(OUTview NW) EXCLUSIVE: Storm Large brings her new band Le Bonheur to Federal Way on Friday, Dec. 1

by MK Scott

Pacific Northwest favorite Storm Large will take the stage on Friday, Dec. 1, at 8pm at the Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center (31510 Pete von Reichbauer Way S.)

Known as a vocalist for Pink Martini, Large and her new band, Le Bonheur, will deliver a concert rolling with their interpretations of the American Songbook.

Large cartwheeled out of her checkered past across a thousand punk rock stages and into her infamous stint on the CBS rock 'n' roll reality series 'Rock Star: Supernova.' From there, she went on to tour the world, singing in 17 different languages, as vocalist for the joyful little pop orchestra Pink Martini.

Large has performed nationally from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Large is also an actor, playwright and author. Her award-winning one-woman show, 'Crazy Enough,' broke every box office record at Portland Center Stage in 2010. In 2012, she detailed her wild life in a memoir of the same title published by Simon and Schuster.

NPR's Ari Shapiro, co-host of 'All Things Considered' on occasion, also performs with Large and Pink Martini on occasion and I had a chance to chat with her in-person following Shapiro's one-man show, 'Homeward,' this past weekend in Portland, Oregon.

(OUTview NW) Transgender Day of Remembrance at Seattle City Hall!

by MK Scott -

Seattle's annual Transgender Day of Remembrance took place on Monday, November 20, at the Bertha Knight Landes Room at Seattle City Hall. Seattle City Councilmember Lorena Gonzalez was on hand to greet everyone in attendance. Seattle Trans activist Mac McGregor hosted the somber event that also welcomed Jaime Deer, a Transgender officer at the King County Sheriff's Department. Aleksa Manila was on hand to help read the names and tell stories of people who were murdered in 2017 because they were Transgender. At the end of the evening Diverse Harmony sang Sting's 'Fields of Gold' as the pictures and names were once again featured on the screen:

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE: Screen legend Tippi Hedren on her new memoir, sexual harassment in Hollywood from Alfred Hitchcock, and her involvement with the Roar Foundation and Shambala Preserve!

by MK Scott 

Sexual harassment in Hollywood is nothing new, according to screen legend Tippi Hedren, who has finally written her memoir titled Tippi. In the book she writes about her harrowing experience working with film director Alfred Hitchcock on 1963's The Birds and 1964's Marnie. By the time they shot Marnie, the now 87-year-old actress details that Hitchcock was controlling and threatened to ruin her career. So when I was given the chance to ask her about that time, especially as the #MeToo movement is gaining some steam, I jumped at the opportunity. I also asked her about her passion for Wildlife Conservation when I chatted by phone with her on Friday, November 3rd.

(OUTview NW) COME TOGETHER, a benefit for Country Doctor, featuring keynote speaker Gay icon, Cleve Jones, raised $189,020 for new clinic

MKS

by MK Scott

On Saturday. October 14, Country Doctor Community Health Centers hosted a fundraiser at the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) that drew several hundreds of attendees to celebrate and support expansion of services and a new building for their Capitol Hill clinic. They're full steam ahead to 'Bring a Smile to Our Community.' Soon CDCHC will offer dental care, a critical need!

The evening gave a stirring tribute to retiring CDCHC founding executive director, Linda McVeigh, and introduced new CDCHC executive director, Raleigh Watts, to the crowd.

Famed activist and NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt founder, Cleve Jones, gave a remarkable keynote address recounting his life story and history of becoming an activist - his move to San Francisco as a young man, his work and friendship with Harvey Milk, his AIDS activism as co-founder of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, his founding of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, and his current work as a labor activist - all the while emphasizing the importance of coming together to lift our family, friends and neighbors, our community, up as Country Doctor Community Health Centers continues to do through the Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center, the Country Doctor Community Clinic, and their After-Hours Clinic at Swedish-Cherry Hill.

It was a fun, moving and memorable evening.

Sponsors of the event included - Swedish, Gilead, MarPac, LabCorp, Amerigroup, Coordinated Care, Community Health Plan of Washington, Kaiser Permanente, Environmental Works, Seattle Children's, Henry Schein, USI, Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson, and AHF.

To support the ongoing work of CDCHC, please visit their website at https://countrydoctor.org/

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE: Catching up with Broadway, TV star, and musician, Reeve Carney at Steamposium 2017

by MK Scott 

Six years ago, Reeve Carney had just started out on Broadway in title role of the much-talked about Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark musical with the sensational score by Bono with The Edge which was originally directed by Julie Taymor (The Lion King). The show was plagued with a high-budget and the dangerous aerial stunts that even injured a stunt man. In August 2011, I was lucky enough to attend and review Spider-Man and the music and the leading man was what made the show. I met Reeve Carney after the show and he was very gracious. I later learned that his band, Carney, had performed as part of the pit orchestra for the show. I also learned that he is the grand-nephew of TV legend, Art Carney ('The Honeymooners'). In recent years, Carney left Broadway for the starring role of omnisexual, Dorian Gray on Showtime's Penny Dreadful (2014-16) and last year as Riff-Raff in the FOX TV remake of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. So, it was a delight to catch up with Reeve at Steamposium 2017 (also known as Steampunk-Con) at Seattle's Bell Harbor Conference center on October 28.

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE: Catching up with Del Shores and Emerson Collins on A Very Sordid Wedding at TWIST 2017

Photo by Matt

by MK Scott

It was 1999 when Sordid Lives was a surprise hit for filmgoers with an all-star cast that included Bonnie Bedelia, Beth Grant, Ann Walker, Kirk Geiger, Leslie Jordan and Olivia Newton-John. In 2007, it spawned a prequel TV series on LOGO that added Caroline Rhea and Rue McClanahan to the cast. In the much-anticipated sequel to the film, A Very Sordid Wedding, promises a wedding in the tiny Texas town that Sordid Lives was set in. TWIST: Seattle Queer Film Festival screened the film on October 14 with creator and director, Del Shores, along with producer and actor, Emerson Collins in attendance. As I did with their other film, Southern Baptist Sissies, I had a chance to chat with them after the screening.

(TWIST 2017) EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Trudie Styler makes directorial debut in Freak Show!

by MK Scott 

When you think of Trudie Styler, you might know that she is the wife of rock legend, Sting and you might also know her from her environmental causes and even as an actress and producer. When I heard that Styler was making her directorial debut in a queer film and that said film was the closing night film at TWIST: Seattle Queer Film Festival, I jumped at the chance to talk with her about seeing her new film. Freak Show, a coming of age story with an all-star cast including Bette Midler, Laverne Cox and rising star, Alex Lawther (The Imitation Game). If you like such classics as The Curiosity of Chance and GBF, you will love this film. I had a chance to chat with Styler by phone last Thursday (October 12th.)

(OUTview NW) Former Second Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, was keynote speaker at Hopelink's Annual Luncheon which raised $1.19 million for social services

by MK Scott

On Monday, October 16, Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of former Vice President Joe Biden, was the keynote speaker at the 22nd annual Hopelink Reaching Out Luncheon at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue.

Hopelink is the largest social services agency in east and north King County, serving 64,000 people every year.

The luncheon, which was free to attend, was full to capacity with 1800 attendees, all present to make generous donations to Hopelink.

Dr. Biden talked about the challenge of tough times, and the role each of us can play in helping each other, and in building a stronger community. 'None of us needs to fix the whole world,' she said, 'but we can make a difference - one good turn after another.'

During Dr. Biden's speech she talked about balancing her life as a wife, mother, being Second Lady and still keeping her professorship at Northern Virginia Community College; adding to that, was her son, Beau's losing battle with cancer in 2015.

Biden said, 'Sometimes our strength comes from within us. Sometimes it can't. That's where community and groups like Hopelink come in.'

The luncheon raised a record $1.19 million to support Hopelink services.

Today, Hopelink provides a full array of critical social services through a number of different programs, including housing, transportation, case management, financial assistance, employment programs, energy assistance, adult education and literacy training, a vast referral network and six food banks. Hopelink Centers are located in Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland, Shoreline and Sno-Valley/Carnation.

To make a donation and for more information about Hopelink, visit their website, hopelink.org.

(OUTview NW) San Francisco author and Seattle fave Armistead Maupin returned to Seattle to promote new memoir !

by MK Scott

To celebrate the October publication of his new memoir, Logical Family, the iconic queer writer, Armistead Maupin, author of Tales of the City and its sequels, sat down with Seattle Review of Books founder Paul Constant on Monday, October 16 for an insightful and entertaining conversation at the intimate Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall.

With a heartfelt introduction from longtime friend Dennis Coleman (formerly longtime artistic director for the Seattle Men's Chorus and Seattle Women's Chorus), the audience got a first-hand glimpse into the groundbreaking life and work of this legendary writer and activist.

One of the best moments was when Maupin answered a question regarding his writing process, saying: 'Leave them laughing, leave them crying, and leave them wanting more.'

It was an evening to remember.

(OUTview NW) Chris Botti jazzes up Seattle Symphony's Seattle Pops concert!

by MK Scott

After years of missing famed trumpeter, Chris Botti, perform live in Seattle at such local venues as Jazz Alley, I finally got my opportunity, but this time he was part of the Seattle Symphony's Seattle Pops concert - one of my favorite series - at Benaroya Hall this past weekend.

Botti performed with one of the top jazz pianists around, Geoffery Keezer, along with drummer, Lee Pearson and Michael Olatuja on bass.

The program included some incredible solo work by violinist, Caroline Campbell, guitarist, Leonardo Amuedo, and vocals by Sy Smith and Rafael Moras.

Accompanied by the Seattle Symphony conducted by Lawrence Loh, this concert was a mixture of familiar ballads, jazz, rock and American songbook standards.

(OUTview NW) Fashion Week at The Bellevue Collection: With eye-catching fashions, The Bellevue Collection runway shows raise over $93,000 for Special Olympics and Lifespring!

by MK Scott 

The 12th annual Bellevue Fashion Week was held this past weekend with three nights of runway shows and parties at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue. This year, they raised over $93,000 for Special Olympics Washington and Bellevue Lifespring.

On Saturday (9/23) the big event was The Bellevue Collective runway show featuring fashions from Nordstrom, Kate Spade, Eileen Fisher, Michael Kors and more.

Representing Special Olympics Washington was Kirby Winfield, incoming board chairman. He took the stage with his daughter, Kate, who has Downs Syndrome and Autism, to share her story and to thank the audience for purchasing tickets to the event. He then announced that the money raised will go to help 200 athletes compete in the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games, which will be held in Seattle next July - https://www.specialolympicsusagames.org/?.

Introducing the show was Season 4 winner of 'Project Runway,' Christian Siriano, who has designed iconic red carpet looks for the likes of J-Lo, Rhianna, Leslie Jones and more.

Some of the best in eye-candy wore inspired fashions mostly from Ted Baker London, Tommy Bahama and the Armani Exchange.

For more information and post-event news, visit http://fashionweekbellevue.com/

PHOTOS by MK Scott

(OUTview NW) SHE'S BACK: Peaches Christ presents 'Hocum Pokem' (w/ Jinkx Monsoon and Bob the Drag Queen) Sept. 28!

by MK Scott

Kick off the season of the witch with a bona-fide star-studded drag coven. On September 28, Peaches Christ, Bob the Drag Queen and Jinkx Monsoon promise to put a spell on you!

Don't miss the Pacific Northwest premiere of Peaches Christ's SHE-LARIOUS drag stage show parody 'HOCUM POKEM' starring 'RuPaul's Drag Race' alumni Bob the Drag Queen and Season Five winner Jinkx Monsoon. Presented by Qurb Media Group and Peaches Christ Productions.

The star-studded drag coven includes some familiar faces returning from previous Seattle and Portland Peaches Christ productions including: Abbey Roads, Sylvia O'Stayformore, Mackenzie Miller, Isabella Extynn, Tipsy Rose Lee, Visage 'Legs' LaRue, and Strawberry Shartcake.

(OUTview AMERICA) RE-view: Powerful performances and rough passion bring intensity to Afterglow, currently making a splash Off-Broadway

by MK Scott

 I don't get to New York often, but when I do I see as much theater as I can. I saw the musical, Bandstand (Sept. 5) during its final week but instead of another musical like Hello Dolly, Dear Evan Hansen, or even Hamilton, I had much anticipation for an Off-Broadway show (Sept. 6) that is now the talk of the country and which has now been extended for two more months.

As the synopsis on the Afterglow website states: 'Afterglow is a raw, one-act play exploring the emotional, intellectual, and physical connections between three men and the broader implications within their relationships.

'Josh and Alex, a married couple in an open relationship, invite Darius to share their bed one night. When a new intimate connection begins to form, all three men must come to terms with their individual definitions of love, loyalty, and trust as futures are questioned, relationships are shaken, and commitments are challenged.'

Van City Pride 2017: A Rainbow of Characters!

by MK Scott

It had been 5 years since I had visited our neighbors up north in Vancouver, BC for Pride and this time I wanted to bring my fiance', Brian for the parade. Even though there were no Justin (Trudeau) sightings, the mood of this parade was still miles from any Pride you would see in the US of A. Van City Pride is still way less corporate and it even had some Seattle-based companies marching like Starbucks, Microsoft, Amazon, and Nordstrom. The parade is all about community and support from the government. It was also nice to see Seattle's Rainbow City Band marching and also Van City's legendary queen Joan-E as announcer.

(OUTview NW) Victor Janusz's 'Summer Crooners' concert at Egan's in Ballard made the summer swell!

by MK Scott

On Saturday, July 29th Seattle's amazing piano-man, Victor Janusz (VJ) along with his always smooth Medearis Dixson (MD), on sax, appeared in a return engagement at Egan's Ballard Jam House (1707 NW Market St.)

The show was titled 'VJ and his Summer Crooners' with special guests; Arwen Dewey, Marilyn Deering, Mama SUE and Arnaldo! (Out of Drag).

VJ started the show by performing his latest classic, 'Bones of Richard III,' from his current CD, Living in a Blue State, and then spoke with elation about seeing the legendary Burt Bacharach at Jazz Alley a few weeks ago, which lead into a Burt Bacharach medley of 'Are You There With Another Boy?,' 'Knowing When to Leave' and 'The Look of Love.' Later, VJ and MD performed 'Never Can Say Goodbye.'

VJ also announced an upcoming French-English standard album that he has been recording with singer Arwen Dewey who sang the following songs in French: 'Route Nationals 7', 'Sous L' Ciel de Paris' and 'Le Baiser.' One song, 'Via Con Mi' was sung in Italian.

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE: Jake Biondi releases seventh book in his popular BOYSTOWN series!

by MK Scott

'It's finally here and I'm so excited,' author Jake Biondi said of his seventh BOYSTOWN book in a press release, which he released on July 7th. 'The fans' wait is over and they can now discover what happened to their favorite characters whose lives were hanging in the balance at the end of the sixth book.'

The seventh book features a cover created by BOYSTOWN designer Anna Crosswell, who is responsible for the recent redesign of all BOYSTOWN book covers. Featuring the image of a casket, the cover of BOYSTOWN Season Seven teases what readers will find inside its pages.

Biondi recently announced a re-launch of his entire book series with an exciting new look.

'It's going to 'wow' readers from coast to coast,' Biondi said of the series' new design. 'I wanted the BOYSTOWN book covers and all the marketing materials to better represent the drama, excitement, and diversity of the BOYSTOWN series. The new covers hint at the story line twists and turns that readers will find within the books' pages.'

(OUTview NW) EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: R&B sensation Mya to headline Tacoma Pride Party at Club Silverstone on July 8th!

by MK Scott

If you thought that the Cuff Pride Party with Berlin and Vicci Martinez was great, Club Silverstone in Tacoma has something special planned for their annual Pride Party on Saturday, July 8th. Hosted by The Lady Bunny, the headliner there will be R&B singer and actress, Mya. It was 15 years ago when she collaborated with Missy Elliot and was one of the foursome in the iconic Lady Marmalade remake for the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, which was followed by her cameo in the Oscar-winning Chicago as cellmate Mona. I had a chance to chat with by phone last week (June 22).

(OUTview NW) END OF AN ERA: Two Seattle LGBTQ landmarks demolished in one week

by MK Scott

We knew this day was coming, but to lose not one, but two buildings, that each meant so much to many in the Seattle LGBTQ Community (during Pride Week, no less): I am talking about the house on 303 17th Ave. E. (home to the Seattle AIDS Support Group, later called Dunshee House, and then Seattle Area Support Groups & Community Center for 26 years) and the former Brass Door and later Brass Connection and later incarnations (a Gay bar and dance club with various owners and names for over 20 years) at 722 E. Pike St.

For SASG, who vacated the house and moved in late 2015 to its current location on 15th Ave. E. between E. Denny Way and E. John St., it was not clear that the 2,460 SF house that was built in 1906 would ever be torn down. So last week's demolition surprised even myself.

PODCAST (It's FAB w/ MK) Happy Pride with Joey Arias, Terri Nunn and Mya!

MK w/ Joey

Welcome to It's FAB with MK Scott. This month I have some great chats with an old pal, Joey Arias, as well as a new interview with a Woman I have adored since 1982, Terri Nunn from Berlin and the amazing Mya.

(OUTview NW) INTERVIEW: Joey Arias on Pride, Drag and Bowie!

By MK Scott 

Seattle Pridefest on Sunday, June 25th at Seattle Center promises to be a great show to enjoy the
heat from Aleksa Manila to Ms Pak Man and the always fabulous Mary Lambert.

Pridefest has always done well with out of town legends in years past from Jackie Beat to
Amanda Lepore and Lady Bunny. This year brings bon-a-fide legend, Joey Arias to the main stage.
My relationship with Arias goes back to 2010, when she was in town for the screening of 'Arias
with a Twist” at SLGFF. I was elated to chat with her about her return to Seattle.