RAGE MONTHLY MAGAZINE APRIL 2022

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA APRIL 2022

JARED DAVID MICHAEL GRANT ON A ROLL IN TOOTSIE

VICO ORTIZ

SAILING THE HIGH SEAS FOR OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH

SOFI TUKKER HITS THE COURT WITH WET TENNIS

THE BEST WAY TO EXPLORE

PUERTO VALLARTA LIFESTYLE

EVENTS

FASHION

ENTERTAINMENT

NIGHTLIFE

COMMUNITY

Choreograhy by Jean-Christophe Maillot

“poignant…exquisite…intense and immaculately theatrical” – Detroit News

APRIL 15–17

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bill Biss, Chris Carpenter, Brad Hart, Steven Ing, Scott Leonard, Lisa Lipsey, Tim Parks, Tony Reverditto, Freddy Saluna Cutter Slagle and Andrew J. Stillman

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THOM SENZEE

LGBTQ Veteran Journalist and Political Commentator, Dies at 54 by joel martens

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www.rage.lgbt | APRIL 2022

The LGBTQ community has lost a deeply committed advocate and one of its most astute voices this March. Thom Senzee, a nearly 30-year veteran freelance journalist whose work included writing and reporting as a world news correspondent for The Advocate, syndicated “All Out Politics” columnist and HuffPost signature blogger, was found lifeless in his temporary Palm Springs residence on Tuesday, March 22. The exact time and cause of death is unknown as of press time, but according to his sister “an investigation is currently underway by the Palm Springs coroner.”

Founder and moderator of “LGBTs in the News,” a nationally recognized, panel discussion series, Senzee had a storied career that was as broad as the subjects he covered. He was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 2017.

His award-winning work encompassed his time as former editor-in-chief of San Diego’s LGBT Weekly, as content strategist and managing editor for justice.cwsl.edu — a national law-and-justice news site published by California Western School of Law, and as a regular contributor to national and local sources such as The Advocate, Out Magazine, HuffPost, WEHO Times, L.A. Magazine, San Diego Reader, The Rage Monthly, Plus, Palm Springs Life, Los Angeles Blade and San Fernando Valley Business Journal .

The broad range of stories and live broadcasts throughout his career reflect Senzee’s tireless passion for journalistic integrity, a deeply held commitment to his trade and role as “the Fourth Estate and protector of the U.S. Constitution,” as well as his steadfast devotion to the LGBTQ community.

On a personal note, Thom was one of the most generous, kind, and intelligent colleagues and friends one could ask for. His wisdom, openness, integrity and commitment to honesty, and his general big-heartedness will be sorely missed.

APRIL 2022

VOLUME 15 ISSUE 11

CONTENTS 10 LGBTQ COMMUNITY EVENTS 14 HOLLYWOOD APRIL FOOLIN’ AROUND 18 THEATRE SPOTLIGHT JARED DAVID MICHAEL GRANT STARS IN TOOTSIE 22 ON STAGE 26 MUSIC SPOTLIGHT SOFI TUKKER HITS THE COURT WITH WET TENNIS 30 RAGE RECOMMENDS 34 TV SPOTLIGHT SAILING THE HIGH SEAS WITH VICO ORTIZ 38 TRAVEL THE BEST WAY TO EXPLORE PUERTO VALLARTA 44 EATING OUT CALIFORNIA WINE FESTIVAL 46 MILLENNIAL MATTERS Houston King, 28, was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico where he pursued a career in industrial engineering. He now lives in San Diego, where he has spent the past two years working with local photographers to expand his portfolio. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, competing in his favorite videogame Super Smash Brothers, working to improve his physique at the gym, as well as any outdoor activity to engage in a healthy, active lifestyle.

He looks forward to improving himself and his future with modeling.

He loves suspense/horror movies, and his favorite animated show is Avatar: The Last AirBender. He also considers himself an earthbender. A Libra , his favorite phrase: “Let it flow.” You can find him on Instagram @shouston.kings.

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Photography by Dennis Covey instagram.com/malefolio

lgbtq community

by brad hart

DINING OUT FOR LIFE Make plans with family and friends to dine out for breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee and cocktails.

The concept of this epicurean extravaganza is simple. Restaurants, bars and coffee shops donate a generous percent of their Dining Out for Life sales to DAP Health in Palm Springs or the San Diego LGBT Community Center.

Each year, more than 50 HIV service organizations partner with more than 2,400 restaurants, 4,100 volunteers and 300,000 diners to raise over $4.5 million for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States and Canada. Best part? All money raised through a Dining Out For Life event stays in that city to provide help and hope to people living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS. So, remember to Dine Out to End HIV on Thursday, April 28. diningoutforlife.com

MISS COCO PERU

TASTE OF HILLCREST This culinary journey is sure to cause the taste buds to go wild! The annual food fest Taste of Hillcrest will return on Saturday, April 9 with more than 35 restaurants participating, giving foodies a chance to sample some of the best dishes San Diego’s gayborhood has to offer.

From quaint cafes and French and Italian style bistros to five-star dining delights, this is one of the most anticipated self-guided culinary walking tours in San Diego. Participants can sample bites such as pad Thai, sashimi, Italian antipasto and classic American comfort food.

Taste of Hillcrest benefits the programs and services of the Hillcrest Business Association (HBA).

The HBA was established in 1921, making it the oldest business association in San Diego. The HBA represents over 1,300 Uptown businesses acting as a liaison between the business community and the city while encouraging economic development for the Hillcrest area through events and promotions. fabuloushillcrest.com/taste-of-hillcrest

OUT AT THE PARK Swing over to Petco Park to join San Diego Pride as they team up with the San Diego Padres for the annual Out at the Park on Friday, May 6. Grab your friends, family and rainbow gear and prepare to enjoy an evening of entertainment and baseball when the Padres host the Miami Marlins.

Arrive early to grab a free hat and enjoy the pregame tailgate party in San Diego Pride’s decked-out space in Gallagher Square, held in conjunction with CocktailFest.

Out at the Park tickets include a seat in the large Out at the Park section (or limited upgraded viewing section), a commemorative Out at the Park Padres hat, a $10 donation to San Diego Pride, and access to the pre-game VIP space in Gallagher Square. sdpride.org

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She’s back! The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center will present the return of the legendary Miss Coco Peru to the Renberg Theatre. The YouTube sensation will appear for three-night run of her new solo show Miss Coco Peru Is Bitter, Bothered & Beyond on Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30, and Sunday, May 1.

After everything that’s been going on in the world, Coco is ready to unleash her thoughts about the past, present and future. Yes, queens, this exhausted dinosaur of drag is not holding back anything in her new show.

Miss Coco Peru (aka Clinton Leupp) has been a household name in the LGBTQ community for more than 25 years. She got her start in the early-1990s as a downtown favorite in the cabaret world of New York after she wrote, produced, directed and starred in her first show Miss Coco Peru in My Goddamn Cabaret.

She has since enjoyed an expansive career, ranging from intimate cabaret stages in New York and L.A. to the broad reach of television.

Considered “the hostess with that something extra,” Coco has received acclaim for her award-winning solo shows as well as her remarkable tribute to great performers, Conversations with Coco, in which she conducted live career-retrospective interviews with luminaries such as Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Liza Minnelli and Bea Arthur.

Coco’s long history of passionate activism, unflagging support of the LGBT community and fierce dedication to AIDS-related charities earned her the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Board of Directors Award, presented to her by Zachary Quinto. lalgbtcenter.org

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lgbtq community

by brad hart

A LITTLE SPRING MUSIC SOUNDS OF THE ‘60s Coachella Valley Men’s Chorus will present Sounds of the ‘60s on Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24 at Palm Springs Cultural Center.

This musical extravaganza will feature favorite tunes from the era that ushered in some of our sweetest memories, from memorable folk-influenced melodies, the driving rhythms of Motown, our favorite TV characters come to life, the exotic world of the flower children, to inspiring songs of protest and awakening. And the Beatles! Enjoy your favorites in one fabulous presentation with some of the Coachella Valley’s greatest voices. modernmen.org

RAZZLE, DAZZLE, SHINE! Featuring more than 100 singing members, Palm Springs Gay Men Chorus will continue its 23rd season with a spring show running Friday through Sunday, April 8-10. Razzle, Dazzle, Shine! is an inspiring program of pride and equality inspired by music we love.

Billboard Dance Chart topper Debby Holiday will bring her energy and stunning vocals to this uplifting program featuring songs from the Broadway stage and the big screen including selections from Rocketman, Kinky Boots, Avenue Q, Billy Elliot and The Wizard of Oz. Highlights will include a rousing medley of songs by the band Queen and a poignant mash-up of Stephen Sondheim’s “No One Is Alone” from Into the Woods and “Not While I’m Around” from Sweeney Todd. psgmc.com

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HERE COMES THE SUN: SOUNDS OF HOPE San Diego Women’s Chorus (SDWC) returns from a hiatus for it first inperson concert since the pandemic began. Here Comes The Sun: Songs of Hope will be a celebration of the power of community and a tribute to the joy of renewal and hope. This performance will feature an uplifting blend of songs and pieces that commemorate the resilience of our communities through the challenges of the past two years, breaking out of the confines of the digital world to bring the sound of music to the city once again.

Here Comes the Sun: Songs of Hope will be presented at Patrick Henry High School on Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1. Led by Artistic Director Kathleen Hansen, the chorus will perform an eclectic slate of songs ranging from traditional choral pieces and instantly recognizable rock ‘n’ roll classics to a beautiful, pensive tribute to those who have been lost to the pandemic. With a blend of warmth, joy and thoughtful remembrance, this concert showcases the diversity, strength and creativity of San Diego’s LGBTQ community and its allies — a perfect musical mix to mark the 35th anniversary of SDWC’s founding. sdwc.org

IT’S BROADWAY, OUR WAY The San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus (SDGMC) spring concert will feature an over-the-top opening number and some favorites from the Broadway songbook. With songs from musicals old and new, some Sondheim favorites and more, it’s not just Broadway . . . It’s Broadway, Our Way. Performances will take place Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and 24 at Balboa Theatre in downtown San Diego.

SDGMC recently announces the hiring of its new artistic director, Dr. Charles Beale, who will join SDGMC in April for the Pride concert in July. sdgmc.org

hollywood

by tim parks

APRIL FOOLIN’ AROUND

As a lifetime jokester, I have always felt a kinship with April Fools’ Day. It evolved from putting rubber spiders in my mom’s slippers to what has become an annual tradition of writing faux Hollywood predictions. Sometimes these forecasts are born of wishful thinking, of the things I’d like to see happen in Tinsel Town. At other times, they are motivated by scenarios inspired by the business we call show and the people known as stars. Just add my overactive imagination and off-kilter sense of humor and you have the column version of owning a crystal ball.

Without further ado, let’s take a foolin’ around look at what may transpire in television, film, music, books and celebrity.

THE BOOB TUBE

In the spirit of inclusivity, Wednesday, Tim Burton’s upcoming take on The Addams Family for Netflix starring Jenna Ortega in the titular role and Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán as Morticia and Gomez, will get a modern twist. This incarnation, which focuses on Wednesday attending the Nevermore Academy, will also have a non-binary Cousin It, who will henceforth go by the pronouns Cousin They/Them.

Because sometimes you want to go where everyone knows your gay, there’s a redo of the TV show Cheers, in the form of Thirst Trap on NBC. Openly gay actor Lee Pace stars as the proprietor of the namesake gay bar, who posts daily shirtless photos to drum up business. And to aid in that effort, he employs a bevy of shirtless hunks, like Pose’s Dyllón Burnside and out Broadway actors Jeremy Pope and Telly Leung. Look

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for Wanda Sykes to fill Rhea Perlman’s shoes as sassy waitress Darla and Guillermo Díaz as Papi Bear, replacing George Wendt’s Norm as the tavern’s resident bar fly.

As if The Golden Girls, and NBC couldn’t get any gayer, there’s an all-gay male version headed to TV screens in the guise of Shady Pines, which will essentially be all tea and shade for residents Leslie Jordan, George Takei, Harvey Fierstein and Sir Ian McKellen. The quartet are the adult male version of Heathers, running the retirement home and always at the ready with a cutting quip, especially if it’s to cut off one of Jordan’s yarns that get spun more than his recanting of his days of being a crystal meth partaker. The series will be written by Bruce Vilanch and feature the theme song “Friend, Thank You” by Barry Manilow.

Since it was revealed during the first season of HBO Max’s Peacemaker that John Cena’s character is bisexual, it should come as no surprise that he gets boyfriend for Season 2! Cena floated the idea to showrunners that his misfit superhero played for both teams. One might suspect that his self-proclaimed BFF sidekick Vigilante, played by Freddie Stroma, would be the obvious choice. But think again! Fellow wrestler-turnedactor and upcoming DC Extended Universe hero Black Adam Duane “The Rock” Johnson will become embroiled in a love triangle involving himself, Peacemaker and Margot Robbie’s bisexual bad ass Harley Quinn.

Another HBO Max show, Euphoria, will get the spin-off treatment with Dysphoria, which in dictionary terms means “a state of feeling uneasy, unhappy or unwell.” And the subject for the offshoot series is Jacob Elordi’s Nate Jacobs character, as he spends each episode in a state of undress, wondering if he should get the mole on his torso checked out by a dermatologist. What? You’ve never worried about that? I guess the cheese stands alone.

Another HBO Max spin-off, And Just Like That, is receiving a Season 2 order with the first episode revolving around the much-maligned character of Che Diaz (Sara Ramirez) doing a stand-up set for the website Funny or Die. Well, it was nice knowing you, Che!

Hot on the heels of Peacock’s Bel-Air — the dramatic recreation of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — comes Eastland, a darker take on the sitcom The Facts of Life. Lisa Whelchel returns as Blair Warner, the new headmistress of the prestigious all-girls boarding school where things aren’t as they seem! She enlists the help of Natalie Green (Mindy Cohn), Tootie Ramsey (Kim Fields) and Jo Polniaczek (Nancy McKeon) when a student ends up dead.

The ladies seek spiritual guidance from the ghost of Mrs. Garrett, with Ann Dowd of The Handmaid’s Tale reprising the role she portrayed on ABC’s Facts of Life Live reunion. Spoiler, it turns out the student found Tootie’s old roller skates, greased them up with oil from Jo’s motorcycle that had been parked all these years in the school garage, and couldn’t stop herself from ramming into the front gate of the posh institute.

Rather than wait for a cast mate to become embroiled in “legal issues” — that’s the nice term for criminal activity — Bravo will greenlight a Real Housewives spin-off that cuts to the chase with The Real Inmates of Cell Block B. The reality-TV series will feature actual women in a penitentiary and may include Housewives alum Erika Jayne and Jen Shah, depending on how their aforementioned “legal issues” turn out. However, New Jersey star and former inmate Teresa Giudice will be on hand to give advice on how to survive in the Big House.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION Trixie Mattel, Katya, Lady Bunny, Coco Peru, Jujubee, Miss Vanjie and Latrice Royale will headline the 1974 disaster flick Earthquake remake called Shook, in which a group of plucky drag queens must find their way out of a bar decimated by The Big One hitting Los Angeles.

Unfortunately for all the bottoms in WeHo, it’s not the time to be a size queen, seeing as the 9.5, in this case, is on the Richter scale and not related to a, um, unit of measurement in a Scruff profile.

The premise of featuring drag queens in deadly scenarios will spark a new film genre, akin to Lifetime’s Women in Jeopardy films, but will be referred to as Queens in Jep. Look for titles such as Gagged centering around kidnapping and human trafficking, while Henny features a monstrous chicken terrorizing the populace of Provincetown!

In an effort to make things right for donating money to politicians

who supported Florida’s Don’t Say Gay bill, Disney announces the animated feature Just Say Gay. But the tale of what the world would look like without our kind misses the mark in its stereotyped account of Ron DeSantis’s wife Casey not being able to find anyone to do her hair, makeup, floral arrangements or decorate the Governor’s Mansion. Poor bish! Looks like she could use the help. Just sayin’.

And speaking of the House of Mouse . . . Nine Perfect Strangers hottie Luke Evans will star in the studio’s first R-rated cartoon as its first-ever gay Prince. This distinction comes as a consolation prize for Disney+ canceling the Beauty and the Beast prequel, in which he’d reprise his role as Gaston from the 2017 live action film. However, in an effort to not distance the project from “the tale as old as time” one that got the ax, Evans will portray Asston in Booty and the Beast.

APRIL 2022 | @theragemonthly

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LISTEN UP

And speaking of music, RuPaul’s Drag Race Seaso n 14 contestant Willow Pill, who recently came out as trans in an Instagram post, will channel their inner Alanis Morrisette by releasing the album Jagged Willow Pill.

Masked gay country crooner Orville Peck, whos e new album Bronco drops this month, will continue his penc hant for covering artists like Lady Gaga and Bronski Beat with his rendi tion of The Village People’s “YMCA.” And in the video, he will not only portray the cowboy persona, but all the rest of the group as well. Sometimes it takes one person to be a village, people!

Seeing as Kylie Minogue’s last two musical effort s were thematic, in the form of 2018’s country flavored Golden and the appropriately named Disco from 2020, the Impossible Princess will reveal that her next musical endeavor will consist of yodeling, all set to a funky beat.

And you won’t be able to get them out of your yode l-lay-hee-hoo head! Too much?

Seeing as Madonna and Britney Spears spend a great deal of time posting risqué pics on Instagram, the duo will reuni te on a dance floor duet, marking their first collaboration since 2003’s “Me Against the Music.” The song “Insta-gratification” will extol the benefits of getting likes and cheekily encourages their follow ers to “slide into my DM, again and again.”

READING IS FUNDAMENTAL

Dolly Parton, who recently teamed up with autho r James Patterson on the thriller Run, Rose, Run, continues her litera ry streak by penning books based on her songs. Look for the titles Killin ’ 9 to 5, Here You Come Again . . . With a Knife and The Coat of Many Colors, Mostly Blood Red to race up the bestseller chart!

To give a big eff you to book banning in Texas, sever al childhood favorites will be re-imagined with LGBTQ themes and covertly placed

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in libraries in the Lone Star State. The retooled effort s will include Frog and Toad Are Life Partners, Clifford the Big Gay Dog, It’s Peppermint Patty’s Softball Tournament, Char lie Brown and Bi-Curious George Buys a Taco and a Hot Dog.

CELEBRI-TEA

Taron Egerton coming out as gay won’t be too much of a shock to those that have been paying attention to his caree r as of late.

Not only did the 32-year-old thespian give a brava do performance as Elton John in Rocketman in 2019, but his latest project is in the London West End play Cock — um hello! — in which he plays one half of a gay couple whose relationship is shaken up by one of them falling for a woman!

Todrick Hall will continue to do PR damage contr ol after his controversial stint on Celebrity Big Brother, wher e he employed a number of cutthroat methods to place second on the reality-TV show. This situation is coupled with fending off accusations of poor working conditions from a former videographer for the singer/ dancer. Figuring that aligning himself with the Make -A-Wish charity will get him back into our good graces only ends up backfiring, seeing as the only wish people would have is of going back to a time where we didn’t see his bad side. But E for effort, Todrick!

CUT. PRINT. THAT’S A WRAP!

And there you have it when you have too much free time on your hands to imagine a wealth of entertainment news . But who knows, maybe one or two of these will come to pass. And if that’s the case, you can make the checks out to me, Hollywood.

But if you instead take umbrage with my suppositions and want to get your lawyers involved, then it was “other kids” who wrote this.

Until next time, that’s all the news that’s fit to print.

Tim Parks has been a freelance writer for 21 years, a columnist for 16 years, and part of Team Rage since 2009.

He is the award-winning author of The Scheme of Things, available on Amazon.com.

theatre spotlight

by lisa lipsey

JARED DAVID MICHAEL GRANT

LANDING ON EVERY LEVEL

Review after review describes the charming funny man Jared David Michael Grant, his comedy chops and singing as a standout performance in the touring production of the comedy musical Tootsie. Grant plays the role of the roommate, Jeff Slater.

Tootsie is based on the story by Don McGuire and Larry Gelbart, and the 1884 Columbia Pictures movie starring Dustin Hoffman. The stage musical includes updates that make it laugh-out-loud funny, thanks to the Tony-winning book by Robert Horn.

The cast of the National Tour of TOOTSIE. Photos by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

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Lukas James Miller as Max Van Horn and Ashley Alexandra as Julie Nichols.

The Rage Monthly caught up with Grant after the tour’s opening night in Tucson, Arizona.

“It is really nice to be back on stage and to be doing a funny show, where a lot of the audiences’ reactions are very vocal. They are laughing for extended periods of time,” Grant said.

Tootsie is Grant’s first touring show.

“It was a hard adjustment. All my prior work was based in Chicago. I’d do a show for a couple months and then it was over. It is a big adjustment to do show, change towns and then open once again,” he said.

“I am not exactly a homebody, but I do like being in my own space. But I’ve adjusted.

It was tough with the second COVID layoff situation. We started and then stopped, and started and stopped again. But now it is a new hotel, new city every few weeks. I like to explore the food scene and the history of the city.”

Drew Becker as Michael Dorsey and Jared David Michael Grant as Jeff Slater.

Due to the “lost year,” Grant’s Tootsie audition through Zoom was held way back in March 2020: “I felt the first audition went really well. But I didn’t know if anything would happen. I got the part, and I kept thinking, ‘I am part of a great show, if we ever get to do it.’ It was scary for everyone, for the industry I love. Is acting in front of audiences ever coming back? Vaccines and mask mandates have been helpful. I started to think ‘I have to choose a different career path.’ I don’t have a fall back. I love cooking, but restaurants were closed too. I don’t know. I probably could go into the tech world, but I am not that gifted.”

Thankfully for theatergoers, Grant is a gifted performer and back doing eight shows a week. To get into character, Grant said, “I like to walk to the theatre from the hotel. On the way, I listen to some music, get in the right headspace, get a coffee. I get there an hour in advance, set up my station and then chill. I do breathing exercises.”

Grant currently has Abigail Smith, profes-

sionally known as Yebba, at the top of his playlist. She the winner of the 2022 Pop Awards “Emerging Artist of the Year” award.

“I am listening to her recent album that was released through Electric Lady Studios,” he said. “Her voice is amazing. I love her version of ‘Age of Worry,’ a cover of one of my favorite John Mayer songs.”

If given a genie’s lamp, the roles he would wish for include the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera and the lead, Michael, in A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jackson. “It tells the story of a young, queer, black playwright,” he said.

“I didn’t know I would relate to it so much.

It is great to hear theatre coming from our perspective. There are people like me. We need musicals about us.”

During the show’s down time, Grants said, “I am geek, I enjoy graphic novels, reading. I find a park in the area, or I go hiking. Lukas James Miller (who plays Max) and I try chicken wings in every city. We compare them. I am big walker, so I enjoy walks around every city.”

APRIL 2022 | @theragemonthly

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Thus far, Grant’s favorite city has been Tulsa, Oklahoma. “They had a couple of really cool coffee shops, a nice theatre. I liked the vibe,” he said. “Surprising, I have such a big city background, coming from Chicago. The smaller cities, I love them. I feel a closeness, a warmth I can’t explain. Like everyone is here to help.”

For aspiring actors, Grant offered this: “Don’t let the no’s get you down. In this industry, out of 100 no’s there is one yes. There’s always gonna be someone who says no. But the one yes, that will really make a difference. Stay encouraged.”

Grant’s hardest no? “Well, that’s kind of funny. I am obsessed with NCIS. I got my first TV audition, and it was an audition for NCIS. They didn’t hire me. Still, that’s fine, I still watch the show. That was the hardest one

though. It would have been cool to work with those actors.”

Best yes? “Aside from Tootsie? I have been really lucky with the yeses. When it happens, I just say, it was meant to be.”

When considering how the stage musical is the same and different from the original film, Grant said: “The musical is based loosely on the movie, but we have made a lot of adjustments to be more open with the audience, so it doesn’t make them feel weird, or anything.

I’d say, come with an openness, this is a more friendly version of the Tootsie movie. There is still some cursing, I get to do some cursing.”

When asked his favorite joke, Grant said: “Oh, I have a good one for you, one of the stage-right set crew members that travels with us, writes a joke for me on my prop plate every night. There is a scene in a restaurant

where I clear a plate and walk off stage. When I get off stage, I read the joke. He might get in trouble for doing that, but it makes me laugh.

Recently he wrote, ‘Why are elevators so good at telling jokes? Because they land on every level.’”

Find Grant on instagram.com/jdmg585: “You can follow my career, see what happens.”

Tootsie is coming to Southern California: San Diego Civic Theatre from Tuesday, April 12 through Sunday, April 17; Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles from Tuesday, April 26 through Sunday, May 15; Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa from Tuesday, May 31 through Sunday, June 12. tootsiemusical.com

The cast of the National Tour of TOOTSIE.

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stage

by brad hart

BOB FOSSE’S DANCIN’ Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ is his full-throated, fullbodied celebration of the art form he loved, practiced and changed forever. His musical masterpiece is being reimagined by director Wayne Cilento, who starred in the original Broadway production. Cilento is transforming the show’s original vision for 21st-century audiences.

The revival will return to Broadway in the 2022–23 season. But lucky for us, it will first play at The Old Globe in San Diego with performances from Tuesday, April 19 through Sunday, May 29.

Dancin’ brims with Fosse’s warmth, emotion, color and endlessly influential style rarely seen

MID-CENTURY MODERNS

THE MUSICAL

The fabulous hits of ’66 come to life in this delightful tale of a plucky Wisconsin widow who transforms from frump to fabulous when she finds herself at the center of modernity in Palm Springs.

The music of Tom Jones, Petula Clark, Lesley Gore, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, The Association, The Monkees and more are featured in this world premiere directed by Mark Christopher.

Mid-Century Moderns The Musical will star Christine Tringali-Nunes, Robbie Wayne, Dana Adkins, Gary Powers, James Owens, Carlos Garcia and Kellee McQuinn as The Tour Guide. The show will run from Wednesday, April 20 through Sunday, May 8 at Desert Rose Playhouse in Palm Springs. desertroseplayhouse.org

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in modern interpretations of his work. Featuring an eclectic score that spans a multitude of musical genres and a cast of Broadway’s most accomplished dancers, Dancin’ will deliver the quintessential Broadway experience for Fosse fans and first-timers alike.

“Bob Fosse was a transformational figure in the musical theatre, and his innovations revolutionized dance on the Broadway stage and on film,” Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein said. “One of his greatest works, Dancin’, showcased everything that was breathtaking and unique about his vision.

Now the brilliant Wayne Cilento, one of Fosse’s heirs and himself a Broadway treasure,

revitalizes and reanimates this classic show for our moment and for the 21st century. Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ is a jolt that will supercharge The Globe and our audiences as we boldly step forward — as we dance forward — from the two challenging years of the pandemic.

It is a viscerally exciting piece of theatre, with stagecraft as colorful and rich as its remarkable choreography, and the dancer-singer-actors Wayne has brought to San Diego are quite simply wonders to behold. This show is a bold statement about the joy and delight that are unique to the theatre, and I’m honored and truly happy to bring it to our city.” theoldglobe.org

PACIFIC SYMPHONY PRESENTS VERDI’S OTELLO Love, betrayal and jealousy are all trademarks of great tragic opera and Otello embraces these themes to the fullest. Based on William Shakespeare’s play Othello, Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi’s Otello premiered at La Scala opera house in Milan in 1887. Verdi had a particular affection for the works of Shakespeare. He described the Bard as “the great searcher of the human heart.” Verdi’s interpretation of this classic Shakespeare tale takes you on a journey through a passionate romance destroyed by one of opera’s most loathsome villains.

Otello is considered to be Verdi’s greatest tragic opera, containing some of his most beautiful, expressive music and some of his richest characterizations.

Verdi’s Otello will be performed on Thursday, April 7, Saturday, April 9 and Tuesday, April 12 at Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. pacificsymphony.org

COME TO THE CABARET OLD CHUM! ...and enjoy a cocktail, ecleccc performances, and a big dose of community love!

Most events are FREE and have open seaang!

For more informaaon visit: www.diversionary.org/cabaret

PIANO BAR DRAG SING-ALONGS HAPPY HOURS LIVE MUSIC COMEDY 4545 PARK BLVD, UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS (619) 220-0097

| WWW.DIVERSIONARY.ORG

stage

by brad hart

A TWISTED BARGAIN From writer Michael Mizerany of the hit shows The Big D, Wally & His Lover Boys and Marry Me, Dennis Branigan comes the first play in his new Thrillogy Series, A Twisted Bargain. Inspired by the life and crimes of Leopold and Loeb, A Twisted Bargain can be seen through Sunday, April 10 at The Forum Theater at the Tenth Avenue Arts Center in downtown San Diego. This psychological thriller examines the volatile relationship of Michael Franklin and Xander Roberts.

Michael is obsessed with crime and cruelty, and Xander is obsessed with Michael. Thus began their pact of quid pro quo where sex and violence are brutally intertwined. A story of obsession, manipulation and murder features performances by Juan Ayala and Hunter Brown.

Warning: A Twisted Bargain contains adult themes and content including profanity, male nudity, sexual situations and some violence. compulsiondancetheatre.org

CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE

Beauty, thrills and majesty will return to Orange County on Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23. Imagine the magic of some of the best cirque artists in the world performing on the same stage with a full symphony orchestra. This is the experience of Cirque de la Symphonie.

Combining these two art forms provides an energized performance that is greater than the sum of its parts.

For more than 10 years, the popular troupe has thrilled and bedazzled veteran concertgoers and new patrons. Coming to Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, the new show features a jaw-dropping fusion of fliers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers and strongmen while the Pacific Symphony provides a soundtrack of classical masterpieces and contemporary favorites. pacificsymphony.org

LES BALLETS DE MONTE-CARLO To wrap up their spring dance season, the always-dazzling Les Ballets de Monte Carlo will make its long-awaited return with Romeo and Juliet performed from Friday, April 15 through Sunday, April 17 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa.

Considered one of the most iconic ballets by acclaimed choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot, Romeo and Juliet has been performed more than 250 times around the world, usually greeted with standing ovations. It has also been added to the repertoire of seven major dance companies.

Knowing audiences arrive with some knowledge of Shakespeare’s story freed Maillot to create an original perspective told through a series of flashbacks. Stripping away the flowery balconies into a streamlined stage design that speaks to the heart, the only accessories

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required by the choreographer are our own emotional responses and the memory of our first loves.

Romeo and Juliet harmoniously unites classical ballet and contemporary dance to create a truly cinematic style of modern theatre. With the quality, youthful energy and elegance that characterizes this distinguished company, this remarkable version is one of the most exquisite ballets adapted from Shakespeare’s masterpiece to be seen today.

Les Ballets de Monte Carlo was established in 1985 by the Princess of Hanover in accordance with the wishes of her mother, Princess Grace of Monaco. In 1993, Maillot was nominated as the head of the company to continue the long tradition of dance in Monaco and its famous Ballets Russes. scfta.org

music spotlight

by bill biss

SOFI TUKKER HITS THE COURT

WET TENNIS 26

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“We’re going to have a great show with a million smiles and color with a lot of lights and songs, wonderful songs with you out there selling them. Wouldn’t it be wonderful!”

This age-old showbiz philosophy pretty much sums up the effervescent talents of the dynamic duo known as Sofi Tukker, aka Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern. Even a pandemic and dashed dreams of political aspirations for Weld or basketball stardom for Halpern couldn’t stop the two from “picking themselves up, dusting themselves off . . . to start all over again.”This, they did in spades creating a life force of positivity in music, attitude and the simple joy of discovering that there is a pathway to success if you follow new aspirations and new creative outlets with hard work leading the way.

As they say in tennis, it will soon be “game, set, match” as their new album Wet Tennis hits the courts and the arena of new music on the world scene on April 29. This announcer says simply, “love, love” as the songs presented cascade and delight like pure energy that is uplifting, spirited and sexy with a sparkling attitude of hope. It was a pleasure to talk with Soph and Tuck of Sofi Tukker for The Rage Monthly. Let the games begin.

The album is a blast of positive and fun energy along with the drama of emotions at times. How was it putting this together and share your thoughts on what was important to you both in creating it?

Soph & Tuck: It was important to us that it feels like a blast of positive and fun energy! We wrote a lot of songs during the pandemic, not all of them were positive and fun. We carefully curated this collection to make sure that’s what people would be left feeling. Even as we take some more emotional turns, they’re always followed by an optimistic track.

We definitely cover the range of human emotions in this album, but we wanted it as a whole to feel like a motivating uplift. It was important to us to be honest about what we were experiencing while writing it and also make sure that we spun it in a positive direction. For instance, we didn’t include all the dramatic and emotional songs we wrote over the past couple years on purpose.

Tucker, is your voice that deep or is your voice put through a voice machine to sound as deep as it does? It works either way.

Tuck: My voice is really that deep. It is also layered with Sophie’s vocal pitched down . . . which strangely sounds very similar to the formants of my actual voice.

“Summer in New York” has a great feel to it. (With the sample of “Tom’s Diner”) and the riff from Tucker. Did you write this one Sophie or was it a collaboration? Emotionally, what kind of a feeling did you want to evoke when writing the lyrics and putting the beats on it?

Soph: We write everything together! We were in the middle of the pandemic, dreaming of being with people again, dreaming specifically of New York, which is such a special city to us. It’s where we started the band and where so many of our closest homies are. We quite literally just

explain a day in the life in New York in the summer. In the lyrics, we go to our favorite spots . . . Bang Bang for Tuck, Miss Favela for me, etc. We were actually so inspired after writing the song that we decided to move back to New York! It’s kind of like the modern twist on “Tom’s Diner,” which is also an ode to New York City. Couldn’t be more thrilled to be there this summer.

The steamiest song on this, I think, is the title track “Wet Tennis” as it’s sexy as “funk.”You would think that a simpler song such as this would be easy to create but sometimes having fun with music is harder than you initially thought. Your thoughts on that? Also, what was the most complicated song to create on Wet Tennis as far as getting it just the way you wanted?

Soph & Tuck: This one was the most fun and the most challenging to work on. Creating the skeleton of the song happened really quickly.

We already had the album title at that point, and we were dancing and singing around our house, taking on alternate personalities while writing this melody. We loved the song, but it was like nothing we had ever made before and so figuring out how to really bring it to life was a challenge. We made so many different versions of the song and then we brought in a bunch of super talented musicians in Miami to really spice it up. We had some amazing horn players and percussion players and an incredible organist all in the studio. The song now feels so alive and so vibrant; we’re so happy with how it turned out.

In regard to the overall groove and style of your music, I was initially reminded of the Scissor Sisters, The Cardigans plus Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66! Any of these artists ring a bell with you both and what artists or groups did either Tucker or you gravitate to as a teenager/ young adult?

APRIL 2022 | @theragemonthly

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music spotlight

continued from page 27

Soph: I particularly love Sergio Mendes and I got exposed to Brazilian music in high school because I went to an international school with a bunch of Brazilians. I was so attracted to the many different musical styles in Brazil, so much so that I then decided to study Portuguese in college.

Tuck: My favorite artists were 50 Cent, blink-182, Eminem and Cobra Starship. We definitely come from very different worlds.

“Mon Cheri” — the song truly sounds like a joyful and positive international anthem. As I haven’t read the English lyrics yet, what is the song about?

Soph: The song is about everlasting love. The kind of love that dances on even when humans can no longer! It’s a really sweet ode to a darling but isn’t only tied to romantic love. We feel like the lyrics really match the sound, which is so bright and optimistic.

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Please share your excitement and thoughts about touring in 2022.

Soph & Tuck: We couldn’t be more excited to tour in 2022. We feel like we’ve been building up the energy for years and we finally get to let it out! We’ve also been designing a brand-new show for the Wet Tennis tour, it’s a live show but also like a game. The audience will really feel like an active participant. We’ve never seen anything like it, and we think it’s really special. We hope you do too!

Well, you two, Wet Tennis is a slam dunk of an album. Now you both truly must hit the court with your tour and congrats on making me and many others smile, enjoy and jam to your music.

Soph & Tuck: Thank you! Love your vibe, Bill! sofitukker.com

Bill Biss has been writing since 2000 about the people who create magic in music, film and book. His knowledge of the entertainment business has even impressed gossip columnist Liz Smith. He has been a member of Team Rage since its inception in 2007.

rage recommends

by bill biss

GERSHWIN COUNTRY MICHAEL FEINSTEIN AND MUSICAL GUESTS

The finest and the feistiest of country western singers of note come together to duet with Michael Feinstein on Gershwin Country. It’s a novel idea that should be cherished for its originality with Liza Minnelli as executive producer. Singer, musician and producer Feinstein came up with a “hoot and holler” of a concept with this newly released CD. It takes the beloved songs from George and Ira Gershwin, and presents them in the gentle spirit of Americana and with the kick of a celebration of a county-styled fair that is both romantic and full of rollicking fun.

It’s a front porch full of this genre of music and a who’s who of memorable names who join Feinstein in 11 songs by the Gershwin brothers. The main stage of this special recorded event features Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Brad Paisley, Lyle Lovett, Rosanne Cash, Vince Gill, Amy Grant and more. Plus, if you love Liza — who doesn’t — she has recorded the closing track “Embraceable You” with Feinstein. Feinstein’s voice excels with just the right touch on each song. He’s quite familiar as a scholar of song in his own right and he’s ready for a rodeo of sounds in all regards.

Paisley goes to town with Feinstein on “I Got Rhythm,” and this version is a bootkicking escapade with a tempo janglin’ faster than a silver spur. There is the lonesome trail and the giddy-up exuberance of “Clap Yo’ Hands” in unison with Feinstein and Lovett. My “blue-ribbon” prize goes out to Grant with her tender dish of a duet of “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” The song is so beautifully presented. Had to go back for seconds and thirds!

The selections served up may have you saying, “Who could ask for anything more?”

Yes, this is a darn and mighty fine way to rope in a special part of the American songbook and take it for a ride, “country-style.” Sit a spell and enjoy. Available now

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A POINT OF VIEW BOBBY COLE

A blast from the coolest past: Ladies and gentlemen, it’s Bobby Cole. This 1960s singer/songwriter and pure talent turned the heads of none other than Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland. Cole went on to be Garland’s musical arranger on television and stage.

Those are some pretty good credentials in my book. He’s a pure saloon singer with a jazzy edge, and it’s well worth it to hear Cole sing and play in your own private room courtesy of Omnivore Recordings. Mixing the piano flair of a Peter Nero and the vocal qualities of the very best of the times, it’s a rare treat to hear the magic and heartache burst from this guy. Originally released in 1967, A Point of View’s songs were all written by Cole, including 13 unissued bonus tracks. Indeed, Cole is a lost treasure to bring home and adore. Available April 15

A WHITE ALBUM

RAIN PERRY There is a storyteller behind the eyes of Rain Perry. Her voice fits naturally into her songwriting skills and the songs she chose to cover.

She lays down a smart and realistic look at history’s grip on race, love, money, family and, most importantly, it’s a musical lesson without the preacher or the steeple but just the people. Most of her songs don’t need a two-minute warning as she takes over five minutes to share each story in song in six of the nine selections. Mark Hallman creates just the right textures of instruments and produced A White Album. Rain Perry makes her musical emotions quite clear in a timely fashion. Available April 15

APRIL 2022 | @theragemonthly

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tv spotlight

by chris carpenter

Sailing The High Seas WITH VICO ORTIZ

photography by val vega

There have been many media portrayals of pirates during the last century. Some have been fearsome, some not so much. From big-screen Errol Flynn classics like Captain Blood and The Sea Hawk to Broadway’s The Pirates of Penzance, TV’s Black Sails to Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean attractions and films, historical swashbucklers have long captured the public’s imagination.

We can now add the new, comedic HBO Max series Our Flag Means Death to this list. Queer-friendly, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok) serves as executive producer. He also directed the pilot episode and co-stars throughout the series as the real-life pirate Blackbeard. The show was inspired by the life of Stede Bonnet, an 18th-century aristocrat turned pirate enjoyably personified by Rhys Darby.

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E

nter actor Vico Ortiz, who plays the mysterious crew member Jim. Jim (more privately known as Bonifacia) is on a quest for revenge, even as they are questioning their gender identity and falling in love with a fellow crew member. Ortiz is a proud non-binary/ gender fluid actor/activist born and raised in Puerto Rico. From birth, Ortiz grew up in an artistic environment as both their parents, Gerardo Ortiz and Evelyn Rosario, are respected and accomplished stage actors.

They have fond memories of rehearsing lines with their parents at home, accompanying them to the theatre regularly, being backstage observing rehearsals while doing homework, and even sometimes helping with props and costumes.

Therefore, it was no surprise that Ortiz wanted to follow in their parents’ footsteps and be an actor. While the stage was their first love, Ortiz has also excelled in fencing since pre-teen. Most of their teenage years were spent traveling the world representing Puerto Rico as a saber fencer on their national fencing team, including at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro. Before finishing high school, Ortiz spent a summer at the UCLA Theater Camp and that experience confirmed acting was their calling. Ortiz moved to Los Angeles soon after and received an education at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Ortiz got their feet wet in the professional world of acting during the three-year program, working in theatre and student films. But it was Ortiz’s gift for fencing that led to their breakthrough in the entertainment industry working as a stunt performer. Their first co-star role was in the hit Amazon series Transparent, which paved the way to well-recognized television appearances in popular shows such as The Fosters, Lucifer, American Horror Story: 1984 and Criminal Minds.

2022 is expected to be Ortiz’s biggest year yet thanks to the success of Our Flag Means Death. The Rage Monthly interviewed Ortiz via Zoom about their life and work, during which they were wearing a fabulous multi-colored shirt.

Vico! Thanks so much for your time, and congratulations! I think Our Flag Means Death is going to be major exposure and a big hit. It’s such an enjoyable show.

Thank you! Yeah, it’s been bananas. I’m really excited for it to come out already and just happen!

How did you got cast in it?

It happened rather quickly. I was in Puerto Rico in May of 2021 for a theatre project. I had just finished doing it on Sunday, and Tuesday I get the email for a self-tape, because everything now is a self-tape. I haven’t been to an in-person casting in a couple years. I do the thing, and when I first got the email with the scenes I was like, “Oh my God, this is incredible!” It was due the next day, but I was like “I will knock it out in a couple hours, I got this.” I sent it immediately and then the next day I get a call back, and then the next day I have a meeting with (series creator) David Jenkins and then the next day I get the offer. And then on Sunday I was on my way back to L.A. to start (costume) fittings on Monday.

Were they looking specifically for a non-binary actor for a non-binary character? Did you know that going in?

Correct. Yeah, when the character was described to me, it was looking for a non-binary person to portray a non-binary character and Latine. So, I was like “this is perfect,” and what they didn’t know when I auditioned for it is that I also have a background in fencing so I know how to swordfight. I also do drag, I’m a drag king, so I’m very familiar and comfortable with exploring what masculinity means to me and what femininity means to me on my own terms. I was like, “this is oddly specific.” I even had a couple directors during the season ask me “Was this written for you?’ and I was like, “It was not at all.” It was really awesome because once I got into the project there was some Spanish but very little, like one word every so often, so I talked to David Jenkins and asked if I could add more Spanish and he said “Yeah, make it yours.” So that was really rad.

Did you do a lot of research into pirate lives or that whole history, which is fascinating? I know there were queer pirates. I don’t know how well known they are, but were there non-binary pirates? What did you find out?

That’s the thing. We’ve all heard about pirates and normally we all focus on the violent or the gruesome and chaotic or intense part of it. But as I really started looking into the detailed stories I was like, “These are really very queer people.” Like, in general they were getting gay married left and right and it was totally normal, totally chill, and there were a couple of pirates who had a very similar experience to what Jim has in the show. So that’s what’s interesting when you start looking at history, right, the way it’s written you have these two women pirates who got into this boat dressed as men. But one of them, Anne Bonny — I’m going to use she/her pronouns because that’s what we had at the time — but she had always been dressing up as a boy. When you look at her story, she had always been doing this since she was a little kid and then goes into the boat and stops wearing what’s considered men’s clothes but continues in that style, so it makes me question if Anne Bonny was living in this day and age with the language we have now, would this person be a non-binary or a trans person? What I love about playing Jim is it’s a chance to be reclaiming those stories. There were stories of queer people who found themselves in these extraordinary situations that allowed them to actually access a part of themselves that otherwise they wouldn’t have been able to. Pirates are overall very queer and they were very gay for each other, and it was like really sweet. They were carving their own path and making their own rules.

It’s funny, I was thinking while watching Our Flag Means Death that next time I go on Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland I will never look at those pirates the same!

Not at all! And a lot them were not monogamous. They were also having polyamorous relationships. Literally, they were making their own utopia.

I’m sure that was part of the appeal though to so many of them, being able to live life by your own rules or with no rules.

Which relates a little bit to the show. With a lot of our stories the common denominator is to have a second chance, to have agency of your own life. It’s like a moment to be like, “Oh, I can be who I am and be accepted for who I am in this world” and to be loved and to love.

APRIL 2022 | @theragemonthly

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Talk a bit about working with Taika Waititi, both as director and as fellow actor. How was that experience?

An absolute dream. Taika, both as a director and as an actor, has such a beautiful sense of wonder and child-like curiosity. You can see how he’s envisioning the setting and telling the story. He’s fascinated by all of it.

He’s super fun. I love that in the beginning he was like, “Stick to the lines, absolutely stick to the script” but then the second we were filming he was like “Try it this way, try this other thing, go crazy!” And we were like, “OK, I guess I’m not doing the lines anymore as they were written.” Everything was always something new, every take is like fresh, and I love that.

That’s cool! How is Jim, your character, like you personally and how is Jim different from you.

Um, so, I love this question because there are so many similar things but at the same time not at all, which I love because people think non-binary, “oh, it’s the same thing” and I’m like no, the way that I express myself and the way I walk in this world is like this flowery, flamboyant, I love love and I’m here for it. Whereas Jim is very much walls up, I don’t want you to know anything about me, if you look at me weird, I will stab you. But he does have a very soft side that’s layered in a lot of childhood trauma, which I love as well. And then again, I know fencing and I trained how to swordfight to compete, whereas Jim trained to kill, so very different intentions. Jim is chaotic, and I’m chaotic but on a different level. (Laughs) Has your family always been pretty supportive of you or were there challenges?

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Thankfully, they have been. It has definitely been a lot of conversations and a lot of patience on both ends. Obviously, I recognize that there’s been a lot of stuff that I’ve had to unpack and unlearn and deprogram, and then learn and absorb. When I started conveying that same information to my parents and my brother I was like (loudly claps their hands together) “Get it!” Right?

And then I was like, “Hold up, maybe I’m going a little bit too fast, and I need to slow it down a couple notches and really allow for the process to happen.”

Because it is a lot and as much as it’s about me, once they began realizing that the same system that is trying to put me in a box is the same system that has put them also in boxes and has told them what can you and cannot do based literally on what you were born with is when they went, “ooohhh” and realized it’s not just about me fighting for my rights but is literally about everyone trying to live authentically no matter what. Which is something that I also love about playing Jim. I want people to question “What makes me a man? What makes me a woman? What makes me a human being outside of societal structures and expectations?” And then define them on their own terms.

Wow. Well, thank you so much for your time, Vico. It’s been great meeting you and I wish you every success. And send me that shirt when you’re done with it.

(Laughs) Absolutely, isn’t it fabulous? It’s a good time, it’s a good time.

Catch Vico Ortiz in Our Flag Means Death, now streaming on HBO Max. hbomax.com Chris Carpenter has been writing about entertainment since 1996 and a member of Team Rage since 2012.

He is a founding member and vice president emeritus of GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics.

travel

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by andrew j stillman

www.rage.lgbt | APRIL 2022

THE BEST WAY TO EXPLORE

PUERTO VALLARTA Puerto Vallarta, with its glistening blue waters, vibrant and lush landscapes, and unlimited amounts of man candy is one of the world’s ultimate gay destinations.

There’s so much more to this city than the gay bars, gay beaches, gay pools and gay hotels. I know, I know. How could you possibly want to do anything besides hang

First, if you’re flying there via San Diego, consider using the Cross Border Xpress (CBX), a convenient 390-foot walkway on the U.S. border that leads directly into Tijuana International Airport. This allows you to go through Customs before you board your flight, so you can get off the plane and head directly into the city when you land anywhere in Mexico.

Built in 2015, the CBX is working on a 7,000-square-foot expansion that will include an enlarged processing area for U.S. Customs and Border Control, expected to be finished by the end of 2022. Also in the works are adding hotel rooms and increasing the parking. As of now, parking starts at $15 a day, with valet services starting at $30. You can also take advantage of the shuttle services to San Diego, San Ysidro, Los Angeles, Riverside, Fresno, Sacramento and Stockton. crossborderxpress.com Since Puerto Vallarta is a domestic flight from Tijuana, the airfare-price decrease is worth looking into. $38 deals? That’s cheaper than filling up your car these days!

Once you have arrived in Puerto Vallarta,

out all day with boys in their Speedos while sipping margaritas and soaking up the tropical sun?

While the gay activities are certainly exciting and well worth experiencing, let’s gossip about other group activities you could consider to make the most of your Puerto Vallarta experience.

you’ll likely want to book your lodging at the Almar to stay at the gay hotel in the city and have immediate access to Mantamar, an adults-only gay beach club with a pool, Jacuzzis, and plenty of covered seating on the Los Muertos gay beach.

However, if you’d prefer to keep the party scene separate from where you lay your head at night, or you’re there to celebrate something special with your honey, consider looking into the Grand Miramar. This gorgeous, romantic 100-room hotel is carefully chiseled alongside the hill where it resides, and every suite comes with a porch and a sweeping ocean view. With an adults-only infinity pool on the rooftop, five restaurants, five other pools including one with a swim-up bar, and an incredible staff, this hotel permeates an electric atmosphere with an ethereal feeling. Relax in the spa, tone up at the gym, or meander and admire the ocean views you get around each corner. Round up your friends and split the 9,000-square-foot Presidential Suite, for a top-of-the-line experience. The options are limitless. grandmiramar.com

Let’s talk about what you should do while you are on vacation.

We may try to watch our diets, but if you’re not prepared to eat and drink your way through Puerto Vallarta, you’re doing it all wrong.

While you’re in the Zona Romantica checking out all the hotties walking the streets, pop over to the Versalles neighborhood and visit Barrio Bistro Restaurant and La Lulu Raicilleria. Chef Memo Wulff has an incredible menu of Mexican dishes that you can pair with the Jalisco-made moonshine known as raicilla. The alcohol tastes like a blend of mezcal and tequila. It’s made from a specific agave and only produced in Puerto Vallarta’s home state. As a terroir-based spirit, the flavors vary based on the soil. About half of the raicilla is produced along the coast, with the rest made in the surrounding mountain ranges. A juicy raicilla cocktail coupled with a bone marrow and fried ant-egg taco? Talk about a truly unique pairing experience.

If yachts, open bars, private beaches and swimming with the sea life sounds more up your alley, $129 will get you a day out with APRIL 2022 | @theragemonthly

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Vallarta Adventures on the Luxury Yacht and Snorkel Tour. The boat loads at 8 a.m., and the open bar commences as soon as you set sail. With a small breakfast and delicious lunch included, spend the day cruising around the Bay of Banderas in style with a constant flow of tequila (or your alcohol of choice) on deck.

The first stop allows you to jump in the ocean and snorkel while feeding the fish. You may even get lucky and pass around an urchin, see an octopus, or have a fish the size of a cat swim near you. Just be mindful of the nearby rocks and you are totally good to go.

Next, the ship cruises over to Majahuitas Cove, a secluded beach that offers domestic beer and hammocks that can hold 10 people or more. The tour also comes with a photographer who documents the journey for you and takes awesome shots wherever you are. The ship returns to the dock in the early afternoon. vallarta-adventures.com That still leaves you plenty of time to plan your night. If you’re looking for more activities and food, you should totally drop $52 for the Street Taco Tour from Vallarta Food Tours.

This epic tour takes you around the Zona Romantica and other nearby neighborhoods as you taste various street tacos and cocktails.

The tour stops at brick-and-mortar restaurants, pop-up stands that been there for up to 40 years, and various combinations of the two throughout the eight locations. Make sure you come hungry. You’ll even get to experience an awesome churro stand hidden in an alley for a truly top notch for-the-locals experience. vallartafoodtours.com Another tour option would be anything from Vallarta 101. Between donation-based tours and all-inclusive paid options, this is another great way to experience and learn more about the city. Meander around the boardwalk, learn the history of the seahorse sculpture, visit the incredible Church of Our Lady Guadalupe cathedral, and prepare yourself to climb many stairs as you walk to the top of the lighthouse for a 360-degree view of the surrounding area. Take a stroll down a street featured in Herbie, visit the hotel where Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton conducted their scandalous affair, and peek into La Cappella, the only place in town that offers a bottomless gay brunch on Saturdays.

Make your reservations immediately, since they book in a blink every week for that. bellviewhotelboutique.com/lacappella

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For an unforgettable experience, go to Rhythms of the Night. This $149 ticket comes with a breathtaking show put together by the creators of Cirque du Soleil on a stage in the woods under the stars.

Another option through Vallarta Adventures, this excursion also includes a yacht ride across the Bay of Banderas with an open bar. This is a sunset tour, so it’s a great option for those who want something special for dinner. The yacht heads to another secluded beach, Las Caletas, that immediately sets the circus theme upon unloading. Torches line the walkway and people dressed in animal costumes sit on rocks to welcome you as a live band creates a personalized soundtrack. The firelit pathway leads you to the first event of the night: the food. Enjoy a buffet and a continuation of that open bar. Eat, drink and be merry as the sun sets for the night.

Once it’s dark, follow the drumbeats into the bamboo. You go deeper into the forest before you get to the amphitheatre for the show, which is centered around the Aztec story of creation and the rituals humans have gone through to stay alive throughout the centuries. This is a heartpounding and exhilarating event that should be the first thing on your list to fit into your budget. If you’re lucky, you’ll even get a separate show from the boat crew on the way back, who may have sipped on a tequila or two during the outing. But none of this really masks the true reason most of us go to Puerto Vallarta: the boys. I mean. vallarta-adventures.com/en/ tour/rhythms-of-the-night If we were to talk about a gay paradise on Earth, between the beauty of the location matched with the best of the best found on the dating apps strutting around, it is just a buffet of hotties. The gay scene is eclectic, alive, inclusive and welcoming of everybody. The bars in Zona Romantica are always packed. Events like Pride and Bear Week leave no room to move about freely with every type of man anywhere you look.

Whether you’re heading to Puerto Vallarta for Pride next month or planning a visit whenever you want to, there’s always an experience here you’ll never forget. Even if you rented a little shack on the stairs leading up to the lighthouse, every corner of this city feels like magic, and it’s hard to believe any part of it actually exists. vallartapride.org/home

Andrew J. Stillman is a writer of fantasy stories and freelance content. In his spare time, he makes YouTube videos and explores the world on his travel blog at lifeinanotherworld.com. Follow him @andrewjstillman on all the things.

APRIL 2022 | @theragemonthly

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Cheers TO THE CALIFORNIA

eating out

by tony reverditto

WINE FESTIVAL

ENJOY DRINKS, FOOD AND MUSIC AT THE BIGGEST WINE FEST UNDER THE SUN

A

s Southern California continues to open up after a two-year hiatus, the California Wine Festival (CWF) is back, and promises to be better than ever.

Voted one of the Top 10 festivals in the U.S., the CWF will return to Dana Point with the oceanfront tasting events taking place on Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23.

Guests will indulge in tastings of more than 200 wines from across California, combined with gourmet food selections from some of Orange County’s fine dining restaurants accompanied by lifestyle exhibits, live entertainment and those incomparable coastal views.

On Friday evening, the festivities will begin with a Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting at a new oceanfront location, the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. This intimate experience is specifically geared towards enthusiastic wine lovers. A sparkling-wine reception will kick off the festivities with samplings of hard-to-find trophy wines as guests arrive. Tasting room exclusives and limitedproduction wines hailing from vineyards based in California’s most illustrious wineproducing regions will take center stage during the tasting extravaganza. Renown

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chefs from the Dana Point area will serve hot and cold appetizers crafted to pair with the showcased world-class wines. Guests can participate in a silent auction, which includes unusual wines, tasting tours and dining certificates.

Proceeds will benefit the Sandy Feet Initiative, an organization that supports siblings of children with special needs, through instructional and safe beach days.

The festival will also benefit The Surfrider Foundation of South Orange County, whose mission is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean and beaches.

“We are thrilled to be back in Dana Point where guests can enjoy the sunshine and stunning coastal views while sipping delicious wine as live music is playing.

That is what California is all about,” said Emily Kaufmann, executive director of the California Wine Festival.

On Saturday, the Beachside Wine Festival will be at Sea Terrace Park. The afternoon event will include culinary education and exploration with one-on-one conversations and tastings with culinary and wine experts hailing from California’s top wineries and local restaurants. Attendees can choose

from hundreds of premium California wines and regional craft brews. Superb wines can be paired with a plethora of small bites such as artisanal cheeses, breads, fresh-cut fruit, shellfish, salads, decadent chocolate and cakes.

Sponsors will include Total Wine & More, the “Official Glass Sponsor,’’ hosting the special pavilion featuring a selection of international wines. Icelandic Glacial will return as “Official Water Sponsor” and Lloyd Cellars as the “Official Stage Sponsor.” Sponsors will include Doubletree Suites by Hilton Doheny Beach, Compass, and Welk Resorts.

Some of the sponsors will host interactive activities during the Beachside Wine Festival.

Another option is to stop by the Celebrity Cruises booth to sample Jackson Family Wines and learn about new destinations and itineraries, as well as the opportunity to win an Alaska cruise for two. Alternatively, in gratitude for the winemakers and winery owners working at the event, Gold sponsor Shopify will host a Winemaker Oasis in which pourers can take a breather throughout the day to grab food, water or a soothing massage.

The festival will highlight rare and reserve vintages, as well as popular pours from

TIME FOR MORE WINE CALIFORNIA WINE FESTIVAL – CARLSBAD Friday and Saturday, May 20 and 21 The quintessential California wine tasting experience — sun, sea, food, wine and music — all comes together at this sun-splashed wine fest overlooking lush rolling hills with the shimmering Pacific beyond at the beautiful Park Hyatt Aviara Resort Golf Club & Spa in north San Diego County.

California’s best vineyards based in Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Temecula and beyond. Participating wineries will include Adobe Road Winery, Austin Hope Winery, Barlow Vineyards, Bernardus Winery, Carol Shelton Wines, Cuvaison Estate Wines, Ehret Winery, Frisby Cellars Winery, Goldschmidt Vineyards, Lloyd Cellars, Navarro Vineyards, Prager Winery & Port Works, Russian River Vineyards and Sojourn Cellars.

South Orange County restaurants will serve tasty appetizers to accompany the wine selections. They include Beachfire Bar & Grill, Brio Tuscany Grille, Gino Angelini Authentic Italian Sauces, Goufrais Southern CA, Kerrygold USA, Gemmell’s Restaurant, Mahogany Smoked Meat, Mozambique, Skyloft Laguna Beach, Waterman’s Harbor, Trevor’s at the Track, Schwack Beach Bar & Grill, and Shuck Brothers.

Friday’s Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting will feature live entertainment from Kalina & Kiana, a songwriting pop duo who have opened for Justin Bieber and The Bangles.

Saturday’s Beachside Wine Festival will feature Upstream, SoCal’s premier live reggae, calypso, soca and steel drum band.

CALIFORNIA WINE FESTIVAL SANTA BARBARA Friday and Saturday, July 15 and 16 This is CWF’s signature wine event.

Thousands of wine lovers will pour into Santa Barbara’s sun-splashed beachside location for a day of sun, sea, wine, food and music.

Oenophiles will find hundreds of fine wines and regional craft brews as well as a dizzying variety of foods to sample.

CALIFORNIA WINE FESTIVAL HUNTINGTON BEACH Friday and Saturday, November 11 and 12 CWF’s final event of 2022 will take place at Paséa Hotel & Spa overlooking the beaches of Huntington Beach. A live band will keeps the beat for this all-day feast for the senses where wine and food are king and queen.

californiawinefestival.com

APRIL 2022 | @theragemonthly

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millennial matters

by cutter slagle

TRUST IS A

MUST T

hink back to the very first time you were lied to, a time you were really deceived. Do you remember it? I’m not asking you to recall stories of Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. No, what I’m referring to is a lie that cut so deep it had you questioning everything you knew about the person who told it to you. Specifically, the lie had you questioning their trust.

The older we get, the harder it is to trust someone. Then again, perhaps it’s not so much age, but wisdom or life experiences that cause us to gauge another individual’s intentions more closely. We no longer take words or actions at face value, instead coat ourselves in thick, iron-clad armor to ensure we’re protected from ugly lies, backstabbing and cruel motivations.

In a way, this sounds cynical, right? I mean, until proven otherwise, don’t we owe it to that someone to trust them? To give them the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, for many of us, there have been too many lies, too many bouts of shattered trust. As a result, we have no choice but to take on a harsh yet precautionary mantra: Fuck the benefit; I have doubt.

To be fair, it’s rather easy to get caught up in the belief that everyone has some sort of secret agenda or some element they’re hiding. Take a look at apps like Instagram, Facebook and Grindr. Each has its own way to send invisible messages, or a vanish mode to help keep chats camouflaged or an option that allows you to turn your profile incognito.

Hell, Snapchat was clearly designed for the sole purpose of not leaving behind any evidence. And who worries about leaving behind evidence? Liars, cheaters and, you know, serial killers.

Why is there a need for these types of anonymity features, regardless of the app

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or platform? Seriously! If a person truly has nothing to hide, isn’t trying to be sneaky or misleading, has no qualms about their actions and behaviors, then are these facets necessary? It’s almost as if we’re led to believe that it’s OK — dare I even say, normal? — to present false versions of ourselves.

Before anyone argues the notion of privacy, let me make one small request: Check your dictionary. There’s a big difference between being a private person and a mendacious person.

I can’t help but wonder when this started.

How it started. Why it started. This whole universal acceptance of lying to one another, especially lying to the ones we love the most.

Is it a defense mechanism of some kind? Is it a way to protect ourselves, to avoid the risk of judgment? Is it an addiction? Are there people out there who actually enjoy lying and get off on tricking others?

We’re all familiar with Pinocchio’s story.

There’s a reason it’s introduced to us at such a young age. Whether you like the story, hate it or feel indifferent toward it, you at least remember its central theme: lying. And what happens to liars?

Fine, in reality, our noses may not grow every time we tell a lie, but there are still severe consequences to lying. When we lie to someone, we’re essentially distancing them from ourselves, pushing them away, destroying any possible chance at a meaningful, authentic relationship. This leads to a pretty obvious outcome: solitude.

I hope you kept your dictionary out, because, again, there is a difference between being alone and being lonely. Perhaps you like being alone. Who doesn’t yearn for a moment of seclusion? However, consistent

lying, robbing people of the opportunity to trust you and genuinely get to know you is a surefire way to end up alone — permanently.

Undoubtedly, new victims will come along, a fresh audience to spread lies and misconceptions to, but eventually, they’ll be pushed away, too. It’s a vicious cycle that won’t stop until you stop . . . until you stop lying.

Additionally, it’s important to be careful who you tell a lie to, because, as the saying goes: “Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair.”

Sometimes, forever never comes, and that bond that took so long to form and blossom, it never returns.

You may not be able to remember the very first time you were lied to, but you can likely think of some examples where someone close to you lied, broke your trust and tainted the connection between the two of you.

That’s ultimately what lies do — big or small, pointless or significant — they act like acid, disintegrating trust. And without trust, what do we have?

Cutter Slagle is the author of suspense, horror and crime-fiction works. cutterslagle.com