August 2011

A&E August 2011

Up and Coming LGBT Artists

issue

St. Louis’ A&E Luminaries

StL Black Pride Guide 2011 Featuring President Audrey Pearson

The arts & entertainment guide 2011-12 St. Louis’ Definitive Cultural Guide This issue is dedicated to

The DisAbility Project

Complimentary Copy

HAVE PRIDE WHERE YOU PLAY.

August, 2011

Dear

Friends, Artistic, creative, passionate and fabulous are all adjectives that best describe our diverse and prismatic community. Once again Vital VOICE is proud to present this year’s A&E luminaries for 2011. These nine individuals represent the best up and coming LGBT and allied artists and entertainers from throughout our community.

In celebration of the art and entertainment community, I cordially invite you to “Encore!”—the Vital VOICE A&E event, August 30th at Copia Wine Garden in downtown St. Louis. Check out our Facebook page for more information.

This month I’m excited to introduce “The SHORTS” to our Vital VOICE website.

Written by sassy scribe Toby Shorts, this tongue in cheek and sometime venomous look at today’s pop culture is sure to make you chuckle. Warning: parental discretion is advised.

Don’t forget that this is LGBT Black PRIDE month here in St. Louis. Vital VOICE is proud to publish this year’s Black PRIDE guide and I encourage everyone of every stripe to attend the annual event, Aug 19–21st. As always, it is important to show solidarity in our community.

Who says there is never anything to do in St. Louis? Vital VOICE is here to let you know that there are a ton of venues, concerts, gallery openings and performances for all. We are equally honored to publish this year’s Arts and Entertainment Guide for the metro area. Throughout these pages you will find the definitive guide for your entertainment pleasure for the year ahead.

Stay tuned for next month’s STYLE issue. As a teaser, here are some of the things we are working on. Club Kid Chic, Life after the Runway and some of STL’s most fashion forward LGBTers.

Ciao,

Darin Slyman Publisher

theVitalVOICE.com | 3

this

N ISSUE

Volume 12, Issue 8

The Vital VOICE Team Darin Slyman Publisher/Editor dsly@thevitalvoice.com Colin Murphy Senior Writer/Web Editor colin_murphy@sbcglobal.net Jeff Kapfer Art Director JeffKapfer@gmail.com Kristen Goodman

Director of Business & Marketing

kristen@thevitalvoice.com Vital VOICE extends a special thanks to the following for helping us to make this months A&E issue possible: St. Louis Art Museum, Old Rock House, APOP Records, Duane Reed Gallery, Zaftig, St. Louis Effort for AIDS, St. Louis Black Pride.

7 15 18 21 25 29 36 40 42

4 |

2011 A&E Luminaries Springfield’s Smokey’s Den STL Black Pride Art of PAWS Keep’n it REAL! A&E Guide LouFest Scene & Styling Non-profit of the Month

August, 2011

Joshua Barton Writer josh.barton49@gmail.com Dieta Pepsi On Air Hostess Dieta@thevitalvoice.com Jimmy Lesch Assistant Design & PR Jimmy@thevitalvoice.com

Contributors

Advisory Board William A. Donius Thom Halter Colin Murphy Jay Perez Pam Schneider Kellie Trivers Sharon Tucci

Contact

Vital VOICE Magazine 4579 Laclede Avenue #268 Saint Louis, MO 63108 VitalVOICEmag@gmail.com 314.256.1196

Advertising

VitalVOICEmag@gmail.com

Derick Allison Writing Raj Tailor Writing & Photography Tim Brenner Photography Corey Woodruff Photography Lane Coder Photography Bobbi Nix Photography Chuck Atteberry Photography Claire Beeman Research

Online

thevitalvoice.com facebook.com/TheVitalVOICE twitter.com/VitalVOICEmag youtube.com/TheVitalVISION

Vital VOICE is printed on recycled newspaper and uses soy ink for a 100% recyclable product.

Encore!

A Vital VOICE A&E Event

theVitalVOICE.com | 5

A Mortgage You Will Love Purchases Refinances FHA/VA Reverse Mortgages 203K Loans

Trish Busch

Sales Relations Manager (314) 628-2298 office tbusch@usa-mortgage.com http://tbusch.usa-mortgage.com

Assistance with LGBT Partnership Mortgages 12140 Woodcrest Executive Dr., Suite 150, St. Louis, MO 63141 NMLS: 270135 MO: 1261-MLO

6 |

August, 2011

2011

oi

cE

Luminaries

Written by Colin Murphy – Senior Writer and Joshua Barton – Staff Writer Photography by Tim Brenner “The imagination will not down. If it is not a dance, a song, it becomes an outcry, a protest. If it is not flamboyance it becomes deformity; if it is not art, it becomes crime,” William Carlos Williams 1923.

What follows is a collection of St. Louis artists and entertainers we think embody the passion, flamboyance and richness that kindles the human soul. Their art forms are varied and distinct but they’re all luminaries.

As William Carlos Williams explains in his plotless, mind shattering The Great American Novel, all art is sprung from Imagination and even the most outrageous art returns us to sanity.

He saw art in gin soaked jazz, Russian revolutions and even blatant plagiarism. Art, to Williams, was an illumination…a burst of creative energy….an escape from a humdrum American life and into a world of, “splendor and grotesqueness, beauty and infinite depth.”

On August 30th, we invite you to experience them for yourself as Vital VOICE presents “Encore!”, an interactive arts and performance event featuring our 2011 Luminaries at Copia Urban Winery. Continue reading for details.

“Who knows why you get into it,” Charles Houska says about an art career. “I always knew I wanted to paint and that I loved color but I thought the only way I’d ever make money was in advertising.”

Luckily for St. Louis, art won out over ads. Houska’s bold and colorful popart and sculptures have given St. Louis something to smile about. “There is a lot of depressing art but mine is the exact opposite.”

What’s your favorite color? My artwork is bright and colorful but my favorite color is navy blue.

When do you feel joy? I’m truly happy when I am creating and painting.

It is my life.

Charles HOUSKA: painter

What is your favorite piece or work of art? I can appreciate other mediums but I really only relate to pop art. I love everything Jeff Koons does and of course Andy Warhol. If I had to pick one piece, I would say Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Can. My own personal favorite commission are the sculptures I did for St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Who or what is your current muse? My two bull terriers, Roxy and Izzy. I just watch them and they give my characters animation and expression.

Cher or Madonna? Madonna of course.

What is your standard breakfast? Mostly just cereal and coffee.

Have you ever experienced a moment of transcendence? I don’t know if I have a specific time but often an artist will have a creative block and you’re faced with a blank canvas. People think you can just keep painting but it’s not a factory job. When I would have a creative block I would think, “Oh my god, my career is over!” but I’ve been painting for 25 years and I’ve realized that the creativity always comes back. I just sit back and let it happen while I see the pieces coming together.

theVitalVOICE.com | 7

Fashion Designer, Project Runway standout.

Transforming how people view themselves one creation at a time.

In the soundtrack to your life, what song plays during the opening sequence?

Missy Elliot – This is 4 My People Who do you want to be?

Someone who inspires others to look outside of themselves, and outside of what they have accepted as social norms.

What’s your favorite color? Pink.

No other color gets quite the reaction that pink gets.

Who or what is your current muse?

Paris Hilton has always been a muse of mine. She's such a comic modern archetype. I'm inspired a lot by popular culture. My more exuberant work is a tongue in cheek nod to tabloids and sensationalism.

Gaga or Britney? Katy Perry Favorite WTF Moment? Mariah Carey's breakdown on MTV's TRL back in 2001. She talked about rainbows, butterflies and ice cream. It was the only time I ever liked Mariah Carey.

What do you love the most about St. Louis? I love how supportive the community is here. I feel like the people cheering me on the most are right here in St. Louis. That certainly wasn't what I expected when I started putting my work out there.

Jacob Marshall GARRETT: dancer

Don’t tell Jacob Marshall Garrett that you don’t know how to dance.

“It drives me crazy when people say they can‘t dance!” he says in between sips of an iced mocha. “Like the people in the clubs who stand off to the side and in the corners, I just want to tell them to at least move a hip! You got to have something in there.”

Anyone can dance but few can do what Garrett does on a daily basis as a first artist ballerino for the St. Louis Ballet.

A.J.

THOUVENOT:

fashion

8 |

August, 2011

“Ballet is unnatural,” he jokes. “The human body is not designed to do what ballet requires.”

Garret, who is originally from Rogers, Arkansas, says he always loved to dance but never considered it as a career. He was more

interested in gymnastics, piano lessons and pulling out his childhood mattress into the living room to jump and dance to Michael Jackson videos. Formal dance and ballet training came later at the age of 19 when enrolled in a local musical theater program that needed some male dancers.

“I thought they would just put us in the background somewhere since all I could do was play the piano but I ended up in every dance and I started loving it.”

From there Garrett enrolled at the Houston Ballet Ben Stevenson Academy where he got fast and harsh lessons in dance life.

“It was hell. First of all, I didn’t know anything about ballet or what the terms meant. I was just thrown in and the instructors would use me as an example of what NOT to do. There were days I wanted to cry but I never felt like giving

up. It was tricky but it made me a stronger dancer.”

Garrett continued his studies in New York City and eventually got his first company position in Colorado with the Colorado Ballet. In 2007, he joined the St. Louis Ballet where he says ballet is not a career, it is a lifestyle.

“Dance is an evolution and the best thing about it is that you are always pushing and looking for ways to make it better.

I was thinking to myself the other day about the feeling of perfect physical balance. It is an addictive feeling when you do a jump or make a turn and your body instantly knows it is right. It may only happen one time a year but when you hit that perfect pirouette on stage it’s breathtaking.”

theVitalVOICE.com | 9

Alexis Principle is one of the few legendary girls left in the St. Louis drag world who remembers the packed show bars of Faces and Upside.

“Now we used to ENTERTAIN!” she says. “We’d take beers off tables and shake them to get the crowd wet, take off our wigs and the audience loved it!,” she says.

Alexis started her drag career in 1986 in the back dressing room of Faces where she watched and learned.

“I would carry the girls’ bags and sit back and watch them do their make up,” she says. “I didn’t want to annoy any of them with questions so I would just be quiet and watch and learn. No body held my hand.”

Along the way she has not only become a multi-title winner (Miss Gay Missouri America 1998, Former Miss Missouri Continental, and current reigning Miss Arizona USA Classic) but has also transformed her body for her art.

“I altered my body to put life back into my art form,” she says. “It is more convincing when you take it to that next level... it gives more realness.”

When do you feel joy? When I am with my family: My mom, my sister, my nieces and nephews. They love me to death but when I came out it was different. I was abused and I ran away from home at 17. They couldn’t accept me but I came back at 25. Now they respect me and will come to my shows and pageants to support me.

Alexis PRINCIPLE

female iIllusionist

Favorite WTF Moment? When I saw a queen on stage and her back was full of hair! I’m not going to say her name but this was a couple months ago at Novak’s.

Her back was so full of hair she looked like a werewolf and she had the NERVE to wear a halter dress! Looking like a big old, burly bitch with hair all on her arms.

Who would you crown as a St. Louis drag icon? Dieta Pepsi, Vicki Vincent, Petrina Marie, Zsa Zsa Principle, Beverly Hills…. those were the girls I used to hang around. There were the divas! It was a different breed back then. We invested from head to toe and even if you didn’t look like a real woman you were still put together. Girls now got no nails, no padding, they playing with our art form, with my profession and I hate it.

When is the best time for a drag queen to pull off her wig in a show? I save that for the cookie cutter booger queens. I am a real woman now. If I really want to get a crowd going then maybe my titty will pop out. The crowd goes crazy!

Sammich The Tramp, the brainchild of Kyla Webb, is a wandering hobo and lovable scamp.

Sammy came to St. Louis by way of Chicago where she graduated from Columbia College with a theater degree in 2006. She was one of the founding members’ of a critically acclaimed touring company called Silent Theatre which specialized in adapting silent films for the stage as a full on theatrical black and white experience.

Landing in St. Louis just over a year ago, the artist has managed to make quite a mark with her unique brand of 10 | August, 2011

silent slapstick vaudevillian comedy.

After teaming up with burlesque star and producer Lola van Ella and VanElla Productions, Sammy began creating and directing shows, including the beloved and ever popular Beggar's Carnivale.

“With a vaudeville show you're giving an audience a variety of things that they don't get to see everyday, feats of incredible talent,” said Webb. “People get to have an experience, it's something that they can't download. Vaudeville is for the working class. Audiences love to be surprised. Give them a roller coaster of spectacle, add live music, and don't give them anytime to get bored. It's f*ing magic.”

Sammy also assisted in the production of The Show-Me Burlesque Festival and is a part of many of VanElla Productions’ shows and events. The artist is well traveled and has received many accolades in Burlesque circles. She is particularly passionate about vaudevillian stage spectacles, silent films, live music and Charlie Chaplin and hopes to bring back the art and nuance of these passions to a modern audience, and to give them a show they never realized they needed so badly.

Kayela Jackson pulls out a blue paper back dictionary and three spiral notebooks from her purse.

She flips through worn and wrinkled pages looking for one of her many pencil etched poems.

The pages in the notebooks are full with words, three sentence stanzas and quotes from Ghandi and Maya Angelou.

“I save everything I write,” she says.

“Sometimes I’ll write down little sentences or jot down different words I find in the dictionary.”

Jackson is a 28-year-old poet who orates on the trials and realities of love, loss and hope as she sees it unfold on South City streets. She began writing and performing spoken-word poetry in 2002 after taking a public speaking class at Harris Stowe University where she wrote her first poem titled Blessings. The piece addressed her journey from teen mom to college student and a passionate reception from her professor and classmates inspired her to dive deeper into the world of poetry.

“Poetry changed me,” she says. “Your thinking has to change in order for your writing to change so I found my writing was tearing down the walls in my life that restricted me. I used to be really angry but in writing I saw the real me…the self-love in me.”

Her evolution spawned a confident and sexy alter-ego that commands your attention when she takes the stage.

“My alter-ego is a mixture of Cruella de Vil and Lil’ Kim! I’ve always had a very powerful voice and for a long time I didn’t realize what it was for or why I spoke so loud but now I think poetry is the reason. Now I can scream, I can yell, I can sing through my poetry and tell people how I really feel.”

Kyela

JACKSON poet

Jackson hates mediocrity and like the line in one of her poems she is, “imperfectly striving for perfection.”

“I want my poetry to bend and warp and gravitate past my color, my sexuality so when I get up and perform that is when I bring it and you are going to feel it.

People are going through hard times and they know about rappers and musicians

but they don‘t hear about poets. I want people to be open to poets because poetry is significant…it consists of people‘s lives and it’s a story. Poetry is vital.”

Sammich

THE TRAMP

punk rock hobo

theVitalVOICE.com | 11

Deanna Chafin began creating modern abstract art in 1997. She started with watercolors, moving on to fluid acrylics and then heavy bodied paints.

With each concept and painting she creates, a new medium is imagined. Whether it’s a traditional media or found objects, Chafin explores and creates informal abstracts almost exclusively.

The St. Louis native gathers inspiration from the world around her, feelings and emotions she encounters on a day-to-day basis and from her passions and interests.

A long-time admirer of abstract expressionist painters, such as Pollock, Gorky and Rothko, Chafin has developed her own style by creating vivid, large-scale works that attract discerning buyers the world over.

Paper Dolls dark pop band

Deanna Chafin

artist

Chafin has sold her paintings to collectors in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Galleries and shows vie for her work. Chafin's paintings have been published in art books, magazines and a collective of art publications over the years. She regularly displays her work in the St. Louis area amongst galleries and businesses — and her work hangs in galleries in neighboring states.

Chafin lives with her husband and son. Her interests include music, social justice, reproductive justice, fashion and encouraging young artists to use their own passion to create works of art. After spending nearly 20 years as an educator working with children and families with special needs, Chafin now devotes her time to the studio creating new pieces. She is very civic-minded and volunteers for several non-profit organizations. Chafin holds a B.A. from Webster University.

“My art brought me to the LGBT community several years ago when I was asked to participate in the EFA PAWS event,” Chafin explained. “That fundraiser introduced me to the most wonderful friends anyone could ask for. They showed me how truly amazing and giving this family is. Who wouldn't want to be part of that?”

12 | August, 2011

Featuring Jenn (main songwriter, piano); Cathie (cellist—sometimes

ornamental and other times similar to a lead guitar line); Brad (badass rhythm section on bass); and Sarah (who supplies playful and dynamic beats on drums.) They all sing.

In the soundtrack to your life what song plays during the opening sequence?

Sarah: Stars by Hum. Cathie: Bittersweet Symphony by the Verve. Jenn: Portions for Foxes by Rilo Kiley. Brad: You F***ed Up by Ween.

When do you feel joy?

Sarah: I feel joy when I am rocking out, at the beach, or snuggling my kitties.

Cathie: When I am playing music, and when spending time with friends. Jenn: When I can play piano and jump at the same time.

Favorite WTF moment?

Sarah: Waking up to an earthquake in San Francisco.

It was kind of fun. Brad: When I found out Maggie shot Mr. Burns.

What is your standard breakfast? Cathie and Sarah: Coffee and cigarettes. Brad: Cap’n Crunch Berries cereal.

Have you ever experienced a moment of transcendence?

Cathie: I ain’t know what big words like that is. Jenn: Probably the time I walked on water. That was neat.

What do you love the most about St. Louis?

Sarah: Love the small town feel with the benefits of city life.

Cathie: Obvious answer – pork steak.

theVitalVOICE.com | 13

“I know it sounds cheesy but I think there is power in music and it can totally set the tone for your day,” he says while scrolling through more than 4000 different songs in his massive iTunes library.

“You may be having a bad night but when that song you love comes on you totally forget everything and get lost in the music. That’s the T!” What album changed your life? Kanye West’s Graduation.

I love how he blurs the lines of music genres and lyrically the songs were spot on in terms of my life at the time. When I listen to the album it takes me back to how I was feeling when I first heard it, especially the track Everything I Am. Who do you want to be?

My first instinct is to say a 14 | August, 2011

Luminaries Power Ranger! But I’d like to be Clive Davis. He’s someone I aspire to be. He runs a huge record label and he can still find new, fresh talent and knows what’s relevant. But not exactly Clive…my own version: JIMMY NO SHOW! Lil’ Kim or Nikki Minaj?

Nikki Minaj.

Favorite WTF moment?

When I came out to my friend Tara. She’s like my sister and she was one of the very last people I told. She called me out on it one night while we were driving home. She stopped the car and asked me who my boyfriend was at the time. I didn’t know how she knew his name and it was a total WTF moment! But she was totally awesome about it and I’m glad she did it. She’ll never let me live it down!

Do you have Bieber fever?

Ummm….No but I do like some of his songs.

What were you doing at 13?

I was in between grade school and junior high and I saw The Spice Girls in my first concert.

It was August 2nd 1998 at Riverport. It was around the same time I got into music and I signed up for one of those Columbia House deals. I got 13 CDs in the mail and they were all really gay: Ace of Base, Spice Girls, Aqua, the Space Jam Soundtrack.

What do you miss the most about the 90’s? Oh Geeze!

The Spice Girls 100% . But they did make a comeback. It was like the 90’s came back and gave you a hug.

What do you love the most about St. Louis? I love everything about St. Louis! But I definitely love the Cardinals.

I intend to marry Skip Schumaker. v

oi

DJ No Show just wants to make you happy.

2011

disc jockey

cE

Jimmy

NO SHOW

1 Out of 10 Ain’t Bad!

Springfield’s Smokey’s Den Written by Colin Murphy – Senior Writer/Editor Photography by Colin Murphy, Chuck Atteberry & Bobbi Nix I first heard about Mary Lou “Smokey” Schneider when I interviewed Chuck Atteberry of Sex, Inc. in May 2010.

“Smokey got away with a lot in Springfield, Illinois,” Atteberry told me.

“People of the same sex could dance at her bar when they couldn’t at bars in Chicago. The reason was the legislators used to bring their girlfriends in there—it was a safe place for them to go because nobody ratted on them.”

I wanted to hear more about Smokey and the now shuttered but significant gay bar. So when Club Escapade’s Bobbi Nix offered to drive me up there to meet the reluctant LGBT icon and pioneer, I jumped at the chance.

Schneider picked up the nickname “Smokey” while playing softball and at 82, is still quite the pistol. She now lives

in a retirement community near Annie, her friend and companion of over 40-years.

“Yeah I sit here with all these old straight women, bless their hearts,” she quipped.

“I do have a good time with them. I used to be criticized because I was gay so who am I to criticize them because they’re heterosexual.. I get along fine with all of them.”

Realizing early on that there wasn’t a place for LGBTers to go and be safe, the Jacksonville, Illinois native worked out an arrangement with the owner of The Tropical Isle at 127 S. 5th street to purchase his bar. Smokey’s Den opened on October 30, 1966 but would later move to 411 E. Washington street. For a short while there was even a second Smokey’s bar in the county. But it was Smokey’s Den that would become an Illinois institution over the next four decades.

The Smokettes “Police walked the beat back then and they’d come in the bar and sometimes they’d check ID’s but usually they just looked around and left,” Smokey recalled. “We got real acquainted—boy, they were just like family to me. They never bothered me one bit.”

Still, it was 1966 and Smokey warned her “kids” to be careful.

“At the start when the police would come into the bar the kids would yell, “switch” because the boys were dancing with boys and then the boys would grab a girl,” she explained. “Then one night they [the police] came in and somebody yelled “switch” and all of the sudden he [the officer] took his nightstick and slid it down to the floor and said, “Carry on kids.” And we did ever since.” theVitalVOICE.com | 15

Smokey’s Den was also one of the first bars in the state to marquee professional drag shows starting in 1967. “The Smokettes” were well known throughout the Midwest and South and were the brainchild of Smokey’s cousin Bobby Pierce who she credits with creating the troupe.

“I said I’ll tell you what—I’ll let you guys go ahead and try it,” said Smokey, who would go on to become the first owner and promoter of the Miss Gay Illinois America pageant. “We had a little stage across the back and they changed in the women’s bathroom. When they announced them and they came in from the front of the bar to “Shangri-La” I could not believe it. They looked gorgeous.”

The Smokettes proved a major draw, including from St. Louis where “masquerading” was illegal. Bob Martin’s bar would even take patrons up by the busload and make a night of it.

Smokey shrugs off any talk of being a trailblazer in the LGBT community, stating: “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice. But I’ve never, ever felt important.”

Indeed, the octogenarian has seen a lot of things change and for the better in way of equal rights for the LGBT community, including Civil Unions in Illinois.

“It’s like anything else that comes up—people are against it but they might as well forget it—because eventually, down the line, it’s gonna be accepted,” she offered. “We’re here and we’ve got just as much right to be able to claim our lover on taxes and hospitalization as everybody else that pays taxes. God knows I’ve paid enough.”

The AddAmS FAmily September 27 - October 9, 2011

ChriSTmAS wiTh The rAT PACk december 6-18, 2011

lA CAge Aux FOlleS January 3-15, 2012

weST Side STOry February 14-26, 2012

Bring iT On: The muSiCAl march 27 - April 8, 2012

memPhiS may 1-13, 2012

After cutting her teeth working at her parent’s tavern and then running her own place for 36-years, it was time for Smokey to slow down. When Smokey’s Den closed its doors on February 22, 2003 it was the oldest gay bar in the state and one of the oldest in the nation under the same owner.

“I miss my bar,” said the matriarch to generations of LGBTers better for the oasis of diversity and acceptance she provided.

Indeed, three years before Stonewall, and Mary Lou “Smokey” Schneider was breaking down barriers and making history along the prairie. Important work indeed. v

Become a Subscriber See 6 shows for only $99!

314- 535-1700 • Fox Box Office FabulousFox.com Smokey Schneider 16 | August, 2011

St. Louis has many places that inspire us to think of what might be. We’ve been inspired to improve the crops that feed and fuel our world because we dream of a better tomorrow for all of us.

Monsanto and Vine Design® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC. ©2011 Monsanto Company.

theVitalVOICE.com | 17

St. Louis Black Pride 2011 Schedule

Meet Audrey Pearson President of Black Pride

> Friday, Aug. 19th

7pm–12am | Awards Ceremony/Opening Reception & Kick-Off Party • D.J. Encoh, Light Fare, Cash Bar & Entertainment. ($5 Donation)

> Saturday, Aug. 20th

11am–Noon | Workshops • TransHaven: Services for the Transgender Community by Robyn

Carolyn Montague • What’s Love Got to Do With It?: Building a Healthy, Lasting Relationship • Safe Sex Education & Workshop by Joan Ferguson 12:30–1:30pm | Panel Discussions • Breaking the Silence: Depression and Black Gay Men presented by Antoine Craigwell • Homosexuality vs. Spirtuality presented by Pastor Dietra Wise 2:00–3:30pm | Gwendolyn Brooks Literary Event • Fiona Zedde- Jamaica's/ Florida's Novelist and Erotic Poet (Hostess) • Nykieria Chaney- Atlanta's Author, Poet, Playwright, and founder of Cre8ive Nsights Inc. and HIV Awareness Play • St. Louis' Hottest Poets & Authors: Aja LaStarr, Robert Dillard, Taylored Poet, Charisma Blue, Robia IggNyte and many more

3:30pm–6:30pm | Film Festival ($5 Donation) • 3:30pm | ”Th3M” – A short sitcom by director Tye Green & Staff and co-written by Taylored Poet • 4:15pm | “Punch Me” – A short Film by Director: Robert X. Golphin A young man’s story about coming to grips with his sexual identity • 5:15–6:30pm | “*Positively Infected” A play written & directed by

Nykieria Chaney. Breaking down the myths and stigma HIV/AIDS • 8pm–12am | All White Party “Let Your Souls Glo”. D.J. Amp and Entertainment. ($10 Cover)

> Sunday, Aug. 21st

• 11am–1pm | Champagne Brunch Big Moe's. (1072 Tower Grove Ave).

Catered brunch & music. ($10 Donation) • 3–8pm | SLBP Festival Benton Park. Jefferson & Arsenal All events on Friday & Saturday will be held at the SLBP Host Hotel The Indigo Hotel /Comfort Inn Hotel.

4630 Lindell Blvd. & N. Euclid, St. Louis, M0. 63108.

For more info check out www.st-louisblackpride.org 18 | August, 2011

Written by Colin Murphy – Senior Writer/Editor Audrey Pearson has played a key role in the growth and development of St. Louis Black Pride ever since coming on board the area LGBT Pride organization in 2007.

Better known as “A.P.”, the proud mother of two has proven instrumental in the evolution of the group’s various workshops, film festival and literary event (now known as the Gwendolyn Brooks Literary Event.)

Accordingly – you can add president of St. Louis Black Pride to her many titles, which include poet, writer, social worker, community activist and self described professional black woman.

St. Louis Black Pride got its start in 1999 when the St. Louis Black Gay and Lesbian Pride Committee was formed following the B-Boy blues Festival, sponsored by BABAA (Blacks Assisting Blacks Against AIDS). St. Louis Black Pride is a non-profit organization whose mission is to be an informational, educational and outreach

resource for area LGBT African Americans.

Since coming out 10 years ago, Pearson’s love for her community has led her to volunteer, support, and facilitate many positive and growth inspiring events.

Among them is the S.O.C. (Saving Our Community) Project and the I CARE Campaign, which provide support, education, community resources and suicide prevention.

As an advocate of all communities, she encourages each to better themselves while helping others. Pearson was also the co-host for St. Louis' hottest and longest running all-inclusive open mic, SistaSpeak and received the 2010 St. Louis Black Pride Advocacy Award.

“What drives me is a desire to be a positive role model for individuals and my community,” she said.

“And to educate, elevate, and nurture inclusiveness, respect and a positive image towards and within the LGBTQ community.”

Pearson has spent this year working diligently to unite the entire LGBT family, regardless of race, creed, or color and assures everyone that this is a union long awaited. 2011 marked the first year Black Pride joined with Metro East Pride of Southwestern Illinois and Pride St. Louis in walking as one at the St. Louis PrideFest parade. Black Pride also participated in Metro East Pride in Belleville, June 18th and was featured in the June edition of the Vital VOICE along with Metro East and Pride St. Louis' Presidents.

“It is imperative for the future of all Prides to work together in an effort to preserve their unique attributes, while acknowledging the parallel significance between all three,” Pearson explained.

Outside the LGBT realm, Pearson has devoting the past 16 years advocating as a social worker for delinquent teens, children in family services, and adults coping

with persistent and severe mental illness at Independence Center. If you've ever been privy to a conversation concerning her background, you'll quickly realize how profound and dedicated she is in her chosen profession.

What’s more, Pearson can be found volunteering her time at organizations such as St. Louis Effort for AIDS and Alpha Psi Kappa, Inc. (as founder and president of the Phi Chapter of the LGBT fraternity.) She is also co-chairing the upcoming “Summer Fusion” Fundraiser on August 28th at Independence Center, as well as September’s “Rock the Roof Top” benefitting a mental health organization in Africa.

Ever at the ready with a warm smile, helping hand and big hug, Pearson enjoys enriching and finding innovative ways to uplift and unite the LGBT community. Indeed, her motivation is seeing the need for what she's been doing for many years. v

TOWER GROVE MANOR Tower Grove Manor is a Proud sponsor of SAGE & the LGBT Senior Community!

Perfect for people 55+ with an Active Lifestyle Close proximity to: Missouri Botanical Garden Tower Grove Park Retail & Restaurants in the South Grand Business District Highways 40, 44 & 55 and so much more!

Visit us online at: www.towergrovemanor.org 2710 South Grand Blvd.

Tours Daily by calling (314) 773-2800

theVitalVOICE.com | 19

20 | August, 2011

Art of PAWS Written by Derick Allison

Join Saint Louis Effort For AIDS as they host the Art of PAWS on August 13th at Mad Art Gallery from 7pm-11pm. Art of Paws will be the fabulous Kick-Off Party to Thirst for Life 2011, which occurs 12 days later on August 25th.

Art of PAWS is being presented by Bud Light and features a line up of incredible entertainment. Dieta Pepsi will emcee the festivities, and music will be provided

by DJ Dave Y, along with various other performers and musicians.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online for $25 or at the door for $30, and the event is 21+. Each ticket includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres, specialty drinks, entertainment, and viewing of the art works in the Mad Art Gallery. The evening will also include a silent auction where party goers can bid on items from local artists, autographed sports memorabilia, tickets to awesome events, as well as a few special surprises.

Proceeds from the Art of PAWS, and from Thirst for Life, go to supporting individuals in our community who are pet owners living with HIV/AIDS. Owning a pet while persevering through AIDS or HIV is arduous on account of the severe financial strain that is created by medical bills. The funds generated from events like these ensure that those AIDS/HIV+ individuals can maintain the vital and joy-giving bonds that they have formed with their pets.

Tickets can be purchased at: stlefa.org/node/199 For more info visit: stlefa.org/events/thirst_for_life

Lundkvist & Associates SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1999

Martin Lundkvist Attorney At Law

314.241.6770 MartinLundkvistLaw.com Lundkvist@att.net

• Bankruptcy • Wills • Trusts • DWI/DUI • Traffic • Living Wills • Personal Injury

Health coverage you need, rates you can afford.

We offer health coverage for: • Individuals without Group Coverage • COBRA Alternative • Dependents and Students • Independent Contractors • Self-Employed • Small Businesses • Seniors and Early Retirees

Don’t put you and your partner at risk by trying to get by without health coverage.

Call me today to hear about our exciting new line of affordable individual health plans!

ALVERNA B. JOHNSON Authorized Agent

(314) 923-5542 alverna.johnson@anthem.com alvernajohnson-insurance.com

In Missouri, (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area) Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

theVitalVOICE.com | 21

ALL-NEW EXHIBITION

slsc.org 22 | August, 2011

Helping You Protect the Ones You Love

Thomason Law Office “Family” Law Custody Child Support Divorce Name Changes

Estate Planning Wills Living Wills Powers of Attorney

(314) 351-3100

Saturday, Sept 24, 2011 9a.m. to 5p.m.

Missouri Botanical Garden Festival included with regular Garden Admission (FREE for members) Visit GreenhomesSTL.org for festival updates!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

or even

EarthWays Center of Missouri Botanical Garden Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine PRESENTED BY: Ameren Missouri

BUY SELL STAY

Raj Tailor

Realtor | Designer www.circaSTL.com Raj.Tailor@CircaSTL.com 314.952.5472 theVitalVOICE.com | 23

in the City

Happy Hour Series for LGBT Professionals

Join host Tony Westbrooks at this hot happy hour at Just John.

Also happening that evening is “Jane,” Just John’s new Wednesday patio event featuring live music by the KGB at 7pm.

8.17.2011 • 6PM-9PM Just John 4112 Manchester Ave. $5 donation to PROMO includes complimentary Bud Light.

Must be 21+ to attend

Please RSVP to OutintheCity@alivemag.com PRESENTED BY

24 | August, 2011

This section sponsored by

Keep’n it REAL! Written and photographed by Raj Tailor For many of us, when it comes time to decorate our living spaces, the notion of buying original artwork just seems unattainable, frivolous or just plain difficult. It’s true: it is much easier to just go to a home décor store, pick out a framed piece of art that goes with the sofa and hang it on the wall. Done! The problem with this is that most everyone does the exact same thing. Overusing commercialized, mass produced artwork can leave a space looking passionless, soulless and uninspired.

THE UNEXPECTED This large painting just makes you smile.

Juxtaposed with the formality of the furnishings, the artwork really pops... making it and the room each more interesting. And the collection of Adler along the mantle is a modern, whimsical reference to Grandma’s chotskies. And, the camera cut out below (an original piece) is another playful touch.

Original artwork is one of the easiest ways to instantly elevate the appearance of your space. It adds emotion and whimsy while offering you an interesting element to play off with other accessories and furnishings. You might also be surprised at how affordable an original piece of art can be! So, take a little time and start exploring some of the great art galleries we have peppered throughout the city.

Also, don’t forget about the many art related charitable events that happen throughout the year. These events are a perfect way to see art in a relaxed, fun atmosphere…and a chance to snag a real deal! Go forth and hang art – real art!

theVitalVOICE.com | 25

BEYOND THE WALL

Not all art needs to be on a wall!

Here is a great example of a small piece of artwork that makes a really big impact. I love how it is simply placed on top of a piece of furniture. Don’t think you have to buy something big. A small piece can be a great first step…and think of an unexpected place for it.

26 | August, 2011

IT’S ALL ABOUT CONTRAST

This painting hangs in a corner of a luxuriously appointed dining room. Although the painting itself is very graphic and almost child-like happy, it is displayed in a very old school formal way. Note the picture light with the gathered cord cover, for example. The placement and lines of the chair are also quite formal, yet its color bridges the formality of the room with playfulness of the art. This piece really gives an opportunity to introduce bold colors in accessories in other areas of this room and its adjoining spaces.

MAKE A STATEMENT

Instead of a series of smaller pictures, here we have a bold and whimsical piece in a very formal setting. The red tricycle looks great against the red wall (yes, it’s true art doesn’t have to be on a white wall). But, look a little more carefully. See how the shadow in the painting references the stained glass window to the left of the painting. It’s a subtle and clever statement. I also really like how the painting isn’t framed, which contrasts nicely with the detailed woodwork in the space.

theVitalVOICE.com | 27

28 | August, 2011

2011

Arts and Entertainment Guide

By Claire Beeman

VENUES 2720 Cherokee 2720 Cherokee www.2720cherokee.com • Calculon and more: August 6 • 16 Bit, Spankalicious, The Floozies, & Quasar Camp: Aug 9 • Andrew Wyatt of Miike Snow: August 12 • Aaron Kamm and The One Drops: August 17 • Pato Banton, Josh Heinrichs, and more: Aug 24 • RFT presents…ARTOPIA: August 25 • Minnesota, Freddy Todd, Omega, & more: Aug 26 • Garage A Trois: September 30 Atomic Cowboy 4140 Manchester Ave. www.atomiccowboystl.com

314-775-0775

• Swing Dancing: every Thursday night Blanche M Touhill Performing Arts Center University of Missouri-St. Louis. One University Blvd.

314-516-4949 www.touhill.org • DMS: George Duke, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn: Aug 7 • Ariana String Quartet: Tribute: September 9 • Zheng Xulan: Songs of China: September 24 • St. Louis Jazz Orchestra: October 4 • MADCO Fall Concert: Oct 7–8 • Ariana String Quartet: Razumovsky Gala: Oct 28 • Double Bill: Diane Reeves & Ahmad Jamal: Nov 6 • Martin hayes & Dennis Cahill with Irish Arts: Nov 19 • Silver Roots: Japan meets World: February 8, 2012 • Ariana String Quartet: World Premiere: March 2, 2012 • St. Louis Jazz Orchestra: March 6, 2012 • MADCO Spring Concert: Mar 30, 2012 • Syn-Aulois: Rembetika to Modern: March10, 2012 • Herbie Hancock: March 18, 2012 • Cheikh Lo: April 12, 2012 • Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival: April 20–21, 2012 • Ariana String Quartet: Famous Last Words: May 4, 2012 Beale on Broadway 701 South Broadway www.bealeonbroadway.com

314-621-7880

314-977-5000

• The St. Louis Comedy Explosion: August 27 • Superstars of Soul: September 17 • Disney on Ice presents Toy Story 3: Sept 22–25 • Champions Classic: October 21 • Disney’s Phineas & Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever!: February 9–10, 2012 Cicero’s 6691 Delmar Blvd. www.ciceros-stl.com • • • • • • • •

314-862-0009

Your Dukes Trophy Wives: August 11 Icon for Hire: August 12 Reel Media presents: August 12 Punch Drunk Comedy: August 14 Nightmares for a Week: August 18 Chiodos: August 28 Alex Goot: September 5 Balmorhea: September 7

Club Viva 408 North Euclid Ave. www.clubvivastl.com • MOFIYAH: August 3 & 17 • Innervisions: August 10

The Duck Room @ Blueberry Hill 6504 Delmar Blvd. www.blueberryhill.com The Edison Theatre Washington University 314-935-6543

314-361-0322

The Gramophone 4243 Manchester Ave. www.thegramophonelive.com

314-621-6900

314-727-4444

• Dances of India: Sept. 9–11 • Mark Nizer. 3-D: Sept 17 • Lucy Guerin, Inc.. Structure & Sadness: Sept 30–Oct 1 • Hairspray (WU Performing Arts Dept.): Oct. 14–16, 21–23, 28–30 • Brooklyn Rundfunk Orkestrata. The Hills are Alive: Oct 28 • Guru of Chai (Indian Ink Theatre Company): Nov 4–5 • Diwali: November 11–12 • Radio Free Emerson (WU Performing Arts Dept.): Nov 17–20 • Washington University Dance Theatre (WU Performing Arts Dept.): Dec 2–4 • Gateway Men’s Chorus. Holiday Concert: Dec 9–10 • The Nutcracker (Missouri Ballet Theatre): Dec 16–18 • Brian Brooks Moving Co. MOTOR: Jan 20–21, 2012 • Cashore Marionettes. Simple Gifts: Feb 11, 2012 • Anatol (WU Performing Arts Dept.): Feb 17–19, 24–26 • Dala: Feb 18, 2012 • The Romeros (STL Classical Guitar Society): Feb 18, 2012 • The Water Coolers: Feb 25, 2012 • Ballet Hispanico: Mar 2–3, 2012 • Soweto Gospel Choir: March 23, 2012 • Young Choreographers Showcase (WU Performing Arts Dept.): Apr 6–8, 2012 • As You Like It (WU Performing Arts Dept.): Apr 20–22, 27–29, 2012 • Mur-Mur (The Wall) (Dynamo Theatre): May 5, 2012

The Halfway Haus 7900 Michigan Ave.

Florissant Civic Center Theatre #1 James J. Eagen Drive 314-921-5678 www.florissantmo.com/Theatre/index.shtml • The Florissant Fine Arts Council presents: Night and

Days with Kevin Spirtas: September 17 • The Florissant Fine Arts Council presents: Stormy Weather – The Lena Horn Project: October 2 • The St. Louis Family Theatre Series presents: Stinky

Cheese Man & Other Fairly Stupid Tales: Oct 14–16 • The Florissant Fine Arts Council presents The Official Blues Brothers Revue: October 15 • The St. Louis Family Theatre Series presents: Ramona Quimby: November 20–26 • The St. Louis Family Theatre Series presents: SkippyJon Jones: January 20–22, 2012 • Suessical the Musical: February 17–19, 2012 • The Hundred Dresses: March 4–10, 2012

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

314-534-1111

Steely Dan: August 24 Return to Forever: August 25 Selena Gomez: August 29 Santana: September 6 Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! – It’s Time to Dance: Sept 17 Alison Krauss and Union Station: September 22 The Adams Family – A New Musical: Sept 27–Oct 9 Celtic Thunder: October 20 Straight No Chaser: October 22 Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons: October 29 Billy Elliot The Musical: November 1–13 Tony Bennett: November 16 Jim Gaffigan: November 19 Mamma Mia!: November 22–27 A Christmas Carol: December 1–4 Christmas with The Rat Pack: December 6–18 Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: December 20–24 La Cage Aux Folles: January 3–15, 2012 Rain – A Tribute to the Beatles: January 20–21, 2012 Rock Of Ages: February 3–5, 2012 West Side Story: February 14–26, 2012 Bring It On The Musical: March 27–April 8, 2012 Memphis: May 1–13, 2012 Riverdance: May 18–20, 2012 Disney’s The Lion King: Aug 15–Sept 2, 2012

Foam Coffee and Beer 3359 S. Jefferson (Jefferson and Cherokee) www.foamstl.com 314-772-2100

314-531-5700

• John Lee Hooker, Jr.: August 11 • Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band: August 12 • Spiritual Rez: August 17 • Sugar Blue: August 19 • Grupo Fantasma: August 24 • PBR x Knuckle Rumbler x YM! Present Questlove: Aug 27 • The Lightnin’ Malcolm Band: August 31

6445 Forsyth Blvd www.edisontheatre.wustl.edu

Fabulous Fox Theatre 527 N. Grand Blvd. www.fabulousfox.com

• Kim Massie: every Tuesday and Thursday Chaifetz Arena 1 South Compton Avenue www.thechaifetzarena.com

The Crack Fox 1114 Olive Street www.crackfoxbar.com

Halo Bar 6161 Delmar Blvd. www.thepageant.com

314-726-1414

Handle Bar 4127 Manchester Ave. 314-652-2212 www.handlebarstl.com Jazz at the Bistro 3536 Washington Avenue www.jazzstl.org • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

314-289-4030

Take 6: September 21–24 Stanley Jordan’s Trio: October 5–8 Jeff Lorber Fusion: October 19–22 John Scofield Jazz Quartet: November 2–5 Kurt Elling: November 16–19 Ramsey Lewis Electric Band: Nov 30–Dec 3 Greg Osby: December 14–17 The Bad Plus: January 4–7, 2012 Ravi Coltrane Quartet: January 18–22, 2012 Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio: February 1–4, 2012 Anat Cohen Quartet: February 15–18, 2012 Freddy Cole: February 29–March 3, 2012 Vijay Iyer: March 14–17, 2012 Nicholas Payton trio: March 28–31, 2012

Jefferson Warehouse 2501 South Jefferson www.jeffersonwarehouse.com

314-368-8669

Jumpin’ Jupiter 3323 Locust www.thejumpinjupiter.com

314-645-5867

• Three Bad Jacks: August 14 • Grand Opening Party: August 18 Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center 3301 Lemp Avenue www.lemp-arts.org

314-771-1096

• Unicorns in the Snow: August 8 • PETER J WOODS/ Icevolt/Elliot Wilson: August 9 • "Pity," a monologue by Peter J Woods + Theatre and Music works by Bryce Beverlin II: August 10 • Followed By Ghosts/ Soccer Moms: August 11 • ANIMAL CITY: August 12 • 2 Ton Bug/ Bees: August 14 • Shy Guy Says: August 17 • Weed: August 20 • LE SINGE BLANC (from Metz, France)/ Egg Chef: Sept 14 • ASON KAHN (Zürich, CH): September 20 • The Funeral And The Twilight: September 28 • No(isefe)STL VIII: October 14 • no-is-ef-e-stl VIII: October 15 • NOi(sefe)STLVIII: October 16 • Jealousy Mountain Duo (featuring Jurg Schneider of Münchengladbach, Germany): October 21 • Stephanie Rearick: October 23 • CREEPER/ Bandera: October 28 Lindenwood Theatre J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts 2300 West Clay Street in St. Charles 636-949-4433 www.lindenwood.edu/center/boxOffice.asp • Glenn Campbell – The Goodbye Tour: September 9 • Rich Little starring in Jimmy Stewart: A Humorous Look at His Life: September 24 • Compania Flamenca Jose Porcel: Gypsy Fire: Oct 7 • The National Acrobats of the People's Republic of China: Oct 15 • Ed Asner starring as FDR: November 12 • A Christmas Carol: December 1–3 • Just An Old Fashioned Christmas starring The Lennon Sisters: December 17 • The Moscow Festival Ballet presents Cinderella: Jan 27, 2012

theVitalVOICE.com | 29

• The Glenn Miller Orchestra: February 10, 2012 • The Tchaikovsky St. Petersburg State Orchestra: Feb 29, 2012 • Once Upon A Mattress: The Musical: March 8–10, 2012 • The Lettermen: In Concert: April 7, 2012 • Debbie Reynolds: An Evening of Music and

Comedy: May 12, 2012 Lola 500 N. 14th Street www.welovelola.com The Muny #1 Theatre Drive in Forest Park www.muny.org

314-621-7277

314-361-1900 x550

• Bye Bye Birdie: August 8–14 Off Broadway 3511 Lemp Ave. www.offbroadwaystl.com

314-773-3363

• Amy LaVere: August 12 • Super Stolie & the Rockstars Family Matinee: Aug 14 • Pokey LaFarge & The South City Three with Colonel Ford: Aug 19 • Pepperland: August 20 • 88.1 KDHX presents Longhorn Slim with John Henry and the Engine: August 23 • Handsome Furs: August 24 • 88.1 KDHX presents Little Miss Anne Family Matinee: Sept 11 • Black Moth Super Rainbow: September 12 • O’Death: September 13 • Stacey Earle and Mark Stewart: September 14 • 88.1 KDHX presents Those Darlins with Wagons & Bunnygrunt: September 16 • Dark Dark Dark, A Hawk and A Hacksaw, Pillars and Tongues: September 18 • Fruit Bats and Vetiver: September 19 • Speakers in Code welcomes Jill Andrews: Sept 20 • Street Fighting Band, Rolling Stones Tribute: Sept 23 • 88.1 KDHX presents the dodos & the luyas: Sept 24 • Higher Ground – A Tribute to Stevie Wonder and benefit for KDHX: September 30 • 88.1 KDHX presents The Boogers Family Matinee: Oct 2 • Zee Avi: October 3 • Levi Weaver and Dots Not Feathers: October 5 • 88.1 KDHX presents Tom Russell: October 7 • The Wilders: October 8 • Bob Log III with Mr. Free & The Satellite Freakout: Oct 12 • An Evening with Caleb Travers and Friends with Jon Hardy and The Public: October 14 • 88.1 KDHX presents Laura Doherty Family Matinee: Oct 23 • The Fred Eaglesmith Travelling Show with The Fabulous Gin Sisters: October 30 • Jason Boland and The Stragglers with American Aquarium: November 2 Old Rock House 1200 7th Blvd. www.oldrockhouse.com

314-588-0505

• 40 Oz. To Freedom (A Sublime Tribute): August 9 • Madi Diaz and Keegan Dewitt: August 10 • Trigger 5 with the Trip Daddies & Doc Ellis: Aug 11 • Rockin’ Chair: August 13 • Nashville Pussy & The Dwarves with The Scam: Aug 14 • Nikka Costa: August 16 • Sweet Soul Spot presents BILAL: August 17 • So Much Closer with Revence & Vijoy Rao & the Removers: Aug 19 • Jason Reeves with Rosi Golan: August 22 • Nonpoint with 3 Pill Morning, Seven Day Sonnet, & The Opening: August 25 • Larkin Poe: September 7 • Javier Mendoza CD Release: September 9 • Kevin Devine with The Features & Apollo Mudd: Sept 10 • Ten Out of Tenn: September 25 • Savoy Brown featuring Kim Simmonds: October 1 • 88.1 KDHX presents The Damnwells with Carley Tanchon: October 5 • Hawthorne Heights with Today’s The Day: Oct 25 • Adrian Below Power Trio with Stick Men featuring Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto: October 26 • 88.1 KDHX presents Tom Rush: October 27 • Mike Doughty & His Band Fantastic with Moon Hooch: Oct 29 • 88.1 KDHX presents The Blind Boys of Alabama: Nov 8 • 88.1 KDHX presents Split Lip Rayfield and The

Legendary Shack Shakers: November 12 The Pageant 6161 Delmar Blvd. www.thepageant.com

30 | August, 2011

314-726-6161

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Ludo: August 6 100 Monkeys: August 10 Ticketmaster New Music Spotlight: August 12 Queensryche: August 16 Atmosphere: August 17 Dispatch: August 20 Keller Williams: September 10 Bon Iver: September 11 The Script: September 14 Erasure: September 21 They Might Be Giants: September 24 The Band Perry: September 30 Blue October: October 1 WILCO at Peabody Opera House: October 4 Beirut: October 9 Chromeo: October 24 City and Colour: November 16

Pops 401 Monsanto Avenue • • • • •

www.popsrocks.com

Evans Blue & Greek Fire: August 11 Kittie: August 16 Alien Ant Farm: August 17 Pop’s Local Music Compilation Vol 3: August 27 DevilDriver: October 5

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis 130 Edgar Road, P.O. Box 191730 314-968-4925

www.repstl.org

• Kids ArtStart Free Saturday Series: every first Saturday morning of each month (Oct – April) • Red: September 7- October 2 • God of Carnage: October 12 – November 6 • Circle Mirror Transformation: Oct 26 – Nov 13 • The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: Nov 30 – Dec23 • The Elves and the Shoemaker: December 17 – 23 • Sunday in the Park with George: Jan 4 – 29, 2012 • A Steady Rain: January 18 – February 5, 2012 • Race: February 8 – March 4, 2012 • The Invisible Hand: March 7 – 25, 2012 • The Comedy of Errors: March 14 – April 8, 2012 • Puss in Boots: March 17, 2012 • The Sword in the Stone: Touring Only St. Louis Cathedral 4431 Lindell Blvd. www.cathedralstl.org

314-373-8240

• • • • •

Season opening Party: October 1 Westminster Cathedral Choir, London: October 19 Munich Symphony Orchestra with Gloriæ Dei Cantores: Nov 4 Vienna Boys Choir: November 17-18 Christmas at the Cathedral with St. Louis

Archdiocesan Choirs and Orchestra: Dec 10-11 • Dr. Gerre Hancock, organist: January 22, 2012 • Brass Spectacular with the St. Louis Symphony Brass: February 7, 2012 • Chanticleer: March 1, 2012 • Stile Antico: April 13, 2012 • Mozart’s Coronation Mass with the St. Louis Archdiocesan Choir and Orchestra: May 12, 2012 Scottrade Center 1401 Clark Avenue www.scottradecenter.com

314-622-5435

• NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships: March 15–17, 2012 • Taylor Swift: August 13–14 • Katy Perry: August 20 • Foo Fighters: September 17 • How Sweet the Sound: September 26 • Ringling Bros.: October 13–16 • Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil: February 7–8, 2012 The Sheldon 3648 Washington Blvd. www.sheldonconcerthall.org • • • •

314-533-9900

David Graham: August 9 Ryan Spearman Band (with guest the Lulus): Aug 26 Tommy Emmanuel: September 27 Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton

Marsalis: September 30 • 60 x 60 Dance: October 2 • RHAF featuring Kim Massie & Javier Mendoza: Oct 4 • An Evening with Sam Bush: October 7 • Carolbeth True & Christi John Bye. Look of Love: Oct 11–12 • Los Angeles Guitar Quartet -- The Ingenious

Gentleman Don Quixote: Words and Music from the

Time of Cervantes: October 19 • The Clayton Brothers Quintet: October 29 • Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band: November 6 • Darrell Scott: November 11 • Paula Poundstone: November 12 • Clarion Brass – Veteran’s Day Salute: Nov 15-16 • Beth Tuttle & Friends -- Christmas Kiss Concert: Nov 22 • Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul – An Nollaig – An Irish Christmas: December 10 • The Sheldon Chorale – Robert Shaw Christmas: Dec 12 • Brian Owens – Soul of the Season: December 13-14 • Phoebe Claggett and Preston Clarke: December 27 • Duos and Duets: January 25, 2012 • Suzy Bogguss – American Folk Songbook: Jan 27, 2012 • Chucho Valdés & the Afro-Cuban Messengers: Feb 11, 2012 • Coco Soul and Friends – Mardi Gras Celebration: February 18, 2012 • St. Louis Ragtimers 50th Anniversary: March 6-7, 2012 • Cherish the Ladies: March 9, 2012 • St. Louis Irish Arts: March 10, 2012 • David Halen and New Friends from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: March 14, 2012 • Straight Ahead: March 24, 2012 • Béla Fleck and the Fleckstones – The original line-up!

March 29, 2012 • St. Louis Rivermen: April 3-4 • Red Horse – Featuring John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, Eliza Gilkyson: April 20, 2012 • Cornet Chop Suey: April 21, 2012 • Peter Henderson Plays Beethoven – Audience Choice!

April 25, 2012 • Sara Gazarek: May 5, 2012 • Bob Ceccarini, Pat Joyce and Charles Glenn – Celebrating Mom: May 8-9, 2012 Thaxton Speakeasy 1009 Olive Street www.thaxtonspeakeasy.com

314-241-3279

Union Avenue Opera 733 Union Blvd. www.unionavenueopera.org

314-361-2881

• Heggie – Dead Man Walking: August 19–27 • Menotti – Amahl and the Night Visitors: Dec 9–11 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, St. Louis 14141 Riverport Drive 877-686-5366 www.amphitheaterstlouis.com • Def Leppard and Heart: August 10 • Honda Civic Tour: Blink 182 & My Chemical Romance: Aug 19 • Incubus: August 20 • Lil’ Wayne: August 21 • Toby Keith: September 23 • Rockstar Energy Uproar Festival - Avenged Sevenfold: Sept 25 • Sugarland: October 7

PERFORMING ARTS

COMPANIES Act, Inc. 7162 Delmar Blvd www.actinc.biz

314-725-9108

Alton Little Theater 2450 Henry Street (Alton, IL) www.altonlittletheatre.org

618-462-6562

• • • • •

The Spitfire Grill: September 16–25 Children of a Lesser God: November 11–20 The Last Mass at St. Casimir’s: Jan 27–Feb 5, 2012 Laughter on the 23rd Floor: March 16–25, 2012 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: May 11–20, 2012

Annonyarts 3003 Locust Street www.annonyarts.org Atrek Dance Collective Centenne Center for Arts and Education 3547 Olive Street, Suite 203 www.atrekdance.org

314-503-8441

314-772-7778

Avalon Theatre Company ArtSpace at Crestwood Court, 119 Crestwood Plaza (Watson and Old Sappington) 314-351-6482 www.avalontheatre.org

theVitalVOICE.com | 31

m

9

Historic Loft/Apartments • 1,2 & 3 BR Units Starting at $595 • Completely Redone • Bright and Open Floor Plans • High Ceilings

FILE NAME:

Vital Voice PREMIERE EYE AD_2.319 X 3.597

PROJECT: CLIENT: CONTACT: DATE ASSIGNED: DATE STARTED: APPROVED:

Vital Voice Ad Premiere Eye Associates Denise Bruff June 3, 2011 June 7, 2011

STRATA: HEIGHT: WIDTH:

Newsprint 2.319” 3.597”

PRINTER: FINAL SENT:

Kristen Goodman

4/c process

FONTS: Times New Roman/ Trebuchet IMAGES: Photo: ThreeDocsCMYK_Ad.Tiff

32 | August, 2011

Band Together 4579 Laclede Ave # 259 www.bandtogetherstl.org • Fall Concert: October 8 • Holiday Concert: December 17 • 15th Anniversary Concert: March 24, 2012 • Pops Concerts: May 19, 2012

K’s Theatrical Korps 4716 Macklind www.kurtainkall.org

Cabaret St. Louis Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand Blvd www.cabaretstl.org 314-657-5033

Kirkwood Theatre Guild 111 South Geyer Rd. www.ktg-onstage.org

• Barb Jungr: Dec 1–4 Center of Creative Arts (COCA) 524 Trinity Avenue, U. City in the Delmar Loop www.cocastl.org 314-725-6555 • Sleeping Beauty (David Gonzalez): Sept. 30–Oct 11 • Alice in Wonderland (Theatre Tout a Trac): Oct 28–30 • Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters (Dallas Children’s Theater): Nov 18–20 • In the Loop2: Jan 6–8, 2012 • Galumpha…experiments in human architecture: January 20–22, 2012 • Twinkle Twonkle (Tall Stories): Feb 10–12, 2012 • Elizabeth Mitchell. You Are My Flower: March 2–4, 2012 • Treasured Stories by Eric Carle (Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia) March 16–18, 2012 CHARIS, The St. Louis Women’s Chorus www.charischorus.org • Fall Concert: November 18–19 Dance St. Louis 3547 Olive St. www.dancestl.org

314-534-5000

• Martha Graham Dance Company: October 14–15 • Billy Elliot the Musical: November 1–13 • Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theatre: Jan 27–28, 2012 • West Side Story: February 14–26, 2012 • Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: February 17–19 • The Joffrey Ballet: March 9–10 • Aspen Santa Fe Ballet: April 13–14 • Riverdance: May 18–20 • 5th Annual Emerson Spring to Dance Festival 2012: May 24–26

• • • •

• • • •

Showtime at First Baptist: September 9–18 Same Time Next Year: November 11–20 Cabaret: February 17–26, 2012 Little Shop of Horrors: May 11–20, 2012

Looking Glass Playhouse 301 W. St. Louis Street in Lebanon, IL. www.lookingglassplayhouse.com Meramec Theatre St. Louis Community College-Meramec 11333 Big Bend Road www.stlcc.edu/MC/Theatre/index.html

Metro Theatre Company 8308 Olive Blvd. www.metrotheatrecompany.org

Muddy Waters Theatre 4579 Laclede Ave. #350 www.muddywaterstheatre.com

First Run Theatre 5215 Winona Avenue www.firstruntheatre.com

314-352-5114

Mustard Seed Theatre 6800 Wydowne Blvd. www.mustardseedtheatre.com

314-289-4169

• Winter Concert 2011. Silver Bells: December 9-10 • Spring Concert 2012. Silver Celebration: March 31,2012 • Summer Concert 2012. ABBA Forever: June 15-16 Hawthorne Players 127 Powell Avenue 314-524-5201 or 314-921-5678 web.mac.com/hawthorneplayers/Home/Contact.html

• • • •

314-719-8060

314-773-6526

• Passing Strange the Rock Musical: September 22 • Cry-Baby the Musical: March 1, 2012 • High Fidelity: May 31, 2012 NonProphet Theatre Company www.nptco.org • Debbie Does Dallas the Musical: August 4–20 • Reasons to be Pretty: September 29–October 9 314-961-0644

St. Charles Community College Center Stage Theatre

Bus Stop: October 5–8 The 39 Steps: November 16–20 Harvey: February 29– March 4, 2012 Becky’s New Car: April 18–22, 2012 A Little Night Music: July 24–29, 2012

St. Louis Actors’ Studio The Gaslight Theatre. www.stlas.org

358 N. Boyle Ave. 314-458-2978

Nuts: October 7–23 Palmer Park: November 4–20 My Three Angels: December 2–18 Killer Joe: April 6–22, 2012 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: June 1–17, 2012

St. Louis Ballet 218 THF Blvd., Chesterfield www.stlouisballet.org

636-537-1998

St. Louis Black Repertory www.theblackrep.org • • • • •

314-534-3807

On Golden Pond: January 4–February 5, 2012 A Midsummer’s Night Dream: Feb 15–March 4, 2012 No Child…:March14–April 1, 2012 Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom: April 11–May 13, 2012 Insidious: May 23–June 24, 2012

St. Louis Classical Guitar Society P.O. Box 11425, St. Louis, MO 63105 www.guitarstlouis.net

314-567-5566

• Jorge Caballero: September 24 • Duo Noire: November 5 • Carlos Perez: December 3 • Beijing Guitar Duo: January 21, 2012 • The Romero Family: February 18, 2012 • David Russell: March 24, 2012 St. Louis Shakespeare 4579 Laclede #345 www.stlshakespeare.org

314-361-5664

• Edward Bond’s Restoration: August 5-14 • Henry V: September 30–October 9 • Mary Zimmerman’s The Arabian Nights: March 9–18, 2012

• The Rite of Spring: September 16–17 • Mahler 1: September 23–24 • An American in Paris: September 30 • All-Mozart: October 7–9 • Sibelius 1: October 14–15 • Enigma Variations: October 21–23 • Daphnis and Chloe: November 4–5 • Beethoven Emperor Concerto: November 11–13 • Bruckner 7: November 18–19 • Bolero: November 25–26 • The Four Seasons: December 2–4 • Christine Brewer Sings Strauss Jan 13–14, 2012 • Sibelius Violin Concerto: January 21–22 • Tchaikovsky 4: January 27-29 • Schubert “Great”: February 3-4 • Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: February 17-19 • Brahms 4: February 24-26 • The Firebird: March 2-3 • All Beethoven: March 16-18 • Bach Mass in B minor: March 31-April 1 • Fleisher Plays Ravel: April 14-15 • Dvorak Cello Concerto: April 20-22 • Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 1: April 27 • Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2: April 28-29 • Beethoven 5: May 4 • Beethoven 5: May 5-6 Saint Louis University Theatre 3733 West Pine Mall, Xavier Hall www.slu.edu/theatre

Carmen: May 19–June 23, 2012 Sweeney Todd: May 26–June 24, 2012 Cosi Fan Tutte: June 3–22, 2012 Alice in Wonderland: June 13–23, 2012

Paper Slip Theatre mail@papersliptheatre.com

• • • • •

636-922-8050

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Powell Symphony Hall 718 North Grand Blvd. www.stlsymphony.org 314-533-2500

New Line Theatre Washington University South Campus 6501 Clayton Rd.

• • • •

314-631-8330

314-799-8399

314-432-5700

Hotcity Theatre 3547 Olive Street #203 www.hotcitytheatre.org

Ivory Theatre 7620 Michigan Ave www.theivorytheatre.com

618-939-7469

New Jewish Theatre Jewish Community Center 2 Millstone Campus Drive

Opera Theatre of St. Louis Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Rd. www.opera-stl.org

• The Winners: September 9–24 • 6th Annual Greenhouse New Play Festival: Nov 18–20 • Whammy! – The Seven Secrets to a Sane Self: Dec 2–10

314-997-6777

Falling: September 1–11 Godspell: November 18– December 11 Playland: February 2–12, 2012 The Winter’s Tale: April 13–29, 2012

• I’m Not Rappaport by Herb Gardner: Nov 4–13 • A Christmas Carol: December 16–18 314-289-4063

314-984-7564

• The Fantasticks: September 9–11 and 16–18

• How I Learned to Drive: November 4–20

Gateway Men’s Chorus 3547 Olive Street, Suite 300 www.gatewaymenschorus.org

618-537-4962

• Tomato Plant Girl: September 19–November 23 • Super Cowgirl & Mighty Miracle: Sept 26– Dec 10 & Feb 2–April 7, 2012 • Battledrum: January 10-29, 2012 Monroe Actors Stage Company 202 S. Main Street in Waterloo, IL www.masctheatre.org

4601 Mid Rivers Mall www.stchas.edu

• • • • •

• The Rocky Horror Show: October 5–8 • The Waiting Room: November 16–19 • Bad Things for Good Reasons (Premiere Production): February 15–18, 2012 • The Secret in the Wings: April 11–14, 2012

314-225-4329

Fontbonne Fine Arts Theatre Fontbonne University. 6800 Wydowne Blvd.

314-889-1425 www.fontbonne.edu/academics/undergraduate/ departments/finearts/theatreproductions/

314-821-9956

Noises Off: November 2011 Doubt: January 2012 Nana’s Naughty Knickers: March 2012 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels: May 2012

Echo Theatre Company 4659 Wilcox Avenue www.echotheatrecompany.org

• Spectrum 2011: October 2011 • Evening of Mysteries – Divine’s Grace and The Kerpash Affair: January 14-23, 2012

314-351-8984

314-977-2998

• The Secret in the Wings: September 30–October 9 • Blithe Spirit: November 11-20 314-647-8030

Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble The Chapel Sanctuary for the Arts.

6238 Alexander Dr. www.slightlyoff.org 314-827-5760

theVitalVOICE.com | 33

Soundstage Theatre 214 Crestwood Court www.soundstageproductions.net

314-750-6206

Bruno David Gallery 3721 Washington Blvd. www.brunodavidgallery.com

314-821-2407

• Laura Beard - Thick and Smooth: May 20-August 20 • Charles P. Reay - Recent Sculptures: May 20–Aug 20 • Ben Wiener - Na + (aq) + C5H8NO - (aq)

NaC5H8NO4(s): May 20–August 20 • SWOON (Caledonia Curry) - Ben: May 20–Aug 20 • LESLIE LASKEY - S.E.N.T.: September 9–October 15 • Kelley Johnson - Works on Paper Series: Sept 9–Oct 15 • MoPA – Retrospective: September 9–October 15 • William Morris – Atraxia: September 9–October 15

• Spoon River Anthology: August 19-28 • Hot L Baltimore: September 30-October 9 Stages St. Louis 444 Chesterfield Center www.stagesstlouis.org • The Secret Garden: July 22–August 21 • Victor/Victoria: September 9–October 9 Stray Dog Theatre 2348 Tennessee Ave. www.straydogtheatre.org

314-865-1995

Theatre Guild of Webster Groves 517 Theatre Ln. in Webster Groves www.theatreguildwg.org

314-962-0876

• Nunsensations – The Nunsense Vegas Review: Sept • Social Security: November • See How They Run: January 2012 • All in the Timing: March 2012 • Lend Me a Tenor: May 2012 That Uppity Theatre Co. 4466 West Pine Blvd., Suite 13C www.uppityco.com

314-995-4600

UMSL Performing Arts Department Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center. 1 University Blvd www.umsl.edu/~theater 314-516-4572 Washington University Performing Arts Department Washington University.

Mallinckrodt Center, Room 312 Pad.artsci.wustl.edu 314-935-5858 • A.E. Hotchner Playwriting Festival: Sept 30–Oct 1 • Hairspray: The Broadway Musical: October 14–30 • Anatol: November 17–20 • Washington U Dance Theatre: Kinetic Field Work: Dec 2–4 • Radio Free Emerson: February 17–26 • World Premier-Title TBA: March 29–April 1 • Young Choreographers Showcase: April 6–8 • As You Like It: April 20–9 Webster University Conservatory of Theatre Arts Emerson Studio Theatre 314-968-7128 www.webster.edu • Top Girls: September 28–October 9 • Carousel: November 16–20 • Hot L Baltimore: November 30–December 11 • Hello Again: February 15–26 • Edgar Allen Poe’s Nevermore: March 23–25, 2012 • 100 Saints You Should Know: March 30–April 1, 2012 • Dinner With Friends: April 6-8, 2012 • Webster University Dance Ensemble: April 13–15, 2012 • Lady Windermere’s Fan: April 25–29, 2012 West End Players Guild Union Avenue Christian Church www.westendplayers.org

733 Union Blvd.

314-367-0025

• Just a Song at Twilight: The Golden Age of Vaudeville: Oct 6-16 • Murdering Marlowe: November 11-20 • The Seafarer: January 6-15, 2012 • Wake Up, Cameron Dobbs: February 24-March 4 • Exit the King: April 13-22, 2012

314-241-4810

• Fiber Focus 2011: September 6–October 13 • Art St. Louis XXVII, The Exhibition: Oct 29–Dec 30 Atrium Gallery 4728 McPherson Ave. www.atriumgallery.net

8342 Big Bend Blvd.

314-968-7171

Chesterfield Arts 444 Chesterfield Center #130 www.chesterfieldarts.org

636-519-1955

314-367-1076

One Brookings Drive 314-935-7282

• Tomás Saraceno – Cloud-Specific: Sept 9–Jan 9, 2012 • Precarious Worlds – Contemporary Art from

Germany: September 9–January 9, 2012 • Performance and Performativity in Contemporary Art: September 9–January 9, 2012 Laumeier Sculpture Park 12580 Rott Rd. www.laumeiersculpturepark.org

314-615-5278

• Dog Days of Summer: June 25–October 2 • Kranzberg Exhibition Series: Octr 29–Jan 22, 2012 314-771-8230

Contemporary Arts Museum 3750 Washington Blvd. www.camstl.org

PHD Gallery 2300 Cherokee Street www.phdstl.com

314-664-6644

Philip Slein Gallery 1319 Washington Ave. www.philipsleingallery.com

314-621-4634

Regional Arts Commission 6128 Delmar Blvd. www.art-stl.com

314-863-5811

314-535-4660

• Cryptic: The Use of Allegory in Contemporary Art with a Master Class from Goya: May 20–Aug 14 • David Noonan: September 9– January 8, 2012 • Leslie Hewitt: January 27–April 22, 2012 • Christodoulos Panayiotou: Jan 27–April 22, 2012 • Great Rivers Biennial 2012: May 11–Aug 19, 2012 Craft Alliance 6640 Delmar Blvd. and 501 N. Grand Blvd. www.craftalliance.org 314-725-1177 & 314-534-7528 • 2011 Biennial Faculty Exhibition: July 15–August 14 • Connected by Intricacy – 2011 Artists-in-Residency Exhibition: June 17–August 28 • Cindy Wrobel – Visual Language (Delmar): July 15–Aug 14 • Nnenna Okore – Shokoloko (Delmar): Aug 26 – Oct 30 • Jim Hay (Delmar): January 14–February 26, 2012 • Guerra De La Paz – Follow the Leader (Grand): September 16–January 2012 • Untamed (Delmar): January 14–February 26, 2012 • Adam Posnack (Delmar): Jan 14– Feb 26, 2012 • Studio Design – Contemporary Furniture (Grand): February 10–April 8, 2012 • HOT TEA – 13th Annual Teapot Exhibition (Delmar): March 9–April 26, 2012 • High School Teapot Exhibition (Delmar): Jan14–April 1, 2012 • CAF Exhibition (Delmar): April 5–26, 2012 • 2012 Artists-in-Residence Exhibition (Grand): April 20–TBD, 2012 Duane Reed Gallery 4729 McPherson Ave. www.duanereedgallery.com

314-361-4100

Foundry Art Centre 520 N. Maine St., Saint Charles www.foundryartcentre.org

636-255-0270

Gallery 210 University of Missouri-St. Louis. www.umsl.edu/~gallery

Good Citizen Art Gallery 2247 Gravois Ave. www.goodcitizenstl.com

1 University Blvd 314-516-5979

314-348-4587

• Crimson and Clover – Tory Wright: July 22–Aug 20 • Expansions and Stratifications – Karl Jensen and Ken Wood: September 2–October 1 • Pinholio – Juried Pinhole Photography Exhibition: November 18–December 17

• Black | White – A Summer Group Show: Aug 5–Sept 11 Belas Artes 1854 Russel Blvd. www.belasartes-stl.org

Hoffman Lachance Contemporary 2713 Sutton Blvd. www.hoffmanlachancefineart.com

314-289-1500

314-960-5322

• Stephanie Kirkland, David Carter, and others: Sept 2–24

34 | August, 2011

Kemper Art Museum Washington University. www.kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu

Mad Art Gallery 2727 S. 12th Street www.madart.com

Grand Center 3526 Washington Ave., 3rd Floor www.grandcenter.org

314-772-2787

• New Work from Jon Cournoyer: October 7–29 • In Plain Air - Paintings from Christopher Paquet and Seth Coston: November 4–26 • Peat Wollaeger: December 2–24

• The Wonderful World of Hal Poth: July 22– Sept 3 • Colors of Venice – An Exhibition of Photographs from Italy: September 9–11

• Exposure 14: August 25

Galleries Art St. Louis 555 Washington Ave www.artstlouis.org

Cecile R. Hunt Gallery Webster University www.websterart.wordpress.com

314-531-3030

• Critical Mass Creative Stimulus 2011: Aug 5–Sept 4 St. Louis Art Museum Forest Park. One Fine Arts Drive www.slam.org

314-721-0072

• Restoring an American Treasure: The Panorama of the Monumental Grandeur of the Mississippi Valley: June 12–August 21 • New Media Series – Martha Colburn: Triumph of the Wild: June 17–September 5 • Windows onto Other Worlds – Chinese Court Paintings from the St. Louis Art Museum: Summer 2011 • Focus on the Collection – Francesco Clemente’s High Fever: July 15–October 9 • Monet’s Water Lilies: October 2–January 22, 2012 St. Louis Artists Guild 2 Oak Knoll Park www.stlouisartistsguild.org

314-727-6266

• All Roads Lead to Roam: June 26–August 19 • Works from the St. Louis Artists’ Guild’s Summer Classes: September 4–October 28 • St. Louis Artists’ Guild Section Exhibition: Sept 4–Oct 28 • Installation by Carlie Trosclair: Sept 4–Oct 28 • Among Friends: September 4–October 28 • Sustainability and the Built Environment of the St. Louis Region: November 11–January 6, 2012 • Mason Elementary: November 11–January 6, 2012 • Works on Paper by Cecile Galluzzo: Nov 11 – Jan 6 • Rhythms of the City: November 11–January 6 • Photographs by Chris Jordan: Nov 11–Jan 6 • Installation by Gwyn Wahlmann: Nov 11 – Jan 6 Sheldon Art Galleries The Sheldon Concert Hall 3648 Washington Blvd www.sheldonconcerthall.org/galleries 314-533-2958 • Mary king – A Selected Retrospective: June 17–Aug 13 Three Sinks Gallery 8715 Big Bend Blvd. www.3sinksgallery.com Webster University May Gallery Webster University, Sverdrup Building 8300 Big Bend Blvd. www.webster.edu/maygallery

314-963-3448

314-246-7673

• Ellen Fein Rosenbaum Functional Architecture: August 26- September 23 • Rivers, Land, and People - Photographs by Daniel Overturf & Words by Gary Marx: Sept 30–Oct 21 • Jacques Moury Beauchamps: Oct 28–Nov 23

• Photo Imaging Education Association International Exhibition: December 2–16 • Annual Photography Faculty Exhibition: Jan 27–Feb 24, 2012 • Stephen Mallon - Brace for Impact: The Aftermath of Flight 1549: March 2–30, 2012 • Annual Juried Exhibition: April 6–May 4, 2012 • Invitational Group Show - 20 Emerging Photographers: May 11–July 27, 2012

Missouri History Museum 5700 Lindell Blvd.

314-746-4599 www.mohistory.org • The Americans with Disabilities Act – 20 Years later: Jan 26, 2010–Jan 8, 2012 • In Henry’s Box: March 23–November 27 • America I Am – The African American Imprint: May 28–Sept 25 • The Civil War in Missouri: Nov 11–March 16, 2013 • Mammoths and Mastodons – Titans of the Ice Age: November 25–April 15, 2012

White Flag Projects 4568 Manchester Ave. 314-531-3442 www.white-flag-projects.org

Morganford in Motion Morgangord and Juniata. morganfordinmotion.com

• Amy Granat: September 8–October 22

Special Events

American Arts Experience – STL Sept 30–Oct 16 www.americanartsstl.org Art Outside 2011 September 9–11 Schlafly Bottleworks www.schlafly.com

• • • • •

7260 Southwest Ave. 314-241-BEER

Big muddy Blues Festival September 3–4 Laclede’s Landing in Downtown St. Louis www.bigmuddybluesfestival.com

The Ralph Butler Band: August 7 SmashBand SuperHits: August 13 St. Louis All Star Revue: August 21 Boeing Employees Concert: August 27 Billy Peek Band: October 9

Places for People GOLF 2011: September 23 4130 Lindell Blvd.

314-535-5600 www.placesforpeople.org Rock ‘n Roll Craft Show November 25–27 Delmar Blvd. www.rocknrollcraftshow.com

Cinema St. Louis www.cinemastlouis.org 314-289-4150 • Stella Artois St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase: Aug 13–18 • Stella Artois St. Louis International Film Festival: Nov 10–20 • Cinema for Students: November 14–18 • QFEST: TBA

Music Under The Stars Concert Series 2011 St. Ferdinand Park in Florissant www.florissantmo.com/Theatre/ MusicUndertheStars2011.shtml

LouFest August 27-28 Forest Park www.loufest.com Missouri Botanical Garden 4344 Shaw Blvd 314-577-5100 www.mobot.org • Around the World Wine Dinner: every third Friday of the month • TREEMendous: throughout 2011 • American City - St. Louis Architecture: through Aug 21 • Annual Japanese Festival: September 3-5 • Nordstrom St. Louis Galleria grand opening gala: Sept 21 • Green Homes & Great Health Festival: Sept 24 • 20th Annual Best of Missouri Market: October 2 • 58th Annual Systematics Symposium: Trees: Oct 7–8 • AARP Celebration of Life: October 12 • Young Friends presents Fest-of-Ale: Oct 14 • Science Café: Honoring Who Came Before: American Indian Ethnobotany at the Mo Botanical Garden: Nov 17 • Victorian Christmas at Tower Grove House: Nov 22–Jan 1 • Gardenland Express annual holiday flower and train show: November 23–January 1 • Saturdays with Santa: Saturdays Dec 3–17 • Chanuka: Festival of Lights: December 18 • Kwanzaa: Festival of the First Fruits: Dec 28 • Annual Orchid Show: Jan 28–March 25, 2012 • Lantern Festival: Art by Day, Magic by Night: May 26–August 19, 2012

St. Louis Art Fair September 9–11 Downtown Clayton www.culturalfestivals.com St. Louis Mardi Gas February 18, 2012 Soulard www.stlmardigras.org Shaw Art Fair October 1–-2 4269 Flora Pl. www.shawartfair.com Taste of St. Louis September 23–25 Soldier’s Memorial www.tastestl.com Webster University Film Series Winifred Moore Auditorium, 470 E. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves Or Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave., Maplewood www.webster.edu/filmseries.html

theVitalVOICE.com | 35

LouFest 2011 Preview Written by Joshua Barton Photography by Corey Woodruff

THE HEALTHY PET MARKET ALL NATURAL NUTRITION • PET GEAR FRESH BAKED TREATS • GROOMING SELF-SERVICE PET WASH • TOYS & GIFTS

FOUR MUDDYPAWS.COM LAFAYETTE SQUARE 1711 PARK AVE ST. LOUIS, MO

314.773.7297

LOCALLY GAY OWNED AND OPERATED

EDWARDSVILLE 2127 S. STATE RD RTE 157 EDWARDSVILLE, IL

618.692.4729

FOUR MUDDY PAWS 3.597” x 2.319”

36 | August, 2011

Praise be to the indie-music gods! LouFest is set to return to Forest Park on August 27th and 28th with thousands of music fans and one of the most eclectic musical line ups ever featured in St. Louis. Brian Cohen, LouFest creator and organizer, tells us what we can expect at this year’s festival.

The lineup last year was very diverse. How did you accomplish that again this year? “I think the lineup last year was great, but we're always pushing ourselves to exceed expectations. This year we wanted to make the festival bigger and bolder, and we did it by booking bands like The Roots, TV on the Radio, Cat Power, and by expanding the lineup into the world of hip hop, soul and dance.”

How does being non-corporate effect the design of the festival? “Its nice because we don't answer to anyone outside of our local team. There's no checking in with a head office in Chicago, New York, or wherever. We're all from St Louis and we're creating an event we know will work here. LouFest has elements we've swiped from other festivals, but it feels very local.”

What are some of the other elements of the festival? “Music is at the heart of the festival, but there's so much more going on. Our Nosh Pit includes fifteen of area's best restaurants. The Retail Scene has cool vendors offering everything from vintage clothes to impossible-to-find vinyl. The family-friendly Area K has its own activities and food. The EcoZone features organizations who promote green living. And this year we've invited a number of local non-profit organizations to help them raise awareness for the work they do. It's a lot to fit into two days, but we want to make sure there's something for everyone.” v

The Vital Interview:

!!!’s Nic Offer Written by Joshua Barton Photography by Lane Coder

Fans of the band !!! (pronounced “chk chk chk) take heed: Nic Offer doesn’t want you to smell like fresh shampoo.

“A !!! super fan doesn’t need to smell like a dirty, messy hippie either but you should smell like you just got off the dance floor,” Nic Offer says while chatting on the phone from his home in New York City.

You can expect Offer (back row, second from the right) and !!! to have lots of fans dancing and sweating when they bring their psychedelic-disco-punk beats back to St. Louis for LouFest 2011. He took a couple minutes from breakfast to talk disco, drugs and of course, dancing.

two I did take some dance classes and I remember It was good. We went over for somebody teaching me about one festival and played a few starting in the hips and a lot days. The Spanish shows are of times I'll tell people to feel always awesome! They just get us. They don't give a fuck it in their hips. So for me its from the heart to the hips. and they can see that we don't give a fuck so they love How would you describe what goes to just dance.

We hear you just got back from performing a festival in Spain, how was it?

through you body when you’re on stage?

Have you ever been hit on by another man?

Well yea-everybody hits on me! I mean when you're out there in the crowd and you're with the fans whatever is going to happen is going to happen. What was exciting when we got into disco was how powerful it had been in the 70s to the gay community and how people found themselves when they went to those clubs in New York. They discovered that they weren't weird so the music always had this moment of revelation and freedom that felt inspiring. We recognize the music we play is related to gay culture and we love it.

There is really no time to think because you really I wouldn't say they're better are fully immersed in the dancers but they do dance music. You are inside it and more. Americans go home at its very much like what you 2A.M. but there they go all would feel as a listener in night. House music and techno the crowd. You re making ' were American inventions but the music, you re dancing ' over there they really took to it, the crowd is lifting the music where Americans you up and the band behind didn't. They turned something you is pushing you forward. I How many people would you guess have that is underground here to a don t know how to describe ' actually taken ecstasy while listening very overground music scene. it more than that except to your cover of Magnetic Field’s Take that it is probably the most Ecstasy With Me? When you start dancing, where does the Oh I don't know. It always movement in your body begin? incredibly feeling that you felt like we released the Oh man, it starts in the could ever feel. song before people had gotten heart! In the last year or So are Europeans better dancers than Americans?

theVitalVOICE.com | 37

back into taking X. The song was meant to be something you would hear at certain parties where one of your friends says, “I'm on E,” and another one is, “Oh I'm on E too!” You would play it on one of those nights and it would be funny and maybe everybody would get more into the song. As far as an estimation... I have no idea. The song is out there for people for those moments. I hope it's a lot.

On your first album you have a song titled There Are No Fucking Rules, Dude. Ten years later, are there still no fucking rules?

Mmmm... I'm trying to think if we've created any rules. I don't think we have because the original inspiration behind that song was a very artistic one. I do believe there are no fucking rules, even more so, because art is made where the rules are broken and that is still a very exciting idea to me. I think that's why we as a band are still good because there still are no fucking rules. !!! will be performing at LouFest on August 28th and touring various festivals around the country as they begin recording their new album. Visit www.chkchkchk.net for tour dates and awesome video updates from Nic & the band. v

It Stands Alone Studios - starting from $969* 1 bedroom - starting from $1,059* 2 bedrooms - starting from $1,389 Townhomes - call for pricing *Includes 1 parking space, AT&T U-verse Technology Package and Water & Trash

PRESENTED BY

3 COURSES 26 RESTAURANTS

$

25 *

*Per person, per restaurant. Taxes, gratuity and alcohol not included. Dinner only.

When placing your reservation, please call the restaurant directly and be sure to mention “Restaurant Week.”

For menu or venue info, visit

Extra helpings benefit:

DOWNTOWNRESTAURANTWEEK.NET

Now Open

the newest lgbt hotspot: Meyer’s Grove!

Downtown St. Louis’ Best Penthouse Views

Call toll free 1.888.452.5430 www.LiveParkPacific.com

1226 Olive Street • St. Louis, MO 63103

38 | August, 2011

www.meyersgrove.com

Monday-Saturday 4pm-1:30am

4510 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110

& P R O U D LY P R E S E N T S

6th Annual

Thirst For Life Thursday, August 25th Take part in Thirst For Life on Thursday, August 25th and over 30 local eating and drinking establishments will donate a percentage of your beverage tab to Pets Are Wonderful Support.

For a complete list of participating establishments call 314-333-6671 or visit: w w w . s t l e f a . o r g

theVitalVOICE.com | 39

Let Them Eat Art City of Maplewood July 8th

Let Them Eat Art is Maplewood’s tribute to Bastille Day—a place where “Mardi Gras meets the Christmas Tree Walk.” A self-guided tour of enchantment and excitement through Historic Downtown Maplewood’s shops and restaurants beckons.

For more information and other fun festivals in Maplewood visit cityofmaplewood.com

40 | August, 2011

Scene Styling

HOT Night in the City

LGBT Center Grand Opening

The Lou’s sexiest sport was on full display at Hot Night in the City featuring St. Louis Aces vs. Philadelphia Freedoms and tennis pros Lizel Huber, Jean-Julien Rojer & Roman Borvanov!

Guests mixed and mingled under the stars, sipped cocktails and swayed to the music of Kim Massie prior to the match in Forest Park. Oh yeah, St. Louis Aces won—holla!

Over 500 people toured the new digs for The LGBT Center of St. Louis. The Center has found a new home at 4337 Manchester Ave. in the heart of The Grove. Under direction of a new Board, The Center will provide much needed resources, referrals and community space for our city’s LGBT community.

To keep up to date on the St. Louis Aces, visit stlouisaces.com

Check out their newly designed website at lgbtcenterstl.org

Dwight Davis Tennis Center July 9th

LGBT Center of St. Louis July 17th

theVitalVOICE.com | 41

Vital VOICE dedicates this issue to our Non-profit of the month

The DisAbility Project

F

or over a decade, That Uppity Theatre Company has specialized in creating original work with underrepresented populations including people with disabilities, women with cancer, LGBT youth and adults and their families, adolescent girls, youth at risk and college students. The company also makes work about topical issues including racism, xenophobia, heterosexism and ableism that tours to educational and cultural institutions, corporations and social service agencies.

If you have seen something unprecedented in the theater in St. Louis, it may well have been an Uppity production. Consider the following: Uppity produced the AC/DC Series at the St. Marcus Theater, one of the first and longest running performance arts series in the country featuring prominent performers including Holly Hughes, Tim Miller, Michael Kearns, Sara Felder, Rhodessa Jones and Paul Bonin-Rodriguez.

Uppity created Coming Out Stories, a community event in which audience members shared their stories which actors performed on the spot using improv techniques.

Uppity produced Peace Out!, the area’s largest interdisciplinary arts response to war.

In its 20 plus years, this unorthodox company that does not have a subscription series and is just as likely to perform in a car wash or board room as a theater, is usually ahead of the curve when it comes to identifying issues ripe for theatrical exploration.

The DisAbility Project

In 1995, theatre artist Joan Lipkin and occupational therapist Fran Cohen co-founded the DisAbility Project. Comprised of people with and without disabilities to model inclusion, the project creates and tours original material about the culture of disability at educational institutions, conferences, special events, festivals, religious and civic groups, and corporations. With over 55 million people

42 | August, 2011

with disabilities in the United States, the project helps to shed light on the largest and most financially challenged population in the country who are typically absent from representation and participation in our cultural landscape. The work of the project also includes creating performance with people with Alzheimers’ and early stage dementia as well as with blind youth.

The ensemble is comprised of people with and without disabilities who are diverse in age, race, ethnicity, class, occupation, education, religion, sexual orientation, physical ability, and performance experience.

Some of the challenges facing participants include alcoholism, amputation, asthma, bipolar disorder, blindness, brain injury, cancer, cerebral palsy, cognitive delay, depression, Down syndrome, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, polio, spina bifida, spinal cord injury, and stroke.

What’s Next

In addition to its flagship project, The DisAbility Project, Uppity is producing The Big, Fat LGBT Show of Shows a 45-minute traveling show for corporations, organizations and educational institutions about homophobia, gender identity and sexual orientation.

It is difficult to imagine the St. Louis Cultural landscape without the extraordinary contributions of That Uppity Theatre Company.

Accordingly, they have received numerous honors including the John Van Voris Award for Community Service, What’s Right with the Region Award for Improving Racial Equality and Social Justice from Focus St. Louis, the Community Enhancement Award from the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and the Midwest Gala Human Rights Campaign Organization Equality Award.

More than a mere theater company, they have been a force for social change and community dialogue for over 20 years. The Vital VOICE salutes That Uppity Theatre Company and its fearless leader, Joan Lipkin.

August, 2011