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)! 

(OUTview NW) PHOTOS: Former Gov Chris Gregoire and Diverse Harmony bring Unity and Hope to the GSBA Annual Holiday Luncheon at McCaw Hall!

by MK Scott

It was an exciting afternoon this past Wednesday (12/14) when major players from the Seattle LGBTQA business community came together at McCaw Hall for the GSBA Holiday Luncheon and Annual Meeting.

As you entered the main hall and lobby there were booths lined up featuring all the GSBA corporate sponsors including Wells Fargo, Pacific Medical, Microsoft, Amtrak, 1st Security Bank, Sound Publishing, with goodie bags filled with mugs, water bottles, stuffed toys, and even hand sanitizer. The always-fab piano man Victor Janusz provided live background music for the pre-luncheon showcase as he had done at the GSBA's recent Equalux scholarship fundraising gala.

On the McCaw Hall mezzanine level round tables were set up with salad-filled plates and rolls for the luncheon. I was honored to share a table with GSBA president and CEO Louise Chernin and special guest and keynote speaker Washington's former Governor Christine Gregoire.

(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.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: Ham for the Holidays is Back and Gayer than ever!

Shielding the Candy?    (Bennion)

By MK Scott

It is that time of year again that we get to Check IN with the Spudds and the Drama queens of the Sequim Gay Men's Chorus and more at Ham for the Holidays: Jurassic Pork.  Always performed by Seattle comedy legends of Lisa Koch and Peggy Platt! Also last but not least the supporting talents of Michael Oaks, Abbie Drake and the ripping beefcake of Joel Domenico (Judy's Scary Christmas, Robbie Turner Revue) plus newcomer, Bruce Hall, made his debut as Musical director and new head of the Sequim Chorus, replacing DJ Gommels  .

Once again (For 4 years in a row) with a larger budget at ACT Theater and a Full house, this comedy masterminds went from sketch after sketch with professional ease.

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.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: SMC's Silver and Soul is Bittersweet with the Old and the New!

 (John Pai)

by MK Scott

It wasn't easy last season for the Seattle Men's Chorus as they prepared to say farewell to Dennis Coleman who was retiring after being the artistic director for 35 years. With a new conductor at the helm, Paul Caldwell is headed for a slow, but positive start.

If you hadn't heard about Caldwell being a victim of a Hit and Run, you were missing out. As we learned more about Caldwell we learned he is slowly returning and has lots of respect to preserve the Coleman Legacy. As a speaker, Caldwell inspires more so then the mild-mannered Coleman.

With no Guest artist, the first time in over a decade, it was just the chorus and the audience getting to know Mr. Caldwell.

The small orchestra was the best in recent memory and the songs had a different sound.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: Seven divas from 'Rupaul's Drag Race' invade the Moore Theatre; Latrice Royale steals the show!

by MK Scott

Seven divas from 'RuPaul's Drag Race' hit Seattle's Moore Theater on Monday evening with 'A Drag Queen Christmas' and there were great performances; but the Queen of the Night went to Season 4's Latrice Royale who was the one of the queens that the audience stood up to applaud for and who actually had something to say that resonated with the audience.

'No orange man with bad hair is gonna steal my joy,' Royale said to the roaring crowd, after her splendid dancing, flagging and lip sync performance.

The event was hosted by Season 8 star, Thorgy Thor, who came out and kicked a stuffed head to the audience and asked the male receiver to come up on stage to drink a holiday shot.

The biggest upset of the night was a no-show by Season 4's Alyssa Edwards.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: Bernadette Peters at Benaroya Hall was truly a night to remember!

by MK Scott

It was a full house at Benaroya Hall this past Saturday, when Broadway diva Bernadette Peters took the stage in a solo performance to demonstrate what an incredible performing artist she truly is.

Accompanied by a 12 piece orchestra, headed by the legendary Marvin Laird, who was the musical director for Peters' starring performances on Broadway in 1999's Annie Get Your Gun and 2003's Gypsy. The band was in top-notch form as Peters came out onto the stage in a long, violet-colored, sequined gown, singing 'Let Me Entertain You.'

Peters talked about her love of Stephen Sondheim, but also sang a few songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein, including South Pacific's 'There is Nothin' Like a Dame.'

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

(OUTview NW) Re-view: "Peter and the Starcatcher" is only part of the story, but that is A-OK!

Peter not flying yet! (John McLellan)

by MK Scott

Oh, Peter Pan, you know that show with Mary Martin and later Cathy Rigby, you know the story?

How about the Backstory? No, this is not 'Finding Neverland" about author, J.M. Barrie, but more of a prequel called "Peter and the Starcatcher" co-written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, and Adapted  by Rick Elice (“Jersey Boys”) that opened the past weekend at West Seattle's Artswest Playhouse.

Directed by the FAB, Eric Ankrim who helmed last years huge hit, "American Idiot" surely brought the youthful energy to this production.

The cast is 99% men with the exception of the refreshing,  Aly Gutierrez as Molly. Plus Molly's Nanny and Head Mermaid, is played with Pizazz by Nathan Brockett.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: Seattle Rep's "King Charles III" is a scandalous look at the Royals in the near future!!

William betrays Charles!  (Michael Doucett)

by MK Scott

With the Drama of Shakespeare to a modern day comedy, it all works in Seattle Rep's (co-produced  by American Conservatory Theatre and The Shakespeare Theatre Company) new lavish production of "King Charles III" by Mike Bartlett.

It is nearing, 2022 and Queen Elizabeth II has died after reigning the UK for 70 Years, and Prince Charles is automatically King (without  ceremony) and that is when it gets complicated with hilarious results.

There are numerous times of when an actor has a long monologue in the style of Shakespeare, but in a tone that most people can understand.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: Seattle Rep's "A Raisin in the Sun" is Beyond a Classic, It is a Testament in Class!

Walter thinks he is Da Man, Ruth isn't so sure! (Alabastro)

by MK Scott

I confess, I never saw 'Raisin in the Sun' by Lorraine Hansberry, on stage until now. I never saw the 1961 film starring Sidney Poitier, but I did see the stunning 2008 TV film starring Sean Combs and Phylicia Rashad and was somewhat familiar with the story.

In the new production at the Seattle Rep, you see from the get go of why this play is endearing Classic and still holds up today over 55 years later.

The Play isn't just about racism in 1960's Chicago, but more about Class-ism and working your butt off to get somewhere in life.

For the Younger family, waiting for their payday comes in the form of the late-patriarch's $10,000 life insurance payout and ideas of how to spend it. Walter Lee (Played by the Fab, Richard Prioleau) is tired of working as a chauffeur and wants to invest the money in a get rich quick scheme. His Mother, the old and wise, Lena (the incredible,  Denise Burse) wants to buy a house away from the ghetto to show that they have accomplished the American Dream. Walter's Wife, Ruth (Mia Ellis), supports that idea, especially learning she is pregnant. Walter's Free-spirited sister, Beneatha (Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako) is a Med student, her Nigerian classmate Joseph Assangai proposes to her, wanting to take her to Africa with him after they finish school, but she is unsure what to do.

(OUTview AMERICA) Carrie Turns 40 and hits BluRay Today: See MK's 2013 Chat with Sissy Spacek!

In 1976, Carrie, the "absolutely spellbinding horror movie" (Roger Ebert) directed by Brian DePalma (Scarface, The Untouchables, Dressed to Kill) and based on the best-selling Stephen King novel, premiered in theaters, forever changing the landscape of horror films, and launching much of its outstanding cast into stardom.

TODAY (10/11), the SCREAM FACTORY™ home entertainment brand celebrates the 40th anniversary of the film with a 2-disc Collector's Edition Blu-ray release which includes a brand new 4K scan of the film and nearly 3 hours of bonus material.

The first film adaptation of a Stephen King book, Carrie was a box office hit, garnering Academy Award® nominations for the up and coming star Sissy Spacek (Coal Miner's Daughter), and film veteran Piper Laurie (The Hustler), a rare accomplishment for the horror genre at the time. Featuring the first major film roles for John Travolta, who was then starring in TV's Welcome Back Kotter, Nancy Allen (RoboCop) and William Katt (The Greatest American Hero), Carrie was also the big screen debut for Amy Irving (Yentl), P.J. Soles (Halloween) and Betty Buckley (Eight Is Enough).

MK w/ Spacek in 2013              (Wang)

At the center of the film's terror is Carrie (Spacek), a high school loner with no confidence, no friends... and no idea about the extent of her secret powers of telekinesis. But when her psychotic mother and sadistic classmates finally go too far, the once-shy teen becomes an unrestrained, vengeance-seeking powerhouse who, with the help of her 'special gift,' causes all hell to break loose in a famed cinematic frenzy of blood, fire and brimstone.

Over the last 40 years the ultimate revenge fantasy has become one of the all-time great horror classics, and Carrie is now, finally, offered as a definitive, two-disc Collector's Edition Blu-ray.

In 2013, I had the opportunity to chat with Sissy Spacek on the Red Carpet at SIFF minutes before receiving her lifetime achievement award.

(OUTview NW) Theater RE-view: Artswest's "GHOSTS" is Classic Ibsen Plus a Whole Lot of AMAZING!

No 'GHOSTS' but a whole-lotta Drama! (Artswest)

by MK Scott

When I think of Ibsen, I recall doing a scene from A Doll's House in College and being told by the instructor that I was no longer the shy kid that she met 2 years earlier I was an actor and I never forgot that.

So when I saw that our friends at Artswest was doing an Ibsen ONE Act play called Ghosts, I knew I would enjoy it and I certainly did.

It turns out that Henrik Ibsen originally called it Gengangere, back in 1881 and according to Wikipedia, totally disliked  English translator William Archer's use of the word "Ghosts" as the play's title, as the Norwegian Gengangere would be more accurately translated as "The Revenants", which literally means "The Ones who Return".

The subjects were quite controversial during its time which includes religion, venereal disease, incest and euthanasia, etc.

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.

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.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: an International Scandal turns into an AMAZING threesome in Bad Apples at ACT!

Chadwick, Taylor and Hagreen shine! (Jeff Carpenter)

by MK Scott

Back in 2004, America was stunned at the actions of the guards of Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad, and it was clear that this wasn't your grand-daddies war.

The images of the prisoners in shocking poses along with images of the 3 guards tells one story. In the new rock-musical, Bad Apples,  by Jim Leonard and music and lyrics by Beth Thornley and Rob Cairns,  currently at ACT Theatre (co-presented by Circle X in LA and our very own Artswest in West Seattle} is something different and very reminiscent from last fall's "American Idiot" at Artswest.

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).'

.

(OUTview AMERICA) Former Seattle writer Dominic Holden to receive the 2016 NLGJA Journalist of the Year award!

by MK Scott

In the fall of 2014, Seattle bid adieu to former Stranger News Editor, Dominic Holden as he made the move to New York City and was hired almost immediately at Buzzfeed as a National LGBT Reporter.

This Saturday, September 10, Holden will receive the 2016 Journalist of the Year award from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalism Association at their annual convention being held in Miami South Beach, Florida this year.

In a recent NLGJA press release, one judge wrote, 'Holden presents a really strong mix of thoughtful trans stories, a good take on familiar subject matter, some really strong characters and good depth.' Holden additionally took second place in News Writing (Non-Daily) for 'Why Are Black Transgender Women Getting Killed in Detroit?'

(OUTview NW) CONCERT RE-view: It was all about the legendary Nile Rodgers at the Chic/Duran Duran double play in Everett!

MKS

by MK Scott

The number one concert on my bucket list was finally realized when Duran Duran played the Xfinity Arena in Everett on Thursday, September 1st.

Ever since I was 14 years old, I wanted to be Simon Le Bon. Some would say the same about bass guitarist, John Taylor (the cutest), or keyboardist, Nick Rhodes (super-androgynous). But with Simon, he had great hair, clothes and voice.

Even today, Le Bon, 57, is gorgeous, and a little rugged with facial hair. Taylor, 56, is looking kind of burned out, in a Keith Richards (the Rolling Stone's lead-guitarist) kind-of-way. Rhodes, 54, announced in June that he was taking time off toward the end of the summer tour; and during the concert said who else would fill Rhodes' makeup and high-heels but Amanda Warner - yes, a woman.