(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Live on Stage's Rocky Horror keeps the 'Tradition' ALIVE!

by MK Scott

I found myself back in Portland (this past weekend) seeing another Friend's show that he directed. This show was different in style with the previous show, Pixiedust's 'La Cage Aux Folles' directed by fellow BHS alum, Greg Tamblyn, and now coming down to see  Live on Stage's 'Rocky Horror Picture Show', directed by other BHS Alum, John Oules, who was also involved with La Cage is some complacity. Obviously the shows are different but Both had the same style.


This infamous musical is written by Richard O’Brien, with musical direction by Darcy White and choreography by Kemba Shannon.

I am so used to seeing the film and it was hard not to compare. The obvious was the lack of special effects, but I will ignore that detail since it is about the cast and music.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Here come the Marines! Artswest stages the Seattle Premiere of 'Dogfight', The Musical!

Photo: Michael Brunk

by MK Scott

Attended the Opening Weekend of the movie turned Stage Musical, 'Dogfight' at Seattle's Artswest Playhouse. It was originally a joint-production of Balagan, but its recent closure, Artswest took over.

Based closely on Nancy Savoca’s intimate, thoughtful 1991 film, “Dogfight”, which I barely remember, has a fresh new look on the stage, but more of the Hot, Young American sort of way, with a little Full Monty added.

The movie, as I recall,  was an indie showcase for its remarkably gifted young stars, Lili Taylor and River Phoenix. The two sensitively enacted the tentative romance between Rose, a bright, plain-featured, folk-singing San Francisco waitress, and Eddie, a cocky new Marine about to ship off to Southeast Asia. (The time is 1963, before the Summer of Love and during the early U.S. ramp-up of military intervention in Vietnam.)

(SLGFF 2014) WRAP UP: The Best, Good, Fair and Worst Films, according to MK!

by MK Scott

Now that the 2014 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival is over I could now reveal my Picks for the Best, Good, Fair, and Bad films coming to a Film Fest, Theater or DVD in the coming year.

The Circle is a Oscar Pre--Nominee

BEST
Narrative: 
The CIRCLE (Switzerland)-Part Narrative and Part Documentary you get full story of 2 lovers that met in a secret society in 1950's Switzerland and are treated like Criminals during a Murder Investigation. BEAUTIFUL!

Pride (Special Event)-Not Part of the Fest, this was a Preview a week before the Opening and one of the Best films regarding 1980's Britain, since Kinky Boots and Billy Elliott. Watch this will be adapted into a Broadway Musical at some point. This film will make you jump for JOY!

DOC: 
Limited Partnership (USA)- Back in 1975, Colorado started issuing Marriage Licenses to same sex couples and  Tony Sullivan (native from Australia) marries (Filipino-American) Richard Adams, but as the First Bi-National Couple, they are called the F-Word by INS and are forced to leave the country together or apart. They choose to fight and were only parted by death, Bring the tissues, It is EMOTIONAL!

Regarding Susan Sontag (USA) -The Lesbian version of last year's hit, BIG JOY: The James Boughton Story.

Back on Board (USA)- Olympic Legend, Greg Louganis is about ready to lose his house and live in a trailer, when he is called upon to be a mentor  for the Olympics to meeting and marrying his true Love and as we see his story unfold during the good and rough times, Louganis shows he is a survivor and a true Hero. Yes, There was a standing ovation. 

SHORTS:
If we Took a Holiday (USA)- Brilliant!
The Disgustings (USA)-Bitchy FUN!
Squared (USA)-Burning down Gaysian Stereotypes!
Cruising Electric (USA)-Nostalgic Fun!
Dinner at 40 (USA)-All Star Fun!
Sex Date (USA)-Unexpected LOVE!
Good Morning (USA)- Too Young to Bang!
Barrio Boy (USA)-A Barber shop Fantasy!

(SLGFF 2014) Audience and Jury WINNERS List!

Jury Awards for Excellence in Filmmaking
Our Awards for Excellence in Filmmaking are chosen by an esteemed panel of jurors and include a cash prize.

Short Film Jury Awards

Best Short Film: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Directed by Melissa Finell / USAJury statement: "DISASTER PREPAREDNESS is a comedic human relations story with three dimensional characters. It is a metaphorical storm with great writing, acting and sound."

Most Innovative Short: UNICORN

Directed by Rodrigo Bellot / Bolivia

Jury statement: "UNICORN has unique cinematography, sound and lighting. It is a different kind of storyline. An exposé documentary told through an exquisite narrative of a difficult real life event."

Documentary Film Jury Awards

Best Documentary Feature: OUT IN THE NIGHT

Directed by Blair Dorosh-Walther, Produced by Giovanna Chesler, USA

Jury statement: "OUT IN THE NIGHT emphasizes the dire need for justice and elicits an urgent call for equality in our systemically biased judicial system. And even more, it implores us all to reflect on how we challenge the criminalization of black bodies, especially queer black bodies, in America."

OUT IN THE NIGHT

(SLGFF 2014) What's at the Fest this FINAL Weekend?

The 2014 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Fest Concludes @ AMC Pacific Place, Here are our suggestions!

Fri, 10/17:

7:00p: Match (with Special Guest, Matthew Lillard)

9:45p: Eat with Me 



SAT, 10/18:

12:15p: The Muppet Movie 

1:00p: In with the OUT


3:00p: SHORTS: Real Queer Youth

4:30p: The Circle

7:00p: Xenia

9:45p: The Dark Place

SUN, 10/19:

12:30p: Honest Liar

2:45p: SHORTS: Family Ties

6:30p: CLOSING: Life Partners

(SLGFF 2014) INTER-view: MK chats with Director, Patrk-Ian Polk about 'Blackbird', Isaiah Washington, and any more Noah's Arc(?)!

Polk poses w/ Julian Walker, Star of 'Blackbird"  

by MK Scott

This Past Sunday was the Seattle Screening of Patrik-Ian Polk's latest, Blackbird, a story about a teen that wrestles with coming out and his love for God. His Parents are played by Oscar Winner, Mo'nique and Isaiah Washington (Yes, Grey's Anatomy) and set in Polk's Hometown of Hattiesburg,  Mississippi. I was able to chat with Patrik on various topics related to the Film as well what's ahead with his LOGO's Noah's Arc.

(SLGFF 2014) What's at the Fest this week?

The 2014 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Fest Continues, Here are our suggestions!

MON, 10/13:


7:00p: Rosie @ EGY

9:30p: Power Play SHORTS @ EGY

TUES, 10/14:

7:00p: I Feel Like Disco @ EGY
          Trans Shorts @ NWFF 

9:15p: Never @ EGY
          The Way He Looks @ NWFF


WED, 10/15:

7:00p: Appropriate Behavior @ EGY
          Tough Love Shorts @ NWFF       

9:15p: Something Must Break @ EGY
          Queens and Cowboys @ NWFF 

Yes, Alec is coming and so are we!

 THURS, 10/16:

5:00p: Alec Mapa: Baby Daddy @ NWFF

7:00p: 52 Tuesdays @ EGY
           Chance Encounters Shorts @ NWFF

9:30p: A Reunion @ EGY

(SLGFF 2014) What's at the Fest this weekend?

The 2014 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Fest has begun, Here are our suggestions!

SAT, 10/11:

12:30p: Limited Partnership @ EGY

2:30p: Silent Youth @ NWFF

7:00p: Tiger Orange @ EGY

9:15p: Club King @ EGY

11:30p; Lyle @ EGY

SUN, 10/12:

2:30p: Boy Shorts @ EGY
          Regarding Susan Sontag @ NWFF

7:00p: Blackbird @ EGY

9:30p: 10 Year Plan  @ EGY

(SLGFF 2014) EXCLUSIVE INTER-view: MK's 8 Questions plus 1 BURNING for Greg Louganis, the subject of Back on Board!

lgbtqnation.com

by MK Scott

The Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival opened this past Thursday, with Greg Louganis' Documentary, Back on Board: Greg Louganis. In attendence was Greg Louganis and I had Brief moment with the Olympic Diving Gold Medalist and Gay/AIDS Activist. 

MK: In the Film, it focuses on your rise to Fame, but also some of your darkest moments, what is like to Re-live That?

GREG: Very cathartic.


MK: Do you still think about (your abusive late BF) Jim?

GREG: Not really.


MK: In the film, you show you are a True survivor of Bullying, do have any advice to young people going through that?

GREG: A Letter to My 16-Year-Old Self

MK: It came full circle at the London Games, when became a mentor, Do you feel that you are finally going in the right path, and Will you be part of Rio Games in 2016?

GREG: I hope so.


MK: With Tom Daly and Matthew Mitchum coming OUT, what do you think of the progress from the last 25 to 30 years?

GREG: Yes.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Monsoon and Scales come Full-Circle and Bring 'The Vaudevillians' Back to Seattle!

Photo: Nate Watters

by MK Scott

Before Jinkx Monsoon, was Drag Superstar, Jinkx Monsoon and just Cornish College student, Jerick Hoffer and before Major Scales was just fellow Cornish student, Richard Andriessen, they got together to stage their Kiki and Herb inspired 2010 Cabaret show, "The Vaudevillians" at the now defunct, Balagan Theater in a basement of a Capitol Hill Thai Restaurant.

So after winning Rupaul's Drag Race in 2013, Monsoon was able to bring "Vaudevillians" to a Sold Out Off-Broadway run at New York's Laurie Beechman Theater that was extended 3 Times! Now after a 3 month tour in Australia, Monsoon and Scales, come full circle with a wealth of experience to Seattle Rep for a month long engagement in the Leo K Theater.

 Monsoon portrays Kitty Witless and Scales as Dr. Dan Von Dandy, a vaudeville couple who were frozen in an avalanche in the 1920s but have now thawed out thanks to global warming.


The two were quite the songwriters in their day, though not so good at copyrighting their creations, and here in the present they find that many of their tunes have been appropriated by more recent stars. That gimmick enables “The Vaudevillians” to lay claim to any song since that fictional avalanche, and the show mixes staples like Cynidi Lauper's 'Girls just wanna have Fun' in a 1920's style and “I Will Survive” with DJ Kool and Lady Gaga.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: the Robbie Turner Revue is 'Simply Flawless'!

La Vie Photography/www.LaViePhoto.com

by MK Scott

Now, there have been times when Robbie Turner has been mistaken around Town (Seattle) for the our very own, Jinkx Monsoon, but Robbie has come into his own, thanks to the web series Hit, 'Capitol Hill' and stepping away from Le Faux, which he played, everything from Liza and Gaga and many more for several years. Now Robbie has come into his own with his new monthly Revue at Seattle's Hard Rock Cafe (Yes, at the Hard Rock).


Directed by Famed, Seattle Director, Troy Wageman, this show has Timing and supporting cast of 5 (2 women and 3 men) singing and dancing behind Turner and perfoming separately during Turner's several Costume changes. Turner does his own singing as he transforms flawless as a Glamorous songtress.

The gorgeous costumes were designed and constructed by Rising Fashion Star, Michael Cepress. 

Yes, it was not 'Completely Flawless', the 2 sketches (The Church choir and Shari's) fell flat, mostly due to sound issues, from being on the far end of the bar, and the fact Turner was not on stage, then Turner arrived at the end to save the sketch from impending death to uplifting performance.

Overall, Watch Turner, follow in the footsteps of Monsoon and Delacreme to being the next rising star!

The Next Robbie Turner Revue will be on November 16th. Get your Tix Now!  

MORE PHOTOS: 

(OUTscene NW) Inter-view: MK catches up to a Super Busy, Jinkx Monsoon, about bringing 'The Vaudvillians' Back to Seattle!

Jinkx w/ Scales

by MK Scott

It has been another Great Year for Seattle's Treasure, Jinkx Monsoon (aka, Jerrik Hoffer), I last saw her back in April at LA premiere of  'Return to Grey Gardens' and after taking her Hit show, The Vaudvillans, from Seattle to PTown to Off Broadway, Jinkx is Back and bringing other character, Kitty Witless, along with Major Scales as Doctor Dandy for a sold out show at the Seattle Rep for one month only. Jinkx was kind of enough to respond to my questions.

(MOVIE FREAK) Re-views of Gone Girl; Annabelle; Boxtrolls!

by Sara Michelle Fetters

Gone Girl

Rating: R
Distributor: 20th Century Fox

Bleakly Satirical Girl Speaks Unsettling Marital Truth!

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: In Artswest's The Mountaintop, MLK, Jr has one more DREAM!

by MK Scott

On the heals of seeing another 60's icon, Marilyn Monroe's brush on the afterlife, a few weeks back in Sleep Marilyn and Dream, it is refreshing to see another play going on the journey and focusing on a very timely subject of Class and Poverty as depicted in Katori Hall's 2009 Play ,The Mountaintop, now playing at Seattle's Artswest Playhouse.

The play is a fictional depiction of the Reverend Martin Luther King's last night on earth set entirely in Room 306 of the Lorraine Motel on the eve of his assassination on April 4, 1968.

King (the Brilliant, Reginald A. Jackson) is worn down and targeted by Militants as not focusing on the Black Equality as much as the poor and poverty. When a feisty Black maid named Carmae (The sassy, Brianne Hill) shows up at his door in the rain, King as a Man, can not resist her youthful beauty.

As they debate progress and the meaning of life, King becomes Paranoid, when Carmae calls him by his given name of Michael and realizes this is a sign from the great beyond to help him leave this life for the afterlife.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Marilyn's trip to Heaven: A Triple Triumph!

Ison's Marilyn                        Kulcsar

by MK Scott

It was a chilly August night and I was looking for a show to see and so I came across a play about Marilyn Monroe at the Seattle Public Theater,  Sleep, Marilyn and Dream, a new play Written, Designed, and directed by Hungarian bred, David Kulcsar,  as he told me in an Exclusive interview, is a play about "The inspiration behind the play was to tell a story in which I could explore current issues ( class, media, income inequality, and immigration/citizenship) by putting it into an artistic context; in this case, Marilyn Monroe in an afterlife where people in Purgatory are used as labor in Heaven. I also really wanted to show a different side of Marilyn and explore the things that mainstream media doesn't really show about her (her fear of sex, her childhood, etc.) So, I created what I did to tell both stories in one neat little package. It's a project I always wanted to do, but I didn't start writing it until around November of last year when I had a dream in which Marilyn Monroe and I were having coffee, and she not only knew my name, but asked about the play...".

Yes, you read that right, Marilyn (looking like she is 28) arrives in Heaven, 54 years later, it was delayed, largely based on her apparent suicide and now she has a suite in the Lush Hollywood highrise and is visited by old friends, Marlon Brando (Kulcsar), Jane Russell (Mindy Beal), and meets Audrey Hepburn (Emily Shuel) for the first time.

(Jet City Boy Culture) The Rage That Stands Between Us!

A writer's journey of dating and living gay in Seattle exposed.

 by Tristan Wilde

It’s often said that there is a fine line between love and hate. In the world of dating, the idea of finding that special someone with whom we hope to eventually fall in love can easily eclipse any of the negative attributes found in our potential suitors. First dates and first kisses fill us with giddiness, instead of fear. Conversations are often thick with enthusiasm, not veiled threats. However, the more we get to know a person, the more we see their true nature. And sometimes, in that poignant realization, we discover that the person we thought we could love is nothing more than a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Seattle's original Piano Man, Victor Janusz, shines his Spotlight at Seattle's ACT!

Janusz Shines!                     Photo:  Smith

by MK Scott

Victor Janusz is a Seattle Treasure, and it was about time after collaborating with such stars as Arnaldo!, Phoenicia, Sylvia, and more, Janusz, who has played every corner of our community as well as NYC, has written a show all about himself with Hands Solo, now playing at Seattle's ACT. I personally attended this show this past weekend and even knowing the artist for over 14 years, I learned more about him and was impressed even more on his body of work as a performer (Mr. Pianoman), Actor (He was in the West Coast Premiere of the Normal Heart 1986), and as a human being (Activist).

Janusz poses with a photo of his parents.       Photo: Smith

I have seen Janusz work his magic at countless appearances from a smokey bar in Downtown Seattle to a Top floor classy Lounge overlooking the Seattle skyline.

As I said, I learned a lot about Janusz’s career (method acting, many cabaret stints, 9 years of playing piano for shoppers at Nordstrom), his family (Mexican and Polish decent) and his private commitment to his late partner over 20 years ago. It was also great see old photos from his youth.

Hands Solo, actually premiered in New York at the famed Duplex in 2010, and was developed as part the 2008 Cabaret workshop at Yale University.

The show continues this weekend 7/17 to 20)  at ACT. Through July 20 at ACT Seattle; (206-292-7676 or acttheatre.org).

(OUTscene NW) SMC returns from Germany Tour with lots of Stories to Tell!

SMC Performing at St. Pauli Ruine in Dresden, Germany

The Seattle Men's Chorus would like to extend  warmest thanks to all those who helped make the Falling in Love Again Germany Tour possible. There are extremely grateful for the opportunity to have shared this compelling and important work with new audiences in Germany, and as SMC member Bryn Nelson details on the SMC blog, it was a moving and memorable experience.

Check out SMC's Facebook page for tour photos and videos.

(OUTscene NW) Concert RE-view: Cher's Dressed to Kill hits Seattle's Key, but is this really the end? Hell, No!

Cher is No Diva, she is an icon!

by MK Scott

It has been 10 years since Cher has performed in the Pacific NW, and after the 3 Year Farewell Tour, and her successful Vegas Show, Cher is Back from she belongs on the Dressed to Kill tour, entertaining the masses. Cher claims this is the last Tour, but can this truly be the end? Hell, No!

This past Saturday at Seattle's Key Arena (which the audience was at least 60 to 80% Gay) Cher returned and put on quite a show, and I discovered that Cher could possibly be a Vegas show in the making and be an actual Age Impersonator (much like the Female impersonators that emulate her). Cher had to remind the audience several times that she is 68, and then can transform herself through wigs and costume changes back to her 20's with 60's Cher, her 30's with 70's Cher, and her 40's and 50's. She is so believable that she takes us on the journey. How can this be the end?

From the moment the curtain was raised and she was singing her new song, Woman's World, perched on the top of a high pedestal with gorgeous gown and peacock head dress.

(OUTscene NW) Concert RE-view: Cyndi Lauper ROCKS Seattle with PASSION and PRIDE!

Photo: Dan Lane

by MK Scott

It was a Double Deal, with 2 Gay Icons on the same night that it needs 2 Re-views. This past Saturday, at Seattle's Key Arena, was the much anticipated  Cher and Cyndi Lauper Double tour. I will post the Cher review tomorrow, but now it is all about Cyndi and how at 61, she brought it all back.

Lauper is celebrating her 30th Anniversary Milestone of her Legendary album, She's So Unusual, and she still is and she loves her Gay audience and we love her.

Cyndi entered the arena through a crowd as if she was entering the wrestling ring, draped in a Rainbow Flag singing, She Bop!

Cyndi acknowledged Pride almost immediately  and the crowd roared, as we sang I'll Kiss You and Witness.

Lauper said she was honored that Cher invited her back to tour with 11 years since Cher's 1st round of her 3 year Farewell Tour. She then sang Cher's Favorite song, 1985's All Through the Night.