Tony's Gay Agenda

by Tony Hobday

ART EXHIBITIONS

RED BUTTE GARDEN presents artist Tatiana Varela who was born in Colombia and immigrated to the United States 20 years ago. Before immigrating to America, she took up Batik art, an Indonesian discipline involving the production of dyeing colored patterns using beeswax onto a canvass. Her patterns depict the flora and fauna of her native South America, with beautiful images of plants, flowers, and especially tropical birds.

FRIDAY, 19 – TATIANA VARELA BATIK ART EXHIBIT Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way, UofU, times vary through May 26. Admission prices vary, redbuttegarden.org

CONCERTS

The indie pop trio, LOVELYTHEBAND takes to the stage in Salt Lake City and most likely (and hopefully) perform their hit “Broken”, as well as other great songs like “These Are My Friends” and “Finding It Hard to Smile”. Included are guest performances by Flora Cash and Jagwar Twin. The SALT LAKE MEN’S CHOIR Spring Concert wishes it to be a great Disney ride. And while it will succeed in that, I’m worried that Michael Aaron will come out as Cinderella (because that’s how gay his ego is) when he should be clad as Cruella De Vil (still a big gay ego, but more fitting).

TUESDAY, 23 — LOVELYTHEBAND The Depot, 13 N. 400 West, 8 p.m. Tickets $20 Adv/$25 Day of, smithstix.com

FRIDAY, 26 — SLMC’S WHEN YOU WISH: A DISNEY CONCERT Highland High School, 2166 South 1700 East, 7:30 p.m., through Saturday. Tickets $20, brownpapertickets.com

DANCE

RIRIE-WOODBURY DANCE presents Bloom, a program that includes two world premieres: one by acclaimed choreographer Stephen Koester and one by Artistsic Director Daniel Charon. It also marks the return of The Opposite of Killing (2011) by Tzveta Kassabova.

18 7:30 p.m., through Saturday. Tickets $15-35, artsaltlake.org

DRAG SHOWS

JRC Events presents JINKX MONSOON, and blowing on stage with her (umm, that sounds wrong and yet pleasing) are Gia Bianca Stephens, Rose, Aphrodeity, Linnox Green, Mandy Morphone, Georgia DeMoan, with DJ Shutter and DJ Justin Hollister. Sounds like everyone on stage will get a little winded, just sayin’!

SATURDAY, 20 — JINKX MONSOON Metro Music Hall, 615 W. 100 South, 9 p.m., age 21+. Tickets $20-100, jrcslc.com

SPECIAL ENGAGEMENTS

Fusing together elements of cirque acrobatics and classical dance, TROUPE VERTIGO brings audiences on a jaw-dropping journey through the world of artistic movement — all backed by the thrilling sounds of the Utah Symphony. Brace yourself for a a surprising and delightful night of entertainment.

FRIDAY, 19 — CIRQUE DANCES WITH TROUPE VERTIGO AND THE UTAH SYMPHONY

Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, 7:30 p.m., through Saturday. Tickets $15-90, artsaltlake.org

THEATRE

UTAH REPERTORY THEATER presents Love and Sex in the Digital Age, an exploration of how instant connection has changed the way we communicate, and how much things have remained the same. First seen at the 2016, and 2017 GSL Fringe festivals respectively, Love and Sex combines two different plays, edited and rewritten to fit together into one night of tantalizing theater.

THURSDAY, 25 — LOVE AND SEX IN THE DIGITAL AGE

Studio Theatre, Rose Wagner Center, 138 W. 300 South, times vary, through Sunday. Tickets $10, artsaltlake.org