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National HIV vaccine trial, HVTN 505, immunizations stopped “HIV research is important. It is a blessing to have the Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine unit here. As one of the 48 Big news emerges from the local infected during the trial, it is important medical community as the National to remember that the vaccine didn't Institue of Health announces that cause my infection. I was exposed to there will be no further immunization HIV during sexual contact with someone injections in the “Hope Takes Action” unknowingly HIV positive. I'm proud aka HVTN 505 study. of today's finding, as I believe it leads “The [immunizations] were not us one step closer to discovering, stopped because of any safety concern,” thru biomedical research, an effective Vanderbilt University’s Principal Investigator Dr. Spyros Kalams revealed. preventive HIV vaccination." Vanderbilt University is just one of “[They were] stopped because it met many medical centers taking place in the the criteria for futility. The way you do national study and while they enrolled these studies, you have your criteria for 124 participants from Tennessee in the success and if you don’t meet those you current study, the cumulative stop the trial.” The HVTN 505 count for Tennessee study goals were to attain a 50 participants in Vanderbilt’s percent decrease in infections. clinical trials is over 1,000. In a letter obtained Dr. Kalams reported that by O&AN to HVTN 505 the announcement would not participants, the Data Safety have any immediate impact Monitoring Board (DSMB) of Vanderbilt University’s decided to discontinue the vaccine trials. He also study after they concluded acknowledged that they that “the vaccine did not Dr. Spyros Kalams, Principal Investigator for the Vanderbilt had no immediate plans prevent HIV infection.” The HV Vaccine Trials, speaks about for another vaccine trial. DSMB also concluded that HVTN and the decision to stop immunizations. (Photo courtesy However, Dr. Kalams stated the “vaccine did not reduce of Vanderbilt University) that further trials will probably the viral load in those who not use the adenovirus shell became infected with HIV.” for the vaccine. Additionally it was reported that 48 While participants will no longer be infections occurred with 21 occurring in accepted for this study, Dr. Kalams urges the placebo group and 27 in the vaccine current participants to stay involved and group. With more than 2,500 national continue with study visits for HIV testing participants enrolling in the HVTN and monitoring. 505 study, Dr. Kalams stressed that “We’re gathering a lot of these infections were not statistically information from this study,” Dr. Kalams significant. said. “For instance, what kind of immune Josh Robbins, a HVTN 505 study responses we generated with this vaccine. participant and O&AN consultant, was There might be some subtle effects of one of those infected but stressed the the vaccine we can only figure out when importance of the work done by the we go back and thoroughly look at all Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Trial staff. the data. This is just a snapshot that what “This HIV vaccine trial process is we’re running on right now. There’s a important,” Robbins shared exclusively. lot of information that will be coming up “Discovering what doesn't work leads over the next year or two.” us to being able to discover what Visit the National Institute of might work. This is not a failure. This Allergy and Infectious Diseases is a finding, which also provided risk (NIAID) at niaid.nih.gov for a full reduction counseling, increased HIV testing and education to the demographic press release from the National Institute of Health regarding the with the highest statistical risk of new HVTN 505 vaccine trial. infections.” JOSEPH BROWNELL, MANAGING EDITOR editor@outandaboutnashville.com
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TPAC announces 2013-14 season ‘Wicked’, ‘War Horse’ and ‘Ghost’ among the highlights O&AN REPORTS
Get out your brooms because it is going to be a wicked ride during the 2013-2014 theater season at Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC). The 2013-14 HCA/TriStar Health Broadway at TPAC Series kicks off with Jersey Boys, a documentary-style show that chronicles the rise and fall of The Four Seasons. Brush up on your lyrics and be prepared to sing along with such favorites as "Big Girls Don't Cry", "December 1963 (Oh What a Night) and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You". Jersey Boys runs October 29 to November 3. Continuing with the jukebox trend, We Will Rock You is a musical based on the songs of Queen and will run November 12 to November 17. Get the tissues out as pottery will never be the same. The hit 90s movie Ghost starring Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg and the late Patrick Swayze comes to the TPAC stage as a reimagined musical February 25 to March 2. Speaking of Whoopi, be prepared to sing Hallelujah when Sister Act takes the stage March 11 to March 16. Tennessee shines bright at TPAC when Million Dollar Quartet, a musical that chronicles the historical day that Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins recorded at Sun Record Studios in Memphis, hits the
stage May 6 to May 11. Finally the 2013-14 HCA/TriStar Health Broadway at TPAC Series closes with War Horse. You won't want to miss the giant life-size horse puppets when the season’s closing show gallops onto the TPAC stage June 3 to June 8. But that's not all folks. TPAC also announces its 2013-14 Broadway Specials. First, a tale as old as time roars onto the TPAC stage when Disney's Beauty and the Beast comes to Nashville September 24 to September 29. And the mother of all musicals Wicked, based upon Gregory Maguire's delicious story about the Wicked Witch of the West, is sure to have sold-out audiences when it runs March 26 to April 20. But wait, can you believe there is more? TPAC announces some special add-on shows. Be prepared to deal with ghosts of Christmas past, present and future when Studio Tenn presents A Christmas Carol December 12 to 22 and a laugh riot when I Love Lucy: Live on Stage comes January 14 to January 26. For more information and ticket sales visit tpac.org. Stay tuned to outandaboutnashville.com for a special ticket offer for readers.
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Nashville Pride announces 2013 entertainment Hosts Battle of the Bands May 9-10 O&AN REPORTS
Above: Drake Jensen Below Left: Beverly McClellan Below Right: Alanna Royale Top Right: Tipper Whore
After the wildly successful Double Your Pleasure 2 Chefs / 2 Visions and their annual Turnabout Show, Nashville Pride kicks the Pride season into high gear as they announce this year’s entertainment lineup. Kicking off the Pride festivities at the Curb Records Pride Rocks! Pre-Party is the OUTlaw himself Drake Jensen. Pride Rocks will be held Thursday June 13 at Hard Rock Cafe. In addition to a live performance from Jensen, there will also be cocktails, food and more as Pride honors several of Nashville’s stand-out volunteers, philanthropists and business leaders. Nashville takes center stage on the Nissan Leaf Local Stage. This year’s lineup includes: Nashville Scene calls Tipper Whore “…the ideal soundtrack to a John Waters movie — lovingly trashy and relentlessly upbeat" and “the secret love child of the B-52s and The Cramps.” Find out what all the fuss is about when Tipper Whore performs their exuberantly sexy track “Two Sticks” at this year’s Pride festival. (tipperwhore.com) Hearkening both the grit of Beth Hart and the pain of Adele, Nashville performer Heidi Burson will evoke a yearning from deep down when she brings her piano-inspired ‘blues’ to Pride when she plays tracks from her debut album Every Shade of Blue. (heidiburson.com)
Mr. Trout blends pop and rock in a unique mixture that is part Daughtry and part boy band ... and it works. His slinky cover of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” is heartbreakingly sexy. (reverbnation.com/mrtrout) Other artists performing on the Nissan Leaf Local Stage include the Half Brass Brand, who will kick off the Vanderbilt University Equality Walk and rocker Carol Plunk. Performers headlining the Bridgestone Main Stage this year include: Alanna Royale is 7 members, 6 beards, 3 horns, and 1 lady. Their homemade blend of “dirty pop/raunchy soul” has commanded Nashville’s attention and there seems to be no signs of stopping. Coming off of a sold out release show in January for their debut Bless Her Heart and their second East Nashville Underground appearance, Royale is looking forward to performances at Bonnaroo, PRIDE cont’d on page 10
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PRIDE cont’d from page 9 Music City Roots, and Nashville Pride. (facebook.com/alannaroyale) The Granny Whites (pictured) have been performing in and around Nashville at several hotspots including 12th and Porter, Exit/In, Lipstick Lounge and Mad Donna's since 2011. Equal parts smoky and sexy, this band’s genre has no title and no boundaries. It exists only in their unique ability to add a twist of "Granny" to every song they perform. (thegrannywhites.com) Winning awards and competitions from their home in the beautiful Ozark Mountains to the National Women’s Music Festival in Madison, Wis., Big Bad Gina has hit the music scene with a big bad bang. Big Bad Gina combines unique harmonies, eclectic musical selections and multi-instrumentalism to bring down the house with powerfullyenergetic performances. (bigbadgina. com) Rock ’n’ roll is built on a foundation of great vocalists and Beverly McClellan is quickly becoming its newest cornerstone. NBC’s The Voice introduced her to the world as a singer of stunning power and range with the presence and ability to draw comparisons to Etta
James, Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt and Melissa Etheridge. Now, McClellan’s debut international release Fear Nothing presents a songwriter and dynamic presence with the ability, authority and desire to carve her own place in music history. (beverlymcclellan.com) Bold, charismatic and bona fide triple threat, Linnea Sanazaro – known professionally as Linnea – is a small town girl from Missouri with dreams – and talent – far bigger than her humble beginnings. Linnea will release her new single “I’m Bad” in early 2013. (linneaonline.com) Also performing on the Bridgestone Main Stage is Nashville trio Shotgun Oakley and rocking cover band Guilty Pleasure, who will close out the night with nearly two hours of 70s, 80s and 90s that will surely be the capstone to Pride’s 25th anniversary. Battle of the Bands There’s still one slot left open on the Bridgestone Main Stage as local bands duke it out over two days (May 9-10) when Nashville Pride holds their annual Battle of the Bands at Mad Donna’s. For more information on Battle of the Bands visit outandaboutnashville.com.
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Human Relations Commission ramps up support for GLBT community
Metro Human Relations Commission (MHRC) hosts inaugural support event taking place May 16. (Photo provided by MHRC)
DAVID GLASGOW, CONTRIBUTING WRITER dglasgow@outandaboutnashville.com
As the pendulum of public opinion seems to swing first one way then another, a lesser known organization has been quietly cultivating a consistent and powerful form of compassionate activism for equality in Nashville. The Metro Human Relations Commission (MHRC) has been an active advocate for Civil and Human Rights since its creation by the Council and Mayor of the new Metropolitan Government in 1967. More recently the organization has taken an increasingly active role in GLBT rights, especially issues that impact GLBT youth. Caroline Blackwell, Executive Director of MHRC, says the Commission believes “the quest for equal rights for LGBTQ people is a fundamental human rights issue, and one that warrants the full attention of the Commission, Nashville and the nation.” “There is a false debate in our national conversation about the equality movement and the ongoing struggle for equal rights and opportunity for African-Americans and other people of color,” said Blackwell. “Leaders and advocates in both movements fail to consistently acknowledge the interdependence needed to advance equality and social justice for all people who are marginalized.” According to Blackwell, “leaders and advocates who understand that ‘there is enough to go around’ also know that we do ourselves a disservice when we cast equality as zero-sum game.” “Those who cling to scientificallyunsubstantiated notions that being GLBT/Queer is ‘unnatural’ should also remember that even today, similar arguments are being used to promulgate
the odious notion that black and brown people are less intelligent than whites, that Jews deserved genocide, and that strong women threaten ‘family’ stability,” explained Blackwell. “We need to connect the dots because all of these divisive messages are driven by the same cause—the dehumanization of other human beings.” In recent years a growing number of GLBT community leaders have been appointed to serve on the Commission, bringing their professional and personal experience to the table. Since she was hired by the Commission in 2011, Blackwell is credited with working with the Commissioners and staff to develop innovative initiatives that promote individual social-emotional and academic well-being for all children and youth. “The disproportionate level of suicides among LGBTQ children and youth cries out for our attention,” Blackwell said. “Children who are not safe in their homes because of parental and family rejection, and children and youth who are not safe in our schools and community need our support, protection, and care.” The Commission partners with the Metro Public Health Department to provide healing circles with parents and families of vulnerable children, particularly in North Nashville, and MHRC was the founding sponsor for the Youth Pavilion at Nashville Pride. Last year, the Commission launched the Student Human Relations Summit, an annual initiative to supplement the resources and information available in schools. According to MHRC Immediate Past Chair Scott Ridgway, “the work of the Metro Human Relations Commission is vital to the social and economic health of Nashville. Bridging divides to create one city for all people makes this the kind of community where businesses want to locate and people want to live.” Last summer former Commissioner Iris Buhl established the MHRC Support Fund, a foundation through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) to help the Commission reach more people through programs that foster positive, productive interaction.
According to Ridgway, “in these times of tight government funding, private support is absolutely critical for the Commission to effectively deliver the best and most innovative programs in the areas of education and training to promote tolerance and understanding among all groups living in the Metro area.” The inaugural event to benefit the MHRC Support Fund is scheduled for Thursday, May 16 at the home of
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Honorary Co-Chairs Megan and Bruce Barry. Artist Brian Parker will involve everyone at the event in the creation of a giant collage that “…references the breadth of diversity that makes Nashville a stronger whole and a great place to live, work and raise a family.” Collage party event tickets are available through CFMT at cfmt.org/ attend/. For more information about the work of MHRC visit nashville. gov/Human-Relations-Commission
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Community activist to speak about changing approaches to HIV/AIDS at OutCentral
Mark Hubbard speaks about changing landscape of HIV/ AIDS at OutCentral May 22. (Photo provided)
O&AN REPORTS
Having lived with HIV for 26 years, Mark Hubbard has dedicated himself to working with numerous Tennessee, U.S., and international organizations as a community educator and advocate. Serving on the joint Community Advisory Board of the Vanderbilt University’s Therapeutics Clinical Research Site and HIV Vaccine Program and as the education liaison
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for the Tennessee Association of People with AIDS, Hubbard recently attended his fifth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) which he describes as “arguably the single most important research-focused HIV/ AIDS conference held in North America each year.” “Progress over the last five or six years in both the HIV prevention and treatment fields has been tremendous,” Hubbard said. “Policy and practice are being influenced by new technologies and better understanding. While mainstream media uses bold headlines to capture out attention, scientific progress occurs in small steps rather than giant leaps. CROI sometimes features reporting of milestones that are important and exciting, but it is the amazing depth and breadth of the slow, steady work that is constantly ongoing that inspires me.” Hubbard is bringing that inspiration to OutCentral on Wednesday May 22 when he presents HIV Horizons: A Community-Focused Research Update, explaining what recent research
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findings mean to GLBT communities in layman’s terms. “We’ve made big strides and we have an amazing number of interventions we can use to combat HIV/AIDS,” Hubbard said. “The challenge is to form a truly comprehensive, science-based strategy that is inclusive, accepting, and unencumbered by outdated understanding, preconceptions, or moral judgments.” Hubbard will discuss new prevention technologies and reports of possible functional cures. He observed that the future of HIV prevention may be in combination approaches that parallel the various drug cocktails currently used to treat HIV. “For years, researchers and physicians invested great effort to combine what were less than ideal drugs into combinations customized for each patient, achieving surprising success,” Hubbard said. “Now we must learn how to layer similarly imperfect and partially effective prevention strategies in combinations tailored to reduce the risk of transmission for individuals and
communities. Hubbard has teamed with several organizations, including the Tennessee AIDS Education and Training Center and the Music City Sisters, to present the science and his analysis in a presentation that is free and open to the public. “Decades ago, HIV positive and negative activists came together to fight what they saw as institutional apathy and governmental negligence,” Hubbard remarked. “They changed the course of the epidemic and they changed the way research was done by insisting on having a seat at the table from top to bottom, from start to finish. Nashville is an major center for HIV prevention and treatment research, and that legacy of continues in the form of participation on local and national community advisory boards as well as the community scholarship program at CROI.” Visit outandaboutnashville.com to read Hubbard’s feature length report on the CROI conference. Mark Hubbard will speak at OutCentral May 22 at 6 p.m..
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Vic Sorrell sings inspiration’s tune
Vic Sorrell accepts inaugural Inspirational Person of the Year award at 2013 NGBLTCC awards. (Photo by Joseph Brownell)
JOSEPH BROWNELL, MANAGING EDITOR editor@outandaboutnashville.com
Earlier this year, BNA Talent Group in conjunction with O&AN asked readers to submit nominations for a Nashville-Metro resident from 2012 that inspired the community in a truly meaningful and impactful way. While readers submitted more than 50 nominations, the stories that poured in about Vic Sorrell’s community service and inspirational actions eased a difficult selection process. Active in the Nashville community as the Coordinator of GLBTQI HIV Prevention Education at Nashville
CARES, as well as being a HIV community educator/recruiter with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center HIV Vaccine Trials Program, Sorrell’s tireless work with these agencies provided both a foundation for the inaugural award and a high level of achievement for future recipients. “Hopefully some of the inspiration I receive on a daily basis is actually moving through me and out to those in the community I serve,” Sorrell said of the honor. “To think that I may have shared something, at some point, with someone that has somehow improved their quality of life or increased their love of self, is an aspect of real success to me.” Born in southwestern Virginia, Sorrell came to Nashville to pursue a music business degree at Belmont University. Like many, Sorrell became a victim of the 2008 recession and found himself looking for work. With what Sorrell refers to as serendipity, he found a position with Nashville CARES that he says really
resonated with him. “I was at a place in my life where I intended to do more philanthropic work and it was a fit right from the very beginning.” Sorrell became involved with the Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Program in 2009 while working with Nashville CARES. Shortly after enrolling as an HIV-negative volunteer in a preventive HIV vaccine study, a unique position opened within the program for which Sorrell’s previous marketing experience was perfectly matched. Sorrell has been with the program since. While inspiring others, Sorrell has continued to find inspiration in music. “Singing is the most natural thing I have ever done in my life and music is a part of who I am intrinsically,” Sorrell shared. In 2012, Sorrell released a CD called Forever Changed—a title that aptly describes his journey since moving to Music City and he still performs and tours with the inspirational group Source. In fact, he revealed that they will soon begin work
on a second album. Even when performing, Sorrell carries an inspirational and hopeful message on stage. “I know I’ll always use a stage as a platform to speak about causes in which I believe such as HIV awareness and stigma reduction,” he shared. While Sorrell inspires hope in those around him, he also has hopes for the community in which he lives. When asked where he sees Tennessee in 10 years, Sorrell hopes for a greater celebration of diversity, state employees to have domestic partner benefits, additional funding for social causes to promote the well-being of one another and finally to be able to have the right to legally marry whomever he chooses. A lofty list but this is a lofty gentleman who has already proven that he is not only walking the walk of inspiration but whistling and singing its tune as well. Additional reporting by Linda Brewer.
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MTSU honors Maria Salas with Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Community LINDA BREWER, CONTRIBUTING WRITER lbrewer@outandaboutnashville.com
Maria Salas shows the Nashville community her ‘true blue.’ (Photo provided by MTSU)
Since 1960, the Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Alumni Association has been honoring accomplished alumni with their highest honor: the Distinguished Alumni and Young Alumni Achievement awards. This year the association chose Maria Salas, MTSU 1985 graduate and former MTSU Lady Raider basketball player, to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Community “I’m so humbled and honored to receive the MTSU Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to the Community,” Salas said. “To me, it’s symbolic of why we go to college—to learn and grow so we can give back to the community personally and professionally. Of course, it’s a plus if you have a good time there as well. My four years as a student-athlete at MTSU gave me lifelong friends and the
foundation for a successful career.” Salas graduated from MTSU summa cum laude in 1985 before receiving her Juris Doctorate from the Nashville School of Law in 1992. The Salas Law Group has since remained “committed to providing efficient, quality legal counsel and services to individuals and businesses facing financial difficulties.” But practicing law is far from all Salas does to enrich our community, as she currently serves on the board of directors of Nashville CARES and also works nationally and locally to elect GLBT leaders to public office as a member of the Victory Fund’s Campaign Board. Salas’ personal, professional and education community were quick to nominate her for the award. “Maria is a friend; I know her through various overlapping social and activist worlds... [and is] someone who is constantly giving
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back to the community, and that is what we hope all of our alumni do,” explained Pippa Holloway, MTSU Director of Graduate Studies for its history department and the person who nominated Salas for the award. “I think it is significant that MTSU has recognized someone who is a leader of many diverse communities—her neighborhood, the legal profession, but also the LGBT community,” Holloway continued. “I see Maria's award as an affirmation by MTSU of the valuable role that gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans individuals play on campus, among our faculty and staff, and in our community. This award underscores MTSU's commitment to diversity and inclusiveness. This is a great step for MTSU to take.” The praise for Salas’ contributions extends well beyond the MTSU community. SALAS cont’d on page 17
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Nashville in Harmony is ‘takin’ it to the streets’ Performs season’s final concert June 1 at TPAC JOSEPH BROWNELL, MANAGING EDITOR editor@outandaboutnashville.com
Nashville in Harmony is Tennessee’s first and only musical arts organization specifically created for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people – and their straight allies. (Publicity photo provided)
Nashville in Harmony is Takin’ it to the Streets with their June 1 concert at Tennessee Performing Arts Center. (Publicity photo provided)
There is a party going down at TPAC on June 1 as Nashville in Harmony (NiH) wraps up their exciting season, Takin’ it to the Streets, with an anticipated sold-out show. For those who are not familiar, NiH is Tennessee’s first musical arts organization specifically created for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their straight allies. As NiH wraps up their ninth season, any member will tell you that they are more than just a group of singers—they are a family. Founding member and former Board President Rodger Murray has watched NiH grow. “NiH means a great deal to me,” Murray shared. “Since I am one of the founding members, I find great satisfaction in seeing the growth from 18 singers in 2004 to over 100 now. We have experienced growing pains over the years. One can’t keep everyone happy all of the time, but the feeling of family that exists within NiH is worth the many hours of rehearsals.”
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Sarah Cait Rayman, who recently joined Nashville in Harmony, credits the NiH family as being a part of her ongoing coming out process. “I first heard about the group when I was actively coming out about a year ago,” she said. “I have been working on coming out for two years now and this is just a part of that process—learning to live again.” “I remember the very first practice we had and I was so nervous being new,” Rayman said. “Everybody was so awesome and made me feel comfortable right away. Being the new Alto I had a big sister Linda Ray who just loved on me and reached out to make me feel welcome. I was so overwhelmed that first practice. Everybody was so good and the whole experience was humbling. I was a small part of a big movement to use music to build bridges and reach out to a community.” NiH is building bridges across Tennessee as the group takes their message ‘to the streets’ for numerous performances throughout May and June. As the first stop on what is being dubbed
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as the Takin’ it to the Streets Tour, Nashville in Harmony has a planned performance for Upper Cumberland Pride on Saturday May 4. Then, on May 5, Nashville in Harmony joins the Knoxville Gay Men’s Chorus’ Beautiful Friendships show at University of Tennessee’s Cox Auditorium. Part of the NiH mission is to “use music to build community and create social change,” so the tour wouldn’t be complete without a few ROAK’s sprinkled in along the way. ROAK, or Random Acts of Kindness, are the little stops and impromptu performances that NiH makes each season. While in Knoxville, NiH will sing the national anthem (and a few other songs) to kick off an event in Knoxville’s Market Square and they also plan to perform at a local shelter. But it is the June 1 show at TPAC that NiH Marketing Chair Julie Reliford
Nashville in Harmony President Barker Evans and Director, Don Schlosser, accept the Rhubarb Theater Company Leadership in the Arts Award at this year’s NGBLTCC Excellence in Business Awards. (Photo by Joseph Brownell)
refers to as the icing on the cake at the end of the season. “The show ties together everything that we have worked on throughout the season. It’s a tapestry of music that reflects our message.” From the familiar to the French, the songs of the season’s closing show are sure to inspire tears, goosebumps and laughter. From Cookeville to Knoxville and back to Nashville, everyone has the chance to hear Nashville in Harmony and everyone should. NiH will perform Takin’ it to the Streets on June 1 at James K. Polk Theater. Tickets for the show are $20. Visit nashvilleinharmony.org for more information.
SALAS cont’d from page 15 In a nomination letter, John D. Kitch, President of the Nashville Bar Association stated, “she represents debtors in bankruptcy at perhaps the lowest points in their lives and at a time when they need a strong advocate. Maria is just such an advocate … I could go on and on. Suffice it to say that I can think of no one more deserving of the award for which she has been nominated.” In another such letter, Joseph J. Kovalick II, the developer who built Salas’ home and in the process became her neighbor, recognizes Salas tireless efforts to the community in which she lives and the school their daughters attend. “She is an active member that regularly participates in neighborhood cleanup, tree planting and crime watch/awareness...[and] if there is a 5k involved, regardless of the subject or benefit, Maria is always the first to grab her running shoes in show of support,” he stated. As if that was not enough, Salas is also a founding member of the Tennessee Equality Project and the Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce. In fact, Salas was the first recipient of the Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year Award and has since had the award named after her. You might think with all of Salas’ contributions there would not be much work left in to do in Nashville. Think again. “Nashville is full of organizations that want and need volunteers so there’s plenty of opportunity to get involved on some level,” Salas said. “My suggestion is to find where your skill or expertise meets your passion. An early example of this for me was the AIDS Awareness Project of the Nashville Bar Association Young Lawyers’ Division. We coordinated attorneys to donate their time to prepare wills for individuals with HIV/AIDS.” So what may be her crowning achievement? Salas might tell you having her acceptance photo placed in her daughter’s school lobby. “Having your kid think you’ve done something worthy of the bulletin board is a big deal.” O&AN salutes Maria Salas for her recognition as MTSU’s Distinguished Alumni of the Year and for all the time and effort she selflessly gives to the GLBT community.
MAY 2013
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JOSEPH BROWNELL, MANAGING EDITOR editor@outandaboutnashville.com
O&AN flaunts new design and website For over 10 years, we’ve watched the Middle Tennessee GLBT community grow and we’ve been with it every step of the way. As organizations have formed and the community has strengthened, we’ve strived to reflect its changing needs and diversity. In 2002, we recognized a need in the GLBT community. We needed a publication that was ours—that is to say we needed a publication that would not only report on the news that affected our
community but also a forum to spotlight the news that our community was making. Out & About filled that niche. While we’ve seen changes over the last 10 years—most notably being the evolution from a strict newspaper to the incorporation of a glossy cover—we couldn’t be more excited to unveil the next step in our growth. We’ve had a secret and now the secret is out … introducing the fresh, new look of O&AN.
Do a double take with our new design.
What’s in a name?
From Out & About Nashville to Out & About Newspaper to O&AN, we’ve earned a strong name with the Middle Tennessee GLBT community. Returning to the roots of Out &About Nashville, or simply O&AN, marks a renewed commitment to providing the Middle Tennessee GLBT community with content that will educate, enrich and inform their daily lives. Readers should expect O&AN to continue breaking news that impacts their lives. We were the first news outlet anywhere in the world to break the news that the national HIV vaccine trial, HVTN 505, was discontinuing immunizations. With a strong community connection through Vanderbilt University, the HVTN 505 breaking news
story powerfully impacts our community. In addition to retaining our place as the community’s premier news source, we’re also expanding our coverage of events, arts & entertainment and community features. This month we’ve profiled community leaders Vic Sorrell and Maria Salas, who both were recently honored with awards highlighting their contributions to the community atlarge, as well as provided O&AN readers with a GLBT-exclusive interview with pop/R&B superstar Brandy. Our expanded coverage once again solidifies our position as the only GLBT publication that provides well-rounded coverage of the Tennessee GLBT experience.
What does the future hold?
From the cover to the pages in between, we’re excited to unveil the fresh, new look of O&AN. Our updated logo reflects the growth, maturity and changes we’ve experienced over the past ten years. Boldly stretched across the cover, the logo’s contemporary look is eye-catching and will appeal to our legions of loyal readers as well as those who may have written off print publications. While this month’s issue features completely redesigned headers to a comprehensive events calendar, our new fresh face continues digitally as well with a brand new website launching at the beginning of the month. Whether you get your Tennessee GLBT community coverage strictly from the paper, from the internet or
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a mixture of both, our new website design streamlines content into a userfriendly, navigable site with something for everyone. While the website will be the first place the community will find breaking news, it will also feature daily updates of issues outside of the community and expanded coverage of local events and personalities that will be exclusive to O&AN. “The print publication is just one component of our business,” said O&AN publisher Jerry Jones. “It’s certainly an important component but not the only one when looking for ways to deliver news and information to our audience. The platform we have built takes that into consideration and allows for growth with other components as our readership changes.”
MAY 2013
Innovation has always been the key to O&AN’s success. Being the first (and only) GLBT publication to be distributed at Kroger across Middle Tennessee, we are continuously looking for ways to introduce our publication to new readers. “This is only just the beginning of an exciting year of growth and change,” Jones said. “We see a huge market in the digital arena and we’re looking forward to offering some very exciting products in that area in the very near future. We’ve got some very cool ideas that are in the development stage that we’re working on that will target a younger demographic to introduce them to our publication.”
As always, O&AN will continue to keep our finger on the pulse of the local GLBT community by soliciting feedback and story ideas from our readers, expanding our ever-growing roster of contributors by including a wider range of diverse voices and pushing our team harder to provide coverage relevant to your experience. Visit us online at outandaboutnashville.com for the new O&AN web experience. Have a story idea or interested in writing with O&AN? Or just drop us a note and let us know what you think about our new look. Email jbrownell@ outandaboutnashville.com
SUSAN WOODS, CONTRIBUTING WRITER swoods@outandaboutnewspaper.com
The 72nd running of the Iroquois Steeplechase is upon us and from horses and hats, jockeys and jackets and hurdles and haute dresses—Steeplechase is synonymous with style. This all-day event, which draws around 25,000 spectators per year, will be held May 11 at Percy Warner Park in Nashville. So it’s time to break the bank account and dress in your best duds as the Nashville social scene springs alive. The Iroquois Steeplechase is an event as rich in history as it is in shoes and solo cups. The actual grounds were constructed in 1936 as part of a parks improvement project. The event’s namesake comes from a little horse named, Iroquois, who just happened to be the first American bred horse to win the English Derby way back
72nd Iroquois Steeplechase provides southern style Annual event becomes a GLBT party tradition in 1881. In fact, this horse was so rad, Wall Street actually closed to celebrate. Pretty amazing horse that is definitely worthy of having a race named after it, in fact, anything that can get Wall Street to close deserves a party. From “the refined to the rowdy,” the Iroquois Steeplechase has something for everybody and has become a new tradition for the GLBT spring social
season. The event brings fun, frivolity, and a sense of pride to the local community, not to mention those gravity defying cranium covers that make you rethink basic physics. So what will you wear? That’s up to you! Men, if true Nashville music style is your speed, head over to The Label in the 12 South neighborhood. Looking for a unique bowtie? Head over to whiskeycotton. com, a GLBT-owned business, for the latest in traditional and ‘not-so-traditional’ bowties. As for the ladies, Holly Williams’ Green Hills boutique, H. Audrey, is sure to be one place that you can find something to wear. Shopping for both? Look no further than another Green Hills boutique, Billy Reid. So stop horsin’ around and get to planning because there is nothing worse than showing up in the same exact outfit as someone else. And if you see O&AN galloping around make sure you say hay. Want instant updates about Steeplechase? Text TNSteeplechase to 86974 to receive updates on ticket info and availability, prerace and race day events, exclusive contests and race day traffic alerts. For more information about ticket packages visit iroquoissteeplechase.org
Photos provided by Iroquois Steeplechase.
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ancient americas EXPLORING ART OF THE ANCIENT AMERICAS: THE JOHN BOURNE COLLECTION
THROUGH JUNE 23 DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE | 615-244-3340 | FRISTCENTER.ORG Members/Youth 18 and younger FREE
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Dancing Figure Whistle (detail), Colima, Mexico, 300 BCE–200 CE, earthenware, 9 1/8 x 6 5/8 x 4 in., The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, gift of John Bourne, 2009 (2009.20.29), Photo © The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore
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Natalie Maines releases her anticipated solo album ‘Mother’ Chicks Emily and Martie even pop up as co-writers on “Come Cryin’ to Me”, a track deemed too rock for Taking the Long Way, but that fits perfectly on Mother. Other album highlights include the somber “Vein in Vain.” The track offers Maines a chance to use her voice in a way listeners
haven’t heard since the bridge in the Chicks’ “You Were Mine”. The song features Maines desperately waging a battle to get through the day and evokes listeners to find the silver lining amidst hopelessness. Each of the album’s 10 tracks showcase a side of Maines audiences have waited for 10 years
to hear. The only problem with Mother is that there are not enough songs. After a seven-year hiatus, Mother leaves listeners wanting more Maines. Hopefully, there will not be a seven year wait for a follow-up. Win a copy of Mother at outandaboutnashville.com
JOSEPH BROWNELL, MANAGING EDITOR editor@outandaboutnashville.com
It’s been nearly seven years since the Dixie Chicks last released an album. A small album called Taking the Long Way only swept the Grammys and ushered the Chicks into a whole new realm of respect as they were coaxed back to the confidence the band lost after being ostracized from mainstream country. Lead singer Natalie Maines, never one to be silenced, releases her anticipated debut solo album Mother May 7 on Columbia Records. “I wanted this music to be very different from the Dixie Chicks,” she said. “Lots of albums by lead singers might just as well have been made by the band, but I think this is very different from anything the Chicks could make. That separation and distinction was important.” While Maines dabbles in familiar Chick territory, Mother by and large shows what true Chicks’ fans have known since the beginning … Natalie Maines possesses a voice that is boundless to genre. Maines has proven with various forays into Patty Griffin land (see “Let Him Fly” and “Top of the World”) that she can masterfully interpret songs and send them soaring onto another plane. While many of the albums 10 tracks are covers—ranging from Pink Floyd and Jeff Buckley to Eddie Vedder— it’s Maines’ ability to approach each track like delicate origami, folding herself and her voice into the song that will silence anyone clamoring for more original music. It’s a jam session with good friend Ben Harper that spurred Maines to record her solo album. Recorded in Harper’s studio (he also coproduces the album), Maines showcases a ravenous rock attitude on the track “Trained.” And it’s not just her strong vocals, Maines is also rocking an edgy, new look. The familiar Chick territory kicks off with the Dan Wilson assisted “Free Life.” It is easily the album’s best track. One listen and Maines immediately submerges listeners into a self-reflecting conversation when she plaintively sings what you gonna spend your free life on. Second listen and you feel empowered to change the world. Third and your mind is blown. MAY 2013
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Brandy ‘puts it down’ for Nashville GLBT fans UKELA A. MOORE, CONTRIBUTING WRITER umoore@outandaboutnashville.com
Brandy has put it down and over the last two decades we have fallen in love. From the young girl that brought us onscreen laughter in the shows Thea and Moesha and floored us with her vocal talents with the smash hits “I Wanna Be Down”, “Baby” and “The Boy is Mine”, Brandy has continued wowing audiences with roles on the series Drop Dead Diva and The Game and appearing recently in Tyler Perry’s latest film Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor. On top of that, Brandy released Two Eleven last year which featured the hit singles “Put it Down” and “Wildest Dreams”. It’s safe to say that as Brandy’s current tour makes two Tennessee stops in June, we are still in love. And Brandy loves us back. Brandy says her love for the GLBT community comes from the love that they express and the energy they bring. “They’re not afraid to tell me the truth about the way they feel and at the same time, support me,” she said. “It just seems like when they see me on the stage, they just let all of their feelings about me out and that makes me better on stage. It makes me feel like ‘oh my God, people really love me, I can give my all’. That is true of every gay club, every Pride event, every time I kick it with my gay fans.” Brandy knew that she had a gay fan base early in her career. “I went to Hollywood High and it opened up my eyes to so many different things and so many different people,” she said. Brandy’s best friend in high school was gay and was extremely supportive of her even before she landed her first record deal. He was always applauding her scenes in her drama class and was in the audience for her choir performances. After her high school experience, Brandy says that she knew that the GLBT community would fall in love with her. “They have been keeping it real with me ever since,” she said. While Brandy performs in a genre traditionally viewed as homophobic, she credits good friend Frank Ocean with helping break down those barriers. “Honesty is the key and the truth will set you free,” she said. “When you can be
Brandy performs at War Memorial Theater June 8. (Publicity photo provided)
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yourself completely and then back that up with amazing music and be incredibly great, then no one can ignore you, no matter what your sexual preference is. I think Frank Ocean proved that and created a platform for that. I am so proud of him for that.” Brandy is touring in support of her latest release Two Eleven, an album that helped Brandy reach new creative heights. “I was reconnecting with the R&B roots,” she shared. “I wanted to reconnect and listen to what my fans wanted. I was able to do things differently and work with different producers and writers. That experience was different, connecting with all different types of people. It seemed like people were excited to work with me and bring my ideas to fruition.” While Brandy is touring throughout the summer, her future project wish list is extensive. Brandy admitted that she would like to work with Kelly Rowland on the music side and maybe Kerry Washington on the acting side. She also hopes to do more television in the future and fans of Moesha should hold on tight. Brandy hopes to develop “something as special as Moesha” next year. But right now Brandy’s focus is on her music. She takes the stage June 8 at War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, plays the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga June 9 and is ready to groove Tennessee. “I love the stage,” Brandy admitted. “I’ve been discovering a lot about who I am on stage. I’m able to be vulnerable, funny, angry, happy, excited. Expect all of that, and expect a lot of the old stuff and a lot of the new stuff. I give a hundred and fifty percent on stage.” Visit wmarocks.com for tickets to Brandy’s June 8 Nashville show.
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True Believer: Tom Goss finds hope in music Performs at OutCentral May 5 VAN GOWER, CONTRIBUTING WRITER vgower@outandaboutnashville.com
Tom Goss performs at OutCentral May 5. (Photo by Julian Vankim)
It has to be said for the sake of blunt honesty: Tom Goss is so beautiful it’s almost too difficult to look at him. One runs the risk of going blind, an effect much like what staring directly into the bright sun might cause. But the risk can be easily negated by closing one’s eyes, donning a pair of stereo headphones, and pressing play. That’s because the 29-year-old Kenosha, Wisconsin
native happens to be one of the most sublimely talented, multiple award-winning indie singer-songwriters out there right now. A former college wrestler, Goss entered the Catholic seminary in 2004, but his dalliance with the cloth proved short-lived. Following an unpleasant experience there, he left seminary to pursue what would be his higher calling: music. Flash forward, and Goss is continuing to draw raves for his third CD of infectious folk-rock ditties and love songs, Turn It Around. A hard-working touring musician as well, he comes to OutCentral May 5 with Matt Alber. We chatted with Goss about his past and his present and surviving it all. So, I have to ask: how does a guy go from being a wrestler to a Catholic seminary student to a singer-songwriter? I’ve heard of changing careers, but that’s a new one! Ha! Yeah, I guess so. I’ve never been the kind of person to be afraid to pursue what I am passionate about. I guess that’s taken me in some very different directions.
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Was it painful or was it liberating for you when you left the seminary? It was very painful. I truly believed I was in it for the long haul. Being in seminary and taking promises is a very serious thing. Furthermore, there was a lot of drama around my leaving and there were others that were asked to leave as a result of my situation. For me, I found the seminary to be very predatory. I think folks can read between the lines. By the time I spoke up about what kind of relationships folks were trying to have with me, it was too late. Mentally and spiritually, that is. I had lost my faith along with my passion to become a priest. Walking away from seminary and choosing to stay in DC also meant that I was leaving my only friends, my only support structure. It was the loss of faith, community, friendship and stability that was the painful part. Still, in a way it was liberating. I knew there was nothing tying me anywhere anymore. No vows or practice schedules, families or friends to be accountable to. The Catholic Church has been a foundation for so much anti-gay sentiment, while at the same time so many of its priests have historically been entrenched in sexual molestation controversies. Do you been following the stories? I don’t really follow the stories that closely. I don’t consider any of this news. In my experience, the Catholic priesthood and seminary is at least 50 percent gay, if not over 70 percent. My house was over 90 percent. People should stop pretending that it isn’t. The church also has a history of protecting and covering up for sexual predators. This is really disgusting. Obviously that should stop.
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Your music is really terrific! I’ve been digging the happy, upbeat, strong guitar oriented pop-rock vibe. So many gay musical entertainers offer the usual synthesized dance floor stuff, so can I say it’s very refreshing to hear performers like you who rock out? Why are you a rocker instead of a dance diva? I’m not sure really. I think the simple answer is that I write the music that speaks to me. Dance diva music doesn’t speak to me. I’m not saying that it’s not good. I’m simply saying that everyone is drawn to something different. A lot of folks dislike my music and I’m fine with that. I can’t please everyone. I’m just grateful that my music speaks to some folks. I have great listeners, fans and friends that have supported me from the beginning. I’m just glad I can continue to reach out to them. What singer-songwriters and musicians inspired you when you were growing up and learning your craft? Well, I’m going to use the term “growing up” loosely because I didn’t really start listening to music until I was 17. I started playing the guitar at 18. At that point, it was pretty much because I was obsessed with Dave Matthews Band. Once I got my guitar, I started learning every Dave Matthews Band song ever written. That’s how I learned to play. It wasn’t too long after that I started writing songs. Oh man, they were horrible. Dave Matthews has a very distinct and complicated way of playing the guitar and writing songs. I spent years trying to write songs like him, and years writing horrid songs. Eventually I started listening to David Gray, Damien Rice, Jason Mraz and a handful of other folks that approach songwriting much more simply. I started to understand and appreciate the power of simplicity, both in chord movements and lyrics. As a result, my songs started getting better. There is no doubt in my mind that David Gray saved my songwriting career long before anyone knew I was going to be a songwriter. You aim for the heartstrings with the lovely ballad “You Know That I Love You.” Is it about anybody in particular or is it a composite of past relationships? That’s about Mike. Almost all of my love songs are about Mike. When I think about Mike and our love, I can’t help but glimpse into something that’s far greater than…either of us. I told myself at a very young age that I was never getting married, never being in a relationship even. For me, relationships were poison; they only hurt the people in them and the people around them. Mike changed that for me.
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Tom Goss performs at OutCentral May 5. (Photo by Julian Vankim)
You married your husband Mike in 2010, right? Congrats! What has married life been like for you? Did it change your outlook on life in any ways? Marriage is great! But dating was great and being engaged was great. It didn’t really change those things. For me, it’s just another step in building the kind of relationship that is strong and long-lasting. It’s another step in becoming the kind of man I strive to be. I know that you’ve said you don’t feel like you fit in with the mold of prevailing gay culture, but you’re unabashedly an LGBT activist and you’re involved with LGBT organizations in Washington, DC. Also, your lyrics and music videos are heartfelt, honest depictions of same-sex love. What moves you to be so involved in the fight for equality? I only speak about things I know, and work for causes and movements that move me. It’s as simple as that. I’m lucky enough to really know what it means to be in love, to be married. I want to share that. Furthermore, I have, and always will, work for injustice. I suppose it’s in my blood. Tom Goss plays at OutCentral on May 5 with Matt Abler. For more information on Tom Goss visit tomgossmusic.com and ticket information at outcentral.org. Read the entire Tom Goss interview online.
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Let’s talk about ‘SPANK!’ baby Fifty Shades parody commands audiences May 17-18 ELLEN ANGELICO, CONTRIBUTING WRITER eangelico@outandaboutnewspaper.com
Go on, admit it. You read Fifty Shades of Grey. And in spite of the truly pathetic syntax and the nauseatingly repetitive phrasing, you found yourself sort of enjoying discovering how disastrous it was. Every time Ana’s inner goddess did a dance you cringed, but you also took some solace in knowing you’d been to literary hell and back. Boy, do the folks over at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center have a show for you. On May 17 and 18, TPAC will present SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody at the James K. Polk Theater. Sharp, hilarious, and not at all authorized by author E.L. James or Vintage Press, SPANK! promises to be one of the funniest productions at TPAC this year. The main character (Christian Grey in the book and Hugh Drew Moerlein plays Hugh Hanson in ‘SPANK!’ May 17 and 18 at James K. Polk Theater. (Publicity photo provided)
Gonirl irl G comedy presented by
May 8 • June 5 • July 10 August 14 • September 11 Featuring the Southeast’s best female & GLBT comedians.
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The show is rated R for sexual content, lewd references, vulgar language, adult themes, and mature subject matter. Some shows also include variety acts such as burlesque and pole dancers.
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MAY 2013
Hanson in SPANK!) is portrayed by the handsome Drew Moerlein, an alum of New York City’s Midtown International Theater Festival, Syracuse University graduate, and was it mentioned that he’s stunningly handsome? O&AN caught up with the smoldering Moerlein who told us just how dirty SPANK! would get. How is the vibe of SPANK! different from more serious productions you’ve done? SPANK! is a larger-than-life, broad, outrageous parody that really allows the actors to explore these characters. I’ve gotten to use my own quirks to explore the ridiculous lifestyle of this billionaire dominatrix. There are definitely parts of myself that lend to accessing parts of this character. It makes it hysterical to perform.
What do you think it is about Fifty Shades that intrigues people and makes it so parody-ready? You’ve got the wealthy billionaire. You’ve got the naïve, pretty virgin who has no experience. He’s exerting his power over this woman. I think that many women want to feel controlled. Probably not in their professional lives, not in their actual relationship, but they want the excitement and the thrill this character - Anastasia, or “Tasha” in our production—gets to feel. So there are different names for the characters. Have you read the book? I have, for research. [laughs] Is the plot basically the same as the book? The characters in the show are revealed in the exact same way as in the book, but we’ve given them MOERLEIN cont’d on page 31
‘Absinthe: A Broadway Cabaret’ launches May 18 Eden Epsinosa hedlines the first Absinthe: A Broadway Cabaret performance in Franklin May 18. (Publicity photo provided)
At the same time Trbovich was developing a new respect for stage actors, she was also discovering NYC's cabaret scene. Cabaret has mellowed over the past century (though it's always there if we need it for political purposes). Sherry Eaker, who is the former longtime editor of Back Stage, the performing arts trade paper, and also produces NYC's annual Bistro Awards
honoring cabaret, jazz and comedy, has this to say about the cabaret art form in its contemporary context: "It's hard to define cabaret. It goes way beyond the definition of a venue where you can eat and drink; neither is it a singer standing in front of a microphone stringing together a bunch of songs. Cabaret is a distinctive and personal art form,” she adds. “It’s mostly about CABARET cont’d on page 31
JAZ DORSEY, CONTRIBUTING WRITER jdorsey@outandaboutnashville.com
The art form known as cabaret was born in the Parisian clubs of Montmartre in the 1880s. It was a voice of protest against the ruling classes. The drink of choice was a hallucinogenic liqueur called absinthe—a drink so potent that it was widely banned in the early 20th century. Among the more famous drinkers of absinthe, count America's own poet son, Edgar Allan Poe. For artists like Poe, absinthe was a muse, known colloquially as la fee verte—the green fairy. Recalling cabaret's origins, Franklin resident Carolan Trbovich has named her new entertainment venture Absinthe: A Broadway Cabaret and while there may not be any old school green fairy to sample (though a milder version of absinthe will be served), there is definitely going to be, if not a green fairy, a green witch - because Trbovich is bringing Broadway star Eden Espinosa (Elphaba in Wicked) to The Factory in Franklin on May 18. And as any of us who have been transported to Weimar Berlin by the film Cabaret know, it ain't real cabaret without an MC. In this case, singer-songwriter and Liza Minnelli accompanist Johnny Rodgers, who it seems has decided to make his home here in Middle Tennessee, is that MC. "Absinthe with a chaser of Broadway cabaret will create its own unique musical cocktail that you won't find anywhere else in the Nashville area," Rodgers said of the upcoming event. For Trbovich, the road to cabaret was, as you might say, a yellow brick one. She was an LA girl with roots in film and a certain attitude about the stage— until she saw the national tour of Wicked at TPAC in 2010. The next thing she knew, she was taking groups of theatre goers all over the country to see Wicked. After catching Espinosa in the lead role, Trbovich became a fan. She made a contribution to Espinosa's Kickstarter campaign and won a phone chat with the actress/singer, which started the relationship that has led to this month's partnership.
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MAY 2013
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‘Torch Song’ hopes to light the way for OUTCentral Performance plans to honor Bianca Paige and Angelica DeVil JOSEPH BROWNELL, MANAGING EDITOR editor@outandaboutnashville.com
More than 10 years ago, a small group of performers staged, produced and marketed a sold out three weekend run of Harvey Feinstein’s iconic play Torch Song Trilogy at the Dark Horse Theatre. Jaz Dorsey, artistic director of The Nashville Dramaturgy Project, spearheaded the 2002 production that starred Mark Middleton, better known as Bianca Paige, as Arnold and included “intimate involvement” from Tim Gunnels, better known as Angelica DeVil. “It was an amazing experience,” Dorsey reminisced. “With Bianca in the lead, we sold out the entire run at $25 a ticket without giving a single comp to anybody.” They say lightning never strikes twice but here’s to hoping it does when Dorsey once again brings “International Stud,” the first play of the Torch Song Trilogy, to Nashville. This time around, the role of Arnold will be played by Steve Raimo also known as Veronika Electronika. The cast also includes Canvas bartender Malachi Taylor as Ed, Torch Singers Roxie Rogers and Andrea Coleman and musical direction by Steve Kennedy. Additionally, original torch songs for this production will be provided
Malachi Taylor (left) and Steve Raimo (right) star in the first play of the Torch Song Trilogy May 10 and 17 at Play. (Photo by Christina Rae)
by Francesca Blumenthal, a NYC songwriter, and Nashville artist Margee Forman and her writing partner, Rayme Sciaroni. “When I was first asked to play Arnold in Torch Song, I was blown away. It’s an amazing role with so many great things to say,” Raimo shared. “I was familiar with the movie, but had never seen a stage production, even though Bianca Paige portrayed the role a decade ago to critical acclaim,” he continued. “I always regretted not seeing it, but now that I have taken the role as my own, I would like to think that my Arnold and hers are two different people. I'm honored to fill her shoes—literally I will be wearing a pair of Bianca's shoes in the opening scene.” The subtle nod to Bianca is just one of many ways the current production plans to honor both Bianca Paige and Angelica DeVil, both of whom have passed since the 2002 production. Torch Song also hopes to light the way for OutCentral as proceeds from the production will benefit the community resource center. “Everyone involved with OutCentral is so grateful for the support we get from our community in so many ways," said board chair Joe Morris. "This production of Torch Song will be
MON - WED- THUR - SUN 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
FRI - SAT
11:00 am – 10 pm
CLOSED TUESDAYS!
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great for audiences and will help us pay rent and other expenses. We are proud to be the recipient of such generosity.” But that is not the only light that Dorsey hopes to spark as he directs Torch Song for the second time. Dorsey wishes to bring renewed vigor and reestablish bridges between the GLBT community and theater. “For the last eight years, there really has not been a strong connection between the gay community and the theater community and it’s odd especially when you visit a place like New York City,” Dorsey said. “I feel that Church Street is a natural place for some great theater and we hope to reignite the interest of the clubs in connecting with the theater community.” In order to do so, Dorsey is already tweaking his slogan “come to Nashville and go to the theater.” As Torch Song lights up Church Street, Dorsey urges the community to “go to Church Street and go to the theater.” Torch Song will run both May 10 and May 17 at Play at 9 p.m.. For reservations or more information, contact The Nashville Dramaturgy Project by email at dramaturgtn@gmail. com or by phone at 615-915-0891.
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behind while piercing their nipples with sharp objects.
MOERLEIN cont’d from page 28
Noted. It’s definitely apparent what is happening, but we sort of let the audience do the imagining. I think that’s one of the most impressive parts of the show. It also helps everyone in the room reach a level of discomfort but not think, ‘This is inappropriate for me to be at.’
I saw that there’s a disclaimer on TPAC’s schedule that this show contains mature content. How dirty does it get? It’s actually surprisingly nonspecific in terms of what you see. There are many instruments the audience will see, and they can then use their own imagination for how one would use them. But it is not a tutorial on how to insert a butt plug into a submissive’s
Just one last question, who will enjoy this show the most? I think if you enjoyed these books or enjoy having a raucous fun time with your friends and like getting taken out of your box of normalcy and want to laugh for two hours straight and see some people act a fool up on stage, then SPANK is definitely an amazing night out. You get sexually excited and laugh your ass off all at the same time. SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody will be at the James K. Polk Theater in Nashville May 17-18. Tickets start at $20 and some sections are already sold out, so get yourself over to TPAC.org if you think you might like to get your SPANK! on.
CABARET cont’d from page 29 lyric interpretation and communicating honestly with one's audience. There are no defined limits and boundaries where the performer dare not go. It's risk taking and gutsy." In the case of an artist like Eden Espinosa, who has established herself by interpreting a signature role in a hit musical, cabaret is a chance for fans to experience the person behind the talent. Espinosa grew up in an environment of arts and culture. "I was always exposed to a wide spectrum of music and performing arts from musicals and ballet to opera and the symphony,” she said. “I always sang at church or in children's groups; I played piano, violin and was in ballet."
Her Franklin appearance coincides with the release of her first album, Look Around, which is made up of "songs written by some of the best modern Broadway composers, brilliantly arranged as if they were standalone songs that were never in a musical." This will be Espinosa’s second professional trip to Music City. "I love Nashville," she exclaimed. "I am so looking forward to doing a concert there." We're looking forward to it, too— no doubt! For tickets and reservations, visit abcab.net. For more information on the performers, visit edenespinosa.com and johnnyrodgers.com.
different names. The writer, E.L. James, who for our purposes is the narrator of the show, we call her E.B. Janet. She basically creates this world in front of the audience.
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MAY 2013
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race: Dragopolis’ releases the first-ever mobile game serving drag queen realness Game available for download May 6 O&AN REPORTS
It’s time to use that charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent, hunty! Logo and World of Wonder team up with So Much Drama Studios, the company behind the hit game Fireflies!, to stir up the gaming field with RuPaul’s Drag Race: Dragopolis, a oneof-a-kind app that spices up the endless runner game genre with a new kind of heroine. RuPaul’s Drag Race: Dragopolis will be available for free download on iTunes for iOS devices on May 6 to coincide with that night’s season finale of Logo’s RuPaul’s Drag Race. An Android version of the game will be released later in 2013. RuPaul’s Drag Race: Dragopolis is a fantabulous adventure starring a drag queen fighting for RuPaul. The evil drag queen Apocalypstyk has broken into the workroom on day one of RuPaul’s Drag Race in order to sabotage the show and kidnap the sexy men in the pit crew. Players control our drag queen heroine, and can customize this ferocious character with sickening wigs, outfits and even their own face. In order to save the day, she races to the main stage, jumping and clawing her way past Apocalypstyk’s
increasingly fierce minions, all while serving up new looks for the photo shoots! There is no RuPaulogizing in this game! "Drag is such an amazing form of entertainment," said Jeff Meador, the game's creator and head of So Much Drama Studios. "I love the wit, theatricality, and heart that drag performers bring, and RuPaul's Drag Race: Dragopolis is a great way to celebrate that. We've had so much fun making this game, and the support we've been getting from the drag community has been incredible. It's so rewarding to see that people love playing RuPaul's Drag Race: Dragopolis as much as we loved making it." The game is a free download; gamers can also recruit celebrity drag queens Pandora Boxx, Yara Sofia or Manila Luzon for whole new adventures for 99 cents each. All three queens come fresh from scene-stealing turns on RuPaul’s Drag Race and RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race. “I have enjoyed playing with myself for years, and now Drag Race fans can too,” said RuPaul. So what are you waiting for? Start your engines and may the best woman win!
Cancer survivor, tattoo artist finds silver lining ALEXANDER QUIÑONES, CONTRIBUTING WRITER aquinones@outandaboutnashville.com
As a tattoo artist, Tai Orten’s most important concern is that her clients are happy with their tattoo. Ask her about what overcoming cancer meant to her, and she says it has taught her a great deal of compassion. As a result she feels more connected to the people who sit down in her chair. “A lot of times people don't experience what it means to be really, really sick until they're older, so I got a little bit of that under my belt, which I think can give you a different perspective,” she said. “Clients who come into the shop — there's a lot of people who are affected by millions of diseases but particularly cancer — you hear 'my family member has that.' When I have clients that have that or have gone through that, immediately I say, 'I went through that, too.'” When she was a junior in college, Orten was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Burkitt's lymphoma, which is more prevalent among children in Africa. “It's not very common here at all,” she said. “You might have 300 cases a year, if that.” Having had a rare medical condition might have made her feel more isolated, but it didn’t. That’s despite the fact that while growing up she felt like an outsider in Kentucky because of her sexual orientation and because she liked body art and modification when most people around her seemed so conservative. After her illness, she started to see what she had in common with others. “You always find something to relate to with people, whereas before I used to separate myself a little, ‘Oh,
I’m different,” she said, “It kinda comes back around where you find those nuisances and similarities you can relate to.” Orten was able to successfully treat her cancer, and is now in remission, but when she was diagnosed with it in 2005, it turned her world upside down.
Timberfell Lodge
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Coming into her own Because of her illness she had to take time off from school and wasn’t able to finish college. “They took my scholarships away,” she said. Orten said she was lucky to have a family who supported her and accepted her sexuality but she said she still had to come to terms with her homosexuality. She came out to family when she was 14, but it was only until she went to art school when she felt comfortable telling strangers. “I think I kind of had the issues of trying to figure out where I stood in terms of religious views ... especially growing up in an area where that was so important,” she said. After beating cancer, she became focused on becoming a tattoo artist. She turned to an artist whom she highly respected: Jerry Rigger, of Metropolis, Ill., and he got her an apprenticeship with Charles "Tattoo Charlie" Wheeler in Louisville, Ky. After working at a few shops, she ended up at Nashville’s Electric Hand Tattoo, which she loves. She said she has a really good working relationship with them as an independent contractor. “I pretty much do appointment only now, and just kind of do my own thing,” she said. “It’s a really chill environment, and that’s exactly what I wanted.” To find out more about Orten or contact her, visit electrichandtattoo. com.
May 10 – 12 Greek Rush Weekend BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Are you worthy and willing to pledge Timberfell’s Fraternity of Men? Saturday night Fraternity & Toga Party at The Tavern. Let’s go Greek!
May 24 – 27 Memorial Day Weekend Book early for your favorite room or RV site. This one sells out fast! Men, music, cookouts and did we mention MEN! Great long weekend in the mountains with your Timberfell friends.
June 6 – 9 Camp Bear 2013: WOOF AT THE MOON Timberfell’s 5th Annual Bear Event!! This fur-friendly event provides special cocktail mixers, pool parties, cookouts, t-shirt vendors, and after hour parties. The 9th annual Mr. TimBear contest will be held in conjunction with this event. Visit our website for registration info.
Come visit us in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. 2240 Van Hill Road Greeneville, TN 37745 FOR RESERVATIONS:
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Tennessee Women’s Theater’s Women Project /
Upper Cumberland Pride / Dogwood
Looby Theatre / 3301 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.
hree week festival T celebrating women’s voices in theatre. Highlights includes May 3 performance of Voices of Nashville: Immigration and Community
5 Toni Swarthout Art Exhibit Opening Reception /
OutCentral presents Tom Goss and Matt Alber /
OutCentral / 1709 Church St.
OutCentral / 1709 Church St.
OutCentral celebrates artist Nashville Pride presents Martinis and Jazz / East Centric Toni Swarthout whose
Singer-Songwriters Tom Goss and Matt Alber make a special performance at OutCentral. For more information and tickets visit outcentral.org. See our feature on Tom Goss in this month’s issue.
Performance Pavilion / 40 East Broad St. Cookeville, TN
pper Cumberland Pride U celebrates “Love is Never Wrong” with Tennessee Equality Project.
work will be on display all month long. Visit toniswarthout.com for more information.
Pavilion / 1006 Fatherland St. #105
resented by Third Fifth Bank, P Nashville Pride brings back the popular Martinis and Jazz complete with silent auction, live music and drinks.
1 p.m. – 8 p.m. / Free event
7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
6 p.m. – 10 p.m / Tickets $25
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10 + 17
O&AN Presents Girl on Girl Comedy / Zanie’s / 2025 8th Ave. S
Transgender Drop-In with Vickie Davis / OutCentral /
Nashville Pride presents Battle of the Bands / Mad
Torch Song Trilogy /
or more information visit F GirlonGirlComedy.net and watch O&AN on Facebook for a chance to win tickets. Available online at ZaniesNash.com or at the door
1709 Church Street
Donna’s / 1313 Woodland St.
6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
J oin Nashville Pride as local bands compete for a spot on this year’s Bridgestone Main Stage.
8 p.m. / Tickets $10
Play Dance Bar / 1519 Church St.
Benefit for OutCentral. Ticket sales at the door but reservations accepted by phone 615-915-0891 or email PozziEntGroup@hotmail.com. 9 p.m. / Tickets $15
R. Cox Auditorium / UT Campus Knoxville
9 p.m.
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72nd Running of the Iroquois Steeplechase /
Nashville Primetimers Classic Movie: A Single Man / OutCentral / 1709 Church St.
Brandi Carlile /
Percy Warner Park
Join the Nashville Primetimers as they screen the Colin Firth film A Single Man.
Various tickets prices. For more information visit mysteeplechase.com.
Knoxville Gay Men’s Chorus present Beautiful Friendships / James
Schermerhorn Symphony Center / 1 Symphony Place
For more information visit nashvillesymphony.org 8 p.m.
7 p.m.
Gates open at 8 a.m.
Knoxville Gay Men’s Chorus kicks off their second season with a special performance with Nashville in Harmony. For more information visit knoxgmc.org or to purchase tickets visit knoxtix.com. 6 p.m. / $ 15 advance $20 door
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Queer Dance Party (QDP) / The 5
SPANK! The Fifty Shades Paraody /
PFLAG Nashville /
Cirque Musica / Schermerhorn Symphony Center / 1 Symphony Place
JoJo in concert /
Spot / 1006 Forrest Avenue
James K. Polk Theatre / 505 Deaderick Street
Cirque Musica blends the grace and thrills of the world’s greatest circus performers with stunning symphonic music.
For more information visit jojonashville.eventbrite.com
Queer Dance Party is a 21+ event held the third Friday of every month. For more information ‘like’ QDP on Facebook. com/QDPNashville.
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Join the laugh riot for the book that swept America. For tickets or more information visit tpac.org.
Oasis Center, 1704 Charlotte Ave.. Suite 200 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
8 p.m. (4 p.m. Matinee 5/18)
OUTANDABOUTNASHVILLE.COM
MAY 2013
For more information and to purchase tickets visit nashvillesymphony.org
Seen Nashville
8 p.m. / Tickets $15
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