do you know who Andrew is? He is the first open gay soldier to die in the U.S. Military. His story is amazing. He scored perfectly on the Army aptitude tests. He was a math genius, read the Constitution, loved classical music and yet he felt called to serve. His military reputation was amazing. His fellow combat veterans held him in such high regard that they named their fire-base after him in Afghanistan. His epitaph reads, “A remarkable man.” And, because of his sacrifice his was one of the stories that perhaps helped compel Congress to make us all ‘free to love’ as the law of the land. Leonard Matlovich was the central figure in changing military policy toward LGBTQ personnel from “Don’t’ ask. Don’t Tell.” To, what the hell they can shoot. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He fought the system and in some ways won. His tomb stone reads, “They gave me a medal for killing 2 men and a discharge for loving 1.” His tombstone has no name. He ultimately died not in a war on terror but in another terrible war- AIDS. Then there are the hundreds perhaps thousands of men and women that have always served their country and have always been gay. One of my best friends in the Navy was gay. I knew it he knew it and maybe others did too. No one cared, no one asked, and he didn’t tell any others that I am aware of. He was funny, did his job well, and got out after four years with an honorable discharge. My dear friend and first Vestry person that interviewed me for my current position at St. Anna’s was the delightful and on occasion caustic Gordon Maginnis. He was gay, openly or otherwise. Gordon was a massive contradiction. Coming from the gentry of New Orleans society he found his home in the French Quarter where he knew and detested Tennessee Williams. His
legacy at St. Anna’s was to help save the current Parish House which we are going to name “Maginnis House.” He was beyond generous to our teenage youth group most of whom were boys from very poor homes. Finally, yes, he served in the United States Navy as an enlisted man and was given an Honorable Discharge. I mention him because I am sure that there are those who served like him but regrettably during a time of conflict that cost them their lives. So, many passed and broken by war that had or chose to stay closeted being not who they were but as serving as they did and to die in war. Gay or straight, Democrat, Republican Christian Jew Muslim agnostic or atheist we should take a moment to honor our military personnel. A special mention to the LGBTQ personnel who heroically served despite the bias and prejudice and for so long veiled and not so veiled threats. We should take a moment in every bar and tavern and watering hole and gathering place to offer a moment of silence and bow our heads to honor these folks who died in
trodding the boards ... from 30 lets go with tongue-in-cheek disgust and surreal humor for off-the-wall merriment. Mixon brings full-throttled passion to That Ain’t Right while Hamilton’s lovely, silky voice sparks Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now. Two uproarious, delightful numbers follow, Find Out What They Like (Mixon and Fox) and Fat and Greasy (Jones and Weber), before the quintet delivers Black and Blue, one of the most despairing songs ever written (“No joys for me, no company/Even the mouse ran from my house”), simply and compellingly. The finale, as the five cast members become instruments in a band, ends the show on a high note. Malnar’s choreography is stylish throughout. Harry Mayronne leads a sharp six-piece band that captures Waller’s musical exuberance. Following its hugely successful presentation of Neil Simon’s Biloxi Blues, the Canteen seems to be diversifying its repertoire from revues and bio-musicals, and I salute them for that. A launch party on July 7 will announce the Canteen’s upcoming season. What might they have in store? As Fats said, “One never knows, do one?”
Broadway in New Orleans/Finding Neverland at The Saenger Theatre through June 11 If you saw Finding Neverland, the new musical that recently played at The Saenger Theatre, and enjoyed it, I’m happy for you.
the pursuit of service. Memorial Day is not Veterans Day and it is not All Souls/ Saints Day it is a day, or should be, of National mourning for the fallen military personnel that sacrificed themselves while serving this Nation. Ode to the Fallen Soldier by Torn Poet Rest you now, oh brother mine Though we never shared a name Instead we went on side by side Now brothers, just the same Around us now the world is waste And beyond that lies asleep I send you off to their dreams now And call you to your keep Lay you now, a peaceful bed Yet go you not alone The furrow holds the bitter seeds That time has quickly sewn God speed you to your rest, good man For he sped not to your joy This war, so much, an angry child And you are now a broken toy But know these days will not be lost For a wall awaits your name With mine upon that granite, we Were brothers, just the same If you avoided Finding Neverland here as well as during its Broadway run, I’m even happier for you. For me, I’ve seen worse musicals (Starmites, anyone?) but this is certainly up there. Based on the Oscar-nominated movie, Finding Neverland tells how J.M. Barrie was inspired to write his hit play Peter Pan—interesting enough. But James Graham’s book offers Hallmark sentiments, cheap gay jokes, caricatures where flesh’n’blood people would’ve been more interesting, twee whimsy, and clunky dialog (“Without shadows there’d be no light”) that would challenge the greatest of actors. A few moments of genuine emotion pop up, but they arrive too little and too late. Worse, the score by Gary Barlow, a member of the Brit band Take That, & Eliot Kennedy wallows in generic tunes, personalityless power ballads, and basically reminds you of second rate 1970s pop songs which all sound the same. The lyrics match the dialog with such cloying language as “The singing in my heart is all that matters.” Diane Paulus’ misguided direction never settles on any one tone careening from silly farce to surreal gothic to sitcomy to Disneyesque special effects. Likewise, Mia Michaels’ movement-based choreography strives to be inventive but comes off as just odd. The cast does the best they can under the circumstances, though their British accents seem to come and go. Nobody’s bad, but nobody stands out. Except for Sammy who portrayed Porthos, J. M. Barrie’s dog, with finesse. Stage animals usually don’t do much for me, but unlike Tinker Bell, Sammy earned my applause without needing anyone else to beg for it. Broadway in New Orleans concludes its season with the ultimate jukebox musical Mamma Mia! (June 6-11). The 201728 season begins in October with a new
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Jimmy Buffet musical, Escape to Margaritaville (Oct. 20-28). Other productions to look forward to include acclaimed revivals of The King and I (Nov.
14-19) and The Color Purple (Feb. 2025), and the new musical Waitress (June 12-17) adapted from the charming film.
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ambush paparazzi The Corner Pocket (Photos by Darwin Reed, Jeremy Weinberg)
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