RAGE MONTHLY MAGAZINE MAY 2022

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MAY 2022

THE EMANCIPATION OF

ALYSSA EDWARDS SIX PICKS FOR NEW

QUEER FLICKS EIGHTY-SIXED WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL COMES TO SAN DIEGO

BOWING OUT WITH

GRACE...

AND FRANKIE

OUT VOCAL SENSATION

GEORGE PERRIS SPEAKING, SINGING, LIVING HIS TRUTH

LIFESTYLE

EVENTS

FASHION

ENTERTAINMENT

NIGHTLIFE

COMMUNITY

“Hilarious!”

HHHH MAY 31–JUNE 12 June 11 at 2 pm

(714) 556-2787 | SCFTA.org Group Services (714) 755-0236

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

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 US 619.906.RAGE(7243) sales@ragemonthly.com NATIONAL ADVERTISING REP Rivendell Media 212.242.6863

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

SUBSCRIPTIONS – One year (12 issues): $40.00 Direct all editorial and subscription orders to our office or website.

Rage Magazine 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

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MAY 2022

VOLUME 15 ISSUE 12

CONTENTS 10 LGBTQ COMMUNITY 14 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT THE UNSTOPPABLE ALYSSA EDWARDS 18 HOLLYWOOD ONE LAST RIDE WITH GRACE AND FRANKIE 22 RAGE RECOMMENDS 24 MUSIC SPOTLIGHT OUT SINGER GEORGE PERRIS SHARES HIS TRUTH 28 STAGE BRIEFS 32 THEATRE SPOTLIGHT WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL EIGHTY-SIXED 34 THEATRE SPOTLIGHT BASKING IN THE AFTERGLOW WITH S. ASHER GELMAN 38 STREAM QUEEN PICKS FOR NEW LGBTQ FLICKS 42 EATING OUT TACO ABOUT A CELEBRATION 44 FITNESS GEORGE PERRIS COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERRIKOS ANDREOU

www.rage.lgbt| MAY | MARCH 88 www.rage.lgbt 20222022

photography by dillon del toro

CAN’T STOP US NOW S U M M E R

T O U R

2 0 2 2

ALSO FEATURING GLOBALIZATION DJ’S

SEPTEMBER 21

NORTH ISLAND CREDIT UNION AMPHITHEATRE

lgbtq community

by brad hart

HARVEY MILK DIVERSITY BREAKFAST

THE CENTER’S OPEN HOUSE The San Diego LGBT Community Center will be reopening its doors and welcoming patrons back with an Open House on Saturday, May 14. At the Resource Fair, learn about the programs and services The Center provides. RSVP in advance for a 15-minute guided tour to check out the newly renovated community spaces. thecentersd.org

Recognized for his activism and deeply rooted commitment to philanthropy, Andy Linsky will receive the Harvey B. Milk Leadership Award at the 10th annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast taking place at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Wednesday, May 11.

The Harvey B. Milk Leadership Award is bestowed on a person who has worked to enrich the lives of LGBTQ individuals through activism in labor, housing, education and/or human rights.

With a powerhouse legacy of service in the community, Linsky served on the Desert AIDS Project (now DAP Health) board of directors from 1990 to 2014 and was president 1998 to 2002.

Linsky’s commitment to improving the lives of others goes beyond Palm Springs as demonstrated by his service as a board member for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) from 2002 to 2017 and his continuing service on the HRC Emeritus Council, which started in 2019.

Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker will be this year’s recipient of the Harvey B. Milk Legacy Award. Parker currently serves as the president and CEO of the Victory Fund. She served six years as a Houston City Council member, six years as City Controller, and six years as Mayor.

She is one of only two women to have been elected mayor and is the only person in Houston history to have held the offices of council member, controller and mayor. In addition, she was the first openly LGBT mayor of a major American city.

The breakfast honors the memory of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California, and his legacy of groundbreaking inspiration in the struggle to achieve LGBT equality. The event is designed to strengthen coalitions among the many diverse community organizations that work toward equality in the Coachella Valley. Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus will perform uplifting songs as part of the program. facebook.com/Desert.Milk

VENICE PRIDE FESTIVAL Be who you are at the Venice Pride Festival. LA’s beloved grassroots LGBTQ celebration will be open to all ages and moving to a new beachside location on Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and 5. Celebrate with a diverse array of stage performances produced by Queer Moment, DJs, community booths, art, LGBTQ vendors, food trucks and a 40,000-square-foot beer garden with a massive aboveground pool featuring everyone’s favorite queer dance party west of the 405, Gaywatch.

On Friday, June 3, Venice Pride will “Light Up the Night” for the Equality Viewing Party at Hotel Erwin’s High Rooftop Lounge to witness the LA premiere and illumination of Yvette Mattern’s Global Rainbow laser installation across the California coast. VIP guests will enjoy two premium Bacardi cocktails, a meet-and-greet with Mattern, and a reserved viewing area for the Global Rainbow lighting ceremony.

This intimate gathering will benefit Project Contrast, a nonprofit founded by photojournalist Maxwell Poth that amplifies the voices of LGBTQ youth through the power of storytelling.

Venice Pride is a nonprofit responsible for the Venice Pride Flag Lifeguard Tower, LA’s first rainbow crosswalk, and ongoing events that bring the LGBTQ community together in LA’s coastal region. venicepride.org

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lgbtq community

by brad hart

RIVERSIDE PRIDE MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH Join Riverside LGBTQ+ Pride in celebrating all the things we love about our moms on Sunday, May 8, at VIP Nightclub in Riverside.

Meet celebrity guest Braunwyn Windham-Burke from the realitytelevision show Real Housewives of Orange County.

Winham-Burke — who came out as a lesbian in 2020 to become the first openly gay cast member in the franchise’s history — has long been an ally of the LGBTQ community and has even supported her children in exploring and finding their own identities within the community.

“Being a mom to queer kids is awesome. You get to see your kids thrive and shine when they’re surrounded by love and acceptance,” Winham-Burke said.

“I’m so excited to work with Ms. Windham-Burke on this event,” said Troy Yu, the event organizer. “I cannot think of a better ally from the world of reality television to represent what it means to be a loving, supportive mother on Mother’s Day. Her journey has been a perfect example of what Mother’s Day is all about and it will be great to have her as our guest of honor.”

“Coming out later in life was really hard,” Windham-Burke said.

“There have been times where I questioned if I made the right decision to come out so publicly, but I’m so grateful I did. I often say representation matters. There is a need for people to tell their stories, and I am so honored to be able to be that representation for so many people.”

The event benefits the efforts of Riverside LGBTQ+ Pride, a nonprofit that works to increase the visibility of and provide support and resources for the LGBTQ community in Riverside. Enjoy entertainment, food and drink, and even surrogate mother figures for those missing that person in their life.

“We’re working with one of our favorite organizations called Free Mom Hugs, who work to promote acceptance, love and support for those in the LGBTQIA+ community. They will be providing ‘surrogate’ moms for those who want to attend but for whatever reason don’t have a mom to celebrate with,” Yu said. “We recognize that many in our community are not in contact with their mothers or have lost them in some way, so we want to make sure that those who want to celebrate with us, still have someone to spend the day with.” riversideprideie.org

FILMOUT SAN DIEGO FilmOut San Diego will continue its ongoing screening series with the 1984 American exploitation thriller Angel, by Robert Vincent O’Neil, and starring Donna Wilkes, Cliff Gorman, Susan Tyrrell and Dick Shawn. This cult classic will be shown on Wednesday, May 11 at Landmark’s Hillcrest Cinemas.

Molly, a high schooler, secretly earns her living as Angel, a street prostitute whose only family and friends are the ones she works with on the streets. She must survive against a serial killer targeting people of her profession. Mixing slasher-styled killing with the sweetness of an Afterschool Special. Angel is one of the seminal exploitation films of the early 1980s and has been newly restored in 4K. filmoutsandiego.com

SHOW PRIDE AT THE AQUARIUM LGBTQ Pride season is coming and here’s your chance to kick off the festivities in Long Beach. In partnership with The LGBTQ Center Long Beach, the Aquarium of the Pacific presents an evening “under the sea” with your favorite animals and colorful fishes. On Saturday, May 21, this all-ages celebration will include drag queen storytelling and rainbow enrichments with the animals. Make a splash and get ready to dance to the tunes of a DJ spinning in front of the beautiful Honda Blue Cavern. Learn about The Center and the vital work it does for the community in Long Beach, including meetup groups for youth, adults and seniors. aquariumofpacific.org

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community spotlight

by andrew stillman

THE EMANCIPATION OF

ALYSSA EDWARDS

I

t’s been 10 years since the world first gagged over the nowfamous Alyssa Edwards tongue pop. Since then, this pageant queen has traveled the world, has her own show on Netflix, and guided an impeccable dance crew to the semifinals of America’s Got Talent.

Now, this leading lady is gearing up for a new adventure: the Life, Love & Lashes Tour set to take her around the world on an epic scale.

“I can tell you, I’m so very grateful,” Edwards said when she sat down with The RAGE Monthly for a phone chat. It may have been a rainy day on her end in Texas, but she was all sunshine on the phone. “I’m reminded of all of the things I’ve done and touched and seen and felt, the ground I’ve walked on and my gosh how many heels I’ve put on since being on television!”

Fans know she has got a keen eye for detail, and the upcoming show is no exception.

“I met with Peter Murray two or three years ago now and shared all of my ideas about bringing a show of this level and caliber to the stage. I said, ‘This is something that can’t just be thrown together, OK? This is the Emancipation of Alyssa Edwards.’ I manifested that.”

After playing around with some ideas, Edwards headed to London for her West End debut where she shared pieces of what she’s now about to showcase on the tour.

“At the close of it, I told myself that if I didn’t share it with the people in America and all over the world that I was not only doing an injustice to myself, but to anyone who has been along with me on this journey. Anyone who supported me and celebrated me and lifted me up. So, I got in the lab with a pen and started writing.”

The show will represent all things Alyssa Edwards, taking inspiration from the likes of Liberace and Elvis Presley. It’s designed to

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capture the magic of everything she’s known for today from being a little gay boy in Mesquite, Texas, near Dallas.

“I like to think of this show as, like, taking my fans on a complete journey of me trucking down my yellow brick road. Also, I think of it as opening the curtains and pulling back the veil, because this is the absolute untold story behind all the glitter and glam. It’s a fun show.

This is going to be one night, one queen, and one spectacle that one will never forget. I gave it all and I’m ready for my Academy. The tongue pops will be louder and the wigs will be higher!”

In regard to that iconic pop we all know and love, she can’t even remember how it started.

“I just did it when I was young. I didn’t think it was that funny. Then I did it on the show and they thought it was hilarious and the other queens just started laughing. I didn’t even know it would be a thing.

It’s just a part of who I am now. The day I go meet Jesus, it’s going to be a loud tongue pop for the whole heavens to hear.”

As her star continues to rise, Edwards maintains a complete awareness of how lucky she is to be where she is today while gearing up to present something she calls her “ultimate stage fantasy.”

“I always believed that there was a world where I would fit in. I reminded myself that there was a dream out there with my name on it, and I believe in destiny. I’m excited for this show to reach as many audience members as I can. Drag right now is being so celebrated by the world, and I love that. I was a young little gay boy lost and watching To Wong Foo [Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar] and seeing RuPaul. I was so confused, but so intrigued, and now we’re all celebrating it.”

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Edwards spent much of her time dreaming up how this show would come about: “I’ve

photography by eran levi

MAY 2022 | @theragemonthly

15

Edwards has flourished since audiences were first introduced to her.

To her growth, she states that every character should evolve, and every person blooms in their own time.

“Trust the process and allow growth to come. That’s what I teach my students, and you have to believe in that. You have to nurture your gift and your art and watch it develop and embrace all of that and be proud of it. Personally, as someone that is a perfectionist, I stopped visualizing the idea of perfectionism existing. It doesn’t. It’s within.”

Echoing RuPaul’s “if you can’t love yourself” wisdom, she also said, “I started loving on me more. I started doing little things like waking up and saying something validating toward my work and my art and who I am. I watched Alyssa grow and evolve. I won Miss USA in 2006, and can you believe I thought that was the pinnacle? I thought, ‘That’s it, you’ve done it all.’”

And she couldn’t have been more wrong sitting in 2022 with the buses loaded, the lights geared up for showtime, and the world waiting for their queen.

Be sure to catch Alyssa on the Life, Love & Lashes Tour coming to San Diego on Friday, June 10 and Los Angeles on Saturday, June 11. thealyssaedwards.com and dragfans.com

photography by eran levi

waited. I’ve paced myself. It’s me getting back on this stage and she is refueled, refreshed and reenergized, if y’all can imagine that.”

Although the Beyond Belief dance crew seen on Dancing Queens and America’s Got Talent won’t be joining for the tour, she said: “My students are the heart of me. I always imagined myself being an artistic director. Now my dance school is celebrating 20 years. Talk about a blessing and a dream come true.”

The gratitude and blessings that keep falling in her path have also fueled much of what to expect in the show.

“There’s a part of me that was a little vulnerable when I pulled back the curtain and the magic to it all and the extra layer that exists. I think that’s what’s going to make this show all the more special and fabulous. I’m able to experience life with so much meaning and value. It’s so full of joy and laughter and love. I’m just sharing that live, all of that rolled into one.”

While she’s constantly reaching new heights, she’s also not above giving credit where it’s due. “None of this would have been possible if I didn’t have people who believed in me. From my very first teacher to my grandmother to my fans and people interested in me. I’m truly here with a full heart.”

Anyone who’s followed along with her journey knows how much

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.

hollywood

by tim parks

BOWING OUT WITH

GRACE AND FRANKIE S

ince 2015, audiences have been treated to the antics of former rivals Grace Hanson (Jane Fonda) and Frankie Bergstein (Lily Tomlin) on Netflix’s Grace and Frankie, who become unlikely BFFs upon discovering that their husbands Robert and Sol (Martin Sheen and Sam Waterson) have been carrying on with a decades-long affair.

To say they were shook by the magnitude of the revelation would be an understatement, as the seismic shift of their lives hit 10.0 on the Richter scale. But as the dust begins to settle, the two become reliant on each other, with the basis for the laughs on the show being that opposites attract.

Along for the ride are their offspring, Frankie’s two sons Coyote and Nwabudike “Bud” (Ethan Embry and Baron Vaughn) and Grace’s daughters Mallory and the delightfully caustic Brianna (Brooklyn Decker and June Diane Raphael).

The treasured Netflix show will conclude its broadcast day, the sun setting on two characters in their sunset years. But, as the saying goes, “All good things must come to an end.” So, here’s a look at what these characters leave behind and what’s to come for Grace and Frankie.

THE LAST LAUGH The road to giving audiences one last go for the duo was a series of starts and delays, beginning with COVID-19 production delays on filming halted due to the ’Rona, not once, but twice in the year we’d all rather forget. Hint: It begins with a 20 and ends with a 20.

Fonda told The Today Show that it was a necessary safety measure, as “all of the leads are older, so they have taken extra precautions.” She added that “I love Lily. When I don’t

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see her on a regular basis, I need a fix.” Amen, sister!

But then Netflix announced that the first four episodes would drop in June of last year to chronicle the further misadventures of the modern-day Lucy and Ethel — yeah, I said that!

Whatcha gonna do about it? — with the final 12 episodes to air at an unspecified future date, later revealed to drop on the streamer on April 29.

The inaugural swan song episodes involved the titular characters becoming roomies with their exes, after their latest invention, the Rise Up toilet, floods their home and the pair attempts to reconnect physically, nudge, wink.

Not only that, but the ladies must also contend with hiding a stash of ill-gotten cash that Grace’s new husband Nick (Peter Gallagher) is hiding from the Feds that they discovered hidden in a couch. Frankie and scam queen Joan-Margaret (Millicent Martin) concoct a plan to launder the money before you can say stone-cold busted — and why wouldn’t you really?

Grace and Frankie continue to live together, after the former tries to figure out her marriage to the jailbird husband. All the episodes illustrate why this smart, sharp, hilarious and heartfelt series will be sorely missed.

As for what will transpire next, the plot points, and even episode names, for the remaining Season 7 episodes are being kept so secret that even a seasoned entertainment reporter is stymied as to what will transpire. I’d wager a bet that even Nancy Drew or Angela Lansbury would find it a difficult nut to bust. I mean to crack.

Thankfully, Netflix dropped a trailer that gives a bit of clarity to the goings-on. Well, kinda. Actually, not really, except that it shines

a spotlight on the strength of their friendship, with Grace terming their lives together as “a crazy ride” she’d “rather take with you than a normal ride with anybody else.”

While Frankie laments that she “wants a triumphant ending” for her life, hoping it will culminate into a “Thelma and Louise thing.”

Grace assures her that “we are not done yet and the best is yet to come.” So, I guess the Thelma and Louise scenario is out. And in a way it could have been an interesting plot point — done in a dream sequence, natch — with two women who have blazed new trails, just as their cinematic equivalents did in 1991 by getting a conversation started about feminist liberation.

REPRESENT And Grace and Frankie certainly leaves an indelible legacy on the television landscape.

Not only is it the longest-running scripted show ever on Netflix, but it also showed that there is an underutilized market in shows that depict what it’s like to grow older. As Tomlin put it in an interview, she’s hopeful that the show would open the door for more series that feature older actors and stories revolving around the aging experience. Granted, they have presented audiences with some rather unique plots on that front.

I mean, we never saw The Golden Girls inventing and selling a vibrator geared towards the older set. Well, maybe Blanche would have, given the chance. But that’s neither here nor there. These two women have showcased that females in their 70s were still viable, and gulp, human with the same desires that they had when they were younger. Not surprisingly, both lead actresses have been nominated for Emmys for their roles and are among some of the oldest nominees in that recognition.

Hopefully, this last season can rectify them not winning in previous seasons. I’ll cut a beeyatch to make it happen!

Another legacy that it leaves behind is in its portrayal of older gay men with Robert and Sol’s relationship, which started under dubious circumstances, and blossomed into one of the more endearing character studies in television history.

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD The show will also make a little bit of herstory with a certain guest star in the, ahem, form of a long-awaited reunion.

The 1980 comedy, 9 to 5, has long been

MAY 2022 | @theragemonthly

19

considered a ground-breaking workplace comedy starring Fonda, Tomlin and the incomparable Dolly Parton. Even though I saw it at age 12, and jokes about bondage or doing “M & M’s” sailed over my head, I could discern that there was something magical in the trio of actresses whose characters take down Dabney Coleman as their “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot” of a boss.

There have been attempts to reunite the actresses for a sequel over the years, with the latest one being a 2018 announcement that actress Rashida Jones would spearhead a reboot, which would feature three new characters seeking out the advice from Doralee Rhodes, Judy Bernly and Violet Newstead. Please hold.

Alas, it didn’t come to be and the closest we ever got was them appearing together at the 2017 Screen Actors Guild Awards and not in an acting project. Until now, that is. And as with the rest of the remaining details of the second season goes, Parton’s role is being kept under wraps. C’mon, throw us a gays a bone! But it’s the next best thing, because as Parton has stated about the prospect of a sequel at this point in time, “We better get after it. We’ll have to call it 95, not 9 to 5!”

WHAT’S NEXT In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, creators Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Morris were asked whether they felt like they got to explore every story line they wanted to, or whether there were narrative stones left unturned. The answer was no, but “if you’d like to see a Christmas movie, we’ll consider it,” Morris said.

Fonda is slated for three upcoming projects. Moving On is a comedy about two old friends who reconnect at a funeral and plan to exact revenge on a widower. Eighty for Brady will be produced by Tom Brady and is a sportsball comedy — duh — that will also feature Sally Field and

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Rita Moreno as friends who have a life-altering experience by attending the Super Bowl. She is also lending her voice to the animated flick Luck.

And speaking of the latter and as it would have it, Tomlin is also starring with Fonda in both Moving On and Eighty for Brady, as well as appearing solo in the comedy The Road Home. Sheen will appear on the Hollywood-set dramedy series Ramble On, and Waterson has returned on the recently rebooted Law & Order and in the Hulu series The Drop Out. As for their television offspring, Raphael appears in the recently released remake — say that three times in a row! — of Cheaper by the Dozen. Embry has a co-starring role in a comedy called Rites & Wrongs.

Maybe it’s a look at the Roman Catholic Church covering up sexual abuse over the years? Vaughn is slated in one post-production project, The Time Capsule, and the currently filming Scroll Wheel of Time. Unfortunately, Decker didn’t have anything in the works as of right now.

CUT. PRINT. THAT’S A WRAP! I often joke that I’m dead inside, and while humor sometimes comes from the truth, I will admit that I got a bit teary-eyed watching the final trailer for Grace and Frankie. For me, there’s much to be missed about the show, chiefly the friendship between these two women and how they are there for each other, no matter what. Who wouldn’t want that type of person in your later years, whether it’s a partner or a chum?

I know I do.

And even though they are fictional characters, both represent that very real prospect of having someone there for you. Someone who will, oh, I don’t know, be there through good times, through bad times, who will be on your side forever more . . . I mean that’s what friends are for.

Hmm, that might make a good song. 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.

rage recommends

by bill biss

MAY TIME MUSIC

ANOTHER WORLD

BRIAN MAY

This was originally released in 1998 but unissued until now. It’s time to revel in the guitar and vocal mastery of Brian May in this second release of his Gold Series Remastered. Get ready to rock as righteously as originally intended . May is one of the strongest musical forces behind Queen, but here he champions his playing, songwriting and arrangements with his kind of magic. Another World is getting the royal treatment with this album now released on Boxset, CD, vinyl, cassette and digital formats plus a two-CD set filled with alternative versions, B-sides and live tracks. Additionally, there is a cavalcade of the finest musicians joining him at the time of this second solo album and the unparalleled quality of material. The results are just as magnificent and musically relevant right now.

After the short lift off of “Space,” CD 1 begins with a slamming jam both tender and tough called “Business.” Then the Queen-influenced territory comes cascading in with the electric and fast paced style of “China Belle.” This “Belle” sizzles with the song’s intensity of rock adrenaline. The diversity of May’s talent for songwriting comes into play with the beauty of “Why Don’t We Try Again.” May truly rediscovered his amazing qualities as a musician while also enjoying the true roots of his talent creating Another World. This is sensationally showcased in every song. There is no mistaking his distinctive majesty as a maestro of guitar and a true rock god of our time. Available now

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SOFT SPOT CHELSEA JADE

Every once in a while, a female singer immediately strikes a vibrant musical chord in the listener, not only seductive to the ears but with a spark of creative and intelligent songwriting skills that is just as crucial. This is the case with Chelsea Jade in Soft Spot. She can be your Mariah Carey at times, yet she hits you with the cynical attitude and slam of her creation called “Superfan.” Suddenly, the surprise of this quality creates a new and true originality. A “cool” substance of smarts behind the sultry style that is so welcome to hear. Listen to “Big Spill” as she lays down the law on a bad romance or when she goes all Alanis Morissette-style on “Good Taste.” Jade can hit all the right spots splendidly on Soft Spot. Available now

RICK BRAUN RICK BRAUN

In a recording career that has encompassed 30 years, Rick Braun gets star billing for his latest release, Rick Braun. The results are just as rewarding for jazz aficionados of his trumpet. There is always his creative spark to make each album an adventure of sorts. Braun encompasses several spirited moods on this collection.

A sun-soaked excursion with the top down exudes from “Da Funk” with a smooth touch of 1970s “Shaft” soul. While “Playing Around” is a destination of mellow retreat in the cruising lane. There is also romance on the horizon as “The Color of Love” washes in with a subtle and tender touch of his horn. Slow down or percolate . . . or just simply enjoy the grooves in this new set of playing from Rick Braun. Available now MAY 2022 | @theragemonthly

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music spotlight

by bill biss

I

f you haven’t heard or discovered George Perris, here’s the 411. He was born in Athens — not Georgia but in Greece — to Greek and French parents. He wanted to be a singer since he was a child. He accomplished that goal in a major way and now has released his third English album titled No Armor. He is an international recording artist and sings in Greek, French, English and Spanish. This is his 10th studio album in a career that began in 2005. Oh, and Perris just recently came out publicly as gay.

That last bit of information and the beauty of his voice accompanied by his natural good looks was plenty of reason to learn more about his new album and passion for singing.

This led to an insightful conversation with The Rage Monthly about his decision for revealing his sexuality at this point in his life and career. As Pericles, an Athenian statesman in ancient Greece, said, “Wait for the wisest of all counselors, time.”

When listening to No Armor for the first time, I was reminded via the sound of your singing voice of David Gates from Bread, John Denver, Don McLean and Josh Groban.

You’ll have to tell me if some of those singers ring a memory bell regarding their voices.

What a compliment, thank you! They all have beautiful voices with a very distinct color in their voice! I have come across all of them and admire them, even though I wasn’t really influenced by them.

Your album is beautiful, thoughtful and romantic at times. This is your third English singing album, and what excites you vocally and emotionally about the selection of songs you presented for this latest release?

This is my first album made almost entirely of covers. During the pandemic, like most of us I felt the need to go back to the basics, to listen to the music that made me who I am. I chose these specific songs because each and every one of them has been a steady companion in my life for some reason. They speak a truth to my existence that is beyond any explanation.

That’s why I chose them all based on emotion and not vocal dexterity or anything else. They have a healing power. I see this album and the song choice as a step back, to better shine the path ahead of me.

I truly think based on the quality of your

Shining Light on a New Path

photography by elina giounanli

OUT SINGER GEORGE PERRIS WITH NO ARMOR

voice that there is an open door for any material you enjoy singing. When you titled the album No Armor, was this a reference to personally letting your guard down in the public arena as far as sharing your gay sexuality at this point in your life and career?

Aw thank you! I really appreciate that.

Working on my voice so that I could be technically free to sing as many genres as I could has always been very important to me.

As for the title, not at first, as the actual song was written way before I decided to share my private life publicly. However, as we were finishing the album and all its elements were put in place and I had a more conscious notion of what this album meant for me, it felt like the proper title. Removing that last bit of armor and having the courage to be completely open and vulnerable, gave me a strength that I hadn’t thought of before.

My thoughts as a gay man who is not famous and came out in 1983 to his family and friends is that it truly is a never-ending process of discovery as to if it makes a big deal or not in your life . . . meaning your sexuality doesn’t define you as a human being. Now if you are in the public eye, it does make it a lot harder to be honest as to when you want to let this personal fact be a public record of you as an artist. Your thoughts on this?

Of course, your sexuality doesn’t define you completely as a human being; however, being honest about it, I think is a big deal in someone’s life. How can you have an honest and true relationship with your family and friends if they ignore who you love? There’s a wall there that won’t allow you to have an open channel of communication and understanding. And I think that most of the times, the fear of sharing our private life with our loved ones stems from us. There’s a sense of shame that is palpable in gay men of my generation. I think it’s because the normality of a gay relationship was never visible in the media growing up. It wasn’t a part of the public discussion. Thank God things have changed now. As for an artist, I believe that if they make good music, then the audience will follow.

However, people will always want to know even a few things about their favorite artist’s private life. If they don’t get to know him, then how are they going to put him into their home and their lives?

“AS WE WERE FINISHING THE

ALBUM AND ALL ITS ELEMENTS WERE PUT IN PLACE AND I HAD A MORE CONSCIOUS NOTION OF WHAT THIS ALBUM MEANT FOR ME, IT FELT LIKE THE PROPER TITLE. REMOVING THAT LAST BIT OF ARMOR AND HAVING THE COURAGE TO BE COMPLETELY OPEN AND VULNERABLE, GAVE ME A STRENGTH THAT I HADN’T THOUGHT OF BEFORE.”

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You are no stranger to the spotlight and entertaining people. I think you’ve been professionally singing since you were in your early 20s. Is that right? Please share a bit about the joy and gratitude you feel for having this talent and gift of song, and is there a performance you gave that sticks strongest in your memory?

I started singing professionally back home in Greece right before I turned 18. I’m eternally grateful to music; it gave me freedom, the right to be who I was meant to be and a sense of responsibility and compass in life. I don’t know where I would be today if it weren’t for music.

I have lived some extraordinary moments. My voice has traveled in parts of the world I didn’t even know existed. Of course, there have been a lot of difficulties and obstacles as well, but consistent hard work makes you look beyond all that. I think the performance that I will never forget was filming “A Sunset In Greece,” the concert we shot for PBS at the ancient temple of Aphaea in my home country. It was the first time that permission was granted in Greece to film a concert on the grounds of an ancient temple. I don’t even have the words to describe to you the awe I felt. It was breathtaking.

That’s truly an amazing accomplishment.

Now, I think if a person thinks an artist or group is good and enjoys it, there is no expiration date. Who are your musical influences growing up and over the years?

My first influence was Greek icon Nana Mouskouri. I remember listening to her singing in five or six languages and being mesmerized by her voice, the affection and the expression she has in her throat. She is undoubtedly my inspiration in singing. Later on, I discovered Maria Callas, and for a while I seriously entertained the thought of becoming a classical singer, but I realized that I wouldn’t have the freedom I have in pop music. Charles Aznavour, Michel Legrand, George Michael and Celine Dion were also artists I tremendously admire and look up to.

Your version of “My Future” by Billie Eilish is romantic as hell with the slow tango beat of drums and strings. How did this song land on your repertoire and open this set of songs?

Believe it or not, I first heard it by chance from Miley Cyrus. She did a live version of it for the BBC, and I instantly fell in love with it. Then I heard it from Billie Eilish and went mad. I thought she was talking straight to my ear. I knew I wanted to sing that song from the minute I first heard it. Of course, at my age, I have a different perspective as to why I chose this song. It’s not about going towards the unknown for me; it’s about

consciously prioritizing myself and my future.

Like we did for the rest of the album too, with my producer Alexander Livitsanos, we wanted to give it a distinct Mediterranean color musically.

That’s why we chose those very Greek percussion rhythms and the Middle Eastern strings.

Now, about “Now I Can Dance,” if that’s not a righteous coming-out song, I just don’t know what is. At least that’s what I thought, and as you have composed songs previously, I thought you wrote this until I realized almost the entire album is cover songs. Watched the Tina Arena video and it’s pretty prideful, if I may say so. Your thoughts on this?

(Laughter) That’s funny, I never thought of that! Tina Arena is a huge inspiration to me, a very dear friend but also a singer I have admired since forever. “Now I Can Dance” has been playing in my head since probably 2000.

It’s not a coming-out song for me. It’s a song that celebrates coming to terms with your own freedom in life; about not caring for those pre-conceived thoughts that people may have for you. Accepting yourself with its flaws and all.

I love it how a song can have multiple layers and a completely different impact in each person.

That’s the magic of music!

My husband Tom and I have been together 28 years and married for 14 this year. So “No Armor” is a new love song that speaks to us, after hearing it from you. Who initially sang this song and how did you hear it first?

Also, another facet and an important one is diction, and I heard every word you sang on this so clearly. Thanks for that important skill in singing.

First of all, congratulations! Being together for 28 years is no small feat!

“No Armor” is actually one of my original songs, written by Evanthia Reboutsika and Lina Nikolakopoulou. I first recorded it in Greek, under “Ola ena,” and it quickly became one of the audience’s favorite songs. In Greek it says, “With you I can do everything from the beginning; I can even forgive myself.” That lyric always gets to me for its depth and meaning. I’m so happy Paula Winger translated it with such beauty in English, I can’t wait to sing it live! It meant the world to me when the Grammys posted a video of me singing it under the Acropolis, as a part of their “Global Spin” series.

Thank you again and it was a pleasure talking with you about your new music as I continue to enjoy it. Take care and continued happiness and success.

Thank you so much Bill, I really appreciate it!

Have a great summer.

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

MAY 2022 | @theragemonthly

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stage

by brad hart

NETFLIX IS A JOKE FEST Comedy fans, rejoice! Don’t miss this iconic once in a lifetime event, the historic celebration and performance of the best in LGBTQ comedy. Legends, headliners and emerging talent will perform at The Greek Theatre in Griffith Park in Los Angeles for an unforgettable queer stand-up event. Billy Eichner will host this all-star night of entertainment with Bob the Drag Queen, Eddie Izzard, Fortune Feimster, Gina Yashere, Guy Branum, James Adomian, Joel Kim Booster, Judy Gold, Mae Martin, Margaret Cho, Marsha Warfield, Matteo Lane, Patti Harrison, River Butcher, Sam Jay, Sandra Bernhard, Scott Thompson, Solomon Georgio, Tig Notaro, Todd Glass, Trixie Mattel, Wanda Sykes and more.

Saturday, May 7 netflixisajokefest.com

THE MUSIC OF ABBA The world’s most successful ABBA tribute band will join Orange County’s Pacific Symphony to perform some of the most iconic songs ever written. From best-selling ABBA hits to uncanny voices and costumes reminiscent of Sweden’s biggest music export, audiences will be whisked away. Songs such as “Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia,” “Waterloo,” “S.O.S.,” “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme” and “Take a Chance on Me” will be highlights that will have you dancing in the aisles and singing along.

ARRIVAL from Sweden: The Music of Abba was founded by Vicky Zetterberg in 1995 in Gothenburg, Sweden and very soon became one of the world’s most popular and most selling ABBA show bands. Since 1995, the band has toured 70 countries and appeared on TV and radio shows all over the world.

Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14 pacificsymphony.org

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IN THE HEIGHTS The acclaimed musical is returning to Southern California and will be performed on the San Diego Musical Theatre stage.

In The Heights broke new ground on Broadway in 2008 with its salsa rhythms, Latin pop sounds and rapped lyrics of the show that helped it quickly win national recognition.

It was nominated for 13 Tony Awards and won Best Musical, Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations and Best Score, earning creator Lin-Manuel Miranda a place in history as the youngest composer ever to win.

Set around Fourth of July celebrations in the primarily Hispanic neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City, In the Heights tells the universal stories of three generations living in this vibrant community. Their neighborhood is on the brink of change, and the characters sing about their hopes and struggles. These songs tell audiences about the dreams of first-generation college student Nina Rosario; Abuela Claudia, who left Cuba as a child; and Usnavi de la Vega and Daniela, who fight to keep their small businesses open as the neighborhood faces gentrification. Each character negotiates which traditions are important for them to keep and which ones they should leave behind.

In the Heights will be directed by a seasoned director, choreographer and producer.

Carlos Mendoza spent his early years in Colombia. He has won several awards, particularly the Mary Jane Teal Award for his production of In the Heights at Music Theatre Wichita; San Diego Critics Circle Awards for his productions of In the Heights for the Moonlight Stage; and the Inland Theatre League Award for Choreography for his production at Performance Riverside.

“In the Heights is a beautiful and colorful musical featuring the energetic and powerful music of Lin-Manuel Miranda,” Mendoza said. “It centers in Washington Heights, where we meet a vibrant mix of characters. More than any other, this musical teaches us that community and family matter; it reminds us that family is more than blood. Moreover, hoping and dreaming is essential to life. It celebrates love, Hispanic culture, and its impact on our global community.”

“At a time when dreams seem out of reach, In the Heights reminds us that with hope, patience, faith, hard work, love and community anything is possible. Through storytelling, song and dance, we celebrate our elders, our barrios and our futures. We celebrate our Latinx heritage and the passing on of stories and traditions across generations,” choreographer Laurie Muñiz said. “As a community, I say to you: Alza la bandera with pride, ganas and lots of amor.”

Jill Townsend, artistic director for San Diego Musical Theatre, added: “We are thrilled to authentically tell this beautiful story with a Colombian director, a Mexican choreographer and music director, and a diverse cast from either Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador sprinkled with other wonderful ethnicities. With all the current global turmoil, this show reminds us how much our family, and our community, really matters.”

Friday, May 6 through Sunday, June 5 sdmt.org

stage

by brad hart

A CHORUS LINE This singular sensation makes audiences a part of Broadway’s most legendary musical audition. Coming to Laguna Playhouse, A Chorus Line is a celebration of the unsung heroes of the American musical theatre: the chorus dancers, those valiant, over-dedicated, underpaid, highly trained performers who back up the stars and often make them look even more talented than they are. It is also a celebration of the American musical itself. A Chorus Line is also about competition, and competition might easily be the common denominator that grabs the audience and holds it by the collective heartstring until the final, ultimate choices are made. For everyone, at one time or another, puts his or her life on the line. We all compete, no matter what business we’re in, for promotion, for attention, for approval and for love.

A Chorus Line is recognized as a classic. Overflowing with sensational ballet, tap and jazz dance numbers, this nonstop showcase features the acclaimed songs “What I Did for Love, “One,” “I Can Do That,” “At the Ballet,” “The Music and the Mirror” and “I Hope I Get It.” It was the winner of the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, nine Tony Awards, four Drama Desk Awards, three Obie Awards in 1976, and a Special Gold Tony Award in 1984 in honor of becoming Broadway’s longest-running musical.

Thursday, May 26 through Sunday, June 12 PRIDE AT THE lagunaplayhouse.com

PLAYHOUSE FRIDAY, MAY 27

USE CODE: PRIDE365 FOR DISCOUNT

HADESTOWN Come see how the world could be. Broadway San Diego welcomes you to Hadestown, where a song can change your fate.

The celebrated musical follows two intertwining love stories — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — as it invites you on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Hadestown is filled with beguiling melodies from celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and poetic imagination from director Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812).

Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, Hadestown pits nature against industry, faith against doubt and love against fear. Performed by an ensemble of actors, dancers and singers, it is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go.

Tuesday, May 31 through Sunday June 5 broadwaysd.com

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www.rage.lgbt | MAY 2022

AGING MAGICIAN San Diego Opera’s season will close with the West Coast premiere of Aging Magician, a hybrid opera/theatre piece that combines singing, choral work, puppetry and performance art to create a unique theatrical experience. Aging Magician was scheduled in 2020 and postponed because of COVID-19. Produced by Beth Morrison Projects, one of the most influential and innovative tastemakers on the forefront of the “indie opera” movement, Aging Magician will perform three shows at the Balboa Theatre.

The opera tells the story of Harold, an eccentric and aging clockmaker who is nearing the end of his life. He has been working on a children’s book, “The Aging Magician,” and is at a critical point in his story. Should Harold kill off the magician? Should he allow him to live?

As Harold ponders these decisions, he finds himself transported to a magical place where fiction and reality collide.

Aging Magician stars Rinde Eckert in his San Diego Opera debut as Harold. The show features the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, also in a company debut. The director is Julian Crouch and the conductor is Dianne Berkun Menaker, both in their company debuts. Attacca Quartet is the orchestra for these performances and the composer is Paola Prestini.

Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14 sdopera.org

DIRTY THIRTY! CELEBRATING THREE DECADES OF FILTH! Drag icons Jackie Beat and Sherry Vine are celebrating 30 years of friendship, show-biz shenanigans and trail-blazing clownery. Join these two seasoned professionals as they celebrate three historymaking, head-spinning, junk-tucking decades of drag with an all-live new show.

Both queens have survived grunge, COVID-19 and NOT being on Rupaul’s Drag Race to become two of the most influential, successful and delusional drag queens in the history of the wildly popular art form. Purple Room in Palm Springs will host this one-of-a-kind experience. Get ready for a double dollop of delightful drag featuring lots of scandalous behind-the-scenes stories, celebrity gossip and filthy songs as these two titans of crossdressing take a whimsical trip down (foam rubber) mammary lane.

Friday and Saturday, May 20 and 21 purpleroompalmsprings.com

theatre spotlight

by tom andrew

EIGHTY-SIXED UNEARTHING AN EPIDEMIC THAT SHOOK THE WORLD TO REVEAL A COMMUNITY’S FEROCIOUS FIGHT TO RECLAIM ITS FUTURE

photography by simpatika

Diversionary Theatre will present the world premiere of the original musical EIGHTY-SIXED based on the novel of that title.

The two-part novel, written by David B. Feinberg, was published in 1989. The musical, like the book, takes place between 1980 and 1986 during the height of the AIDS epidemic. Performances will run Thursday, May 12 through Sunday, June 12 at the Diversionary, 4545 Park Blvd. in San Diego.

The musical is written by Jeremy J. King with music and lyrics by Sam Salmond and directed by Kevin Newbury and choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly. It’s quite the distinguished artistic team with work including film, television, theatre and opera. Newbury has been involved with the creation of EIGHTY-SIXED for seven-plus years along with Preston Sadleir, who plays the central character of B.J. who goes through a gay world without AIDS to a world with it where he loses a number of his friends.

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photography by simpatika

lead actors frankie alicea-ford, sean doherty, preston sadleir and jordan barbour

“Our cast is indeed bicoastal,” Newbury said.

“We held auditions in San Diego and New York.

We are so thrilled to be bringing members of our queer community from both coasts to tell this important story.”

Newbury said he was drawn to the piece, feeling it was his duty to “bridge the gap between the generation ahead of me and the generation behind me, and honor both the community we lost and the community that is building our future.”

It was also important to Newbury to stage the show in San Diego at the Diversionary, one of America’s oldest LGBT theatres, founded in 1986.

“Coming of age in the 1980s as a closeted queer kid, the only images I saw of gay men were connected with death and disease,” Newbury said.

“Partnering with the incredible team at Diversionary for the world premiere makes EIGHTY-SIXED even more special. Diversionary is dedicated to building queer community and spreading queer joy, and I know EIGHTY-SIXED will continue that mission. Also, the ‘80s-inspired score is incredible, and the lyrics and book are infused with such deep queer humor, joy and compassion. I feel like my whole life has been leading up this project. It really is a celebration of queer joy.”

The story also appealed to book writer Jeremy J. King, but it wasn’t the first time he was drawn to AIDS-related stories. This one was different for him because he felt it was looking in the mirror and seeing his own reflection.

“David B. Feinberg’s novel certainly wasn’t the first time I engaged with any AIDS-related media,” King said. “But it was the first time I really saw myself in it. I was a promiscuous 20-something reading about the experience of a promiscuous 20-something . . . both the protagonist and I were going on good/bad dates, having good/bad sex, and just generally on a search for connection.

It hooked me. There’s a time jump in the novel where all that connection is recontextualized and becomes a source of anxiety. Suddenly, I

understood how frightening and confusing life must have been back then. I immediately wanted to help other people in my generation understand as clearly as I did and, in doing so, honor the people we lost. So, I decided to adapt it.

First, I tried adapting the novel into a screenplay, then into a play, but the best medium for the story ended up being a musical. And here we are.”

AN EXCELLENT MISTAKE

“My friend Aaron Glick,” King recalled, “read an early draft of the play version of EIGHTY-SIXED and said, ‘I think you accidentally wrote a musical.’ He said that because the play had many monologues that resembled songs and a sort of Greek chorus that resembled the ensemble of a musical. Aaron was becoming a hot young producer and was able to commission it as a musical where we found composer Sam Salmond to write songs that help bring the show’s emotions to radiant life. We’ve been in development for the better part of a decade. During that time, we brought more collaborators to the show, like director Kevin Newbury and choreographer Raja Feather Kelly. They, along with everyone at Diversionary Theatre, are finally giving the show a beautiful physical life that we’re incredibly excited to share with San Diego.”

Preston Sadleir, known for his work on film, television and stage, has been with the production since its inception. He didn’t know the show would end up here six years later but was given the opportunity when the show’s producer asked him to be a part of the first reading.

“The boring version is that I had previously worked with our wonderful producer on a Broadway show,” Sadleir said. “He asked me to be a part of a developmental reading of EIGHTY-SIXED six years ago. The more hippy-dippy answer is laced with a little more alchemy and the belief that all of the artists working on this show were led to it because of our queer heritage and the need to see our stories told and celebrated. Diversionary

Theatre paves the way with that artistic approach, and it’s such a gift to have a place like it here in San Diego.”

Sadleir’s prep work for the show, oddly enough, started long before he was asked to be a part of the show.

“I was actually assigned to read the book EIGHTY-SIXED by a director when I was doing a production of Rent about 10 years ago,” he said.

“I figured a book about the AIDS crisis in New York City was going to be deeply depressing, so I remember being shocked to find myself reading something funny and relatable. It was a vivid example of how human beings can be so many things at once. Even though it was a horrifying time in our history, it wasn’t entirely reduced to solemnity. There was humor, there was denial, there was friendship. There was the full breadth of human behavior and coping mechanisms.

That fullness is wonderfully illustrated in this adaptation by Jeremy J. King and Sam Salmond.

My preparation for doing the show has been all about finding the nuance and full spectrum of gay expression. To me the best way we can honor the memory of these people is by humanizing them and not reducing them to numbers in a jar.”

Sadleir said his favorite part of the show is also his most difficult challenge.

“The thing I like best about the show is the same thing that makes it so hard to do,” Sadleir said. “It’s the fact that it’s me! Sure, I’m playing a character but he’s a gay man dealing with the complexities of love, loss, deep trauma and a life-threatening health crisis. Those are the stories of my community. Even currently! Living in that reality every day is much more vulnerable and deeply affecting than when I’m playing ‘Straight Farmer No. 3’ or ‘Stan from Accounting.’ Doing a piece of theatre about queer people alongside other queer people just doesn’t happen, and it’s my absolute favorite thing.” diversionary.org 619.220.6830

MAY 2022 | @theragemonthly

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theatre spotlight

by chris carpenter

BASKING IN THE

AFTERGLOW

WITH S. ASHER GELMAN 34

www.rage.lgbt | MAY 2022

G

ood communication is key to the success of any long-term relationship — gay, straight or otherwise. Without honesty and openness, there is little chance for growth. Don’t just take my word for it; ask your marriage or relationship counselor.

This month will mark the West Coast premiere of the hit off-Broadway and London sensation, Afterglow. This gay-themed play will have a preview opening on Thursday, May 5 and continue through Sunday, June 19 at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd. in Los Angeles. The play will also open simultaneously in Madrid, Spain and will also enjoy productions this season in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Written and directed by S. Asher Gelman, Afterglow is a raw one-act play exploring the emotional, intellectual and physical connections between three men and the broader implications within their relationships. When Josh and Alex, a married couple in an open relationship, invite Darius to share their bed one night, a new intimate connection begins to form. All three men must come to terms with their individual definitions of love, loyalty and trust as futures are questioned, relationships are shaken and commitments are challenged.

The L.A cast will feature Noah Bridgestock as Josh, James Hayden Rodriguez as Alex and Nathan Mohebbi as Darius. This production also boasts the original off-Broadway team of designers.

Gelman is a director, choreographer, playwright and producer.

Afterglow, which ran for 14 months off-Broadway in 2017-18, was his first original play. He subsequently produced the off-Broadway musical We Are the Tigers, written by Preston Max Allen, followed by Gelman’s second play, safeword. He most recently directed and choreographed two dance films, The Greatest City in the World and in memoriam.

Originally from Chevy Chase, Maryland, Gelman received his bachelor’s degree in dance and theatre from Bard College and his master’s degree of fine arts in dance from George Washington University. While living in Israel, he co-founded The Stage, Tel Aviv’s premier English language performing arts organization, and served as its first artistic director from 2013 to 2016. Gelman today serves on the advisory board of the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College. He lives in New York City with his husband, Mati.

GELMAN SPOKE WITHTHE RAGE MONTHLY IN ADVANCE OF THE L.A. PREMIERE. What is Afterglow about, in your own words?

It’s about honesty and communication, and what happens when it falls apart. Or when relationships fall apart because we can’t communicate honestly and openly with each other.

What was the genesis of the story or play?

About eight years ago, while my husband and I were living in Tel Aviv, we opened our relationship. Then I met a man, and we were together for a couple months. I learned all about polyamory, and he said he understood and was cool with it. But soon it became clear that he wanted to supplant my husband and ruin my marriage. I knew at the time that I did something wrong but I didn’t understand what. That search within myself was the seed that would become the play. I ultimately wanted the situation to be the antagonist rather than any one character.

Are you making any changes or updates for the L.A. production?

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.

The show has become more nuanced, because my understanding of the situation has become more nuanced. My husband and I now have a partner, and I have a boyfriend. We all understand polyamory much better now.

There is no room for nuance in our society today, when communications are distilled to a few words in a text message or a few minutes online. My whole team is understanding and taking this more nuanced approach, and it’s amazing working with them.

How was the casting process? Is this the first time that these actors are doing the play?

Correct, although our original Alex is now the assistant director. Fun fact: We were supposed to open in L.A. two years ago and our final day of callbacks was March 12, 2020, the day Broadway shut down. One of the actors was cast then, so he’s had the part for two years. The others were cast via video or Zoom more recently.

We all returned to L.A. on March 12, 2022, exactly two years since we all left. These actors are so giving, so generous, and it’s a joy to work with them. A joy and such a privilege.

Has anything surprised you or particularly touched you in terms of reactions to your play?

Look, the dream is you hope your mom sees it and then everyone beyond her is a net positive. (laughs) One year ago, I saw the first foreign performance in Madrid. It was in Spanish, which I don’t understand, but I wrote the play so I could understand it. It was beautiful. It’s been amazing to see it touch so many people and hear from people from all over the U.S. and all over the world.

In New York, I knew some people who wouldn’t see the show with their partners because they were afraid of the conversations it might engender. I thought it was terrible that their relationships were so fragile because they were living in fear. The worst thing is not to be alone; it’s to be in a relationship and be unhappy.

Wow, that is sad. I’m curious: Did you begin your performing arts career as a dancer?

I did both dancing and acting. I was a little theatre brat in middle school, and then I went on and got my BA and MA. I never studied playwriting until my husband and I moved to New York in 2016. I was surprised writing came so easily to me. And then it was amazing to see these characters I’d written on a page — these lives — come to life on stage!

And now you are moving into film, correct?

I made a couple of dance films during the pandemic. I love that I can use different mediums to tell different stories. We try to label and pigeonhole people as one thing, and now I’m doing all the things I can do! I do not know what is next for me, and I love that. I can do whatever I want!

That’s awesome! What do you hope California audiences will take from Afterglow?

I hope they take away the same thing that every other audience has taken away from it: the courage to have the difficult conversation, whatever the conversation is about. To have that bravery and move your life to a better place. afterglowla.com

MAY 2022 | @theragemonthly

35

stream queen

by jay jones

SIX PICKS FOR NEW QUEER FLICKS BENEDICTION Here’s a new film from world-class auteur Terence Davies, writer and director of A Quiet Passion, the Emily Dickinson biopic. Benediction explores the turbulent life of World War I poet Siegfried Sassoon (Jack Lowden). The writer and soldier was a complex man who survived the horrors of fighting in WW1. He was decorated for his bravery, but when he returned from service, he became a vocal critic of the government’s continuation of the war. His poetry was inspired by his experiences on the Western Front, and he became one of the leading war poets of the era. Adored by members of the aristocracy as well as stars of London’s literary and stage world, he embarked on affairs with several men as he attempted to come to terms with his homosexuality. At the same time, broken by the horror of war, he made his life’s journey a quest for salvation, trying to find it within the conformity of marriage and religion. benedictionmovie.com

WORKHORSE QUEEN Through a tender mix of touching moments and wise-cracking humor, Workhouse Queen is an intimate exploration of the complexities of reality television’s impact on queer performance culture. It arrives on DVD and VOD this month, followed closely by the network premiere on Starz on June 1 for Pride month.

Told from the perspective of the overlooked yet beloved drag queen Mrs. Kasha Davis, Workhorse Queen focuses on the growing divide between a small-town drag community members — those who have been on television and those who have not.

“In this cultural moment where drag queens are most visible in the competitive space of reality television, it’s important to remember that there are communities of drag queens doing meaningful, subversive, healing, and celebratory work in smaller towns — and that every drag queen who makes it to the television stage is a part of a longer lineage of queer activists and artists who paved the way for them,” director Angela Washko said. “This film celebrates generations of queer performers who have created space for drag in places that may have been otherwise unwelcoming to LGBTQ+ people. I am thankful that through distribution, the film will

THE FASHION LOVER Directed by Marco Pollini, this Italian coming-of-age drama The Fashion Lover will be released on VOD this month by Ariztical Entertainment. Giovannino (Pino Ammendola) is a boy who dreams of working in the fashion industry. Against the will of his shepherd father, he attends a fashion technical college in Sardinia. His father, Antonio, is a violent man; his mother, Alice, is a depressed woman who decides to leave her husband and her family after the continuous cheating of Antonio. It’s June and school is ending. The boy must take care of his 8-year-old sister, Stella; and his father forces him to look after the animals. During a fashion show organized by his school, Giovannino’s creation, a dress, is worn by a famous model and luckily, he is rewarded. He then understands that he is capable of doing great things with fashion and starts trying to find a way to leave his father and go chase his dream. ariztical.com

get to circulate widely — to the people in those small towns.”

Washko’s directorial debut follows Mrs. Kasha Davis as she navigates the exciting highs and devastating lows of pursuing the fame promised by a reality-TV platform. With one foot inching toward Hollywood’s doorstep and the other cemented firmly within her beloved Rochester community, Mrs. Kasha Davis finds a surprising new audience at home. She works toward becoming the queer role model for children that Ed didn’t have and desperately wanted growing up.

“It has been an incredible journey documenting she Popil/Mrs. Kasha Davis,” Washko said. “He stood out to me because it felt like there was so much more to his story and he represented a larger community of drag queens who don’t quite fit the mold of what reality television wants from its participants.”

The film also includes the voices and perspectives of drag queen celebrities who have been on RuPaul’s Drag Race, such as superstar Bianca Del Rio, Darienne Lake, Tatianna and Pandora Boxx. Also seen are leaders of subversive performance communities around the world, including drag queens who reject or have been rejected by the reality-TV platform. bgpics.com/movies/workhorse-queen continues on page 40

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stream queen

by jay jones

ANAÏS IN LOVE A buoyant French comedy from director Charline BourgeoisTacquet, Anaïs In Love follows spirited and romantic thirtysomething Anaïs (Anaïs Demoustier) in her manic search for stability.

Behind on her rent, contemplating breaking up with her boyfriend, and struggling to complete her thesis, Anaïs searches for inspiration while hurtling through lovers with abandon. However, when her affair with an older book publisher, Daniel (Denis Podalydès), leads to her falling for his live-in partner Emilie (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi), a brilliant and luminescent novelist, things get incredibly messy. This effervescent, cliché-shattering feature debut weaves a tale of self-discovery as literate and delightful as it is unexpected, keeping both Anaïs and viewers off-balance until the very last moment.

“I didn’t want to make a ‘niche’ film,” Bourgeois-Tacquet said. “My movie isn’t about a young woman’s discovery of her homosexuality.

Even if this new desire troubles Anaïs, she never questions her sexual orientation. And it is important to me that this shouldn’t be an issue here, in a time period when people are finally allowing themselves to love differently. It is purely a matter of desire which shatters all boundaries meaning social codes, genres assigned by society and age differences. Anaïs and Emilie’s story is the narrative of an extremely powerful encounter between two subjectivities. A story of love and desire that also encompasses the mind and intelligence.” magpictures.com/anaisinlove

STRICTLY FOR THE BIRDS Breaking Glass Pictures will release this intimate, endearing look at one woman’s life, when she finally claims her identity and finds love at the tender age of 65. Based on the profoundly personal In Between memoir, Strictly for the Birds is a transgender biopic coming-of-age story, taking place in the autumn of the protagonist’s life. Unique for its enduring measure of self-discovery and resolve, the film takes the viewer into the life of Dan Birdsall, lived on behalf of her true self Kate Birdsall. Strictly for the Birds is the story of a son who becomes a husband and a father, then a mother and a wife. Kate Birdsall finds strength, pride and contentment, proving that it’s never too late to be true to who you are or to find the love you’ve always longed for.

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KAMIKAZE HEARTS

A newly restored lesbian classic by Juliet Bashore, this quasi-documentary plunges into the 1980s porn industry and takes an unsparing look at issues of misogyny, drug abuse and exploitation via the story of two women. The naïve newcomer Tigr and her partner, the magnetic, imperious porn veteran Sharon Mitchell are caught in a toxic romance.

By turns mesmerizing and unsettling, Kamikaze Hearts is both a fascinating record of pre-gentrification San Francisco’s X-rated underground and an intense, searing love story.

Kamikaze Hearts is based on the lives of Tigr Mennett and her lover, porn superstar Sharon Mitchell, set at the peak of San Francisco’s so-called Golden Age of porn. In 1982 Bashore met Mennett while working a day job with a local film crew on The Nurses of the 407th, a mega-budget pornographic parody of the M*A*S*H* TV series. Together with Mennett and producer Heinz Legler, Bashore raised money for a straight documentary on “the business.” When director Charles Webb (aka Charles DeSantos) withdrew his consent for their crew to film on his set, Bashore and Mennett used their production resources to finance an alternative production, the fictional porno operetta “Carmen” as a vehicle for Tigr’s porn-star lover, Mitchell. Bashore, Mennett and a handful of others knew that the film being shot was a dummy and would never be released as porn. The result was not only a free-wheeling portrait of porn’s liminal, outlaw space where queerness and transgression thrive, but of the porn world itself as a caricature of Hollywood.

“I hope that, in telling my story, I can help others,” Birdsall said. “Being born transgender is just one aspect of the human experience. We are not stamped out in a factory but come into the world in amazing variety. With love and the kindness of others, each of us can grow into who we were meant to be.”

Strictly for the Birds focuses on Kate, who was born transgender decades before the word existed and who struggled to make sense of it all. Through many relocations and many jobs, including a career in the Coast Guard, Kate was able to claim herself at age 65 and find the love of her life, Andrea Drury. Their journey to “rightness” as individuals and as a couple has grown into a beautiful, blended family, including Kate’s daughter and grandson. bgpics.com

eating out

by tony reverditto

TACO ABOUT A CELEBRATION SHARE OUR SELVES WILD & CRAZY TACO NIGHT IS BACK AND BIGGER THAN EVER Share Our Selves (SOS) will host the return of the Wild & Crazy Taco Night on Thursday, May 19 at a new venue, the Plaza Pacifica at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. Beloved chefs from the Orange County region will offer up their culinary talents to raise money for this worthy cause. It’s the 29th year for the fundraiser.

Over the years, chefs used their imaginations to create original and elevated taco recipes that are a fiesta of flavors on the palate. Each chef will compete for the coveted “Best Taco of the Event” as voted by the 600-plus attendees. This event has become a popular fundraiser consisting of unique tacos, distinctive craft beer and thirstquenching margaritas.

To give an idea of the clever types of tacos served, in 2021 the YELP People’s Choice Taco Winner was Descanso Chef Fonzy De Zuniga and his Hakuna Matata Taco featuring confit wild boar al pastor, guajillo salsa, pineapple chamoy, bacon bits and jicama on cricket-infused hand-made corn tortillas. A couple other stand-outs were a Sweet ‘n Smokey Watermelon Taco with citrus slaw and pico de gallo topped with mango haberno salsa served on a blue corn tortilla from Capo Sunset Grill, and a baked braised greens, caramelized onions, potato and sweet pea enchilada from Farmhouse’s chef Richard Mead.

Don’t miss this foodie favorite and support your local community. All proceeds benefit SOS, an organization that has provided care and assistance to the most vulnerable populations in Orange County since 1970. Services include medical, dental and behavioral health services, pharmaceutical dispensation, case management, emergency financial relief, and a food pantry that helps feed over 275 families every day.

Event tickets include all-you-can-eat tacos and beverages, including CaliFino Tequila margaritas, beer and hard seltzer from Deschutes Brewery and New Belgium Brewing, wine and nonalcoholic beverages.

For an extra entry fee, you can attend the pre-event VIP Party where guests will enjoy early admission and get to meet the chefs and sample their tacos before the general event begins. shareourselves.org/events or 949.270.2137

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BARKS AND BREWS FESTIVAL Calling all dog and beer lovers! Join the paw-ty on Saturday, May 14 for Barks & Brews Fest, featuring a day filled with craft beer tastings, great food, furry friends and the vibrant surroundings of the San Diego Bay. Dog contests include most talented and best dressed.

The event will benefit The Barking Lot and will feature local vendors, breweries and some of San Diego’s best eats. Dogs can run free in designated unleashed areas, compete in pet friendly contests, relax in one of the lounges or experience one of the unique activations.

Enjoy the day while eating awesome food, sipping on a tasty beverage or shopping local boutique vendors.

Soak up the sunshine while listening to tunes by local artists all day long with bayside views.

The Barking Lot is a nonprofit dog rescue organization in San Diego dedicated to dog adoption and finding foster homes for dogs in need. They rescue our furry friends from area shelters, humane societies and Mexico that are at risk of being euthanized or abandoned, and find them amazing forever homes perfectly suited to their needs for many yappy endings. barksandbrewfest.com

GREATER PALM SPRINGS RESTAURANT WEEK Now more than ever, supporting local businesses means so much, and this epicurean extravaganza is the perfect opportunity to savor the start of summer — every poolside bite, every chilled cocktail, every sunset dinner with a view — while showing the restaurant community some love.

Restaurant Week will return Friday, June 3 through Sunday, June12 offering 10 days of exquisite dining experiences. Whether you’re eager to try out a few new eateries, support local restaurants or simply enjoy more of your long-time favorites, you’ll find something for every palate, with participating places offering special lunch and dinner menus at set prices.

But that’s not all. This year, the annual Summer Eats Pass will begin the day after the conclusion of Restaurant Week, featuring more ways for food lovers to savor summer with restaurant offers and even weekly prize drawings. visitpalmsprings.com/events/greater-palmsprings-restaurant-week

fitness

by freddy saluna

NEEDS VS. WANTS YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG, BESTIE

After having trained clients for almost 11 years, I’m convinced that most people’s health and fitness challenges aren’t only the result of poor exercise and/or nutrition habits, but they’re also the by-product of the gray matter upstairs, their minds.

I know, I know, here we go again. Freddy IS an actual trainer, right?

Does he ever talk about working out or carbohydrates? Or maybe diets and Drag Race? I am and I do (except I have yet to watch a full episode of Drag Race — go ahead, revoke my gay card), but hear me out.

Clients tend to fixate on losing inches, burning fat and shedding pounds, as if they’re doing yet another giant pile of laundry: annoying work, little to no satisfaction, only to have to do it all over again in a week.

Moral of the story? If you don’t change the behavior that creates giant piles of laundry in the first place (damn wardrobe changes), you’re always going to have giant piles of laundry. But, spend some time figuring out HOW to tackle it and your odds of success increase greatly.

Enter needs vs. wants.

WHY ARE YOU SO NEEDY? What do a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, Drag Race and the Kardashians all have in common? Nothing! Other than those who argue that not drinking the former two can result in a horrible start/end to the day and others who argue that missing the latter two can result in an incomplete life.

My point? Your life WILL continue, honey. You won’t die by missing a cup, a glass or an episode. Melodramatic much? If being a drama king helps my clients shift their perceptions and attitudes in favor of better exercise and nutrition, then I’ve done my job — I’m royalty!

First, let’s define need: “circumstances in which something is necessary, or that require some course of action; necessity.” To remain alive, you absolutely need breathable air, drinkable water, and (hopefully) palatable and nourishing food. That’s all.

And this has what to do with personal trainers?

THE TRUTH Remember that movie A Few Good Men with Jack Nicholson where his character asks, “You want answers?”

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and Tom Cruise’s character responds, “I want the truth!” Then Nicholson replies, “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!” Are you ready?

You have no “need” for a personal trainer. You SHOULD feel a need for better health.

You have no “need” for a diet. You SHOULD feel a need for healthier nutrition.

You have no “need” for a crazy workout routine. You SHOULD feel a need for regular exercise.

Still with me?

Since you feel a need for better health, you MAY want the help of a personal trainer’s knowledge, expertise and experience. At the very least you should educate yourself on what’s involved with better health. Hint: healthier nutrition choices, regular exercise.

Since you feel a need for better nutrition, you MAY want to make healthier nutrition choices. Let’s face it, we know what we should be eating more and less of. But, if you don’t feel you can do it alone and want to pay someone to tell you, then by all means, go for it.

And since you feel a need for regular exercise, it all comes down to you flipping that switch in your head from “off” to “on” and getting out there and wanting to move. Again, if you really want to pay someone $100 per hour to tell you what to do, hey, it’s a free country.

THE GIST Many needs today tend to be emotional fixes. Think about what your true needs are. (My previous article on “your why” and “goal setting” can help.)

Once you’ve established those needs, determine what you want to help you achieve them.

Bestie, if you’re going to hire a personal trainer, hire one who doesn’t only look good in a tight shirt. Hire them because they know how to help you shift your thinking. Hire them because they know the true “magic” lies in how you think about and approach your health.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I want to work out because I need to be healthy. I also have a giant pile of laundry to do and want to watch Drag Race, but let’s not rush things.

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.

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El estigma hacia las comunidades asiáticas e isleñas del Pacífico afectadas por el VIH puede afectar si estas comunidades se hacen la prueba del VIH. Este Día Nacional de Concientización sobre el VIH/SIDA para Asiáticos e Isleños del Pacífico, aprenda cómo hablar sobre el VIH para ayudar a reducir el estigma entre las comunidades asiáticas e isleñas del Pacífico, y aprenda sobre las opciones de autoprueba.

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