Amir Levi in ‘Nathan C. Jones: A Love Story?’ In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, artists in the theater are finding new, unconventional ways to bring the vibrancy of live theater to audiences. Over the past few months, theater fans have enjoyed online streaming concert events by Broadway stars as well as previously recorded original Broadway productions, plus Obie Award-winning off-Broadway plays like David Drakes’ The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me. And of course, there’s Seth Rudetsky’s daily serving of theater fare with his Stars in the House web series. The acclaimed Blank Theatre in Los Angeles recently served up the virtual world premiere of the new musical, Nathan C. Jones: A Love Story? The one-man show was written by Vanessa Stewart and Brendan Milburn, based on an idea by Amir Levi, who also stars in the musical. Daniel Henning, of the Blank Theatre, skillfully handles direction for the premiere which was all filmed in quarantine. I had a chance to chat with Levi about the new musical, the experience of adapting the show for virtual audiences and more.
The Randy Report: What was the inspiration for the play? Amir Levi: A few things! Thematically, the idea of obsession has always been fascinating to me. I think partly because we all have a little bit of obsessive tendencies in us. Some of us Facebook stalk our exes, some of us constantly re-read texts to make sure we said the right thing, or we look for deeper meaning within the texts that have been communicated or not communicated with a lover/ex-lover/potential lover, etc. Most of us have the ability to stop ourselves, however. We have that little voice inside our heads telling us to stop because we’re being ‘crazy.’ This show is about someone who doesn’t have that ability. Structurally, I’ve always loved telling stories through song. I had done a few solo concerts, and the order of the songs that I picked was always important, and there would always be something to talk about between numbers. I love “Tell me on a Sunday” because we get to see several romances from one person’s perspective, and it’s all singing. This is similar to that because we see one person’s perspective on a romance, and it’s mostly done through song, but this is perhaps a more targeted approach. Amir Levi in ‘Nathan C. Jones: A Love Story?’TRR: What moved you to release this during the pandemic? AL: Our writer, Vanessa Stewart, e-mailed me, the director (Daniel Henning) and the composer (Brendan Milburn) about a week or two into the quarantine and said that since we don’t know how long this will last, and most of the show takes places in Nathan’s apartment, why not have this be our world premiere? We don’t know when live theater will come back, and each of us is an artist that can’t sit still unless we’re working on a project (or several) at a time. Just because the physical theatrical spaces are gone for now doesn’t mean theater needs to stop. Stories need to be told and people need to express themselves. Also, many people who are in quarantine (and even before quarantine) can probably relate to Nathan’s loneliness and desperation for companionship and love. TRR: Do you feel you were able to capture the mood/point of the play via virtual release? AL: Yes! Daniel is a brilliant director and came up with the different places to set the webcam to give it a more dynamic feel, and to really take advantage of this medium. We were originally planning on doing a live-stream of the whole show, but then we discovered that unless a musician was physically in the room with me, it would be impossible to really do the music justice. Also, as a performer, it would be hard to stay ‘in it’ while constantly adjusting the camera and doing everything on my own. Through rehearsals, Daniel took note of what times of day the different lighting options were affecting my apt (Daniel directed me via Zoom screen share so he could see what my webcam was seeing). Brendan and Vanessa wrote a new song (“Friend You”) for this medium that really helps show not only the emotional journey of Nathan but in this medium, is able to get a sort of intimacy that can only be conveyed through film. Amir Levi in ‘Nathan C. Jones: A Love Story?’TRR: What’s next for ’Nathan C. Jones: A Love Story?’ AL: Eventually, when live theater comes back, it would be amazing to get a full run of it, and to perhaps tour it! I’m sure 1 or 2 new songs would probably be inspired for a fully staged version. However, since live performance probably won’t return till at least Spring 2021, we want to reach as many audience members as possible and hope this story moves them.
In addition to just overcoming the immense hurdles of creating a piece of theater via Zoom and the internet, the creative team and Levi deserve big props for telling the sometimes obsessive/sometimes touching story of one man’s desire to find love. Favorite lyric: “Oh Chad, if you break it then you buy it / If you break my heart, you know you have to pay…” Does Nathan end up with the virtual love of his life? I’m not giving anything away 🙂 You can watch the full one-act musical, Nathan C. Jones: A Love Story? below.
Timmy Byrnes (via TikTok) TikTok user Timmy Byrnes is my favorite thing today. Check out his message to anti-mask people: “You’re going to be fine – stop being a little beta b*tch.” “And to you other geniuses who are like, ‘It’s America – I have the freedom not to wear a mask.’ It’s called dress code, Kevin. The 7/11 also requires you to wear a shirt!” #brilliant
Kitty Coen in ‘Dark Soul’ (image via Instagram) Any press release that begins with “Psychedelic disco cowgirl realness” is definitely going to get my attention. That’s how Texas-based artist Kitty Coen describes her new song and music video, “Dark Soul.” “I wanted to take the viewer on a psychedelic trip through the mind of Kitty Coen,” says the indie singer/songwriter. “‘Dark Soul’ is a song about being in love or infatuated with something at first glance because of its beauty but then realizing that nothing is as it seems.” Coen says the tune was originally written on acoustic guitar in a friend’s garage. But as she performed it live, she realized the song was, and needed to be, “bigger.” So, she went to Nashville to work on it with her producer and “re-worked it into a western disco dance track.” Acknowledging her musical upbringing on a lot of country music, Coen is clear: “This isn’t country, it’s more like Dolly Parton on an acid trip.” Check out the groovy alt-rock/electropop bop set in Coen’s glam neon world below. You can follow Miss Kitty on Instagram here.
Paramount’s ‘Rocketman’ was one of the more prominent LGBTQ-inclusive movies of 2019 Last week, GLAAD released its 8th annual Studio Responsibility Index, tracking LGBTQ representation in major studio films in 2019. This report is essential for assessing the quality, quantity, and diversity of LGBTQ characters in films released annually and setting the path for representation moving forward. One of GLAAD’s most significant contributions to the media landscape is assessing LGBTQ representation, and holding major players accountable when there are efforts to erase the experience of LGBTQ people. The report is intended to serve as a road map toward increasing fair, accurate and inclusive LGBTQ representation in film. GLAAD found that of the 118 films released from the eight major studios tracked in 2019: • 22 (18.6%) included characters that were LGBTQ representing a slight increase from the previous year’s report (+0.4 percentage points) and the highest percentage of inclusive films found in the eight-year history of the report. • 56% appeared for less than three minutes of total screen time, with 21 of the 50 receiving less than one minute of screen time. Only nine films from the 8 major studios included an LGBTQ character who had more than ten minutes of screen time. • More bad news – there was a significant decrease in the racial diversity of LGBTQ characters in major films for the second year in a row. In 2019, just 34 percent (17) of LGBTQ characters were people of color. This is down from 42 percent in the previous report and from 57 percent in the year before that. • The report found zero transgender characters in major studio films, and only three movies included bisexual characters. In 2018, GLAAD issued a challenge to major studios asking for an increase to 20 percent representation by the end of 2021, and up that to 50 percent LGBTQ representation by the year ending 2024. GLAAD is extending that challenge to ensure that within the next two years, at least half of LGBTQ characters in major studio films are people of color. For more information how you can help GLAAD fight for more fair LGBTQ representation in the media, click here. (source: GLAAD)
Officials in Turkey reportedly pressured Netflix to remove a gay character from its new series titled, If Only, and so the streaming platform canceled the project. From Deadline:
The eight-part relationship drama was announced in March and was set to be made by Turkish production outfit Ay Yapim, with screen star Özge Özpirinçci leading the cast. But Netflix has scrapped the plans after producers were refused a filming license because of the existence of a gay character.
Per a translation in the Financial Times, If Only’s creator Ece Yörenç told Turkish film website Altyazi Fasikul: “Due to a gay character, permission to film the series was not granted and this is very frightening for the future.”
Responding to a request for comment from the FT, a spokesman for Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party acknowledged that concerns were raised about If Only. Deadline understands that rather than caving to creative changes, Netflix decided to abandon the project.
Netflix hasn’t commented on the issue directly, but a spokesman told Deadline the streaming platform “remains deeply committed to our Turkish members and the creative community in Turkey.” “We currently have several Turkish originals in production — with more to come — and look forward to sharing these stories with our members all around the world,” added the spokesman. No word on if any of those other shows in production have LGBTQ characters or storylines. Turkey is one of the more liberal countries in the Middle East. While homosexuality isn’t illegal, same-sex marriage is. Additionally, there are no legal protections for LGBTQ people in the areas of housing, adoption or employment, and gay Turkish citizens are no allowed to serve openly in the military. Özpirinçci posted a photo on Instagram over the weekend from the set with a rainbow series of hearts.
(screen capture via Cascade) Cascade dishwasher detergent has a cute, suggestive new commercial out titled, “Do It Every Night.” Of course, hate group One Million Moms (really just a few thousand) is mad about the spot calling it ‘repulsive.’ #srsly From OMM spokesperson Monica Cole:
Cascade is currently airing its sexually suggestive “Do It Every Night” television commercial during prime time.
“We do it every night,” an elderly couple tells the viewing audience. “Every night,” a middle-aged couple adds. “I live alone, but I still do it every night,” a young, single woman says with a smirk. Then the two couples continue: “Right after dinner,” and “Definitely after meatloaf.”
The commercial concludes with this voice-over: “Do it! Run your dishwasher every night with Cascade Platinum. A load with as few as eight dishes is all it takes to save water. An Energy Star Certified dishwasher uses less than four gallons per cycle, while a running sink uses that every two minutes. So, do it. Run your dishwasher every night with Cascade Platinum. The surprising way to save water.”
This vile commercial is airing during prime time when children are likely watching TV. When this type of commercial airs, it ruins family viewing time. Can you imagine what goes through the mind of a child when he sees this ad?
Cascade chose to air this commercial, knowing it would be controversial. We all know children repeat what they hear. There is nothing funny about kids saying, “We do it every night!” Cascade should be ashamed!
Cole closes her email begging people to sign her sad petition demanding Cascade pull the ad spot. I think it’s cute. Let me know if you think this is “vile” or “controversial.”
Just grotesque… (screen capture via YouTube) Here’s a sad example that there’s a jerk in just about every demographic. A video shared on social media shows a confrontation between a driver and a pedestrian escalate to violence after the driver realized he was captured on video calling a Black sanitation worker a “f*cking n****r.” The incident took place on New York City’s Upper East Side over the weekend. After shouting the racist slur, the driver noticed a pedestrian was recording the ugliness. “Are you recording me?” asked the driver. “Yeah,” says the pedestrian. “Why?” the driver asks. In a pretty spot-on assessment, the pedestrian replied, “Because you’re an asshole.” “I’m an asshole? Honey, look in the mirror, okay? The only person who is an asshole is you for recording,” says the racist driver. During the exchange, the motorist asked the pedestrian, “Are you gay, too?” “Too?” Oh god, he’s gay? Dang it… “No,” the pedestrian replies. “No, you’re not? Well, you look like it,” the driver snaps back. When the pedestrian shares he plans on uploading the video to the internet, the driver scoffs, “Okay, I’ll get fans, honey. That’s what I’ll do.” It’s at that point the driver exits his car and assaults the pedestrian. Along the way snatches the phone recording the incident and hurls it to the ground. The driver probably thought he’d solved his internet problem, except others nearby noticed the exchange and were recording as well.
The YouTube poster writes that prior to the beginning of the clip, the driver “was repeatedly shouting at a Black sanitation worker, yelling “you’re a n*****”. The noise was enough for several residents to come down to street level.” Folks in the Twitterverse were NOT having the hideous behavior.
Racist on the Upper East Side. Find out who this racist person is and let us hold them accountable. This and any other act of racism will NOT be tolerated. As City Council Member of #District45, I will be holding these racists accountable.https://t.co/41nCXEP0Fqpic.twitter.com/ariaOSFGF4
— Anthony Beckford (City Council Candidate)🌹 (@Vote4Beckford) July 19, 2020
As a gay we don’t claim him
— Absolute trash mammal ✊🏾BLM (@Fox2Fox5) July 19, 2020
Remind NYC gays that all of the rights they take for granted are thanks to black Lgbtq civil rights leaders of stonewall, and the gay community’s modern rights are because of the civil rights work of blacks in the 50’s and 60’s. This guy should have more respect.
It’s horrifying. This person grows up somewhere else, as a racist, and at some point decides that they want to go live (uninvited) in NYC. Then comes to NYC so he can shout N$%^*R at black New Yorkers whom were probably born there.#GoHome#BlackLivesMatter#GoHomeRacist
Another Trumpster who knows the party is OVER as he loses in Nov.
— Darryl D (DEEP STATE Warrior) (@OregonDarryl) July 19, 2020
Another Karen is on the loose and this one is one of the worst! He was angry because HE WAS CAUGHT out on his racist bs thus he tries to destroy the evidence. Pathetic!
Donald Trump (via Twitter) In what is surely a response to Donald Trump’s poor poll numbers in advance of November’s presidential election, the Donald appears to have done a U-turn and tweeted his support for the use of face masks to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are United in our effort to defeat the Invisible China Virus, and many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a face mask when you can’t socially distance,” tweeted Trump. “There is nobody more Patriotic than me, your favorite President!” This also follows, of course, the COVID-19 deaths of over 140,000 Americans. CDC director Robert Redfield has said the coronavirus outbreak could be “under control” within 4-8 weeks if everyone in the U.S. wore masks.
We are United in our effort to defeat the Invisible China Virus, and many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a face mask when you can’t socially distance. There is nobody more Patriotic than me, your favorite President! pic.twitter.com/iQOd1whktN
Furthermore, when Joe Biden wore an almost identical looking black mask, Trump and his Republican cronies made fun of him for being weak. Now when Trump finally catches on and follows Biden’s lead, he wants to be seen as a hero. Trump is just a loser, unoriginal racist demagogue.
After months of avoiding being seen in public with a mask, President Trump is now tweeting out a photo of himself wearing one and encouraging others to do the same. Note: He still doesn’t support a national mask mandate which other countries with less cases than the U.S. have. https://t.co/qvFEycjjlu
in late May (at the time when the death toll climbed over 100,000) when a reporter said that he’d rather wear a mask, Trump said “oh, you want to be politically correct” https://t.co/nF3PXfPEcq
Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov (screen capture via HBO Sports) I expect the Trump administration will tout this as part of its “great record” on LGBTQ issues, but in the end, I’m not sure it actually DOES anything of consequence. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Monday that Ramzan Kadyrov, president of the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation, has been banned from entering the U.S. under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020. Section 7031(c) “requires the Secretary of State to bar from U.S. entry” foreign officials about whom the Secretary has credible information indicating that they have been involved, directly or indirectly, in “gross violation of human rights.” You’ll note the statute says “requires” so let’s not give Pompeo too much credit here. Today’s announcement also affects Kadyrov’s immediate family members. That said, it’s not clear Kadyrov or his family had any plans to visit the U.S. any time soon. Plus, Section 7031(c) will expire on September 30, 2020, unless Congress extends it by a continuing resolution or restated in a new law. A statement issued by the State Department says this action is being taken “due to Kadyrov’s involvement in gross violations of human rights in the Chechen Republic.” The Department says it has received extensive credible information that Kadyrov is responsible for numerous human rights violations including torture and extrajudicial killings. In 2018, the United States joined fifteen other nations in creating a fact-finding mission into “horrific reports of abuses against LGBTI persons” and others who were targeted by Kadyrov. The subsequent report found that “harassment and persecution, arbitrary or unlawful arrests or detentions, torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions” had taken place. The State Department says it is now concerned Kadyrov may be “using the excuse of the coronavirus pandemic to inflict further human rights abuses on the people of the Chechen Republic.” Kadyrov, who was appointed president of Chechnya in 2007 by Russian President Vladimir Putin, has repeatedly denied not only the allegations of torture and murder but that gay people even exist in his country. Human rights activists have been sounding the alarm for years that Kadyrov had launched a series of state-sponsored anti-gay purges across the highly conservative, traditional Muslim country. In May 2017, the Human Rights Watch shared one detainee’s description of the horrific treatment he’d been subjected to in an unofficial prison: “They electrocuted us, beat us with pipes, kicked us, and punched us, they made other inmates beat us, they called us names, spat in our faces.” The U.S. announced sanctions against Kadyrov in December 2017, including visa bans and asset freezes, under the 2012 Magnitsky Act. The BBC reported at the time that Kadyrov responded by “mocking the US move in an Instagram post in which he said ‘a sleepless night is waiting for me.'” He added he was “proud” to be “out of favor with the special services of the USA.” The new film Welcome to Chechnya,which debuted on HBO June 30, documents the horrific persecution of LGBTQ people in Chechnya.
