OutClique Magazine February 2022

Volume 6, Issue 3 February 2022

Ben Platt

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lexus RZ Desmond Tutu Englebert Humperdinck

Miss Bouvèé London Adour Gerry Mastrolia

Leading.

More than 100 years ago, Jackson Health System made a promise to provide quality care to everyone in our community. We’re proud that so many of our goals — to perform groundbreaking research, provide advanced services, and expand county-wide facilities — have been achieved.

Our commitment to the community continues, as we find new, innovative ways to expand these efforts in the new year.

Call 305-585-4JMG for a Jackson specialist near you.

Jackson Health System is proud to be recognized as an “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Top Performer” by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation.

AHF Wellness Centers (877) 259-8727 BISCAYNE 2400 Biscayne Blvd

BROWARD 750 SE 3rd Ave, 1st FL

JACKSON NORTH 100 NW 170th St, Ste 208

SOUTH BEACH 1613 Alton Rd

WILTON MANORS 2097 Wilton Dr

Be Happy Every Day Better is Impossible

By Steven O. Evans, PhD Where are you today in your life’s journey? Are you right on track and meeting all the goals you’ve been working on? Are you at the start of another new year and wondering where the time has gone? Is your life full of relationships, people, and joy? Or are you maybe struggling with depression, loneliness, or a sense of belonging?

There are many people that move to our area without any family. We are here making our own way. We may be maneuvering our lives in an environment unlike our hometowns.

I ask you this month to take a step back and reflect on what really matters most in life. What are your core values? What is it that you really want to accomplish?

What truly makes you happy? What periods of time were you most happy, and why?

Someone special taught me a simple two phrases.

“Be happy every day.

Better is impossible.”

The

concept is so simple but also so profound. Isn’t that what we all want, just happiness?

So whatever is in your life that is keeping you from your happiness, take it and smash it with a hammer.

Yes, maybe even literally.

Let’s work together in this 2022 to make South Florida a place of joy1 and happiness.

Much love, Dr. Steven

1Dr.

Angela Easterday-Holder, former Chair and Professor of Music at Carson-Newman University.

O UTC LIQUE Steven O. Evans, PhD

Publisher and Editor in Chief Steven@OutClique.com

OPEN DOOR. OPEN MIND.

Connie Evans Chief Copy Editor Mother of the Publisher

Sach AD Group

Director of Graphic Design

Chandler Scott

Director of Social Media Assistant to the Publisher

Will White

Director of Special Projects

Jason Eakin

Director of Distribution

David DeBlase Distribution

Mike Ritzi

Sales Manager

Rivendell Media

National Advertising

Denny Patterson

Senior Lifestyle Writer & Assistant Editor

John M. Hayden

Writer & Assistant Editor A publication of OutClique, LLC (954) 998-6429 www.OutClique.com www.Facebook.com/OutClique Info@OutClique.com

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Dean J. Trantalis, ESQ Attorney at Law 2301 Wilton Drive, Suite C1-A, Wilton Manors, FL 33305 954.566.2226 Dean@trantalis.com | TrantalisLaw.com

OutClique, LLC is not responsible for statements or opinions expressed in advertisements or articles.

The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not only be based on advertisements. Before you decide ask the lawyer to send you free written information about their qualifications and experience.

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Lips

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Matty’s

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8:00 PM - 10PM NIGHTLY

JEFF MOSS BRIA ANSARA

SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCES FROM JENNIFER MCCLAIN AND MISS BOUVEE

London Adour From Las Vegas Showgirl to Alibi Girl

By Denny Patterson Photos Credit: Scotty Kirby

L

oud, proud, and living her authentic self, London Adour fell into the art of drag in August 2012 and never looked back. Originally from Houston, Texas, she headlined as a showgirl at the infamous Piranha Nightclub for six year in Las Vegas before recently making the move to South Florida. Now, she is a resident performer at Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar in Wilton Manors, and is the host of Thursday night’s What’s on the Radio Now show.

When it comes to Adour, always expect the big and bold.

She took some time to answer some questions for OutClique.

Denny Patterson: Can you begin by telling us how you discovered your passion for drag?

London Adour: I met somebody on Grindr who had a half boy-half girl picture, and I remember messaging them and saying how I thought their makeup was cool. They said, ‘thank you, I do drag.’ I was like, what is that? They were like, ‘I dress up in costumes, lip sync, and dance.’ I thought that was so weird and interesting. He invited me to this amateur contest in Houston, that’s where I’m from, and I was like, I guess I’ll go. I went, and after I saw the first performer, I thought it was the coolest thing. I was completely attracted to the concept of drag and performing.

DP: You are the host of Alibi’s What’s on the Radio Now show on Thursdays. What do you specifically enjoy the most about this show, and how did it begin?

LA: Trey, one of the managers at Alibi, offered me my own night and he told me to come up with a concept. In general, my drag is very new age. I do enjoy older school drag in many ways, such as fashion and music taste, but in a lot of ways, my drag is very new and right now. I also like to include that with my music. I fully believe that anything on the Top 40 is on the Top 40 for a reason. It wouldn’t be on the radio if people didn’t absolutely love it. So, I believe that you have a better chance at entertaining an audience, making more money, and ensuring the fact that people are going to enjoy the music if you perform something that is on the radio and brand new. With that concept, I originally wanted it to be called On the Radio, but that’s a song by Donna Summer, so I didn’t go with that because that defeated the purpose of the show. Trey was like, we can do What’s On the Radio Now, and we went with it.

DP: Do you perform anywhere else in Wilton Manors or South Florida in general?

LA: In Wilton Manors, I perform at Hamburger Mary’s, and then in South Florida in general, I perform at South Beach’s Palace. I host there as well, and you can also see me perform at R House in Miami.

DP: What makes Alibi worth checking out?

LA: I believe that Alibi has this warm, homey feel when

you walk in that is immediately comforting. I can’t really explain it. Coming from Las Vegas, everything was loud, bright, and showgirly, and here, it’s a lot more warm and chill. They also have drink specials. They don’t have that in Vegas [laughs].I think people should add Alibi to their night out because it’s right on The Drive and it’s famous.

They have drag shows seven days a week, sometimes three shows in one night with different casts.

DP: Speaking of Las Vegas, can you talk about how you used to perform as a showgirl on the Strip?

LA: I headlined on the Strip for six years at Piranha Nightclub, and just loved how I always found myself meeting someone famous. I met Janet Jackson a couple of times, backup dancers for J.Lo and Britney Spears would come party with us, Sam Smith, people from Glee, and I also enjoyed meeting people who were visiting from different countries. I would always get on the microphone and say, ‘where my locals at?’ It would be, like, eight people. Then I’ll ask who’s visiting from out of town, and it would be the whole room. It was the coolest thing.

DP: What can one always expect from a London Adour performance?

LA: Rhinestones, big hair, and big costumes!

DP: There are hundreds of South Florida drag queens.

What makes London Adour unique and stand out from the crowd?

LA: I am so different. There is nobody like me. I am truly one of a kind because my stage presence is so alluring and my wigs are so big. I can literally hear people gasp when I walk by. Everybody wants my costumes, and I do sell them sometimes in the show. I’ll sell them to the girls that I work with. One thing that is unique about me is that before, in between, and after the show, you can always find me in the crowd talking to people. I love to mingle, get to know people, and make sure they’re having a good time.

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DP: How would you say you are constantly evolving to become a better queen and entertainer?

LA: Truly, by my surroundings. I travel a lot. I have

performed in 25 states, and I find myself being inspired and reinventing my aesthetic left and right every time I’m able to work with new drag queens, see their style, go to different cities, and get the aesthetic from their drag community and wherever I’m visiting. In a way, moving to South Florida reminds me of when I used to live in Texas.

There is a certain homey, family feel about South Florida, and I used to get in Houston. There is a fun spark here, and we’ll see how my drag changes and evolves as I progress in the city.

DP: What are some of your interests outside of drag?

LA: It’s outside of drag, but also relates to it. I’m a

seamstress. So, if I’m not in a show, I am sewing everything I wear. Besides that, if the city permits, I love going to the beach, hiking, camping, anything outdoors. I was a Boy Scout. I also love activities like bowling and going to the movies, and I used to be into photography, which now translates into the incredible selfies I take.

DP: What are some future goals you would like to accomplish with drag and your platform?

LA: My goals are to continue traveling around the world. I performed in Paris, and that little taste of being in a different country made me realize I needed to do this more. I need to find a way to market myself, travel more, and grow my experience.

DP: Before we wrap up, is there anything else you would like to mention or plug?

LA: I just want to say, I am honored to receive recognition

in Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale. I’m a new transplant and I feel so welcomed by the queens in the community. Also, for the first time ever, I’ve lived in several complexes, my downstairs neighbors came and knocked on my door. They brought me this bouquet of flowers that had to be around $150. They just said, ‘welcome to the neighborhood.’ I just wanted to cry. Like, what gay movie am I in? [Laughs]. I have truly enjoyed my move so far, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Stay up-to-date and connect with Adour by following her on Instagram @londonadour.

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Eagle Wilton Manors

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Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar

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Pub on the Drive

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Pleasure in Every Pump

visit www.uberlube.com

Title Theft: Should you be Worried?

By Rod Davis, CEO BBB serving Southeast Florida and the Caribbean

L

ike most of you, I have seen the advertisement on TV offering protection against Title Theft, sometimes also called Deed Theft. It made me wonder, is that really possible? Unfortunately, a little research shows that while it is not a concern for most consumers, the FBI reported almost 12,000 cases of alleged real estate fraud in 2019 involving $221 million.

new credit will require some advanced planning. You’ll need to request a temporary “thaw” with all three credit bureaus to allow lenders to access your reports.

The entire online thaw request process for all three bureaus should take about twenty minutes, and your reports can be set to automatically re-freeze on a date you select.

Let’s look at what happens when a scammer attempts to steal your title to gain access to your equity.

Scammers will choose a house, sometimes a second home, rental or vacant house. They then gather your personal information from the internet or elsewhere, and take over your identity to assume the role of property owner or claim to represent you. They file the necessary paperwork to transfer ownership of your property to themselves, using forged signatures and fake identification. They then sell the home or borrow against the equity. You might not even know this has happened until a lender starts to send letters of foreclosure on your home due to failure to make payments.

Credit freezes and thaws are now free for all consumers, based on a federal law passed in 2018.

Here are three steps to protect your home.

Step 1: A good first step is to use good practices to limit access to your personal information. Treat your personal information like the valuable commodity it is. Make sure you shred any documents that have your bank account information, Social Security/Social Insurance number, or other personal information. Be suspicious of any unsolicited communication asking for personal information.

Most information a scammer needs is also stored on your computer or other devices you use to access your bank and pay bills.

Step 2: You may want to implement a credit freeze.

A credit freeze will not permit anyone, including yourself, to open a new line of credit or obtain a new loan. Once you freeze your credit reports, opening

You’ll need to hold on to your login credentials with each bureau to thaw your reports. A lost PIN or user ID can be difficult and time consuming to retrieve. Protect your login information with each bureau as you would your birth certificate or other important documents.

Step 3: The last recommendation to stay ahead of the scammers is to sign up with the applicable government agency responsible for processing titles/deeds in your county. Palm Beach County and Broward County permit you to sign up for a notification if there is a change to your title/deed.

To reduce deed fraud in Miami-Dade, the Clerk of the Court Recorder sends a courtesy letter to the property owner whenever a Quit Claim Deed is recorded with the office. For more information on the process in these counties just go to the applicable link for your county.

If an act is taken on your property’s title without your knowledge, the alert will enable you to take quick action to address the problem.

File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, along with filing reports with local law enforcement and the FBI. Also, place a “fraud alert” or “freeze” on your credit reports and notify all credit grantors and financial institutions.

Find out if there is any unauthorized activity or new accounts that have been fraudulently opened in your name. You may be advised to close some or all of your accounts. Create new passwords and change your PINs.

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IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

(bik-TAR-vee)

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:  Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.  Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.  Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.  Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.  Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.  The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

 Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your

healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:  dofetilide  rifampin  any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you:  Have or have had any kidney or liver problems,

including hepatitis infection.  Have any other health problems.  Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby.

Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.  Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed.

Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:  Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-

counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other.

Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION  This is only a brief summary of important information

about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

 Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5  If you need help paying for your medicine,

visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, KEEP CREATING, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0370 04/21

CHAD CHAD LIVING LIVING WITH WITH HIVHIV SINCE SINCE 2018 2018 REAL REAL BIKTARVY BIKTARVY PATIENT PATIENT

KEEP KEEP CREATING. CREATING.

Because Because HIV HIV doesn’t doesn’t change change who who you you are. are.

BIKTARVY® BIKTARVY® is aiscomplete, a complete, 1-pill, 1-pill, once-a-day once-a-day prescription prescription medicine medicine used used to to treat treat HIV-1 HIV-1 in certain in certain adults. adults.

BIKTARVY BIKTARVY does does notnot cure cure HIV-1 HIV-1 or or AIDS. AIDS.

Ask Ask your your healthcare healthcare provider provider if BIKTARVY if BIKTARVY is right is right forfor you. you.

SeeSee Chad’s Chad’s story story at BIKTARVY.com. at BIKTARVY.com.

Featured Featured patient patient compensated compensated

by Gilead.

by Gilead.

Please Please see see Important Important Facts Facts about about BIKTARVY, BIKTARVY, including including important important warnings, warnings, on the on previous the previous page page and and visitvisit BIKTARVY.com.

BIKTARVY.com.

Ben Platt Bringing Reverie Tour to South Florida

By Denny Patterson Cover and article photos credit: Vince Aung

O

n February 25, 2022, Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award-winning artist Ben Platt will bring his highly anticipated Reverie Tour to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. This is his biggest North American tour to date.

Uncorking moments of escapism, Reverie is Platt’s sophomore studio album, which bottles butterflies of joy, wonder, and hope inside immersive pop, underlined by warm electronic soundscapes, eloquent lyricism, and showstopping vocal dynamics. His debut album, Sing to Me Instead, was released in 2019.

No stranger to the spotlight, Platt has had a fascinating journey through music, theatre, film, and television. Most notably, he won a Tony for his breakout performance in Broadway’s smash hit, Dear Evan Hansen, a role he reprised in last year’s film adaptation. His evolving body of work also includes memorable roles as Elder Arnold Cunningham in the original Broadway production of The Book of Mormon, Benjie in the Pitch Perfect trilogy, and Payton in Netflix’s acclaimed series The Politician.

Platt recently began filming for Richard Linlater’s Merrily We Roll Along, which will be shot over the course of 20 years, and will soon begin production on the film, The People We Hate At The Wedding, alongside Kristen Bell and Allison Janney.

OutClique caught up with Platt to talk more about the album and tour.

and give more of an emotional performance. I think that’s what excites me the most about this particular tour. Balancing between those two energies and performance styles, and trying to make them symbiotic and flow in and out of each other. I don’t want to give over entirely to one. Repertoire wise, Reverie will certainly be the focus since that is my most recent album, but there will be some favorites from the last album as well. Then virtually, obviously, theatricality is a huge part of my upbringing, but production elements will lend themselves to the specifics of the narratives and emotions of each given song. I want to make sure they differentiate between moments and give a good variation of feelings, rather than one streamlined evening.

DP: Your first album, Sing to Me Instead, was very successful. When did you begin to get a vibe as to what Reverie would be?

BP: There was a song that I released in between called “RAIN,” and I really loved the experience of working with Alex Hope and Michael Pollack again. Also, I think the freedom of releasing stylistically into something a bit different and into a space that wasn’t so obviously tied to a theatre or classical sound helped. Not that I don’t love those things and that they don’t have influence in Reverie, but I think allowing myself to depart in that way felt authentically progressive in a way that I didn’t necessarily expect. By virtue of that experience, those are the sort of songs that started to come out.

DP: You have co-writing credits on many of the songs Denny Patterson: Hi, Ben! Thank you for taking some time to chat with us about your upcoming Reverie Tour.

Can you begin by telling us what the show is going to be like and the story you want it to tell?

BP: It definitely varies depending on who I am working

Ben Platt: Totally. There will be a lot of vestiges from the first tour in terms of trying to combine the feeling of a tempo-filled, over-the-top show where there’s standing, dancing, and celebration of that energy, but then also having that sort of classical Adele/Barbra Streisand experience where the audience is sitting and listening to me share stories, sing a few ballads,

with. I would say, more often than not, the songs that I respond to the most or that I am the most inclined to fall in love with conceptually come from me. For example, “Grow As We Go,” which is a song that many people are familiar with from my first album, was both a phrase and a concept that had already been in my mind. Something that I wanted to write about; the idea of somebody trying to avoid losing someone by explaining that the two

on your records. Can you tell us more about the writing process?

OutClique.com | 43

need space to grow. Also, just the encapsulation of that idea in the phrase. If I don’t come up with the phrase itself, generally, something is happening in my life that I want to write about. From that point, it becomes an equal collaboration. Depending on the collaborator, we will find a chord progression that feels like a match, or we will write as many lyrics we can think of and pick our favorites. I try to let it be permutative and free, as long as it’s stemming from something that feels very personal to me.

DP: Which song from Reverie are you most excited to perform?

BP: Oh, that’s a fun question! There are so many, but probably “I Wanna Love You But I Don’t.” I really love that song, and to me, it’s always felt very connotative of an artist like Bruce Springsteen. Aesthetically and musically, it feels like a big arena kind of moment. I always think of that particular image, so I am very excited about that.

DP: How would you say you have evolved as a musical artist since releasing Sing to Me Instead?

BP: I hope that I’ve given myself a little bit more freedom and slack in terms of focusing more on what I enjoy to do, opposed to what I think others would expect from me when I sing and perform. The elements of narrative, theatricality, emotionality, and everything I’ve always had as a part of my performance will forever be present, but I think with Reverie, I allowed myself to stray in a more superficial and stylistic sense. I explored other kinds of music that bring me joy. Music that expresses the moment that I’m going through. If anything, I hope that there’s a bit more variation in the set. As I get a bit older and do my second round of touring, I hope all the cornerstones of what I’ve always done will hopefully be present, but I think it’s just allowed me to free myself up a bit.

DP: Is there a song on the album that you would say was the most challenging?

BP: Hm, that’s a good question. I would probably 44 | OutClique.com

say “Dark Times,” only because it’s an unabashedly emotional song in a sense that it’s very clearly exploring vulnerable experiences, thoughts, and emotions. I think anytime I’m writing a song in that vein, even on the first album, there is such a fine line between things that feel gratuitous, mushy, or emotional for emotion’s sake, rather than specific to me, lyrically succinct, or idiosyncratic. I think writing that sort of song has always been a challenge.

DP: How has the pandemic influenced your work in Reverie and overall trajectory as a musical artist?

BP: The fact that the pandemic sort of displaced me to my former bedroom, living with my parents, and being surrounded by my old posters, clothes, yearbooks, and things, I think that ended up being a very fruitful and inspirational place to write from. I even used my old keyboard from high school [laughs].

That truly influenced and inspired a lot of the record.

Additionally, there was this feeling of escapism that I think was very specific to the feeling I think we all had during the pandemic. We needed somewhere to escape to because we were stuck in our relatively mundane places. Quarantining and seeing the same visuals and people every day. For me, listening to other music and watching other content was always a great way for me to escape that feeling of repetitiveness and endlessness. I always hope my music helps people take their minds off of their worries.

DP: Obviously, we know you as a wonderful actor as well. Do you find performing on a solo tour a bit more freeing since you don’t have to perform as a character?

BP: Absolutely. I would say you sort of hit the nail on the head in terms of what makes performing live my favorite thing to do. I think even in the context of playing a character and doing a piece of theatre, as much as you’re directed and as specific as your role is, you are the one going out there and delivering

the performance. So, there’s a great amount of ownership in performance regardless. Then you take that to the next degree when it’s your own music, and you’re performing as yourself because there is really no netting other than the netting that you create for yourself. There are no boundaries, which I think is a scary thing, but a very positive thing in the sense that it gives you those good butterflies. It’s a challenge that never gets old. You kind of feel naked and vulnerable because there’s not a lot of protection between what you’re doing and the people watching. I think that’s what I love the most about it. After playing characters for 18-20 years, it does feel rather cathartic to finally get to perform purely as myself. It’s an outlet that I am very grateful to have.

DP: Before we wrap up, what more do you hope to accomplish as a musical artist, and do you have any upcoming studio albums in the works right now?

BP: I am always writing music, collaborating with different co-writers, and keeping my mind open.

There isn’t necessarily a specific sound or a third album that has materialized yet since I am very focused on the Reverie tour right now, but goals wise, I have always loved collaboration in every way, so the idea of dueting, singing with other people, and working with artists that I admire and love, it’s certainly something that’s still on my bucket list.

There are plenty of them, and I haven’t really ticked anyone off except my wonderful collaboration with Lin Manuel Miranda for the March For Our Lives.

The idea of teaming up in that way is certainly a goal. Additionally, there are some venues on my list as well. Many of them are being hit by this particular tour, especially the Hollywood Bowl. That’s where I did my first gig as a professional actor when I was eight years old. I played Winthrop in The Music Man there, so to come back as an adult playing my own show, it’s a very special full-circle moment. Most of all, I just want to keep making music that appeals to people, and I hope they connect with it.

Stay up-to-date with Platt by following him on Instagram @bensplatt, or visit BenPlattMusic.com.

For more information and to purchase tickets for the Reverie Tour, visit SeminoleHardRockHollywood.com.

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Midland Cares Gets More Patients Into Treatment

By John Hayden Photo Courtesy of Midland Cares

D

espite two years and counting of the biggest health

Insurance Program to obtain a full range of services

crisis in a century, many people still don’t have

from ER visits, specialists, and even surgeries when

health insurance. Some don’t want coverage, but many

needed.”

don’t know affordable care is available. Midland Cares is working to get people covered and taking advantage

Beltran knows there isn’t a one-size-fits-all in healthcare,

of treatment options available. Many programs focus

and says this program customizes itself to make sure

solely on sexual health, including STIs and PrEP and

patients stay in treatment. “We make sure to provide

HIV care.

each patient with a tailored plan that addresses their needs, along with finding solutions to their barriers to

Midland Cares Director of Programs and Innovation,

care. For example, if transportation is an issue, we have

Greg Beltran, says he looks at the bigger picture.

a Lyft account to ensure they get to and from their visits.

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we serve. This now allows people in the Midland Cares

in the first place.”

Open enrollment has been extended to January 15, 2022.To learn more about policies, visit MidlandCares.org and click on “Premium Assist Enroll” in the top right corner.

62 | OutClique.com

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OutClique.com | 65

Photo courtesy of Rudy Molinet

Holy Cross Health Adds Two New Board Members

R

udy Molinet, FACHE, CEO and executive coach at Artemis Synergies Consulting, a full-service consulting practice specializing in strategic planning, management development, executive coaching, and

68 | OutClique.com

corporate restructuring in the healthcare industry, and Nikki Austin-Shipp, founder and managing principal of The N.A.S. Advisory Group, LLC, which specializes in creating relationships that provide added value to both

entities and individuals in governance, corporate America and charitable affairs, have been appointed to the Holy Cross Health Board of Directors.

A board-certified healthcare executive, professor, mentor and leader, Molinet is also an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida where he teaches leadership and strategic planning courses and provides executive coaching in the College of Business, Executive Education programs. He began his career as a nurse in a catholic hospital. Molinet is a first-generation immigrant and refugee from Cuba and has a passion for diversity, equity and inclusion.

He has received numerous awards for his work in the community including the “Voice of Equality Award’’ from Equality Florida, the state’s premier LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. He is Vice Chair of the Wilton Manors Planning & Zoning board, was President of the Rotary Club of Key West and has served on many community boards.

“It’s important to me to be part of an organization like Holy Cross that serves the community with such care and compassion,” said Molinet. “We have a diverse population of patients here, and as a member of the LGBTQ community and a healthcare executive, I bring a unique perspective. I remember when I was a young nurse in New York City that it was the two catholic hospitals that led the way in providing compassionate care for people living with AIDS & HIV. I see these same values at Holy Cross Health. They align with my values, and I am thrilled to be working with such an innovative leadership team.”

Photo courtesy of Nikki Austin-Shipp Molinet resides in Wilton Manors, Florida with his husband Jeff Shearer. They have two adult sons, Ian and Aidan Shearer.

An accomplished business executive, TEDx speaker and philanthropist, Austin-Shipp was most recently CEO of the South Florida Institute on Aging (SoFIA), becoming the first female and first African American in the organization’s 55-year history. Previously she had a distinguished career in sales, advertising and marketing with such companies as Infinity Broadcasting Radio Group, Dallas Morning News, Chick-fil-A and Taco Bell Corporation. Active in the community, Austin-Shipp also served on the American Tennis & Education Foundation board and Northwest Progresso Flagler Heights (CRA) board; is social chair

of Leadership Broward Class XL; is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, where she has served in various leadership positions in her past 29 years of membership; serves on the Fort Lauderdale Economic and Development Committee; and is a graduate of the Jim Moran Executive Leadership Institute Class in Fort Lauderdale. She has also served on a national and local level with The Links, Incorporated.

“As a Holy Cross Health board member, I will be able to continue advocating for diversity, equity, access and inclusion within our community,” said Austin-Shipp. “I’m excited to share my expertise and knowledge with my fellow board members and also learn from them.”

Content Provided by Holy Cross Health

OutClique.com | 69

SunServe

Photos Courtesy of SRL Media More photos at www.Facebook.com/OutClique

Honoring Archbishop Desmond Tutu

W

At a time when the South African government was refusing to acknowledge the reality of the HIV/ AIDS epidemic sweeping the country in the early 2000s and the efficacy of antiretroviral treatment, Archbishop Tutu famously said in a sharp rebuke of then-president Thabo Mbeki, “Apartheid tried to destroy our people and apartheid failed. If we don’t act against HIV/AIDS, it may succeed, for it is already decimating our population.” Archbishop Tutu was also unequivocal in his condemnation of homophobia even though his views clashed with the Anglican Church to which he belonged. He quipped that, “If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn’t worship God.” In 1984, he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his human rights and anti-Apartheid activism.

“Africa has lost a beloved champion and staunch defender of human rights who was never afraid of saying what needed to be said even if doing so put his own life in danger,” said AHF Africa Bureau Chief Dr. Penninah Iutung. “Though soft spoken and often witty, Archbishop Tutu always faced injustice with unparalleled courage and conviction of a man of faith, whether it was racism, HIV/AIDS discrimination, homophobia, or economic inequality. Perhaps the best way to honor Archbishop Tutu’s memory is to embrace his commitment to resilience and compassion for humanity as we find ourselves in the middle of another pandemic.”

Photo Courtesy of AHF

ith deep sadness, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) marks the passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, an iconic freedom fighter and defender of tolerance whose love comforted, inspired, and empowered millions of people in his native South Africa and around the world for generations. For advocates and people affected by HIV/AIDS, Archbishop Tutu holds a special place as a fearless leader who never shied away from speaking the truth even when it clashed with politics or religion.

Throughout the years following the start of AHF’s first international treatment program in Durban, South Africa in 2001, Archbishop Tutu lent his voice to support AHF advocacy efforts several times.. Today, Archbishop Tutu’s legacy as an AIDS activist continues with the work of the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, which was one of the first public clinics to provide antiretroviral treatment in Cape Town, and through the lives of countless people he inspired to affirm life and truth.

“A prince of a man has passed. Archbishop Tutu’s impact on history went far beyond South Africa,” said AHF President Michael Weinstein. “He was a consistent voice for freedom and understanding. On many occasions he answered the call when AHF asked for his support. He will be sorely missed.”

Content Courtesy of AHF

OutClique.com | 77

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Be kind, stay safe and have a wonderful Winter!

Rosie’s Holiday Toy Drive

Photos Courtesy of SRL Media 84 | OutClique.com

|

More photos at www.Facebook.com/OutClique

Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Photos Courtesy of SRL Media

|

More photos at www.Facebook.com/OutClique OutClique.com | 85

Broward House World AIDS Day

Photos Courtesy of SRL Media 86 | OutClique.com

|

More photos at www.Facebook.com/OutClique

SMART Ride Check Writing

Photos Courtesy of SRL Media

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More photos at www.Facebook.com/OutClique OutClique.com | 87

A Picture Perfect Wedding

By Joseph Federico Photos Courtesy of Keans Llamera

R

enowned photographer, Keans Llamera, had the pleasure of photographing David Ardelean and Aaron Tabor’s wedding day on September 11, 2021. Believe it or not, he was scrolling on social media and came across the gig of a lifetime. The grooms were interested and the rest, they say, is history.

COVID had been hard on everyone, closing businesses and stopping gig workers and other artistically creative individuals in their tracks. After not being able to perfectly capture a wedding in over a year due to the pandemic, Llamera thought it was extremely refreshing to be an integral part of the Ardelean and Tabor wedding and watching the entire process unfold.

“A gay wedding, one that was exotic and a destination wedding, at that, truly got me re-passionate about capturing special days,” Llamara stated. “I can honestly say I had forgotten how special weddings are for me, as an artist, as well as my clients,” he continued.

The wedding was held in Everglades City, FL, a particularly special location for the grooms. Tabor grew up in the area, which is also an important place where their future will take root and blossom.

According to Llamera, who has been a professional photographer for approximately 8 years, told us that the wedding did not disappoint. The grooms turned a waterfront restaurant into a magical oasis. They arrived by airboat, too.

Typically, Llamera builds relationships with his clients from stellar communication, respect, reliability and passion.

When he books a client, he assures them to set an icebreaking conversation to start, that way, he can gain their trust and learn more about them in return. With Ardelean and Tabor, the conversation unfolded easily and was transparent; there was an instant match.

“David and Aaron made this a wedding I will never forget.

The most memorable part would have to be the airboat tours. All the guests were taken out to see the Everglades, which made the experience very special,” Llamera concluded.

OutClique wishes David Ardelean and Aaron Tabor all the best on their nuptials and would like to thank Keans Llamera for his professionalism and time he spent with us on this article.

OutClique.com | 89

Flowers are overrated Give your pets what they’ll really love.

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Jayne Baron Sherman

Doug Ames

Our Fund to Host Third Annual South Florida LGBTQ Philantrophy Awards Photos Courtesy of Our Fund Foundation

O

ur Fund Foundation and presenting sponsor

donations of time, talent, and resources have had a

Bank of America Private Bank announced that

significant positive impact on South Florida’s LGBTQ

the third annual South Florida LGBTQ Philanthropy

community.

Awards will be held at the Broward Performing Arts Center’s Mary Porter Riverview Ballroom on Saturday,

This year’s class of awardees include:

February 26, 2022 from 5:30-7:30PM. Raising the Bar Award: Jayne Baron Sherman The cocktail reception and awards ceremony will celebrate individuals and families whose generous

92 | OutClique.com

Jayne Baron Sherman will receive the “Philanthropist

Many South Florida LGBTQ agencies have been beneficiaries of Doug Ames’ volunteerism. In fact, his name is synonymous with LGBTQ benefits and galas.

Doug and the teams he assembles typically are the first faces seen at check-in for most large LGBTQ events in the region and work tirelessly to gather and relay information to volunteers, ensuring all events run smoothly.

Next Generation of Philanthropy Award: Jonathan Freidin Jonathan Freidin was nominated for this award by SAVE, South Florida’s oldest advocacy organization for the rights of LGBTQ people, where he has served since 2020 as Chairman of the Board of Directors and as a member of the board since 2018. He also serves on SAVE’s Endorsement Committee, which interviews and endorses political and judicial candidates running for office in South Florida. Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber recently appointed Jonathan Vice Chair of the Art Deco Cultural District Panel, with the goal of making Miami Beach safer and more enjoyable for residents and visitors.

Jonathan Freidin

The evening will also recognize the anniversary of Our of the Year” award for her generosity to numerous

Fund Foundation’s founding in 2010 by a small group

cultural, arts, and LGBTQ advocacy agencies, which

of committed philanthropic activists in response to the

she thoughtfully increased during the pandemic, when

then low ratio of giving directed to LGBTQ organizations

non-profit organizations felt particularly vulnerable to

in the region and across the country. Conceptualized

budget shortfalls. Jayne’s philanthropic impact in South

by Chuck Loring, Dick Schwarz, Coleman Prewitt, and

Florida and nationally has helped to sustain arts and

Mark Ketchum, who laid the original groundwork, and

cultural institutions beloved by the LGBTQ community.

complemented by Tony Timiraos, Our Fund’s founding

Jayne and her wife Deby Zum were initial investors in

president and CEO, the organization has blossomed

Our Fund’s success as First 100 Funders and remain

into the third largest LGBTQ community foundation in

generous annual supporters.

the country with $26 million in assets and annual grants of $2 million distributed to LGBTQ-serving non-profits in

Commitment to a Cause Award: Doug Ames

South Florida.

Tickets are $75. For information visit Our-Fund.org, email ocaballero@our-fund.org, or call (954) 565-1090.

OutClique.com | 93

Ronnie Larsen A Master of Theatre

By Denny Patterson Photo Credit: Christian Carroll

A

n actor, director, playwright, and producer, Ronnie Larsen is truly a Jack of all trades. Always bringing a specific edge to his productions, they may be considered risqué, but they are made for audiences who do not mind when the boundaries are pushed. Larsen’s work has been seen in most major cities across America, and here in South Florida, the magic happens at The Foundry in Wilton Manors. He is always in search of new and interesting adventures and opportunities, but above all, he hopes to tell a story.

OutClique had the opportunity to catch up with Larsen.

Denny Patterson: Thank you for taking some time to chat with me, Ronnie! Do you currently have any upcoming projects in the works?

Ronnie Larsen: We’re opening a musical that got shut down during COVID, so we’re bringing it back. It’s called Come Out! Come Out!, and it’s my favorite show I’ve ever done. It’s a tap dance show about gay men cruising for sex in Central Park in the 1920s. It’s so fun and interesting, and it’s period, so we have period costumes and vaudeville music. I really do love this show. It opens February 18, 2022, and it will run for a month. We’re hoping to take it Off-Broadway in the summer.

DP: You specialize in writing plays about sex. Why is this such a pivotal focus of yours?

RL: I have been obsessed with sex my whole life. Not just having sex, but looking for sex, prostitution, everything that has to do with sex has alway fascinated me. Growing up, I did a lot of Shakespeare plays, and I went to a prestigious acting school for that. Doing classical theatre, I would produce these plays, but people would ignore them.

Nobody would come and the critics wouldn’t review them.

So, a friend said to me one day, ‘You should write a play about your sex life. I bet a lot of people would come.’ I took his advice and wrote a play called Scenes From My Love Life, and it was very simple. It was literally just scenes from my sex life. Not like scenes of me having sex, but walking around in circles at a sex club for three hours cruising and talking on a phone sex line. To my surprise, this play was a hit. After my first play about sex opened August 4, 1994, everything changed. I started to make money, people were writing about my plays, people wanted to produce them, all this stuff happened. Then I met a guy who was in the porn

industry, and I thought, I should write a play about this. I started writing all kinds of plays about sex, and they blew up. It was like, adios Shakespeare!

DP: But you also write non-sexual plays as well?

RL: Yes. I may be obsessed with sex, but I do have other plays that are non-sexual. The thing is, you have to make money in the theatre. I would tend to produce things that were commercial. So, if I lived in L.A. and went to Chicago to produce a play, I wasn’t going to go to Chicago if I thought the play was going to lose money. Now that I have my own theatre in Wilton Manors, I can balance it. I can do something really commercial, and then do something that’s not so commercial. Having my own theatre has really changed my life because I can now balance the work.

DP: What do you hope audiences take away from your productions?

RL: I always want people to laugh because I truly believe

that laughter is the key to unlocking so much. When the whole audience is laughing out loud, it’s not just that it’s funny, but it’s a communal experience. It brings everybody together. Then once you have their attention, you can sell them something more serious. I always say, every playwright should have a laugh very early on. A big laugh.

Even if it’s a drama, there should be a big laugh early on because it galvanizes and brings the audience together.

Then they can relax. I do not like plays that have no laughs.

I mean, come on. People are naturally funny. I don’t wake up saying I want to write a comedy to make people laugh, but I wake up saying I want to tell stories. One of the ways to tell stories and get people to listen is by bringing them in with humor first. Then you can give them more.

DP: Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming

projects or anything else you would like to mention or plug?

RL: I would just like to say, it is very important what you

are all doing because the gay press is dying all over the country, and it’s horrible. In the olden days, the 90s, gay papers would write about the shows, write reviews, but everything has changed so much. So, please know that the work OutClique is doing is really important. We need gay writers to write about gay theatre and gay art. We need those voices.

To stay up-to-date, connect, and purchase tickets for Come Out! Come Out!, visit RonnieLarsen.com.

OutClique.com | 95

Rockin’ Robin An Interview with Actor Robin de Jesús

By Gregg Shapiro

T

here are few things more thrilling than watching a young actor coming into his own. Not that Robin de Jesús hadn’t already grabbed our complete attention in his debut film performance as sensitive Michael in Todd Graff’s cult-favorite indie Camp.

After that, de Jesús went on to acclaim in high-profile Broadway musicals including Rent and In the Heights.

Gregg Shapiro: Robin, moviegoers, including many folks in the LGBTQ+ community, had their first chance to see you act in your memorable film debut as Michael in Camp.

Can you please share a couple of memories from your Camp experience?

Robin de Jesús: I love talking about the Camp memory lane. [There are] a couple memories that stick out to me.

The first thing that came to me when you said that was the paralyzing fear that I experienced [laughs]. We were all non-union actors. Most of us had just done stuff in high school. Some people, like Anna Kendrick, Sasha Allen, had been out there, sort of doing the thing and auditioning and being on Broadway. But I remember hearing everyone sing for the first time and realizing, “Oh, man! This is not high school where you think and know that you’re the fiercest person in the room.” For the first time, I was like, “Woah, the talent is absurd.” It was intimidating, but then it was also great to have that energy. I’ll never forget hearing Sasha Allen sing for the first time. I’ll never forget hearing Sasha Allen mark what she sings because her marking is just as good as her being full out. She’s just so musically smart that she finds alternate melodies. It was so much fun.

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Photo Courtesy of Netflix

But the last few years may, in fact, be the point of de Jesús’ ascension. In 2018, he returned to Broadway as Emory in The Boys in the Band (for which he earned a Tony Award nomination) and recreated the role for the 2020 Netflix movie version. Now, de Jesús is playing another Michael, in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s movie version of Jonathan Larson’s tick, tick…BOOM! also for Netflix.

Co-starring with Andrew Garfield, de Jesús is nothing less than riveting. Robin was gracious enough to make time for an interview in advance of the November 2021 premiere of tick, tick…BOOM!

I’ll also never forget the feeling of shooting that scene on the lake at the end. During that movie, I had always considered myself a singer who acted. That movie really affirmed that I was an actor. For me, I needed to have that for myself. It happened several times on set, but specifically with that scene, it was the first time in my professional career where I experienced preparation meeting divinity. We rehearsed that scene and everything so much, and then the schedule got off and it wasn’t ideal. We’re young, this is most of our first movie, so we’re going with the flow, and we’re excited. There’s that vibration.

GS: Your latest movie project is the film adaptation of

Jonathan Larson’s tick, tick…BOOM! Your connection to Larson precedes this by a few years when you were a cast member of Rent on Broadway. What is it about Larson’s work that speaks to you and appeals to you as a performer?

RdJ: Hands down, the humanity. It’s the humanity because Jonathan, even in Rent, there’s no real bad

person. Yes, Benny’s annoying. But it’s society, it’s the system. It’s crack and the AIDS epidemic. It’s like going back to “are you being present? What are you focusing on? Fear? Love?” They’re all themes that are universal and that we all know. But, to me, he writes them in a way that is so vulnerable and so unabashed; it’s almost borderline cheesy.

But it’s not because you can’t run away from the truth that he’s spilling. He was such an honest artist. He was a true artist and his work, to me, pulled at the heartstrings in the simplest ways, because it’s about basic wants and needs.

GS: I’m glad you mentioned him because the movie adaptation of tick, tick…BOOM! was directed by Lin, someone else with whom you have a connection as you played Sonny in the off-Broadway and Broadway productions of In the Heights. Please say something about the experience of working with Lin. RdJ: What I love about working with Lin is the shorthand

and the trust. Sometimes when you’re learning a new director, it’s like you’re learning a new dictionary. You both obviously want to do great work, but you’re learning [about] each other. With Lin, we have shorthand, it’s established. What that allows me to do is just do my work.

Lin can trust me and knows that I know what I’m doing, and I’m going to handle it and do what I’ve got to do. It allows me to do the work and give the best performance possible because we discussed the scenes beforehand, we discussed what we’re going for, and I marinate on that and then I get to set, and he comes in here and there and gives me a couple of notes. His gift with me is that he lets me do my thing.

GS: Your multi-layered portrayal of Michael in tick, tick…BOOM!, a character who brings both humor and heartbreak to the story, is one of the movie’s highlights.

What was it about Michael that made you want to play him?

RdJ: I didn’t know that it was going to be Michael. It is funny that it’s the same name as the character from Camp.

GS: Yes, that’s true.

RdJ: That is kind of funny. Puerto Ricans with the name

Michael. That does happen, as opposed to Miguel. I know I summoned this Michael. I brought him to me. I knew after The Boys in the Band, that there’s an accumulation

of really large roles in my resume, and I love that. All the characters that I played, I feel like they have meat on the bone, they’re great, dense characters with so much to play with. But I was very intentional about the next film I made, that it be a quieter performance, something more subtle. I knew that by being showcased in a role that was subtle, and perhaps at times is the “straight man” in terms of the jokes, that that would allow me to showcase maturity.

GS: You’ve reached actor maturity.

RdJ: Thank you, I really do appreciate that. Like I said,

it was very intentional. But, also, what attracted me to Michael was the overall piece and the experience of working with the people that I’m working with. Working with Andrew. I’m always a student and Andrew Garfield is so brilliant as the lead. I knew that getting to play with him was going to be amazing and fun, and that we could grow each other. All of those things really did combine.

GS: Bradley Whitford plays Stephen Sondheim in tick, tick…Boom! and Sondheim himself also appeared in your previously mentioned movie debut Camp. Do you think there might be a Stephen Sondheim musical, either on stage or onscreen, in your future?

RdJ: I’m gonna put it right out in the universe. I’m ready

to play the Baker in Into the Woods. That’s a dream role.

I would love to do George someday. I feel like I’m missing one more. It’s not the role for me, but man, when I was younger, I wanted to play Sweeney so bad.

GS: Two of your recent film credits, tick, tick…Boom! and

Boys in the Band (which you also did on Broadway), are movie versions of plays. Is there another movie version of a play in which you would like to perform?

RdJ: Yeah! There’s a play I did years ago off-Broadway

at the Labyrinth Theater Company. It was me and Michael Urie and Stacey Sargeant and Aaron Costa Ganis; the four of us. It was this play called Homos, Or Everyone in America. It’s this beautiful story of a young gay couple in grad school, two men. You see them from their first date through the breakup, through the years, being friends, again. A certain violent act happens, but it’s actually a comedy about two people who fall in love via sociopolitical debates. There’s a screenplay version that we’re going to start shopping around now. I really would like that to be the next film adaptation I do.

OutClique.com | 97

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Karaoke Competition Brings Abundance of Talent to The Drive

By Denny Patterson

Photos Courtesy of Miss Bouvèé

O

n December 29, 2021, Matty’s at Wilton Park held a successful event called Rock the Mic, a karaoke competition hosted by South Florida’s southern belle of drag, Miss Bouvèé.

According to Bouvèé, the competition began all the way back to the first week of November.

“Competitors spent the month of November qualifying by singing the song of their choice and either advancing

100 | OutClique.com

or trying again the following week,” she told OutClique.

“We had a wide range of music represented from rap to opera and soul to bilingual performers. We also attracted a wide range of competitors from ages 13-97. Then in December, there were two weeks of semi-finals and two weeks of finals. Contestants were dwindled down to a strong seven finalists, and their final show took place on December 29.”

Not only did Bouvèé enjoy seeing the wide range of

genres and age groups competing, but she loved meeting the musical artists.

“This was a great opportunity for me to really meet a wide range of people bringing music to The Drive,” she says. “Also, karaoke has an innate adventurous nature attached to it, so people just try things in a safe space and the crowd goes crazy. It’s a fun way to perform without the pressure of a ticketed audience.”

The competition’s first place winner was Matthew Darren, who recently moved to South Florida with his husband.

“It feels fantastic to have won the first Rock the Mic competition at Matty’s,” he exclaims. “Just having moved to town, it was awesome to connect into the performers network down here. My husband and I love coming to see and hear Miss Bouvèé and The BoyS at Matty’s regularly, so that’s how I found out about it. I love performing and singing, and I find fulfillment when I bring joy to others through song.”

Darren sang popular hits including “All of Me” by John Legend, “Chandelier” by Sia, “Jealous” by Nick Jonas, “Con Te Partirò” by Andrea Bocelli, and “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman.

“To Matthew, performing is second nature,” Bouvèé says.

“Performance was a huge factor in the judging. Did they stay linked to the lyrics the whole time? Did they work the

crowd? Did they bring their own flare to the song? Is their voice in tune? These were all areas that Matthew not only excelled in, but set the bar in. I think this time next year, he will be a staple on The Drive as one of our great headline performers.”

In addition to winning a cash prize of $1,000, Darren had the opportunity to perform alongside Miss Bouvèé and Jennifer McClain on New Year’s Eve and was a resident performer at Matty’s throughout the month of January.

“Having this introduction to the Wilton community and getting to connect with other local performers is the best take away,” he says. “It gives me some street cred around town as a performer.”

Bouvèé is not sure if Rock the Mic will become an annual competition, but she says she would host it again in a heartbeat.

“I certainly believe Matty’s would welcome the idea of making Rock the Mic an annual event. I think what makes our competition unique is that everyone is welcome and singers have multiple chances to qualify. With an entire month of qualifying rounds, singers had several weeks to try songs out, push themselves, and really get ready for semi-finals. The karaoke community is so great and supportive of each other. I met so many incredibly kind and talented people hosting this competition. It really was my pleasure and honor.”

Stay up-to-date with Bouvèé by following her on Instagram @MissBouvee and visiting her official website, MissBouvee.com. Connect with Darren by following him on Facebook and Instagram @MatthewDarrenMusic.

OutClique.com | 101

JAY LENO

An Arsht center event

Presented by:

fest

B:13” T:13”

S:13”

ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE SHOWS IN MUSICAL THEATER HISTORY.

FEB 4

T:21”

S:21”

B:21”

JOSHUA FEB

BELL 26 AND ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS

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FEB 22 Pg Specs

Sprd Specs

Print / User Info

Fonts

Approvals

Bleed None Trim 13” x 21” Safety None

Bleed Sprd 13” x 21” Trim Sprd 13” x 21” Safety Sprd 13” x 21”

Printed at None Print/Export Time 10-2-2018 4:41 PM

Berthold Akzidenz Grotesk (Bold, Regular), Minion Pro (Regular)

CD None CW None AD None Studio None Acct None Proofrd None Prod None

Gutter None

Visual Artist Saroop Srichawla Previous Artist Gerri Sterne

Images

DEH_TOUR_SOLID-BLUE_KEY-ART_BACKGROUND_4C_NWZ.psd (CMYK; 637 ppi; Studio:DEAR EVAN HANSEN:ART:TOUR:KEY-ART:BACKGROUNDS:NWZ:DEH_TOUR_SOLID-BLUE_KEY-ART_BACKGROUND_4C_NWZ. psd) DEH_TOUR_EVAN_4C_TITLE_CAST_NWZ.psd (CMYK; 873 ppi; Studio:DEAR EVAN HANSEN:ART:TOUR:KEY-ART:NWZ:DEH_TOUR_EVAN_4C_TITLE_CAST_NWZ.psd) DEH_TOUR_STRAPLINE_2-LINE_VECTOR_WH.ai (Studio:DEAR EVAN HANSEN:ART:TOUR:STRAPLINE:DEH_TOUR_STRAPLINE_2-LINE_VECTOR_WH.ai)

FEB 19

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gafieira rio miami Client Stacey Mindich Description NWSP Pub None Run Date None Release Date None

FEB 5

JOSÉ FELICIANO

FEB 15-20

Job # 140114

RACE, INTIMACY & EXPRESSION in DANCE

FEB 5

–Peter Marks,

140114_DEH_TOUR_MAT_Broadsheet_KeyArt_FIN.indd

presented by:

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Used Swatches Black C=100 M=0 Y=0 K=0 C=0 M=100 Y=0 K=0 DEH Light Blue NWS DEH Medium Blue NWS GRAY @ 60% PMS 178 C 4

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Feb 25-26

305.949.6722 • arshtcenter.org

JAN 28-29

Legendary Divas

By Denny Patterson

Photos Courtesy of Blaine Pennington Photography

Next stop, tinseltown!

All aboard the Very Gerry Vessel, as we journey through Old Hollywood and pay tribute to the legendary ladies who made Hollywood what it is today. Ever wanted to know what the stars of the past think about the stars of today?

What they would talk about or sing? Perhaps they are back to clear up a few rumors and bad press!

Find out at Legendary Diva, Kiss My Sass, written by and starring Gerry Mastrolia, well known as “The Rose” of The Golden Gays NYC. His solo impersonation show will be presented in the style of some of the greatest character actors and impersonators of the 20th century,

Tickets: Tiny.cc/MaeWest 106 | OutClique.com

|

like Danny LaRue, Frank Gorshin, Charles Pierce, T.C. Jones, Jim Bailey, Rich Little, and Craig Russell. Join Very Gerry as he brings some of your favorite Hollywood characters back to life, with a campy trip that you’ll never forget!

The show runs Friday, February 4 - Sunday, February 6 and Friday, February 11 - Sunday, February 13 at Empire Stage Theatre, located at 1140 North Flagler Drive in Fort Lauderdale.

Doors open at 7:30 pm and curtain at 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays, while doors open at 4:30pm and curtain at 5pm on Sundays.

FB Event: https://fb.me/e/2QnVUCw0o

(L-R) Derrick Baskin, Jelani Remy, Jawan M Jackson, Ephraim Sykes, and James Harkness in AIN’T TOO PROUD.

A Proud Show Photos Courtesy of Matthew Murphy

B

roadway in Fort Lauderdale is thrilled to announce that tickets are now on sale for the First National Tour of Ain’t Too Proud - The Life And Times of the Temptations.

The new Broadway smash hit musical will play in Fort Lauderdale at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Tuesday, February 8 through Sunday, February 20, 2022 as part of the 2021-2022 Broadway season.

Featuring the Grammy® winning songs and Tony® winning moves, Ain’t Too Proud is the electrifying new

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musical that follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. With their signature dance moves and unmistakable harmonies, they rose to the top of the charts creating an amazing 42 Top Ten Hits with 14 reaching number one and being voted the greatest R&B group of all time by Billboard Magazine in 2017.

The rest is history: how they met, the groundbreaking heights they hit, and how personal and political conflicts threatened to tear the group apart as the United States fell into civil unrest. This thrilling story of brotherhood,

Taylor Symone Jackson, Candice Marie Woods, and Nasia Thomas in AIN’T TOO PROUD.

family, loyalty, and betrayal is set to the beat of the group’s treasured hits, including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” and so many more.

After breaking house records at Berkeley Rep, The Kennedy Center, CTG’s Ahmanson Theatre, and Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre, Ain’t Too Proud opened on Broadway in March 2019, where it continues to play to sold-out audiences and breaking the Imperial Theatre’s box office record. Written by Kennedy Prizewinning playwright Dominique Morisseau, directed by two-time Tony Award® winner Des McAnuff, and featuring the Tony Award winning choreography of Sergio Trujillo, this dazzling production now brings the untold story of

the legendary quintet to audiences across the country.

Tickets are available at BrowardCenter.org, at the Broward Center AutoNation Box Office, 201 SW Fifth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33312, or by calling (954) 462-0222. Orders for groups of ten or more may be placed by calling (954) 660-6307. Ticket prices start at $32.50.

All guests age 2 and up must wear a suitable face covering while inside the theater. In addition, all guests age 12 and up must provide proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test or proof of full vaccination status. View the Guest Entry Policy for full details on the venue’s COVID-19 protocols.

Content Provided by Broward Center for the Performing Arts

OutClique.com | 113

Located in Downtown Miami Visit frostscience.org for tickets

1101 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33132

Here Comes Trouble

By John Hayden | Photo Credit: Michael Johns

A

re they sisters from different misters? Yes. Do they have a Twinning attitude? Most Definitely. Miss Bouvèé and Jennifer McClain are teaming up once again, this time for the aptly named show Double Trouble. South Florida’s most prominent performing partners are reunited for a show

by Robert Leleux at the Center for Spiritual Living. The show’s synopsis focuses on twin sisters, Mimi and Minnie Bouvèé, and they haven’t spoken in decades! “After years of success in show business as kids, one of them left to get married and the other to pursue the spotlight alone.

But life hasn’t been so perfect for Minnie Bouvèé as her career is now on the fritz. Likewise, her sister Mimi isn’t so happy in the burbs after all! The death of their overbearing and controlling stage mother has caused the two to reunite at long last. As the funeral events unfold, a trip down

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memory lane results in laughter, show stopping songs, and the spark of sizzling sisterhood. Maybe they are exactly what each other needs! Double the dose of fun, double the belting, double the fabulousness; Double Trouble!”

Miss Bouvèé talked with OutClique about Double Trouble and her constant collaborating with McClain, like real sisters but without the arguing and stealing of the other’s makeup. “Obviously Jennifer and I are not sisters in real life and in our cabaret act Boozy Belters we don’t sell it as such. This is a wonderful and charming new story told by two cabaret performers who are also theatrical veterans!

Jennifer and I are both known as cabaret artists in this town and afar. We count our blessings in that the audience who attends usually already knows us and loves us from

the cabaret scene. It then becomes our privilege to show them something different; in this case a theatrical story about two sisters told through comedy and song.”

McClain and Miss B are well known throughout South Florida and everytime they appear together, it’s a completely different show. Miss B says that’s thanks to their fans. “I think even the most scripted show on Broadway never gives the same show twice because no audience is the same twice. We as performers respond when and if you respond. This show definitely has room for ad libs (in the style of Carol Burnett) so I’m sure things will be born each night!”

Despite their long history as friends and performing partners, Miss B says it’s still a thrill each time they’re on

stage together. “I’ve made no secret that I am a McClainiac as they’re called. Jen is as kind as she is talented and passionate. There’s a scene in the show when I get to sit back and watch her have a solo moment and I am in the same awe as the audience. She could hold the audience for hours and hours if she wanted to. She’s a marvel and I’m just so glad I get to share a stage with her in this show!”

Up next: the big screen! “We both will be part of the full feature film Big Easy Queens filming this May in Fort Lauderdale and New Orleans, so I am very excited about that. The film will be out early next year! Additionally, we are very excited to share that this show is booked on a small summer tour! We will be taking this show to Chicago, Detroit, and Fire Island in the summer of 2022!” So catch them while they’re here!

Double Trouble runs February 24-26, 2022, at 8pm and February 27 at 5pm. All shows are at the Center for Spiritual Living, located at 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park, FL. For ticket information, go to MissBouvee.com.

The show

FEbruary 25 th at 8pm box office 954.344.5990 2855 Coral springs drive coral springs, fl 33065 www.thecentercs.com

Mardi Gras E D I T I O N

SATURDAY

26

FEBRUARY www.keystix.com

8.00 PM

Engelbert Humperdinck Chats With OutClique

By John Hayden

H

is voice is smooth as silk and sexier than anyone in today’s Top 40. And despite more than 60 years of performing, Engelbert Humperdinck is still at it and headed to South Florida.

He started his career singing Rat Pack hits and recently covered “Just The Way You Are” by Bruno Mars. In between, he’s produced a catalog of original material that his fans know by heart and sing along with at his shows.

“I’m so happy that people love my songs enough to join in with me,” Humperdinck told OutClique. “It’s amazing.”

Photo Credit: Greg Gorman

Through the decades, he became known as the King of Romance, and says singalongs at his show are an international occurrence.

“I’ll be in Russia, and people may not be able to speak English, but they do learn the songs phonetically and sing along.”

You don’t have to go to Moscow to sing with Engelbert.

He’s bringing his latest show to The Broward Center on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

“I’m looking forward to coming to Florida again. It’s always a pleasure. The audience is just fantastic.”

Singing along isn’t the artist’s only interaction with the audience. He doesn’t shy away from engaging with them in the middle of a show.

“It all depends on the audience. If someone says something, I do a bit of repartee. I will bring back a very good answer. Sometimes it’s of a humorous nature, which makes people laugh, which I enjoy.”

He also interacts with fans online and says despite decades on stage, he’s still willing to come back as long as the audience is there.

“Being on social media and being in touch with my audience, it seems they don’t want me to quit either.”

Engelbert didn’t go into details of the set list for the upcoming show, but says it’s a night fans will love.

“I’ve chosen material for my show that I hope people approve of. It seems to be getting good comments everywhere I go.”

Of course, being in South Florida during late winter isn’t bad either.

“It’s very real. They are very good audiences and I love coming to Florida. As long as I can do it, I’m gonna keep doing it.”

Tickets are on sale now and start at $45.

For more information on the show, tickets, and health and safety protocols, visit BrowardCenter.org.

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Rediscover the thrill of live music!

Join us IN PERSON, as we return to the concert hall in Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Key West MASTERWORKS V | APRIL 27-28, 2022

MASTERWORKS IV | MARCH 23-26, 2022 Mozart: Concerto for Two Pianos in E-flat Major, K. 365 Featuring Catherine Lan & Tao Lin, piano Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Opus 56, ¨Scotch¨

Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major,“Eroica” Copland: Clarinet Concerto Featuring David Shifrin, clarinet Bach: Triple concerto in a Minor

Rossini: The Italian Girl in Algiers Overture

SFSO GALA 2022 | FEBRUARY 16,, 2022 Broward Center for the Performing Arts Embark on a harmonious adventure of artistry and flavor, featuring an enchanting piano concert-in-the-round by Svetlana Smolina, along with a curated dinner, artfully paired with Sip Channé Wines.

RSVP and info. at southfloridasymphony.org/gala.

Concert Venues: Tennessee Williams Theatre Key West

The Parker Fort Lauderdale

Temple Israel of Greater miami

TICKETS ON SALE NOW 954.522.8445 | SOUTHFLORIDASYMPHONY.ORG *Dates and programming subject to change

Better Than Ever An Interview with Linda Eder

By Gregg Shapiro Photos Courtesy of Linda Eder

T

he word “diva” tends to be tossed around too casually these days. Therefore, when you hear someone who genuinely deserves the title, it’s that much more satisfying. After more than 30 years as a recording artist, Linda Eder has more than earned the right to be called a diva. Additionally, her Broadway and concert credits speak (or sing) for themselves.

Returning to live performance, accompanied by her legendary gay music director Billy Stritch, Eder is an entertainer of the highest order. Linda was kind enough to answer a few questions.

Gregg Shapiro: Linda, I’m always interested in the ways that performers stayed busy during the pandemic.

For instance, you taught private voice lessons via Skype, and you have also been making Tree of Life holiday ornaments. In addition to performing, you also express yourself through visual art. Do you remember when you first discovered that you had a talent for that?

Linda Eder: I actually was going to go into art right from the get-go as a kid because I was drawing from the time I was young. That was gonna be my career because I was so shy about singing. I never thought in a million years that I would do that. I was going to go to art school, but then I met a guy in choir who played piano. We started a duo and we started singing. Then one thing led into the other, and art became my side job [laughs].

GS: Your eponymous debut album was released 30 years ago. When you look back on that album now, how do you feel about it?

LE: It was probably the album that I was least good at. It was sort of R&B pop, which is really not my thing, but that’s what Frank (Wildhorn) was writing at that time. Beautiful melodies, but R&B is all about the licks and the groove and all that. That was definitely not my strength. I got better at it as I got older and matured. If I could have gone back and done that album again, I think I would have made it much better. My voice was this very Broadway voice trying to do pop R&B. I would say, not the album I was most comfortable with.

GS: In April 2022, you’re going to be doing a show here in South Florida. In your experience, would you say that South Florida audiences are different from those in other parts of the country? If so, in what ways?

LE: I’ve always had a strong following there, so it’s fun.

I usually come there in the wintertime.

GS: In 2005, you released your By Myself: The Songs of Judy Garland album and, as you mentioned, you’ve been performing your Judy Garland show on this current concert tour. What is it about those songs that make them meaningful to you?

LE: They’re just great songs. You can always tell when you start into a song, there’s just something about it.

It’s a mystery. I understand songwriting because I write a bit myself, and obviously, I was with Frank (Wildhorn) for so many years, and all these different writers and singing material, you learn a lot about songwriting. A good songwriter can sit down every day of the week and write a good song, but to write that classic, great song, that’s a little bit of magic that happens. It’s just something that comes out of nowhere. If people knew how to do it in a formula, they would be doing it all the time, and nobody does. None of the best writers in the world can do that. It’s just magic that happens. They become standards for a reason. They were touched by that little bit of magic. Of course, Judy Garland sang a lot of those, and then she brought her own magic to it.

She’s always been that huge influence on me. As a kid, my influences were Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, and Eileen Farrell. Those three ladies shaped my voice because you sing what you like. You can’t help but sing what you like, and if that’s what’s in your head that’s how you come out. I become more myself with every passing year. I’m actually more musical now than I’ve ever been. You get older and your voice isn’t quite the same. Things change over time with your physical voice, but my musicality continues to grow and develop.

Sure, with all those foundations but then with my own feelings and my own personality and my own innate musicality coming through. So that all of me is into the song, not just the influence of those three people anymore. Garland is a huge influence. You can just feel

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it the minute I launch into a song. People associate with her, they associate with the song, and they associate with her life because we all knew it, so it adds so much more to the song, and the drama and tragedy of her life in many ways.

GS: Judy had a sizable gay following which is something

what it is, but I guess it has something to do with just the challenges. We all know there are challenges to being gay that come innately with it because of the way the world is. I think, similar to Judy’s life of highs and lows and the emotional things because of that, I think maybe there’s something of that in there.

GS: Have you ever come across or heard about a drag

that you have in common with her. What do you think about that parallel?

queen doing one of your songs as part of their act?

LE: My standard line, which I’ve said my entire life

LE: Oh God, yeah! I know there’s one called Better

because I’ve been asked this question many times, is that I don’t know, but I know that doing the kind of music that I’m doing, if I didn’t have a large gay following, then I’d be doing something wrong [laughs]. I don’t know

Than Eder. I want to see Better Than Eder, maybe during Jekyll & Hyde. We happened to be in the city where she was playing. I know I have several people who do my act.

Eder will perform in Palm Beach Gardens at The Eissey Theatre on April 2, 2022.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit PalmBeachState.edu or call (561) 207-5900.

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march 29

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at 7:30pm

box office 954.344.5990 2855 Coral springs drive coral springs, fl 33065 www.thecentercs.com