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Showing posts with label Interviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interviews. Show all posts

Friday, May 5, 2017

(OUTview NW) EXCLUSIVE: An interview with Lady Bunny - The Trans-Jester! appearing at the SIFF Egyptian Theatre May 11!

by MK Scott

Lady Bunny is bringing her acclaimed show The Trans-Jester! to the SIFF Egyptian Cinema next Thursday, May 11. (For details read the press release article in this week's SGN.) I had the opportunity to chat with Lady Bunny, herself, via email this past week about her life, her friendships, her politics and her upcoming show and here is our conversation.

Friday, April 28, 2017

(OUTview AMERICA) LGBT NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Anime voice actor Vic Mignogna in attendance at Seattle Sakura-Con sets the record straight: 'I am not the least bit homophobic'!

by MK Scott

Two weeks ago, the weekend of April 14-16, was my second year in a row to attend Sakura-con, the annual Japanese Anime Convention at the Washington State Convention Center. I had no idea what type of story I would write until I met the hunky, blond haired and blue-eyed, voice actor, Vic Mignogna, 54, most known as the voice of Qrow in 'RWBY' and Matt in the 'Digimon Adventure' series, as well as Pok'emon and Final Fantasy (the video game).

Mignogna also stars as Capt. James T. Kirk in the live-action web series, 'Star Trek Continues.'

Sunday, April 23, 2017

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE: Ted Allen talks 'Queer Eye,' food and Dining Out for Life!

by MK Scott

The 26th Annual Dining Out For Life® hosted by Subaru® is a restaurant-based event with a truly scrumptious call to action: Dine at one of the 3,000 participating restaurants in more than 60 cities across North America on Thursday, April 27th and that restaurants will donate a generous portion of the day's proceeds to fund HIV/AIDS care, prevention, education, testing, counseling and other essential services in their city.

For over 20 years, Lifelong AIDS Alliance has benefited from this annual event and it goes into the same programs that are benefited from the annual AIDS Walk that occurs every September. Here is a chance to support Lifelong's programs by just eating out.

On this day, over 100 restaurants in the Seattle area will donate 30-50% of their proceeds to Lifelong's vital programs that support people facing serious illness and poverty in our community. For participating restaurants, visit www.diningoutforlife.com or Facebook/DiningOut4Life.

Because of your support, in 2016, Lifelong was able to feed over 1,900 individuals by providing 36,500 bags of groceries and 170,000 nutritious meals to those in need. Dining Out for Life is one of Lifelong's biggest, most important fundraisers of the year and ensures that their food program, Chicken Soup Brigade, can continue to provide their clients with healthy food catered to their specific medical conditions. DOFL also ensures that Lifelong's other life-saving programs, including medical case management, housing, insurance and dental, can continue to support the clients who need it the most.

Reality star and my old friend (of 14 years), Ted Allen ('Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,' 'Chopped') has been one of the spokespeople for Dining Out for Life for over 10 years. I had the chance to chat with Ted by phone last month on March 14th.

Friday, April 7, 2017

PODCAST: (It's FAB w/MK) Striking a Pose with Slam, Ted Allen, and Michael Airington!

Welcome to It's FAB with MK Scott.

This month I have some great chats with some old pals, as well as a new interview with a man I have adored since 1990 as one of Madonna backup dancers on the blond ambition tour and his memorable kiss with a fellow dancer in Truth or Dare, Slam, who was subject in the "Strike a Pose" currently on LOGO and being screened around the country.

I also speak with Ted Allen, one of the fab 6 of Queer Eye for the straight about the 26th annual dining out for life but first, my friend and occasional contributor Ester Goldberg aka Michael Airington on bringing Paul Lynde to Ballys on the Las Vegas strip.

Dining out for life is happening on Thurs, April 27th. Please check out their site for more information. www.diningoutforlife.com and follow on Twitter: @DineOut4Life #DiningOutForLife



Wednesday, April 5, 2017

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE: Strike a Pose: An interview with Salim 'Slam' Gauwloos!

by MK Scott

The documentary Strike a Pose was a huge fave at Three Dollar Bill Cinema's Twist (the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival) last fall and this week returns to the Northwest Film Forum (April 5) before its big premiere on Logo TV on Thursday, April 6 at 9pm ET/PT. The film catches up with seven young male dancers - six gay, one straight - on Madonna's controversial 'Blond Ambition World Tour' in 1990 and her subsequent Truth or Dare documentary, as they unwittingly become icons for Gay rights and sexual freedom. Twenty-five years later, the dancers reveal the truth about life during and after the tour and the significance of their courageous but harrowing journey to, as Madonna sings, 'Express Yourself.' The critically acclaimed documentary, from filmmakers Ester Gould and Reijer Zwaan and the Emmy Award-winning Logo Documentary Films, was an official selection at the 2016 Tribeca, Berlin and Hot Docs film festivals.

One of the most memorable of the dancers is the gorgeous Salim 'Slam' Gauwloos. Born in a small Flemish town by Belgian-Moroccan parents, 'Slam' made an impression in Truth or Dare by kissing fellow dancer Gabriel Trupin - the first Gay kiss ever to be shown in a major movie. It is only recently that he has come to see what both the tour and Truth or Dare have meant to people around the world: 'We helped the world to come out of the closet!' he has said. In the more recent documentary, Strike a Pose, Slam comes out as Poz. Slam chatted with me earlier this week about his journey and as a Muslim with a green card what he thinks of the political climate.

Monday, April 3, 2017

(OUTview NW) INTER-view: Peaches Christ and Bob the Drag Queen present 'Legally Black' at the Egyptian April 6th!

by MK Scott

She's back! and this time the incredible Peaches Christ is bringing Bob the Drag Queen (fresh from the Hater's Roast tour that hit the Moore Theatre last Sunday) for a brand new show, 'Legally Black,' billed as a hilarious all-new live stage show parody of the hit 2001 comedy Legally Blonde that starred Reese Witherspoon as ditzy sorority girl Elle Woods who stole our hearts quicker than you can say 'bend and snap.' This time, the drag queens take over and the theme becomes 'Never judge a queen by her wig color.'

Joining them is Abbey Roads, Mahlae Balenciaga, Mackenzie Miller, Sparkle Leigh, Isabella Extynn, Fraya Love, La Gaviota, Strawberry Shartcake, Kristie Champagne, and Stacey Starstruck.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

(It's FAB: w/ MK Scott) Rise UP with Dustin Lance Black Plus Charles Busch and Nick Verreos!

Welcome to It's FAB with MK Scott. This is an Epic Oscar show with Dustin Lance Black (Milk, Oscar for screenplay) about his new mini-series, 'When We Rise' coming ABC on 2/27 for 4 nights.

Also we have fashion guru and author, Nick Verreos and being red carpet ready and the iconic Charles Busch on his new Cabaret show coming to LA's Rockwell on 3/13 and 14.


 Also we close out our show listen again to Audra Day and Rise up you voices, watch Video Here: https://youtu.be/lwgr_IMeEgA 

 Check Out items we endorse at our Amazon Store; http://astore.amazon.com/fabpodcast-20

Twitter: @mkscott206 
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Its-FAB-w-MK

Saturday, February 18, 2017

(OUTview AMERICA) INTER-view: Screenwriter and director Brian O'Donnell on AKRON, One of the most inventive Gay coming-of-age films ever is finally out on DVD and VOD!

by MK Scott

At the 2015 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival I was thrilled to see a new coming of age film about two Gay college students who are conflicted by a family secret. (This was in my Top 5 of the best films at the 2015 SLGFF.)

What I found was an inventive tale of two Gay lovers with no coming out issues, no health issues or small community conflicts, it is a simple story of two families that dealt with a family tragedy and how it will affect the family now that old wounds resurface.

The film synopsis from the AKRON website reads:
Benny and Christopher, college freshmen, meet playing football and begin a relationship. They fall in love supported by their family and friends. As their love for each other grows, a past tragic event involving their mothers comes to light. This revelation tests their own love and Benny's close-knit family.

Throughout this reflective love story, with the beauty of rural Ohio as its backdrop, Benny travels an emotional journey that examines both his own feelings and his family's ability to come to terms with the past. AKRON is a sensitive and unique independent film that puts a progressive, Midwestern spin on a classic family drama.

So I was doubly thrilled to have a chance to speak with writer/director, Brian O'Donnell by phone.

Saturday, February 11, 2017

(OUTview NW) Olivia Newton-John presents smaller acoustic concerts in Everett and Tacoma Feb. 16 & 17!

by MK Scott

After a sold-out show at Snoqualmie Casino this past August, Olivia Newton-John returns to the Northwest next week for a smaller acoustic-style show to promote her newest album, Liv On. Joining her for the concerts are her two dear friends, Amy Sky and Beth Nielsen Chapman, who appear on the album with her.

The shows will be held on Feb 16th (8-10pm) at the Historic Everett Theatre (2911 Colby Avenue, Everett - http://www.historiceveretttheatre.org/) and on Feb 17th (7:30pm) at the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, Tacoma's Pantages Theater (901 Broadway, Tacoma - http://www.broadwaycenter.org/)

In the following excerpt of an interview I had with Olivia Newton-John last summer, Olivia talks about her newest album, Liv On. (The full interview appeared in the August 19, 2016 edition of the SGN.

Saturday, January 7, 2017

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE INTER-view: NW native and rising star Angus MacLane on theater, animation and Finding Dory!

by MK Scott

I am always in awe of local people who have achieved success. The Pixar film, Finding Dory was a summer hit and it was co-directed by Northwest bred, Angus MacLane.

MacLane and I were raised in Beaverton, Oregon and we both attended Beaverton High School and owe our success to one man, our mentor and drama teacher, James N. Erickson. Other big names came from our theater program as well, including Broadway stars Brooks Ashmanskas and Shoshana Bean, NPR's Ari Shapiro, and Out Magazine writer and actor Jesse Archer.

I reached out to Angus for an interview last summer, and we finally connected just in time for Finding Dory's DVD/VOD release.

Friday, January 6, 2017

(OUTview NW) EXCLUSIVE INTER-view: Peaches Christ and Latrice Royale Previews "Mister Act" coming to the Egyptian Theater on Jan 12 for two performances!

by MK Scott

She's back! and this time the incredible Peaches Christ is bringing Seattle Fave, Latrice Royale (fresh from her scene stealing performance in 'A Drag Queen Christmas' that played the Moore November 28, for a brand new show, 'Mister Act,' billed as a SHE-larious stage show parody of the divinely funny '90s Whoopi Goldberg classic Sister Act. Joining them is another Seattle Fave, Willam Belli, and Abbey Roads, along with lots of local queens and performers including Sylvia O'Stayformore, La Gaviota, Fraya Love, Tipsy Rose Lee, Isabella Extynn, Strawberry Shortcake and Leicester Landon.

THE PLOT:
Drag superstar and reformed criminal LATRICE is a struggling Reno drag performer who spills the tea after accidentally seeing some seriously shady shit. She finds herself in the rare position of having to go back into the closet to hide - but lucky for us, she finds a whole new way to express her drag habit when she flees to Seattle to impersonate a nun at a struggling skid row church in the Capitol Hill neighborhood ghetto.

It seems SISTER WILLAM has a hidden talent for singing and tucking, but it just needs it to be brought out - her voice, that is! When REVEREND MOTHER CHRIST suggests that 'Sister Mary Latrice' use her 'experience' to direct the failing church choir, she embraces the challenge and eventually makes the parishioners EAT IT! Joined by the giggly SISTER ABBEY ROADS and former choir director SISTER SYLVIA LAZARUS, and many more, their 'Mister Act' becomes a huge hit that knows no bounds - until Ms. Royale's trashy past catches up with her!

Sunday, January 1, 2017

(MK SCOTT) Best of 2016 Plus MK's Favorite Interview(s) of the year!

MK w/ Light at GLAAD
by MK Scott

In 2016,  I got to chat with some Icons (Christ and Judith Light) as well as follow up with some of Faves (Biondi) and Some New Talent (Self, McKelligon and Bagnell) So here are the top 5 based on page views Plus My Favorite Interview(s) of the year.

1) Peaches Christ on "Who's afraid of Bianca Del Rio?"

2) Jake Biondi Previews Boystown Season 5!

3) MK poses with the Stars and gets the Scoop from the Blue Carpet!

4) MK's 'JOINT' Inter-view with the Stars of 'You're Killing Me"

5) MK's Exclusive Chat with Well-Strung's Edmund Bagnell



MK w/ Olivia
Plus My Favorites are always when it is just ME catching up with Pals and meeting new celebs. With My new podcast show, It's FAB, I get to do that.

This year I got to chat with old pals like Angus MacLane, Rob Shuter and Damon Jacobs as well some icons like Dolly Parton and Olivia Newton-John. Here are the Best:

1) The ICON show with Dolly Parton and Tab Hunter!

2) Hopelessly Devoted to Olivia and OITNB!

3) Shared Rooms w/ Bernadette Peters and Director, Rob Williams!

4) Holiday Special with Charlotte Rae and Rising Star, Angus MacLane (Finding Dory)!

5) Celebrating Pride with Martha Wash and Randy Jones!

Friday, December 23, 2016

PODCAST: (It's Fab w/ MK Scott) Holiday Special with Charlotte Rae and Rising Star, Angus MacLane (Finding Dory)!

Welcome to It's FAB with MK Scott. We got 2 great chats, one with a rising star in animation and the Co-Director of the 2016 hit, "Finding Dory". First MK chats with a TV icon, the star of "Different Strokes" and "the Facts of life", the one and only Charlotte Rae (author of The Facts of My Life)! 

Friday, December 16, 2016

(OUTview AMERICA) INTER-view: Author, Jake Biondi previews his 6th Boystown Book, Available NOW!

by MK Scott

BOYSTOWN series author Jake Biondi has revealed the cover of the highly anticipated sixth book of his BOYSTOWN series. BOYSTOWN Season Six will be released on December 16, 2016. The cover for the book, which was designed by photographer James Franklin, features BOYSTOWN model Sean Zevran as well as six other BOYSTOWN boys: JR Bronson, Pablo Hernandez, Eddie Eduardo, Cory Zwierzynski, Jo Franco, and Andy Andranik.

Like the first five books, BOYSTOWN Season 6 will be available at bookstores across the country as well at online at amazon.com, bn.com, and itunes. The series is available in paperback, audio book, and all e-book formats.

Biondi is currently working with television producers Gabe Fiscale and Weston Mueller, who are interested in bringing the BOYSTOWN series to television. Biondi remains optimistic that fans all over the world will soon be able to watch their favorite BOYSTOWN characters in action on television.

I have interviewed Jake for Seasons (Books) 1 to 4 on my blog and Season 5 was discussed in the SGN's Pride 2016 issue (http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews44_26/page28.cfm). I had a chance to catch up with Jake to find out more about Season (Book) 6.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

PODCAST (It's FAB): Shared Rooms w/ Bernadette Peters and Director, Rob Williams!


Welcome to It's FAB with MK Scott. We got a 2 great chats, one with the one of favorite Gay indie writers/directors, Rob Williams (Men next door/Role-play/Make the Yuletide Gay) to discuss his new Holiday classic, "Shared Room". But first, the Iconic Bernadette Peters on Sondheim, Mozart in the Jungle and what she thinks of the new administration.

Friday, November 25, 2016

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Super busy, Bernadette Peters hits Benaroya Hall this weekend and chats about her new TV roles, Sondheim and more!

by MK Scott

On Saturday, November 26, Broadway Diva, Bernadette Peters, 68, takes the Benaroya Hall stage in a solo concert performance with a 12 member-orchestra as part of the Seattle Symphony's 2016-17 season.

Throughout her illustrious career, Bernadette Peters has dazzled audiences and critics with her performances on stage and television, in concert, and on recordings.

Ms. Peters currently stars in Amazon Prime's hit TV series, 'Mozart in the Jungle,' which won the 2016 Golden Globe for Best TV Comedy or Musical series.

Who could forget her in Annie Get Your Gun, Gypsy, Follies and even Into the Woods? It was a real honor to chat with her by phone.

MK Scott: Bernadette, I know you are busy on the set of your new CBS show, 'The Good Fight' (which we will get to later) and gearing up to come to Seattle this weekend with a command performance. Can you tell us what songs will be included?

Bernadette Peters: Yes, yes, I'm coming to Seattle! I'm singing on Saturday after Thanksgiving. Hopefully, I won't eat too much on Thanksgiving, and also on the next day, and then we'll do the show Saturday. I'm looking forward to it. I love Seattle. I love to go to Fisherman - it's called Fisherman's Pike or Fisherman's Wharf. What's it called? Pike's Peak?

MK: Pike Place Market? (Laugh)

Peters: I know, I'm making a joke. It's cool! I do all kinds of music basically, but I will also do Rodgers and Hammerstein - I sing Peggy Lee's 'Fever,' but I sing a lot of Sondheim - it's enjoyable for me.

MK: You've performed songs by some of the best - from Irving Berlin to Marvin Hamish - but you are known as Sondheim's go-to star. Is there any show you haven't done of his, but would like to do?

Peters: I guess I haven't done Sweeney Todd. I like going to see Sweeney Todd. Everything he writes has such, you know, depth to it that it's just wonderful - neat. There are so many layers to it. That's why I like to sing his music. It's always a place - an amazing place to go!

MK: You have been very busy of late with your appearance in the Globes-winning, 'Mozart in the Jungle.' Talk about your character, Gloria?

Peters: Yes, this is our third season and it's available on Amazon Prime - premiering on December 9th. Gloria runs the symphony - and does the hiring, the firing, and the fundraising - and it brought in the two Golden Globes we won for my character - so basically this season we start with the symphony's been on strike and we lost Rodrigo - that's our conductor. He goes off and I find that he's in Venice [Italy] so I go to Venice to try to bring him back and - and I tell you it's so beautiful there! So the show opens in Venice and we're there for about five episodes and you'll never see - it's just a beautiful place - magical and - romantic and we shot in San Marcos Square and it's a great season.

We have to take the orchestra to Rikers Island [in New York City] - to the prison. We actually go to the prison - and we perform for some of the inmates - in the yard. Yes! But they were handpicked prisoners - some of them were getting out the next day. And they were great - they loved being on camera. They loved the acting and being a part of this. We actually played the symphony music that was written by someone when he was in prison in Nazi Germany. So he listened to birds outside his window and he wrote music, you know - it really is wonderful!

MK: Also, you have a new role in 'The Good Wife' spinoff, 'The Good Fight' debuting in February. Tell us about Lenore.

Peters: Yeah, she's like a Bernie Madoff wife. So she's a very interesting character to play. And they keep you evolving; I keep seeing what they have in mind, what the scripts are bringing - quite interesting. And you don't know if they're guilty or not guilty. Is she blaming somebody else? And so I'll let you know what happens.

MK: Who in today's musical theater world reminds you of yourself, when you were starting out?

Peters: Oh, I don't know, the shows are so different - I mean, of course, you know, I played Megan Hilty's mother on 'Smash' and I just think she's an amazing talent. And I adore her. And I used to love watching her in the show and watching her, she just got fantastic!

MK: One of your iconic roles was in Into the Woods. What did you think of the film version?

Peters: I really like it. I was so happy that it was so well done. You know, it was written for the stage, so I still think I prefer that. There's some comedy that gets a little lost in the movie that can only work, I think, when it's on the stage, so I miss that. But otherwise, I think it's a wonderful version of a musical from the stage to transform it onto the screen.

MK: I know you are passionate of your Broadway Barks project. Tell us more?

Peters: Oh my god, yeah, I mean that's my passion - is to help and shelter animals - and, I mean, we're finding out more and more how valuable they are. They're finding out now that dogs can sniff out cancer - not in stage one, two or three, four - stage zero! So a dog can sniff out a teaspoon of sugar in two Olympic size swimming pools - that's how strong their sense of smell is. So they're teaching these dogs to sniff out ovarian cancer and breast cancer and different kinds of cancers. So I think it's very important to just keep our eye on this, because, I think, if we can catch it really early - it's very hard - if they can catch that - I mean, look what a life-saver that would be! So not only do they save us emotionally - that they save our lives emotionally - but actually save our lives physically.

MK: You have also devoted lots of time and money to AIDS charities.

Peters: Oh, yes. Yes! I'm on the board of Broadway Cares. They're great! The head of that, Tom Viola, has such a big heart and he's there to help people when they need it. Not only there. you know, like when the hurricane hit, Katrina - you know, he would send money there and he sends money to places that need it.

MK: As an icon who has a large LGBTQ fan base, what advice can you give to them, what now with the new administration, and scary future?

Peters: I think we have to stay listening and keep our eyes opened and I think we have to say no, no, no, that won't do! And I - I think we just have to speak up. I think we do. It's just we can't let - I mean they have to remember in this new presidency that's coming up that they are - they are the leaders of all the people. They have to take care of everyone in the country. So, I think it's something to - and there should be no hate crimes. We can't go backwards like that. I think that would be really awful - is to start promoting hate and - discrimination and racism - all those things. It's just not acceptable. Isn't that amazing? It's like people are given permission now. It actually breaks my heart that people actually have that in their hearts - and the hate. Now usually it comes from them feeling, I guess, less than, and they have to make themselves feel more important, and so you know things happen that way. But however it happens, it's not good. And it's, it's - you know, that this is happening is pretty sad.

MK: Of course, you must have heard what happened at Hamilton, when VP-elect, Mike Pence was addressed by the cast?

Peters: Well, you know, it wasn't like they stopped the show to - no, but even so; it wasn't like even at the end of the show - it was the time of the year, they were actually making curtain speeches because they were collecting for Broadway Cares. It wasn't like they said well at the end of the show we have an announcement - but they actually used that time to speak to the guests in the audience and they were not rude. They just said I hope that you will be the administration for all the people in this country - all the people. So I think that's one thing - that's what they told them. And it wasn't anything rude. It was just - we're in the show, we are a diverse integrated cast - we are playing, you know, famous American people in history and politics - we're playing them, and if we're an interracial cast - and look at us and we won a Pulitzer Prize and we're a big hit show. And people love us. And so I hope that you will be the administration for all the people.



Bernadette Peters will be performing on Saturday, November 26 @ 8pm at Benaroya Hall, 3rd Ave. & University St. For more information and tickets, go to seattlesymphony.org.

Watch Peters in the 3rd season of 'Mozart in the Jungle,' starting on December 9th on Amazon Prime. And in 'The Perfect Fight' on CBS starting in February 2017.

'Mozart in the Jungle' Season 3 Trailer: Gael García Bernal and Lola Kirke Return To The Orchestra - http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/20/arts/television/mozart-in-the-jungle-placido-domingo.html?_r=0

Friday, September 23, 2016

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Tab Hunter talks about his recent documentary, now out on DVD, Tony Perkins, Divine and Grease 2!

by MK Scott

It was May 2015 when Tab Hunter made a surprise appearance at the Opening Night of the Seattle International Film Festival. If all too brief, Hunter also made at splash at the screening of his documentary, directed by Jeffrey Schwartz (Vito, I am Divine), during the next evening. Now after a summer on Netflix, you have an opportunity to own this treasure and see why Tab Hunter, now 85, is still beloved. I recently had a chance to chat with Tab, by phone.

Monday, September 19, 2016

PODCAST: (It's FAB w/ MK) The ICON show with Dolly Parton and Tab Hunter!

It's Fab podcast has got them. True Icons.

Last month I was one of a dozen members of the LGBT press to be part of a live phone conference with the iconic, Dolly Parton. Dolly is in the middle of a concert tour. Dolly is also promoting her new album, Pure and Simple. Here are the highlights from the 20-minute LGBT press conversation.
Later, I chat with Film Legend, Tab Hunter, subject of the film, Tab Hunter: Confidential.




Thursday, September 15, 2016

EXCLUSIVE: Dolly Parton talks love, Pure and Simple, and her Gay fans!

by MK Scott

Last month I was one of a dozen members of the LGBT press to be part of a live phone conference with the iconic, Dolly Parton. Dolly is in the middle of a concert tour. I had to ask Dolly, why she chose the ShoWare Center in Kent over the larger Key Arena, and she responded that this show is more ideal for a smaller audience. I told her to expect a sold out show with 95% LGBT. Dolly is also promoting her new album, Pure and Simple. Here are the highlights from the 20-minute LGBT press conversation.

Tell me why you think you've remained such an icon within the LGBT community after all these years?


DP: Oh, well, I'd like to think they know I love them, they know that I accept everybody for who they are. I have a lot of friends that I work with, you know, in the gay and lesbian, I have a lot of gay and lesbians in my family, I have friends, I have people in my, all my businesses. I just always, you know, I just love people. I don't even think about whether you're straight or gay. I just love you because I love you. But, I think people respond to that, too, I don't judge people, I think people should be allowed to be who they are and be allowed to love, exactly who they love. I just think that, that's the way it should be. We're all God's children and we all have the right to our own happiness, and so I've just always been loved for being accepting, I guess? I've always wanted people to accept me for what I am. I've always been, you know, persecuted for the way I look and all that. But I just, you know, I just care about the soul and the heart of the people.

How can the Country Music Industry be more tolerant of the LGBT Community?


DP: Well, I think though what really gets me a lot of times is that so many of the Country people and all that, they're you know, supposed to be good Christian people. And to me if they would exercise more of what the Bible says to love one another, to love your neighbor, and to not to judge and you know, and just to love. That's God's business, God is, you know, is the judge and I just, I think there is room for everybody to be more accepting of all people not just the Gay and Lesbians. You know there's just so much prejudice in the world, about so many people and for people being different. We're just all God's children, we're all His and we should love one another and accept one another. And I just always had that kind of faith and that kind of open heart and open love. And I just think people should just get over themselves and start you know, just thinking about what they're about and what would make this world a better place. And a good place to start would be to allow people to be free and happy in their own selves. You know, because I just can't imagine you can be happy judging and criticizing other people all the time. What kind of life is that? I'd rather just go with the flow and love everybody and maybe God will love me more for loving more.

Do you plan on taking your tour, or your latest album, on a nationwide Gay Pride Tour in 2017?


DP: Oh! Well, I hadn't thought about that, nobody asked me about that! I hadn't put any thought into it, sounds like a good idea. I don't - next year I'm probably going to take off and [I'll be] promoting, and with my TV shows. I'm going to produce TV shows and possibly be in a series. But I'm glad you loved the album! And I'd be happy to sing to anybody wanting to hear it. Especially, I have a lot of gay fans out there, so maybe I'll see you somewhere, whether it's on a whole tour or not, but we'll, we'll be doing some things here and there, now and then. Thank you for asking, thanks for inviting me!

You have inspired so many, so many songwriters. I want to know, what do you do when you get writer's block? Because we all get it and we all have our ways around it, but what do you do?


DP: Well you know what? I have never really thought that I've had a writer's block. I just, because I write all the time, I don't, don't feel like I have to write. There are times like, if I've been working, the only way that I, sometimes when I'm having to write on a project, like when I was writing '9 to 5,' and I had to come up with something all of sudden, if they changed the number on me when I was doing the musical, I'd be stalled. I would call it a writer's stall, more than a writer's block. I'd have, you know, it stalled me for like a day or so till, till I could gather my, rethink and all. But I just write all the time. I don't, like I said, write because I have to, I write because I want to. And I've been doing it since I was little, and so, I don't really, I've got, thousands of songs. I don't really feel desperate if I don't have one coming right out because I've got so many more laying there. I just pick 'em up and re-work 'em.

When you're doing your live shows, what kind of connection and interaction are you seeing with your live audiences, on this more stripped down pure album?


DP: Well, they just seem to love it. It actually seems to be a more intimate setting for me and for them. Seems like they can hear me better, they can concentrate better since there's not a lot of loud music, big productions, there's not a lot of things distracting in the background. So we're kind of pretty much focused on each other. I'm focused on them, and they're focused on me and they seem to be really liking it and I'm enjoying it myself. I'm, I'm enjoying not having to, you know, I've always loved my fans, I love singing with great musicians and singers. But, this has been actually nice, to where I could, I don't have to sing over, or sing too hard, you know force myself to rise to the, you know, sound and all that. So it's actually been very pleasant and enjoyable thing for me as well as the fans.

Where did you find this love that you keep putting out into the world for all of us?


DP: Aww, well that's very sweet. Well, I just love people. When I grew up, I grew up in a very spiritual family, my grandpa was a preacher, my mother was very open, you know, she loved people and we were taught to love each other. You know, in our family, we were taught to be good to our neighbors. We were taught to love people and so I think that it just comes from that open-hearted faith, you know. For me, I just always took the good parts of that when we would go to church. I believe in that through God, all things are possible and to love your neighbor as yourself, and to you know, just, I've just always just had a good time in this world. I don't know what we're all here for, but I'm gonna find out, what all I can do to make it. And part of that is just trying to love people and enjoy people and accepting everybody for who and what they are.

And when it got to me, I asked Dolly who her Dream Duet partner would be?
Dolly, without hesitation said 'Adele or maybe (her god-daughter), Miley (Cyrus).'

.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

EXCLUSIVE: After 50 years, Olivia Newton-John still 'hopelessly devoted' to her Gay audience!

by MK Scott


Olivia Newton-John has been busy in the last few years with her Vegas residency at the Flamingo, three albums and a new one on the way, and in her free time, she devotes the proceeds and countless hours to her Cancer Wellness charities. Now she is on tour and will hit Seattle's Snoqualmie Casino next Thursday, August 25th.

After a little phone tag, we finally chatted by phone and she has a lot to be proud of after 50 years of entertainment:



MK Scott: Olivia, thanks for joining us! First, I wanted to congratulate you on your 50th year in show business.

Olivia Newton-John: Oh, thank you! Yea!

MK: It's gone by so quickly!

ONJ: I'm very lucky; it has for me, I don't know about you!

MK: Well, especially since it's been almost 40 years since Grease, and I remember that so well!

ONJ: Yes, yes, it's been a long time since that as well; it's all been a wonderful great journey!

MK: Yes, and your Las Vegas show just keeps on getting extended and extended at the Flamingo.

ONJ: Yes. It's been a lot of fun!

MK: I guess the summer nights have continued.

ONJ: Yes, it's just one long night. It's been great!

MK: And finally you're on tour and you're coming to Seattle. We're looking forward to that. What can we expect?

ONJ: Me, too! I love Seattle, love Seattle; it's one of my favorite places and the San Juan Islands. You can expect a show of my hits, the songs people expect from me. Songs from my country time, from Grease, from Xanadu, from, you know, my earlier songs when I first started, my rock and roll era, and then some of my environmental music, because I've written quite a few songs about the planet, like 'Care Deeply For Her' and 'What's Going To Happen,' so I do a little medley of environmental songs, but it's a fun show and it's been going really well in Vegas and I'm excited to bring it there!

MK: Wonderful, and also this is at Snoqualmie; they have an outdoor amphitheater they use for the summer.

ONJ: Oh, wonderful! I think it will, that will be a change, I haven't done that for a while.

MK: Awesome, and you also have a new album coming out called Liv On (how appropriate) out in September.

ONJ: Yes, it comes out on September 30th, that I recorded with my dear friends Amy Skye and Beth Chapman who are wonderful singer/songwriters, who are dear longtime friends of mine. And we wrote an album. I lost my sister three years ago to cancer and it was a difficult time, and I wrote a song for her kind of as my way of expressing how I felt about losing her and I miss her. So I called my friend Amy Skye who produced my Grace and Gratitude album and asked if she would help me finish it, and we got talking about loss and grief and how these things started our music really for people going through that. She had just lost her mother and Beth, we knew, had lost her husband not so many weeks before and [Beth] had written a wonderful song called 'Sand and Water' about that time, a beautiful song that I've also sung. So I thought it would be wonderful to create a trio of women to sing about these things that are so important about grief and how you get to the other side, how you move on, which is the name of the title, title of the album rather, and so we wrote these songs and we also re-recorded songs of ours that have been successful. Beth re-recorded 'Sand and Water,' Amy re-recorded a song that was a hit called 'I'll Take Care of You' and I recorded, re-recorded 'Grace and Gratitude' and the rest are all new songs and them kind of take you on a journey through grief and re-birth. Really it's, I'm really excited about this album, I'm very proud of it.

MK: And I hear a portion of the Vegas show goes to your cancer research and wellness centers.

ONJ: Yes. A portion of every ticket goes to the wellness program of my cancer center in Melbourne, so that is wonderful and inspires me every time.

MK: In fact the Gaia wellness retreat is now in it's 10th year, congrats!

ONJ: Yea, Gaia just celebrated our 10th year. I'm also very proud of that. It was something born out of a dream of my friend Greg and I, we both dreamt about it, which is wild, and we started with no idea, we had never had a retreat before, we just knew we wanted to create a space where our friends could come and a place that we would like to go to, and now we are an award-winning spa, and it's a heaven, a heavenly place.

MK: And now do you have any message for your Gay fans?

ONJ: Oh! Oh yea! Well, thank you for all your support! I think Gay fans have been extremely loyal and loving towards me and I really appreciate that. And, I look forward to seeing them at the shows!

MK: Now what is next for you? Are you going to continue, do you think you'll continue, the Vegas residency past December?

ONJ: I don't know yet, there are no plans at the moment, but you never know what can happen. (Laughter.) I'm planning on next year to have some more downtime, and um, following some more of my other pursuits, and um, playing and spending time with my animals, and also working on the Liv On an album with my friends Amy and Beth. I'd like to do a few shows with them. So um, yea it's an open book right now.

MK: Any acting coming up?

ONJ: No plans right now.

MK: Yea, I was disappointed when I saw you were not going to be in the Sordid Lives movie.

ONJ: Yea, well, you know I did that one and that was fun, but I was so busy with everything that I'm doing, that it just didn't work out, but I wish Del all the best. I'm sure it will be wonderful and very funny.

MK: Yea, we've chatted with Del before and he's great.

ONJ: Yea, he is.

MK: Well then, at the end of the interview I usually end with my burning question, my burning question, which is the most important question.

ONJ: Uh-huh?

MK: Who was a better dancer? John Travolta your Grease co-star, or Gene Kelly your Xanadu co-star?

ONJ: Oh goodness, you can't, you can't compare; that's like comparing apples and oranges. Both different; both different and both wonderful.

MK: I bet it was amazing to be one of the last people to dance with Gene Kelly.

ONJ: It really, I know, what an honor, yes really, and he was such a lovely man, a fantastic experience I will never forget, to dance with him. Thank you very much.

MK: Thank you so much. I'm glad we were able to connect; and hopefully, I'll meet you in person sometime, either at the Snoqualmie show or in Vegas sometime.

ONJ: Okay, lovely, thank you.

MK: Thank you so much, we adore you.

ONJ: Thank you!

For all things Olivia Newton-John, please visit her site at olivianewton-john.com.

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