 |
| Click pic for larger view |
Final results of South Carolina GOP primary
Olivia Newton-John on marriage equality
Four time Grammy Award winner and star of GREASE, the most successful movie musical of all time, has issued a statement in support for marriage equality. Olivia, who enjoys a wide fan-base including the LGBT community, has been a longtime LGBT ally and friend.
“With respect to marriage equality – I believe that no one has the right to judge and deny couples who love each other the ability to make a marriage commitment. Love is love.”
– Olivia Newton-John
Walking Suffolk Park beach
Walking Suffolk Park beach near Byron Bay in Australia. It seems everyone in Australia loves being outside. It’s not just the physical/exercise thing – it seems it’s more about being outside in nature.
Gorgeous day at the beach with the dogs.
Kenneth Cole on marriage equality
FILM: Carol Channing: Larger Than Life
 |
| Carol and I on Broadway last year for the Gypsy of the Year fundraiser |
So today is the day the Carol Channing documentary, “Carol Channing: Larger Than Life” is released in many cities across the US. So proud to be a part of this terrific tribute to Carol.
From The Advocate’s HotSheet: Acclaimed documentarian Dori Bernstein focuses her lens on the still-sprightly 90-year-old musical theater great who’s as cherished by fans for her flamboyant personality as for originating iconic roles in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Hello, Dolly!
The director uses Hirschfeld-inspired animation and interviews with an array of Channing’s pals such as Lily Tomlin, Chita Rivera, and even Barbara Walters to offer insight into the star’s colorful life.
Most telling though is an emotional anecdote from backup dancer Randy Slovacek, who shares the gallant words Channing had for Don Ives, another backup dancer determined to perform despite the difficulty brought on by his AIDS-related illness. Larger Than Life ultimately serves as a valentine to Channing’s late-in-life love affair with childhood sweetheart Harry Kullijian (who passed away earlier this month) after a 70-year separation.
For more info about the film and where you can see it, click here.
Lost In Motion
Just beautiful. The movement and use of lighting is gorgeous.
A young man loses himself in his environment so that his movements reveal the world that exists in his imagination, transcending reality through his muse of dance.
“Another Day,” written by James LaValle, Published by Songs Music Publishing LLC o/b/o Ram Island Songs (ASCAP), Album Leaf Music (ASCAP)
Director: Ben Shirinian
Composer: James LaValle
Choreographer/Dancer: Guillaume Côté
Producers: Leslie Aimée Gottlieb, David Miller
Production Company: Krystal Levy Pictures Ltd.
Funder: Bravo!FACT
Great blog – Rogeronimo
My friend Roger Rosen writes a terrific blog, and if you haven’t discovered it yet – DO!
His bio on Blogger refers to him as “Young activist. Old gypsy. Angry gay. Laughter enthusiast. Passionate complainer. Nervous rebel. Word obsessor. Language lover. Early in life baritone. Later in life voice finder. Reluctant non-smoker. One day federally recognized loving husband & step-father.”
From his recent post about making calls on behalf of former NJ Gov. Jon Corzine:
I call because most people don’t truly understand that their representatives will listen to them – and that they tally calls on every issue in “for” and “against” columns.
I call because good people are too often silent.
I call because the voice of the government should not be one more voice that bullies our LGBT children and reinforces the ignorance of bigots.
I call because fear is a successful motivating factor for our opponents and because they use it to great advantage.
I hate to call. But I call because our opponents have no such aversion.
I call.
Because you never know which call will be one that changes the world just a little.
I call for equality.
You can find Rogeronimo by clicking here. And you can follow Roger on Twitter – @rogerirosen
Tim Tebow visits Cirque du Soleil’s “O” in Las Vegas
 |
| Click pic for larger view |
Rachelle Rak – “I’M IN”
Rachelle Rak is the ultimate Broadway gypsy. After over twenty years on and off Broadway, Rachelle is now wrapping her indomitable talent, spirit and ‘sas’ around her own show – I’M IN.
Rachelle is known to NYC audiences as the “I Gotcha Girl” Fosse dancer, the ultimate Gypsy, a rock star and The Broadway Bares Diva. She holds no one title, but you can call her ‘Sas.’ With I’M IN, Rachelle shares her successes, struggles, heartaches and triumphs through a dynamic score of well-known classics and brand new original songs.
In speaking with Rachelle, she made it clear “this isn’t going to be ‘stand and sing. I call it an ‘event’ – ‘a night.’ You’re not going to come watch me go down memory lane.”
When asked where the title of the event comes from, Rachelle says “For years everyone’s been telling me that I’m “full out.” I remember being in rehearsals with Susan Stroman and she would say “mark” and then I’d do the number full-out. The other dancers would say “child, she said ‘mark'” and I’d say “I don’t know how to ‘mark’, you know?” And so it got to where I was like “People, I’m ‘in’ – whatever show I’m in, ‘I’m IN’ – all the way. No half-way. So if you can’t stand next to me, then move.”
The event will not only showcase Rachelle’s famous ‘sas’ but also touch on the darker sides of a Broadway actor’s life and the sometimes slow periods between Broadway shows.
“For five years I wasn’t in a Broadway show. I couldn’t get arrested. After (losing the role of Sheila) in the revival of A Chorus Line, it almost broke me and that’s when I realized my career was too important in my life. I started to value my worth with what show I was doing. Now I’m doing this for me. I’m a passionate creature. It’s what fuels me. That’s why “I’M IN.”
Rachelle emphasizes that “The ‘everybody gets a medal generation’ has passed. Can you take ‘no’ for an answer? If not, it’s time to toughen up and speak a new language. In her own special language, Rachelle says “it’s time to ‘sas’ it up with a dose of ‘cha cha pus’ – I’m IN, are you?”
Rachelle’s credits include “Cats”, “Fosse”, “Thou Shalt Not”, “Oklahoma!”, “The Look of Love”, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”, “Catch Me if You Can”, “Sessions” and “An Evening at the Carlyle”.
I’ve personally known Rachelle for over 20 years and I can personally guarantee you she is a force of nature. GO SEE “I’M IN” – you’ll be glad you did. I promise you’ll walk out with a smile. And some sas.
The creative team includes Director Daniel Robinson (Broadway’s Hairspray and owner Daniel Robinson Productions), Music Director Steven Jamail (Music Supervisor at Rosie’s Theater Kids), Martyn Axe (Co-Writer) and Brad Musgrove (Costume Designer).
Performances will take place Sunday, January 22nd at 7:00pm and Monday, January 23rd at 10:30pm at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street.
Tickets are $40 for premium seating (limited availability) $30 for reserved seating, and $20 for general admission. Please visit lepoissonrouge.com to purchase tickets.
Elton John’s husband backtracks on Madonna comments
