(OUTscene NW) She's Back! The Man behind Jinkx returns as Hedwig for this week Only at Seattle's Moore!

by MK Scott

It has been quite a year for Seattle Based Actor and Drag Superstar, Jinkx Monsoon, last January she starred as Hedwig at Balagan and within 4 Months, was the toast of the Drag world as winner of Rupaul's Drag Race Season 5, playing Velma in 5th Ave's Hairspray Concert and success in New York with her show the Vaudvillians. Jinkx returned to Seattle and is once again
doing double duty in Delacreme's  'Homo for the Holidays', and returning for Balagan's 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch", for this week only. As Actor, Jerick Hoffer, it is about his craft. So I caught up with the Man about his creation back before it all exploded.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Ham for the Holidays: BIGGER and BOLDER than EVER!

Photo credit: Chris Bennion

by MK Scott

Ham for the Holidays is a Seattle Holiday Tradition and after years of small cabaret-style shows at the Theater Off-Jackson, They have moved up, and Got a Bigger theater to help stage a Larger version with all the familiar characters, but funnier than ever before.

This year's show was called, 'Close Encounters of the Pork Rind' and performed at Seattle's ACT Theater and starring the super team of Peggy Platt and Lisa Koch with supporting players, Michael Coates and DJ Gommels.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: SPT's SantaLand Diaries, a Hilarious view of being an Actor in NY (During the Holidays)!

by MK Scott

About 10 years ago, I was a struggling actor living in NYC and as I hit the pavement from one casting director after another, with a goal to get a walk on role in a Soap, but I was turned down. It was hard to succeed in a pool of actors all wanting to a get a big break. To make ends meat, I worked 3 jobs and 2 out of 3 was for low minimum wage. One of those jobs was the Original Macy's store, not in any glamorous department but the COAT Dept!

So I can relate to writer/actor David Sedaris's 1992 essay, "Santa Land Diaries", who wrote the piece as a true and humorous account of his stint working as a Christmas elf in "SantaLand" at Macy's department store. Sedaris launched his career as a humorist with his 1992 reading of the essay on National Public Radio; since then, it has been adapted and performed by theatres and playhouses across the United States, including the Seattle Public Theater.

Patrick Lennon as David, wants to get a acting role on a soap, but is cast as an elf at Macys. In the current stereotypes of a white Santa, David brings out the Racism of parents wanting a white, black or latin Santa.

The Play, thanks to Lennon's take on the role was performed with humor and camp. I really believed he could be Sedaris.

Santa Land Diaries continues at the Seattle Public Theater Through December 24th. For Tix click Here.

(OUTscene NW) PRE-view: CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE Flys IN and OUT of Seattle, This Weekend Only!

Now in its 5th year of touring multiple simultaneous productions, CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE is “so full of energy it could end our dependence on oil” according to the New York Daily News and “stuffed with so much holiday cheer and audacious acts, Scrooge would exit with a big ol’ smile on his face” proclaims the Erie Times News about this “Broadway-worthy spectacle”.

Renowned director Neil Goldberg re-imagines the holiday season with sparkle and suspense one can only dream of in a HOLIDAZE. An international cast of multi-talented and brilliantly costumed artists come to life and perform astonishing feats of disbelief. Experience gingerbread men flipping mid air, toy soldiers marching on thin wires, snowmen daringly balancing, icemen powerfully sculpting, penguins spinning, puppets dancing and reindeer soaring high above a landscape of holiday wonderment. An original music score and some seasonal favorites accompany hundreds of spectacular costumes and holiday dreams in a setting of gigantic gifts, colossal candy canes and 30-foot towering soldiers. The perfect way to come in from the cold, forget the holiday stresses and rediscover the magic of the season.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Artswest's Little Women, the Broadway Musical, works better as light Holiday fare!

Frasca has that Judy Look and Voice/ AWP

by MK Scott

Most are familiar with the classic story of Louisa May Alcott's classic 1869 semi-autobiographical novel, but only a few are aware of the Broadway Musical (with a book by Allan Knee, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, and music by Jason Howland.) that had a short run in 2005 and closed after 55 Previews and 137 performances, starring Broadway star, Sutton Foster as Jo, singing the classic,  "Astonishing!" Now Seattle's Artswest Playhouse has restaged it and as a Holiday piece it works.

The story is familiar and focuses on the four March sisters — brassy, tomboy-like, aspiring writer Jo (EmilyRose Frasca),  romantic Meg (Marissa Ryder), pretentious Amy (Maddy Kennard), and kind-hearted Beth (Amanda L. Carp) — and their beloved Marmee (Cindy Bradder), at home in Concord, Massachusetts while the family patriarch is away serving as a Union Army chaplain during the Civil War. Intercut with the vignettes in which their lives unfold are several recreations of the melodramatic short stories Jo writes in her attic studio.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: CLASSIC Hound of the Baskervilles hits the Stage at Seattle Rep!

by MK Scott

Well, what took so long? It has been over 100 years since Arthur Conan Doyle's Classics Holmes tale, The Hound of the Baskervilles was first published, and it finally hits the stage in a World Premiere at the Seattle Rep.

This classic has adapted by Seattle Actors/Playwrights, David Pichette and R. Hamilton Wright.They had previously successfully adapted Double Indemnity in 2011 for ACT.

The story goes like this: Sir Charles Baskerville (Charles Leggett) is found dead on the grounds of his country house, Baskerville Hall. The cause is ascribed to a heart attack. Fearing for the safety of Sir Charles's nephew and the only known heir, Sir Henry Baskerville (Connor Toms), coming from Toronto, Canada to claim his inheritance, Dr James Mortimer (Basil Harris) travels to London and asks Sherlock Holmes (Darragh Kennan) for help.

Sir Charles Baskerville had become fearful of the legendary curse and its hellhound. Mortimer decided that Sir Charles had been waiting for someone when he died. His face was contorted in a ghastly expression, while his footprints suggested that he was running away from something. The elderly man's heart wasn't strong, and he had planned to go to London the very next day. Mortimer says he had seen the footprints of a "gigantic hound" near Sir Charles's body, though nothing was revealed at the inquest.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: NW Native, Michael Buble' goes BIG at Seattle's Key Arena!

by MK Scott

NW Native, Michael Buble' performed at Seattle's Key Arena this past Friday. Buble', 38, was Bred in near by Burnaby, B.C.

Usually I don't mention an opening act especially if I have never heard of them, but this time Naturally 7 was a perfect match for Buble'. According to other members of the audience, N7, has toured with Buble' before. The 7-member  a Capella group is a band that uses their voices as the instruments.  Opening with the 1972 R & B classic, Summer Breeze and ending with Stevie Wonder's Happy Street with Stevie projected on the big screen during the Yeah, Yeah, Yeah moments.

After a brief intermission, the mood was set for Buble'. A little bit Sinatra, a little Elvis, and a little bit Newton, Buble' is the new King of the standards.

The production was top notch from the beginning with Streams of Flames coming from the stage floor as Buble' came out in a Black tux singing,  Fever.

Surrounded by a full orchestra, Buble continued with Haven't Met You Yet, Try a Little Tenderness,
You Make Me Feel So Young, Moondance,  and Come Dance with Me.

(OUTscene NW) PRE-view: Margaret Cho: 2013 MOTHER Tour Hits the Seattle Moore this Sat, Nov 16th!

Emmy & Grammy-nominated comedian and actress, Margaret Cho is set to perform at The Moore Theatre in support of her new stand-up comedy show called MOTHER. MOTHER is a complicated and completely original take on sex, queer politics, drugs, guns, identity and madness, proving time and time again that boundaries uncrossed are meaningless. Nothing is sacred, least of all, this MOTHER. The cornerstone of MOTHER revolves around Cho’s long-suffering Korean mom and a staple of her shows, Young-Hie Cho.

“It’s great because I get to put a lot of emphasis on my own mother,” Cho explains. “My mother did not prepare me for the world. First – I was named the poetic Korean name “moran” which was perfect for the kids at school to call me “moron” and set me up for a good quarter century of therapy. However, I can clea fish with my bare hands. So there are pros and cons of being from an Asian immigrant family.”

Cho’s TV show now in it’s 5th season, “Drop Dead Diva,” will air brand new episodes through the fall every Sunday on Lifetime .

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Ghostlight's 'Rope' is a Ghastly Must-see!

by MK Scott

This past weekend I ventured out to Ballard for a Gay Play, written in the 20's and set in London, but is loosely based on the crimes of American murderous lovers, Leopold and Loeb. Ghost Light Theatricals is producing currently at the Ballard Underground and Masterfully Directed by Justin Ison. .

Rope is a 1929 British play by Patrick Hamilton, later inspired the 1948 Film of the same name directed by Hitchcock.

The play is set on the first floor of a house in Mayfair, London in 1929. The story concerns two young university students, Wyndham Brandon (Jaryl Draper) and Charles "Granno"Granillo (Geoff Finney) who have murdered fellow student Ronald Kentley as an expression of their supposed intellectual superiority. At the beginning of the play they hide Kentley's body in a chest. They proceed to host a party for his friends and family at which the chest containing his corpse is used to serve a buffet. One of the attendees is Sir Kentley (Peter Cook), the victim's father.

Also in attendence to the Shindig are Kenneth (Zach Simonson, from Seattle Rep's recent American Buffalo), Leia (Lily Cohen), Mrs Debenham (Lori Lee Haener), Rupert (Chris Martinez) and the Sabot the Maid (Dani Suder).

Draper as Wyndham is deliciously evil with superior intelligence, while Finny as Granno is hilarious as he fears of getting caught.

Simonson's Kennneth and Haener's Dedenham were standouts in the comic relief. Martinez' Rupert plays it a naive English gent, but is really on to the duo's crime spree.

For a play that featured Gay Lovers in the 20's you do get the intimacy (In a time when it was illegal), nothing physical, but more so than in the Hitchcock film version.

The set was marvelous with just the right amount of antiques. You Gotta see it as it is Ghastly Treasure before it closes November 23rd!

For More Info and Tickets, call (206)-395-5458 or check out Ghost light Theatricals Here.

(OUTscene NW) Chaka Kahn, The Diva Wows Seattle's Snoqualmie!

(c) LEVY

by MK Scott

Going back 30 years, a Dance craze called Breakin' was emerging as the new Disco. Any new craze needs a Diva and queen, as was Donna Summer to Disco, the Queen of Breakin' in my opinion was the Funky, Chaka Kahn. I remember being at Dances at Middle School and witnessing a circle with individuals taking turns spinning on the Floor, in most cases on their heads! In the background I hear Chaka's 'I feel for You'. Later in the 90's the Dance soundtrack included Chaka again with a remix of I'm Every woman' and the height of Oprah's Booming rise and the song became a theme of Women's empowerment in the 90's.

The newly slim, Chaka Khan played this past Sunday at Snoqualmie Casino and actually started with the Biggest hit,  1984's I Feel for You, it wasn't the full song, but just enough to get the crowd moving.  Then she followed up with I'm A Woman, 1981's What Cha' Gonna Do for Me, Sweet Thing. Through the Fire and Do You Love What You Feel. 

(C) LEVY

Khan left the stage for several minutes and returned to Belt out I'm Every Woman, and with Her 1983 Hit with Rufus' Breakin' anthem, Aint Nobody! 

Kahn at 60 and a New figure is back in great form and her voice is better than ever. Long Live the Queen of the Break Dance!

(OUTscence NW) 18th Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival Closes to Rave Reviews!

SEATTLE - The Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, presented by Xfinity (SLGFF) ended its 18th run October 20 and announced its Jury and Audience Awards at the Closing Night Gala. The festival is produced by award-winning nonprofit, Three Dollar Bill Cinema.

“I’m thrilled that we exceeded our attendance and box office goals,” Jason Plourde, Three Dollar Bill Cinema’s Executive Director said. “More importantly, audience members raved about the quality and fun of this year’s festival and filmmakers from around the globe commented on this being the best film festival they’ve ever attended. That kind of feedback makes me very proud and grateful to the staff and volunteers who make our festival so successful and respected.

Attendance figures for SLGFF broke all previous records. The festival had eight sold out shows, notably the Opening Night screening of I AM DIVINE, the stunning period piece REACHING FOR THE MOON and the unique live performance RETURN TO GREY GARDENS.

(MK SCOTT) MK chats with 'TEST' Director, Chris Mason Johnson, Playing Tomorrow at SLGFF!

by MK Scott

'Test;' is the new film by Chris Mason Johnson (The New Twenty) that has a little of 'Jeffery' meets a little of 'live and Kicking' set in the 1980's. I had a chance speak with Johnson this past June during SIFF 2013 and now it SLGFF screens it tomorrow at NWFF.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Seattle Rep's The Servant of Two Masters is Classic Slapstick with Scripted Improv to the Max!

Image: Courtesy Richard Termine

by MK Scott

Someone suggested I see the Classic Goldoni Play, The Servant with Two Masters, currently being performed at Seattle Repertory Theatre, merely because it was a commedia dell'arte classic. My High School loved performing that style with (2) George Herman's Classics, a Company of Wayward Saints and later, The Eve of All Saints.

This SRT production (Directed by Christopher Bayes) technically its Yale Repertory Theatre's production with a little Seattle flavor thrown in. Classic Improv with an actual script with a few added contemporary names and phrases added in. Think of the Genie (Robin Williams) in Disney's Aladdin with all of the modern day references.

The Servant of Two Masters opens with the introduction of Smeraldina (Julie Briskman), a woman who has traveled to Venice disguised as her dead brother in search of the man who killed him, Florindo (Jesse J. Perez), who is also her lover. Her brother forbade her to marry Florindo, and died defending his sister's honor.  Smeraldina disguises herself as Federigo, (her dead brother), so that he can collect dowry money from Pantaloon (Allen Gilmore), the father of Clarice( Adina Verson), her brother's betrothed. She wants to use this money to help her lover escape, and to allow them to finally wed. But thinking that  Smeraldina's brother was dead, Clarice has fallen in love with another man, Silvio (Eugene Ma), and the two have become engaged. Interested in keeping up appearances, Pantalone tries to conceal the existence of each from the other.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Josh Groban's Emotional return to Seattle!

by MK Scott

Josh Groban, 32,  returned to Seattle's Key Arena for the first time since August 2011, and still showed off his 'Full Package' for a night filled with Humor, Audience interaction, Flurtiness and yeah that Voice!

The opening act was Judith Hill (The Voice, 20 Feet from Stardom) and shined with her Glorious voice. Hill later joined Groban for 'The Prayer', a song that made a 17 year old with the golden voice to make his debut by singing a duet with Celine Dion during a Grammy Rehearsal.

Groban started his set with Brave, False Alarms, February Song and Vincent.

Groban later reflected his Acting Break happened when  he was cast on Ally McBeal  where he sang To Where You Are.

Groban read questions submitted by Audience and once was a mother who asked to have a photo of Josh with her 8 year old daughter. Groban goes walking up to where they are seated and grant her the request.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Balagan's Les Miz is a Labor of Love!

Hobson as Valjean / Photo Credit: Jeff Carpenter

by MK Scott

Les Misérables, the musical based on the novel of the same name by French poet and playwright Victor Hugo, was the first show I covered, back in 1991, when it was on its first National Tour. I was producing and hosting a Public Access show in Portland, and did an entire special on this iconic show. I attended the show and loved every moment of it. I saw it again in 2000 when it played at Seattle's 5th Avenue theater and then of course the movie was spectacular.

This Time I saw a more down-sized version this past weekend at  Capitol Hill's Erickson Theatre in Seattle, produced by the folks at Balagan Theatre (Yes, the folks that knew of the talent of Jerick Hoffer, before the rest of us fell in love the talents of Jinkx Monsoon).

If you felt the emotion and the power from the Movie version, you will no doubt be moved by all the action from a few feet away.

(OUTscene NW) INTER-view: The Psychedelic Furs: The Feel Is Everything!

                                                               Photo: Maggie Butler

by Trent Moorman

In the '80s, there were jelly shoes, and people were hopping on Pogo balls. Every piece of clothing had shoulder pads. It was a time of awkward, stylized spryness. E.T. and Michael Jackson had a fling. Techno music was born, Pac-Man chomped eight-bit dots, Hungry Hungry Hippos and Prozac were invented. Denise Huxtable ran it ALL. In 1981, a band from London called the Psychedelic Furs released the album Talk Talk Talk on Columbia Records. The single was "Pretty in Pink." In 1985, Molly Ringwald asked director John Hughes to write a movie based on the song. She loved it, and could cry better than anyone at your prom. Singer Richard Butler's voice hinted at David Bowie's, and the Furs' dour, poshy post-punk pop became a defining sound of the decade. They touched on an arty new wave and probably never played Hungry Hungry Hippos. Sprung out of the British punk scene of the late '70s, they would go on to cut austere mega-hits like "Love My Way." It was hot, "white hot," as Ringwald would say. Bassist and founding member Tim Butler spoke—in a beautiful, wafting, cursive English accent—from his home in Liberty, Kentucky. He was sitting in his car outside a grocery store waiting for his wife.

Click Here for More!

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Original Jersey Boy, Frankie Valli, 79, Rocks Seattle's SNOQUALMIE!

by MK Scott

The Summer of 1978 was a memorable time for Movie Music, coming from the soundtracks of Saturday Night Fever and Grease. The title track, 'Grease', was my first introduction to the talents of Frankie Valli. My Mom, who was a mega Elvis Fan, happened to have one 'Four Seasons' Album. I was an instant fan.

Who could forget the Hit Broadway show in 2005, Jersey Boys, I bought the Cast CD for my Boyfriend, but he wasn't a big fan of Valli or the show. So I kept the CD, and played it over and over to annoy him.

When I heard that Frankie Valli (Now 79) was going to play my favorite Concert venue, Snoqualmie Casino on August 8th, I had to be there.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Artswest's Production of CHESS; Super Cray Cray!

JEALOUS?      /AWPG

by MK Scott

It was 1986 when I first heard about a HIT Rock musical from London called "Chess" and my High School Drama Department went 'Chess Crazy', similar to the 'Rent' Craze of the 90's and the 'Spring Awakening' Craze of the 2000's. With Chess it had a hit song, Murray Head's 'One Night in Bangkok' playing on the radio and MTV on a regular basis. My classmates were passing Cassette tapes of the soundtrack and My High School Choir performed Selections from Chess during the Winter 1987 concert with staging, lighting, choreography, and black or white T-shirts. Fast Forward 26 Years later as I saw a fully staged production at Seattle's Artswest Playhouse this past Friday.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Season 12's American Idol LIVE was more Ensemble than DIVA!

The Girls back Candace, as she did for them   /MKS

by MK Scott

For the 5th year in a row,  I was there covering the IDOL Live Stop in the Seattle area. (My annual interviews have been postponed until Possible Fall or Winter) Last Friday, I attended the concert, which was the first show on the tour. The Venue selection was downsized from 2 years (2010, 2012) at the Key, 1 Year (2011) at Comcast in Everett, and the 1 Year (2009) at the Tacoma Dome (Adam Lambert's Year). This year was in all places Kent, WA (Season 10's Stefano Langone's Hometown) at the Showare Center. There were plenty of empty seats, and which also happened to be the same night as Paul McCartney at Safeco field. But of course since it have been 2 Months (May 16th was the Finale) since the  Idol Top 10 have been in the limelight. The advertising for the show was pretty minimal, but once again Idol must reinvent itself next season.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Kenny Loggins was 'Alright', 'Footloose' in the 'Danger Zone' of Snoqualmie!

Loggins is 'Finally Home'      /MKS

 by MK Scott

The Mid-80's were some the best times of Film and Music, especially when the two went together and the Movie Sound Track King, by far, was Kenny Loggins and nearly 30 (GULP) Years later, the soundtrack of that time is thanks to Loggins contributions to Pop Culture. Kenny Loggins (Looks Great at 65) returned to his home state (He was Born in Everett, WA) and performed this past Sunday at Snoqualmie Casino's Amphitheatre.