Professional Documents
Culture Documents
C O M
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Stars turn out for GLAAD Awards Preparing for Venice Beach Pride Rainbow Flag creator dies at 65
No history, no equality
Why FBI documents, attic at McDermott, Will & Emery, have led a hate somebody.
lawsuit in U.S. District Court to force the One of their greatest discoveries was
curios and LAs Gay Girls
Justice Department and FBI to comply with uncovered at the Reagan Library in Simi
Riding Club matter longstanding Freedom of Information Valley by Francis and Pate Felts. In folders
requests for documents associated with marked Hospitals (not AIDS), they
By KAREN OCAMB the Eisenhower executive order. found documents showing how Nancy
kocamb@losangelesblade.com Francis is featured in a Yahoo News Reagan rebued her dear friend Rock
documentary entitled Uniquely Nasty: The Hudsons pleas for help after the movie
Theres a fear afoot in America. LGBT U.S. Governments War on Gays, reported star was admitted to a Paris hospital
people have made much progress but are by chief investigative correspondent with AIDS in 1985. Buzzfeed reported the
still second-class citizens in many respects. Michael Isiko. It includes never-before- story, complete with the telegram from
Now, under Donald Trump, there appears seen government memos by legendary FBI Hudsons gay publicist, Dale Olson. The
to be an intentional eort to virtually director J. Edgar Hoover (read by George story was an instant corrective to Hillary
render LGBT people invisible. Takei) and John Steele, a top lawyer for Clintons erroneous comment that Nancy
And while political and legal activists CHARLES FRANCIS heads D.C.s Mattachine the U.S. Civil Service Commission (read by Reagan had been a very eective, low
Society.
are jumping into the chaotic fray, a Matt Bomer) asserting that gays were not key advocate for HIV/AIDS. A fast backlash
group of archival activists is working PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANCIS
suitable for federal employment because ensued and Clinton apologized.
furiously against the clock to collect and of their sexual perversion. But not all discoveries are explosive,
preserve LGBT historical documents and malicious persecution, Francis told the The toxic animus starts out with vile or vindictive. Recently, the Mattachine
memorabilia before time runs out. Los Angeles Blade. concerns about gay people being able to team worked with ONE Institute and the
The surprise the archives reveal is a Documents show a purge of an be blackmailed, but it grew to revulsion UCLA Film Archives to uncover stories
creative resistance underneath the pall of estimated 7,000 to 10,000 gay and lesbian and then morphed into suitability and that might otherwise remain buried.
stigma and persistent intimidation, juiced federal employees in the 1950s alone. And stretches over seven presidencies from Stories such as the 1961 22-minute lm A
with an irreverent humor that invented transcripts of closed-door congressional Eisenhower through Reagan and didnt Roman Springs on Mrs. Stone, directed by
camp and pop art. testimony by Central Intelligence Agency really end until President Clinton put an Connie B. DeMille, aka Ray Harrison of the
In 1961, Frank Kameny and Jack Nichols director Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter posit gays end to it with an executive order, Francis Los Angeles-based Gay Girls Riding Club
established a Mattachine Society chapter as national security risks. [T]he moral told NPR in 2015. (GGRC)a lm preserved by lmmaker
in Washington, D.C. With others, including pervert is a security risk of so serious a Gay and lesbian history is so often Pat Rocco.
courageous out lesbian pioneers such as nature that he must be weeded out of deleted, sealed, destroyed. The letters With help from Michael Oliviera at ONE
Lilli Vincenz and Barbara Gittings, they government employment wherever he is are burned. So our biggest fear is more Institute, Francis also discovered the GGRC
daringly protested bias, carrying signs found, Hillenkoetter said. Failure to do destruction of documents and trying to Aware newsletters. GGRC was Harrisons
reading, Gay is Good and Stop FBI this can only result in placing a weapon put a stop to it now so that historians brainchild, starting out as a bunch of
Homophobes. Federal anti-gay witch in the hands of our enemies and their will have this record of a time of huge guys, sometimes a gal or two, who loved to
hunts were commonplace after President intelligence service, and the point of that upheaval and transition. go horseback riding on top of Beachwood
Dwight D. Eisenhower authorized anti-gay weapon would probably be aimed right at The archival activists are also seeking Drive in Hollywood or at Grith Park. But
discrimination in his infamous April 27, the heart of our national security. individual treasures locked away or Harrison got the idea to produce gay drag
1953 Executive Order 10450. Those signs Gay historian David K. Johnson discredits forgotten in attics or an old uncle or aunts satires of famous movies to be screened
and other historic LGBT memorabilia are that myth, pointing to a failed Russian storage facilityletters, posters, and in Hollywood gay bars. Made on $2
now housed as American Treasures in attempt to recruit famed columnist Joseph cultural curios that illustrate the real lives, budgets, everyone pitched in and helped,
the Smithsonian Institution. Alsop. Its a strong example of a gay struggles and ghts of LGBT people in the and got drunk, and made love, and were
After Kameny died in 2011, gay public person resisting blackmail, of which there 1950s and 1960s. very gay. DOZENS of handsome young
relations consultant Charles Francis, Pate were many examples in the 50s. In fact, We need this material so historians gay men made themselves available to be
Felts and Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance there are no cases of a gay man or lesbian and others can use them in our ght for in the lms, but it was Warren Fremming
President Rick Rosendall re-launched the American citizen succumbing to blackmail LGBT equality, says Francis. These anti- (Frieda) who starred in most of the
Mattachine Society of Washington with by a foreign power none, Johnson told LGBT laws are not based on anything lms. His Bette Davis in What REALLY
the new mission to be archival activists the Blade. rational. Theyre based on bigotry and Happened to By (sic, Baby) Jane is nothing
and nd original archival documents Francis and the Mattachine Society, with ignoranceand thats unconstitutional.
demonstrating the governments the pro bono assistance from attorneys You cant discriminate just because you CONTINUES ON PAGE 10
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By REBEKAH SAGER
By SUSAN HORNIK
The new Pride on the beach for a straight bar), Blackies (now Chinois) and said Turck.
Westsiders is looking like a promising Van Gos Ear on Main Street, Westwinds In recent years, West Hollywoods LA
alternative to West Hollywoods LA Pride.
Building upon last years success, our
(now a T-shirt shop) and Match Box on
Ocean Front Walk, Big Brothers (now
Pride has forgotten its roots by putting
most of its energy into a music festival
LA Leather
13-member board has been hard at work Salt Air) on Abbot Kinney Blvd. and Free with a bloated budget that demands Pride sends
planning an incredible line-up of inclusive
events for all ages to enjoy this June 2-3,
People on West Pico Blvd (now Coal & Ice).
Over the last several years, weve lost one
expensive tickets. LGBT Pride should be
accessible to all with the fewest barriers Jeff Wilcox
said Grant Turck, president.
Among the many activities is a beach
Westside gay institution after the next.
News of Roostershs rumored closure
to inclusion necessary, because the
reality is whether young, old, gay, trans,
to Chicago
dedication to Bill Rosendahl, the rst last February left some feeling like gay non-binary, masc, fem, average or bu
openly gay person elected to LA City culture in the area had been erased. we are all in this ght together. And our LA Leather Prides 5th Annual
Council. Los Angeles County Supervisor I was at First Friday, a monthly event strength comes through the celebration of O Sunset Festival in the heart of
Sheila Kuehl and many other politicos will held on Abbott Kinney Boulevard last these dierences. Silverlake saw hundreds of leather-
be in attendance. year with a friend. People turn out for it in While the Trump administration has clad participants come together
From the dedication of the Bill droves. It was usually an especially grand caused much worry among LGBT people, at the festival where Je Wilcox
Rosendahl Memorial Beach to the annual night at Roostersh, as the Westside really Turck remains hopeful. (pictured) received the title of Mr. LA
Venice Pride Sign Lighting & Block Party came together for it. When we realized The American people have protested Leather 2017. The April 1 ceremony
and festival at the world-famous Muscle that the bar would be closing, it felt like we before and were doing it again now. was held at The Globe Theatre
Beach, a good time is sure to be had by needed to create something that would Grassroots movements like the Womens downtown. Scarlett SingleTail Sin
everyone, Turck said, promising there reinvigorate the recognition that there is March in D.C. and the upcoming (also pictured), was awarded the
would also be more surprises along the a gay community here. Continuing Venice #ResistMarches all across the country are Ms. LA Leather title at the Ms. LA
way. D.J. Victor Rodriguez, known for his Pride reminds LGBT people that they have only the beginning. These movements Leather ceremony held the prior
popular Bears In Space event will once a place here on the Westside. remind us of what is possible when we rise week at LAX Sanctuary. Wilcox
again spin tunes for the Block Party. Turck campaigned to secure Historic- together as one voice united. The present represented the Eagle Bar and Sin
Venice Pride, in part, emerged as a Cultural Monument designation for the bar administration forgets their victory was by represented Sanctuary. Wilcox will
grassroots response to the shuttering of from the City of LA, but was unsuccessful. a minority, and their failure to capture the now vie for the title of International
the last gay bar west of the 405, noted Several high-prole corporations have hearts and minds of the majority will be its Mr. Leather at the IML competition
Turck. expressed interest in sponsoring the undoing, Turck emphasized. on May 28th in Chicago.
Venice has a huge gay history. It is event, including last years sponsors like Members of the Venice Pride board JOHN McHUGH DENNIS
a symbol of diversity, acceptance, and SnapChat, Google and others. will also march in the free #ResistMarch
creativity for so much of the world. There West Hollywood Pride has had some happening on Sunday, June 11.
LO C A L N E W S WWW.LO SANGE LE SB LADE .C OM A PR IL 07, 2017 09
310-967-3620
about the Rainbow Flag. Baker credited Milk as an inspiration
His ght for LGBT rights was a long and forhis work.
signicant one.
Baker was born in Chanute, Kansas, on CONTINUES AT LOSANGELESBLADE.COM
1 0 A PRI L 0 7 , 2 0 1 7 W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM LO CA L N E W S
for Chechnyas leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, in a statement to RIA Novosti, a Russian government
news agency.
If such people existed in Chechnya, law enforcement would not have to worry about them, Gay ambassadors departure
as their own relatives would have sent them to where they could never return, added Karimov,
referring to the ancient custom of honor killing. leaves void in Dominican Republic
Usually, people under arrest will bring shame on the family, so [their families] have to kill
them, Viacheslav Revin, a U.S.-based LGBT activist for Rusa LGBT, told the Blade as he spoke SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic Activists in the Dominican Republic who
about the dangers of getting arrested in Chechnya. attended an LGBT conference in their countrys capital this past weekend say former
Unfortunately, people can be killed [or disappear] because someone doesnt like the color of U.S. Ambassador James Wally Brewsters departure has left a deep void.
their shoes, he continued. Rosalba Karina Crisstomo, a lesbian activist who is the executive director of
MICHAEL K. LAVERS Comunidad de Lesbianas Inclusivas Dominicanas, is among the more than 300 people
from across the region who attended the conference that the Gay and Lesbian Victory
Trans Puerto Rico Senate employees lose protections Institute co-sponsored with Diversidad Dominicana, a Dominican advocacy group, and
Caribe Armativo, an LGBT organization that works throughout northern Colombia.
The president of the Puerto Rico Senate has eliminated protections for the chambers Crisstomo told the Washington Blade on Saturday that Brewster has had a big
transgender employees. impact in the country.
El Vocero, a Puerto Rican newspaper, reported Sen. Thomas Rivera Schatz on March 31 The Dominican Republic is a country controlled by religious Catholics, said
rescinded an administrative order that said trans Senate employees could use bathrooms and Crisstomo. Wally came here to the Dominican Republic and helped us with
wear clothing that is consistent with their gender identity. development and in doing that he highlighted all of the discrimination that exists
Then-Senate President Eduardo Bhata signed the order in 2014. El Vocero reported Schatz towards the LGBT community in the country.
who is a vocal opponent of LGBT rights in the U.S. commonwealth removed from the Then-President Obama nominated Brewster, who is a former member of the Human
list of discriminatory practices the requirement that a person (must) dress in a manner that is Rights Campaigns board of directors, to represent the U.S. in the Dominican Republic
inconsistent with their gender identity or prevents them from expressing their identity. in 2013.
Pedro Julio Serrano, founder of Puerto Rico Para Tod@s, a Puerto Rican advocacy group, in a Brewster and his husband, Bob Satawake, frequently appeared together at public
sharply worded statement he released on Tuesday accused Rivera of violating the islands 2013 events and in the Dominican media. They also met regularly with LGBT rights advocates.
law that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. MICHAEL K. LAVERS
You have to be a real bastard, Thomas Rivera Schatz, to eliminate well-designed protections
in an administrative order (and) to express and blatantly discriminate against the Senates
transgender and transsexual employees, said Serrano. Not allowing them to use the bathroom
or wear clothing that matches their gender identity is a violation of 2013s Law 22 that precisely Rivera Schatz should be ashamed of himself, said Mark-Viverito. Instead of taking the time
prohibits this type of discrimination. to disempower the must vulnerable Puerto Ricans, he should be focused on strengthening them
New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who was born in Puerto Rico, in her own and moving the island forward.
statement also accused Rivera of violating the U.S. commonwealths nondiscrimination law. She Lambda Legal was among the plaintis in a 2014 lawsuit that challenged Puerto Ricos same-
added this deplorable act of cowardice not only mirrors President Trumps hateful and divisive sex marriage ban. The LGBT legal group on Tuesday said Rivera has violated Puerto Rican and
rhetoric, but falls in line with Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossells recent attempts to roll back the federal law and the U.S. constitution.
rights of Puerto Ricos LGBTQ community. MICHAEL K. LAVERS
1 4 A PRI L 0 7 , 2 0 1 7 WWW .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM VIEWPOINT
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SENIOR CONTRIBUTING WRITER
old organization. The primary charge was KAREN OCAMB
On the morning of June 12, 2016, all that LA Pride had lost its sense of legacy karenocamb@sbcglobal.net
of our lives began to change. Our peace and history and that by trying to appeal CONTRIBUTORS
CHARLES KAISER, ALAN MILLER, TIM MILLER, MAER
was shattered, and, within months, our to a new, younger generation of LGBT ROSHAN, HOLLY HUGHES, KIT WINTER, BRAD LAMM,
condence that LGBT equality was secure people, it was prematurely embracing a DAVID EHRENSTEIN, STEVEN ERICKSON, LILLIAN
would be, too. post-gay sensibility. FADERMAN, ORIOL GUTTIEREZ, SETH HEMMELGARN,
ROBIN TYLER, CHRIS AZZOPARD, ALLEN ROSKOFF,
In Los Angeles, we woke to news of the Orlando changed that. The election JOHN PAUL KING, JOHN MCHUGH-DENNIS, MELODY
slaughter of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Last years Pulse massacre helped give new of Donald Trump changed that. The MUNDY, ROBERT WILLIAMS, DAN ALLEN, BRAD FUHR,
WINSTON GEISEKE, RICHARD ANDREOLI, DREW
Orlando and horror quickly blended with purpose to Pride commemorations around the Resistance movement demands change. MACKIE, JOEY DIGUGLIELMO, CHRIS JOHNSON, LOU
terror when, early that same morning, country, including in LA. Thanks to the dogged eorts of Brian CHIBBARO JR., MARIAH COOPER, ABBY DEES, REBEKAH
Santa Monica police announced they had BLADE FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS
Pendleton, much of the funding necessary SAGER, JOHN MCHUGH-DENNIS, MIKE CIRIACO
PHOTOGRAPHY
arrested a man headed to the LA Pride to pull o the four-mile march is in place. BOB KRASNER, JON VISCOTT, MICHAEL KEY
Parade with assault weapons, a cache of people of color from his rallies, exploited It will wind its way from Highland Avenue CREATIVE DESIGN/PRODUCTION
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In deance, a form of resistance, the LA to upend 225 years of international south to Santa Monica Boulevard ending CHRISTOPHER JACKSON, 562-826-6602
Pride Parade went on, and some 100,000 diplomacy, rhetorically fueled hate-lled up at Robertson. All material in the Los Angeles Blade is protected by federal copyright
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Donald Trump, a toxic presidential oppose LGBT rights. faith in Christopher Street West.
candidate he mocked disabled people, But that was just for starters. Since then, The ResistMarch honors our heritage,
bullied his opponents, gloated about we have lived a slow motion, miles long reclaims our peace and demands that our
sexually harassing women, ejected train-wreck of a presidency, crumpling up equality be honored.
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By DAVID EHRENSTEIN
Its been 30 years since Maurice, U.S. Supreme Courts approval of same- have come in Maurices wake, the most British teenagers, and Weekend (2011),
the Merchant-Ivory adaptation of E.M. sex marriage. Two entire generations of famous being the closeted sheepherder about an adult pair of British bohemians.
Forsters posthumously published novel gay men suffered the ravages of a deadly saga Brokeback Mountain (2005). But none have quite the special charge of
of gay love, made its theatrical debut. AIDS epidemic. In that context, it is striking But that was a gay love story with an Maurice, stemming from its lush setting
A lot has happened across that time span, to see the film again, given all we have unhappy ending. Those with happy ones and aristocratic-commoner breeding.
not the least of it being the rapid gains achieved since its release. like Maurice include Beautiful Thing
LGBT rights have made, climaxed by the On the screen many gay love stories (1996), a tale of gay lower middle-class ContinueS ON page 30
1 8 A PRI L 0 7 , 2 0 1 7 W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM 2 0 G A Y Q U E ST I O N S F O R: R A B B I D E N I S E E G E R
Each year, queer women from around the world make their way to Dinah Shore in Palm
Springs, Calif., to live out their spring break fantasies.
The sun is hot, the drinks are strong and the women are ready for whatever life brings
them while they are there. As my wife and I drove from Los Angeles to Palm Springs on
Friday morning, the anticipation of the weekend had us bursting at the seams. Although
this was our third Dinah Shore, we knew that it could possibly be our last, so we were
amped up to make it the best.
What began as a small weekend gathering in 1991, Dinah Shore has exploded into a
ve-day girl party with music performances from stars such as Lady Gaga, Meghan Trainor
and Katy Perry.
While the spaces for queer women have basically become extinct, The Dinah has always
been one event that has remained consistent for the past 26 years. It makes perfect sense
as to why thousands and thousands of women want to experience it, even if you have
been in a long-term relationship for years.
The City of Palm Springs estimated that this years event, held March 29-April 3, attracted
5,000 revelers.
Although you may have missed your chance to attend this years Dinah, have no fear,
there is always next year.
2 0 A PRI L 0 7 , 2 0 1 7 W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM T RA V E L
By ED WALSH
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the Ordinary
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T2 stars the original ensemble cast, including EWAN MCGREGOR, EWEN BREMNER, JONNY LEE
MILLER, ROBERT CARLYLE, and KELLY MACDONALD.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TRISTAR PICTURES
A little over 20 years ago, though Trainspotting followed the wild-and- irreverent energy, it was in turn dizzyingly ferocity and haplessness have only been
English director Danny Boyle had built a wooly exploits of a cadre of young mates joyous and harrowingly dark, laced with magnied by the passage of time. Finally,
reputation in his native country with his (Renton, Spud, Simon and Franco) as they absurdity and irony, and marked by a new addition Anjela Nedyalkova brings a
work in theater and his rst movie had tried to navigate life and heroin addiction refusal to rely on the tropes of social complex blend of warm and cold, along
just won a BAFTA award, he was still an in the economically depressed slums realism. That same vision propels T2: with a fresh perspective, into the mix as
unknown quantity to the rest of the world. of Edinburgh. It ends with Renton (aka it shares the same essential elements Simons Bulgarian girlfriend, Veronika.
That changed when his second feature Rent Boy) leaving his friends behind in (arresting camerawork, bright colors, When a sequel appears to such a
roared onto screens in 1996; immediately the squalor of their dead-end lives, as he free-associative imagery, an edgy pop- revered original, there is always a question
embraced by audiences and heralded escapes in the hope of building a better music soundtrack), and adds a touch of of worthiness. The intervening years have
by critics as a rebirth of Great British one for himself. T2 rejoins them 20 years self-referential humor to the mix (clever added layers of resonance that help to
Cinema, it became an instant pop culture later, as he returns to make amends. acknowledgment of the notoriously thick make T2: Trainspotting a compelling
phenomenon, and suddenly his name was Things arent much dierent, despite Scottish dialects, for instance, and several two hours, and Boyle and company have
no longer as obscure as the quaint English the intervening years. nods to the originals iconic toilet scene). certainly brought the same level of energy
pastime from which it drew its title. Its as if time has stood still for these The new lm unquestionably feels like a and expertise to the table. Its quality is
That movie was, of course, men, or rather they have stood still while natural extension of the old- perhaps a undeniable. Is it a masterpiece of the
Trainspotting, and 20 years later, it has time passed them by. Their world is still bit more sophisticated, and maybe a bit caliber of its predecessor? Not quite.
gained iconic status. Now, at least partly for dened by the blight of poverty, and the oft- mellower, but no less audacious. Does it add something essential to the
the same reason, it has also gained a sequel. repeated catchphrase, Choose life, seems The cast clearly relishes its chance to story? Perhaps not. Nevertheless, any
Still, T2: Trainspotting is no mere eort at as much a gilded lie as it was in their youth. revisit these characters. Leading it, of lm as intelligent, superbly executed and
pandering to fans; Boyle, now an Oscar- And of course there are still the drugs, with course, is Ewan McGregor as Renton, downright entertaining as this one will
winner and power player, has long spoken their insidious allure, and the abdication of bringing the same intelligence and good always be welcome and that not only
of a desire to revisit his breakthrough lm responsibility that comes with them. nature that allows us to like this character makes it necessary, but very worthy indeed.
because he felt there was still a story to be This time around, though, percolating even when his choices strike us as
told. With the help of original screenwriter under it all, are a host of long-buried questionable. The formidable Jonny Lee
John Hodge, he has mined the source novel conicts with each other and with Miller is every bit his equal, managing to be
(by Irvine Welsh) and its follow-up, Porno, themselves, which their reunion inevitably somehow lovable as Simon, the inept con NOW PLAYING:
to esh out that story, and re-enlisted the brings to the surface. artist on the other side of their precarious ArcLight Hollywood
4:25 p.m., 7:05 p.m.,10:55 p.m.
now considerably craggier original cast to Boyle directed Trainspotting with the bromance. Ewen Bremner is again both The Landmark
bring it to life. exuberant, visually engaging style that comical and heartbreaking as Spud, and 4:45 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 10:05 p.m.
Vintage Los Feliz Theatre
For those who need a refresher, has marked his entire output. Driven by Robert Carlyle gives us a Franco whose 4:15 p.m., 7 p.m., 9:45 p.m.
2 4 A PRI L 0 7 , 2 0 1 7 W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM THEATER
If youre a fan of theater that stretches the depths of the jungle and beyond.
boundaries both those of your Originally produced by the U.K.s
expectations and of the art form itself innovative Complicite Theatre Company,
the Wallis has an upcoming production The Encounter followed its acclaimed
that belongs at the top of your must-see London debut with a limited engagement
list for spring. on Broadway before making its way to Los
The Encounter is a solo performance Angeles. McBurney (who is Complicites
inspired by the book Amazon Beaming, leader and one of its founding members)
by Petru Popescu, relating the true story discovered Popescus book two decades
of National Geographic photographer ago, and spent ve years bringing his
Loren McIntyre, who, in 1969, was lost in interpretation of it to the stage through
the remote Jovari region of the Amazon. experiments, improvisation and workshops.
His experiences there led him to a startling Though he may be less well-known to
encounter that would change his life, and as American audiences than to those in his
his story unfolds (through the narration of native England, the plays creator and star
actor/director Simon McBurney), his South will nevertheless be familiar to many from
American adventure becomes an inner appearances in television shows such as
journey that explores questions about how The Vicar of Dibley, The Borgias and
we live and what we believe to be true. Absolutely Fabulous, as well as roles
This is not just another one-man show. in lms like The Last King of Scotland,
Its a highly unorthodox theatrical event The Theory of Everything, and Mission
that engages your senses in unexpected Impossible: Rogue Nation. His theatrical
ways. McBurney combines his storytelling resum is vast; in addition to his work
skills with the use of cutting-edge aural with Complicite, he has performed in
technology to lead you on an epic and directed dozens of plays, including
journey from the intimacy of his home in acclaimed New York productions of Arthur
London to deep into the rainforest. The Millers All My Sons and The Resistible
audience wears headphones throughout Rise of Arturo Ui starring Al Pacino. In
the performance, through which they 2005, he was appointed as an Ocer of
are immersed in an intricate 360-degree the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for
soundscape weaving together the sounds services to Drama.
of the Amazon (complete with the buzzing
of insects, bird calls and the roaring THE ENCOUNTER
of unknown beasts) with the actors Directed and performed by Simon McBurney
April 6-16, 2017
narrative virtuosity. The result is a visceral Bram Goldsmith Theater
experience that transports listeners from Wallis Annenberg Center
SIMON MCBURNEY for the Performing Arts
their seats in the theater on a journey to PHOTO COURTESY OF WALLIS ANNENBERG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills
THEATER W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM A P RI L 0 7 , 2 0 1 7 2 5
By DAN ALLEN
Young Caseys in a bind his wifes talented young men. When Andrew walked
pregnant, rent is due, and hes red from in for his rst audition, we just saw Casey.
his gig as an Elvis impersonator in a small- It would shortchange all the hard work hes
town Florida Panhandle bar. So whats a put into this to call this role easy for him.
boy to do? Don a wig and sashay, natch. But he does make it look eortless.
And so begins The Legend of Georgia
McBride, opening Friday, April 14 at the BLADE: You mentioned in a Playbill
Geen Playhouse. Its the hilarious latest interview last year that youre working on a
from writer Matthew Lopez, whose rst piece about the American gay experience
hit, the very dierent The Whipping Man, during the last 30 years. Could you tell me
has been one of the most widely produced a little more about that?
new American plays this decade. We spoke LOPEZ: Its my attempt to piece together
with Lopez last weekend, just as he arrived The Legend of Georgia McBride is playing from April 4 to May 14 at the Geen Playhouses Gil Cates a kind of continuum and to place myself
Theater (10886 Le Conte Ave.). Written by Matthew Lopez, Directed by Mike Donahue, Choreography
in Los Angeles for the start of Georgia by Paul McGill. Featuring Andrew Burnap, Matt McGrath, Nija Okoro, Larry Powell & Nick Searcy. and my generation on it. Its about what
McBrides previews this week. PHOTO COURTESY OF WALLIS ANNENBERG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS it means to me to be a gay man. I was a
child during the Plague Years. My rst
LA BLADE: Your rst big hit, The it got me thinking: What would it take for great expanse of continent between understanding of what it meant to be
Whipping Man, was a serious play dealing a straight man to become a drag queen? New York and LA is a kind of geographic a gay man was informed by what I saw
with race relations during the Civil War, Who would he be, and what would that metaphor. Im very happy to get to do this on the news growing up. None of it was
and The Legend of Georgia McBride journey look like? Im fascinated by people here at this point in my career. It feels like encouraging. I came of age sexually in
seems pretty much on the opposite end of who leave their bubble and willingly place the fusing of two halves of my life. the mid-1990s, just as the Plague Years
the theatrical spectrum in terms of topic themselves in foreign territory. subsided. I liken it to being part of the
and tone. Is it important to you to cover Then I decided he needed to be someone BLADE: I know youre bringing along second wave on D-Day, watching the men
broad ground in your work? whose bubble is as far from drag as possible: director Mike Donahue, choreographer before me decimated and then being told
MATTHEW LOPEZ: Writing is obsessive a straight white redneck Elvis impersonator Paul McGill and actor Matt McGrath for it was my turn to take the beach. Sex was a
work. I sometimes compare it to digging from the Florida Panhandle, where I was the LA production. Were you involved frightening experience for me for much of
wells. Once youve struck water, you move raised. I was eager to watch that guy with the selection of the rest of the cast my younger life and I largely dealt with that
on to another patch of earth and start transform into something new and beautiful. for the LA production, particularly Andrew fear by avoiding sex altogether. I regret that
digging another well. If Ive explored a Personally, I spent much of my teenage Burnap as Casey? thats true. Im happy that it isnt anymore.
topic, a genre, or historical period to my years with drag queens. I had a friend who LOPEZ: Yes, I sat in on all the auditions, And now I know younger gay men who
satisfaction, I am eager to move on to had started doing drag and I would sneak which I dont often do for productions after were not alive back then and who have
another, to immerse myself in new world. in to the one gay bar in my hometown and New York. I love this cast and am eager for no experiential understanding of what it
If I kept repeating the same topic/genre/ watch him perform. Id hang out in the LA audiences to fall in love with them the was like. As a result, they have an entirely
period over and over, Id run the risk of dressing room with him and all the other way we have throughout this process. dierent relationship with their identities
writing the same play over and over. queens as they prepared for their shows. Andrew is a really special actor. He has and with sex than I did when I was their age.
That energy backstage was intoxicating shown me new things about this character, Im encouraged and heartened by that. And,
BLADE: What was your inspiration for (sometimes literally) and I wanted to capture things I never imagined were possible. He if Im being honest, perhaps a little envious.
The Legend of Georgia McBride? my memories of that time in this play. brings real heart and warmth to the role This play is my way of looking at that
LOPEZ: A friend of a friend of my then- and makes you care deeply about Casey 30-year history in the lives of gay men.
boyfriend (now husband) had put together BLADE: Are you excited to bring Georgia and his journey. He brings such dignity to Its my way of attempting to understand
a music playlist for her boyfriend who was McBride to Los Angeles? the roleeven when waddling around in the calamity that befell the generation
experimenting with drag as performance LOPEZ: Deeply. LA is a town I love and butt padding and falsies. that came before mine and also to
art. He was putting together a persona, Ive always hoped for a production at Andrew was also the very last guy we explain myself (as a representative of my
and the playlist was lled with female the Geen. As a writer working both in auditioned for this production. We saw generation) to the younger generation just
country singers: Dolly, Loretta Lynn, features and theater, you can sometimes some amazing actors but Casey is a really coming up in the world.
Tammy Wynette, etc. Its a great mix, and feel your life is bifurcated and that the tricky part. We had to say no to some truly Show opens Wednesday, April 12.
2 6 A PRI L 0 7 , 2 0 1 7 W W W .LOS ANG E LE S B LADE .C OM LO S A N G E LE S CA LE N D A R
FRIDAY, APRIL 7
THE BLADE
TO LOS AN G E LES