Category: Entertainment

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2nd Annual Criminal Queerness Festival Goes Global As Part Of NYC Pride

L-R Karen Eilbacher and T Thompson in Waafrika 123 (photo: Sean Velasco Dodge)
Guest post by Lawrence Pfeil Jr. The uprising for social justice and equality in America, which has been expanding exponentially over the past weeks, is not unique to this country.  It has become the catalyst for demonstrations and protests around the world. But in some countries conversations about equality especially for LGBTQ+ people are illegal and silenced.  Queer artists have no stage for their voice or work and are forced to go outside their own countries for the freedom to express who they are. National Queer Theater and Dixon Place, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and NYC Pride, are proud to present the second annual Criminal Queerness Festival, running online June 13–29, 2020. This one-of-a-kind event showcases queer and trans artists from countries that criminalize or censor LGBTQ+ communities. The festival, an official event of NYC Pride, builds a global queer community rooted in activism and dedicated to the equitable treatment of LGBTQ+ people around the world. Through a dozen online performances, conversations, and masterclasses, the Criminal Queerness Festival brings together queer artists, activists, and audiences to address global homophobia and transphobia. All events are free. A schedule, event details, and direct links can be found at dixonplace.org. Originally curated as a live theater festival, the second annual Criminal Queerness Festival has been modified in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The programming centers on the work of four international queer artists whose new plays were scheduled to premiere at Dixon Place in June. Migguel Anggelo, a Venezuelan-born, Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist Mashuq Mushtaq Deen, a resident playwright at New Dramatists and a 2019 Lambda Literary Award Winner Amahl Khouri, a queer, transgender, Jordanian playwright and theater-maker based in Berlin Omer Abbas Salem, a Chicago-based actor and playwright originally from Syria, Turkey, and Egypt. Adam Odsess-Rubin, Artistic Director of National Queer Theater said, “While we can’t gather in person to experience the work of these brave playwrights, I’m humbled that the second edition of the Criminal Queerness Festival has transformed into a truly global event. By moving online, audiences all over the world can now experience the festival’s powerful message that all people deserve the basic human rights of happiness, respect, and safety.” Detailed descriptions for each event available HERE    Lawrence Pfeil, Jr., is a freelance writer/playwright who has reviewed film and theatre, both on and off-Broadway, for media outlets including The Randy Report, the New York Blade, and Edge Publications. You can follow him at TheOUTfront.com.

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Randy Rainbow’s Satirical Take On #BunkerBoy Trump

Inspired by reports that Donald Trump was moved to a bunker as protests surged outside the White House – which sparked the hashtag #BunkerBoy on social media – political satirist Randy Rainbow offers his take on the situation with a parody of ‘The Jitterbug,’ a tune from the stage production of The Wizard of Oz. In the video, Rainbow is searching for the Donald, who’s nowhere to be found. Trump is eventually discovered hiding behind a heavy security door, peeking through a small window.

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Will COVID-19 Halt The Love Scenes & Ball Sequences on POSE?

L-R Dyllon Burnside, Billy Porter (screen capture)
As Pride Month 2020 has begun amid ongoing concerns for dealing with the COVID-19 health threat, this certainly would be a good time to serve up a new season of the critically-acclaimed FX series Pose. But alas, while the first two seasons of the diverse, queer-themed series premiered in time for Pride, this year we are without our fix of ballroom fierceness as production was shut down early in the coronavirus pandemic. Series star Indya Moore, who plays aspiring model ‘Angel Evangelista,’ recently told Variety, “When production paused, I wasn’t shocked — I knew it would happen — but it was a bittersweet moment for me.” “On the one hand, if anyone had gotten sick, it surely would have spread fast,” they added. “On the other hand, most folks working on a production are living paycheck to paycheck. So I was worried about how they are going to survive.” Co-creator Steven Canals shared with the venerable Hollywood outlet that the show will definitely return – it was renewed for Season 3 after just one episode of the second season had aired – but how the storytelling is handled may shift.

“Things like kissing — we will likely forgo those moments,” said Canals. “The place on our show where the biggest impact will be felt will be the ball scenes,” he added referring to the massive number of background actors featured in the dance sequences. “Those scenes have 125 to 150 background actors,” explained Canals. “That’s tricky because that’s such an important and critical part of our show and the narrative. We’re just, only now, having conversations of ‘Is there a world where we forgo these things?’”

Canals shares that the entire season hadn’t been fully scripted yet when the production shut down. “I haven’t had anybody reach out asking for those scripts,” said Canals. “It’s all been about family and really caring for each other’s well-being.” But Canals does guarantee there will be another season of Pose, and one that will put the powerful LGBTQ politics of the series “upfront and center,” where they always have been. “So in terms of the narrative of Season 3 and the way we’re moving forward, I think it will inherently address what’s happening currently with COVID-19,” adds the openly queer screenwriter. “All of that was already baked into the DNA of the show.” It’s hard to imagine the series without the now-iconic ballroom scenes depicting so much LGBTQ tribal pride. Or groundbreaking love scenes between Emmy Award-winner Billy Porter’s ‘Pray Tell’ and Dyllon Burnside’s ‘Ricky Evangelista.’ But trust and believe, the creative powers that brought us the most diverse LGBTQ cast of actors and writers will find a way. Season 1 of Pose is currently available on Netflix with Season 2 joining the lineup on the streaming platform on June 11.

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Flip The Script: I’m The Guest On ‘An Older Gay Guy Show’

Hey folks, happy Saturday! Like most journalists, it’s not often I make myself the story. But since The Randy Report is a blog, there is some leeway, and readers have learned a little bit about me over the years. My friend Joey Hernandez at An Older Gay Guy Show podcast asked to chat with me about how The Randy Report came to be and the daily ins-and-outs of blogging in the world today. From the time I get to my desk each day to how I choose my topics to WHY I even do this, Joey drills down to all things ‘Randy Report.’ I’ve listened to Joey’s award-nominated podcast for years. Aimed toward life after 40 among gay guys, Joey talks and laughs about the trials and tribulations of growing older, sex, health, fitness, TV and films, personal stories and more. He’s funny, candid and with episodes titled “The Craziest Place I’ve Ever Had Sex,” he’s a great listen. If you’re looking for a new podcast to check out – DEFINITELY check out An Older Gay Guy Show. And if you’ve ever wondered about life at The Randy Report, hit the play button below.

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Out Music: Mike½Nelson ‘Crazy World’

Mike ½ Nelson (via Instagram)
Out recording artist Mike½Nelson ponders the plight of the planet in “Crazy World,” the first single and music video release from his new visual EP, All Are Welcome. The pop-noir mid-tempo brims with an uneasy sense of foreboding meant to convey to listeners that it is ok to hit rock bottom. Mike½Nelson’s vocals sit right in the pocket with an edge that cuts like a knife through the hooky chorus. “There have been moments in my life when I couldn’t take it anymore and I had to surrender to a higher truth,” admits the artist. “I mean, look at how things are today. Why shouldn’t we feel despair and rage? The f*cking Nazis and KKK are back. They’re being called ‘very good people.’ The unacceptable has become acceptable. We should feel anguish.” “I wrote ‘Crazy World’ when I was trying to emotionally detach myself from a relationship that wasn’t working anymore,” adds the Iowa native from his NYC home. “My ex was in the throws of an intense opiate addiction, and it was a very volatile experience. At the same time, Sandy Hook, the mass shooting of an elementary school, was in the news and I had this overwhelming feeling that I needed to scream my grief out the window.” In the song and its music video, directed by Max Richardson of HBO’s Euphoria, Mike½Nelson encourages listeners experiencing pain to surrender to it. Especially men, he says. “Society teaches men to suppress their emotions, but if we were given space to feel the pain inside, maybe we would have more music videos and less mass shootings.”

As a gay young man, he admits to feelings of isolation through much of high school, but says he eventually found his niche within the artsy crowd. They would wear outrageous costumes and put on theatrical shows in their town square. It was at that time that he started writing music and continued through his years at the University of Iowa, where he also discovered his first gay bar, a tiny watering hole called “The Alley Cat.” After college, he made the journey to NYC where he found his new tribe – the underground scene populated by drug addicts, prostitutes and scoundrels. “They were nice to me when nobody else would be,” he remembers. “And I loved the drama that they brought. They were fun and I have a soft spot for people who struggle because I have struggled myself.” He watched as some would eventually evolve into healthier occupations. Others found their bliss going even deeper into the underground. “If someone is lucky enough to find happiness in this life, then go for it, baby. I really can’t judge. It’s a big tent. All are welcome.” The songs for All Are Welcome view the world through a prism of danger, grit and fun as they explore topics of resilience, hope, and heroism. “One thing that gives me hope for the world is witnessing the courage and devotion of the frontline heroes and hospital workers today,” Mike½Nelson adds. “To get up every day and fight to help others when you’re putting your own life on the line. That’s a strong heart, baby.” Mike½Nelson’s “Crazy World,” is available now on Apple iTunes, Amazon, and all other major e-music retailers. His upcoming EP, All Are Welcome, drops June 12. Follow Mike½Nelson on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

(photo credit: Wiafe)

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Podcast: Chatting With Jamison Stern Of 5-Time Emmy Winning ‘After Forever’

Actor Jamison Stern
In this episode of The Randy Report podcast, I’m chatting with the fabulous TV and stage actor Jamison Stern. As a cast member of the Amazon Video series After Forever, he was a part of the team that was honored with 8 Daytime Emmy nominations in 2019 and took home five – including Best Digital Series, Best Writing Team for Digital Series, Best Actor in a digital series and more. Last week, the 2020 Daytime Emmy nominations were announced and it was more good news for the After Forever crew – six nominations this year including – again – Best Digital Series and Best Writing Team for a Digital Series. So, it’s terrific timing to sit down and chat with Jamison about the journey and success of the show.

One of the busiest actors in New York City, Jamison has appeared on Broadway, off-Broadway, and in just about every leading regional theater across the country. He recently won rave reviews for his tour de force turn in Fully Committed at TheaterWorks in Hartford playing 33 characters – onstage alone. One critic wrote, “The production showcases an awesome star in Jamison Stern, who lights up the stage and fills the play with dozens of characters, even though he is completely—and gloriously—on his own.” He also brings that creative output to his Instagram account. During the run of a show, he’ll become obsessed with new ways to include his followers in his theatrical journey. Jamison is one of the actors who bring theatre to life for so many across the country starring in top-notch productions in cities like Hartford CT, Atlanta GA, Houston TX, and Seattle WA. Hit play and you’ll see why this is one of my favorite interviews to date on The Randy Report. You can follow Jamison on Instagram at www.instagram.com/jamisonstern/ and check out After Forever on Amazon here.

 

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Me and EMMY!! It’s an honor just to be blah blah blah. @afterforevertheseries @daytimeemmys

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Queer Eye OGs Compete Against The New Class On ‘Celebrity Family Feud’

The original cast of Queer Eye
It’s OG versus New Class as Celebrity Family Feud shares this teaser for its upcoming face-off between the original cast of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and the current crop of ‘make better’ experts on Netflix’s Queer Eye. The OG Fab Five – Carson Kressley, Ted Allen, Kyan Douglas, Thom Filicia, and Jai Rodriguez – will compete on the longtime game show for The Trevor Project, the leading organization for LGBTQ at-risk youth. And the new lineup – Bobby Berk, Jonathan Van Ness, Antoni Porowski, Tan France, and Wesley Hamilton (stepping in for Kamaro Brown) – will be playing to benefit GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network).
The new class of Queer Eye
The new teaser video features both squads in backstage banter chatting on playing against each other as well as quick clips from the episode. When host Steve Harvey notes the two teams have ‘different energies,’ he turns to Carson to clarify, “So, you all are considered the OGs?” “Right, the Old Gays,” quips Carson which a smile. Tune in for the royally gay battle royale on May 31 at 8 pm on ABC.

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Trailer For Upcoming Hulu Series ‘Love, Victor’

Get ready for all the feels with the official trailer for Hulu’s upcoming dramedy series Love, Victor, a spin-off of the groundbreaking feature film LOVE, SIMON. Synopsis: Set in the world of the 2018 groundbreaking film Love, Simon which was inspired by Becky Albertalli’s acclaimed novel, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, the series follows Victor, a new student at Creekwood High School on his own journey of self-discovery, facing challenges at home, adjusting to a new city and exploring his sexual orientation. When it all seems too much, he reaches out to Simon to help him navigate the ups and downs of high school. The series stars Michael Cimino (Anabelle Comes Home), Ana Ortiz (Whiskey Cavalier, Ugly Betty), James Martinez (One Day at a Time), and Isabella Ferreira (Orange is the New Black). I loved the 2018 film, which was the first mainstream studio movie to feature a teen gay as the lead character. Critics praised the film leading to a 91% Fresh rating at movie fan site Rotten Tomatoes. In addition to being a critical success, the film (which cost $17 million to make) grossed over $66 million worldwide. The full 10-episode season will premiere on June 19 on Hulu.

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Lincoln Center: Kelli O’Hara Sings Gorgeous #MemorialForUsAll Tribute

Tony Award-winner Kelli O’Hara
Join Tony Award-winner Kelli O’Hara for this fourth Memorial For Us All tribute from Lincoln Center, singing works by Sondheim, McLean, and more to honor those we’ve lost. From Lincoln Center: We offer #MemorialForUsAll to provide unity, comfort, and healing. This Memorial Day weekend, as we honor those who have left us too soon during this pandemic, we also extend our debt of gratitude to those who have lost their lives in service. I was lucky to work with Kelli in the 2001 Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s FOLLIES. She was as exquisite then as she is today. Three songs, beautifully performed.

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Podcast: NYC Pride’s Big 2020 Plans, Uganda, Albania, Daytime Emmys, PrEP

The Randy Report podcast

The Randy Report podcast delivers the week's top stories in a quick, convenient podcast - 'the 60 Minutes of gay news - only shorter' In this week’s podcast: • Prosecutors in Uganda have dropped charges against 19 LGBTQ people held in jail for 49 days • A ‘once every two months’ injectable version of PrEP has shown very positive results in clinical trials • Albania bans so-called ‘conversion therapy’ • NYC Pride has announced a huge 50th anniversary Pride television special featuring Billy Porter, Dan Levy, Janelle Monae, and more. • The 2020 Daytime Emmy nominations are out with big love for LGBTQ actors and shows Here’s the link to my recent interview with the Emmy Award-winning creators of the Amazon series ‘After Forever’ • Out singer/songwriter Clinton John’s new single “Cry” taps into those frustrating times when you realize you’re really not over that lost love. Link to download “Cry.” All that in this episode of The Randy Report.