Local Theatre Buzz

Mass Appeal, Sol Theatre, Opens June 16^th

This is a humorous and bittersweet journey of friendship between two seemingly opposite men teaches them both about courage, commitment, personal ideals, and the infinite varieties of love.  If you saw their last The Mystery of Irma Vep you will be pleased to know that Jim Gibbons plays Father Tim Farley.  Mass Appeal opens this Friday, June 16^th at the Sol Theatre.  For more information go to www.soltheatre.com and the Sol Theatre Project is located at 1140 N. Flagler Drive in Fort Lauderdale.

Beehive Found at Stage Door Theatre, May 26^th thru June 25^th 

Beehive, the 60’s musical sensation, will be at The Stage Door Theatre May 26^th thru June 25^th with big hair and bigger hits. 

The Stage Door Theatre is located on 26^th right across from Wilton Station in the Old Florida Seafood House Plaza.  For times and tickets, call 954*344-7765.

Things on Display

Stonewall has Pride:  Party or Protest

Do you know how the myriad of Gay Pride celebrations across the nation started, or when the first Gay Pride in South Florida took place? Do you know why there are two Pride celebrations in Ft. Lauderdale each year?  The answers can be found in an insightful new exhibit, PRIDE: Party or Protest? opening on Saturday, June 17, 2006 at the Stonewall Library and Archives, 1717 North Andrews Ave, in Ft. Lauderdale. Hours are 11am to 9pm Monday through Friday; Saturday Noon to 3pm.  

The 2006 United & Proud Exhibit will opened June 7^th at the Gallery Six in the Broward County Main Library on 100 South Andrews Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale.  United & Proud will feature over 50 artists and will include: paintings, watercolors, photography, mixed media, and three-dimensional works.  South Florida’s Lambda Chorale’s Tropic Harmony performed.  For more information, call 954*530-2723 or to find out more about ArtsUnited go to www.artsunitedonline.org. 

Queens & Kings, Until July 17^th 

June is Gay Pride Month.  Art Center South Florida is hosting an exhibit of gay iconography through:  photographs, paintings, and a variety of different mediums.  This will be on exhibit through July 17^th at the Miami Beach City Hall Public Gallery, 4^th Floor, at 1700 Convention Center Drive.  For further information call 305*674-8278 or 305*538-7887. 

ARTe ABSTRACTo, May 27^th thru June 29^th 

Art Expression Gallery is hosting an ARTe ABSTRACTo exhibit and there will be an opening reception at 7pm Saturday, May 27^th at the gallery that is located at 1212 NE Fourth Ave, Ft. Lauderdale.  For further information call 954*527-7770.   

China Change, Until June 18, 2006 

On exhibit at the Boca Raton Museum of Art is now showing Documenting China:  Contemporary Photography and Social Change.  The exhibition is a collection of 57 dramatic works by seven contemporary Chinese photographers that reveal the essence of that nation from an insider’s point of view.  This show is organized by the Bates College Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.   While you are there, check out Edward Burtynsky:  The China Series that contain 20 new large-scale color photographs from recent trips to China and Pop Prints that are works from the permanent collection of Andy Warhol, Roy Lichetenstein, Jim Dine, and others.   

The Boca Raton Museum of Art is located at 501 Plaza Real, Mizner Park and you can contact them at 561-392-2500 or www.bocamuseum.org.  

 Titanic:  The Artifact Exhibit, Until October

This exhibit chronicles the journey of RMS Titanic from its design and construction through its fateful maiden voyage and sinking, to the scientific recovery efforts.   

The Miami Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium is located on 3280 South Miami Avenue, Miami.  You can contact them at 305*646-4200 or www.miamisci.org. 

Coming to Town Please note: we have organized this by date of appearance. New additions this week are highlighted in Bold Red.

Il Divo

I remember the first time that I was blown away by the music of these four Opera singers.  George’s Alibi had a promotion and giveaway of their CD and my roommate won one.  We LOVED it and you will too!  Their latest CD Ancora and latest DVD Encore is now available in stores and online at www.ildivo.com.   

They will be in concert June 13^th & 14^th at 8pm at the Mizner Park Amphitheatre and is a Fantasma Productions Concert Event— www.fantasma.com.  You can also charge by phone at:  561*966-3309, 954-523-3309, or 305-358-5885.

Do You Have a Heart of Glass? June 15^th 

He Wasn’t Man Enough for Me, June 21^st 

Toni Braxton will be at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise Wednesday, June 21^st.  Tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.com. 

There’s a Redneck Woman Coming! June 29^th 

Gretchen Wilson’s dramatic rise to stardom is well known to fans of her signature country-rock blend.  Come and see her perform her breakthrough single “Redneck Woman” in her Redneck Revolution Tour at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL.  Tickets are now on sale, go to www.ticketmaster.com or call 954*523-3309 or go to the Hard Rock Live Box Office which is open from noon to 7pm daily. For more info on Gretchen, visit her fan club website, www.gwfans.com

Who’s Your First Idol?

Kelly Clarkson will be live, onstage Friday, June 30^th at the Sound Advice Amphitheatre.  As part of her Addicted Tour, her Special Guest will be Rooney.  The Amphitheatre is located at 601-7 Sansbury’s Way, West Palm Beach.  Tickets are $25-$75 and can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.com www.livenation.com, or by phone at:  561*966-3309, 954*523-3309, or 305*358-5885.  To get more Kelly info, go to www.kellyclarkson.com. 

Jersey Boys are Back!

Yes, we all survived the BIG HAIR of the 80’s.  If you know that “You Give Love a Bad Name” and feel like you are “Living on a Prayer”—yes Virginia, there is a Bon Jovi!  All four members (John Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Tico Torres, and David Bryan) will be onstage at Hard Rock Live July 10^th  at 8pm.  Tickets are now on sale.   

For further information, call 954*523-3309, www.ticketmaster.com, or stop by the Hard Rock Live Box Office—they are open from noon to 7pm daily.

The Queen of Miami, July 15 

The undisputed Queen of Miami, Gloria Estefan, along with her band the Miami Sound Machine, will be at the American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, Saturday, July 15^th at 10pm.  Tickets are $30-$85 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com. 

Hide Your Fur, July 24^th 

Pink will be performing her latest songs at Revolution, 200 W Broward Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale Monday, July 24.  Tickets are $25 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com. 

Mimi Does Miami, Aug 5^th 

Mariah Carey will be launching The Adventures of Mimi, her first US tour since 2003, Saturday, August 5^th at the American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami.  Tickets range from $19.50 to $129.50 and go on sale Friday, June 2^nd.  Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or 305*358-5885. 

Calling All Azzmastahs, Friday, August 11^th 

The one and only Margaret Cho will be in concert Friday, August 11^th at 8:30pm at the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, FL.  LISP, the greatest gay rapper in the world, will be her Special Guest.  Tickets go on sale THIS FRIDAY [June 2^nd] at 10am so call the Ticket Office at 321*242-2219 or www.ticketmaster.com.

Melissa Etheridge Live Saturday, August 19^th  8pm 

New Greatest Hits CD “The Road Less Traveled” in stores now!

Tickets available at Ticketmaster locations or you can charge by phone:  305-358-5885 / 954-523-3309 / 561-966-3309 or www.ticketmaster.com. 

Mizner Park Amphitheater is in Boca Raton and this is a Fantasma Productions Concert Event.  For further information go to www.fantasma.com or www.melissaetheridge.com

Mary J. Blige, Aug 25^th 

Mary J Blige will be in concert Friday, August 25^th at the Bank Atlantic Center at 2555 Panther Parkway in Sunrise.  Her special guest will be Jaheim and will be singing all her greats—hopefully my favorite song Ain’t Gonna Cry from Waiting to Exhale, and anyone that knows me, knows how MUCH I love that song!  For futher Information go to www.ticketmaster.com. 

Her Hips Don’t Lie, Sep 16^th 

Shakira and Wyclef have added a second show 7:30pm on September 16^th at the American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami.  Tickets are $19.50-$87 and you can get them through www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 786*777-1250. For more info about Shakira: www.shakiraheaven.com

The Chicks Will be in Town, Oct 7^th 

25 Years of Memories  

The Broward Center will be hosting the 25^th anniversary tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats for seven performances from August 2^nd through the 6^th.  Tickets are $20-$58 and can be purchased at either 954*462-0222 or www.ticketmaster.com or www.browardcenter.org.   

Courtroom Battles

Meatloaf is Bat-less and No Where Near Hell 

Fans of the popular singer Meatloaf will be sad to hear that James Aday, singer of such songs as “Paradise By the Dashboard Lights” and “I Will Do Anything For Love But I Won’t Do That” has lost the use of the title “Bat Out of Hell” because Jim Steinman trademarked the name in the 1990’s.  Meatloaf’s upcoming album was to be called “Bat Out of Hell III:  The Monster is Loose.”  He is counter suing claiming his name is synonymous with the title—I thought it was for Mom’s favorite dinner.

Auction News

A Little Bit of The King 

The Estate of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is now selling personal artifacts and memorabilia at the famed Sotheby Auction House on June 30^th—exactly five months after the widow, Coretta Scott King’s death.   Sadly, they have tried for years to sell these articles to the Library of Congress and then other institutions and were appraised at $30 million by Sotheby’s in the late 1990’s.  Among the collection are: telegrams from Presidents and civil rights leaders, cases each containing over 800 hand written index cards used for sermons and speeches, collections of books with scribbles and critiques, and the manuscript he used for the acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize he earned in Oslo December 10, 1964.  These items were owned by the King Estate not the King Center. 

Time for The Gay Games 

As you may well know, the Gay Games will be held in Chicago this July from the 15^th-22^nd.  In an attempt to aid whomever may go to support our people, I will be posting weekly things of interest you may or may not know about The Games or events going on in and around Chicago.  

Just to let you know not to skip out before it is over, Cindi Lauper will be the closing performer and scheduled to perform on Saturday, July 22^nd at Wrigley Field.  She will join the lineup of more than 60 music, television, arts, culture, and sports legends from around the world.  If you also happen to be going to New York, she is currently on Broadway with Alan Cummings and Ana Gasteyer in the revival of The Threepenny Opera. 

It’s Good To Be A Billionaire 

What are you supposed to do when you have more than an estimated $55 BILLION?  Well, MicroSoft mogul Bill Gates just spent a whopping $32MILLION on a 17-page notebook of Leonardo DaVinci.  How much for an ink blot fingerprint?

Come Smell Paris 

If you happen to be in New York City and happen to be near Macy’s Herald Square on Friday, June 16^th, come by and meet the hotel heiress at the Main Floor Fragrance Arcade at noon.  Only catch—you have to buy her signature fragrance.  After an event down in SoBe back in March we received it in our gift bags her male and female fragrances.  It amazingly enough smells like Armani’s Aqua di Gio with some subtle changes.  My roommate loves it; of course I can smell it in my room when she sprays it. 

Wine is Fine 

Did you know that monkeys and apes in The Budapest Zoo are given small amounts of red table wine each day?  Apparently, it helps boost their red blood cells.

Robert G. Lang—Fashionista? 

When we are growing up, most of us look up towards our same-sex parent as a role model for so many things.  In honor of Father’s Day this Sunday, I would like to thank my father, Robert G. Lang for so many things, but as far as fashion: How to Tie a Tie, the different knots, and most important—how to put on a tuxedo.  I attended my best friend’s wedding last month and actually teared up at the thought of putting on a tux without the help of my father.  For the first time in my life, I had to figure out the buttons and cufflinks.  I can still remember sitting on the steps by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the mid 80’s and him telling me that the wave of the future was crew length socks—vice knee highs and thinking he was crazy, but how many ankle socks do I now have?  Visionary. Just kidding, but that’s the kind of hairpin guy I am. 

Sing Me A Song

She IS The Talk of the Town 

Beverly [Bev] McClellan and Billy, the amazing vocalists who perform Saturdays at New Moon will be on hand to talk, sing, drink, and take you on a journey.  At first glance you see what Avril Lavine sings about in “Skater Boy”—but don’t let looks fool ya—she can sing like Melissa Etheridge.  After listening to her CD Talk of the Town, I’m a fan!  Carol from New Moon says, “…catch these guys for free while you can, chances are they will be up on a national stage soon!”

We Are Family, June 17^th & 18^th

The Ft. Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus will be onstage Saturday, June 17^th and Sunday, June 18^th [Stonewall Street Festival] at the Amaturo Theatre at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.  The Chorus is celebrating their 20^th Anniversary with a concert “We Are Family” which will contain poignant ballads to Rock & Roll, Ballroom Dancing to a Country Hoe-Down.  You will see that they come from all walks of life, each walking this journey together as one family.  Tickets are now available thru Box Office at 954*462-0222 or online at http://www.fortlauderdalegaymenschorus.org/concert_tickets_new.htm

Museum of the Week

US Military Uniforms on Display

Located "On the Avenue" in trendy Downtown Delray Beach, the Atlantic Antique Mall has been a hot spot on Atlantic Avenue since its debut Thanksgiving 2002.  One unique destination is the Military Uniform Museum and Exhibit on the second level. Mall owner Gary Goldfarb has a passion for collecting and preserving military history and now has one of the largest private collections in the country. Of the 5,000+ vintage articles, over 1,000 are U. S. military uniforms dating from the 1860s through the turn of the century. The display will change three or four times per year and will include insignias, chevrons, epaulettes and similar memorabilia plus American flags dating back to the "35-star" Civil War era. There will be no charge for admission to the exhibit and is located at 504 East Atlantic Ave. in Delray Beach and is open from 10am to 6pm.  For further information call 561*330-6336. http://www.atlanticantiquemall.com/military.html

Jay Presson Allen, screenwriter of Caberet and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and the author of the Broadway play Tru about Truman Capote, died of a stroke May 1^st at the age of 84.

We couldn't come up with a legal photo of Jay Presson Allen, so that's Truman Capote, subject of the Broadway play, Tru.

At Java Boys one of my favorite new friends Bubba of Bubba Clicks Digital Photography is on display.  To see his work and read my review of his last show down in Hollywood at The Gallery of the Unknown Artist click here.  While at Storks Wilton Manors check out Angela Farinelli who’s famous now for her comic style cowboys and latest…cowgirls!  Click here to read my review and bio of Angelina.  Click here and see the New Moon and check out my review of owner Carol’s Wine & Art Nite with artisans Debbie Forsmith and Karen Friedman (aka Weavegrrl).  Don’t forget to go and stop in at Items 2 Envy and see owner Keith Myers who has Miami’s own Rosello.  Click here to see some of Rosello’s work from the store.