SGN May 1, 2015 - Section 2

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Seattle Gay News

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Issue 18, Volume 43, May 1, 2015

Monsoon season took over Cinerama at the world premiere of Drag Becomes Him

Local party promoter Kirk Calvo sees nightlife as a way to effect positive change

Jinkx Monsoon – dragofficialnews.com

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor DRAG BECOMES HIM CINERAMA April 29 Wednesday night in Seattle was all about Jinkx Monsoon; a drag queen who a little over three years ago nobody had really ever heard of before. Cinerama was filled to capacity for the world premiere of Drag Becomes Him, a documentary film about the life and times of Jinkx Monsoon and the man behind the drag persona, Jerick Hoffer. The film is directed by Seattle filmmak-

er Alex Berry, who shot a series of intimate videos showing the process that Jerick goes through to become Jinkx Monsoon – one of the world’s most beloved drag queens. Dual Power Productions is a Seattle-based entertainment company whose previous feature length productions include Heart Breaks Open and R/Evolve, both screened at film festivals around the world. Basil Shadid, co-creator of Dual Power Productions, took Berry’s footage of Jinkx and wove it together making it into a feature length film that the world – and especially Seattle – is dying to see. Seattle drag queen Mama Tits, who see Jinkx page 15

2015 Translations Film Festival preview – an interview with Jason Plourde and Sam Berliner

GameFace – courtesy of Three Dollar Bill Cinema

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer THREE DOLLAR BILL CINEMA TRANSLATIONS FILM FESTIVAL May 3 & May 7-10 It’s hard to believe the Translations Film Festival is celebrating their tenth anniversary. I remember being there in year two, sitting in a little room with now Three Dollar Bill Cinema Executive Director Jason Plourde and a handful of others, discussing what types of films should be screened and how we imagined this festival would grow over time. It was exhilarating, and I

don’t think in any of our wildest dreams we could have imagined a weekend celebration of Transgender-themed cinema would end up being as popular and exciting for Seattle audiences as it has happily proven to be. “It’s hard to believe how quickly ten years has gone by,” says Plourde wistfully. “When Cresdan Maite, who was working at Three Dollar Bill Cinema at the time, decided to make a Transgender film festival happen as part of the Gender Odyssey conference we weren’t sure if we could make it last past one year. The amount of films we had to choose from was slim, and

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see translations page 8

Kirk Calvo – Photo courtesy of Robert Roth/Jetspace

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Chances are if you frequent the Seattle Eagle (314 E. Pike) you already know who Kirk Calvo is. He’s the young promoter everyone is talking about lately. And people are talking for good reason. His monthly parties – AREA 2181 “Seattle’s premiere cruising party for men who fuck men” and Black Friday Reloaded, a leather/kink party – harken back to a time where Gay men didn’t rely on a mobile app to hookup, “self-

ies” weren’t a thing, and the hanky code reigned supreme. In a business where numbers prove your worth (bar sales/asses on the dance floor), Calvo is about as worthy as they come. “I was born and raised in the Chicagoland area,” Calvo told Seattle Gay News. “I’ve been out as Gay since the ripe old age of 13. The first person I came out to was my mom who is my best friend in the world. From there, I gradually came out to the rest see Calvo page 5

Whiskey and cornflakes by Paul Torres SGN A&E Writer ANGRY HOUSEWIVES ARTSWEST Through May 24 Over 30 years ago, Angry Housewives rattled across the stage at the now defunct Pioneer Square Theater. In those days, Seattle was a town much closer to its essence of pavement and punk than it is these days. The punk grime has now washed away to a more palatable, but respectable, rock scene. In those days, practically ramshackle buildings were venues for entertainment. Steely high rises now replace them. In spite of modern changes, this production brings us back to that era. 30 years on, with the return of Angry Housewives to the ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery, the urgency of those days is still relevant without sappy nostalgia. This unpolished gem rips and roars with attitude and authenticity. Feminist values scream true in this production, especially when modern issues like wage equality are at the forefront of our cultural conversation. It also explores the bonds of friendship and love. Angry Housewives is about four women who break free from their mundane lives and challenging relationships to form a one-night only punk rock band to win much needed cash in a band contest at a club called Lewd Fingers.

March May13, 1, 2015

Janet McWilliams, Chelsea LeValley,Ann Cornelis & Heather Hawkins as Angry Housewives – photo by Michael Brunk

The leads played by Anne Cornelius (Carol), Heather Hawkins (Bev), Chelsea LeValley (Jetta), and Janet McWilliams (Wendi) are a perfect cast. The quartet tries to find their voice in a world where the males (husband, boyfriend, son, and ex) in their lives are either dominating or overwhelming. In the raucous “Generic Woman” number, Carol finds her stride with confidence, singing “I’m a major brand caught in a plain brown wrapper.” Ann Cornelius brings this character alive. We all know and love a woman see Housewives page 6

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