Reno 911!

www.ExpressGayNews.com • October 13, 2003 Q1
Q_COVERstory
T
alking to Thomas Lennon is
like cajoling with a familiar
friend. The actor has no
pretenses about himself at all—
which isn’t surprising when one
takes a look at the outfit he wears
on every episode of his show on
Comedy Central. In Reno 911!, the
straight and married Lennon plays
Lt. Jim Dangle, an openly gay
police officer in Reno, Nev., who
has a penchant for wearing short
shorts while on duty. The show, a
spoof of the long-running reality
series Cops, is the creation of
Lennon and fellow colleagues/costars Ben Garant and Kerri Kenney.
The three longtime friends and
collaborators previously worked
together on MTV’s The State and
Comedy Central’s Viva Variety. But
while Lennon’s previous series
were underground cult favorites,
it’s Reno 911! that’s bringing him
and his colleagues well-deserved
mainstream success.
“It’s somewhere between a
The Cast of Comedy Central’s Reno 911!
cult and mainstream hit, which is
weird for us because we’ve
always had shows that nobody liked,” little bit tighter. Eventually, I stopped trying
Lennon says. “I hope with Reno 911! we’ve on shorts, and they just moved over to a pair
kept the feeling of an underground hit, but I of hot pants that were bought at a store on
must admit I like that people are actually Hollywood Boulevard that outfits strippers.”
watching it.”
Lennon goes on to say that he thinks
No doubt many of those people tuning they are women’s hot pants because of the
in to watch the Cops spoof are gays who get tag on the inside. He also says wearing them
a kick out of Lt. Jim Dangle, his tight shorts is a tough decision because they are quite
and his enthusiastic love of men. Lennon restricting. Yet when he puts them on he can’t
says the show and his character all came help but be macho, so in a weird way the
together very quickly. Originally, Lennon and shorts keep him in line.
company were working on a sketch show for
“I do not have to get into character; I
Fox, until the network pulled the plug three have to get into the shorts, which is actually
weeks before shooting. With a lot of money a rather complicated process” Lennon says.
left and nothing to do, the group decided to
I didn’t ask Lennon in detail why
do an improvised show instead.
getting into the shorts is a complicated
“We told the network we’d just improvise process. I thought I’d leave it up to the
Cops,” Lennon explains. “They said OK, fine. readers’ imaginations.
What they secretly wanted to do was fire us.”
Indeed, there is nothing swishy about
From that point, things happened fast. Dangle. The only things that give him away
The cast picked out costumes and nametags. are the shorts and his love of men.
Lt. Jim Dangle’s trademark shorts were just
“He is the most open character on the
a whim.
show and totally up front about his
“When you’re doing a pilot you’re never homosexuality,” Lennon ponders. “I didn’t
thinking this could be the next eight months want him to be swishy at all. In his head, he
of your life,” Lennon says. “So I did fittings is Steve McQueen. In my head, I’m Steve
for the shorts, and every time I said how about McQueen. Maybe in my head I’m just a gay
we go a little bit smaller. And what if I get a Steve McQueen.”
whom Reno’s finest must deal with,
such as gay male prostitute Terry.
A hustler with crop tops and roller
skates, Terry has some of the best
lines on the show, such as, “My
By Andy Zeffer
motto is say it, don’t spray it” and
“A hand job is still a job.”
The show has been renewed,
and Lennon says next season’s
episodes will have a Twin Peaks
feel to them.
“We didn’t solve a whole
bunch of crimes the first season,”
Lennon says. “Maybe two—we
found a guy’s cell phone, the guy
with no pants on ecstasy. And
maybe we solved one other crime.
Next season, there will be a bigger
urging. I’m not sure we’ll solve
them, but we’ll try.”
In the mean time, Lennon can
celebrate, having created a
groundbreaking new gay hero. In
the first episode, his character
described himself as a law
enforcement cheetah, and one fan
morphed his legs with the upper
body of a cheetah in Photoshop and
sent it to him. Lennon thought it
Despite how ridiculous and far out Reno was really cool. And he says nothing
911! is, at the same time it seems very real. If would make him happier than having
one were to take all the characters on paper, people across America dressing up as
you would think the show put together a Dangle for Halloween. Lennon even makes
very clichéd group of seven lead characters. fans while the cast and crew are shooting
There is the redneck, the spinster, the gay the show.
“We film in an actual sheriff’s station,
guy, the sassy black woman, the hottempered Latino, the slut, etc. While on paper and I’ve gotten catcalls from prisoners in the
it sounds clichéd, it doesn’t come off as that station while they were being booked,” he
on screen. It comes off in some ways very says. “We are filming on one side of a glass
true to life—seven people from different wall, and on the other side is booking and
backgrounds trying to make their way jail, so they can see us. It happens frequently.
through an increasingly more complicated There are a bunch of girls who stole a car,
drug guys, and even though they are getting
and bizarre world.
Some of the best scenes are in the booked they get the biggest kick out of me.
morning briefing room, where, for example, They laugh and point.”
There has also been official requests put
Deputy Clementine Johnson (Wendi
McClendon-Covey) and Deputy Trudy in from an actual desk sergeant that Lennon
Wiegel (Kerri Kenney) might get into a tiff not bend over for things, but that’s probably
over the Pledge of Allegiance. “One nation, only because they were constantly distracted
under Buddha…,” the sluttish Johnson says by his sex appeal. And Lennon is still waiting
to irk the conservative and bi-polar Wiegel. for the Nair people to contact him about being
Lennon says that the problem shooting their spokesman.
“The Nair people have not contacted
the briefing room scenes is that they will go on
for so long they’ll actually use up a half hour me, and I’m starting to wonder why,” he says.
of videotape, longer than the actual show, “I’m starting to feel like I did something
which is edited down to 21½ minutes. And wrong. If they don’t contact me next season,
there are plenty of recurring characters then it’s over before it’s begun.”
The 411 on Reno 911!
The Man Behind Jim Dangle,
TV’s Sexy Gay Cop in Hot Pants
Pants
Q2
www.ExpressGayNews.com • October 13, 2003
www.ExpressGayNews.com • October 13, 2003 Q3
Q_CULTURAL COCKTAIL By Mary Damiano
Parties and Pride in the Spotlight at South Florida Theatres
FloridaStage to Present Plays About Gay and Lesbian Issues
The Shores Theatre
Celebrates in Style
Remember The Dick Van Dyke Show,
and the parties that Rob and Laura Petrie
used to throw where all their talented
friends would get up and perform? That’s
what it was like Saturday, Oct. 4, at the
Shores Performing Arts Theatre in Miami
Shores. The hosts weren’t Rob and Laura,
but Rich Simone and Jack Meyer and their
staff at the Shores, and the party was in
honor of the nine Carbonell nominations
the Shores garnered for their work last
season.
Rich and Jack wanted to do a little
something to commemorate the occasion,
so they decided on “Celebrate the
Shores,” a cabaret fundraiser that would
showcase the past season and preview the
new season. The party was put together
rather quickly, and Rich and Jack expected
to host an intimate little gathering of about
50 people in the theatre’s vintage lobby.
Imagine their surprise when more than
three times that many people called for
tickets.
The food and bar stayed in the lobby,
and the show was moved onto the stage,
where fans were treated to performances
by Doug Williford, Daniel Bonnet, Irene
Adjan, Laura Turnbull, Nicholas Richberg,
Malinda Farrington and Rich Simone. The
first act showed exactly why the Shores
got their nine nominations, with selections
from Blood Brothers, Falsettos, The
Rocky Horror Show and others, while the
second act previewed the new season, with
an especially funny gay-themed number
Q4
by Bonnet from an upcoming show called
When Pigs Fly, which the Shores will coproduce with Creative Arts Enterprises.
The audience at the cabaret had a terrific
time, and the theatre raised a nice chunk
of change. It was a magical evening all the
way around.
And I found out that the folks at the
Shores have lots of great ideas to keep
theatre and culture alive in South Florida
and in the gay community, but more on
that later. Meanwhile, here is the line-up
for the Shores’ new season: Bat Boy: The
Musical, Oct. 31-Nov. 23; A Christmas
Survival Guide, Dec. 12-Jan. 4; Steel
Magnolias, Jan. 30-Feb. 22; and Baby,
April 23-May 23. There will also be a bonus
production of When Pigs Fly, March 12April 4. For subscriptions and more
information, call 305.751.0562.
Martini Bar Is New
Hot Spot at Riverfront
I had the pleasure of attending the cast
party for The Exonerated last Tuesday night
at Dan Marino Town Tavern’s new Martini
Bar at the Las Olas Riverfront, which had its
official grand opening Wednesday. What a
terrific place. Martini Bar is a sophisticated
place with pleasing, potent drinks and vast
selection of martinis. In the two hours of the
party, the music ranged from techno DJ
dance to classy Sinatra to a live band called
Phase with a personable, chatty singer who
nailed Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder,
Nat King Cole, Barry White and a personal
favorite song, “The Way You Look
Tonight.” Of course, the TVs were tuned to
www.ExpressGayNews.com • October 13, 2003
the game, and guests cheered when the
Marlins beat the Cubs 9-8 in the 11th inning.
The bar served up a delicious selection of
munchies for the party, including thin-crust
barbecue chicken pizza, breaded chicken
chunks and wasabi tuna bites. Almost all
the stars of The Exonerated came to enjoy,
although Lynn Redgrave was not in sight.
Montel Williams was, however, and the talk
show host turned actor graciously spoke
with guests about this powerful play, which
tells the stories of people who spent years
on death row only to be set free when it was
discovered they didn’t commit the crime. A
couple of the people whose stories are told,
Delbert Tibbs and Kerry Max Cook, attended
the play and the party, and got their own
round of applause when they entered Martini
Bar.
Schwarzenegger Election
Terminates Common
Sense
I almost drove the car off the road the
night of Oct. 8 when I turned on the radio
and heard the words “Governor-elect
Schwarzenegger.” A Republican actor as
governor of California—isn’t that one of the
signs of the apocalypse? God knows it was
last time. Granted, Arnie’s a native Austrian
and the law is that only native born United
States citizens can be elected president, but
still, stranger things have happened. The
thing about Arnold Schwarzenegger is that
he personifies everything that’s right and
wrong with this country: The United States
is still a place where an immigrant can work
hard and become rich and successful and
be elected to an important political office,
yet it’s also a place where celebrity
overshadows experience, where political
ideas and ideals have been replaced with
catchy slogans and where star power is
mistaken for political expertise.
PridePlays at the Florida
Stage Theatre
The Florida Stage Theatre in Palm Beach
County is reaching out to the gay
community with its PridePlay series, which
will feature staged readings of plays with
gay and lesbian themes. The series kicks off
on Tuesday, Oct. 28, with I Know You’re the
One by Mary Gallagher, about a single gay
man trying to become a father through
adoption. There will be a reception at 6 p.m.
and then the reading at 7 p.m. Next, on Jan.
5, there’s The Gene Pool by Christi Stewart
Brown, about two moms dealing with their
relationship, their son and a long-lost sperm
donor, and then on April 19, there’s A Strange
and Separate People by Jon Marans, about
two gay, Orthodox Jewish men searching for
acceptance from their faith. The really cool
thing about the readings is that audiences
will have the opportunity to participate in a
post-play discussion with the cast and often
the playwright, and audiences are also
among the first people to hear a brand-new
work of the American theatre. Tickets are
only $7 per play, and $30 for a subscription
that also includes three readings in the
theatre’s New Voices Series. For more
information about the PridePlay Series and
to purchase tickets, call 561.585.3433 or
800.514.3837.
Q_THEATERreview
The Exonerated:
Gripping and Powerful
Play Tells Stories of Reprieved Death Row Inmates
By Mary Damiano
Arts & Entertainment Editor
The Exonerated is a powerful new show
that tells the stories of six people who spent
years on death row only to be set free when
it was proven they did not commit the crimes
for which they were sentenced to die.
Now playing at the Broward Center for
the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, The
Exonerated is stark, compelling and riveting.
The creators of The Exonerated, Jessica Blank
and Erik Jensen, traveled the United States
interviewing people who had been released
from death row. Their stories, which provide a
strong argument against the death penalty, are
woven together in The Exonerated to create a
gripping portrait of how circumstance and often
race can cause an innocent person to face
execution. The ensemble cast members voice
the actual words of the people they are
portraying, gathered from interviews and
police and court documents.
There’s Gary Gauger (Steve Brady), a
man accused of killing his parents who spent
an additional year on death row even after
the real killers confessed. There’s David
Keaton (Chad L. Coleman), a teenager
accused of killing a law enforcement officer,
who confessed rather than face more police
brutality. There’s Robert Earl Hayes (David
Brown Jr.) and Delbert Tibbs (Montel
Williams), both black men accused of killing
white women. There’s Kerry Max Cook, a
straight bartender working in a gay bar who
was deemed a homosexual maniac who hated
women and convicted of killing a woman on
the basis of a single fingerprint left in her
apartment three months before the murder.
And there’s Sunny Jacobs (Lynn Redgrave),
a young mother accused of killing two
highway patrolmen, who spent an additional
13 years in prison after the real killer
confessed.
The dialogue is often achingly poignant,
as when Sunny describes how she and her
husband Jesse, on death row for the same
crime, carried on their sex life in their letters
by writing in Japanese so the guards couldn’t
understand.
Even though there are two stars in the
cast, Williams and Redgrave, The
Exonerated is an ensemble piece, and each
performer creates a compelling portrait.
Director Bob Balaban uses light and sounds
to perfect effect, using both to punctuate
the words, never distracting from the power
and horror of the truth.
The power of The Exonerated was
driven home on opening night when Delbert
Tibbs and Kerry Max Cook walked onstage
to thank the audience at the close of the show.
Cook was accompanied by his wife and
young son, a testament to a man who was
able to make a life for himself after the state
of Texas took 22 years away from him.
Several times over the course of the
show, Montel Williams recites these words
written by Delbert Tibbs: “It is not easy to
be a poet in here and yet we sing.”
Despite Delbert Tibbs’ words, The
Exonerated is poetic in its honesty and
simplicity. It is less a piece of theatre than it
is a testimony to be experienced, to be
witnessed and to make you think.
The Exonerated runs through Oct. 19
at the Broward Center for the Performing
Arts in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets range
from $13 to $54. For more information
and tickets, call 954.462.0222.
www.ExpressGayNews.com • October 13, 2003 Q5
Heard It Through
the Gayvine
Queers, Quotes and Quips of Interest
At Last, a New Album
from Cyndi Lauper
Stevie Wonder and Tony Bennett
add their talents to Cyndi Lauper’s
forthcoming album, At Last, a
collection of classic songs due out
Nov. 18 via Epic. Wonder contributes
harmonica to Lauper’s version of
“Until You Come Back to Me,” a song
he wrote with Clarence Paul and
Morris Broadnax and has previously
recorded (as have Aretha Franklin,
Johnny Mathis and others).
Meanwhile, Bennett and Lauper sing
a duet of the standard “Makin’
Whoopee.” Lauper was spotted last spring dining at Galanga restaurant in Wilton
Manors, where a private party was being thrown in the back room. She was in town at
the time for an appearance at Gulfstream Park.
Gay Celebrities Hook-Up
US Weekly reports that Queer Eye for the Straight Guy Fab Fiver Kyan Douglas
and Queer as Folk actor Robert Gant were “smitten” with each other after meeting at
the Entertainment Weekly pre-Emmy party. The pair “retired to a quiet corner to chat
alone,” and stayed until 1 a.m.—leaving in the same car for whereabouts unknown.
Douglas handles grooming for Bravo’s Queer Eye; Gant plays Ben Bruckner on
Showtime’s Queer as Folk.
Busted! Scalper Gets Scalped
Broward Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Boca Raton man this past week for scalping
tickets to the Florida Marlins baseball playoffs. The arrest took place after detectives
responded to a classified ad in the Sun-Sentinel. During a conversation, a man offered
tickets for $65 apiece. He then traveled to Pompano Beach to deliver eight Marlins
tickets to the detectives. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of more than 75
Marlins playoff tickets. He is now charged with one count of ticket resale for profit, a
second-degree misdemeanor.
Larry Wald Works His Video Magic for Freedom
Band
The popular Cathode Ray Club is renowned for its entertaining videos. Some are
created by Larry Wald, the Cathode Ray owner known for his creative flair with
productions such as Wednesday night’s popular Pick-a-Trick. When he heard about
the Flamingo Freedom Band’s upcoming concert, Reel Music, Wald volunteered to do
the editing for the Nov. 2 event. For months, Wald has been editing videos that will be
shown as the 50-piece Flamingo Freedom Band performs music written for movies.
Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. For more information call 954.792.1320 or
visit www.FlamingoFreedomBand.com.
Macy and Gay Partner Make Plans
William H. Macy and openly gay director Steven Schachter are on a roll. Their
TNT made-for-TV movie Door to Door earned six Emmy Awards last month, and the
two made the most humorous acceptance speech on the broadcast. Now they’re
remaking Jackie Gleason’s 1962 movie Gigot for TNT. An independent theatrical
feature, Belle of Indiana, is also on their agenda. The period thriller, set in the early
1900s, will star Macy. Schachter is co-writing the script with Janet Faust. Looks like
there could be more acceptance speeches for Macy and his cute gay colleague in the
future.
Lollo Goes Loco
Italian acting legend Gina Lollobrigida appeared on Larry King Live along with Liz
Smith and others to remember Rock Hudson’s passing from AIDS. All done up in red
peekaboo lace, the sex symbol insisted that she and Rock had been “in love” and were
intimate—up to a point. “At that ‘certain moment,’ he fell asleep,” Lollobrigida said. “But it
happens.” La Lollo went on to opine that sometimes men, in midlife, just “go gay” all of a
sudden. Lollobrigida feels sure that’s what happened to Rock—right after he could not
consummate their relationship. In her next day’s column, Smith says she was reluctant to
question Lollobrigida on camera, but recounted an interview where the openly gay (by the
end of his life) Hudson said he did not get along with the Italian beauty. Could it be that
Lollo’s life in film has her imagining scenes from her own life?
Matthew McConaughey’s Touchy Way
While being interviewed by Express writer Andy Zeffer,
Thomas Lennon of Reno 911! said working with Matthew
McConaughey was fun, and involved a lot of physical
contact. The two actors co-starred in the blockbuster How to
Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Lennon told Zeffer,
“[McConaughey’s] an odd bird. He’s one of those guys who
likes to wrestle a lot. He likes to punch and wrestle, and he
does both very, very hard. He’s a hard core wrestler and likes
to razzle and wrestle.”
If McConaughey is ever looking for wrestling partners,
there are more than a few Express readers who’d love to
volunteer.
Q6
www.ExpressGayNews.com • October 13, 2003
Matthew McConaughey
www.ExpressGayNews.com • October 13, 2003 Q7
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www.ExpressGayNews.com • October 13, 2003
Q_PERSONALITYprofile
Q_THEATERreview
Blast From the Past—and to the Future
‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’ Is Frivolous Fun
By Mary Damiano
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Take a 1950s sci-fi flick, mix it up with
Jetsons-style costumes and coifs, toss in
some old-time rock and roll and a generous
dose of fractured Shakespeare and you’ve
got Return to the Forbidden Planet, the
wacky, crowd-pleasing new show at the
Actor’s Playhouse in Coral Gables.
Shakespeare’s play The
Tempest was the basis for the plot
of the movie Forbidden Planet,
and the creators of Return to the
Forbidden Planet have expanded
on that idea by using dialogue
from a variety of Shakespearean
plays to tell the story.
The thing about Return to
the Forbidden Planet is that it’s a
recipe for success, rather than
something that grows organically
from an idea. How could audiences
not delight in the high-energy
oldies radio staples, including
“Great Balls of Fire,” “All Shook
Up,” “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” and
“Good Vibrations,” adapted to fit
the plot of the show. It’s wacky,
zany, all style with no real
substance and excels at making its
audience sing along and all but
dance in the aisles.
The plot is convoluted and
merely exists as a reason to string
together the ’50s and ’60s hit
songs: A spaceship crew
discovers Dr. Prospero, a
scientist, with a secret and a lovely virginal
daughter, Miranda. Miranda falls in love with
the ship’s captain, the ship’s cook falls in
love with Miranda, and a family reunion
exposes lies and secrets. Got that? Trust me,
you don’t have to. The only suspense in
Return to the Forbidden Planet is trying to
figure out how exactly they’re going to work
the next song into the plot.
The cast is terrific, especially Stacy
Schwartz as a scientist with a past, and
Jonathan Laverentz as Dr. Prospero. Schwartz
is deliciously wicked and funny and spends
the show encased in outfits so tight her
bosom should get billing. Laverentz is a
strong singer and comedic actor who gets to
chew all the scenery he wants, which is a big
plus in this show.
There are several gimmicks in the show,
and some work while others don’t. The video
screen exposition is overdone, while a
recurring appearance by astronomer Jack
Horkheimer is fun.
Return to the Forbidden Planet is not
great theatre, but it is a fun night out that will
have you singing along and dancing out of
the theatre.
Return to the Forbidden Planet
runs through Oct. 26 at the Actor’s
Playhouse, 80 Miracle Mile, Coral
Gables. For tickets and more
information, call 305.444.9293.
www.ExpressGayNews.com • October 13, 2003 Q9
Q_CULTURALevents
Through Friday, Oct. 31: Hispanic
Heritage Festival—Among the top 10 Hispanic
festivals in the nation, events showcase outdoor
music, food festivals, sporting events, National
competitions and more. Various locations. For
information visit www.hispanicfestival.com, email
info@hispanicfestival.com or call 305.541.5023.
Monday, Oct. 13: Birthday Celebration
and Fundraiser—Celebrate Dean Trantalis’ 50 th
birthday with live music, food, cocktails and birthday
cake. 6 – 8 p.m. at Beach Place. Admission is $50
(donated to Replant Broward Foundation). For
information email PlantATree@DeanTrantalis.com.
Tuesday, Oct. 14: Program on Preserving
Historic Properties—How Historic Preservation
Makes Financial Sense, is a free public forum
addressing preservation can improve property values
and much more. 6 - 8:30 p.m. at the Broward
County Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort
Lauderdale. For more information, contact Diane
Smart of the Broward Trust for Historic Preservation
at 954.873.6945 or SaveBrowardHist@aol.com.
Wednesday, Oct. 15: Secret Lives of Married
Men—A book discussion and signing for David
Leddick’s tell-all book that delves into the why and
how of living the “straight” life as a gay man.
Participants will explore existing situations such as
fear, cultural isolation, religion or family
expectations that play a part in a man’s decision to
repress his sexuality. 7 – 9 p.m. in the Bienes Center,
6th floor, Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort
Lauderdale. Call 954.357.7464 for more
information.
Thursday,
Oct.
16:
Oktoberfest
Celebration—Presented by the Cities of Oakland
Park and Wilton Manors Chamber of Commerce.
5:30 p.m. at The Ratskeller, 2471 E. Commercial
Blvd. Open to all interested business persons. $15.
Contact Mike Levy at 954.568.7755 for
information.
Thursday, Oct. 16: Sister Speak Open
Mic—All women are invited to share their own
poetry, lyrics, music, and performance art. $5 for
supporters and $3 for performers. All money
collected goes to women’s organizations. AnyWayZ,
1753 N. Andrews Sq., Fort Lauderdale (Behind the
GLCC). www.sisterspeak.org, 954.772.0324.
Thursday, Oct. 16: Art & Jazz on the
Avenue—This event features live entertainment
along the Avenue and is an open house for art
galleries, shops and restaurants. 6 - 11 p.m. on
Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. 561.279.1380,
ext 3 or 561.279.9952.
Sunday, Oct. 19: Fort Lauderdale Prime
Timers—The next general meeting is 3 – 5 p.m. at
the ArtServe Auditorium, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd.,
Fort Lauderdale. For information, call the FLPT
Hotline at 954.489.7489.
Tuesday,
Oct.
21:
BioTerrorism
Information on the Web—The workshop, lead
by Tom Wilcox, will focus on illustrating federal
and state databases that can be accessed free of
charge to obtain information that can help protect
individuals at work and at home during possible
bioterrorist attacks or incidents. 7 - 8 p.m. in room
8A & B at the Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave.,
Fort Lauderdale. For more information call
954.357.7428.
Wednesday, Oct. 22: Breast Cancer
Treatment Today and in the Future—Dr. Charles
Vogel, an international expert in the field of breast
cancer, will discuss state-of-the-art treatment
options. He is the founder and medical director of
the Cancer Research Network, a non-profit research
organization that conducts clinical trials in breast
cancer and provides a research infrastructure where
new and promising therapies can be made available
to patients. 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. at the Broward County
Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.
For additional information, please call
954.357.7443.
Saturday, Oct. 25: Fifth Annual ONI
Women’s Conference—Opening Doors... to Our
Past, Present and Future, is the theme of this year’s
conference that features a panel discussion,
workshops, a stage performance and book
discussions. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Main Library,
100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Free. For
information or to register, call 954.357.7464.
Sunday, Nov. 2: South Florida Dance for
Life—Save the Date for the American Red Cross of
Greater Miami & The Keys South Florida’s Dance
for Life. 7 p.m. at the Gusman Center for the
Performing Arts, 174 E. Flagler St., Downtown
Miami. Featured performers include: Maximum
Dance Company, Miami Contemporary Dance,
Ballet Florida Principal Dancers, and Ife-Ile AfroCuban Dance and Music Ensemble. For tickets and
information call 877.877.7677 or visit
www.tixops.com.
Thursday, Nov. 6: The Mind of the Soul—
This workshop with Gary Zukav and Linda Francis
can change your life. They explain how changing
your decision-making can help you to avoid selfdefeating patterns of thoughts and actions, and help
you to take control of your life by creating authentic
power. 7:30 p.m. at Religious Science Fort
Lauderdale, 1550 N.E. 26th St., Wilton Manors.
Book signing 6:30-7pm. General/$40, Reserved/$75
and $50. For tickets and information: www.rsiftl.com
or 954.566.2868.
Q10
www.ExpressGayNews.com • October 13, 2003
Live Theatre and Dance
Advance Ticket Sales—The Sisterhood of
Congregation Etz Chaim is selling tickets to its
2003-2004 Broadway Season. Kiss Me Kate (Jan.
8); Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jan. 15); West Side
Story (Feb. 8); Miami City Ballet Program IV (March
20); The Full Monty (April 1); Mamma Mia (April
15); and The Producers (May 13 and 16). For
tickets and information call Joyce Edelson at
954.718.5800.
Through Saturday, Oct. 18: Noises Off—
Follow the on and off-stage antics of a second-rate
British touring company. University of Miami, Jerry
Herman Ring Theatre, 1312 Miller Dr., Coral Gables.
305.284.3355 or www.miami.edu/ring.
Through Saturday, Oct. 18: Cassandra and
White Liars—A double bill dealing with the psychic
experience. 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays at EDGE
Theatre, Piccadilly Gardens, 35 N.E. 40th St., Miami
Design District. Door $15/$12. Reservations at
305.531.6083.
Through Sunday, Oct. 19: Say Goodnight,
Gracie—Comedy. Starring Frank Gorshin. 8pm at
the Royal Poinciana Playhouse, 70 Royal Poinciana
Way, Palm Beach. 800.647.6877.
Through
Sunday,
Oct.
19:
The
Exhonerated—Play starring Lynn Redgrace and
Montel Williams about a husband-and-wife team
that interviews death row prisoners who were found
innocent and eventually freed by the state. 8 p.m.
at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201
S.W. Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale. 954.462.0222.
Music
Through Saturday, Oct. 25: Festival
Miami—The University of Miami continues the
tradition of offering an impressive array of
outstanding artists and an extraordinary variety of
programming. All concerts are at the University of
Miami’s Gusman Hall, 1314 Miller Dr., Coral Gables.
For tickets and information call 305.284.4940.
www.music.miami.edu.
Monday, Oct. 13: The 6th Annual Source
Hip-Hop Music Awards—7pm at Miami Arena, 701
Arena Blvd., Miami. 305.530.4400.
Monday, Oct. 13: Blues Traveler—7:30
p.m. at Culture Room, 3045 N. Federal Hwy., Fort
Lauderdale. 954.564.1074.
Wednesday, Oct. 15: The Mahotella
Queens—Idolized as heroes of the anti-apartheid
movement, The Queens are known for their rich
vocal harmonies, relentlessly funky rhythms and
amazing stage shows. $30. 7:30 p.m. at the Broward
Center, 201 Southwest Fifth Ave. 954.462.0222.
Thursday, Oct. 16: Little Feat - 7:30pm at
Carefree Theatre, 2000 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm
Beach. 561.833.7305.
Thursday, Oct. 16: Klezmer Kraziness—
8 p.m. at the University of Miami’s Gusman Hall,
1314 Miller Dr., Coral Gables. 305.284.2438.
Saturday, Oct. 25: Cher – The rescheduled
Farewell Tour is at 7:30 p.m. at Office Depot
Center, 2555 Panthers Dr., Sunrise. 954.835.8000.
Exhibitions
Through Sunday, Nov. 23: Saint Peter and
the Vatican: The Legacy of the Popes—The largest
Vatican collection to tour North America. Seven
days a week 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Tuesdays until 9 p.m.
at the Museum of Art, 1 Las Olas Blvd., Fort
Lauderdale. www.MuseumOfArt.org, 877.787.7711.
Through Tuesday, Jan. 12: Frank Lloyd
Wright Exhibition—Frank Lloyd Wright: An
Exhibition of Books, Artifacts and Art from the
Collection of Donald Singer will be on display in
the Bienes Center for the Literary Arts on the sixth
floor of the Broward County Main Library. For
information visit www.broward.org/bienes or call
954.357.8692.
Radio
The Norm Kent Show—Live from the Floridian
Restaurant on E. Las Olas Blvd., interviews and
commentary with Norm Kent. Weekday mornings,
8 – 9 a.m. on WFTL 1400 AM. The Call-In Line is
1.866.432.1400. www.NormKentShow.com
Bridging the Gap—Call-in talk radio show
dedicated to creating a better understanding between
the straight and gay communities, with host Rene
Bray. Sundays from 6 – 8 p.m. on WTAN 1340
AM.
Live,
worldwide
broadcast
at
www.TampaBayGay.com/BTG. 1.800.263.8559.
Issues Over the Rainbow—MarkyG hosts this
gay and lesbian early morning talk show. Sunday
mornings at 7:25 a.m. on PARTY 93.1 FM.
www.Party931.com.
Michael Martini Hour—”Let’s stir the pot …
and get to the bottom of the issues!” Gay talk radio,
Thursdays, 6 – 7 p.m. on WPBR 1340 AM or on
the internet at www.talk1340.com.
Outright Radio—David Gilmore hosts this radio
show about gay life in America. Saturdays at 3 p.m.
on WLRN 91.3 FM.
Television
SoFla Q TV—Television for the alternative
lifestyle. For information call 305.534.3975 or visit
www.soflaqtv.com.
Maximum_Volume
Pumping It Up with New Album Releases
Various Artists: ‘Just Because I’m a Woman:
Songs of Dolly Parton’
(Sugar Hill)
With her bodacious figure, higher-thehair-nearer-to-God coif and down-home
accent dripping with country sunshine, it’s
easy to forget the fact that Dolly Parton is
an accomplished and prolific songwriter
as well as a singing superstar.
But a new CD is set on reshaping
people’s perception of the lovely Miss
Parton. Just Because I’m a Woman: Songs
of Dolly Parton is a tribute to Dolly,
commemorating the anniversary of her first
solo album 35 years ago. Some of the best
and most popular women in music have teamed up to pay tribute to Dolly, whom
Joan Osborne describes as “a gifted artist cleverly disguised as a media superstar
and sex bomb.”
As on any tribute album of covers, some songs are hits and some are misses,
but either way, Just Because I’m a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton showcases
Parton’s unique talent for songwriting. The opening track, “9 to 5” by Alison
Krauss, lacks the energy and fun of the original, but without those other trappings
Parton’s lyrics shine more brightly. Melissa Etheridge’s rendition of “I Will Always
Love You” is a nice change from the overblown version made popular by Whitney
Houston. Mindy Smith turns in a haunting performance of “Jolene,” about one
woman begging another not to take her man. Emmylou Harris keeps the classic
country tradition going on “To Daddy” while Norah Jones gives a bluesy edge to
“The Grass Is Blue.” There’s even a bonus track of Dolly singing the CD’s title
track.
Just Because I’m a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton is a good CD for Parton
fans and for those who appreciate good songs.
—Mary Damiano
Paul Van Dyk: ‘Reflections’
(Mute records)
Paul Van Dyk is back in top form with
Reflections, a CD that bursts with
electronic dance sounds distinct to Van
Dyk. With the help of vocalists Jan
Johnston, Brit-rock act Vega 4 and German
hip-hop artist DJ Tomekk, Van Dyk spins
infectious sounds that capture the soul.
“Nothing But You,” the first song, is
already getting great airplay on WPYM
Miami. Also featured on Reflections is the
song “Connected,” which plays in a
Motorola commercial that Paul also appears in. Paul Van Dyk is as gracious as his
music is enjoyable, especially when he spun his sounds aboard a chartered yacht
during The Winter Music Conference in Miami last year. Electronic dance lovers
will want to add Reflections to their CD case.
—Andy Zeffer
Dido: ‘Life For Rent’
(Arista)
Life For Rent is Dido’s sophomore
effort, her follow-up to 1999’s No Angel,
which sold more than 12 million copies.
She plays it safe on her latest CD, following
the old rule “If it ain’t broken don’t fix it.”
Her voice remains serene and smooth, but
there is no risk taking going on here. The
first single, “White Flag,” is another
tortured love song to notch into her
collection. In fact, most of Dido’s songs
are downright depressing. Even if the overlying message is meant to be good,
these songs are somber. Take for instance the title track, “Life For Rent,” which is
about drifting, being homeless and refusing to settle. Dido seems to have found
her niche, but one wishes she would stretch it a little and try something with a little
more pick me up. Or at least depart a bit once and a while from the heavy subject
matter. If you’re a lover of No Angel, you won’t be disappointed with this album.
However, if you are in the midst of a divorce, loss of a job, a break up or worse, you
might want to stay away from this CD. It could just drive you over the edge.
—Andy Zeffer
www.ExpressGayNews.com • October 13, 2003 Q11
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www.ExpressGayNews.com • October 13, 2003