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Karla Burns, Olivier/Drama Desk Award Winner, Passes Away At 66

Karla Burns (image via Facebook)

Karla Burns (image via Facebook)
Karla Burns (image via Facebook)
Forty years ago this week I was performing in my first professional theater gig in Show Boat at Lyric Theater in Oklahoma City. At 17, I’m pretty sure i was the youngest in the resident ensemble. For new readers, before I became a journalist I spent nearly 40 years working in the theater on Broadway and across the country in shows like Hello, Dolly!, Chicago, A Chorus Line and more. While most of those first weeks are a blur in my now-formerly blond head, I’ve never forgotten the joyful, effervescent Karla Burns who brought the role of Queenie to life as a musical force of nature. She tucked that experience under her arm, went to NYC and booked the role of Queenie in a national touring company of Show Boat in 1982. In 1983, the show landed on Broadway and Karla was honored with a Tony Award nomination for her richly layered performance.

And in 1991, she became the first (!!!) Black woman to win an Olivier Award for her Queenie in the West End production of Show Boat. Over the years, I would run into Karla and she always remembered me, always laughed with me, always had that big, gorgeous smile. This morning I saw in the New York Times she passed away at the age of 66 on June 4. The memory of her joyful, larger-than-life talent makes me smile as I can hear her voice and her laugh in my head even now.

I think it says something that an artist I worked with 40 years ago continues to live in a warm, wonderful, and happy corner of my mind. It’s important to add that Karla appeared in many, many fantastic roles over the years. She was not a ‘one-hit wonder.’ But the NY Times tells it much better than I. Rest in glory Karla Burns. ❤

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News Round-Up: June 14, 2021

France has lifted its ban on blood donations by gay and/or bisexual men which has been in place since the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

A young man donates blood (image via Depositphotos) Some news items you might have missed: • The Advocate: Sexually active gay men who have had the same sexual partner for the previous three months will now be able to donate blood, platelets, and plasma in the U.K. after new eligibility criteria go into force on World Blood Donor Day. • OUT: The Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League suspended defensive lineman Chris Larsen after learning of his potential involvement in a hate crime that left the victim with a broken nose, cheekbone and orbital bone shattered, a splint required for his hip bone and a concussion. • Pride.com: American Idol alum David Archuleta has come out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in a new post on Instagram. “I like to keep to myself but also thought this was important to share because I know so many other people from religious upbringings feel the same way,” the 30-year-old wrote. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQB0FNtlLrs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link • Wall Street Journal: A new Covid-19 vaccine from Novavax was found to be 90.4% effective at preventing symptomatic disease in adults in a large clinical trial involving nearly 30,000 participants. Those results could move the shot a step closer to global use. • The Daily Beast: Number crunchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) in Seattle studied COVID-19 stats from all over the world, charted the trends and concluded that as many as 9.7 million people could die by late September. If the trend line continues, COVID-19 could kill 20 million by 2023, according to IHME’s model. • Politico: Out Democrat Matt Putorti is launching a campaign against Trump cultist Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), aiming to knock out one of the Republican Party’s rising stars and a newly minted member of House leadership. Putorti is a 37-year-old attorney from Upstate New York focused on LGBTQ+ equality, reducing gun violence, and immigration.

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Pride Month Greeting From Vice President Kamala Harris

Vice President Kamala Harris shared a video greeting for Pride Month

Pride Month greeting from Vice President Kamala Harris
Vice President Kamala Harris
A Pride Month greeting from Vice President Kamala Harris was shared today on Twitter. In the video, Harris recalls officiating the wedding of Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, whose lawsuit paved the way for the historic Supreme Court ruling that made marriage equality the law of the land. “LGBTQ Americans proudly serve in our military and at every level of government,” says Harris before adding, “We know there is work to be done to achieve full equality.” In the video clip, Harris tells LGBTQ Americans “I want you to know: We see you. We hear you. President Joe Biden and I will not rest until everyone has equal protection under the law. Happy Pride!” Over the weekend, Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff made a surprise appearance at the DC Pride Walk. Harris’s participation made her the first sitting veep to walk in a Pride parade. Earlier today I shared a Pride message from President Biden and the First Lady as well.

Of course, a Pride Month greeting from Vice President Mike Pence would have never happened during the previous administration.

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Anti-Masker Pulls Gun, Shoots Cashier Dead When Asked To Wear Face Mask

An anti-masker in Georgia became irate when asked to wear a face mask in a grocery store to the point he pulled a gun and shot the cashier dead.

An anti-masker in Georgia became irate when asked to wear a face mask in a grocery store to the point he pulled a gun and shot the cashier dead. An anti-mask nut who got into an argument with a cashier at a grocery store in DeKalb County, Georgia, pulled out a gun and shot the cashier dead. Via 11Alive:

A spokesperson said a DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reserve unit deputy was injured during the shooting at the Big Bear Supermarket near South DeKalb Mall off Candler Road.

“Although details are not complete, authorities say that the male suspect was involved in a dispute with a young woman before he began firing at her inside the store,” the spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said.

DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox said the dispute, which was with a cashier, started over wearing a mask inside the store. An 11Alive reporter said there is a sign on the door that says masks are required for service.

Maddox later confirmed additional details in a press conference held Monday afternoon.

“The subject pulled out a weapon and shot cashier at the location,” Maddox said. “The individual is deceased.”

The deputy who intervened shot the suspect, who was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The deputy also sustained two bullet wounds and was taken to Atlanta Medical Center.

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States With Lower Vaccination Rates Have Higher COVID-19 Hospitalizations

The first confirmed case of the omicron variant in the U.S. has been discovered in California.

Quel surprise. From the Washington Post:

States with higher vaccination rates now have markedly fewer coronavirus cases, as infections are dropping in places where most residents have been immunized and are rising in many places people have not, a Washington Post analysis has found.

States with lower vaccination also have significantly higher hospitalization rates, The Post found. Poorly vaccinated communities have not been reporting catastrophic conditions. Instead, they are usually seeing new infections holding steady or increasing without overwhelming local hospitals.

As recently as 10 days ago, vaccination rates did not predict a difference in coronavirus cases, but immunization rates have diverged, and case counts in the highly vaccinated states are dropping quickly.

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Anthony Ramos Finds His Freedom In Charming CK Spot

Anthony Ramos in Calvin Klein campaign
Anthony Ramos in Calvin Klein campaign
Anthony Ramos (screen captures via Calvin Klein)

Uber-charming Anthony Ramos wowed movie audiences over the weekend with his starring role in the film adaptation of the 2008 Broadway musical, In The Heights.

Praising the 29-year-old’s work in the new film, the New York Times gushed, “Ramos’s charisma is perfectly suited to the role. His modesty is as winning and genuine as his bravado, and he’s a strong theatrical singer as well as a subtle film actor.”

The Times adds that he’s not only “the one who keeps the party going” but “the reason it’s happening at all.”

That charisma definitely landed for me so I went in search of more Ramos.

In addition to In The Heights, the actor also debuted last month in the 4th season of HBO’s riveting series, “In Treatment.”

But this spot for Calvin Klein, which dropped back in March, really got my attention.

Ok, yes – Ramos is only wearing the classic CK underwear in the clip, but that’s not the whole picture here.

The video is part of a campaign that features avant-garde talent exploring the questions we ask ourselves, with Calvin Klein as their blank canvas.

As he remembers growing up as part of the ‘high fliers club’ (where members had to jump off of something high or slide down something dangerous), the video quick cuts to Ramos reaching, swinging and hanging from a rope.

“And all of a sudden, it’s like, this freedom. We gotta get back to that. We gotta get back to play.”

Not only is his effervescent joy infectious but his body language is another buoyant layer of childhood happiness.

Check out more from the CK campaign below and don’t miss Ramos and company in In The Heights – now in theaters and streaming on HBO Max.

Plus, the non-stop artist drops his latest album, LOVE AND LIES, on June 25.

Happy Monday!

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The Bidens Uplifting Message To LGBTQ Community For Pride Month

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden send a message to the LGBTQ community for Pride Month

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden send a message to the LGBTQ community for Pride Month
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden
In a special Pride Month message, President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden wish all of us a bright and happy Pride. The Bidens note that Pride represents many things: defiance in the face of injustice, courage to live our truth, and justice as in the Supreme Court ruling which made marriage equality the law of the land. But above all else – Pride stands for love. At the beginning of the month, the president issued the first proclamation acknowledging Pride Month in five years.

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Out Music: Robert Bannon ‘I Think He Knew’

Screen capture from 'I Think He Knew' by Robert Bannon New York City cabaret performer and SNL regular Robert Bannon recently released his new original video and single, “I Think He Knew Me,” for Pride Month. This tender video chronicles the relationship between a father and son where the son reveals to his father that..well, you know…

The single and music video are a prelude to the release of Bannon’s debut album, Unfinished Business, on July 2, 2021. The new collection of cover songs includes duets with Grammy Nominee Jane Monheit and Loren Smith (back-up singer for Michael Bublé). If you’re in the New York City area, you can catch Bannon live/in person at Feinsteins/54 Below on July 30 – Ticket info here. And you can follow him on Instagram here. https://www.instagram.com/p/CP-yTR_hrXZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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Harris Makes History As 1st Sitting VP To March In Pride Parade

Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff surprised Pride celebrants at DC Pride on Saturday

Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff surprised Pride celebrants at DC Pride on Saturday Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff made a surprise appearance at the Capital Pride Walk in Washington, D.C. on Saturday. Harris’s participation made her the first sitting vice president to march in an LGBTQ Pride parade. From The Advocate:

Harris’s appearance came as a surprise, and the crowd around her cheered, according to a White House press pool report. She and Emhoff marched for about a block down 13th Street, waving and wishing onlookers “Happy Pride,” and stopped to speak to participants and spectators for about 10 minutes.

Harris called for passage of the Equality Act, a comprehensive LGBTQ+ civil rights bill that has been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives but has yet to come to a vote in the Senate.

“We still have so much to do,” she added, according to the pool report. “We celebrate all the accomplishments. Finally marriage is the law of the land. We need to make sure that our transgender community are all protected. … There is so much more work to do and I know we are committed.”

Harris and Emhoff were dressed appropriately for the event, Washington’s NBC affiliate reports. She wore a pink blazer and a T-shirt printed with the words “Love Is Love,” while he wore a T-shirt with “Love First” in rainbow letters.

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InstaHunk Round-Up: Weekend Edition

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQEaWpxAcTS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Sharing some of our favorite Instagram posts from this week. First up, Bearded Frank (above) served up serious beard goals while chilling poolside: Rick and the Griffopotamus sent greetings from Hawaii: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQCwgfLgoBg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link HawaiiMuscleBear sent ‘alohas’ from his island as well in exchange for belly rubs: https://www.instagram.com/p/CP-legztOLn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Jaymes Vaughn wished his boo Jonathan Bennett happy birthday in Palm Springs: https://www.instagram.com/p/CP8gn6th0T7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Luke Evans got his Pride on (or off): https://www.instagram.com/p/CQD_zgigBBS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Moe Bear gave us a peek at the goings-on at Rainbow Mountain: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPwQYBcAQ9L/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Dr. Thara (aka Kaiser.Arms) threw down some dance moves: https://www.instagram.com/p/CP9dFoPD58Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Artist and designer Anthony Varrecchia was reminiscing in New York City: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQCoREEFtX0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Dr. Marco got some heavy lifting done between hospital shifts: https://www.instagram.com/p/CP7JbxipaUV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link American Idol alum David Hernandez caught up with an old friend: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQCF_QNJSSS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Jason Carter was giving you some ‘Miami noir’ black and white realness: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQEeucvp4NL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Max Emerson woke up to a photoshoot with his handsome hounds: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPyj-GLlUQR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Last one: Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff dropped by the DC Pride parade this weekend. Harris is the first sitting vice president to march in a Pride Parade. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQCcAZDLTi3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link