Theater, Movies, Art and Literature

If/When Magic Mike the musical makes it to Broadway, some audience members will get lap dances, according to Producer Gregory Jacobs.. http://www.vulture.com/2013/02/magic-mike-musical-will-include-lap-dances.html

Milk Sometimes a movie comes around that is so inspiring, it reminds you of old Hollywood before the cynical post-Tarantino era swallowed up independent film with its festival of violent snark. A good example of this is Gus Van Sant's beautiful, moving movie, Milk. In fact, the film is so beautiful that if you didn't know your history you'd be convinced that the director made it up. But, no, as we all know it is the story of San Francisco political activist Harvey Milk, a fascinating figure of both triumph and tragedy. Though, his story is just a cover for Van Sant to explore the history of the gay rights movement in San Francisco and to look at how that would event…

The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is one of the most delightful, respectful and funny gay-themed movies ever made. It was also considerably ahead of its time. Who would have thought that in 1994, Australia would have put out a film that would still be considered progressive in 2013? It also allows us to see some men who would later become very famous in their first starring roles. First off, we get Hugo Weaving playing a man who is neither gay, nor straight, nor bisexual. I am what I am, he says at one critical moment and that is a drag queen performer who has a secret wife out in the desert, and he's abo…

Since the only three categories under the "Arts" forums are for: 1) Theater, Art and literature 2) Gay movies and Gay themed films 3) Coming of age films I was unsure where to post about just a mainstream themed film like this. I chose this forum as it seemed the most appropriate for this film, although it doesnt really fit the criteria here either, by forum definition. The only other two choices were about gay movies, films and coming of age films, which didnt apply either. My apologies for placing this here if offensive to anyone. I viewed this film last night which I had recorded on my dvr a few months ago. I knew its subject-matter ahead of time and believ…

The book itself may not interest you, but the book review does such a good job of summarizing what sounds like an interesting book that I recommend it to all who have any interest in religious history. It's a book by a Jesuit historian on the Council of Trent, which established back in the 1500's much of the doctrine I was taught in Catholic school. Many of the things we think came from Christ were actually political decisions made at this council of warring interests. Rather than a group of holy men accepting wisdom from God, these guys were interested much more in their finances and girlfriends. It's an interesting read: http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/boo…

My library hold came up today for the novel Me and The Devil, by Nick Tosches. Read these blurbs and tell me if they interest you as much as they do me: Review Me and the Devil "This is the best, from one of the best writers around. Nick Tosches knows the devil as well as any man has."--Keith Richards "Words and wisdom that I shall carry with me into the fucking dirt."--Johnny Depp "If there was ever any doubt that Nick Tosches is the Dark Prince of literary fiction, Me and the Devil should settle the matter. The single, most brain-searingly dangerous man of letters. Read him at your peril."--Anthony Bourdain "A dark narrative that cleverly blurs the lines between re…

... is Torch Song Trilogy, by Harvey Fierstein. It is about life, love, losses and acceptance.

...so reports Musto: James Franco Reimagines The Controversial Gay Movie Cruising By Michael Musto Fri., Jan. 11 2013 at 10:13 AM Here's Leonard Maltin's description of the 1980 William Friedkin film Cruising, starring Al Pacino. "Cop Pacino goes underground to ferret out bloody killer of homosexuals in this distasteful, badly scripted film. Gay world presented as sick, degrading, and ritualistic. Filmed on authentic N.Y.C. locations." Funny, I always thought it was just the killer who's sick and degrading, while the leather gays were just being themselves and partying. But in any case, the movie caused a righteous controversy and has always been a sore spot for the …

The opening and several more shows of Barry Manilow at the St. James Theater have been postponed as the singer is ill. He apparently has a bad case of bronchitis and cannot sing. He was, however, able to attend a street-naming event wherein 44th Street, the home of the St. James, was named Barry Manilow Way. It is an honorary designation and will not affect mailing addresses. Manilow has tacked on the postponed shows to the end of the run. Hopes now are that the first show will be on Tuesday. New York has suffered a rash of flu and other illnesses, along with a bitter cold ever since Lucky left town earlier this month. Even gay former mayor Ed Koch was hospitalized. Man…

The Boys Of St. Vincent Here we have one of the most well-made films about an uncomfortable topic ever. Told in two parts, it goes to the heart of the blackness than can exist inside humanity. Its effect cannot be understated it leaves you both in awe of the acting, directing and filmmaking, while at the same time horrified and repulsed by what you see on the screen. That it was made in 1992 is astounding. Six years later, Todd Sololdz would make a far less explicit film called Happiness, covering roughly the same subject matter, and would be reviled for it. What makes this film able to do what it does and get away with it is that it is based on true events at the …

This is a awesome film about the bond a pre-op transsexual Father and son have regardless of circumstances. Oh did I forget to mention the son is a gay hustler? Plenty of eye candy and a few lol laughs along the way. http://youtu.be/a48ezM-Ew-o

Just a winter inspired Georgia O'Keeffe painting. She has long been one of my favorite abstract artists. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do.

Bette Midler is returning to the Broadway stage for the first time in 30 years. She'll star as the late Hollywood superagent Sue Mengers in I'll Eat You Last.

If you love art and find yourself in Dallas for a day or more and have some free time check out the Dallas Museum of Art. Effective today they waived their entry fee for all ages and all exhibits. http://www.dallasmuseumofart.org/

R. J. Ellory is an author who appeals to me so much that I ordered his books from London when they were not available here. His first novel to be available here was A Quiet Belief in Angels, and was just a terrific crime story. A Simple Act of Violence and Saints of New York were just masterpieces of crime fiction. Ellory lives in England, yet places his stories in the US with such fine detail that you would think he was native to the area. I told all of my friends of his books. Now I learn, rather late, that he had to apologize for writing reviews under a pseudonym that disparaged competing authors. Why? Why would a man of this talent stoop so low? His novels are stil…

Other than Picnic, I saw six shows in New York. My favorite was the first one, Vanya, and Sonia and Masha and Spike. It's a very funny comedy by Christopher Durang about contemporary issues. He uses character names from various plays by Anton Chekhov, and no doubt I missed a few insider jokes. TheaterMania provides this summary of the show: Vanya (Pierce) and adopted sister Sonia (Nielsen) are – in true Chekhovian fashion -- bored, lonely, and aimless sitting around their lovely Bucks County home (gloriously rendered by David Korins). Now in their 50s, they lament about having given up their lives (and apparently any chance of reasonable employment) to tend to their now…

You have to choose the hottest Broadway body – Seth Numrich in Golden Boy, Billy Magnussen in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, orSebastian Stan in Picnic. Frankly, it's a two way battle in my mind between Magnussen and Stan, with Stan winning by the glistening sweat on his torso.

I treated my sister to The Book of Mormon last night. I was able to attend the production with the original cast about a year ago, and what a difference. The current cast isn't "bad," but the 2 original leads were far superior.

Bare is a musical that has been around in various stages of development. It is now playing at the New World Stages, where I saw it last week. The story is about a gay high school boy who begins an affair with a closeted jock. What could go wrong with that? Of course the jock does not say anything when his boyfriend is bullied, and he even calls someone a faggot in front of his jock friends. Both boys end up in the school play, Romeo and Juliet. Jock plays Romeo, but no, the gay boy does not play Juliet. Jock has a drug dealing sister. When a slutty new girl comes in, he dates her in an effort to show his heterosexuality. Does she get pregnant? Is he the father? Does the…

My Saturday matinee schedule was open, and I had to decide if I wanted to see Scarlett Johansonn in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, or Laurie Metcalf in The Other Place, which is only 70 minutes long. I decided to go for funny. Forbidden Broadway has been around for years. The show spoofs Broadway shows and is changed periodically to update itself. It has been on hiatus for some time, but the review by Ben Brantley in the NY Times said that the new version was a winner, so I decided to see it, even if only 90 minutes long! The show plays in a really tacky theater that seems to have some connection to Puerto Ricans, or did. But one forgets that fairly quickly when the 4 performer…

Lots of folks have been recommending The Piano Lesson, the August Wilson play at the Signature Theater that has been extended some three times. Prices started out at $25, but are now $75. Success has a price! I will get right to the point. Those folks recommending the show are right on. It's excellent. It's also different. It's a slice of black life in 1936 Pittsburgh, and involves a family and friends who come together at a time when one of he characters very much needs to sell his piano. Problem is, he only owns half of it. His sister owns the other half, and boy does she not want to sell. The piano has been in the family for some time, and has quite a history, which …

This show plays in one of the most uncomfortable theaters in New York. They forgot to give audience members space for their legs and feet. And if you are 6'1, that's a problem. But once Asher Lev takes the stage, one forgets how uncomfortable he is and gets drawn into a fine performance. In a nutshell, Asher is a member of an Hasidic Jewish family, and he is also a talented artist. Sorry, Asher, but your religion does not approve of that. End of story, no? Well, of course not. Asher pursues his dreams. The show, based on a novel by Chaim Potok, is heartfelt if it is anything. Asher gets a tutor, interestingly played by the same actor who plays his father. He even paints…

Golden Boy is a revival of a 1937 play by Clifford Odets. It's about a young man torn between playing the classical violin and his desire to punch people out in the boxing ring. Yet fighting will ruin his hands, and his violin days will be over. Seth Numrich is the Golden Boy, and his sexual attractiveness is discussed in another thread. Since he plays his character in the 1937 time frame, he doesn't have some of the sexy attributes which men show nowadays. He is an awkward suitor of his boss's girlfriend, and seems to thrive only when he is in the ring. In my opinion, he didn't show much passion for playing that instrument. In the one scene where he does play a fancy…

Here is the main attraction in the revival of the play Picnic: The NY Times even began its review: "The Roundabout Theater Company’s revival of William Inge’s “Picnic” opened on Sunday night, starring an exceptionally well-developed torso." I saw the play last week myself, and my recommendation is that you read that review: http://theater.nytimes.com/2013/01/14/theater/reviews/picnic-at-american-airlines-theater.html?hpw Ben Brantley does his best to point out the good points of the play- the set, the costumes- but he pretty much came to the same conclusion that I did. The play is not very interesting. 60 years ago it was "the last word in sexual frankness." But we'v…

Exquisite, delicate, nuanced, gets so much right. Trailer conveys it beautifully...