Chelsea Boys

www.ExpressGayNews.com • September 22, 2003 Q1
Q_COVERstory
Did Someone Say Strip?
‘Chelsea Boys’ Hit the Big Time with a New Book
Chelsea Boys creators
Allan Neuwirth and
Glen Hanson
By Mary Damiano
Arts & Entertainment Editor
When Glen Hanson and Allan Neuwirth
first began their comic strip Chelsea Boys,
they never imagined the strip would be so
popular five years later.
“If you had told either of us up front
about what kind of commitment it would
take, how many sunny days I would have to
witness from inside my apartment, we
probably wouldn’t have done it,” Hanson
says.
Chelsea Boys devotees can be grateful
that no one ever gave Hanson and Neuwirth
a glimpse into the future. Five years after its
inception, Chelsea Boys is not only a popular
bi-weekly strip running in dozens of gay
publications, but also a soft-cover book,
which was released this month by Alyson
Books. The book is a collection of all the
strips—some in color, which is a real treat
for readers used to seeing the strip only in
black and white—and includes a new
installment, a Chelsea Boys fairy tale called
“Sky Blue and the 7 Dwarfs.” The book also
features a funny intro by Hanson and
Neuwirth, with early sketches and answers
to their most frequently asked questions—
no, they’re not a couple; yes, they both write
and draw the strip; no, the characters aren’t
based on themselves or their friends. “We
didn’t want to just put together a book
compiling our strips,” Neuwirth says. “We
wanted to give the readers more.”
Chelsea Boys follows the lives of three
gay roommates, Jewish everyman Nathan,
hunky artist Sky and soulful diva Soiree. The
strip is the continuing story of their lives and
quests to find true love and to make their
dreams come true. The strip first began
appearing in New York’s Next magazine in
1998, and is now syndicated on Web sites
and in publications in the United States,
Canada and the United Kingdom.
The book is only the tip of a
merchandising iceberg for Chelsea Boys.
Greeting cards will be released next month,
and in October, the strip is having its first
art exhibit at the Leslie-Lohman Gay Art
Foundation Gallery in New York, where fans
can purchase original Chelsea Boys artwork.
Hanson and Neuwirth originally teamed
up to produce an animated short, Think Pink.
They created Chelsea Boys as a way of
garnering interest and securing financing for
Think Pink. The strip was such a success,
Think Pink fell by the wayside, and Nathan,
Sky and Soiree became gay household
names.
One of the things Hanson enjoyed about
putting the book together was the
opportunity to look back on all the strips and
see how they’ve evolved. “We started off
with something that was very light and very
comedy-based,” Hanson says. “Our
characters didn’t have the depth they have
now.”
Neuwirth concurs. “It started out more
sitcom than what it evolved into,” he says.
“It went from a joke-oriented project to more
Q2 www.ExpressGayNews.com • September 22, 2003
of a real-life narrative.”
Neuwirth also points out the
visual evolution of Chelsea
Boys. “As we got more
complex
in
our
storytelling, we simplified
the visuals. If you tell a
story well, and tell it
simply, and layer it with
depth and emotion, it’s received
better.”
As the popularity of Chelsea
Boys has grown over the years, so
have both artists solo careers.
Hanson has won awards for his
work, which has appeared in
Entertainment
Weekly,
Cosmopolitan, GQ, The New York
Times, and on MTV, Comedy
Central and VH1. His character
designs have also appeared on the
animated shows Daria, Beetlejuice
and Freaky Stories. He also does
erotic beefcake illustrations and
has his own line of sexy greeting
cards, which he does under his
pseudonym, G-Man.
Earlier this year, Neuwirth saw
publication of his own book, Makin’ Toons,
which gives a look inside the creations and
creators of popular animated shows and
films. Neuwirth has worked on lots of
popular shows, including Dragon Tales,
Steven Spielberg’s Toonsylvania, and
Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, which won
him a nomination for a Writer’s Guild award.
He has also written comedy bits for Regis
Philbin and performed voiceovers for
cartoons and animated commercials.
With such busy careers, it’s amazing
that they even have time to do Chelsea Boys.
According to Neuwirth, each strip takes
about four days to produce. For several years,
they worked together in New York,
swapping ideas, acting out their plots and
creating each new installment. But when
Hanson moved to California, they had to
adapt to a new way of doing things. Neuwirth
says that being on different coasts has not
hindered their creative process.
“It’s really not that hard,” Neuwirth
says. “We really know how the other thinks.
It’s come down to shorthand, and it’s gotten
easier and easier to create as time’s gone on.
We almost become two quivering brains in
bell jars communicating telepathically.”
Technology also makes it easy to create the
strip, and Hanson and Neuwirth are
frequently on the phone together with
headsets, acting out the plot over the phone,
and typing and scanning back and forth.
Neither artist can choose a favorite
character; Hanson and Neuwirth feel a certain
kinship with each one. “Each of the characters
address a different part of myself, so it’s kind
of asking what part of myself is my favorite,”
Hanson says. “My heart lies with Nathan, my
head lies with Sky and my ego lies most with
Soiree, because he’s a performer.”
“Nathan lets us express our opinions,
Soiree lets us get our sarcastic side out and
Sky lets us get our altruistic qualities out,”
Neuwirth says. “Really, the three of them serve
as mouthpieces for different aspects of our
personalities.”
Hanson and Neuwirth are proud that
they’ve been able to go beyond the standard
comic strip fluff and jokes and tackle some
real issues. Hanson particularly liked the
storylines focusing on Soiree and his estranged
father, as well as how the characters dealt with
the Sept. 11 attacks.
Both writers would like to see Chelsea
Boys go beyond a comic strip. They’re keeping
their options open for a Chelsea Boys cartoon,
a live action film, TV show or even a stage
play. “We can certainly keep doing the strip
for years, but creatively, for us, I think we’re
looking for the next challenge and the next
medium,” Hanson says.
For now, Hanson and Neuwirth are proud
that they’ve had the chance to present the
world with a positive and realistic view of gay
life. “Our greatest return has been the
opportunity to have a forum and speak our
minds as gay men, as artists, and then to have
an audience for what we think.” Hanson says.
Neuwirth cites the massive fan mail they
receive as proof that Chelsea Boys has reached
many people in many ways. “It’s very
gratifying to know that what you’re doing is
being appreciated and maybe causing
discussion,” he says. “Not everyone always
agrees with what we say, but it means that
we’re provoking thought, and that’s great.”
Chelsea Boys appears in The
Express regularly. For more
information on Chelsea Boys, visit
www.chelseaboys.com.
Q_ENTERTAININGnews
Calendar Boys Abound to Help Keep Hot Dates
Blue Door’s New Calendars Feature Couples, Erotic T-Shirt Pics
From Staff Reports
The BlueDoorCollection.com has
announced the release of its new sensual line
of calendars. As always, these include the
classic Men 2004 and Erotica 2004
calendars, but this year, the limited edition
Couples, Men In Tees and Rob Sager
calendars have been added to the lineup.
“We are always excited to receive
helpful e-mails from our clients about what
they would like to see us bring to the table
in upcoming years,” said Craig Gould,
BlueDoorCollection.com’s president. “We
like to offer a variety of products, as you
will see from our fresh yearly product
offerings. But our clients have
overwhelmingly requested that the classic
Men and Erotica calendars be kept in the
forefront of our product line each year.”
The work of the Blue Door Collection
is distributed all over the world. Currently,
the entire product line, including greeting
cards, posters and photo magnets, can be
seen all over North and South America, the
United Kingdom, Western Europe, Australia
and even in Singapore.
“The demand for high-quality art
photography based products has grown each
year,” said Joshua Hallock, Blue Door’s
marketing director. Asked
which calendar was his
favorite, Hallock responded
that his favorite calendar this
year is the Couples calendar.
“It is a tribute to the most
intimate and loving moments
that couples share, both in and
out of the bedroom,” he said.
“The pictures in the calendar
give you an uplifting feeling
that true love is truly
possible.”
In the tradition of last
year’s
overwhelmingly
successful
Underwear
Calendar, The Blue Door
Collection presents Men In
Tees. “We chose to create a
Men In Tees calendar because
we felt that nothing would be
as sensual as the image of a
hot man wearing a wet T-shirt
that softens yet augments definition and
sexuality at the same time,” stated Product
Development Designer Frank Angeletti.
Angeletti was responsible for the design
layout of the 2004 line of calendars and
worked under the design expertise of Blue
Door Collection’s art director, Jay Beaupré.
“It’s really a team effort,” Beaupré said.
“We have a lot of fun running through ideas
for calendar concepts and designing the
product, but it takes a lot of work and thrownout ideas to get to the final product that you
see on the shelves and online.”
Rob Sager, a featured model on covers
and magazine spreads that appear on
newsstands worldwide, was selected by Vino
for the 2004 namesake calendar. Sager has
been featured in Men’s Workout, American
Health and Fitness, Physical Magazine, Iron
Man, Muscle and Fitness, American Health
and Fitness, Nutrition Express and Men’s
Workout, to name just a few. The
BlueDoorCollection.com
namesake
calendar competition began this year with
Blue Door Collection cover model Larry
Ogle being featured in the Collection of
Innocence calendar.
“We received such an overwhelming
response to the calendar, that we just had to
keep the tradition going,” Hallock said.
“Ray [Vino] was such a blast to work
with,” said Men 2004 cover model Lance
LaMar. “I am so excited that I was selected
as the cover model on the new Raymond
Vino Men 2004 calendar, and I look forward
to touring with the Blue Door Collection to
promote the product line.” LaMar’s portfolio
includes many print advertisement features
for companies such as Ford, New Holland,
BodyBody Wear (Stephen Sandler),
Pfaltzgraph as well as covers and workout
routines for numerous exercise and
fitness magazines and books. Cities
that will be featured in the Blue
Door Collection 2004 Calendar
Tour include New York, Los
Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta
and San Diego.
Vino, BlueDoorCollection.com’s
exclusive photographer, began his
career in the early 1980s,
producing
and
directing
commercials, artistic videos and
photographs, which were used on
television for major cruise lines, as
well as for travel and vacation
destinations throughout the United
States and the Caribbean. During
this period, he became fascinated
with the creative aspects of still
photography. After experimenting
with different subjects, Vino,
whose parents were born in Italy,
decided to go back to his roots. He
made several trips to Italy where he studied
and absorbed the strength, symmetry and
elegance portrayed by the statues and
paintings.
Vino returned to America with a vision
of his own. In 1998 he felt ready to begin
his career, experimenting with a range of
looks, styles and images while constantly
testing new models and developing his own
imagination and artistry.
Vino’s images have appeared on over
2000 magazine pages and covers since 1998.
His published work includes fashion
assignments and advertisements, as well as
covers for books and magazines including
Exercise For Men, Advocate, Out, Genre,
Our World (UK) and Instinct.
Last year, Vino was commissioned to
shoot four book covers for Kensington
Publications, the largest publishing house of
gay and lesbian literature. Most recently, in
June of 2003, world renowned Blue
Magazine from Australia featured 10 of
Vino’s most sensual images of couples in
their special “Photographers Around the
World” edition.
Raymond Vino’s images can be viewed
throughout his personal Web site at
www.RaymondVino.com as well as
www.BlueDoorCollection.com, which both
contain a vast amount of his photographic
work.
For more information, or to view the
2004 line of calendars, visit
www.BlueDoorCollection.com.
www.ExpressGayNews.com • September 22, 2003 Q3
Q_THEATERreviews
Heartbeats Wows
at the Caldwell
Musical Details the Frustrations of Turning 50
By Mary Damiano
Arts & Entertainment Editor
A heartbeat is the tick tock of life’s
clock, each beat stretching into the pulsing
rhythm of life, and creating a different
soundtrack for each of us.
That concept is illustrated beautifully in
Heartbeats, the musical currently playing at
the Caldwell Theatre in Boca Raton.
Heartbeats tells the story of Annie, a
Midwestern housewife who’s approaching
both a milestone and turning point in her life.
Annie is facing 50 and she’s not happy
about it, but there are a lot of things Annie is
unhappy with, such as her husband of 30
years, who barely knows she’s there and
takes her for granted. Then there’s her
daughter Jennifer, who just got matching
tattoos with live-in boyfriend Rocky. And
let’s not forget son Jeff, who’d rather tell
Mom he’s running off to marry an Eskimo
than tell her he might flunk out of college.
In short, Annie’s not really happy with her
life, and she takes the days approaching her
birthday to reflect on how she got to this
point in her life and on what it all means.
Throughout Heartbeats, Annie
reflects on her younger self—her
adventures with her wild best friend, being
14 and meeting the man she would marry.
These memories are juxtaposed against
Annie’s reality—her staid predictable life
and uncertainty of her sex appeal.
The musical numbers in Heartbeats,
written mostly by Amanda McBroom, range
from poignant to boisterous, with upbeat and
seamless harmonies. “Ship in a Bottle” is
especially lovely, as sung by Stephanie
Lynge, who plays Annie’s younger self.
Lynge is also very funny in her roles as
Annie’s daughter and co-worker.
Lourelene Snedeker is excellent as
Annie. Snedeker is a popular local actress
with a flair for making every role she plays
uniquely her own, and Annie is no exception.
As Annie’s husband Steve, Martin Vidnovic
embodies a man unable to understand that
his marriage is in trouble, but desperate to
rediscover the life he and Annie once knew.
Benjamin Schrader provides a nice bit
of eye candy in one of his roles, as a caged
go-go dancer, and as Steve’s younger self,
he exudes tenderness.
Heartbeats is capped off with
McBroom’s most famous song, “The Rose,”
which became Bette Midler’s signature song.
It provides an appropriate coda to this
wonderful musical.
Heartbeats runs through Oct. 5 at the
Caldwell Theatre, 7873 N. Federal
Hwy., Boca Raton. Tickets are $29 and
$37.50. To purchase tickets, call
561.241.7432.
On the Edg
e of Awesome
Edge
‘Cassandra’ and ‘White Liars’ Ring True at Edge Theater
human nature.
Vicchiollo trumps his interpretation of
Five complex characters, four talented Jack in Cassandra, with his reading of Tom,
actors, two insightful plays and one simple in White Liars. As Tom, lead singer for the
stage are the key ingredients of the Edge rock band White Liars, Vicchiollo must
Theatre’s most recent recipe for success. create two entirely different, yet believable,
Cassandra, written and directed by Jim British accents. He does a stellar job melding
Tommaney, presents a
them into his character.
prophetic tale of two
Vicchiollo is entirely
present day South Beach
believable—even when
lovers, Jack and Cassie.
it is no longer possible to
Each must, in his or her
believe anyone or
own way, ignore a tragic
anything.
prophecy in order to live
Steve Cohen, cast as
a blissful life. Margie
Tom’s manager Frank,
Ricke’s portrayal of
hemorrhages inner pain
Cassie delicately balances
and
angst
while
the
supernatural
convincing audiences of
knowledge
of
a
the truth. His obsessions
prophetess with an allover Tom’s possible
too-human desire to
relationship with Frank’s
Margie Ricke and Christopher
extend happiness, love
own girlfriend leads him
Vicchiollo star in Cassandra
and life. She exudes
in desperation to a
confidence and poise. Christopher fortuneteller.
Vicchiollo personifies a likeable “everyMiki Edelman, superbly cast as the
man” in his portrayal of Jack. His character fortuneteller Baroness Sophie Lemberg,
is believable, even in his ultimate disbelief— owns her character. A practitioner of
which brings unexpected results. superior stagecraft, Edelman deftly
Between plays, a cleverly hidden wall illuminates a complex and introspective
transforms the stage from a one-room South Baroness. Shaffer says much through the
Beach apartment into a two-room Baroness as she muddles through the lies of
astrologer’s parlor in a small, seedy, British life—drinking gin from a teacup. Eventually
seaside town.
she comes to realize a truism, announcing,
White Liars, written by Peter Shaffer “There is great truth in the lies we tell one
and directed by Tommaney, presents an another and ourselves.”
astute picture of the extent to which
White Liars offers truth while
deception often permeates our lives. A tale Cassandra offers prophecy; combined at the
White
Liars
run
of truth and lies set in 1968, this play Edge
Theatre,
theyand
offerCassandra
a prophetic glimpse
through
Oct. 18 at
the Edge Theatre at
transcends time. It unravels the many layers into
local theater’s
future.
Piccadilly Gardens, 35 NE 40th St. in
of dishonesty and double-dealing between
Miami’s Design District. Tickets are
three disparate characters thrown together by
$15, $12 for seniors and students. For
fate and fatalism. An amalgamation of
more information, call 305-531-6083 or
deception and duplicity, White Liars clearly
e-mail [email protected].
shows Shaffer as a perspicuous observer of
By Peter Aymonin
Entertainment Correspondent
Q4 www.ExpressGayNews.com • September 22, 2003
Q_CULTURAL COCKTAIL
By Mary Damiano
New Club Has a Plan to Make
Lesbian Movies a Success
Producer Urges Women to Support Women’s Films
Arts in Fort Lauderdale. For a
complete list of nominees and info
on purchasing tickets to the
ceremony,
visit
www.CarbonellAwards.org.
Lavender Footlights
Lesbian First Weekend
Film Club
Now here’s an interesting concept—
a club that aims at securing the success of
underdog, lesbian-themed movies.
Knowing that good box office numbers
during the opening weekend are critical
to the success of a movie, producer Orly
Ravid has taken matters into her own
hands. Ravid has formed the Lesbian First
Weekend Film Club to encourage
audiences to go to see lesbian-themed
movies. Those who sign up for the online
club will receive reminders as to when
target films are opening. Then, members
are encouraged to see the film in the first
three days of its release. Ravid hopes to
compile 500,000 names on her list, and
with that many names, if everyone did go
to a certain film and bring a friend, it
would send a message to Hollywood that
women’s movies can be just as successful
in theatres as men’s gay films. I know from
women directors whom I’ve interviewed
over the years that they are constantly told
by producers and distributors that lesbians
don’t go to the movies, and that perception
makes it difficult for lesbian filmmakers to
get the financing they need to make their
films. The Lesbian First Weekend Film Club
is a simple idea, but one that could work, if
everyone bands together and just goes to the
movies. The club will launch with the Gina
Gershon movie Prey for Rock and Roll,
which opens at the end of October. To join
the
list,
visit
www.LesbianFirstWeekendFilmClub.com.
One thing that never ceases to
amaze me about South Florida is
the wealth of local talent we have.
Case in point: The Lavender
Footlights Play Festival, which
featured staged readings of gay and
lesbian plays and took place at the
Shores Performing Arts Theatre on
Sept. 13 and 14. This two-day
event, presented by those
wonderful folks at Creative Arts
Enterprises, offered theatre lovers
staged readings of gay- and
lesbian-themed plays by gay and
lesbian playwrights. Because the
new theatre season has not kicked
in at many theatres, the talent that
participated in this festival was
impressive—Rich Simone, Kay Brady,
Harriet Oser, Stephen Anthony, Andres
Alexi, Michael McKeever—to name just
a few.
Unfortunately, the public did not come
out to support the festival the way the theatre
community did. Perhaps they were unsure
of the staged reading concept. Well, let me
tell you, these readings were done in such a
way that you’d be hard-pressed to find
someone in the audience who missed the
scenery, costumes or trappings of a full
production. The readings were staged so that
audiences could use their imaginations
more, and, perhaps most importantly, be
exposed to more wonderful work in two
days than would have been possible with
full productions. The producers are planning
a second festival for next year, so you’ll
have another chance for this unique
experience.
Vampire Lesbians Of
Sodom
The Sol Theatre has a smash hit on its
hands with its production of Vampire
Lesbians of Sodom—the show has sold out
every single performance—so its being held
over. The upcoming available dates for the
campy comedy are Fridays, Sept. 26 and
Oct. 3, at 8 p.m. and Saturdays, Sept. 27
and Oct. 4, at 11p.m. The Sol’s production
of Vampire Lesbians is a terrific show, full
of hilarity and high camp that you can really
sink your teeth into. Don’t miss it. For more
information, and to purchase tickets, visit
www.soltheatre.com
and
call
Carbonell Awards
954.525.6555.
The nominations for the 28th annual
Carbonell Awards, which honor South
Florida theatre, have been announced. Floyd Will & Grace Return
Be in front of the TV or have those
Collins, a musical at the Actor’s Playhouse
about a man trapped in a cave, received the VCRs ready at 8:45 p.m. this Thursday
most nominations with 12, followed by night, Sept. 25, when NBC airs the season
Fortunes Fool, a Russian comedy from premiere of Will & Grace. When we last
Florida Stage. Former Q cover boy, prolific left the Fab Foursome, Grace was afraid
actor and playwright Michael McKeever husband Leo was about to have an affair,
received two nominations in the “Best New Jack and Will woke up in bed together, and
Work” category, one for his acting family Karen had fallen overboard from her yacht
comedy Open Season, and one for A Town and had been rescued by a Russian ship
Like Irving, which details the hate murder hauling vodka. To see how it all works out,
of a gay man in a small town. Nilo Cruz, tune in Thursday at 8:45 for this special
who won a Pulitzer Prize for his play Anna super-sized episode. Also, Dylan
and the Tropics, which was commissioned McDermott, the former star of The Practice,
by the New Theatre in Coral Gables, will will appear on Will & Grace as Will’s love
be given a special recognition award. The interest in the Oct. 30 episode. The character
Carbonell Awards ceremony will be held is scheduled as a one-shot deal at the
Monday, Nov. 10, at the Amaturo Theatre moment, but could be expanded if audience
at the Broward Center for the Performing response is good.
www.ExpressGayNews.com • September 22, 2003 Q5
Heard It Through
the Gayvine
Queers, Quotes and Quips of Interest
Barney’s Boyfriend Is No ‘Friend’
Rep. Barney Frank’s (D-Mass.) boyfriend wrote a letter recently to Bill Thomas,
columnist for the Washington, D.C. newspaper The Hill, taking exception with the
terminology Thomas used in a recent column. Sergio Pombo, an investment officer
with the World Bank, did not appreciate Thomas referring to him as Frank’s “friend”
in print, and asked that Thomas use the term “spouse” or “partner.” A recent story on
Frank in the Boston Globe gives further insight into Frank and Pombo’s relationship:
They’ve been together for five years, after running into each other at the gym; they
don’t like to cook and either go out to eat or go the frozen food route; and they
wouldn’t get married even if Massachusetts allows gay marriage, because they each
have their own health benefits and as a Colombian, Pombo does not have to pay U.S.
taxes. By the way, Frank prefers the term “boyfriend” when referring to Pomba.
Singapore: New Gay Mecca?
Homosexual acts are still against the law in Singapore, but that’s not stopping
the country from courting the pink dollar. Singapore is becoming a new gay destination
with shops, saunas, clubs and parties catering to gay tourists. Although gay natives
must still be discreet about their orientation, Singapore is set on cashing in on the
millions of gay dollars spent by visitors to Asia every year, and has usurped Thailand
as a gay entertainment epicenter. Case in point: While Thailand is clamping down on
entertainment and forcing bars and clubs to close at 2 a.m., Singapore is embracing
its club scene and allowing many clubs to stay open around the clock. And then
there’s the Nation party, held on the eve of Thailand’s national holiday in August,
which is quickly becoming Asia’s answer to Mardi Gras. But Thailand is moving
toward tolerance too, and has announced this year that gay people can work in civil
service.
Jane’s World Debuts in Print
The comics page has gotten its first lesbian lead
character. Jane’s World, a popular online strip, debuted
Sept. 21 in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for a trial eightweek run. Jane’s World is about a lesbian and lovable
loser with a straight male roommate. The strip is written
by Paige Braddock of Northern California, who says her
strip appeals to both gay and straight audiences because
the humor comes from the characters, and the plots don’t
simply focus on being gay. Jane’s World has been described
as surreal, twisted and delightful by various media watchers.
For more info on Jane’s World, visit
www.JanesWorldComics.com.
Classic Rocker Janis Ian and
Girlfriend Get Hitched
Grammy Award-winning singer and
songwriter Janis Ian, the talent behind hits
such as “Society’s Child” and “At Seventeen”
made headlines when she and her partner
Patricia Snyder got married in Canada this
past month. Ian, 52, had previously been
married to a Portuguese businessman before
meeting Snyder in 1989. According to Ian,
she and Snyder had once registered as
domestic partners in Provincetown, Mass., but
never went through with a ceremony. Ian
Janis Ian and Patricia Snyder
figured if it didn’t give them any rights there
was no point. But when the opportunity to get married opened up in Canada,
the Nashville residents leapt at the idea Wearing loud Hawaiian shirts, the couple
took their vows at a wedding chapel in Toronto City hall surrounded by a few
close friends.
The Express spoke with the folk singer’s publicist, Tamara Saviano, who
said she has not heard how the wedding went but said Ian had been looking
forward to it immensely. Saviano also let us know how busy Ian is with three
new projects. A double-live CD, Working Without A Net, is scheduled for release
by Oh Boy Records on Oct. 7. Soon afterward, in early 2004, Ian will release
her first studio album in four years, Billie’s Bones. The album will feature a
duet with country music legend Dolly Parton. The two singer-songwriters are
great admirers of each other. As if that weren’t enough to keep her busy, noted
science fiction publisher DAW released Stars: Stories Based on the Lyrics of
Janis Ian earlier this month. To find out more about Janis Ian check out her
Web site at www.janisian.com.
Chamberlain Comes Clean About
Crush on Paul Newman
Richard Chamberlain is telling all, including details of a secret Hollywood crush.
Chamberlain worked with Paul Newman on the 1974 disaster film The Towering
Inferno, which boasted a massive cast of stars such as Steve McQueen, William
Holden, Faye Dunaway and others. While on Larry King Live recently to promote
his tell-all autobiography Shattered Love, Chamberlain confessed to his sexual
attraction for Newman, joking that “If he’d invited me [home], I would have gone.”
Of course, Chamberlain remained professional, keeping his feelings to himself and
keeping his sexuality and career apart. Too bad! One would be hard pressed to
imagine a hotter couple than these two blue-eyed Hollywood hunks together.
Q6 www.ExpressGayNews.com • September 22, 2003
www.ExpressGayNews.com • September 22, 2003 Q7
Q_CONCERTpreview
It’s Cho Time!
Margaret Cho’s Back in Town at the Jackie Gleason
By Andy Zeffer
Features Editor
The sassy, foxy and always irreverent
Margaret Cho hits Miami Beach with her
“Revolution Tour” at The Jackie Gleason. An
after-party at Rain, 323 23rd Street in Miami
Beach’s fashionable Arts District, will follow the
show. Those with Cho Concert ticket stubs receive
reduced admission to the soiree and two-for-one
drinks until 11 p.m. Revelers are in store for
special guest appearances and the music of upand-coming circuit sensation DJ Pride in the main
room. As if that’s not enough, DJ Alex Miranda
will mix it up in the red room with hip-hop, old
school and Latin sounds. Doors open at 10 p.m.,
and the cover is $8 before 11 p.m. and $10 after
11. You must be 21 and over to enter.
Cho is a favorite in South Florida, where her
shows regularly pack in the crowds. Tour producer
Bill Silva told The Express: “The tour has gone
great. Fort Lauderdale sold out earlier this year, as
did most of the spring tour. Margaret’s popularity
has obviously increased as ticket sales in repeat
markets were up a minimum of 20 percent per
market, sometimes as much as 50 percent. In a year
in which most performers are struggling to get
crowds, this is truly a remarkable tribute to her
unique brand of life’s insights and how she
charismatically twists, turns and slays with them.”
Q8 www.ExpressGayNews.com • September 22, 2003
For Margaret Cho Revolution Tour tickets,
please visit ticketmaster.com or call
305.358.5885 or 954.523.3309. For more tour
information visit www.margaretcho.com.
Q_FASHIONprofile
Bringing Out the Best in Beach Bums
Aussiebum Swimwear Offers Revealing Looks from Down Under
By Andy Zeffer
Features Editor
I first noticed Aussiebum because of the
gorgeous studs that grace their
advertisements. Let’s
just say the models in
the
Australian
swimwear line make
Abercrombie’s ads
look like the teacup
ride at Disneyland.
Aussiebum again
came to my attention
this past summer
while in Provincetown. My well-endowed
(and very aware of the fact) friend Jeff chose
a translucent light blue and white Aussiebum
swimsuit to show off his God-given attribute.
When Jeff came out of the surf all wet, little
was left to the imagination, and all eyes on
the dunes were glued to the generous bulge
outlined beneath the translucent and clinging
nylon. Yet despite the revealing quality of
Aussiebum’s designs, the suits maintain a
quality that is entirely
masculine.
Aussiebum is the
brainchild of Australian
surfer Sean Ashby. The
beautiful sun-kissed boys
down under have long
worn the brief suit, which
are commonly referred to
as “Aussie cossies.”
When Ashby had trouble finding a simple
pair he had been wearing for years, he
decided to create one of his own, and
Aussiebum was born. Before long the ripped
and pumped bodies of Australian beach
bums were buying them. His success led
Ashby to bring his creations to our
shores.
Part of what makes Aussiebum so
masculine is the fit. They have a brief and
revealing cut, but unlike a tight or
constricting bikini or thong, they hang at
the crotch like a pair of boxers. The suit
grips snug across the buttocks as well
while not giving the wearer “wedgies”
or crawling between the cheeks. Models
range from snug to classic and loose
(which my friend Jeff preferred his tool
to hang in). Braver guys can venture for
lighter colors, which when wet leave little
to the imagination.
And then there are those ads. Dan
Canbrera of the company’s North
American office in Miami says the
models are all authentic Australian
lifeguards. The company also sponsors
many rowing events where athletes
model the suits as well. Gazing at the
catalogue may tempt you to buy a oneway ticket to Sydney. The chiseled faces
and rock-hard bodies of these mates
grab the attention of even the most jaded and
media worn folks out there.
Next in line for Aussiebum is a line of
underwear and surf shorts, which should do
well in the North American market.
“European and Australian guys have
always been more into the diver style of
swim trunks,” says Canbrera, who ventures
to add that North American men are less
comfortable in their sexuality. The board
shorts, while covering the body significantly
more, promise to be just as sexy.
But he notes that in South Florida,
guys are less prudish, most likely due to
the Latin and South American influence,
making it the perfect place to strut around
in an Aussiebum suit.
A free catalog of Aussiebum is
available by calling 800.901.2871, visit
www.aussiebum.com to ride the sexy
wave from the land of kangaroos.
www.ExpressGayNews.com • September 22, 2003 Q9
Q_CULTURALevents
Events
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Bilingual Book Discussion—
Laura Restrepo’s The Angel of Galilea, 7 p.m. at the
South Regional/BCC Library, 7300 Pines Blvd.,
Pembroke Pines.
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Small Business
Celebration—Free programs designed for the small
business community and future business entrepreneurs.
Includes breakfast, a business networking reception and
classes on importing and exporting and finance. 9:30
a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on the fifth floor at the Main Library,
100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale. For more
information, call 954.357.7565 or 954.357.8068 or visit
www.browardlibrary.org/sbrc.
Thursday, Sept. 25: Metes & Bounds—
Discussion and book signing with gay author Jay Quinn.
In this unusual coming-of-age novel, author Jay Quinn
surveys the expanding emotional and sexual boundaries
of Matt, an 18-year-old surfer in coastal North Carolina.
7:30 p.m. at Borders, 2240 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort
Lauderdale. 954.566.6335.
Thursday, Sept. 25: 15th Annual Swing for
Seniors Golf Tournament—8 a.m. shotgun at
Arrowhead Golf & Sports Club, 8201 S.W. 24th Street,
Davie. $90/single golfer or $360/foursome. Includes
green fees, cart, lunch, a shirt and a gift bag. Proceeds
benefit the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County.
For information please call Brian Pinto at 954.714.3456,
ext. 216.
Thursday, Sept. 25: The Revolution Will Not
Be Televised will be presented by Antonio Padrino, of
the Consulate General of Venezuela in Miami, at 7 p.m.
at the South Regional/BCC Library. This documentary
depicts the overthrow and return to power of President
Hugo Chavez of Venezuela in a coup in 2002.
Saturday, Sept. 27: Shores Theater Dog Days
Film Festival—What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 2
p.m. screening, $5/kids, $7/adults and 7 p.m. screening,
$20/all. 9806 N.E. Second Ave., Miami Shores.
305.751.0562 or [email protected].
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 Afro-Cuban Dance and Music Ensemble.
For tickets and information call 877.877.7677 or visit
www.tixops.com.
Saturday, Nov. 22: Expanding Horizons—Save
the date for the Seventh Annual Recognition Dinner
benefiting the Gay and Lesbian Foundation of South
Florida. Dr. John Graves, Marleine Bastien, and Damian
Pardo will be honored. Special guest honoree to be
announced. 6:30 p.m. at the Westin Diplomat Resort
& Spa, 3555 S. Ocean Drive, Hollywood. $185 per
person includes cocktail reception and dinner. For
tickets and information, please call 305.572.1841 or
visit www.glfsf.org.
Live Theatre and Dance
Through Sunday, Oct. 5: True West—This
comedy by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Sam
Shepard tells the story of two brothers: Austin, a
Hollywood screenwriter, and Lee, a small-time
criminal. Thursdays - Saturdays, 8pm; Saturdays and
Sundays, 3pm. $23/adults, $17/seniors and $13/
students. American Heritage Center for the Arts, 12200
W. Broward Blvd., Building 3000. 954.577.8243 or
www.mosaictheatre.com.
Through Sunday, Oct. 26: Barnum—This
evening of circus and musical theatre brings the magic
of P.T. Barnum to life. Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W.
Sample Rd., Coral Springs. 954.344.7765.
Friday, Sept. 26: Margaret Cho—8 p.m. at
Jackie Gleason Theatre, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami
Beach. 305.673.7300.
Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26 and 27 and Oct
3 and 4: Vampire Lesbians of Sodom—Extended play
Q10 www.ExpressGayNews.com • September 22, 2003
dates by popular demand. Fridays at 8 p.m. and
Saturdays at 11 p.m. Admission: general/$20, students/
$15 and seniors/$12. Sol Theatre Project, 1140 N.
Flagler Dr., Fort Lauderdale. Reservations Required.
954.525.6555 or www.soltheatre.com.
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.
Wednesday, Sept. 24: No Matter What –
Classic Rock/Pop at the Hollywood Beach Theater,
Johnson Street and the Broadwalk. 7 – 9 p.m., weather
permitting. Free. 954.921.3404.
Thursday, Sept. 25: Mercedes Sosa—8 p.m. at
Jackie Gleason Theatre, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami
Beach. 305.673.7300.
Friday, Sept. 26: Take Action Tour 2003—
Benefits 1-800-Suicide. 7 p.m. at Star Bar Patio, 100
S.W. 3rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954.727.0950.
Friday, Sept. 26: Slightly Stoopid—7:30 p.m.
at Culture Room, 3045 N. Federal Hwy, Fort
Lauderdale, 954.564.1074.
Friday, Sept. 26: Kid Rock—8 p.m. at American
Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami,
305.960.8500.whats up bro
Saturday, Sept. 27: David Lee Roth—8 p.m. at
Pompano Beach Amphitheatre, 1801 N.E. 6th St.,
Pompano Beach. For information and tickets call
954.946.2402.
Saturday, Sept. 27: Elton John—8 p.m. at
American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd. Miami,
305.960.8500.
Exhibitions
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.
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. and Tuesdays until 9pm at the
Museum of Art, 1 Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.
www.MuseumOfArt.org or 877.787.7711.
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
Rachael Sage: ‘Public Record’
(Mpress Records)
It’s a sad state of affairs when a talent like Rachael
Sage isn’t a household name. Sage possesses a haunting
voice, which she uses to sing the poetic and insightful
lyrics she writes. She also plays a mean piano and
produces her own material. Oh, and did I mention she
started her own record company?
Sage is a true musical renaissance woman, a
songwriter and musician who captivates with every
word, every note, every nuance. She combines musical
genres on Public Record, but does it in such a way that each one becomes her own.
Sage brings more of her improvisational live style to Public Record. She composed the
opening track, “What If,” on the spot in the recording studio and did the sensuous, spiritual
song in one take. On “Bravedancing,” Sage weaves a tapestry of romance with her piano
and lyrics. “Sara’s Song” is an insightful song about star-crossed love.
A jazzy atmosphere is conjured up by “Back to Freedom,” in which she takes inventory
of her lover’s body. Just close your eyes and let Sage’s breathy, seductive voice wash over
you.
Public Record is a remarkable CD, a collection of songs drenched with intimacy and
longing. It’s a great CD to get to know this talented artist. Believe me, one listen and you’ll
be hooked.
—Mary Damiano
Rufus Wainwright: ‘Want One’
(Dreamworks)
Canadian troubadour Rufus Wainwright’s latest
CD, Want One, is a wistful mix of theatricality and
textured rhythms that harkens to a bygone time, when
the world was less complex.
Wainwright comes off as the kind of guy who
would have been more at home in another century.
There’s an elegance about him that’s both charming and
out of place in the modern world, and this attitude is
reflected in his songs.
Throughout Want One, one wonders if it’s possible for the melancholy Wainwright to
ever be happy. His artist’s eye only seems to see the heartbreak and sadness in the world,
not any of the joy. That’s not to say that Want One is a downer. On the contrary, it’s an
insightful, thought-provoking collection. He’s just one of those guys who just seems too
sensitive for the real world.
This old-fashioned quality is illustrated in “Vibrate,” a haunting song of misplaced
love and desperation that showcases Wainwright’s otherworldly vocals. Another song,
“14th Street,” calls to mind an old-time music hall, while “Oh, What a World,” has a hurdygurdy sound that illustrates the life-is-a-circus message of the song. “Movies of Myself” is
an up-tempo track and is as close to a happy song as Wainwright ever gets. Layered vocals
make “Vicious World” shine.
Rufus Wainwright and Want One are impossible to categorize, but that’s a good thing.
It’s not often that a CD this original comes along.
—Mary Damiano
Jeff Buckley: ‘Live at Sin-e’
(Columbia)
There is something all together haunting and
melancholy about Jeff Buckley’s life, music and
untimely death. When listening to Live at Sin-e, one is
whisked back to a different time, the height of the grunge
era. For those familiar with the East Village landmark
Sin-e, the avant-garde performance café brings to mind
struggling artists and musicians, almost like characters
out of the Broadway musical Rent. It was here where
Jeff Buckley first began building a fan base, and where
he seems entirely at home. One need only listen to him banter with the audience between
songs, as though he were entertaining friends in his living room. “I like your sandals,”
Buckley casually says to someone in the crowd with his boyish voice.
He is clear and soulful on such tunes as the Billie Holiday classic “Strange Fruit.” He
is at his most haunting in a splendid cover of “Calling You,” the Academy Award nominated
song from the cult classic film Baghdad Café. Original tunes performed live at this time
later appeared on his critically acclaimed album Grace. His somber selection betrays those
grunge years of yesterday when Jeff Buckley’s career began to flourish. Sadly, the world
will never know what else was to come from this talented musician, who drowned tragically
at age 31.
—Andy Zeffer
www.ExpressGayNews.com • September 22, 2003 Q11
Q12 www.ExpressGayNews.com • September 22, 2003