RAGE MONTHLY MAGAZINE

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FEBRUARY 2022

GET SMITTEN LGBTQ ENTERTAINMENT TO FALL FOR IN 2022

WINE & DINE TIME SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S TASTIEST CULINARY EVENTS

MEN OF WEST HOLLYWOOD

LIFESTYLES OF THE FIERCE AND FABULOUS

VALENTINE’S DAY GIFTS FOR THE QUEER YOU LOVE

LIFESTYLE

EVENTS

FASHION

ENTERTAINMENT

NIGHTLIFE

COMMUNITY

FEBRUARY 2022 | @theragemonthly

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CAISSIE

LEVY One of Broadway’s most sought-after stars, Caissie Levy originated the role of Elsa in Disney’s Frozen. Don’t miss this rare West Coast appearance in our intimate 350-seat Cabaret Theater!

PUBLISHER Jay S. Jones jay@ragemonthly.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Brad L. Hart brad@ragemonthly.com EDITOR editor@ragemonthly.com ART CONSULTANT art@ragemonthly.com COPY EDITOR Ken Williams DISTRIBUTION Pride In Media

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

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stream queen

by brad hart

LIFESTYLES OF THE

FAMOUS, FIERCE AND FABULOUS Meet six of the biggest male socialites in the hippest ZIP code in Los Angeles. Crackle’s original unscripted docuseries Men of West Hollywood features three gay men, three straight men (along with their boyfriends and girlfriends) as they make their way through WeHo’s hottest parties, fashion shows and red-carpet events, finding tea and drama at every turn.

They also find love, heartbreak and friendship with new and old companions along the way. Amongst close friends, the men share intimate memories and emotional coming-out stories, finding a new level of trust in each other. Watch as longtime relationships face their ultimate test, old flings are rekindled, and new passions lead to scheming, cheating and betrayal.

DARREN TIESTE Age: 43 Sexual orientation: gay Three words that best describe you.

Driven, loyal and funny Favorite thing about living in West Hollywood?

The weather and nightlife.

What did you learn about yourself after filming the show?

I never saw myself as a funny guy. But after seeing the show, I laughed a lot at myself.

Any regrets or things you wish you would have done differently?

No regrets. I own everything I do.

Anything you hope viewers come away with after watching Men of West Hollywood?

I just really hope the viewers love the show.

LANDON WETTERSTROM Age: 24 Sexual orientation: straight Three words that best describe you.

Low-key, chill and extravagant Favorite thing about living in West Hollywood?

The people and busy life.

What did you learn about yourself after filming the show?

I learned that I truly did have substance abuse and went one year sober after the show ended.

Any regrets or things you wish you would have done differently?

No regrets.

Anything you hope viewers come away with after watching Men of West Hollywood?

I hope that they see a genuine group of six friends and everybody just trying to figure out this game we call life.

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BRENNEN TAYLOR Age: 26 Sexual orientation: straight Three words that best describe you.

Funny, charismatic and charming How did you get involved with the show?

My management received an email of their interest, so we went in and had a meeting and got all the details about the show, and I thought “well I’ve never done a reality show. I act, sing and do a lot of other things.” So, I said why not.

Any regrets or things you wish you would have done differently?

I wish I wouldn’t have dabbed in the show. When it was filmed, dabbing was a popular, cool thing. Now three years later, it’s not as cool (laughter).

Anything you hope viewers come away with after watching Men of West Hollywood?

I hope people can see that no matter if you’re gay, straight, lesbian, etc, we are all people, and the show really showcased that all types of people can come together, learn from each other and have fun. And have disagreements. But at the end of the day, friends are friends.

JUSTIN JEDLICA Age: 41 Sexual orientation: gay Three words that best describe you.

Creative, loyal and eccentric Favorite thing about living in West Hollywood?

First, the weather! Second, proximity to the best aesthetics practitioners and plastic surgeons in all the U.S., as this is helpful with my personal business as an aesthetics consultancy and custom implant design specialist. Third, proximity to major TV and media outlets/studios.

What did you learn about yourself after filming the show?

I haven’t yet watched the show. While I love being filmed and going through that process, it’s uncomfortable for me to actually watch myself. However, even in participating in the show and now after the release, the feedback from others caused a very intense feeling of being exposed. I am always up to make good content for our viewers. However, being a primary character in reality TV, the idea that everything we may have to go through or say to make an entertaining show can stretch our interactions or our reaction to the interactions seen on the show. While we all want to be entertaining, we cannot hide behind a pseudo name/character like you can in a scripted role and that makes the public hold us very responsible, which can be a scary thing.

Anything you hope viewers come away with after watching Men of West Hollywood?

I would hope that this show might show me in a more humane light.

In the past, my segments have been shorter stints on TV and media; that comprised with editing have led people over the years to think that I could be narcissistic, prejudgemental or emotionally superficial.

Of course, I think when people have the opportunity to meet me you will easily see that I’m anything but those things. I’ve always thought of myself as an outsider and a rebel that didn’t necessarily fit the mold of what society said I “should be.” I have nothing but compassion for others who may have also grown-up thinking or feeling that way. It is because my interests haven’t always been accepted by mainstream society that I think I’m hyper careful to be accepting and understanding of others. To be inclusive of other groups and people who have other interests than mine is extremely important. Fighting as an underdog to be understood and hopefully accepted by others is paramount in my interest for this show and I hope that in time I have ample opportunities to show that side of myself. It’s been my life’s work to help others gain self-love, confidence and self-esteem in whatever way I can. And yes, plastic surgery is a tool that helped me in those arenas and that I now aim to use to help others with through my consultancy. I hope that relays through some of this season, the more emotional side of the “Human Ken Doll,” Justin Jedlica.

MURRAY SWANBY Age: 32 Sexual orientation: gay Three words that best describe you.

Trouble. Lover. Guardian.

Favorite thing about living in West Hollywood?

Not having to hide my authentic self.

Walking down the street holding hands.

It’s such a different life than where I grew up. I love it here!

Biggest misconception about West Hollywood?

People tend to say West Hollywood is superficial. Usually comes from someone who moved here, couldn’t control their partying, and moved home three months later and trash talks the city. West Hollywood is full of amazing people who are all here chasing their dreams, and I’ve met the best people.

What did you learn about yourself after filming the show?

I guess I learned that I’m OK with confrontation. I think it comes from being on other reality shows that didn’t show my full story. So, I made sure it was there in this one.

Anything you hope viewers come away with after watching Men of West Hollywood?

I hope that they see LA is fun, LA is wild. We have such a spectrum of people here. But at the end of the day, we all have walls up and we all are going through something or have gone through something you have no idea about. Choose to love and forgive.

DAVID BARTA Age: 24 Three words that best describe you.

“I’m Big Tasty” How did you get involved with the show?

During the time of casting on the show, I was an up-and-coming male model and personal trainer in the WeHo area and had other friends getting casted as well.

Favorite thing about living in West Hollywood?

My favorite thing is that you never know who or what you’re going to see while driving or walking down the street on an average day. It’s wild!

Biggest misconception about it?

The biggest misconception is that people tend to think of the city as entirely made up of members of the LGBTQ community, when it is really a large mixture of all different types of people and cultures.

What did you learn about yourself after filming?

After finishing filming the Men of West Hollywood, I really learned that some of the cast members really did have my back, and that others really did not.

Catch the Season 1 drama of Men of West Hollywood now streaming on Crackle.

FEBRUARY 2022 | @theragemonthly

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hollywood

by tim parks

Falling in Love

SMITTEN BY 2022’s LGBTQ ENTERTAINMENT

I

t looks like 2022 is giving LGBTQ audiences a love letter: a batch of new movies and TV shows, essentially asking us to be their Valentine and welcome these projects into our hearts.

We’ve had a lesbian main character played by Jasmin Savoy Brown in the new Scream movie, and Fortune Feimster and Margaret Cho as moms to a teenager in Hulu’s Sex Appeal. Expectations are high for the August release of Billy Eichner’s Bros, the first gay romantic comedy with an exclusively LGBTQ cast released by a major studio – take that straighties!

On the TV front, there’s the currently-in-production Queer as Folk reboot coming to Peacock, while Pose star Michaela Jaé Rodriguez will follow up her history-making Best Actress Golden Globe with the Apple TV+ comedy

SO DRAMATIC A queer student, Vada Cavell (Jenna Ortega), experiences The Fallout following a mass shooting at her high school. She navigates the trauma of the event, which creates a distance with her gun violence advocate gay bestie Nick Feinstein (Will Ropp), and a desire to be closer to schoolmates Mia Reed (Maddie Ziegler) and Quinton Hasland (Niles Fitch) in the “biblical sense” in the HBO Max film. Out now.

Real-life spouses Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allyne make their directorial debut by posing the titular question Am I OK? While it may not be right for best friends Lucy (Dakota Johnson) and Jane (Sonoya Mizuno) that the latter is moving to London, it may be OK when Lucy professes her love for Jane.

Sorry, I was listening to Whitney Houston when I wrote this. TBA. A movie with a similar premise is Netflix’s Beauty, written by out actor Lena Waithe, which details a singer named – wait for it – Beauty (Gracie Marie Bradley), who is on the precipice of stardom and exploring a relationship with her butch friend Jasmine (Aleyse Shannon). The drama also co-stars Sharon Stone and Niecy Nash. TBA. There are two films that kick it old school as to what it meant to be a homosexual during wartime. First up is the biopic Benediction, in part set during World War I, which focuses on the life of Siegfried Sassoon, played by Jack Lowden in his younger days and Peter Capaldi during middle age. The British poet and soldier was both an outspoken critic of the war and married to a woman who acted as his beard. Scandalosa! TBA. The World War II backdrop of Great Freedom has more of a Brokeback Mountain vibe going for it in detailing Hans Hoffmann (Franz Rogowski), a gay German man being imprisoned during a time where homosexuality was illegal. While in the big house, he falls for his cellmate Viktor (Georg Friedrich), a convicted murderer. Yay, I got through it without writing a don’t drop the soap joke. Dammit! March 4.

My Policeman also has true-life roots based in the past, the UK in the 1950s.

Singer Harry Styles is the titular cop, who is torn between two lovers Marion (Emma Corrin) and Patrick (David Dawson). TBA. The autobiographical dramedy Potato Dreams of America stars Tyler Bocock as a gay Russian teen named Potato who immigrates to the USA with his mail-order bride mother during the 1990s. Truth is stranger than fiction in this case! TBA.

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series Loot. And now airing on HBO Max is the bonkers superhero show, Peacemaker, which not only has Orange Is the New Black’s Danielle Brooks as lesbian main character Leota Adebayo, but John Cena showing off his, uh, assets.

The theme for some projects seems to be exploring friendship, or friends with benefits to be precise. And the majority of these coming-soon efforts fall into the TBA category, which means To Be Announced and not an acronym for Total Bottom Alert on those interwebs dating apps. I mean, I don’t think it is, but I’ve been out of circulation for a spell.

Let’s take a look at the potential entertainment love interests for the coming year.

REEL LIFE The musical biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody delves into the rise of Whitney Houston (Naomi Ackie) as a chart-topping diva and her sad demise, but also explores her relationship with Robyn Crawford (Nafessa Williams) as well as her destructive marriage to Bobbay! (Ashton Sanders). December 23.

OK, stay with me on this one. Another songstress is getting a celluloid life story. Kinda. Aline stars Valérie Lemercier as chanteuse Aline Dieu, who is based on Celine Dion, but is not referred to as such in the film, even though they use Dion’s music. Um, what? April 8.

Rounding out the trifecta of female singers on film is Nothing Compares, a document about Sinead O’Connor that covers her career, including that infamous Saturday Night Live appearance where she ripped up a picture of the Pope, as well as her struggles with mental illness. Out now.

Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back has the gay entertainer reminiscing on his somewhat tempestuous relationship with younger brother Gregory, being out for the entirety of his career and what it was like becoming an adoptive parent before it was legal in many states. Premiering on Starz in February.

Framing Agnes showcases trans woman Agnes Torres, who was a participant in a 1960s gender health research project, the first of its kind to explore the life of a trans person’s life. The documentary features re-enactments by trans actors, including Pose and American Horror Story thespian Angelica Ross. TBA. Ever wonder what happens when a BDSM master retires? Well, you’re in luck, as The Last Chapter documents 63-year-old French dom Bernard Guyonnet and his younger submissive filmmaking boyfriend Gianluca Matarrese, who directed this Venice Film Festival award winner. TBA.

LAUGH OUT LOUD Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is the source material for Fire Island. SNL player Bowen Yang and actor-comedian Joel Kim Booster are two BFF’s who descend upon the famed gay mecca for a week of drinking cheap rosé all day, and possibly finding love. The Hulu comedy co-stars Margaret Cho. TBA. The world of online hookups, and the ability to present yourself in whatever manner you choose, is the concept behind the rom-com My Fake Boyfriend. Keiynan Lonsdale (Love, Victor) stars as the young man who creates an internet adult version of a childhood imaginary friend, in an effort to get his ex-boyfriend to leave him alone.

Naturally, complications ensue when he meets an actual flesh-and-blood potential suitor! TBA. What If? marks Billy Porter’s feature film directorial debut and tells the tale of a high school senior (Abubakr Ali) who professes his crush on trans student (Eva Reign) at school and the relationship and unprecedented senior year that they navigate. TBA.

FEBRUARY 2022 | @theragemonthly

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REALITY BITES Meanwhile on the small screen, there are familiar faces that are back to explore, conquer, eat and handle big tools. Get your mind out of the gutter, it’s a renovation show! First up is Netflix’s Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness with the Queer Eye star, well, training his queer eyes on searching for answers to a range of topics by seeking out experts to help him quench his curiosity thirst. Out now.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Versus the World is a new iteration of the premise of all-stars that takes iconic queens from different franchises and countries and has them vie for the title of Queen of the World. Contestants include America’s Jujubee, Canadian Lemon, Brit Baga Chipz, Holland’s Janey Jacké and Thailand’s Pangina Heals.

Y’all’s better werk! RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Versus the World drops on the WOW Presents Plus streaming network. February 1.

Hungry for more Dan Levy? Then HBO Max’s The Big Brunch should whet your appetite, as the artist formerly known as “Eww, David” has created and will host a cooking competition, which sees the competing chefs figuring out unique breakfast/lunch dishes to serve up for the judges for a sizable cash prize. TBA. RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars winner Trixie Mattel will be pounding away at a hotel in Palm Springs on Discovery+’s Trixie Motel.

Rather, she will be pounding nails to renovate a dilapidated motel into “the glossiest drag motel of your wildest fever-dreams,” alongside her boyfriend and special drag queen guest stars. TBA.

DRAMA AND COMEDY QUEENS Keeping with the dramatic theme of some aforementioned movies, Hulu’s Conversations with Friends dives into the TV territory of romantic entanglements between friends. However, this time around it’s exes Frances (Alison Oliver) and Bobbi (Sasha Lane) and the complications that ensue as Frances starts a clandestine affair with married friend Nick (Joe Alwyn), while Bobbi and his wife Melissa (Jemima Kirke) flirt with each other. You crazy kids! Netflix’s Heartstopper tells the story of two opposite British lads, out and proud Charlie (Joe Locke) and rugby player Nick (Kit Connor), who are forced to sit with each other at their all-boys school. Charlie falls for Nick and is surprised to find that the feeling may be mutual. He shoots, he scores!

That’s a rugby term, right? Sportsball confuses me. TBA. This Is Going to Hurt sounds like a tutorial for proper pillow biting techniques; butt, the AMC series is a hospital drama starring openly gay actor Ben Whishaw as real-life gay doctor Adam Kay, who tries to balance 97-hour weeks with some semblance of a social life. TBA. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before…Peacock is launching a show about a “gay, gun-carrying redneck with a mullet.” That’s right, Joe vs.

Carole is coming our way as a scripted drama series -Mcscuse me? This is weird considering that it stars Hedwig and the Angry Inch’s John Cameron Mitchell as the Tiger King and comedian Kate McKinnon as his arch nemesis, that beeyatch Carole Baskin, and will focus on their no-love- lost relation-

ship. But judging from the trailer, it looks to be more on the dramedy side.

March 3.

CW’s Naomi takes an up, up and a gay approach to the superhero genre, with its titular heroine (Kaci Walfall) being sexuality fluid with three potential love interests in the guise of ex-boyfriend Nathan (Daniel Puig) and her friends Anthony (Will Meyers) and Lourdes (Camila Moreno). Out now.

Freeform’s Single Drunk Female is a comedy about 20-something who hits rock bottom and loses her job because she can’t hold her liquor. She moves in with her mom (Ally Sheedy) and attempts to rebuild her life with the aid of her sponsor (Rebecca Henderson), who has a dysfunctional relationship with her wife (Madeline Wise). She also finds friendship with a fellow AA member (played by trans actress Jojo Brown), who becomes her co-worker at a local grocery store. Out now.

The beloved film, A League of Their Own, heads to Amazon Prime as a series. Did you hear that noise? It was a collective gay gasp! The show has one half of Broad City, Abbi Jacobson, as both a co-creator and one of the stars of the series, which follows the formation of the World War II era professional women’s baseball league. The storylines feature similar elements to the movie it’s based on, with the women trying to keep the league going, but will feature newer plot points that discuss some of the ladies’ Sapphic leanings.

Hello, it’s baseball! The Rockford Peaches will be coached by Nick “Hey Daddy” Offerman. And Rosie O’Donnell has confirmed that she will appear as a bartender at a local gay bar. TBA.

CUT. PRINT. THAT’S A WRAP! In addition to the new movies and TV shows that will attempt to capture our time and hearts, there are several returning favorite series on the horizon to rekindle a relationship with. HBO Max is currently showcasing the second season of Euphoria, creating a stir with a full-frontal nude scene of well-endowed actor Ansel Pierce giving Mark Wahlberg’s Boogie Nights prosthetic a run for its money. I’m sorry – where was I? Oh yes, the streaming giant has also greenlit new seasons of Hacks, White Lotus, Doom Patrol, We’re Here and The Other Two. Until next time, that’s all the news that’s fit to print.

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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.

artrageous

by brad hart

continues on page 18

BEYOND VAN GOGH

I

magine being completely immersed in more than 300 of the greatest works of Dutch Post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. Now imagine experiencing all this art liberated from its two-dimensional limitations into a three-dimensional experience that exhilarates every sense and brings to life one of the most influential artists the world has known. It’s all part of Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, presented by Keurig, which has sold over 2 million tickets globally, making it one of the most popular current traveling exhibitions.

This sensory extravaganza will be open through Sunday, March 6 at Del Mar Fairgrounds. It was created by French-Canadian creative director Mathieu St-Arnaud and his team at Montreal’s renowned Normal Studio.

While journeying through Beyond Van Gogh, guests will witness hundreds of iconic masterpieces, including instantly recognizable classics such as “The Starry Night,” “Sunflowers” and “Café Terrace at Night,” as well many revealing self-portraits.

“An imaginative and fully-immersive adventure, Beyond Van Gogh takes on the challenge of breathing new life into Van Gogh’s vast body of work.

Through the use of cutting-edge 3-D projection technology and music to illuminate all of his genius, guests can experience the artist with all their senses,” St-Arnaud said.

Guests will be transported into Van Gogh’s world through an exclusively designed space comprising three areas that segue fluidly into one another.

The Introduction Hall leads into the unique Waterfall Room, which flows into the Immersive Experience Room.

Freed from their frames, Van Gogh’s spectacular paintings appear on projection-swathed walls inviting guests to fully submerge themselves into the incredible detail of his work and be enveloped in his ever-shifting, swirling and colorful flowers, cafes and stunning landscapes. And hearing the artist’s own dreams, thoughts and words set to a symphonic score drives an unmatched narrative experience.

“This distinctive and unique multimedia artistic adventure is deeply resonating with audiences. Encompassing a refreshing new twist unlike art lovers have seen before, Beyond Van Gogh gives a new appreciation of this tortured artist’s stunning work. Unsurprisingly millions of people all over the world credit Van Gogh with enhancing their relationship with art.

Beyond Van Gogh will only strengthen that connection,” said Justin Paquin, co-producer, with Paquin Entertainment.

In recent years, cinematic Van Gogh exhibitions have crossed the ocean from European cities to North America and met with great critical acclaim, with sold-out audiences in every market. Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience will continue to amaze audiences and will be in San Diego for a limited engagement before moving across North America. Art lovers near and far will have the opportunity to live this truly unique and unforgettable experience. vangoghsandiego.com photo by paquin entertainment group

INTERSECT PALM SPRINGS

The boutique fair known as Intersect Palm Springs will bring together a dynamic mix of 50 modern and contemporary art and design galleries. The Opening Night preview will be on Thursday, February 10, followed by public showings from Friday, February 11 through Sunday, February 13 at Palm Springs Convention Center.

“We are thrilled to kick off 2022 being in person in Palm Springs in February and are pleased to see resounding support from our galleries, cultural partners, and the local South California and Palm Desert communities, “ said Becca Hoffman, managing director of Intersect Palm Springs.

Tim von Gal, CEO of Intersect Art and Design, adds: “Intersect Palm Springs will be an excellent opportunity to reconvene in person in one of the most beautiful places in the country.

Our hope is to repeat the success we had at Intersect Aspen in 2021 by drawing a dedicated group of collectors and art enthusiasts to the fair.” intersectpalmsprings.com

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bob mizer - new discretions

artrageous

by brad hart

PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS Let Cupid’s arrow strike your heART this Valentine’s Day. Pageant of the Masters, the nation’s most iconic presentation of living pictures, will spread the love this February with new releases of its witty, art-themed, virtual ecards. Offering eight options of iconic artworks and “punny” notes to choose from, the experts of all things art have once again made it easy to celebrate love digitally (and artistically) this year. Hoping to pair your e-card with a unique and romantic gift idea? The Pageant of the Masters is also offering a sweet deal ahead of Valentine’s Day. Save 20% on tickets to this summer’s production with promotional code VDAY22, now through February 14.

“Crisp, summer nights under the Laguna Beach starry night sky, snuggedup with your loved one watching the Pageant of the Masters – what could be more romantic?” said Sharbie Higuchi, director of marketing/PR at Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach. “The Pageant of the Masters is a SoCal jewel right next to the ocean, and we are excited to offer patrons a chance to celebrate love with our e-cards and limited-deal ticket pricing.”

Lovers of puns, art enthusiasts and hopeless romantics alike will adore the creative and witty sayings paired with past Pageant re-creations of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” and Edgar Degas’s “Two Dancers on the Stage” as well as classic artworks including the “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci and “American Gothic” by Grant Wood. foapom.com

FRIEZE LOS ANGELES From Thursday, February 17 through Sunday, February 20, Frieze Los Angeles will take over the Beverly Hills art scene with its new location at 9900 Wilshire Boulevard, adjacent to The Beverly Hilton hotel. The events will occupy a prime position between the Hammer Museum and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. The 2022 fair will feature a focused selection of major galleries from across the globe, including a strong contingent of Los Angeles-based exhibitors representing the best of the city’s arts scene.

Focus LA will be a section of the fair that spotlights Los Angeles-based spaces aged 15 years or less. In addition, Focus LA will feature 11 of the city’s defining young galleries that will present solo or dual artist exhibitions.

This year’s event will also include the debut of Frieze Sculpture Beverly Hills. This public art initiative has previously been realized in London and New York, featuring significant artists who work on a monumental scale.

Supported by the City of Beverly Hills, Frieze Sculpture Beverly Hills will take place in the iconic Beverly Gardens Park as part of a program of events and public activities for Frieze Week in Beverly Hills.

Frieze will also provide rich online content, including podcasts and videos, to enjoy remotely. frieze.com/fairs/frieze-los-angeles

SAN DIEGO MUSEUM MONTH Explore during San Diego Museum Month with 50% off admission to 45 San Diego County museums and cultural institutions. Pick up your pass at a San Diego Macy’s store or at one of 75 libraries throughout San Diego County. Present your discount pass during February 2022 for up to four half-price admissions at participating museums and cultural attractions.

Keep your Museum Month Pass so you can celebrate arts and culture all month long.

In its 33rd year, San Diego Museum Month is presented by the San Diego Museum Council, a coalition of local arts and cultural organizations working cooperatively to increase access and awareness of the diverse museums in the region. sandiegomuseumcouncil.org

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gift guide

by mikey rox

VALENTINE’S DAY GIFTS

FOR THE QUEER YOU LOVE Surprise bae this Valentine’s Day with something sweet, special and completely unexpected from this list of offbeat gifts sure to make their pitter patter.

LOVE CIGAR BAND You can’t put a price on love, but Ariana Rabbani makes a valiant effort with this 14k gold LOVE cigar band embedded with micro-pave diamonds that spell out everybody’s secondfavorite four-letter word. $1,975. arianarabbani.com

VALENTINE’S DAY BIG LOVE COLLECTION In 1992, pastor Gary Chapman outlined the five love languages – words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service and receiving gifts – in his bestselling book on the subject. But he forgot the sixth one: cheese! California Cheese Trail has got you covered with its Big Love Collection starring Cowgirl Creamery’s heart-shaped Mt. Tam, plus three additional artisan cheeses that were made in the Sonoma/Marin region of the San Francisco Bay Area. $99. cheesetrail.org

HEART U MOST 2.0 SWEATSHIRT If your chest-beater is bursting with pride for the one(s) you love, show it off on BFFS & BABES made-to-order fleece sweatshirt in Pink Punch stamped with a vinyl heart and personalized with their name(s) or initials in the brand’s “good vibes” font. Also available in pink, white, black and root beer colors. $68. bffsandbabes.com

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MAISON MARCEL SPARKLING HEARTS ROSE Besides Valentine’s Day, we’re all looking forward to February for another reason: the end of Dry January! Celebrate by popping a bottle of Maison Marcel Sparkling Hearts Rosé – with delicate notes of white peach and nectarine – housed in a fanciful vessel adorned with artist James Goldcrown’s signature hearts design. $25. drinkmarcel.com

EAT ME GUILT FREE BROWNIES

MARRIAGE RETREAT IN A BOX Relationships don’t get easier after you “put a ring on it” – and nobody knows that more than married folx. Take some time to relax, reflect and recognize how important you are to one another with DIY’s Marriage Retreat in a Box, which provides fun and exciting tools to strengthen, enrich and add more adventure to your forever love. $72. diy-retreats.com

Indulge in a few sweet treats this February 14 – like the decadent birthday cake, peanut butter bliss and red velvet brownies – from Eat Me Guilt Free, which specializes in protein-packed, lower-carb pastries (under 200 calories per serving) baked in small batches by Miami-based certified sports nutritionist-turned-momprenuer Cristie Besu. $30-$129. eatmeguiltfree.com

WESTEND HARTFORD SUNGLASSES If the past few years’ events still got you down in early 2022, slap on a pair of rose-colored shades – heart-shaped, no less – to add some mood-boosting pep in your step and put all that hindsight back in 2020. $30. discountsunglasses.com

MEATHEARTS Where’s the beef? It’s in this bag of flirty jerky that offers a savory spin on holiday-staple conversation hearts, featuring laser-etched phrases like “Meat Me,” “XOXO” and “Beef Mine.” $22.50. manlymanco.com

COSTA FARMS MINI SUCCULENT V-Day gifts don’t have to be grand to send a special message. Case in point: the 2.5-inch Echeveria “Life Would Succ Without You” mini succulent – alive, well and fully rooted, just like your love for him, her or them. $20. amazon.com

FEBRUARY 2022 | @theragemonthly

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WOLF SPIT LUBE Wolf Spit’s silicone-based lube and bareback balms don’t require a full moon to have a howling good time. $25-$50. sellingspit.com

YOU’RE MY LOBSTER DINNER Friends fans will fall head over heels for the delivered-direct-to-your-door You’re My Lobster Dinner, including a pound of freshly cooked lobster meat, lobster bisque and a pair of decadent crustacean-shaped chocolates to share with your own Rachel or Ross. $119. lobsteranywhere.com

ABSOLUT ELYX COPPER LOVE BIRD GIFT SET A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush – or more, depending on how many Elyx Spritz’s you toss back from these super-luxe copper cocktail cups. $199. absolutelyxboutique.com

LOVERS ARTIST BUNDLES Give the gift of dual pleasure with the Lovers Artist Valentine’s Series that pairs a coveted sex toy with a cute-but-provocative greeting card to help eliminate the awkwardness of unwrapping an out-of-context dick in a box. $112-$222. loversstores.com

CAFÉ AFFETTO ESPRESSO MACHINE Whether you’re sharing a work-from-home space with your S.O. or serving them breakfast in bed, your morning routine gets a pick-me-up from GE Appliances’ compact Café Affetto Automatic Espresso Machine + Frother, whose claim to fame includes custom cups of espresso, Americano and lungo in less than 90 seconds. $729. cafeappliances.com

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Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. Connect with Mikey on Instagram @mikeyroxtravels

rage recommends

by bill biss

MUSIC MATTERS

George Cameron, Steve Martin Caro and Tom Finn

STRANGERS ON A TRAIN THE LEFT BANKE

Michael Brown

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The album Strangers on a Train by The Left Banke is classic rock with a twist. The twist is this. The Left Banke came to the attention of the music scene with their hit song “Walk Away Renée” in 1966 and the four-man band was heralded in the genre of “baroque pop.” Success and turmoil thrived until keyboardist and songwriter Michael Brown permanently left the group and the three remaining members created Strangers on a Train in 1978. However, the album didn’t get released until 1986 with little to no fanfare.

Is this twist . . . twisted enough yet? There was no shortage of excellence to be found within the songs created for Strangers on a Train and lead singer Steve Martin Caro and the additional harmonies and musicianship of the group are just as enticing and beautiful to hear. This month of 2022, Omnivore Recordings has released for the very first time on CD and stream an album that will never be past its prime. Timeless too, since all four men of The Left Banke have died. What will always live on is their ultimate talent. I don’t know about that “Walk Away Renée” but I’m in love with their song “Lorraine” as the song is a stunner on Strangers on a Train. Tom Finn of The Left Banke is responsible for 90 percent of the songwriting.

But wait! There’s more. An additional six songs are presented, and this adds to the significance of the whole release.

Michael Brown and Steve Martin Caro reunited in 2001 as Brown had written new songs and wanted Steve Martin Caro to sing them. These recordings were pitched to label execs and have never been heard by the public. The songwriting and vocals are simply wonderous and as the old expression goes, “you must remember this . . . as time goes by.”

Available February 25

GUMMY HEART EYES MAE MAE

From the moment you take a bite out of her song “Apple Boy,” you’ll delight in Mae Mae’s clever lyrics, smooth voice and sexy and educated style. Mae Mae. Just the name alone washes the attitude out of sex into the sea of intellectual thought. May I say, her debut, Gummy Heart Eyes is one solid renegade of smart attitude. Now don’t quote The Kinsey Report on that. Her new cover of “Silly Love Songs” by Paul McCartney and Wings gets to the heart of those Gummy Heart Eyes and when listening for the first time, her seven-song EP went three times around before noticing that she’s that good. Now if I may and if I might, may I play it again, Mae? It’s solid Jackson.

Available now

GOOD AND GREEN AGAIN

JAKE XERXES FUSSELL

When the “little birdie” known as Twitter is limited to 280 characters and some of today’s music sounds like a barnyard “speak and spell,” it’s nice to discover a troubadour of folk music on the scene. The reason being is that there are melodious and thoughtful musical stories to be found and enjoyed from Jake Xerxes Fussell on his latest, Good and Green Again. His distinctive and clear voice and style instantly transports the listener into an experience of quality and history that is still fresh in the telling. Fussell doesn’t rile, cajole or strike, but intrigues and calms the human spirit with the sophistication of his talent.

Available now

FEBRUARY 2022 | @theragemonthly

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eating out

by tony reverditto

Wine & Dine Time WHO’S READY TO SAMPLE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S CULINARY DELIGHTS?

Restaurant Week got its start in 1992 in the Big Apple as a boost for the Democratic National Convention. Tim Zagat, creator of the Zagat Survey, was instrumental in bringing Restaurant Week to the forefront, and his idea caught on like wildfire. At the time, New York City restaurateurs were excited to offer menu specialties during a designated week, so people could afford an “off-the-eaten-path” experience by trying new and diverse dining destinations. Since then, the Restaurant Week concept has exploded across the United States and certainly has become a staple in Southern California.

Here is a look at upcoming culinary events.

“CRAVE THE DATE” FOR LONGBEACH RESTAURANT WEEK

ORANGE COUNTY RESTAURANT WEEK TURNS 14

The 7th annual Dine out Long Beach Restaurant & Cocktail Week has been expanded to 10 days, taking place from Friday, February 18 through Monday, February 28.

Discover dozens of restaurants offering special menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as small plates with wine, beer and cocktail pairings. From Bixby Knolls to Belmont Shore, Downtown to Uptown to Naples Island, there are no tickets needed or passes required. Just visit any participating restaurant, request the Dine Out Long Beach menu, sip and savor and sip some more, dine out in-person or take it to go, then repeat before the extended week is over.

This is a chance for food lovers to try specialized value menus, give new restaurants a try or simply return to a favorite. Options include two selection brunch and lunch menus starting at $10 and three selection dinners starting at $20. There is also food and wine/beer/cocktail pairing and flights available with a bottle of wine, growler of beer or pre-mixed cocktails available on to-go orders.

Participating restaurants will boast the slogan, “Dine out or takeout, just don’t be left out,” as they continue to maneuver through the pandemic. Los Angeles County requires masks, vaccination cards and social distancing for dining at restaurants. For those who choose takeout, a fabulous meal kit will be provided. So, raise a fork – and glass, too – to the tastiest extended week of the year. dineoutlongbeach.com

Gather the squad and forget about doing dishes for an entire week.

This year, more than 100 restaurants will participate in Orange County’s most anticipated week in dining. The foodie feast returns Sunday, March 6 through Saturday, March 12. Participants can choose and create their own custom restaurant dining adventures and celebrate Restaurant Week eating and drinking their way through thoughtfully crafted prix-fixe menus and cocktails designed to showcase the region’s culinary diversity.

Participating restaurants will offer special dining experiences with prix-fixe menus and luxe menus, many of which highlight Family Night, Date Night, Vegetarian Dining, a Dessert Spotlight and options for your entire squad. In addition, the thirst-quenching Cocktails of Restaurant Week will showcase unique creations featuring Grey Goose, Maker’s Mark, Hornitos Tequila, Chambord and Licor 43.

Prix-fixe menus cost from $15, $20 and $25 for lunch and $25, $35 and $45 for dinner, with some restaurants offering $60 to $120 luxe dinner packages.

The week will kick off with an exclusive Restaurant Week Masters VIP Preview Party at the Marriott Irvine Spectrum on Saturday, March 5. A limited number of VIP guests will be the first to sample delicious bites from OC Restaurant Week menus, premium wines, fine cocktails, live music by Jabe Amato and a live broadcast of Neil Saavedra from The Fork Report. Elevating the event will be Bear Robotics with two state-of-the-art robots mingling with guests and serving charcuterie from Lover Boards.

“OC Restaurant Week has been a highlight for Southern California foodies for 14 years,” said Pamela Waitt, founder of OC Restaurant Week and president of OC Restaurant Association. “Now more than ever, diners are hungry to explore all that Orange County’s diverse culinary scene has to offer with their friends and family. There’s no better way to do that than through the limited-time menus that are created exclusively for OC Restaurant Week.” ocrestaurantweek.com

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PALM DESERT FOOD & WINE IN THE SUNSHINE Calling all food and wine lovers in Coachella Valley. Delight your appetite at this spectacular culinary experience with a roster of the nation’s top chefs including Curtis Stone, Carla Hall, Afrim Pristine, Jamie Gwen, Gail Gand and Paulette Goto. Returning Friday, March 25, the three-day experience will feature a diverse selection of mouth-watering eats, premium wines, hands-on cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs and more. The fête will begin with a James Beard Gourmet Four-Course Luncheon prepared by culinary virtuosos and followed by two days of grand tastings, where you can delight in delectable offerings from local and regional restaurants and sample more than 60 wines or enjoy unique craft brews, IPAs and draught ciders. palmdesertfoodandwine.com

SAN DIEGO RESTAURANT WEEK CELEBRATES 19 PALATE-PLEASING YEARS The 19th annual San Diego Restaurant Week will return from Sunday, April 3 to Sunday, April 10. This scrumptious week is the perfect time to take a culinary tour throughout the diverse and thriving food culture of San Diego. With more than 90 participating restaurants offering unique menu options throughout San Diego County, you’re sure to find the perfect place to start a week-long journey to satisfy just about any craving.

Participating restaurants will offer three-course dinner menus for $20, $30, $40, $50 or $60 per person and/or two-course lunch menus for $10, $15, $20 or $25 per person. The participating restaurants span from the South Bay to East County and to Oceanside and Fallbrook to the north.

Tickets are not necessary for this delectable week of discounted dining, but reservations are recommended.

There is no better place for outdoor dining than sunny San Diego and with expanded patio spaces and curbside dining, there is more space than ever before for you to enjoy a meal basking in the sun or under starry skies every day of the week. sandiegorestaurantweek.com

VEGANS HIT THE STREET IN LOS ANGELES It’s the vegan foodie dream as Vegan Street Fair will return after a two-year pandemic hiatus.

Happening Saturday and Sunday, March 26 and 27 in North Hollywood, this weekend event is a great excuse to get your friends together and kick it with fantastic eats, beats, dancing, karaoke and drinks. Featuring 200 vegan-friendly vendors from around the world, Vegan Street Fair 2022 has free entry and is open to all ages.

You can nosh on as many local eats as your heart desires and indulge in a beer and booze garden with complimentary games for everyone. Even though this event has free entry, they also offer premium fast passes for sale. Food and beverages are sold separately unless buying an all-inclusive passport for a fuller VIP experience. veganstreetfair.com

FEBRUARY 2022 | @theragemonthly

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on stage

by brad hart

MOZART’S COSÌ FAN TUTTE RETURNS TO SAN DIEGO OPERA Così fan tutte tells the story of two young soldiers who disguise their identities to test their lovers’ fidelity. Will the women fall for their “new” suitors as the opera’s title (“All women do it”) suggests? Filled with humor and satirical insight into human nature, this opera features some of Mozart’s most seductive and playful music.

The opera was considered quite scandalous in the 19th and early-20th centuries and was only performed with an altered plot or accompanied by a public apology for the content. The Romantic era composer Beethoven, a great admirer of Mozart’s work, is said to have described Così fan tutte as ”immoral.”

San Diego Opera performances will begin Saturday, February 12 at the San Diego Civic Theatre. Additional performances will be February 15, 18 and 20. This new production will be directed by “opera provocateur” Timothy Nelson.

San Diego Opera has assembled a young cast including baritone Gihoon Kim as Guglielmo.

He will make his North American debut after his triumphant appearance at the 2021 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, where he was crowned the winner. He will be joined by another 2021 Cardiff Singer of the World contestant, baritone Reginald Smith Jr., playing Don

PACIFIC SYMPHONY PRESENTS

VALENTINE’S DAY WITH KATHERINE JENKINS

What could be more romantic for Valentine’s weekend than experiencing the leading pop opera star performing romantic favorites? And Katherine Jenkins will also be singing selections from her new studio album, Cinema Paradiso, which she describes as “all the best film musical themes that we know and love, all together on one recording.” Album tracks include “May It Be” from Lord of the Rings, “When You Wish Upon a Star” from Disney’s Pinocchio, and “Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

The Welsh superstar has performed all over the world — for the Pope, for presidents and for the royal family. Featured on Dancing with the Stars, Jenkins has also embarked upon numerous sold-out tours and performed with Andrea Bocelli, Il Divo and others.

Valentine’s Day with Katherine Jenkins will take place Friday and Saturday, February 11 and 12 at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. pacificsymphony.org

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Alfonso in his debut with the company.

Soprano Alisa Jordheim, cast as Despina, will return to the San Diego Opera stage. She made her company debut as Gilda in 2019 in Rigoletto.

Singing the role of Fiordiligi will be soprano Sarah Tucker, who last appeared as Micaëla in 2019 in Carmen.

Rounding out the cast, also in company debuts, will be mezzo-soprano Samantha Hankey as Dorabella and tenor Konu Kim as Ferrando.

Bruce Stasyna, San Diego Opera’s chorus master and music administrator, will return to the podium after conducting last season’s One Amazing Night concert and performances of The Barber of Seville. He will lead the San Diego Symphony for this production.

Director Timothy Nelson, called “the future of opera” by The New York Times and The Baltimore Sun, will stage this new production.

“Così fan tutte is the story of growing up, of transformation, and the discovery of love, loss and renewal. Set in a forested world of whimsy and wonder, this production captures the magic of Mozart’s most heartbreaking and comic opera, as a quartet of star-crossed lovers romp through dreams and nightmares to find the concord in their discord,” Nelson said. sdopera.org

MAE WEST’S BANNED 1927 PLAY THE DRAG Mae West, queen of the sexual double entendre and an early supporter of gay rights, considered her play to be a “comedy-drama of life.” Far ahead of its time, The Drag revolves around a complex cast of characters navigating the closeted world of homosexual relationships and culture in 1920s New York. After successful try-outs in Connecticut and New Jersey, West opened the show in the New York City area, where it ran for 10 performances before the police closed it. The Desert Rose Playhouse in Palm Springs will revive The Drag for performances that will begin Wednesday, February 16. desertroseplayhouse.org

Così fan tutte WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART February 12, 15, 18, 20m, 2022 San Diego Civic Theatre

Così fan tutte returns to the San Diego Opera stage after a 17 year absence in a new production!

Featuring an international cast of award-winning young stars.

FOR TICKETS, VISIT SDOPERA.ORG OR CALL (619) 533-7000 Buy with confidence: SDOPERA.org/Safety

EXPERIENCE THE EXPRESSIVE POWER OF THE HUMAN VOICE Scan this QR code with the camera app on your smartphone for a sneak preview of Così fan tutte.

on stage

by brad hart

ALICE CHILDRESS DRAMA COMES TO THE OLD GLOBE San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award winner Delicia Turner Sonnenberg (The Bluest Eye) will direct The Old Globe’s revival of the modern classic, Trouble in Mind. The six-week limited engagement will begin on Saturday, February 5 and run to Sunday, March 13.

It’s New York, 1955. A leading Black actress and a multiracial cast rehearse a challenging new Broadway play set in the South. Backstage rivalries and showbiz egos cause excitement of their own, but artistic differences between the cast and the White director soon bubble to the surface, revealing the truths that American drama covers over and the ways in which even well-meaning people can harm others under the guise of helping.

“Alice Childress’s powerful and transporting backstage drama couldn’t be more timely, and we’re thrilled to kick off 2022 with a brilliant new production of it,” Artistic Director Barry Edelstein said. “The play examines race in America unexpectedly and bracingly through the lens of the American theatre, and it does so with a searching intelligence, an open heart, and a beguiling sense of how rich and complex life onstage can be.

It takes a gifted company to assay this extraordinary material, and happily that is just what director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg has assembled. Onstage and off, these skilled and incisive artists will bring Trouble in Mind to life with wit and passion, and they will continue The Globe on its trajectory toward post-pandemic vitality.” theoldglobe.org

WICKED IS BACK BY “POPULAR” DEMAND Our favorite witches will be defying gravity and flying to Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa from Wednesday, February 9 through Sunday, March 6. Currently the fifth-longest-running show in Broadway history, Wicked looks at what happened in the Land of Oz . . . but from a different angle. Before Dorothy arrives, there is another girl, born with emerald-green skin who is smart, misunderstood and possesses an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships . . . until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” scfta.org

photo by rich soublet ii

WORLD PREMIERE OF BEST LESBIAN EROTICA 1995 This triptych of love, lust and domestic terrorism is a joyous romp through lesbian erotic fiction as it collides with one of the darkest hours in U.S. history. This new play

by Miranda Rose Hall is a wild ride through the heights of fantasy and the depths of horror to confront a country at war with itself, and discover how to heal after tragedy.

“Best Lesbian Erotica 1995 is a sexy, brutal and beautiful mirror,” Director Kym Pappas said. “Miranda Rose Hall is taking us all on a ride — asking us to examine the stories we tell and the ones that are told about us — to entice, to challenge, to celebrate, to heal. Perhaps by listening we will show up better for each other in the future. As a director it kind of terrifies me, and I love it!”

Starting Thursday, February 17 at San Diego’s Diversionary. diversionary.org

A HIGH-FLYING MUSICAL COMEDY BASED ON AN INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY San Diego Musical Theatre will open its 2022 season with a splashy spectacle that follows the adventures of a globetrotting con artist. Based on the hit DreamWorks film, Catch Me If You Can is a big and bright Broadway musical about chasing your dreams and not getting caught.

Nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the show was created by a Tony Award-winning “dream team,” with a book by Terrence McNally (The Full Monty, Ragtime) and a swinging score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray).

Seeking fame and fortune, precocious teenager Frank Abagnale Jr. runs away from home to begin an unforgettable adventure. With nothing more than his boyish charm, a big imagination and millions of dollars in forged checks, Frank successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer — living the high life and winning the girl of his dreams.

Frank’s bold lies catch the attention of FBI agent Carl Hanratty, then Carl pursues Frank across the country to make him pay for his crimes.

Catch Me If You Can will be directed by SDMT fan favorite and accomplished actor and director Allison Spratt Pearce. “While Frank Jr.’s real life, movie and this musical adaptation have some plot

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differences, they all share one major theme, the ‘art of deception.’ Regardless of your relationship to and knowledge of this story, we ask you to look at our production with fresh eyes,” Pearce said.

“Though set in the late ‘60s, as a female director I wanted to bend a few stereotypes and roles under the umbrella of our theme: things and people aren’t always what they appear to be. The score written

by Shaiman and Wittman brilliantly furthers the plot and provides detail about the internal struggles, vulnerabilities, and conflicts of the characters’ thoughts and history. This show begs you to ask the question: What IS the truth?”

Catch Me If You Can choreographer Xavier J. Bush said he is jazzed to be joining the SDMT team. “Perception is one of the dominant themes we uncovered in our show-planning sessions; specifically, how people perceive us and how we present to the world,” Bush said. “Finding movement that will make the audience view the stage and the action happening on it differently throughout the show is a big part of my choreography mission. The cast is insanely talented, and they are all able to not only execute whatever is given to them, but also tell a story as they do it!”

Catch all the action Friday, February 11 through Sunday, March 13 on the SDMT stage located at 4650 Mercury Street. sdmt.org

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