Ambush magazine volume 35 issue 08

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celebrazzi

Queen Armeinius XLIX Cherry Poppins, Queen Mwindo XIX Krystal Knight, Easter Grand Marshals XVIII Glen Kahrman & Bootsie DeVille, Oz Host Persana Shoulders & Gay Easter Parade Board's Tony Leggio celebrate 15th Super Star Studded Drag Extravaganza @ Oz

15th Super Star Studded Drag Extravaganza raises $2,188 @ Oz for GEP/Food For Friends The Gay Easter Parade's 15th Super Star Studded Drag Extravaganza brought out a capacity crowd to Oz New Orleans. The annual fundraising event raised $2,188 benefiting Food For Friends. GEP's Tony Leggio and Oz's Persana Shoulders emceed the affair bringing to the stage a bevy of talented Easter Grand Marshals, queens of Carnival, and noted celebrities. Special thanks to EGM XVIII and Queen Petronius L Bootsie DeVille, King Cake Queen XXIII and EGM XVII Monica Synclaire-Kennedy, Queen Armeinius XLIX Cherry Poppins, Queen Mwindo XIX Krystal Knight, King Cake Queen XIX and Miss Gay America 2006 Nicole DuBois, Entertainer of the Year Connie Hung, and the legendary Bebe Scarpinato. And of course, special thanks to EGM XVIII Glen Kahrman whose transformation in the "Man I Feel Like A Woman" Put Glen in Drag Auction brought us a new star... Foodsie DeVille!

The event raised 730.00 Door Donations, 100.00 Helen Berot/VIP Table, 100.00 Laura Enana/VIP Table, 308.00 Stage Performance Tips, 75.00 Blue Easter Basket with Baby Yellow Lamb Auction/Gene Theriot, 75.00 Crystal Bowl, Karen A Baggett Print, Oz VIP Card Auction/William, 40.00 Yellow Easter Basket with Pink Bunny Auction/Wren, 60.00 Pink Easter Basket with Gray Bunny Auction/Daniel, and 40.00 Blue Easter Basket with Pride Bunny Auction/Lori, for a 1,528.00 Sub-Total.

The Put Glen Kahrman in Drag Auction raised 25.00 Dress/ Bootsie DeVille, 30.00 Blush & Eye Shadow/Noel Twilbeck, 40.00 Lipstick/ Liz, 45.00 Eyelashes/William, 50.00 Earrings/Noel Twilbeck, 40.00 Wig/ Ralph, 30.00 Shoes/ Mwindo, 90.00 Name That Queen "Foodsie DeVille"/ Noel Twilbeck, 20.00 Song/Man I Feel Like A Woman/Bootsie DeVille, and 30.00 Donation/Glen Kahrman, for a 400.00 Sub-Total.

1,928.00 was the Event Sub-Total, minus 40.00 Light Tech Expense, for 1,888.00 Total; plus 100.00 Sponsorship/Michael Sullivan, CrescentCare CEO Noel Twilbeck helps turn 100.00 Sponsorship/ his partner EGM XVIII Glen Kahrman into Bebe Scarpinato & Chris Foodsie DeVille in the "Man I Feel Like A Linwood, and 100.00 Woman" Put Glen in Drag Auction along with Sponsorship/Solitaire, for Nicole DuBois & Oz Host Persana Shoulders a 2,188.00 Grand Total.

Gay Easter Parade Board's Monica Synclaire-Kennedy & Tony Leggio host 9th Eggstravaganza @ GrandPre's

9th Eggstravaganza @ GrandPre's raises $1,238 for GEP/Food For Friends The 9th Eggstravaganza was an exciting evening of entertainment and shenanigans at GrandPre's on the N. Rampart Street corridor! This annual Gay Easter Parade fundraiser brought in $1,238 benefiting the "Reason for the Easter Season," Food For Friends. A trio of emcees took to the stage including GEP Board's Monica Synclaire-Kennedy, and Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XLII Tony Leggio, and Philip Anthony aka Felicia Phillips.

One of the highlights of this show was Tony Orlando and The Dawn of the Dead starring Philip Anthony as Tony, and Cartwheel Jimmy as Shirleatta Buffet and EGM XVII Ken GrandPre as Lana Luscious. It was not pretty?! Special thanks to other talented stars including EGM V Princesse Stephaney, Vanessa Carr-Kennedy, Athena Jewelle, Ava Synclaire, and Natasha Sinclair.

The event raised 290.00 Door Donations, 293.00 Stage Performance Tips, for a 583.00 Sub-Total.

Auctions raised: 40.00 Baby Bunnies/Chuck Turner, 30.00 Praline Connection Package/Dwain Hertz, 25.00 Blender Package/Byron, 60.00 Wire Basket/ Gene Theriot, 40.00 Praline Connection Package/Gene Theriot, 60.00 Basket/ Gene Theriot, 175.00 Giant Bunny/Gene Theriot, 50.00 Bud Mardi Gras Sign/Bill & Flower, 175.00 Crytal Basket/Clonia Matte, for a 655.00 Auction Sub-Total, with 1,238.00 Grand Total.

Tony Orlando & Dawn of The Dead starring Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Philip Anthony with Cartwheel Jimmy aka Shirleatta Buffet & Ken GrandPre aka Lana Luscious @ 9th Eggstravaganza

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the "official" dish

by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: ripna@ambushmag.com

18th Gay Easter Parade Rolls through the Streets of the French Quarter April 16th; Food For Friends set to Collect $$$ on the Route The 18th Gay Easter Parade will roll through the streets of the historic French Quarter Easter Sunday, April 16 at 4:30 pm. It's the first time in three years the parade will return to its original route since construction on the N. Rampart Street/ St. Claude Avenue Streetcar Project has been completed. The beautifully redone corridor now connect s the French Quarter to the Marigny ending at Elysian Fields Avenue. The colorful and elegant parade will be led by Easter Grand Marshals XVIII Glen Kahrman, manager of Food For Friends and Bootsie DeVille, socialite and Queen Petronius L. The 18th Gay Easter Parade minus expenses benefits Food For Friends, and has now raised an incredible $264,784.41 for charity the past 15 years. In 2016, Food For Friends, a program of the NO/AIDS Task Force, distributed 40,000 home delivered meals, 18,500 pounds of groceries, and 9,500 bags of groceries. Food For Friends will be taking up a collection along the parade route this year to add to the tally raised. If you haven't made it to one of the fundraisers, please give generously April 16.

This year the parade boasts 46 units including 29 carriages, wagons and trolleys; 7 convertibles; 2 bands; and 10 walking groups. The GEP Board of Directors welcomes: Band 3rd Line Brass Band, Carriage Easter Grand Marshal Glen Kahrman, Carriage Easter Grand Marshal Bootsie DeVille. Carriage Darwin Reed & Opal Masters, Carriage Tittie Toulouse & Electra City, Trolley Tony Leggio, Carriage Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain, Carriage Monica SynclaireKennedy, Carriage The Golden Lantern, Trolley The Golden Lantern, Carriage Oz, Carriage Mercedes Carswell, Carriage Misti & Catherine Gaither, Carriage Krewe of Satyricon, Carriage Krewe of Petronius, Carriage The Double Play, Carriage Kajun's Pub, Carriage Amon-Ra Bunny Rejects, Carriage LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, Carriage Buddy Juneau, Trolley Krewe of Armeinius, Band Pair-A-Dice Tumblers, Carriage Curtis Smith/Amon-Ra, Trolley Krewe of Stars, Carriage Carl Anderson & Jimmy Lee, Carriage Radical Faeiries, Wagon Michael Martin, Wagon Gary Vandeventer, Wagon Natasha Sinclair & Jimmy DeBlanc, Wagon Darrin Duplessey, Wagon Chris Heishman, 5 Walking Groups Chris Heishman, Convertible Food For Friends, Walking Group Food For Friends, 2 Convertibles Kajun's Pub, Convertible The Corner Pocket, Walking Group Lords of Leather, Convertible Bradley Cantrell, Walking Group Krewe of Mermoux, Convertible Appletini Revue, Walking Group The Flaming Flagettes, Walking Group Wit's End Band & Walking Crew, and Convertible Krewe of Mwindo.

Arrival/check in time is 3 pm at GrandPre's, 834 N. Rampart Street.

Carriages load at 4pm with complete parade lineup. Departure time is 4:30 pm sharp, ending at 6 pm for the PostParade Party & Buffet at GrandPre's.

Line-Up is on North Rampart (Armstrong Park side) beginning at St. Ann back towards Dumaine and beyond to Esplanade on park side of

Jazz Fest issue out April 25 DEADLINE: April 18

inside celebrazzi easter grand marshals xviii moments in gay new orleans history obiturary/ian michael gasunas mobile paparazzi drag extravaganza paparazzi eggstravaganza paparazzi

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classifieds under the gaydar real estate a community within communities trodding the boards ambush paparazzi/nola, metairie

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Gulf South LGBT+ Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 828-A Bourbon St. • New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 • 504.522.8049 ripna@ambushmag.com

street.

The parade route is: start N. Rampart @ Armstrong Arch, left on St. Ann, left on Bourbon, right on Esplanade, right on Royal, right on St. Louis, right on N. Rampart, ending at 834 N. Rampart at GrandPre's.

A very special debt of gratitude to all of the sponsors including: Presenting - Ambush Magazine; Platinum - Friday Night Before Mardi Gras, EGM XVIII Glen Kahrman & Noel Twilbeck, James Garner/The Golden Lantern, Alva John Groth II; Gold - EGM XII Gary Vandeventer, Joann Guidos/Kajun’s Pub, Krewe of Amon-Ra, EGM XVIII Bootsie DeVille, Jeff Bater & Tim Irving, Ken GrandPre’/ GrandPre’s, Michael & Tommy Elias/ The Corner Pocket, EGM XV Todd Blauvelt, Mona Lisa Restaurant, Ron Iafrate/Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop & Pub; Silver - EGM XV Stuart Nettles & EGM IX Safonda Peters, Rodney Thoulion & RJ Buras, Rachel Bufkin & Sharon Barreca, King Amon-Ra LII Ronnie White/EGM XIII Rhonda Roget & King Amon-Ra XLVII David Roget, Dwain Hertz & Gene Theriot/Gene’s Po-Boys, Wood Enterprises, SDGM XLII Jeffrey Palmquist & Coca J. Mesa, GR II William G. Antill, Matt Giglio/700 Club; Bronze - EGM XV Starr Daniels & Justin Moffatt, EGM IX Orlando Aloe, Jr., EGM X & SDGM XLII Tony Leggio, Krewe of Armeinius, SDGM XLII Felicia Phillips, EGM XIII Darwin Reed & EGM VII Opal Masters, James deBlanc, Natasha Sinclair, Robert Cook, Jim Hochadel, Gerard A Scavo, In Memoriam: EGM VIII Rona Conners, Michael Sullivan, Bebe Scarpinato & Chris Linwood, Solitaire; and Venue/In Kind - Food For Friends Kitchen, Four Seasons, GrandPre’s, Oz New Orleans, The Double Play, House of Blues Music Hall, Larry Graham/GrahamStudioOne. You too can still become a sponsor. There are 5 levels of sponsorship including Presenting $2,500, Platinum $1,000, Gold $500, Silver $250 and Bronze $100. Sponsorship forms are available at www.gayeasterparade.com/images/ gepsponsorform.pdf.

Past grand marshals include EGMs I Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain, II Larry Bagneris and the late Miss Do Moreland, III Timm Holt and Teryl-Lynn Foxx, IV the late George Simons and Electra City, V Brett Messmer and Princesse Stephaney, VI James Swire and Lisa Beaumann, VII the late Doc Reed and Opal Masters, VIII Michael Elias and the late Rona Conners, IX Orlando Aloe and Safonda Peters, X Tony Leggio and the late Marcy Marcell, XI Chuck Turner and Tittie Toulouse, XII Gary Vandeventer and Elizabeth Bouvier, XIII Darwin Reed and Rhonda Roget, XIV Tommy Elias and Starr Daniels, XV Todd Blauvelt and Stuart Nettles, XVI Johnny Passion and Deja Deja-Vue’, and XVII Ken GrandPre and

THE OFFICIAL MAG

Facebook.COM/AmbushMag Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 • Texas-Florida Official Gay Easter Parade Guide© Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide© Official Gay New Orleans Guide© Official Pride Guide© Official Southern Decadence Guide© AWARD WINNING:

Saints & Sinners Literary Festival Hall of Fame/2015, Louisiana Excellence Award: Media & Internet/2014, New Orleans Print Media Award/ 2014, 25th NO/AIDS Task Force Humanitas Award/2013, New Orleans Print Media Award/ 2013, Krewe of Mwindo Media Honoree/2009, Krewe of Petronius Carnival Spirit of Gay Mardi Gras XLVIII Award/2009, Forum For Equality Acclaim Awards X Media Recipient/2008, NO/AIDS Task Force Prometheus “Torch of Truth” [media] Award/2001 OFFICE/SHIPPING ADDRESS: 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 USA OFFICE HOURS: 10am-3pm Monday-Friday [Except Holidays] Email: ripna@ambushmag.com PHONE: 1.504.522.8049 ANNUAL READERSHIP OVER 1 MILLION: 260,000+ in print/780,000+ On-line CIRCULATION: Alabama-Mobile Florida - Pensacola Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Slidell Mississippi - Bay St. Louis, Biloxi

STAFF: PUBLISHER/EDITOR R. Rip Naquin, New Orleans PRODUCTION DIRECTOR M. Marsha Delain, New Orleans GULF SOUTH/NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Rip Naquin • 504.522.8049 THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Misti Gaiter, Tony Leggio, Hubert S Monkeys, Felicia Phillips, Frank Perez, Rev. Bill Terry-New Orleans MIss Cie-Mobile, AL National Advertising Rep: Rivendell Media 212.242.6863 Ambush Mag is published on alternate Tuesdays of each month by Ambush, Inc., R. Rip NaquinDelain, President. Advertising, Copy & Photo DEADLINE is alternate Tuesdays, 4pm, prior to publication week, accepted via e-mail only: marsha@ripandmarsha.com, except for special holidays. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for the claims of advertisers and has the right to reject any advertising. The inclusion of an individual's name or photograph in this publication implies nothing about that individual's sexual orientation. Letters, stories, etc., appearing herein are not necessarily the opinion of the Publisher or Staff of AMBUSH Mag. Subscription rate is $45 for 1/2 Year; $75 for 1 year.

Sample Copy is $3 First Class Mail. ©1982-2017 AMBUSH, INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, MAPS and PHOTOS. AMgrant - AMbush Advertising Grant Donation

Monica Synclaire-Kennedy.

GEP's Bunnies in The Big Easy April 14th The 8th Bunnies in the Big Easy (https://www.facebook.com/events/ 440353049629014) is at House of Blues Music Hall on Friday, April 14th, 7-9:30 pm. hosted by GEP's Tony Leggio with a holiday buffet; open wine, beer and vodka bar; incredible auctions; thrilling entertainment; and the fabulous Bunny Boys! $35 tickets

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the "official" dish ...from 6 available at https://gay-easterparade.ticketleap.com/bunnies-in-thebig-easy-2017. It all benefits the Gay Easter Parade/Food For Friends.

For additional information, visit www.GayEasterParade.com.

Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic Contest in New Orleans @ Oz April 12 The 4th annual Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic brings its bartending contest to world famous Oz New Orleans, both Dance and Show Club of the Year. Set for Wednesday, April 12, 9pm-12midnight, the first 100 RSVP’d guests through the door upon check-in will receive a Stoli drink ticket plus a wristband to sample all of the contestants cocktails and vote for their favorite bartender. "We’ll drink to that!"

This year, OUT is serving up coverage of all things #StoliPride for the 2017 Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic – the world’s largest annual LGBT bartending competition! Check out http:/ /www.out.com/keywestcocktailclassic for information on how you can compete, support your favorite bartenders, RSVP to events near you, and have a chance to win a VIP trip for 2 to the finale in Key West, Florida.

Audience voting will account for an average 17-20 percent sway in scoring per bartender based on 4 judges per event with 50 points max per bartender each.

This event will be followed by followed by Show Night featuring the Ladies of Oz.

Halloween New Orleans Moves a Weekend Earlier to Oct. 20-22 Have you seen the big news? 2017 dates have been announced for Halloween New Orleans - it's moving a week earlier [Friday-Sunday, October 20-22] so participants can spend Halloween weekend in their own hometown.

The Lazarus Ball, the "dressed up" event of HNO, is moving to Friday, Aug. 11 and will kick-off the weekend for Red Dress Run and Dirty Linen Nights in New Orleans. Lot’s of other changes this year and lots more information is coming soon!

Visit www.HalloweenNewOrleans.com.

Drag Bingo, Neon Underwear Party & More only @ Oz Head on over to the land of dance, Oz New Orleans, for Holy Saturday Drag Bingo on April 15. Hosted by the fabulous Coca J Mesa, you can win fabulous prizes furnished by corporate sponsors with the added advantage of 1/2 price Happy Hour from 6-8 pm!

It’s an Easter Sunday full of drag April 16! Join Oz after the official Gay Easter Parade from 6-8 pm for Easter Drag Bingo hosted by Gia GiaVanni.

There's 11 games, and 11 fabulous prizes furnished by the club's corporate sponsors. Then at 9:30 join Oz for its special Easter Sunday Funday edition starring the Ladies of Oz! Oz is bringing back their monthly theme parties Saturday, April 22! This month, strip down to your fluorescent skivvies for the NEON UNDERWEAR PARTY! Starting at 10 pm, clothing check-in is available. It's hosted by Persana Shoulders with DJ Tim Pflueger spinning your favorites all night long.

Feel free and glow on the dance floor.

The Ladies of Oz present "The Best of Disney" Wednesday, April 26 at 10:30 pm and Sunday, April 30 at 9:30 pm! Join the GAA Show Bar of the Year as they bring a brand new monthly themed edition of Show Night! The Ladies are taking you on a magic carpet ride through your favorite animated Disney classics! Show hosted by 6x GAA Cheridon Comedy Award winner Persana Shoulders and starring the award-winning Ladies of Oz: Lisa Beaumann, Coca J Mesa, Gia GiaVanni, ChiChi Rodriquez, Connie Hung, Anastacia Davenport, and Nicole Lynn Foxx. 13x GAA DJ of the Year, Tim Pflueger, spins all night long.

Suzy Montero in Runoff Election April 29 Congratulations to newly-elected Appellate Judge Paula Brown and newly-elected State Representative Joe Stagni. Both were endorsed by Forum for Equality in the recent March 22 election date.

Another one of Forum for Equality’s endorsees, attorney Suzy Montero is in a runoff for a judicial seat in Civil District Court for Orleans Parish. The runoff election is scheduled to take place on April 29, the first Saturday of Jazz Fest — a busy weekend indeed! Early voting begins on April 15 and ends on April 22.

CrescentCare Achieves Perfect Score in Measure for LGBTQ Friendly & Inclusive Care This year, CrescentCare has earned the distinction of being only one of two organizations evaluated by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as a Healthcare Equality Leader in the entire state of Louisiana. This designation is granted to organizations who show exemplary practices in the four realms of LGBTQ patient-centered care, LGBTQ patient services and support, fully-inclusive employee benefits and policies, and LGBTQ patient and community engagement. An additional fifth area of evaluation could threaten

agencies with a deduction to their overall scores, which the HRC Foundation describes as “focusing on responsible citizenship, and calling out activity that would undermine LGBTQ equality or inclusive patient care. Healthcare facilities may have 25 points deducted from their score for a large-scale official or public anti-LGBTQ blemish on their recent records.”

However, CrescentCare passed all sections with flying colors, earning the coveted honor with a score of 100/100.

“CrescentCare is only one of two Louisiana facilities to be named a 2017 Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.

Last year we were among six, but the HRC has since raised the bar on what it takes to earn the designation. Thanks to longstanding leadership in inclusive healthcare, CrescentCare easily met the benchmarks and earned a perfect score,” says Nick Payne, who serves as Wellness Center Coordinator for CrescentCare.

CrescentCare staff are dedicated to creating a welcoming environment for all its clients, especially the LGBTQ community who may face challenges at other facilities. As a patient-centered agency, CrescentCare is proud to be numbered among other outstanding agencies in this push toward equality and equity.

New Orleans Queer History Featured at the Annual Saints and Sinners Conference The annual LGBTQ-themed Saints and Sinners Literary Festival was recently held in New Orleans and featured a panel discussion on local queer history. The panel featured Clayton Delery-Edwards, Alecia Long, and Frank Perez. Delery-Edwards discussed his forthcoming book on the gay-bashing murder of Fernando Rios.

Professor Long discussed her forthcoming book on Clay Shaw and the homophobic climate in New Orleans in the 1960s.

Perez discussed his work with the LGBT+ Archives Project of New Orleans as well as his forthcoming book on the history of Southern Decadence.

The Saints and Sinners Literary Festival is held each year in conjunction with the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival. Perez also conducted two sold-out walking tours to attendees on the gay and lesbian literary heritage of New Orleans.

Frank Perez to Teach French Quarter History Ambush columnist and local author Frank Perez will teach French Quarter History at Delgado Community College. The course focuses on the history of the French Quarter as both the original city of New Orleans and its shifting role as the city’s flagship neigh-

borhood.

While the French, Spanish, and early American periods are covered, the emphasis of the course is on 20th century history. Topics include, but are not limited to: architecture, historical preservation, colorful characters, the rise of tourism, literature and arts, drinking culture, crime and vice, and LGBT+ history. The last class meeting is a tour of the French Quarter.

The class meets Tuesday evenings from May 2—June 13. Tuition is $249.

The course is non-credit. Registration is now open at the Delgado Community College website www.dcc.edu.

LGBT+ Archives Project Hosts Panel on the History of HIV / AIDS in New Orleans The LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana recently hosted a panel discussion on the history of HIV / AIDS in New Orleans. Panelists included Dr. Russ Burkett, Mark Gonzalez, and Noel Twilbeck. Dr. Burkett is a retired physician who has lived with HIV for decades. Mark Gonzalez is a local attorney who was involved in the local chapter of ACTUP. Noel Twilbeck is the Executive Director of Crescent Care, formerly the NO/AIDS Task Force. The panel was held at Norman Mayor Branch of the New Orleans Public Library and moderated by Frank Perez, President of the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana.

The mission of the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana is to promote and encourage the protection and preservation of materials that chronicle the culture and history of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community in Louisiana. In addition to working with area libraries and museums, the Archives Project sponsors public programming events throughout the year that promote local LGBT+ history.

New Orleans and 35 Other Cities & Counties Ask Federal Judge to Halt Trump Administration’s Threats Against “Sanctuary Jurisdictions” SAN FRANCISCO, CA — (BusinessWire) —Thirty-six cities and counties across the country are asking a federal court to halt President Trump’s executive order threatening the withdrawal of federal funds from so-called “sanctuary jurisdictions.” The coalition filed an amicus brief in San Francisco federal court to support the City and County of San Francisco’s lawsuit against the President, arguing the executive order is unconstitutional and that the public would suffer irreparable harm unless the order was halted nationwide. The case, City and County of San Francisco v. Trump, Case No. [continued on 12]

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Easter Grand Marshals XVIII Glen Kahrman & Bootsie DeVille (Photo by Larry Graham)

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moments in gay new orleans history

by Professor Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM

On Gay Writers: The Saints and Sinners Literary Festival When most people think of New Orleans, they probably think of food or music or perhaps Mardi Gras, and that’s fine but what many people do not realize is that New Orleans has an incredibly rich literary heritage—and that includes gay letters.

Almost everyone is familiar with Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote and their love affairs with New Orleans. Both writers loved the city and found literary inspiration in the French Quarter. Williams lived in the 600 block of St. Peter Street when he wrote A Streetcar Named Desire and Capote lived around the corner on Royal Street when he authored Other Voices, Other Rooms.

the "official" dish ...from 8 3:17-cv-00485, is currently pending before the Honorable United States Judge William H. Orrick. Last week, a very similar group of thirty-four cities and counties filed an amicus brief in support of the County of Santa Clara’s lawsuit against the President, also seeking to halt the executive order nationwide. That case is County of Santa Clara v. Trump, Case No. 5:17-cv00574, and is also pending before Judge Orrick.

The coalition of concerned local governments appear as amici curiae (“friends of the court”). The cities and counties argue that the Executive Order impermissibly intrudes on the independence of local governments by threatening to withhold funding authorized by Congress if they do not follow the President’s unilateral instructions.

They say that the loss of funding would risk public health and safety, and would shift the federal government’s unpaid tab to local residents. Some amici, for example, have concluded that victims of domestic violence or witnesses to

obituary Ian Michael Gasunas Ian Michael Gasunas, 38, passed suddenly on Saturday March 25th. Ian was originally from Hanson, but spent a great deal of time on Cape Cod and most recently in New Orleans. Son of the late Roland Gasuman. Ian is survived by his partner, Gabriel Gates.

Also survived by his mother, Mary Anne Gasunas-Waller of Avone Plar, FL, brother Matther Gasunas of Long Beach NY., and host of aunts, nieces and nephews. Ian loved oceans, travel, antique cars, animals, and a love for life.

Ian’s larger than life Style and imagination will truly be missed. A celebration of life is being planned in New Orleans for April. A memorial service will be held later this year in MA. In lieu of flowers, donations can me made to Odyssey House Louisiana.

crime will leave crimes unreported rather than risk going to local authorities if they face a risk of detention by federal immigration authorities.

Notably, the coalition includes many cities and counties who do not consider themselves to be “sanctuaries,” but who nevertheless agree the Executive Order is unlawful and unconstitutional.

All amici agree that local authorities, not distant federal officials, should be making policy judgments that affect the interests and safety needs of their local communities. Local governments are responsible for the health and safety of their residents, from fighting crime and fires, preparing for natural or medical disasters, providing clean drinking water, maintaining streets and sidewalks, removing trash, and building and maintaining parks, among many other public services. Because of their crucial role and on-the-ground experience, they, not the President, should decide how to deploy their limited resources.

The coalition’s brief asks the Court to halt enforcement of the Order nationwide, not just in San Francisco, because a cut in funding to one city or county results in greater burdens on the services provided by nearby jurisdictions, and increased risks to public safety broadly. While the amici are not parties to this litigation, they believe that their combined experience and position will aid the Court in coming to a just, constitutional ruling.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said, “First and foremost, New Orleans is not a sanctuary city and our police department’s policy on immigration complies with federal law. The NOPD’s policy makes New Orleans safer because individuals are more likely to report crime, and victims and witnesses can testify without fear of being questioned about their immigration status. We are focused on fighting crime, and we will not move officers off the street to join President Trump’s deportation force. This Executive Order is unconstitutional, and denying critical federal funding to cities will only make us less safe.”

Less familiar than Williams and Capote, but just as important, is John Rechy, whose City of Night, became an instant classic when it was published in 1963. The book recalls his experiences as a street hustler in New Orleans and other cities.

And let us not forget the great American poet Walt Whitman’s time in New Orleans in 1848 greatly impacted his later poetry. Works such as “I Saw in Louisiana a Live Oak Growing” reflect the influence of the city’s sensory imagery on Whitman’s masterpiece Leaves of Grass.

New Orleans is also home to one of only a handful remaining gay and lesbian themed bookstores. The F&M bookstore on Frenchmen Street (now the Faubourg Marigny Art and Bookstore) was opened in 1977 by Tom Horner, an Episcopal priest who came to terms with his sexuality and resigned his ministry. Horner wrote a book called Jonathan Loved David, in which he argues the modern church has homosexuality all wrong.

All that amazing literary history is still unfolding. Fourteen years ago, the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival was founded and is held each year in the French Quarter. The festival attracts LGBT writers and publishers from across the nation. Previous attendees, some of whom come every year, include Edmund White, Dorothy Allison, Felice Picano, Radclyffe, Andrew Holleran, Jerry Wheeler, Vanda, J.R. Greenwell, Jameson Currier, and many others.

The 2017 Saints and Sinners Literary Festival occurred a few weeks ago. I have been involved with the Festival for the last six years, first as an attendee then as a participant in readings, panels and as a tour guide.

In addition to being personally and professionally enriching, Saints and Sinners has afforded me the opportunity to meet some of the writers who have influenced my growth as a gay man. These include Andrew Holleran, whose landmark novel Dancer from the Dance (1978) I read when I was 19; Felice Picano, whose Men Who Loved Me: A Memoir in the Form of a Novel (1989) made me fall in love with memoir; Jameson Currier, whose Where the Rainbow Ends (1998) helped put my friend Eddie’s death from AIDS in perspective; and Edmund White, whose States of Desire (1980) is a book I return to over and over again.

The aforementioned writers are well established and respected as pioneers in gay letters but the Saints and Sinners Festival has also allowed me to meet younger, up and coming authors such as Justin Torres and J.R. Greenwell. The festival also features local New Orleans writers such as Mary Griggs, Greg Herren, James Nolan, and others.

The festival always rejuvenates my desire to write and reassures me that future of gay letters in New Orleans is pregnant with potential. Contemplating that future always reminds me of Lyle Saxon, one of the most influential gay men in 20th Century New Orleans.

Saxon is an enigmatic figure—and a reflection of his times. Although he was a writer, his writing was not what we now call “gay”; the social milieu of the 1920s, ‘30s, and 40s precluded that.

And although he attracted a wide variety of writers to the French Quarter and served as the hub of the artistic colony that coalesced around him, he could not have foreseen the emergence of the gay literary scene the city now enjoys.

“Today, 36 cities and counties across the nation, representing over 24 million people, joined together to stand up for the health and safety of their communities and oppose President Trump’s ill-conceived and unconstitutional Executive Order that would require local jurisdictions to perform federal immigration work or risk losing unrelated federal funding,” said Kelly Dermody, Managing Partner of the San Francisco Office of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann and Bernstein, LLP, counsel for Amici. “Local jurisdictions are in the best position to set these priorities and they understand that driving some residents underground in fear of any interaction with local authorities makes every resident in that community, and those adjacent, less safe.”

The cities that have joined the amici coalition are:

East Palo Alto, California Jersey City, New Jersey Los Angeles, California Menlo Park, California Minneapolis, Minnesota New Orleans, Louisiana Oakland, California Portland, Oregon Princeton, New Jersey Sacramento, California Saint Paul, Minnesota Salinas, California Salt Lake City, Utah Santa Ana, California Santa Clara, California Santa Fe, New Mexico Santa Monica, California Seattle, Washington Somerville, Massachusetts Syracuse, New York West Hollywood, California The counties that have joined the amici coalition are: County of Alameda, California Cook County, Illinois King County, Washington Los Angeles County, California Marin County, California Monterey County, California Santa Cruz County, California Sonoma County, California Travis County, Texas

Albany, New York Austin, Texas Berkeley, California Cathedral City, California Chicago, Illinois Denver, Colorado

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paparazzi

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Stars Across the South Shine @ B-Bob's & Flip Side Bar & Patio ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Miss Cie

mobile

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15th Drag Extravaganza raises $2,188 for Gay Easter Parade/Food For Friends @ Oz ~ Photos by Dwain Hertz, Tony Leggio, Rodney Thoulion

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9th Eggstravaganza raises $1,238 for Gay Easter Parade/Food For Friends @ GrandPre's ~ Photos by Rip Naquin

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TROPICAL ISLE: Home of the Hand Grenade, 721 Bourbon St., 529.4109, TropicalIsle.COM VALIANT THEATRE AND LOUNGE, 6621 St. Claude Ave., Arabi, LA, 504.900.1743 Slidell, LA [985] BILLY'S, 2600 Hwy. 190 West, 847.1921 Biloxi, MS [228] CLUB VEAUX, 834 Howard Ave., 207.3271

bookstores New Orleans, LA [504] FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700

circuit/events

classifieds

Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017, 18th Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade.com Aug. 30-Sept. 4, 2017, 46th Official Southern Decadence Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture, end of Summer Blowout including the Southern Decadence Parade & loads of activities, bringing over 180,000 revelers to New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush & SouthernDecadence.com Oct. 20-22, 2017 Halloween 34, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, HalloweenNewOrleans.com Dec. 29, 2017-Jan. 1, 2018 Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.com Feb. 9-13, 2018, 69th Official Gay Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush, GayMardiGras.com

costumes New Orleans, LA [504] QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633

galleries New Orleans, LA [504] CASSELL-BERGEN GALLERY, 1305 Decatur St., cassellbergengallery.com, 504.524.0671

guides AMBUSH Mag, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; marsha@ripandmarsha.com

groceries/delis New Orleans, LA [504] QUARTERMASTER DELI, THE NELLIE DELI, 1100 Bourbon, 529.1416

bars Mobile, AL [251] B-Bob's Downtown, 213 Conti St., 433.2262, B-Bobs.COM Flip Side Bar & Patio, 54 S. Conception St., 431.8819, FlipSideBarPatio.COM GABRIEL'S DOWNTOWN, 55 South Joachim St., 432.4900 THE MIDTOWN PUB, 153 Florida St., 450.1555 Pensacola, FL [850] THE ROUNDUP, 560 East Heinberg St., 433.8482 Baton Rouge, LA [225] GEORGE'S, 860 St. Louis, 387.9798, SPLASH, 2183 Highland Rd., 242.9491, SplashBR.COM Lake Charles, LA [337] CRYSTAL'S, 112 W. Broad, 433.5457 Metairie, LA [504] FOUR SEASONS & PATIO STAGE BAR, 3229 N. Causeway, 832.0659, FourSeasonsBar.com New Orleans, LA [504] 700 CLUB, 700 Burgundy, 561.1095, BIG DADDY'S, 2513 Royal, 948.6288 BIG EASY DAIQUIRIS, 216 Bourbon, 501 Bourbon, 409 Decatur, 617 Decatur

THE BLACK PENNY, 700 N. Rampart BOURBON PUB & PARADE, 801 Bourbon St., 529.2107, BourbonPub.COM CAFÉ LAFITTE IN EXILE, 901 Bourbon Street 522.8397, Lafittes.COM CORNER POCKET, 940 St. Louis, 568.9829, CornerPocket.NET COUNTRY CLUB, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 CUTTER'S, 706 Franklin, 948.4200 THE DOUBLE PLAY, 439 Dauphine, 523.4517 THE FRIENDLY BAR, 2301 Chartres, 943.8929 GOLDEN LANTERN, 1239 Royal, 529.2860, Facebook.COM/GoldenLanternBar GOOD FRIENDS BAR, 740 Dauphine St, 566.7191, GoodFriendsBar.COM GRANDPRE'S, 834 N. Rampart St., 267.3615, Facebook.com/grandpres KAJUN'S PUB, 2256 St. Claude Ave., 947.3735, KajunPub.COM MAG'S 940, 940 Elysian Fields Ave., 948.1888 OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, 593.9491, OzNewOrleans. COM THE PAGE, 542 N. Rampart St., 875.4976 PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264, www.phoenixbarnola.com RAWHIDE 2010, 740 Burgundy St., 525.8106, Rawhide2010.COM

hair salons New Orleans, LA [504] Two Guys Cutting Hair, 2372 St. Claude Ave., Suite 125, appointments: Adikus 215.519.5030, Trent 504.239.2397

hardware New Orleans, LA [504] MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER HARDWARE, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465

lodging/accommodations New Orleans [504] AARON INGRAM HAUS, 1012 Elysian Fields, New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: 504.949.3110, www.ingramhaus.com/xqey, e-mail us at ingramhaus@yahoo.com. Condos with queen-size beds, private entrances; located only six blocks from Bourbon Street and walking distance to most New Orleans attractions. Several favorite bars are within one block.

[0118] BLUES60 GUEST HOUSE, 1008 Elysian Fields Ave. New Orleans, LA 70117, Phone: 1.504.324.4311, www.blues60guesthouse.com, info@blues60guesthouse.com. The Blue60 Guest House with 5 suites provides a peaceful retreat in the center of the Faubourg Marigny, just blocks

from the French Quarter and Frenchman St. [1115] BURGUNDY BED AND BREAKFAST, 2513 Burgundy St., New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE/FAX: 504.942.1463, Toll Free (Continental US only): 1.800.970.2153, www.theburgundy.com, E-mail us at theburgundy@cox.net. Gay owned and operated in newly renovated 1890's double. Four guest rooms with private baths, guests' parlor and "halfkitchen", courtyard and half-open tubhouse with spa (hot tub/whirlpool). Clothing optional in sunbathing and hot tub area. Walking distance to French Quarter. Immediate vicinity of gay and lesbian bars/venues.

[0815] THE FRENCH QUARTER GUEST HOUSES, 1005 St. Peter, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone: 1.800.367.5858, FrenchQuarterGuestHouses.com, email: Info@frenchquarterguesthouses.com. Four meticulously restored boutique inns located in the heart of the French Quarter's most popular LGBT neighborhood. Each building's individual character and charm provides an unforgettable authentic French Quarter experience!

media New Orleans, LA [504] AMBUSH Mag, Official Gay Easter Parade Guide, Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide, Official Gay New Orleans Guide, Official Gulf South Guide, Official Pride Guide, Official Southern Decadence Guide, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; email: ripna@ambushmag.com AMBUSHonLINE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049, ambushonline.com, email: ripna@ambushmag.com

organizations FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 504.821.2601 ext.

254 FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE MARDI GRAS (FNBMG), 504.319.8261, www.fridaynightbeforemardigras.com GAY APPRECIATION AWARDS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049; AmbushMag.COM/GAA GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, info@gayeasterparade.com, GayEasterParade.COM GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM HAART (HIV/AIDS Alliance Region Two, Inc.), 4550 North Blvd. Ste. 250, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, 225.927.1269, www.haartinc.org, offers a complete continuum of care to people living with HIV/AIDS including housing, primary care, medications, case management, and an array of supportive services. In addition HAART provides HIV prevention education and FREE testing to the Baton Rouge area.

HALLOWEEN IN NEW ORLEANS, INC., PO Box 52171, 70152-2171; halloween neworleans.com/ambush KREWE OF AMON-RA, PO Box 7033, Metairie, LA 70010, KreweOfAmonRa.COM KREWE OF ARMEINIUS, PO Box 56638, New Orleans, LA 70156-6638, kreweofarmeinius.org KREWE OF MWINDO, PO Box 51031, 70156; 913.5791, KreweOfMwindo.ORG, krewe@kreweofmwindo.org KREWE OF NARCISSUS, PO Box 3832, New Orleans, LA 70177. Contact: 504.228.9441 KREWE OF PETRONIUS, PO Box 1102, Kenner, LA. 70063-1102, www.kreweofpetroius.net KREWE OF QUEENATEENAS / KING CAKE QUEEN ROYALTY CLUB, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM/KCQ LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, 1308 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.475.7911, www.lgbtarchivesla.org LORDS OF LEATHER, 1631 Elysian Fields, #161, 70117, www.lordsofleather.org

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MYSTIC KREWE OF SATYRICON, 2443 Halsey Ave., New Orleans, LA 70114, 504.906.7990 Todd J. Blauvelt / Secretary, krewe.of.satyricon@gmail.com, MysticKreweOfSatyricon.COM NO/AIDS TASK FORCE, 2601 Tulane Ave., Suite 500, 70119; 504.821.2601; NOAIDSTaskForce.COM PRIDE, NOLAPride.ORG RENEGADE BEARS OF LOUISIANA, PO Box 3083, New Orleans, LA 70177; renegadebearsoflouisiana@gmail.com SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM ST. ANNA'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1313 Esplanade Avenue New Orleans, LA 70116 947.2121, stannanola.org

pharmacy Mumfrey's Pharmacy, 1021 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043, 504.279.6312, www.MumfreysPharmacy.COM. Supporting & serving the LGBT Community for over 20 years.

Local pharmacy offering personalized family-like service, automatic refills & free metro wide confidential pickup & delivery. Also offering shipping for out-side our delivery area. When you call us you speak to a person, not a machine. See our ad.

photography

819 Rue Conti, 581.3866, http://broussards.com Cafe Sbisa, 1011 Decatur St., 522.5565, www.cafesbisanola.com Cheezy Cajun, 3325 St. Claude Ave., 265.0045, www.TheCheezyCajun.com Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, www.CloverGrill.com Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., www.TheCountryClubNewOrleans.com, 945.0742 Gene's Po-Boys & Daquiris, 1040 Elysian Fields Ave., 943.3861,

www.genespoboys.com Ilys Bistro, 1040 Elysian Fields Ave., 947.8341, www.Facebook.com/ILYSBistro Kingfish Kitchen & Cocktails, 337 Chartres St. 598.5005, www.KinfishNewOrleans.com Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746 Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro, 720 Orleans, 523.1930, www.OrleansGrapevine.com Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416, www.QuartermasterDeli.net

services New Orleans, LA [504] Formal Connection, 299 Belle Terre Blvd.

LaPlace, LA, 985.652.1195

theatres

New Orleans, LA [504] CAFE ISTANBUL, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #140, 504.974.0786, CafeIstanbulNOLA.COM VALIANT THEATRE AND LOUNGE, 6621 St. Claude Ave., Arabi, LA, 504.900.1743

tours New Orleans, LA [504] Gay New Orleans Walking Tour, Crescent City Tour Booking Agency, (LGBT Business of the Year) 638 St. Ann St., 568.0717. follow Gay New Orleans Walking Tour @ Facebook.COM

Royal House Oyster Bar, 441 Royal St., 528.2601, www.RoyalHouseRestaurant.com

real estate

restaurants

New Orleans, LA [504] Latter & Blum, Steven Richards Realtor, 504.258.1800, SteveRichardsProperties.com New Orleans Relocation, Realtors — gayowned boutique real estate agency for locals and newcomers. 504.273.0088 www.NOLArelo.com

Metairie, LA [504] Chef Ron's Gumbo Stop & Pub, 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., 835.2022, GumboStop.com New Orleans, LA [504] The Bombay Club, 830 Rue Conti, 577.2237, www.bombayclubneworleans.com Broussard’s Restaurant & Courtyard,

New Orleans, LA [504] BOURBON PRIDE, 909 Bourbon, 566.1570 COK (Clothing or Kinkl), 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264

New Orleans, LA [504] GRAHAM/STUDIO ONE NEW ORLEANS, by appointment, grahamstudioone.com

MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER KITCHEN & BATH, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465 QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633 XXXSHOP, 1835 N. Rampart St., 504.232.3063

retail/shopping

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under the gaydar

by Tony Leggio Email: ledgemgp@gmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham

Hot Happenings Its Spring time in NOLA and the weather is beautiful. It is a great time to be outside celebrating. There are many things to do and with Easter just ahead, the parties are aplenty! Here are just a few ideas hot happenings to check out as spring approaches.

Tuesday, April 11 Diamanda Galás Announces two New Albums: All The Way and At Saint Thomas the Apostle Harlem with a tour featuring a one night stop in New Orleans at the Joy Theatre (1200 Canal Street). To celebrate these albums, Galas is announcing her first US tour in 12 years. The event brought to you by Daniel Nardicio begins at 8 p.m. and for tickets, go to www.dworldnola.com.

Thursday, April 13 Come celebrate a STAR of the community, Chris Owens as the Krewe of Stars hosts the Chris Owens Easter Party Fundraiser at the Chris Owens Club (500 Bourbon Street). Doors open at 7 pm with free appetizers and cash bar with the show starting at 8 pm.

Tickets are $25.00 in advance or $30.00 at door.

Friday, April 14 Be prepared to put the Good back into Friday at Bunnies in the Big Easy.

This year it will be held at the House of Blues Music Hall (225 Decatur Street).

Tickets are $35 and include food, open wine, beer and vodka bar, show and auction. This is a wonderful way to kick off the Easter weekend. Your host for the evening will be GEP’s Tony Leggio and several special guests. And do not forget everyone’s favorites... the Bunny Boys. The event is from 7 – 9:30 pm.

For tickets, call 504.252.5476 or order at the Facebook Page of Bunnies in the Big Easy.

Saturday, April 15 Come out and join all the boys (and girls) at the Marigny Bunny Hop, an Easter Bonnet Bar Crawl. This year’s procession will be led by Bunny Grand Marshal XV Barbara Ella. Participants will be strolling throughout the Marigny going from venue to venue having cocktails and vying to win one of the coveted awards. This year’s awards for best bonnets include: Mag’s 940 (Sassiest Bonnet), The Friendly Bar (Best Couple), Mimi’s in the Marigny (Tallest Bonnet), Big Daddy’s (Widest Bonnet), Cutter’s (Most Glamorous), Who Dat Coffee Café (Best Newbie), Kajun’s Pub (Sissiest Bonnet), The Phoenix

(Butchest Bonnet). Also presented at the Phoenix: Best Group, Life of the Hop, Ambush Magazine's Best of the Best, and the Meyer-Routh-Murrell Spirit Award. The event will begin at Mag's 940 at 2 pm.

Sunday, April 16 Come on out and celebrate at the 18th Gay Easter Parade beginning at 3 pm with a Pre-Parade Party at GrandPre’s (834 North Rampart Street). The parade kicks off at 4:30 pm and there will be a Post Parade Party & Buffet at GrandPre’s starting at 6 pm. More information is available at www.GayEasterParade.com.

Friday, April 21 Mark your calendars for the Gulf South Chamber Spring Social CRAWFISH BOIL at Phillip’s Bar & Restaurant (733 Cherokee Street) from 4:30 – 7:30 pm. The event includes all the crawfish you can eat, free beer and specialty cocktails. Free for NGLCC Gulf Coast Chamber Members & $15.00 for Non-Members (Save the $15.00 and JOIN TODAY by using this link: http://www.gulfsouthchamber.com.

Friday, April 21 The Ursa Softball team is proud to present the 2nd Annual Ursa Turn-aAbout Fundraiser at Mag's 940 (940 Elysian Fields). The doors will open at 9:30 pm and the show will start at 10 pm. There is a $5 suggested donation.

There will be drink specials and 12 performances for everyone to enjoy!

All proceeds will go to the Ursa Softball Family, proud members of the NOLA Softball League.

Saturday, April 22 The Krewe of Armeinius has entered their 50th year! Come out to their annual noteworthy fundraiser Glitter and Be Gay to hear their ball theme and introduce the King and Queen 50. The Krewe of Armeinius will host the event at their den (433 N. Broad Street) welcoming all krewes, gay organizations, and friends, encouraging all royalty and officers to wear their crowns, pins, sashes and mantles of authority.

All guests are requested to attend in cocktail attire. This is an open bar and hors d’oeuvres plus a FABULOUS auction. Music and decorations and fabulous pieces of art will make this a night to remember and an event not to miss.

The ONLINE ONLY early bird offer of $25 is available prior to the event with tickets available at the door for $35. An

amazing array of gifts will be auctioned by silent auction that will start closing at 9 pm. For tickets and more information go to https://armeinius.ticketleap.com.

Saturday, April 22 Join the #NOH8Worldwide movement in New Orleans, LA and add your face to the fight for equal human rights at an open photo shoot in NOLA. The event takes place at the W New Orleans - French Quarter (316 Chartres St.) from 2 - 5: pm. Valet is offered by the hotel for a flat rate of $7 per vehicle.

Sunday, April 23 It’s time to Flashback through the Decades with the Four Seasons (3229 N. Causeway) and The New Orleans Advocates for LGBT Elders organization. The fundraising show will have people performing all the greats such as Frank Sinatra, Lady GaGa, Madonna, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks and many more. They will have entertainers from each decade. Plan on dressing up as your favorite decade! Best dressed will receive a cool prize! Donation at door $10.00 includes food, fellowship and great entertainment while helping an awesome cause. For more information about the organization, go to www.noagenola.org Thursday, April 27 Join the NO/AIDS Task Force for the Bow Tie Bash 2017, featuring entertainment by Anais St. John, an open bar, a boutique auction, a creative bow tie contest, and more! The event will be from 6:30 – 9:30 pm at the Benachi House (2257 Bayou Road). Bow Tie Bash is a CrescentCare event benefitting those affected by cancer and HIV in the New Orleans community. Proceeds from Bow Tie Bash will help the Food For Friends program deliver meals to cancer and HIV-positive clients who are unable to prepare meals for themselves. Each year, Bow Tie Bash honors the memory Chet Pourciau, whose exuberant personality and penchant for eye-catching bow-ties inspired those around him. This year, Bow Tie Bash will also honor the memory of

Sister Marcy Romine, OSF, long-time advocate for those affected by HIV in the New Orleans community. Tickets start at $50. For tickets, go to http:// neworleans.boldtypetickets.com/ events/42217523/bow-tie-bash-acrescentcare-event.

Friday, April 28 Scorpio Boys Entertainment presents “Bayou Boylesque” at Grand Pre’s (834 North Rampart Street). This month’s cast includes Eros S Guillen, Poseidon S Davenport, Atomyc Adonis aka Daniel Dean, and Midnite Ryder.

The event starts at 10 pm.

Party Down With Easter right around the corner, the season is in full regalia. My two weeks have included fundraisers, parties, theatrical offerings and a special celebration for a cherished friend.

My first week was all about small celebrations with friends for special occasions. On Monday a group of us celebrated my friend Barrett Delong Church’s birthday with a dinner at Austin’s Seafood and Steakhouse, one of my favorite restaurants in Metairie.

Even though his birthday fell a month before, we decided there is no time limit for a party celebration. Austin’s is the Mr. Ed’s restaurant chain’s fine dining establishment and it is wonderful. They serve some of the best seafood dishes in the city and their steaks are to die for. My favorite dish is the grilled artichoke appetizer.

Following closely behind on Wednesday another group of friends went to Ruth Chris Steakhouse on Fulton Street to celebrate Beaux Church’s reign as Queen of Armeinius. I am not sure if it is just a tradition in my family or in this city, but whenever I want to go to an upscale meal, it is always a steakhouse. And even though it is a chain, Ruth Chris has always been one of the most consistently good choices in that category. It was also started in our city, so to me it is a local place. I am so proud of Beaux for his accomplish[continued on 27]

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REAL ESTATE

1224 Piety Street, NOLA $189,000 Just renovated Bywater historic home on a deep lot. Features include real hardwood floors, new stainless appliances, tall ceilings & new HVAC. Call/Text Mark @ 504.655.2233.

J az z F es t DE A DL I N E : Tues., April 18 504.522.8049 under the gayday ...from 26 ment of being royalty especially since he is a newcomer to the city (lived here less than ten years), it is impressive he now reigns as Queen of one of the most noteworthy gay carnival krewes in the city. It is heartening to see a new generation embrace the grandeur of this great New Orleans tradition.

The start of the weekend brought two parties on Friday. The first was an art show for the Krewe off Kolossos at the new Mardi Gras Museum.

KOLOSSOS is New Orleans’ premiere Mardi Gras parade performance troupe featuring art bike floats, circus performers, dancers, colorful costumes and interactive props. The bike floats was on display at the Museum that evening for an opening. Through eyecatching party art, KOLOSSOS is raising environmental awareness by utilizing trash creatively. Envisioned and led

by New Orleans artist and Carnival Queen, Katrina Brees, KOLOSSOS brings the new bohemia to the spectacle of Carnival and beyond. Their bikes are true works of art.

Next some friends and I went to Fetes Fest at Generations Hall, a fundraiser for the John Best Foundation. Here it was all about the incredible chefs and cuisine we have in our city.

Established in 2011, the John Besh Foundation provides scholarships, grants and loans to individuals in the

New Orleans community with the passion, creativity and knowledge to enact change in New Orleans and Louisiana.

Chef John Besh created the John Besh Foundation in order to better serve his community by bringing a focus to his efforts in New Orleans. Through essential partnerships and generous donations, the Foundation promotes the preservation of the culinary history and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana through the cultivation of new talent and the support of local endeavors. The food was a mouth-watering celebration with chefs from top restaurants La Thai, Kenton’s, Emeril’s, Josephine Estelle, Dooky Chase, Peche, Toup’s Meatery, Acre, Angeline, August, Iris and many more. There was entertainment and a live auction that even made me nervous, some the items going to over eighteen thousand dollars. I need to invite some of these people to my Easter auctions.

The following night I did double duty as emcee at two fundraisers, the first was the Eggstravaganza at GrandPre’s for the Gay Easter Parade. As one of the official events of the GEP, GrandPre’s had a host of wonderful entertainers as well as baskets filled with goodies to auction. I handled half of the festivities there then turned it over to the talented Monica SinclaireKennedy and Philip Anthony who did a rousing rendition of Tony Orlando and Dawn with Lana Luscious and Cart-

wheel Jimmy. At the blink of an eye I appeared at the Dodwell House for their fundraiser I was co-emceeing with Elizabeth Bouvier. The community of St. Anna’s Church has consecrated Dodwell House to the work of transformation and reconciliation. In the work of transformation they are dedicated to engendering a culture of boundless horizons of hope, possibility, and integrity. By acts of reconciliation this facility is dedicated to the proposition that all cultures have value; that all peoples are members of the beloved community; and that issues of discrimination can and shall be vanquished by the work set about in this safe environment.

The event has great with food, music, a live and silent auction (which I got a jump start on my Christmas shopping) and free flowing locations. St. Anna’s Church is such a vital part of the New Orleans community, I was honored to be asked back to host again this year.

On Sunday, the first of my theatrical outings was The 39 Steps at Rivertown Theatre. The four person cast made the most of the hysterical send-up of Alfred Hitchcock movies.

From Rear Window and Psycho to North by Northwest and the Birds, nothing was spared.

The following week was many hospitality networking functions starting on Wednesday with a reception at Fulton Alley. This upscale bowling alley is

quite impressive showing that bowling can be glamorous. They set the space to show off their capabilities for private parties and seated dinners. Fulton Alley has a game room with Bocce Ball (my favorite), bowling of course, craft cocktails and beer and delectable food.

Their Brussel sprouts are a delightful blend of spicy and sweet that make it one of my preferred dishes.

On Thursday, I went to two mixers, the first was at the Creole Queen which had an industry mixer. Nothing screams New Orleans than a ride on a riverboat.

I followed this event up with the reopening party of the Doubletree Hotel. The Doubletree has recently been renovated and boasts a gorgeous new lobby, beautiful sleeping rooms and event spaces on the top floor that has some of the most spectacular views of the city. The party was top notch as the guest received champagne as they entered and were treated to a tour of the entire place. On the top floor was more food and drink as well as a DJ and a sultry jazz singer. Now this is how you show off a property.

I worked late on Friday, so I wanted to do something laid back, so some friends and I went for drinks and light dinner at the new champagne bar on Rampart Street called Effervescence and it is fabulous with a capital F. It has been open three weeks and already [continued on 28]

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a community within communities

by The Very Rev. Bill Terry, Rector St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, New Orleans Email: fr.bill@stannanola.org

EASTER! A cosmic flash of light! Particles accelerate and collide! The most subtle shift of the linen and a breath of heat softy exhausts from the shroud; then movement.

The possibilities and challenges begin. The resurrection story unfolds. It is Easter!

The Gospel writers, with the exception of Mark, went to great lengths to emphatically assert that Jesus arouse from the dead and lived. The whole Christian ethos depends upon this idea, this suggestion, and this possible truth.

St. Paul says, “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith…”

St. Anna's (www.stannanola.org) Some recent authors suggest that the reality may not require bodily resurrection but the faith and belief that Jesus lives on somehow. Authors like John Crossan, a noted theologian, suggest that the body was disposed of as all crucified bodies. But that the ‘thought’ of Jesus remained alive and well: therefore, resurrection. It seems to me that the late 20th and early 21st centuries are becoming distant from the tribal understandings of life and life force. What a sadness there might be if all of this is falsehood.

Before there was a Magisterium of the Church, there was resurrection. Before there was a Pope there was resurrection. Before there was AnaBaptist or Southern Baptist there was resurrecDodwell House... the future (dodwellhouse.org) tion. Before schisms and ‘heresies’, there was resurrection. While Peter and his friends were forming a community of the Resurrection there was a singular galvanizing experience and it was tied to both the crucifixion and then the resurrection. Even the historian Josephus, not a Christian, wrote, “Pilate had condemned him [Jesus] to a cross, those who had first come to love him did not cease. He appeared to them spending a third day restored to life, for the prophets of God had foretold these things..”

For us who believe in this apparent truth, resurrection, we are afforded a peace that prepares for us a place in the cosmos. For we who believe we rejoice because by this resurrection we are defined as a people with purpose, with

has become a hotspot. There was quite a crowd of pretty people on hand.

The food (especially the squid leg) was delicious and the service was outstanding. It does have a crowd so be prepared to wait, but it is well worth it.

They have a nice selection of champagnes to choose from, at reasonable (and high end) prices. As many know champagne is one of my favorite libations so I have absolutely fallen in love with this place. You should definitely check this place out.

Saturday was such a uniquely New Orleans experience in many ways. First I attended the Louisiana Derby Day at the New Orleans Fairgrounds. The weather was just gorgeous for a day at the Races. There were big hats, food, drink and of course exciting races. I may not have won, but the thrill of watching the sport of kings kept the day moving. If you have not been to the races, check it out whether you are in the clubhouse or the grandstands, you are going to have a good time! Next, I went to the dapper Kevin Hemenger’s crawfish boil he hosted with friends.

Now this was a true New Orleans thing, boiling crawfish in a French Quarter courtyard while we were serenaded by a jazz band. It was like out of a movie.

I ended my evening hosting the Gay Easter Parade Extravaganza at Oz that night. The hysterically wicked Persana Shoulders and I kept things lively and moving as an array of top entertainers performed. The grand marshals Bootsie DeVille and Glen Kahrman were very regal. Glen especially looked good after we put him in drag as a special way to raise funds. I would like to thank Oz, Persana and all the performers who gave their time and talents to make the night so special.

And Glen, aka Foodsie DeVille, I have never seen you look lovelier.

My two weeks ended on Sunday with a special cherished celebration for a dear friend who passed away recently. Some people know him as Cathy Fox, some as Sister Cathi Terr, but most people knew him as Kevin Donahue. He was so many things to so many people in the city, community leader and activist, friend, surrogate family member, drinking buddy,

fundraising guru, you name it and Kevin was there for you. He always has wise words to say in any situation and his elegant and handsome smile lit up the room. The special way he said he loved you more than his luggage (which I have never seen, but assume is as awesome as he was). His memorial was a full house of friends and family members who came together to celebrate his life.

When I met Cathy many years ago, I decided that he had a story to tell. He humbly said he had no exciting lifestyle, so I created one for him in the Cathy Fox Chronicles, a series of articles in Ambush about Cathy’s exploits as a private investigator in the city. It was a fun series and I just adored writing about this lovely man. But that was fiction, the reality was he was a very exciting and special guy. Someone who made an impression on you from the start. I am honored to have called him my friend. His memorial service was just as special. The service held at Mag's 940 consisted of special readings by certain people including his son and his partner of many years, who spoke so eloquently Barry Rutherford. Afterwards, there was a jazz processional through the Marigny followed by a rambling drag show back at Mag's hosted by Elizabeth Bouvier.

I know Cathy was there with us in spirit the entire time smiling from above, laughing at our antics and knowing how much she was loved and meant to so many people. Kevin, whenever I pack a suitcase to go somewhere, I will always think of you.

If the memorial was not enough, I attended the final showing of the Milk Train Does Not Stop Here at the Sanctuary in the Marigny. This production put on by the Tennessee Williams Theatre Company was incredible with a talented cast. Janet Shea just knocked it out of the park with her commanding performance and Levi Hood was pretty nice eye candy. A special shout out to Kyle Daigrepont who stole many scenes as the Witch of Capri. I always love the productions this fairly new company produces and excited to see what they have in store for next season.

So that is it, until next week keep hopping and support the Gay Easter Parade fundraisers.

integrity, uniquely suited to relationships that require love and reconciliation. We are no longer a random combining of helix DNA and RNA or some cosmic goop that accidentally took shape and multiplied its cells into humanity. No the claim of resurrection means much much more than that.

Whatever “The Church” has done to you, please, look beyond it. Whatever a priest or pastor has done to you please look beyond it. I do not ask you to forgive the hate that has filled this epic story since resurrection. I do not

even ask for historic or personal understanding of the failures of us Christians to be a people of Resurrection. I DO ask that you look beyond it to the finest of cosmic statements. WE MATTER BECAUSE HE MATTERED ENOUGH TO RISE FROM THE DEAD. Let us rejoice that He is risen and so might we all rise above hate and embrace love, rise about violence and be a people of peace, rise about prejudice and be a people radical acceptance. Perhaps as a tribe we can become a resurrection people!

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trodding the boards

by Brian Sands

Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com

Biloxi Blues at The National WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen through April 22 For over seven years, The National WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen has been presenting a winning program of musicals, revues, bio-musicals, and plays with music. With its current production of Neil Simon’s Biloxi Blues, it expands into straight play territory. It’s a successful campaign.

Last seen in New Orleans nearly 30 years ago, the semi-autobiographical Biloxi Blues details the coming of age of Eugene Morris Jerome, Simon’s standin, during his WWII basic training experiences in Mississippi. The middle chapter of Simon’s “Eugene Trilogy,” bookended by Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound, these plays marked a maturation of the playwright’s themes and featured more complex characters than in such earlier hits as Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple.

On David Raphel’s turntable set, Director Victoria Reed and her tremendous cast bring back to life a part of WWII that no mere museum exhibit could. Because Biloxi Blues is rooted so firmly in its time and place, it doesn’t invite directorial flourishes. Reed wisely acknowledges this with the proper feel of the era and, instead, digs deeply into the characters’ conflicts with insightful, gratifying results.

Chief among these is the face-off between the nebbishy intellectual Arnold Epstein (Stephen Stanley with a perfect whiny Brooklyn accent) and the authoritative Sgt. Merwin Toomey (Patrick Ryan Sullivan, gruffness personified).

If both these men seem a little twisted, one comes to respect Epstein’s stubborn principles and Toomey’s overriding concern that he fully prepare his charges for battle no matter what it takes. Simon gives Epstein & Toomey the play’s best lines and Stanley & Sullivan bring them to crackling life.

As Eugene, Logan Halliburton may be less colorful, as narrators often are, than the platoon buddies he’s observing, but he organically evolves in the role from callow youth to more introspective young adult.

The other soldiers (Todd d’Amour, David Lind, Reed Luckett Wiley) all rank A-1, though I wish Cooper Bucha, who gave a breakout performance in UNO’s The Aliens, had more to do. On the distaff side, Shelby Kirby and Kate Kuen, sweet and sassy, respectively, score bull’s eyes in their brief scenes as the formative women in Eugene’s life.

I enjoyed this Biloxi Blues more then the original Broadway production and admired the serious topics with which Simon layered his Tony Awardwinning show. Yet there’s an occasional sense that Simon went through his WWII notebooks and dutifully checked off “antisemitism,” “homosexual act among soldiers,” “overbearing drunken sergeant” as he constructed his play, viewing it all through sepia-colored glasses.

The whinings of Simon’s boot camp soldiers may seem a little naive and trite compared to the horrors that were occurring on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. But in the Stage Door Canteen’s near perfect production of this play that acutely examines life before shipping out, it doesn’t really matter.

Another Tony Award winner, the Fats Waller musical Ain’t Misbehavin’ comes next to the Canteen (May 5June 25). Let’s hope we can continue to expect such varied repertoire there.

One thing that never varies is the outstanding quality of the food served before the shows. For Biloxi Blues,

the menu was inspired by the state in which it takes place.

The first course is Mississippi Caviar Salad, a traditional dish that offers a tasty combination of blackeyed peas, sweet corn, tomatoes, and bell peppers on a wedge of iceberg lettuce.

The second course presents a choice between Biloxi Back Bay Flounder with spoon bread, shrimp and blue crab stuffing, baby green bean casserole, creamy mushrooms and crispy onions or Light House Braised Short Rib Pot Roast with vegetables, potatoes and pecan smoked bacon jus. The former delivers a wonderful melding of tastes and textures while you barely need a knife for the tender and delicious latter. Both are outstanding, so I’d suggest you and a companion get one of each and split them.

Mama’s Famous (and yummy) Chess Pie completes the meal that can only be described as down home haute cuisine cooking. With its Mississippi theme, I wouldn’t have thought the food would be this good. Boy, was I wrong. The service was gracious and attentive as always.

Attention should be paid to the Museum’s special exhibit State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda. This fascinating, compact exhi[continued on 30]

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an exploration of “white music” particularly of the pop variety.

So Varla entered as a “cracker.” bition that comes from the United States No, not a “poor rural white person” but Holocaust Memorial Museum charts a giant Saltine. Then she started playthe rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party ing a clarinet. Surreal and wonderful. using posters, newsreels, even A tribute to Julie Andrews, “the antisemitic board games for kids. whitest lady to ever grace the stage,” We learn how the Nazi Party char- followed. What did it feature? A lovely tered Lufthansa airplanes to transport new song, The Sound of Mucus, comHitler from city to city in the 1932 plete with vivid sound effects. Divine. presidential election, a move that galThere were send-ups of Rick Astley vanized audiences. Using vintage films, and John Denver. References to Dorwe see the Nazi leaders’ brilliant use of othy Hamill and The Captain & Tennille, new media. And poster after poster including an interpretation of Muskrat bears witness to how the Nazis demon- Love with spiders and silly string, might ized the Jews. have gone over 20somethings’ heads It’s almost hard to comprehend but, well, oh well. Their loss. how so many people succumbed to How does Varla define “white musuch devices but as a display label sic”? It’s “the kind of music you hear in says, “while many Germans doubted an elevator.” these arguments, the penalties for disCan you rank artists on a whitesidence and defiance were severe.” ness scale? Yes—The “Carpenters” What with the spreading of false news, (there was no “The” in their name as an atmosphere of anti-intellectualism, Varla sagely informs us) were whiter fundamental rights abrogated, the stag- than The Osmonds (who did use the ing of massive political rallies, the par- article). allels to today are striking.

Does Varla go beyond white muAn exhibition like State of Decep- sic? Yes, as she imparts the factoid tion is always timely, but especially that “White people are three times now. If I may add a little propaganda of more likely to have seasonal allergies my own, don’t miss it. than any other race,” indignantly adding “And they think we don’t have problems.”

Varla Jean Merman It all could probably function as a Sings? at Café Istanbul course, or at least a lecture, at a I’m not quite sure why Varla Jean university these days. Whether a far Merman repackaged A Little White left or far right one, though, I’m not entirely sure.

Throughout the show written by Jeffery Roberson (Varla’s alter ego), with additional material by Jacques Lamarre, naughty puns and double entendres and winks that go a mile high bubble forth.

Roberson is a true wit both of the high and low variety, with plentiful smarts beneath the silliness. Keeping things up-tothe-minute, there was even a reference to Drump’s healthcare disaster which had been pulled the day before.

As an actor, Roberson’s fearless artistry has never been better.

Varla Jean Merman © Rex Bonomelli He’s such a seasoned performer Music with a few new songs and that even his slightest body movements brought it back as Varla Jean Merman speak volumes. Roberson may be a Sings? (marketing strategy?), but I’m dedicated perfectionist, but Varla rehappy she did as I had been out of town fuses to take herself too seriously and when ALWM played here last fall. knows how to poke gleeful fun at her The premise remained the same— outrageous image. Perfect timing

trodding the boards ...from 29

abounds throughout as does great audience interaction; don’t ever be late for a Varla extravaganza or else face her wrath!

Varla can make genuinely pretty music when she wants to as in a rendition of Close To You. But just when you think What a Wonderful World will be done straight, she takes it in other, subversive directions.

No longer restricted to the “White Music” theme allows Varla to explore other avenues as well. Sondheim’s Children Will Listen segues into a list of children’s books that Varla has authored including Where’s Dildo? and Scat the Bunny. Projection of their covers enables you to visualize story lines.

Also mixed into the gumbo of fun are a Mike Yenni chicken joke, friendly jabs at Bianca Del Rio, and a brilliant video in which Varla appears as fellow performers Dina Martina and Miss Atlantic Richfield as well as a hunk. There’s even some sharp social commentary regarding I Dream of Jeannie and what Jeannie would’ve been wearing if she really had just materialized from Baghdad.

Only at the very end does a li’l gooey sentimentality emerge but Varla does leaven it with humor. Preachy for all the right reasons, this section could still be condensed a bit. And as terrific as Varla Jean Merman Sings? is, I missed the journey of self-discovery that served as a through line for some of Varla’s earlier shows such as Under a Big Top. Michael Schiralli directed with a keen eye for keeping the segments flowing and balancing the verbal with the visual humor for the show’s 90 minutes. Cecile Casey did the fabulous costumes including one which had Varla looking like a 1960s sibyl in pink and orange and sequins and feathers.

Gerald Goode provided expert musical accompaniment and partner-in-crime Brian Johnston added vital support.

The only question I had was “Why the ‘?’ in the title?” ’Cause Varla can sing, dance, tell jokes, play the clarinet, yodel, look good in a burqua and probably run the country better than youknow-who!

The Tennessee Williams Festival Another Tennessee Williams Festival has come and gone with its panels and master classes and special events and “Stella!” shouting contest. This year’s headliners were Robert Wagner, star of the 1976 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on television, and his wife Jill St. John, who co-starred in the 1961 film The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone.

Interviewed by Foster Hirsch, they were both very gracious as they reminisced about working with Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, Sean Connery, Bette Davis, and Natalie Wood, and what to do when Audrey Hepburn shows

up at your door at 6am.

This made it all the more curious that they did not participate in the tribute reading, as had been promised and though they were there, which this year focused on Tennessee Williams and Rome. While biographer Patricia Bosworth, novelist Robert Olen Butler, and actor Bryan Batt brought their passages to vibrant life, surely Wagner and St. John would’ve been better than journalists Rick Bragg and Julia Reed, however well-intentioned they were.

Dick Cavett returned to the festival, with his brilliant mind and gigantic ego, for the reading and a panel about New York City in the 1970s where he was joined by Bosworth and author Winston (Forrest Gump) Groom. As Bosworth talked about interviewing the Beatles and Groom recalled fun times at Elaine’s, Cavett shared some new stories but too many anecdotes that he’d told before. He offers a critical connection to Williams, but the Festival may want to give its audiences a break from him for a few years.

Jeremy Lawrence, however, is always welcome back with new monologues about different aspects of Williams. This year’s, The Man in the Overstuffed Chair, focused on Williams’ abusive father. Looking and sounding just like the son that C.C. Williams pejoratively called “Miss Nancy”, Lawrence sprinkled the presentation with readings from Williams’ stories and plays while creating a sad portrait of “a terrifying man with a vicious temper...a great angry hedgehog, unloved and unlovable.”

This year the Festival included a non-Williams work under its banner, Le Petit’s production of Horton Foote’s Dividing the Estate (continuing through April 15), and rightly so. Foote and Williams were contemporaries and two of America’s greatest dramatists; both focused on families, Southern ones in particular.

Dividing the Estate, set in the oilbust Houston of 1987, limns with a Chekhovian bittersweetness the maneuverings of the Gordon family siblings to insure that they maximize their forthcoming inheritances. Foote’s dialog may not have the poetic lyricism of Williams, but he captures with precision the exact natures of the people he knew so well.

Estate is the best production yet from Petit’s new regime. The entire cast gives solid performances with Brenda Currin, as the family matriarch, and Carl Palmer, as her dissolute son, standouts. Maxwell Williams provided assured direction but I was puzzled by an insert that said this presentation was “inspired by the Broadway production...directed by Michael Wilson.”

Let’s hope that all parts of the Tennessee Williams Festival display as much original creativity as its namesake did.

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C'est Si Bon @ New Orleans ~ Photos by Dwain Hertz, Tony Leggio, Oz, the Page, Jeremy Weinberg

The Page's Customer-of-theMonth - March Mr. Vaughn Collins

Oz New Orleans

Amon-Ra Playboy Bunny Rejects

The Corner Pocket

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Cathy Fox/Kevin Donahugh Memorial Tribute @ Mag's 940

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