LIFESTYLE EVENTS FASHION ENTERTAINMENT NIGHTLIFE COMMUNITY SOUTHERN BRINGINGSEPTEMBERCALIFORNIA2022THE‘PARTY VIBE’ ON NEW TOUR A TALE OF TWO FILM FESTIVALS TO FALL FOR THIS SEASON S O C AL JUST GOT FUNNER WITH HELL’S KITCHEN HEAVEN IN HELL BEN QUEERNEWPLATTMOVIESCINEMA
Season ticket holders get the best seats SUBSCRIBE NOW!TICKETS ON SALE NOW | SCR.org | (714) 708-5555 Prelude To A Kiss, The Musical Music by Dan Messé Lyrics by Sean Hartley & Dan Messé Book by Craig Lucas Directed by David Ivers Apr 8 – May 6, 2023 Segerstrom Stage Coleman ‘72 By Charlie Oh Directed by Chay Yew Apr 23 – May 14, 2023 Julianne Argyros Stage Nina Simone: Four Women By Christina Ham Directed by Logan Vaughn Oct 2 – 23, 2022 Julianne Argyros Stage This deeply personal play with music imagines how the iconic chanteuse gave voice to countless other Black women fighting to overcome stereotypes and racism. Recommended for Ages 14+ Appropriate By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Directed by Delicia Turner Sonnenberg Jan 28 – Feb 26, 2023 Segerstrom Stage The Little Foxes By Lillian Hellman Directed by Lisa Peterson Jan 29 – Feb 26, 2023 Segerstrom Stage Two plays alternating nightly, with one set, two directors, overlapping casts and unlimited firepower! Voices of America The 2022/23 Season continues with...
8 rage.lgbt | SEPTEMBER 2022 PUBLISHER Jay S. jay@ragemonthly.comJones ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Brad L. brad@ragemonthly.comHart EDITOR editor@ragemonthly.com ART CONSULTANT art@ragemonthly.com COPY EDITOR Ken Williams DISTRIBUTION Pride In Media CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tom Andrew, Bill Biss, Chris Carpenter, Hanz Enyeart, Brad Hart, Jay Jones, Lisa Lipsey, Tim Parks, Tony Reverditto, Freddy Saluna, Cutter Slagle, Andrew J. Stillman Cover Photo Wendel Sales photography SUBSCRIPTIONS – One year (12 issues): $45.00 Direct all editorial and subscription orders to our office or website. Rage Magazine inc., dba The Rage Monthly The Rage Monthly is a registered trademark. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers or staff. Reproduction of any article, photo, listing or advertisement without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. The people, businesses and organizations appearing in The Rage Monthly are supportive of the gay community. Mentions or photographs of any person, business, or organization are not a reflection of their sexual orientation. The Rage Monthly is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. PRINTED IN THE USA THE RAGE MONTHLY 3911 Cleveland Ave #34462 San Diego, CA 92103 Phone 619.906.RAGE (7243) CONTACT US ON THE WEB - RAGE.LGBT - twitter.com/ragemonthly - facebook.com/theragemonthly - instagram.com/theragemonthly ADVERTISE WITH NATIONALsales@ragemonthly.com619.906.RAGE(7243)USADVERTISINGREP Rivendell Media 212.242.6863
10 www.rage.lgbt | SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER20222022 VOLUME 16 ISSUE 4 12 LGBTQ COMMUNITY 16 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT LGBTQ FILM FESTIVALS 18 QUEER HISTORY SISTER ROSETTA THARPE 22 HOLLYWOOD FALL MOVIE PREVIEW 26 THEATRE EVENTS 30 ARTIST SPOTLIGHT BEN PLATT 34 ON STAGE THIS MONTH 36 RAGE RECOMMENDS POP, ROCK AND PUNK IT! 40 EATING OUT HELL’S KITCHEN 44 FITNESS CONTENTS photo by tony reverditto
RIVERSIDE’S INLAND EMPIRE PRIDE FESTIVAL
TRANS CHORUS OF LOS ANGELES
There will be rainbows on Sunday, September 4 at the Municipal Auditorium in downtown Riverside for a day of celebration, elevation and reflection. Enjoy performances by unique entertainers, dance to the beat of up-and-coming LGBTQ performers, learn about queer history, and enjoy the company of LGBTQ-oriented organizations, companies and allies. Headlining the festival will be Mayhem Miller, a well-known Inland Empire queen and contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race 10 and All Stars 5. Riverside Pride is a free event for all ages. riversideprideie.org
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The year’s brightest and most spectacular event will return to the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier on Saturday, October 1. Guests will enter through the bay-side double doors directly into the Pavilion, a 15,000-square-foot, open-air mega-space on one level, with room for more than 1,000 attendees. The Pavilion features 40-foot-tall ceilings and massive windows showing views of San Diego Bay. On the back end of the Pavilion are oversized roll-up doors that open to the View Court, an ample outdoor space next to the 2022’swater.Red Dress Party San Diego theme is “Once Upon a Time!” Embark on a storybook adventure where you’re invited to let loose, celebrate your impact and live happily ever after — if for one night only. Fall into this wonderland of pants-less Prince Charmings, damsels in this dress, mighty heroes in all red, and maybe an evil queen or two. But, if you’re not feeling the fantasy, that’s fine, too. Any red dress or dress-like garment will do — just no pants Attendeesallowed.canexpect live entertainment, a DJ, photo booths, on-site HIV testing, and a night of celebration and impact. Over the past seven years, Red Dress Party San Diego has raised nearly $250,000 for the San Diego HIV/AIDS community. This year, they aim to raise $60,000. Achieving this goal would be their most significant single-year fundraising contribution to date. reddresspartysd.com
Are you ready for this incredible fundraiser in San Diego?
lgbtq community
by brad hart RED DRESS PARTY SAN DIEGO
Join the nation’s premier trans-identified chorus for an inspiring evening of music through song, stories, dance and movement. Trans Chorus of Los Angeles will take you on a day-in-the-life journey in three acts, sharing their own lived experiences of the voyage through struggle to trans joy. The concert will illuminate the journey and power, both visually and vocally, of living the most genuine, highest expression of your 100% authentic self. Voices: The Trans Journey in III Acts will be performed on Saturday, September 17, at Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre. transchorusla.org
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Saturday, September 24 at the Mess Hall at Flight in Tustin. Join The Center for live entertainment, resources, workshops, lawn games and food for purchase at the Mess Hall court. The theme this year is centered around “blossoming” as individuals and communities. lgbtqcenteroc.org
Some of Coachella Valley’s most celebrated voices will perform at this evening of generosity and friendship, including Siobhan Velarde, Keisha D, Dion Khan, Brian Scott, Tod Macofsky, Gilmore Rizzo, Robbie Wayne, Bonnie Gilgallon, Jeff Barnett, Leanna & Miguel, Lizzie Grace and Francesca Amari.
onforPridecommunitynon-conformingthismonth.TransOC2022willbebackanin-personcelebration
LGBTQ Center Orange County will welcome all walks of life to celebrate and support our trans and gender
lgbtq community
The Dinah wouldn’t be the same without its epic pool parties. The weekend pool parties will be highlighted with live performances by emerging queer artists Zolita, IV4, Cassidy King and Siena Liggins, who are becoming visible members of the LGBTQ community that younger people can look up to.“These are the galvanizing queer voices to watch long after The Dinah is a wrap. They are part of a new generation of queer young artists who are determined to change the long-held stereotypes of this industry,” said Mariah Hanson, founder and producer of The Dinah. “I’m proud to have put together such an incredible lineup of marquee talent and community icons. We can’t get enough of these exhilarating female artists, and neither will you.” thedinah.com
by brad hart THE DINAH
“I am so excited about this wonderful opportunity to raise money for Barker LaRoux’s House of Love. Our needs for medical care are always the most pressing, given that we only rescue senior dogs, often in medical crises and most at the end of their lives,” said Carlynne McDonnell, founder and executive director of the animal sanctuary. “Our mission is to provide love and care to abandoned senior dogs at the end of their lives. We are so grateful to the extremely talented Siobhan Velarde for planning this event, the talented artists donating their time, and PS Underground for hosting.”
Headliners will include Fletcher, Haviah Mighty, Cassidy King, IV4, Zolita, IV Jay, Siena Liggins and 1980s music iconic superstar Taylor Dayne. In addition, a palette of talented female pop singers, rising artists and new queer talent will be showcased, all poised to make a major impact in 2022 and beyond.
facebook.com/barkeelaroux
On Saturday, September 24, the event will include an opening ceremony, live musical performances, recognition of top teams and fundraisers, T-shirt distribution, booths spotlighting event sponsors and funding recipients, a remembrance altar, and remarks from community leaders. AIDS Walk & Run San Diego is a way to remember those we’ve lost to HIV/AIDS and to raise critically needed money to support services for those impacted by HIV today. To register or to volunteer, go to aidswalksd.org.
Step up and step out because AIDS Walk & Run San Diego is back. The San Diego LGBT Community Center’s largest HIV fund raising event will return to its original and fabulous one-day community event.
Barker Laroux’s House of Love Animal Sanctuary and its community of supporters will come together to host a first-ever major fundraiser for the nonprofit on Wednesday, September 21 at PS Underground. Bash for the Barkees will include a divine family-style meal, auction items and fantastic entertainment to raise much-needed money for the animal sanctuary.
The Dinah will return to sunny Palm Springs to celebrate its 31st anniversary as the most prominent and biggest annual festival for queer women. It’s scheduled from Wednesday, September 21 through Sunday, September 25. Pulling all the stops, the legendary event has moved to one of Palm Springs’ most iconic hotels, The Margaritaville, formerly The Riviera. The Dinah will continue the legend with a show-stopping all-female entertainment lineup.
BASH FOR THE BARKEES
The acclaimed, nostalgic documentary All Man: The International Male Story will be shown at FilmOut and QFilms. In San Diego, it will be the grand finale Closing Night event (sponsored by The RAGE Monthly) on Sunday, September 11. It will screen in Long Beach on Saturday, September 10
FilmOut San Diego’s 22nd annual LGBTQ Film Festival will feature award-winning films from the Sundance, SXSW and Berlin film festivals, along with independent features and short films. Events will be held at the San Diego Natural History Museum (The NAT) and the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA), both in San Diego’s historic Balboa Park. For ticket information and screening updates, visit filmoutsandiego.com
All Kinds of Love Someday
community spotlight by chris carpenter
A TALE OF TWO LGBTQ FESTIVALSFILM
It will be the QFilms Opening Night event with writer-director David Lewis (who shared a Pulitzer Prize as an editor at the San Jose Mercury News) and cast members in attendance. Amid the backdrop of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 decision to legalize marriage equality, a longtime gay couple gets divorced just as everyone else is getting married. After his commitment-phobic husband divorces him, stuck-in-his-ways Max tries to start over. (Actors and real-life couple Matthew Montgomery and Steve Callahan play the pair.) When Max becomes accidental room mates with a younger hip nerd who is as romantically challenged as he is, sparks fly. All Kinds of Love is a fun romantic comedy that celebrates the endless possibilities of queer love, whether it involves an intergenera tional romance, a middle-aged interracial throuple, or an artistic trans man looking for love in all the wrong places. It will be FilmOut’s Men’s Centerpiece on Saturday, September 10 FilmOut’s Opening Night will showcase the athletically-inclined drama In From the Side on Thursday, September 8. As the members of a gay rugby team in London try to push past rivalries to score an elusive win, a secret affair simmers among them. Following a drunken encoun ter, two players begin an adulterous relationship and must conceal their growing feelings or risk destroying the team they love. Mark (sexy Alexander Lincoln) finds himself unable to avoid the appeal of teammate Warren (the equally sexy Alexander King), who sets off every red (or in rugby, yellow) flag: the cocky attitude, the emotional unavailability, the long-term boyfriend. But the real drama occurs off the field as infideli ties, heartbreak and unimpeded passions dominate the playbook. Visual effects artist Matt Carter makes a very impressive feature directorial debut. Not only did he direct and co-write it, he edited it, composed the music, served as cinematographer and co-produced.
San Diego and Long Beach aren’t exactly sister cities, since they are separated geographically by 112 miles, but their LGBTQ communities may grow closer this month via the communal experience that movies provide. Both cities will celebrate their long-running LGBTQ film festivals at the same time, Thursday, September 8 through Sunday, September 11. They will also serendipitously screen several of the same noteworthy productions.
The 29th annual QFilms Long Beach will be set at the city’s historic Art Theatre and neighboring LGBTQ Center Long Beach on Fourth Street. Feature films, documentaries and short films will show the lives of every member of the LGBTQ alphabet. Tickets to screenings, filmmaker Q&As, VIP experiences and parties are on sale at qfilmslongbeach.com.
Among the movies both fests have in common is All Kinds of Love.
While this writer was attending a Roman Catholic seminary in the early 1990s, more than a few of us gay students had subscriptions to the homoerotic International Male. (And the straight women who worked in the seminary mailroom definitely weren’t complaining!) The
Maybe
The Sixth Reel16 www.rage.lgbt | SEPTEMBER 2022
In From the Side
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.
All Man: The International Male Storyphoto by dennis covey
now-defunct clothing catalog, which debuted in the bicentennial year 1976, was decried by anti-gay cultural critics as “hedonistic,” “tasteless” and “selling sex.” As the documentary reveals in fascinating detail, it ultimately weathered those naysayers as well as the tragic devastation that HIV/AIDS wrought on the catalog’s staff and model pool during the 1980s and 1990s. I never expected to feel proud of International Male some 30 years later but, dagnabit, I do thank the filmmakers Bryan Darling and Jesse Finley Reed. Gay faves Matt Bomer, Drew Droege, Carson Kressley, Jake Shears and LGBTQ critic Frank DeCaro make welcome contributions to the doc.
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Two other prominent features are also shared by FilmOut and QFilms. Michelle Ehlen’s Maybe Someday will be the Women’s Opening Night Film in Long Beach and the Women’s Centerpiece in San Diego. It tells the story of Jay, a non-binary 40-something photographer, who moves across the country to start their life over again in the midst of separating from their wife. Along the way, Jay takes a detour to stay with their high school best friend who they used to be secretly in love with. Jay also befriends a charismatic gay man who has long given up on love. Memories of the past resurface as Jay, struggling to move forward with the next chapter of their life, grapples with the inevitable cycles of love, loss and letting go.
For its Closing Night screening on Sunday, September 11, QFilms has scored a coup: an advance screening of Universal Studios’ Bros, the first romantic comedy from a major studio about two gay men maybe, possibly, probably, stumbling towards love. Emphasis on the maybe. They’re both very busy, lol. Starring Billy Eichner, the first openly gay man to co-write and star in his own major studio film, Bros features an entirely LGBTQ principal cast including Luke Macfarlane, Ts Madison, Guillermo Díaz, Guy Branum and Amanda Bearse. Bros was directed by Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) from his screenplay with Eichner, and produced by comedy titan Judd Apatow (Bridesmaids). Bros isn’t scheduled to open in theatres until September 30, so QFilms will be one of the first places to show it on the big screen. Not to be outdone, FilmOut will screen The Sixth Reel, a new comedy co-directed by and starring the iconic Charles Busch. A down-on-his-luck movie collector (Busch) discovers a legendary lost film and becomes entangled in an outrageous adventure to deliver it to the right hands before it is lost forever. Busch is an American actor, screenwriter, play wright and drag performer known for his appearances in plays and films (including Psycho Beach Party and Die, Mommie, Die!). His best-known play is The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife (2000), which was a Tony-nominated successNumerouson Broadway.otherrecommended feature and short films will play at both festivals during their shared weekend, so be sure to visit their respective websites. According to Carlos Torres, executive director of The LGBTQ Center Long Beach: “While special interest groups try to legislate our existence away, it is more important now than ever to see representations of our LGBTQ+ lives on screen.” And to partially quote the opening of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cit ies: “It was the best of times.” This will most certainly be true of FilmOut San Diego and QFilms Long Beach 2022.
The award-winning documentary Mama Bears is an exploration of the journeys taken by Sara Cunningham and Kimberly Shappley, two conservative Christian mothers whose profound love for their LGBTQ children has turned them into fierce advocates for the entire queer com munity. It also focuses on Tammi Terrell Morris, a young Black lesbian whose struggle for self-acceptance perfectly exemplifies why the mama bears are so vitally important. The movie uses social media posts, home movies, photographs, interviews and cinema verité footage to explore the complex intersections of politics, religion, faith and unconditional love.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 2018, bringing overdue attention to a remarkable life that had been all but swept under the rug. Yet still, her level of recognition does not match the magnitude of her impact. How many people would guess that a queer Black woman from the South was the inspiration for every rock legend that followed her, from Little Richard to Elvis to Bob Dylan?“Oh,these kids and rock ’n’ roll — this is just sped up rhythm and blues. I’ve been doing that forever.” — Sister Rosetta Tharpe Hanz Enyeart is a queer-history maven who grew up in Mobile, Alabama. He works in philanthropy, and you can catch him on weekends at HUMANITY! on University Avenue in Hillcrest in San Diego, California..
queer history by hanz enyeart
“Black people made rock ‘n’ roll.” Lizzo delivers this proclamation in the video for her 2019 hit “Rumors” to an animated guitar-playing woman on a vase. The statement? Historically accurate. The woman on the vase? Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Black bisexual woman who launched the rock ‘n’ roll genre. Born in Arkansas in 1915, Tharpe was a guitar prodigy at age 4. Billed as a “singing and guitar-playing miracle,” she and her mandolin-playing missionary mother toured the South with a traveling gospel troupe. She would go on to develop her own distinctive style of playing while performing on the streets of New York, which one day caught the attention of jazz legend Cab Calloway. Without hesitation, he invited her to perform at the legendary Cotton Club. Tharpe was an instant success, signing with Decca Records that same year. Blending Delta blues and New Orleans jazz with gospel lyrics, she created a musical style that was all her own. The record company initially struggled to fit her into a genre, ultimately marketing her music as “spirituals in swing.” One of the first commercially successful gospel recording artists, Tharpe and her musicianship was revolutionary. A female electric guitarist was practically unheard of at the time, not to mention one who was Black. In 1944, Tharpe’s now legendary track “Strange Things Happening Every Day” was released. One of her biggest hits, it is considered to be the first rock ‘n’ roll record. Success and fame, unfortunately, did not afford Tharpe protection from institutionalized racism. Segregation was a common practice in the 1940s, forcing Tharpe to sleep on her tour bus instead of in a hotel bed, and order food from the back entrance of a restaurant instead of dining inside.In1946, Tharpe attended a Mahalia Jackson concert in Harlem, where Jackson invited emerging singer Marie Knight to perform on stage. Tharpe instantly saw something special in Knight and asked her to go on the road. The two would spend the next few years touring the gospel circuit and recording hit records together. They were also rumored to be lovers. “There was a lot of discussion about Rosetta’s attraction to men and women,” biographer Gayle Wald wrote in Shout, Sister, Shout!: The Untold Story of Rock-and-Roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe. “It was typical for people to be out, but there was no attempt for their private life to be part of their public identity.” In keeping with this, no one would go on record to talk about Tharpe’s sexuality, which didn’t surprise Wald.
“In the gospel world, it was understood that people protected each other’s privacy. You didn’t want to ruin anyone’s career or life. That way, people lived their lives as openly as they could.”
Before a concert one night in Georgia, Tharpe overheard a 14-year-old boy singing her songs outside the venue she would be performing at. She invited him, and even paid him, to open the show that evening, giving him the encouragement to become a professional performer. The young boy, Richard Wayne Penniman, would later adopt the moniker Little Richard and become one of the leading, and also queer, pioneers of early rock ‘n’ roll. Tharpe’s popularity in the U.S. started to wane in the 1950s. The rock ‘n’ roll landscape she paved was becoming dominated by white men, but that didn’t slow her down. She set her sights on Europe, where a great blues revival was taking place. She performed a now infamous show at an abandoned railroad station in England that was broadcast nationally. Entering the venue in an elegant horse-drawn carriage, donning a luxurious white coat, Tharpe was the absolute essence of rock ‘n’ roll royalty.Onthe eve of a recording session in October 1973, Sister Rosetta Tharpe passed away, from a stroke. She had been living with her mother in a humble Philadelphia home after complications from diabetes necessitated the amputation of a leg. Marie Knight did her hair and makeup for the funeral. Tharpe was laid to rest in a grave in Philadelphia that would remain unmarked for the next three decades.
THE BLACK, BISEXUAL, FEMME ROOTS OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
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hollywood
Fall is the time of year when, hopefully, cooler weather envelopes us in its crisp embrace, and the basic bitches are happy because it’s pumpkin spice season. OMG, Becky! And with the change of season comes a different type of movie-going experiences that relies less on blockbuster spectacle and more on quieter films that hope to catch the eyes of the awards shows. But there is still a real-life specter that looms large, the ongoing pandemic. And with COVID-19 numbers on the rise, yet again, and with an autumn surge expected, yet again — will it turn out to be fall in the house of the ushers, or will we see the return of big-budget flicks being relegated to streaming services?
WHERE MY GAYS AT?
First, Styles and director Olivia Wilde started a relationship during filming, which was halted due to COVID — the movie shoot, not the canoodling — and initially was to star Shia LeBeouf, who exited among claims of “creative differences.”
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by tim parks
MOVIES TO FALL FOR
Honestly, I went to the movies a few times this summer and missed being able to pause a movie when I had to pee. Just sayin.’ But it was nice to see a movie on the big screen again and pay $20 for a large popcorn. Good times, indeed. Without further ado, here are the movies waiting to transport us from our troubles and cares, if only for two hours, during the fall months.
As far as representation goes, you can basically paraphrase Princess Leia in the original Star Wars, “Help us Billy Eichner, you’re our only hope.” Unless you count Harry Styles — who has never gone on the record about his sexuality — going for the one-two punch in the theatrical-release arena. But he’s playing “a gay,” so we’ll include him, too. By now, you probably know that Bros is the first major studio release to feature two gay men (Billy Eichner and Luke Macfarlane) at the center of a rom-com. This ain’t your mama’s typical meet cute cinematic outing, replacing the quaint notion of the female lead having a, gasp, gay bestie. How novel! Rather, Eichner — who wrote the screenplay — heads an all-LGBTQ cast that includes Guillermo Díaz (Scandal), Guy Branum (The Other Two), Ts Madison (The Ts Madison Experience), Monica Raymund (Chicago Fire) and Amanda Bearse (Married . . . with Children).
September 23 Styles dons a uniform as My Policeman and sheds it for his same-sex love interest (David Dawson) and wife (Emma Corrin). Set during the 1950s — I’m sensing a theme for ’ol Harry — when homosexuality was illegal in England and also features older versions of the characters, with one being portrayed by Rupert Everett. Limited release on October 21, and then streaming November 4 on Prime.
September 30 First up for the former One Direction boy bander is Don’t Worry Darling, which tells the twisted tale of a 1950s homemaker (Florence Pugh) who suspects something is amiss in the town of Victory. The film has seen its fair share of behind-the-scenes doings. I’m not one to gossip, so you didn’t hear this from me. So, grab a paper towel because tea is about to get spilled.
One Million Moms — who only wish they had those kind of numbers — already making their picket signs. December 2
I Wanna Dance with Somebody highlights the highs and lows of Whitney Houston’s cut-too-short life, with Naomi Ackie portraying the Grammy-winning singer and Nafessa Williams is listed in the credits as Robyn Crawford. So, there’s a chance that the movie may explore the relationship between the two, which Crawford wrote about in her memoir A Song for You.
October 14
Helen Mirren headlines White Bird: A Wonder Story as a grand mother who shares with her grandson her story of strength as a youth in Nazi-occupied France, which she and her first love transform into a magical world. This spin-off of the 2017 Julia Roberts film Wonder also co-stars Gillian Anderson October 14 Colin Farrell is back in his true hot form in The Banshees of Inisherin, after being unrecognizable as The Penguin in The Batman. I’m only glad his makeup didn’t resemble Danny Devito’s turn as Oswald Cobblepot in Batman Returns, as that now reminds me of Rudy Giuliani. But that’s neither here nor there. Anyhoo, Hottie McHotterson sets out to repair a lifelong friendship with Brendan Gleeson.
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George Clooney and Julia Roberts each buy a Ticket to Paradise as divorced parents who travel to Bali to sabotage their daughter’s wedding. I wonder if Julia’s character will also be taking her best friend to said wedding.
October 7
November 23
With such a sad sack title, you’d think that Triangle of Sadness might ooze drama, but you’d be wrong. The dark comedy chronicles the sinking of a cruise for the uber-rich, stranding a fashion model couple and a cleaning lady on a tropic desert isle. No word if it’s loosely based on Gilligan’s Island.
The only details about the Olivia Colman/Colin Firth vehicle, Empire of Light, is that it’s “a love story that takes place in an English coastal cinema during the 1980s.” So, no word if the floors of said cinema are of the sticky variety. December 9
The latest DC Comics character to headline a movie, Black Adam, stars Duane “The Rock” Johnson as the titular character, who was given godlike powers during Egyptian times and sets out to dole out justice in league with the trappings of modern times.
Tár isn’t a thriller set at Los Angeles’ famed pits. Rather, it stars Cate Blanchett as Lydia Tár, a composer of great acclaim who succeeds in becoming the first female chief conductor of a German orchestra. Yes, that makes way more sense!
Amsterdam has a whole constellation of stars like Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, Chris Rock, Taylor Swift, Anya Taylor-Joy, Rami Malek and Robert DeNiro. The 1930s-set story is about three friends witnessing a murder, becoming suspects and then uncovering one of the most cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs plots in American history. It also has a bit of controversy surrounding it. The film’s director, David O. Russell, was accused almost a decade ago of sexual assault for groping his trans niece.
Strange World is Disney’s latest computer animated offering. In it, Jake Gyllenhaal finally settles into his daddyness — yes, that’s a word! — giving voice to the father of a family of space explorers that — drum roll, please — land on a strange world. Does that count as a spoiler?
December 21 Babylon reunites Once Upon a Time in . . . Hollywood castmates Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie in a feature helmed by La La Land director Damien Chazelle. Naturally, this film also is set in, well, La La Land and encompasses the transition from silent films to talkies.
Leading the pack is I am The Woman King, hear me roar! Viola Davis stars in the inspired-by-true-events historical epic that details her General Nanisca and the real-life West African all-female military force — known as Agojie — furiously defending The Kingdom of Dahomey.
The Fabelmans is Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film starring Michelle Williams, Paul Dano and Seth Rogen, which spans his formative years from 7 to 18 in Arizona. Here’s hoping he can harken back to the whimsical, warm fuzzies that populated his films in the 1980s. I mean it hasn’t been all cold pricklies after that; it’s just that he’s just expanded the nature of his film oeuvre, which I like over medium.
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It seems weird that Stranger Things’s David Harbour, who dropped 75 pounds for the fourth season of the Netflix series, is playing Santa in Violent Night. It features a not-so-jolly St. Nick battling a group of mercenaries attacking a wealthy family’s home on Christmas Eve. Cue
Obviously hottie Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) isn’t worried about being typecast as a pilot since Devotion is about two U.S. Navy aviators (Powell and Jonathan Majors) risking their lives during the Korean War.
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The bulk of new releases reads like a who’s who of the Hollywood echelon, with studios hoping that big names equate big box office, while smaller films are hoping to reach a wider audience.
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September 16
She Said is the true-life account of The New York Times journalists Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan) and Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan) publish ing the article that exposed the sexual abuse allegations against Harvey Weinstein — played by an uncredited Jabba the Hutt — that also served as the launching pad for the #MeToo movement. Too bad it’s not being made by Dimension Films, Weinstein’s former company, because that would be a big eff you to the incarcerated piece of brown expletive. Alas, Universal Pictures is bringing the story to the big screen.
CUT. PRINT. THAT’S A WRAP!
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The subtitle of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever sounds like a theme for a superhero prom, but I digress. There have been plot points leaked online, which involves the main villain being Sub-Mariner (Tenoch Huerta) and T’Challa’s sister Suri (Letitia Wright) possibly becoming the next Black Panther.
September 8
The rise and fall of cinema’s most famous Blonde, Marilyn Monroe, is the subject of Netflix’s biopic. Ana de Armas portrays the silver screen goddess in the NC-17 rated “for some sexual content” adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates’s fictionalized account of the “Some Like It Hot” actress’s life. September 23 Daniel Craig returns as Detective Benoit Blanc in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. He takes on a new case in Greece and, ahem, peels back the layers of whodunnit among suspects Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista. Airing on Netflix sometime in November
Keep your peepers peeled for two community-minded flicks, Dope Queens and Passages. The former is described as “a vibrant romantic thriller” set in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, which is the home of Compton’s Transgender Cultural District, the first legally recognized transgender district in the world that spans six city blocks. One of the titular queens is RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 6 winner Kylie Sonique Love. The latter flick, Passages, stars Ben Whishaw and Franz Rogowski as two gay men who have been together for 15 years when one of them has an affair with a woman. Oh, the drama! And don’t fret, I didn’t forget horror movies. They will get their own special spotlight next month in The RAGE Monthly. 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
THE SECOND TIME AROUND
December 16
ISLANDS IN THE STREAM
November 24
November 11 Hopefully, Avatar 2: The Way of Water will be a case of well worth the wait, as it’s been 13 years since the original. The follow-up returns to Pandora, where Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Ney’tiri (Zoe Saldana) and family must flee their home when an ancient threat makes it presence known and they must also do battle with humans. Of note, Titanic star Kate Winslet reunites with director James Cameron as Ronal. Since there’s water involved in this sequel, she better make room on the door this time, k?
There are two chances to see everyone’s favorite wooden boy on TV screens. First up is Robert Zemeckis’s Pinocchio, a live-action musical remake of the 1940 animated flick for Disney+. It stars Tom Hanks as Geppetto, Cynthia Erivo playing the Blue Fairy, Luke Evans as the Coach, I mean the Coachman, and Jiminy Cricket being voiced by Joseph-Gordon Levitt.
The other incarnation comes in stop-motion animation form, courtesy of director Guillermo del Toro, and is a decidedly darker take on the “I’ve Got No Strings” character. I’m surprised that neither of these two wooden boy flicks didn’t tap Keanu Reeves as the titular character. I kid because I love. It’s set to be released in select theatres in November and then available to stream on Netflix in December I may have been the only gay man who didn’t care for 2007’s Enchanted starring Amy Adams as a princess transported from her fairy tale land to New York City. So, it’s apt to me that the sequel is called Disenchanted, which picks up 10 years later with Giselle (Adams) questioning her happiness and will stream on Disney+.
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director aditya chopra shoba narayan plays simran austin colby plays rog mandel
theatre by jay jones Come Fall in Love — The DDLJ Musical is the story of Simran, a young Indian-American woman whose future is set with an arranged marriage back in India to a family friend. But when she convinces her very strict dad that she should spend a summer of freedom and fun in Europe, she falls for the charming Rog and her careful, logical plans go out the window. Can she be true to both her heritage and her heart? Can the carefree American, Rog, win over her traditional father? Take a whirlwind trip from Boston to Europe to India as cultures collide in the stage musical adapta tion of the beloved hit romantic comedy film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Director Aditya Chopra takes a fresh look at his land mark film, renewing it for a new generation and in a new medium. With an American audience in mind, he moves the action of the early scenes to America and not to England,as in the film. Instead, he focuses the story more precisely on Simran’s experience, adding gravity and power to her journey. While the original music from the film is quoted and celebrated, the musical includes 18 new English songs by the renowned Indian duo of Vishal & Sheykhar. They capture not only their distinctive fusion of Indian and pop musical styles but also integrate the famous and recognizable Broadway sound into their remarkable score. And Chopra returns to an idea that animated his earliest thinking about his story even before he made the film. Reimagining the character of Rog to reflect a more contemporary and inclusive cultural experience.“TheOldGlobe’s sterling reputation as a birthplace for exciting new American musicals is well known,” Artistic Director Barry Edelstein said. “But with the world premiere of the joyous and thrilling Come Fall in Love — The DDLJ Musical, we take a bold step into the international musical theatre for the first time. A brilliant new version of one of the landmark films of Indian cinema, this charming, funny, and romantic story of love and family brings together the best of Broadway and the best of Bollywood and places them both center stage in Balboa Park. I know our audiences will find delight in this fusion of cultures, just as I find inspiration in the extraordinary artistry of the theatre makers lending their talents and imagina tions to this uplifting show. Chief among them is Aditya Chopra, one of the world’s most important and impactful filmmakers. Just as his vision for the movie DDLJ brought joy to literally billions in India and around the world, so now his new musical will transport theatre audiences to a happy place where love, in every color, triumphs. I am beyond excited for San Diego to see this show.” Director Aditya Chopra agrees: “I can’t wait for audiences to see Come Fall in Love — The DDLJ Musical with this amazing cast. I am thrilled to be making not only my stage debut but my American debut. Come Fall in Love with all new English songs by Indian com posers Vishal & Sheykhar has allowed me to revisit my original vision for DDLJ and share with audiences this love story between an American man and an Indian woman. Come Fall in Love is truly an expansion of the success story of DDLJ. Any lover of the film will rediscover its beauty, and the English-speaking world will fall in love with Rog, Simran and India. Bollywood and Broadway will meet for an exciting theatrical experience.”Thefamily-owned Yash Raj Films, headed by Chopra, is the largest film studio in India and has produced some of the biggest blockbusters of Indian cinema. Chopra returns to directing for the 50th anniversary of the studio. He made his film directing debut with DDLJ, which premiered in 1995 and is still running in theatres. It is the longest-running movie in Indian cinema history and one of the highestgrossing films in India’s rich and diverse movie industry history. The world premiere of Come Fall in Love — The DDLJ Musical will be performed on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage at The Old Globe in San Diego’s Balboa Park. Performances run Thursday, September 1 through Sunday, October 16 theoldglobe.org
TWO CULTURES, TWO WORLDS COME TOGETHER IN WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL
theatre by jay jones
Following the thunderous arrival of a chart-topping soundtrack, select concerts and an appearance at LA PRIDE this year, DRAG: The Musical will finally be fully brought to life via a full-on production coming to The Bourbon Room in Hollywood. The show will run Friday, September 23 through Saturday, October 15 The cast will boast a roster of drag icons, including Alaska, Jackie Cox, Jan Sport, Lagoona Bloo and Aria B. Cassadine, as well as theatre legends Nick Adams, Alysha Deslorieux and Peppermint, the lattermost being the first transgender woman to originate a principal role on Broadway in Head Over Heels.
“This is a once-in-a-career opportunity,” co-producer Matt Weaver said. “We are absolutely thrilled to be a part of this groundbreaking musical and debut it at The Bourbon Room.”
DRAG: The Musical will likely become a queer cult classic in the tell ing of a story of two rival drag bars that go head-to-head for survival amidst financial troubles. Though in the works for years, DRAG: The Musical first saw the light of day when the album dropped in May. It cracked the Top 10 of the iTunes Soundtrack Chart, debuted at No. 12 on Billboard’s Cast Albums charts, and earned coverage via Billboard, Entertainment Tonight, Entertainment Weekly, Playbill and more. The album was followed by several select concert performances in June and includes the No. 1 song “She’s All That,” which topped Pandora’s Musical Theater Charts for four weeks. bourbonroomhollywood.com
ALASKA THUNDERFUCK’S
“This musical we have been writing for the last six years is finally coming to life. It’s wild to see the seeds that we planted starting to bloom, and I’m so blown away by the level of artistry that the whole cast and team have brought to this,” Alaska said. “This musical speaks to a ton of issues that are really important today — gender identity; family, whether genetic or chosen, gentrification and a fucked economy, and most importantly . . . drag. I’m so excited to bring this story to life and share it with the world.”
Alfred Hitchcock meets Beach Blanket Bingo in this over-thetop dark comedy by New York playwright Charles Busch. The story focuses on Chicklet Forrest, a perky 16-year-old tomboy who’s desperate to be part of the in-crowd of Malibu beach surfers in 1962. She’s the typical American girl — except for one little problem: her personality is split into more slices than a pepperoni pizza. Among them is an elderly radio talk-show hostess, a male model named Steve, and the accounting firm of Edelman and Edelman. Her most dangerous alter ego is a sexually voracious vixen named Ann Bowman, who has nothing less than world domination on her mind. Join the “Party” at Palm Springs Desert Rose Playhouse. The show will play Wednesday, September 14 through Sunday, September 25 desertroseplayhouse.org
DRAG: THE MUSICAL TO DEBUT ON STAGE
Before it became a hit comedy series on Netflix, Kim’s Conve nience was a smash on stage. The play brought laughter to audiences, becoming the most successful new Canadian play of the last decade. Set in a familyrun Korean convenience store, Kim’s Convenience is a hilarious and heartwarming ode to generations of immigrants. Mr. Kim is a first-generation Korean immigrant and the proud owner of Kim’s Convenience for 30 years. Now he’s trying desperately — and hilariously — to grapple with a changing neighborhood landscape and the chasm between him and his second-generation offspring. It will be staged Wednesday, September 21 through Sunday, October 9 at Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. lagunaplayhouse.com Sanctuary City, by Pulitzer Prize winner Martyna Majokis, is the provocative, unforgettable story of two lifelong friends, their tenuous grip on living in America, and persevering through whatever comes their way with wit and grit. Pro foundly human and undeniably universal, it begs the question: How much do we owe to one another? The play’s Los Angeles premiere will run Wednesday, September 14 through Sunday, October 9 at Pasadena Playhouse
The a new production is directed by queer, first-generation South Asian-American, culturally Muslim theater director Zi Alikahn, named one of Theatre Communications Group’s Rising Leaders of Color in 2021. The production will star Ana Nicolle Chavez (Apple TV+’s Truth Be Told) as G, and Miles Fowler (HBO’s Winning Time) as B. pasadenaplayhouse.org
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nyone who has heard Ben Platt belt a note knows that there’s such a thing as angels. Platt — who sits relaxed with his labradoodle George as he chats with The RAGE Monthly — is gearing up to take that voice on his first national headlining tour since the pandemic to promote his sophomore album, Reverie. Outside of his solo music career, fans of Platt are also familiar with his popular characters Evan Hansen from Dear Evan Hansen and Benji from Pitch Perfect. He has established himself both on stage and in film as a force to be reckoned with, equipped with a vibrato ready to knock every note out of the park every time. Even though he has reached this level of stardom, he still remains humble, approachable and grateful for his opportunities.“Thingsaregood,”
Platt said. “It feels simultaneously like I’ve settled in a really nice way in terms of my personal life. I’ve been with my partner [Noah Galvin] for a little while now, and I feel more at a stasis than I have in the past with my career. Before the pandemic, I was always so go-go-go. It was so frenetic.”
While life may be in a really great place for Platt, he said he’s eger and excited to get back to the stage.
A
“This one has more of a ‘party vibe,’ as they say, for sections of the show. Sprinkled throughout all of that will be songs from my first album, some covers, some musical theatre moments. It’s basically kind of what I’ve done up until this point,” he said. “Certainly, there will be some familiarity in terms of what people expect from me and types of songs I’ve sang in the past, with a more poppier lean.”
The first taste of what he could possibly do came when he was 11 years old and went on tour doing The Carolina Exchange. “I think doing that show with all of these adults who have made it their lives and feeling what that’s like, I just couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” he said.
Since everything for Reverie was created during the pandemic, Platt said the feeling of being able to share it live “feels bizarre and great. We made Reverie into a bigger pop and mainstream album to play with. There were a lot of Zoom sessions, and we had to adjust to the new normal because I didn’t think we could do it at first. I recorded it all in this little poolhouse studio. It felt like a lot more of a private experience, so I will always equate it with this kind of DIY moment that now gets to be sung for thousands of people.”
One of his favorites to sing when he hits the stage comes from his first album, Sing to Me Instead. “‘Easy My Mind’ is a very calming song to sing and comes from a very special place in my heart. I’ve been singing it for so long now, it’s like a rocking chair kind of vibe.” Platt said. “I’m mostly excited to sing some of the more uptempo songs from this record. I wrote this during the pandemic when there were questions about whether live shows would ever come back. They’re very much built to be enjoyed live with people. ‘Childhood Bedroom’ is one I’m excited for the energies in the room and to be able to curate that experience will be so fun.”
BRINGING THE ‘PARTY VIBE’ ON NEW TOUR
“It’s been three years since my last proper concert. It’s nerve-wracking getting back into the swing of that. You can prep and rehearse as much as possible, but it can be hard to replicate that feeling. I’m just ready to get back on stage and get comfortable again. It’s what I feel the most at home doing and what I’ve been doing for a long time.”
Having grown up around the arts and doing musicals since he was a kid, that “long time” has seen Platt throughout most of his life. In regard to turning the love of theatre into a professional move, he said, “It’s tough to pinpoint the conscious moment where I decided to do it. It was a gradual realization that the place I felt most comfortable or at home with myself also happened to be the place where I could make a livelihood. I think once those things line up and you have the privilege of doing that, it’s hard to imagine doing anything else.”
Platt also spoke about his growth in the film and television aspects of his career, as well as the opportunity to put out his own music. In terms of the upcoming tour and his first chance at showcasing Reverie, Platt said it’s got a little more “tempo, pop and dance moves” than the first tour.
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Another recent milestone in Platt’s career came on the ninth episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7.
On top of that, judging during an all-winners season was a spectacle itself, especially in an episode where the competition was almost done.
Platt plans to take that same advice on the road, kicking off his tour in Seattle, Washington (where, ironically, the winner of AS7 originally came from). You can catch him in San Diego on Friday, September 9 at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park and in Los Angeles on Monday, September 12 at the Hollywood Bowl. benplattlive.com
“That was so wonderful,” he said. “It was like Christmas. That show brings so much people joy, me included, and especially during the pandemic, it’s been, like, one of the greatest sources of happiness. It felt like going to Oz for a day, it was just so great. They’ve been doing it for a hot minute, so they have the whole thing down to a science, so going in as a judge was very curated and easy and joyful. I just loved it.”
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.
Fans of the main show of RuPaul’s Drag Race know that RuPaul likes to ask his finalists what they’d say to their younger selves. When asked the same question, Platt said, “It’s funny because I have some new songs from my forthcoming record that may or may not preview in this upcoming tour. That would be very exciting, but it’s all about what you might say to your younger self.” With that in mind, he added, “The overarching thing I might say is not to worry quite so much. I certainly worry a lot now, and I think as a kid I was anxious as well. That’s just kind of in a lot of our DNA, especially queer and Jewish people. I would just drive home for him that this is the time of your life to be as present and as free as you can be. As you get older, there are more things you have to take on that come with maturity and awareness and perspective. Some is wonderful to have, and some is really difficult to have. So, I’d just tell him to be right where he is and take in each day and try not to focus too much on the days ahead and what’s coming.”
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“It was the supreme crème de la crème,” Platt said. “I was nervous about having to critique because I love these queens, and I was apprehensive about saying negative things to people doing things I’d never be able to do. I was just lucky it was a winner’s season, and it was finding the brightest star out of a bunch of stars. I hope to go again. Me and my partner dream of doing ‘Snatch Game’ together, so.”
Limiting the number of sex partners can help lower your chances of getting HIV and MPX WWW.RIVCOHIVAIDS.ORG (951) 358 5307 ruhs MPX (monkeypox) Limitar el número de parejas sexuales puede ayudar a reducir sus posibilidades de contraer el VIH y viruela del mono
For over 40 years, Momix has thrilled fans and been recog nized worldwide as a maverick of creativity and invention. The company transports audiences from their everyday lives to a fantasy world by combining athletic dance, riveting music, outrageous costumes, props and pure talent to stage an entertaining multimedia experience that will surprise and astonish. In a new show, Viva Momix, the company mixes traditional styles of fun and beauty in a two-act program that will keep you at the edge of your seat. Coming to Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa on Saturday, September 17 scfta.org
by brad hart
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Werq the World, the official RuPaul’s Drag Race world tour, will return to LA on Friday, September 16 and San Diego on Saturday, September 17, with a new production. An experi ment gone wrong has sent the audience spiraling through time with no way of returning to the present. Gottmik, Jaida Essence Hall, Naomi Smalls, Violet Chachki, Kim Chi, Willow Pill, Lady Camden, Yvie Oddly, Bosco and more drag stars will take you on a journey through iconic periods of history in hopes of finding their way back to 2022. vossevents.com
stage
Grammy winner Maren Morris will bring her Humble Quest tour to San Diego on Friday, September 16 and to the Hollywood Bowl on Thursday, October 13. Maren’s new album, Humble Quest, includes the hit singles “Background Music” and “Circles Around This Town,” which broke Amazon Music’s record for most streams for a country song debut by a female artist. marenmorris.com
American pop icon Taylor Dayne will perform at Sycuan Casino Resort in El Cajon on Saturday, September 17, and at the Black and White Ball during The Dinah in Palm Springs on Friday, September 23. Taylor’s groundbreaking debut, “Tell It to My Heart,” turned her into an overnight international star in 1987. She followed the smash hit with 17 Top 20 singles throughout her career, including “Love Will Lead You Back,” “Prove Your Love” and “I’ll Always Love You.” taylordayne.com/dates Grammy-winning superstar Mr. Worldwide aka Pitbull will heating up SoCal fans this month. Get ready to “Feel This Moment” when Pitbull’s Can’t Stop Us Now tour will visit North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista on Wednesday, September 21, followed by a stop at FivePoint Amphitheater in Irvine the next night. pitbullmusic.com/ tour
ONSIZZLESSEPTEMBERSTAGE
momix mens-poles photo by eddy fernandez.
So, you think you can drag? Find out if you have what it takes to be the next drag superstar. Hosted by local diva Paris Sukomi Max, a drag contest will be held on the last Tuesday of the month at Lips San Diego. Get ready to slay the competition with the chance to win a cash prize. Or just come root on your favorite contestant and enjoy a dinner and show. lipssd.com
FRED GOODMAN “Hey kid. Rock and Roll. Rock on. My soul.” When it comes to capturing rock ‘n’ roll on film, there are simply just as many chords on a guitar or keys on a keyboard to do it. As it’s all relative to the person’s generation or special classification of what rock music turns them on and the never-ending progression of music legends and rock icons to capitalize on. Fred Goodman knows the ropes of the music industry as a former editor for Rolling Stone and puts his high-heeled sneakers on to intellectually and humorously chronicle these films in which music is always at the very core of the experience. Beautifully illustrated, not too heavy on the text for each film. You’ll never have to say, “That was deep, man,” but simply a cinematic joy ride through documentaries of The Who, Woodstock, The Rolling Stones or Chuck Berry; bombastic bio pics of the geniuses of the genre such as Bob Dylan, Ray Charles or Buddy Holly and films that use rock ‘n’ roll and roll of any era to cement the film and the feelings in the times it took place. With director interviews such as John Waters, who truly didn’t let it be with his comment, “The Beatles were too cheery for me.” It’s an American graffiti of reading enjoyment to hail, hail the movies that rocked the screen. Available now GET FUCKED THE CHATS
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POP, ROCK AND PUNK
ROCK ON FILM: THE MOVIES THAT ROCKED THE BIG SCREEN
rage recommends by bill biss
I don’t care if you don’t know who The Dead Kennedys are. And I most certainly don’t care if you don’t know just how “Rotten” Johnny was. Can we chat about The Chats? I know. You don’t care. So what. I care enough to let you know about three guys from “Down Under” who kicked my ass with an attitude that screams and a sound that is as righteous as early Blondie. That being the powerful regeneration of punk music. No sweet Adam Ant here in the blasts. Each song slams in for the most part at under two minutes. No need to wear a safety pin in your nose this time around mates, just let the frustration fly in quick release and with titles like “The Price of Smokes” and “Panic Attack” that begins with a “total” DEVO beat. Let me tell ya, some girls shop, some guys work out, some boys shop, some girls work out. Me? Meditate with The Chats with a blend of your favorite cup of Joe and as the blocks say, “Get Fucked.” Available now
FLETCHERIt’stimeforpopular
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pop lovers to “step and fetch” for Fletcher. “Becky’s So Hot” and I’m so hot for her musical and personal attitude. This summer sizzle of a song scores with the best while sending a red flar of sexuality not to be seen since “Summer Nights” yet with a twist. Could you imagine a woman singing “I Love You Bitch”? Fletcher is ready to head into autumn with schoolgirl looks intact and be the “girl most likely” to succeed with the jocks, cheerleaders and geeks following in her wake. Her debut album Girl of My Dreams delivers in the best way sonically and is filled with a modern spark of lyrical study halls. “Fletcher. Are you queer!” She’s mighty proud to say it with several songs that address her preference with gusto and passion. Clearly, Fletcher doesn’t have a problem about being righteous about her sexuality, i.e. “Her Body Is Bible.” I say, “Amen.” This girl could be a real “Serial Heartbreaker” as this guy hasn’t felt this strong a jolt of sheer adrenaline since Britney or Christina A. We’ll see in September. Hopefully, her English literature professor will tell her, “You don’t need to use ‘bitch’ or ‘fuck’ to get your feelings across. Ahh, young adults these days.” Fletcher says, “I know YOU will!” She’s that boss. Just listen to her lyrics and voice on Girl of My Dreams on her debut LP, CD or digital — no eight-track or cassette, please, it’s 2022.
GIRL OF MY DREAMS
eating out by tony reveditto HARRAH’S RESORT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA JUST GOT FUNNER WITH HELL’S KITCHEN photo by tony reveditto INHEAVENHELL! Executive Chef Redentor “Reden” Ramos 40 www.rage.lgbt | SEPTEMBER 2022
The biggest reason is probably because I have been a super fan of the Hell’s Kitchen competition reality series since the first episode aired on May 30, 2005. Year after year, my mouth watered as multiMichelin starred master chef Gordon Ramsay saw his signature dishes make their way to diners. Finally, my palette would experience these classics at the highly anticipated opening of Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen restaurant, which debuted on Friday, August 12, 2022.
At the helm of this amazing creation is Chef Redentor “Reden” Ramos, executive chef for Hell’s Kitchen. He will oversee everything from making sure each entrée is crafted to perfection to ensuring each guest leaves happy and satisfied. With three decades of experience working in hotels and restaurants, Chef Reden has proven his talent and skill and said he is excited to bring a fresh approach to the classic ingredients, techniques and training to the next generation of chefs with high standards in mind. Chef Reden resides in Murrieta but has lived all over the country. He said his childhood dream of becoming a chef began in the Philippines where he worked in his mother’s restaurant. As an adult, he mastered the barbecue pits of St. Louis, Missouri and learned how to filet fresh fish in Seattle, Washington. Chef Reden has cooked in the kitchens of resorts such as the Hyatt, Hilton, Hotel Del Coronado and now at Harrah’s Resort Southern California. He got his first taste of “Funner, California” as the Specialty Banquet and Buffet Chef from 2009 to 2014. Hell’s Kitchen is located where the phenomenal buffet used to be and will be the perfect replacement since the days of the buffet seem to have faded away due to the ongoing pandemic. The transformation from buffet to Hell’s Kitchen is jaw-dropping. Once seated, we looked over the well-appointed Specialty Cocktail menu and wine list, and were greeted by the lovely Carolina. The signature cocktails are very cool and unique, but my guest decided on a glass of Cakebread Cellars, Napa Valley 2020 Chardonnay, which is one of his favorites. I chose a Patron Spicy Margarita, which was presented beautifully with a slice of orange branded with the Hell’s Kitchen logo. The spicy margarita had a nice kick of heat, while still being very thirst-quenching.
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The nation’s largest Hell’s Kitchen restaurant, a replication of the legendary concept seen on the long-running Fox program, is truly a feast for the senses, emblazoned with the iconic red and blue flames. The spacious restaurant seating 332 features three areas for guests to experience the Hell’s Kitchen vibe, including a full-service restaurant, a posh lounge and two private dining areas with 11,360 square feet. Other features include an elegant bar, a stunning curated wine wall, an exhibition kitchen, and two chef’s tables for the ultimate VIP dining experience.
If you really want to live it up on a staycation, I highly recommend the “Oh So Suite rooms,” 1,028 square feet of cozy living area and a large primary with a king-size bed. Gaze at the action-packed pool from a roomy private balcony or let your imagination run free as you enjoy the views of gorgeous “Funner, California.” My favorite feature of the room is the deep soaking Jacuzzi tub.
Just over four years ago, at a silent auction, I won a stay at Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center. We had so much fun that we have been going once a month ever since. With a Caesars Reward Card, you enjoy perks such as free stays, resort credits for food, free play and much more.
At the casino, it is always a fun-filled adrenaline rush with 1,500 slot machines and more than 50 table games ranging from blackjack to Pai gow poker to Roll to Win eCraps. Table games team members can join the Impressive Progressive — California’s first all-table progressive jackpot. Before I delve into the dining experience at Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, let’s give a shout-out to all of the restaurants at Harrah’s. Each one is excellent, with its own unique spin, from fast casual at Smash Burger to the fine dining experience at Fiore. The Café is our go-to for a solid tasty meal after a day of partying.
While the service can be spotty at KJ Chinese Restaurant, the food represented from various Asian regions is always authentically delicious.Ihavebeen a food writer for over 15 years and was probably more excited to dine at Hell’s Kitchen then any its predecessors.
Harrah’s Resort Southern California is located at 777 S Resort Drive, Valley Center, CA 760.751.3100 or California. harrahssocal.com
There is a reason that this franchise continues to explode with new locations. It’s because of the attention to detail in every aspect of the operation, from the interior design to the professionalism of the staff to the consistency of the fantastic staple menu. If you haven’t been to a Hell’s Kitchen restaurant, I highly recommend that you do!
FUN FACT ABOUT FUNNER, CALIFORNIA
Actress, comedian, author and game show host Jane Lynch became the fictitious “Mayor of Funner, California” on May 19, 2022, at 4:01 p.m. It marked the first time a female and openly LGBTQ person was inducted. “Wow, I am incredibly humbled and so excited to be here with you all in my favorite city in the world, Funner, California,” Mayor Jane said. “If you’re not ready for 100% fun, 100% of the time — do I have some sorry news for you. Funner is more than a place, it’s a state of mind. It’s an oasis and a reprieve from the everyday mundane, where everyone is welcome and surprises can be found at every corner. It is my wish and my duty that I lead the people to join us and follow their own Funner.”
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I knew years before my visit exactly what I would order. We started with Oysters on the Half Shell and Shrimp Cocktail. Both were ultra-fresh, and these treasures of the sea were the perfect starter to what would be a phenomenal dining experience. There was no way I was going to miss out on the Pan Seared Scallops garnished with celery root, braised bacon lardons and pickled Granny Smith apples. Was it everything I anticipated and hoped for? That would be an astounding yes. Tender, seared perfectly while melting in my mouth. We shared an order of the signature Lobster Risotto, butter poached lobster tail, truffle risotto topped with crispy onions. The tender lobster was sublime and the accent of truffle in the risotto was perfection.
I can’t tell you how many times I have heard Chef Ramsay yell, “It’s raw!” in reference to the cook on the legendary Beef Wellington on his reality TV show. Well, at Harrah’s Southern California, mine wasn’t, nor was the buttery puff pastry, as both were cooked to perfection, accompanied with a delightful potato purée, glazed tender root vegetables, with the Wellington drizzled with a red wine demi-glace. My guest loved the Crispy Skin Salmon served with warm white beans, sea bean salad, Ibérico chorizo, adorned with a lovely citrus beurre blanc. He complimented on how well-balanced the white beans were with the salmon. We had the sinful Sticky Toffee Pudding because it sounded too good to resist, as well as the Peanut Butter Fudge Cheesecake served with house made ice cream. Both were heaven in hell!
fitness by freddy saluna SIT FIRST BEFORE YOU READ THIS! 44 www.rage.lgbt | SEPTEMBER 2022
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It may be September but it’s still summer! At least until September 22 ushers in autumn. Whether you want to get that swole “pumped” look before you hit the beach or just feel motivated to workout, this is a well-rounded, indoor/outdoor, no equipment, no gym beginner’s workout routine.
Fourth, since I can’t be with all of you, YouTube is your BFF on visual how-to’s. Last, do this at your own risk! Unsure? Check with your doc first.
SEPTEMBER 2022
READY, SET, GO
Second, whether you’re sitting, standing, laying down for any exercise, maintain good posture. Third, when you crunch up, squat up, lunge up, hip up, push up, or row up — breathe out!
Why? Because thatgaytrainer is actually going to spend this column talking about exercise! I know, I know, I can hear it all
already: Shut up! No way. OMG! Where’s my fan?
Couple of notes: First, remember your sunblock and water.
Let’s start with 5 minutes of nice, easy, moderate-intensity cardio. Climb some stairs. Jump rope. Run on the sand. Do jumping jacks. Elevate your heart rate, get the blood circulat ing, get your respiratory rate up, and warm up your body. All good? Prime your core next. Let’s do a regular plank. Your choice of modified plants, using hands or elbows. If you’ve not done planks before, start with 15 to 20 seconds. Your form/ technique is very important. After that, switch to side planks, one for each side of your body. Again, these can be modified or using your hand or using your elbow. And again, spend some time perfecting your technique. Start with 10 to 15 seconds per side. Done? Let’s do oblique crunches. Lie face up, feet on the ground or elevated, left arm out to the side palm down, and right arm bent with right fingers touching your right ear. Now, imagine some string from your left knee pulling your right elbow towards it, and crunch that right shoulder up. Start with 15 to 30 seconds per side. Set? Some “supermans/womans/people” are next. Lay face down with arms stretched out ahead of you, and hands and feet together. Keeping your chin tucked, contract your back muscles, glutes and hamstrings to raise your arms and torso up simultaneously with your legs. Start with 15 to 30 seconds. Body and core nice and warm? Lower body work is next. How about three sets of body weight squats with 8 to 12 reps per set and 30 to 45 seconds rest between sets? Keep your head neutral/in-line with your neck and back. Feel your quads and glutes doing the work. Now let’s target one leg at a time. two sets of reverse lunges with 8 to 10 reps per set, and 30 to 45 seconds rest between sets. Drop the trailing knee straight down and avoid pushing forward into your leading leg/knee. Yes, YouTube is still your BFF for this. Next, hip bridges. The power’s in yo booty! Lie face up, knees bent, with your feet as close to your butt as possible. Feel your glutes work (and maybe hamstrings too) as you raise your hips to the sky. If your back hurts, recheck your technique. Four sets of 8 to 10 reps per set (because junk in the trunk/a dump truck is good), 30 to 45 seconds rest between sets.
Upper body now, let’s crush some pushups. If you’re new to them, find a wall or a table to place your hands, get a good plank going, keep those shoulders from shrugging, and let’s do three sets of 6 to 8 repetitions with 30 to 45 seconds rest between sets.And last, rows for a good strong back. Find a 1-gallon jug of water (about 8 pounds). Then, using the table or wall from your pushups, lean into it by putting your left hand on it with your left foot forward, hold the jug with your right hand, put your right foot back, engage your core, then row/pull that right elbow up behind you towards your hips. Four sets of 10 to12 repetitions with 30 to 45 seconds rest between sets. Congratulations! You’ve done pretty much all seven func tional movements across all three cardinal planes of your body. Now stretch each major muscle for about 30 seconds, choose something healthier to eat, rinse and rest, and repeat day after next. You got this!
Freddy Saluna, ACSM-CPT, ΔΣΠ is the founder of Level One Training and Fitness. After 10 fabulous years, he finally “came out” as thatgaytrainer.com. When not training, he dreams of Vallarta or agonizes over analytics, TikTok and his geriatric cat, Sugar. | theragemonthly
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