ACCESSline’s fun guide Our picks for things to do this July... • June 25-July 25, Dubuque: Little Shop of Horrors www.TheGrandOperaHouse.com • July 2-12, Cedar Rapids: Schoolhouse Rock Live www.TheatreCR.org • July 10-11, Marion: Erin Bode and her band www.CampbellSteele.com (The Campbell Steele Gallery) • July 10-12, Cedar Falls: No Biz Like Showbiz, Follies 2009, Cedar Rapids Symphony www.gbpac.org (Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center) • July 10 - 19 - Des Moines: Six on Six: The Musical www.SixOnSix.com (Hoyt Sherman Place ) • July 10-25, Waterloo: High School Musical www.wcpbhct.org (Waterloo Center for the Arts) • July 17-19, 24-26 Urbandale: Hello, Dolly! www.UrbandaleTheatre.org (Urbandale Community Theatre) • July 16-19, Iowa City: The Wizard of OZ www.Englert.org (The Englert Theatre) • July 17, Sioux City: David Cook, www.orpheumlive.com (Orpheum Theatre) For more events, see IowaLisa’s List, starting this page
Deep Inside Hollywood by Romeo San Vicente
McKellen goes Gandalf again in The Hobbit While it was assumed by many— himself included— that queer acting-legend Sir Ian McKellen would once more don the robes of wizard Gandalf in The Hobbit, Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming prequel to the smash hit Lord of the Rings trilogy, there was no official confirmation of his casting. Until now. Del Toro is now telling reporters that McKellen will be reprising his role from the Peter Jackson/J.R.R. Tolkien movies, as will Andy Serkis (Gollum) and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’s Hugo Weaving (Elrond). Director del Toro (the man behind Pan’s Labyrinth and the Hellboy movies, among others) remains cagey about who will be cast as protagonist Bilbo Baggins, but he’s still got time to make up his mind—The Hobbit isn’t expected to hit screens until 2012. Gandalf Pride parades expected to ensue. Megan Fox: The new Buffy? The blogosphere erupted in a furor when
it was announced that the producers of the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer feature film were planning to do a remake—without writerproducer Joss Whedon, whose TV adaptation of Buffy turned the franchise into a veritable pop culture phenomenon. Once that hubbub died down, there was a whole new wave of Internet chatter regarding rumors that fierce Transformers babe Megan Fox would be cast in the new movie. While the Buffy producers have been quick to say that the Fox rumors are merely speculation and hearsay, Romeo would like to cast a vote for the actress. Onscreen, she’s sexy and ferocious, and off-screen, she gives franker and funnier interviews than any of her peers in this generation of screen sirens. Most importantly, though, she’s as sexy a lesbian object of desire as Tara and Willow combined. Here’s hoping for a Fox-y Buffy. World of Wonder buzzes with environmental responsibility The production company World of Wonder—run by gay filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato—tends to make films that are a touch oddball; they’ve explored televangelism (The Eyes of Tammy Faye), homicidal club kids (Party Monster), porn and pop culture (Inside Deep Throat), fetishists (Plushies & Furries) and Andy Williams (The Christmas Special Christmas Special). But they’re not afraid of inconvenient truths: WOW will soon release the provocative The Last Beekeeper, which addresses the struggles of three American beekeepers against the backdrop of the global crisis surrounding the disappearance of the honeybee and the TTDEEP INSIDE continued page 18
Ber Fox
Ber Fox is not under any illusions about the Hollywood dream. His background in professional tennis would seem to be doing him well in the entertainment industry: he has discipline and he keeps practicing and expanding his skills. He goes to audition after audition and is willing to do something that is very hard for some actors, but also can be more rewarding than one would expect. That is, Fox is the understudy for the lead role in a very challenging play currently running at the Macha Theatre in West Hollywood, “He Asked For It”, by author Erik Patterson. “I knew when I read it that it could be risky, and it could be bad if it wasn’t in the right hands. Fortunately it is in the right hands. There are great producers on board, the director takes is seriously and works really hard, and the actors are all really good. It’s heartbreaking and it’s funny and it has every element that any actor would hope for. So I feel really blessed to be a part of it. And challenged.” When the casting director asked Fox if he would take the role of understudy for the character Ted—who falls in love with an HIV+ man and then decides to get himself infected so they can be together—he initially said no. Then, two minutes later, he called back. “Why wouldn’t I do it?” The role is his dream role, and being an understudy doesn’t make the experience any less challenging
or important. Fox has been in previous stage productions but nothing as intense as this. He has also been in films, playing the lead role in the award-winning short film “Secrets”, which is part of the Boys Shorts 5 collection. One of the projects he is most proud of also provides a lesson for those who hope to make acting their profession. In the brilliant and touching film starring Sigourney Weaver, Prayers for Bobby (Lifetime TV, available on iTunes), all of Fox’s speaking scenes were edited out of the final cut in order to fit the channel’s time format. That didn’t stop him, and Hollywood has more to see from this promising actor.
IowaLisa’s List by Lisa Schreihart This is a list of live music, arts, social events and culture in Iowa. The list focuses on events for, by, featuring, and of interest to women and friends, but it is by no means exclusive of events for other interests. Following is the list for July into the early fall (so you can mark your calendar!). To submit events and announcements, or to sign up to receive this list, e-mail iowalisa@juno.com. Visit IowaLisa on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iowalisa or on MySpace at www.myspace.com/iowalisa. She’s on Twitter too! ANNOUNCEMENTS: LINEUPANNOUNCED FOR 2009 IWMF!: Prairie Voices Productions is uber-excited to announce the 2009 16th Annual Iowa Women’s Music Festival, set for Friday-Saturday, September 11-12 in Iowa City. A Friday night music & comedy show with West Hollywood’s Poppy Champlin and Iowa’s own rocker grrl Lojo Russo kicks things off at Old Brick. The Saturday lineup in Upper City
Park includes emcee Kim-Char Meredith, Lynne Rothrock Quartet (Jazz from Cedar Rapids), Tracy Walker (soulful folk from Cincinnati), Carolyn Wonderland Band (blues-rock from Austin, TX), and the legendary Michelle Shocked! Saturday continues at the Mill for an 80’s rock and hip-hopthemed dance party with Kim-Char Meredith, Iowa’s coolest gem-studded hip-hop artist Leslie and the LY’s, and local 80’s rock sensation Jodie Foster Connection! And more to be announced! Check www.prairievoices.net for updates. HELP THE 2009 IOWA WOMEN’S MUSIC FESTIVAL: This year’s IWMF will be a big one and we need your support to pull this off and keep it free for years to come. Mail donations (and make payable) to: Prairie Voices Productions, P.O. Box 3411, Iowa City, Iowa, 52244-3411. If you want to charge donations, you can do so securely on-line at http://bit.ly/5RvKr. PVP/IWMF
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