Seattle Gay News
Issue 17, Volume 46, April 27, 2018
Arts & Entertainment
ArtsWest’s An Octoroon a timely and brilliant commentary on race in America
Heather Persinger and Lamar Legend in An Octoroon – Photo by John McLellan
by Paul Torres SGN Contributing Writer AN OCTOROON ARTSWEST Through May 13 Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ melodramatic An Octoroon is a risky production. Frankly, I was a bit surprised that the Seattle audience stayed after its intermission, but then I was pleased to be a part
of a community of people who aren’t afraid to view some controversial art. However, listening to their comments during the intermission was a mind-bending experience. “It’s so topical” was one comment that stood out. As if a play about America’s racial issues are simply a “current topic” even though this play is based on The Octoroon written by Irish playwright Dion Boucicault and originally produced in 1859. Now, in 2018, the themes still frustratingly resonate
see AN OCTOROON page 5
Magical ASL Midsummer Night’s Dream is a massive and beautiful effort
ASL Midsummer Night's Dream – Photo by Ken Holmes
by Miryam Gordon SGN A&E Writer ASL MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM SOUND THEATRE COMPANY (AT 12TH AVENUE ARTS) Through May 12
Our city owes Sound Theatre Company a huge THANK YOU for taking on and mastering this special effort to translate Shakespeare into ASL and make an inclusive ASL+spoken event! If you know anyone from 6 to 96 who is hearing impaired
see ASL MIDSUMMER page 4
Translations: Seattle Transgender Film Festival returns May 3-12
Man Made – Photo courtesy of Translations Film Fest
Translations: Seattle Transgender Film Festival, the world’s largest Transgender film festival, is back and ready to navigate a threatening political climate, build community, and encourage fun. Now in its 13th year, Translations explores stories of transgender people from around the world to reaffirm that they are not alone, that they are beautiful, and that they deserve love and respect. The festival spans two weekends from Thursday, May 3 to Saturday, May 12, with 50 films from 15 different countries including Kenya, Japan, Brazil, Ukraine and the
Netherlands, continuing as the largest transgender film festival in the world! During the festival there will also be several fun non-film events as well, including performances of THE MISSING GENERATION by Sean Dorsey Dance presented by Translations and Velocity Dance May 3-6, two DANCE WORKSHOPS May 2 & May 5 lead by Sean Dorsey Dance, an ALL BODIES & ALL GENDERS SWIM May 6, a SPEED FRIENDING event May 7, an EL
see TRANSLATIONS page 7
Sean Dorsey Dance’s The Missing Generation at Velocity Dance Center plus open dance workshops
The Missing Generation by Sean Dorsey Dance – Photo by Lydia Daniller
SEAN DORSEY DANCE THE MISSING GENERATION VELOCITY DANCE CENTER May 3-6 @ 7:30pm In partnership with Three Dollar Bill Cinema’s Translations: Seattle Transgender Film Festival, Velocity presents Sean
Dorsey Dance’s The Missing Generation. The Missing Generation is a dance-theater work giving voice to longtime survivors of the early AIDS epidemic. It is “a love letter to a forgotten generation of survivors – those who witnessed and experienced
see SEAN DORSEY page 5