SGN July 3, 2015 - Section 2

Seattle Gay News

Issue 27, Volume 43, July 3, 2015

Arts & Entertainment GREASE – An interview with Sarah Rose Davis

Wizzer Pizzer: Getting Over the Rainbow

An interview with Amy Wheeler

by Miryam Gordon SGN A&E Writer WIZZER PIZZER: GETTING OVER THE RAINBOW THEATRE22 (AT 12TH AVE ARTS) July 10-August 1

(left to right) Kirsten deLohr Helland as Rizzo, Saxton Jay as Kenicke, Solea Pfeiffer as Sandy Dumbrowski, Bryan Gula as Danny Zuko, and Sarah Rose Davis as Frenchie – photo by Mark Kitaoka

by Eric Andrews-Katz SGN A&E Writer GREASE THE 5TH AVENUE THEATRE July 9-August 2 Without a doubt GREASE is perhaps the best known musical in the United States.

Even if you are too young to have been born when the successful musical was turned into a blockbuster film, Grease’s legacy continues to captivate and entertain. The 5th Avenue’s new production of the classic musical explodes on stage bringing entertainment during these warm “Summer Nights.” The Seattle Gay News caught up see DAVIS page 11

What’s hot for July stage openings

by Miryam Gordon SGN A&E Writer July means the start of the Outdoor Theater productions in various parks (see information below). Some big musicals amp the summer fun as Taproot does Godspell and The 5th Avenue does Grease! Also, there are several ethnicities heard from with SiS Productions, ACT Theatre and Pratidhwani presenting work, and more diversity as Sound Theatre Company partners with Brownbox Theatre.

Godspell, Taproot, July 8-August 15.

The popular Stephen Schwartz musical that uses a playground and a troupe of loving hippy types to recreate the story of Jesus. Whether you are a Christian or not, the songs in this musical will move you and fill your spirit. Taproot sets this in Seattle’s Public Market. http://taproottheatre.org/godspell/ Wicked, The Paramount Theatre, July 8-August 2.

Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the Land of Oz. One – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious

A locally written play will open next weekend, produced by Theatre22, a newer company that has already created a track record of solidly mounted and well-chosen stage plays. This outing, they’ve chose Amy Wheeler’s oddly titled play Wizzer Pizzer: Getting Over the Rainbow.

Amy lives on Whidbey Island where she is the executive director of the famous writing retreat Hedgebrook. She wants everyone to know that, “Whidbey Island now has its own fabulous Queer Pride Parade that’s happening on Sunday, August 2nd at 2:00 p.m. in Langley. More information is at queerparade.com and we’d love for Seattleites to come out and celebrate with us.”

Amy has written a solid handful of plays that have been done in prestigious loca-

Peanutty Goodness, Theater Schmeater (workshop production), July 9-27.

Scott Warrender presents his new musical, as he develops it further, and plays the piano for the performances. A collection of seven unlikely characters, including a photocopy boy with a peanut allergy, a loveable CEO douchebag, and a failed actress beleasee JULY STAGE page 11

tions such as Portland Center Stage, Bay Area Playwrights Festival and Greenwich Street Theatre in New York. Her first play, see WHEELER page 8

WICKED – An interview

with Michael DeVries

delivers musical entertainment by one of America’s most celebrated composer/lyricist, Stephen Schwartz. As WICKED once again gets ready to cast its spell over the Emerald City, the Seattle Gay News talks to Michael DeVries, who plays one of the leading roles, Dr. Dillamond.

and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good is the story of this acclaimed musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. http://www.stgpresents.org/tickets/alphabetical/eventdetail/1306/-/wicked Grease, The 5th Ave Theatre, July 9-August 2.

This iconic musical will send audiences cruisin’ through the days of ‘50s sock hops and drive-ins with an exuberant cast of Seattle’s favorite performers at The 5th Avenue Theatre this summer. Hand-jive through unforgettable songs like “Beauty School Dropout,” “Hopelessly Devoted,” “Greased Lightnin’,” and “You’re the One That I Want.” https://www.5thavenue.org/show/grease

Amy Wheeler – photo by Tom Marks

Michael DeVries – photo by Walter McBride

by Eric Andrews-Katz SGN A&E Writer WICKED PARAMOUNT THEATRE July 8-August 2 The blockbuster musical WICKED is one of those shows that consistently lives up to the name “Crowd Pleaser.” Celebrating its 11th year on Broadway, the musical

Eric Andrews-Katz: Who were your earliest influences as a performer?

Michael DeVries: I grew up listening to musical theater recordings on a hifi, so I grew up on the classics: Camelot, My Fair Lady, and Man of La Mancha. It wasn’t people [in the field] as much as the genre. I got carried away by the magic of musical theater. Most of that happened before I even saw a show. The composers are, I guess, what drew me into them; Lerner and Loewe, Rodgers and Hammerstein…

I never really considered musicals or even theater as a career until I got to college. I got into a singing group and realized that’s what I wanted to do. The first performer that took my breath away was Luciano Pavarotti. I wanted to study the art of singing so I transferred to study opera. Pavarotti is a “once in a century” voice, as far as I’m concerned. I remember finding a record in a bin (vinyl, if you remember that), called “King of the High C’s.” I took it home and see devries page 7

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Verdi’s Don Carlos in German

by Rod Parke SGN A&E Writer

sound with apparent ease in all ranges. The great baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau acts and sings with intelligence and power. The VERDI’S DON CARLOS “bromance” between his Rodrigo and CarDEUTSCHE OPER BERLIN los is under-played but realistic.

DVD & video Mezzo Patricia Johnson, stepping in at the last moment to replace an ailing Mignon What stands between this fine perfor- Dunn, is a fine Princess Eboli, equally efmance of one of Verdi’s greatest operas and fective in both her very different and defull enjoyment of the show? Two things: one cultural and the other technical. First, Verdi sung in German is difficult to overcome.

Accents in the musical line fall in different places from the same lines sung in the original Italian, and not all the singers here succeed in making the German words flow in a smooth legato line.

Second, the terrible synchronization of sound and sight is so maddening that it destroys one’s concentration on the performance. Even though I believe the singers are indeed singing on-camera, the on-again, off-again synch makes it appear that they are lip-synching to a pre-recorded sound track. Only devoted opera lovers can understand how upsetting having to watch an opera that appears lip-synched can be. Put simply, it destroys the visceral element of identifying with the singer’s process of producing his/her sound. Many opera lovers participate, perhaps unconsciously, in the mystery of a great singer’s power to make such expressive and/or beautiful sound. manding arias. Bass Josef Greindl, as King When a singer looks like they aren’t actually Philipp II, is a little past his prime and only doing that, it breaks the spell. occasionally manages a legato. His tone is With those two caveats aside, this disc of dry, and he loses his last high note in his Verdi’s Don Carlos presents a terrific cast great aria, but his acting is strong if very of the period (1965). It’s from the Deutsche old-school. Bass Martti Talvela handles the Oper Berlin. In the title role is tenor James great role of the Grand Inquisitor with terKing, a flawless singer with an attractive, rific power both through his excellent acting masculine tone. His acting is okay for its and his magnificent voice. time, if less than moving. Pilar Lorengar is Sets in this black and white television a fine Elizabeth, able to pour out her lovely video are simple but adequate. Director

Gustav Rudolf Sellner guides the action with natural blocking, and conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch paces it all effectively. The mono sound is quite good, with good balances and no distortion. The production omits the opening forest scene, in which Carlos and Elizabeth proclaim their love, as well as the final action (both seen in Seattle Opera’s productions), which sees Carlos being saved (?) by the ghost of the previous king. The version on this disc has Carlos being turned over to the Grand Inquisitor and King Philipp II, who will put him to death.

Verdi actually wrote two versions of this opera, the first in French for Paris, and the second in Italian. Tenor Vinson Cole (Carlos in Seattle’s wonderful production of the French version) said the two versions are so different in their demands on the tenor that he would not even think of performing the Italian version, and that the French suited his strengths far better. I grew up with the Italian Don Carlo, as performed by the old Met, but was quickly converted to preferring the French when Seattle Opera mounted it. This German adaptation did not win me at all.

The best video of the French Don Carlos is from the Théâtre du Châtelet, with Roberto Alagna (in excellent voice), Thomas Hampson, Karita Mattila, José van Dam and Waltraud Meier, all under the great conductor Antonio Pappano. The only weaknesses are van Dam’s Philip II (a little past his prime and lacking vocal power) and Meier’s first aria, for which she is totally unsuited. Her later “O don fatal” is terrific.

This disc is a 2003 release, but the video is from about five years earlier.

Reviewer Rod Parke can be reached at rmp62@columbia.edu .

Can excellent soloists save the show?

by Rod Parke SGN A&E Writer

VERDI’S MESSA DA REQUIEM SYMPHONICA TOSCANINI CORO DEL MAGGIO MUSICALE FIORENTINO BLU-RAY The four-minute, thirty-second intro to this Blu-ray disc reveals lovely shots of Venice, with a very bored-looking Lorin Maazel walking toward the Basilica di San Marco, Venice, where he is going to conduct a 2007 performance of Verdi’s super-dramatic Messa da Requiem.

Unfortunately, that bored look continues to describe the conductor’s manner through most of the performance.

If you know this great work, you’d be amazed at just how slow and uninspired this rendition seems. I’ve known Maazel for excitement and brisk tempi, especially when he conducted the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra at Benaroya Hall in a 2003 performance of Brahms’ first symphony. That event was so dramatic and alive that I called it “shocking Brahms.” So what happened to make Maazel seem to sabotage this Verdi work?

The cathedral acoustic of San Marco might have made Maazel feel the need for such slow tempi. But I can find no excuse for the absence of passion. Certainly the youth-

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ful Symphonica Toscanini seemed more than adequate. Fortunately, the quartet of soloists often brought feeling to their singing, almost redeeming the show.

Especially impressive were young Russian mezzo-soprano Anna Smirnova and Polish bass Rafał Siwek. Smirnova’s full-

Russian-type bass, making his “Mors stupebit” appropriately frightening. Soprano Norma Fantini warmed up to a fine “Libera me,” sometimes managing to float soft high notes. Only tenor Francesco Meli was substandard, possessing all the notes but lacking any special musicality or expression. He was just there, doing a job, despite the gorgeous music Verdi gave the tenor.

The Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino sang with commitment, but the engineers failed to achieve a good balance between chorus and orchestra.

Especially in the “Dies irae,” orchestral details were overwhelmed by the chorus, and the bass drum was scarcely audible at the very moments when it should be making a dramatic statement. In general, dynamic range was limited. The DTSHD Master Audio track was superior to the PCM stereo but failed to capture the acoustic of the Basilica di San Marco, other than when a brief reverb could be heard after sudden stops in the music.

Daniel Barenboim’s recent Blu-ray of this work yields much of the passion missing in this recording with superior sound. My favorite video, despite its age, is the von Karajan disc with an unequaled quartet of soloists.

bodied voice brought power and warmth as well as perfect legato to her dramatic Reviewer Rod Parke can be reached at reading. Handsome Rafał Siwek sang rmp62@columbia.edu. with concentration and a most attractive

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Georgia Ragsdale’s mostly-comic memoir, Follow You Everywhere, was the hit of the weekend

by Miryam Gordon SGN A&E Writer

FOLLOW YOU EVERYWHERE – A MEMOIR: GROWING UP AND COMING OUT IN TEXAS 12TH AVENUE ARTS Pride Weekend The memoir production, Follow You Everywhere – A Memoir: Growing Up and Coming Out in Texas, written and performed by Georgia Ragsdale about her youth in suburban Houston, Texas, was the hit of the weekend for those who attended.

Naturally funny, Georgia created a mostlycomic overview of her start in life, through her parents’ “coming in” (Georgia didn’t “come out” because high school kids told their parents and their parents told her parents and they came to her), to becoming a successful stand-up comedian.

The title comes from her desperately dismayed father telling her, when he found out she was Gay, that her sexual orientation would “follow you everywhere” and basically destroy her life. But before that, life was pretty funny, particularly with a mother who could talk to anyone and make jokes with aplomb. Georgia showed, in the play, how she would follow her mother around and watch to see how her mother delivered her repartee. Georgia then strove to follow suit.

But the entire evening has to start at the

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continued from cover listened to it, letting it transport me with an incredible experience.

Andrews-Katz: You originally came to the University of Washington to get a music degree. What do you play, and how did you move to acting?

DeVries: I don’t play anything, really. I applied as a vocal performance major. My first audition was for the School of Music at the University of Washington, and it didn’t go so well. I wasn’t accepted. I was fortunate enough to be in a couple of the main stage productions there. I also did the Civic Light Opera, doing Gilbert and Sullivan.

The thing that changed me from an operatic hopeful to a musical theater performer was my first professional job at the Santé Fe Opera Company. I spent the summer doing ensemble work for their season. I realized I just didn’t like opera. When I worked there, it was more about the voice than the dramatic pieces. I made the transition to musical theater in 1982 and have been doing it ever since.

Andrews-Katz: CATS marked your Broadway debut. How did you audition for that? Do you sing? Dance? Play with a ball of yarn?

DeVries: I was in the ensemble – a booth singer. That’s someone that sings in a booth to enhance the voices on stage. This was all in the days before faxes and computers.

These days they email you the list of songs to be familiar with, but then you brought in your best 16 bars and sang the Hell out of it, hoping they liked it. I was hired mostly

beginning: impregnation! A very funny little dance, performed by ensemble players Lodi McClellan, Lisa Ravenholt, Jack Lush and Eric Pitsenbarger, includes a silvery disk, clearly meant to be an ovum, and little arrow-looking spermies trying to get inside.

Georgia narrates throughout as short dances, songs from the 1960s and 1970s, and short slide shows of family photos show that her mother earned her comparison to Jackie Kennedy, and Georgia was a cute little girl who went through the same awkward periods most of us did, especially with hair.

Georgia and her crew don’t present as “natural” dancers, mostly, and the staging has a rough-hewn feeling about it, but there is something heart-warming about the not-quite-perfectly-executed routines. It’s slightly more akin to a “let’s put on a show about Georgia’s family” spontaneous event than a polished theatrical presentation.

Instead of a negative, it adds a comic feeling. The performers are clearly having fun, which translates to the audience.

The comic touches, like astro turf and shag carpet flooring, and silly wigs, make for a lot of visual jokes to see. Costuming also is key to the overall retro-ness.

The first act does get a bit somber, as the “outing” and the family drama and upset are portrayed in the serious vein that happened, but in the second act, Georgia appears and announces it’s years later and she is now in her stand-up comic mode. Then we get to experience why she had a seriously success-

ful stand-up career.

It’s a cross between what she did historically and whatever current riff she takes off on in front of the audience she has at the moment.

I don’t think it’s known what will come next for this production, but it’s eminently tourable, and if she does do so, she’ll likely find all kinds of ready audiences waiting to share her fun journey!

as a singer, but the role I covered wasn’t a dancing role. I didn’t have to dance much in CATS. Andrews-Katz: What was it like to work with the incomparable Tommy Tune in Grand Hotel?

DeVries: I was blown away! He is a genius. I sat in rehearsals and watch this man go through the opening sequence that introduces the characters over and over again.

Tommy Tune would go through [trying] the process 15 or 20 different ways. After the 20th time he’d say, “OK. We are going back to the third way we did it,” and he could keep the differences in his mind and knew which one was which number. It was magnificent what he could do with a stage picture. I worked on Grand Hotel very early on in Boston, and in pre-Broadway in New York. It was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever been through.

Andrews-Katz: Grand Hotel was a darker themed musical. What are some of the darker themes explored?

DeVries: It’s about dreams and dreams deferred, and how dreams can lead you down the wrong path. I think the character “Flenchen,” and of her dream of being a Hollywood actress and what she sacrifices for that dream. You see “Soushenstyle,” the ballerina, and her Lesbian assistant dealing with the unrequited love she has for the ballerina, and what she sacrifices for that. It is really a dark but fascinating musical.

Andrews-Katz: There are several theories that WICKED is an allegory. Do you think it is, and if so, what is it an allegory for?

DeVries: It’s not something I’ve ever

contemplated. I have no answer to that. I know that the original books, The Wizard of Oz, were supposedly allegories written in response to the economic times that L. Frank Baum lived in. It’s supposedly a commentary on consumerism as well. I don’t understand all of those allegories, but I know they’ve been connected to the books.

It terms of an allegory of WICKED, I’ll have to keep my eyes open and see.

Andrews-Katz: What is it about WICKED that resonates with people so well?

DeVries: I think it’s the storytelling. It’s so wonderful. It touches people in a way that lingers because it is about the underdog. It’s about disenfranchised people finding their place in the world. We’ve all felt disenfranchised, or discriminated against at some point in our lives. The marketing tends to be towards young girls in pre-teens/early teens, and it’s about friendship. I look at the two witches and their journey from enemies to best friends. How they are willing to give up their lives for each other. It’s that journey that is universal. I think anyone who has had a friend has gone through a period like that where you’ve had a rough spot and eventually became something else. It touches people in very elemental ways and does it with so much humor and heart. I find myself affected by the show still, even after 10 years. It’s been a great journey being associated with the show for so long. I think that’s a big part of what WICKED brings to the audiences.

Andrews-Katz: What is the most challenging thing about working on WICKED? DeVries: The role I have now is Dr. Dillamond, and it’s a wonderfully fulfilling role. I have to say I’m only on stage for 18

minutes, so there’s not a lot of bad things that can happen. [Knocks on wood.] I did the ensemble for nine years and the most challenging thing is that we performed on a raked/angled stage – it’s higher in the back than in the front so the audiences can see everything better. Then there are the demands on your time and that’s kind of difficult. There are times you’re rehearsing two or three times a week during the day only to perform in the show during the evening.

It’s your job and you do it, eventually getting used to it, but it’s a challenge. As Dr. Dillamond, I don’t have those demands and it makes being on the road a real pleasure.

Andrews-Katz: If you could play any role regardless of limitations or restrictions, what would it be and why?

DeVries: Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady is a role I always wanted to play. He is such a wonderful combination of human being and curmudgeon. It’s a great role. The role I would love to play – if I was a woman – would be “Lizzie” in the musical 110 in the Shade. The song “Is It Really Me” tears my heart out. It’s just a brilliant piece of music and I think her journey is just magnificent.

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Georgia Ragsdale – photo by Jennifer Tucker

WICKED the musical is based on Gregory Maguire’s best selling novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. After a tryout in San Francisco, the musical opened on Broadway more than a decade ago where it continues to play to sold-out houses.

wheeler

continued from cover Intersection, was turned into a short film! In addition, she’s taught at local schools like Cornish and Freehold.

The description in the press release about Wizzer Pizzer says, “Somewhere over the rainbow, gays are checking themselves into Dr. Marvel’s Reparative Therapy Clinic, where an ex-gay, ex-lesbian couple teach them to be born again straight.” The play draws heavily on The Wizard of Oz.

Wizard of Oz is a myth coursing through the Gay culture from my earliest consciousness.

We identify with this search for somewhere we can belong and for home. We create family along the way, which I think Dorothy is doing.

“And there’s all the iconography with the rainbow… it’s so much a part of the culture anyway. When I was writing the play I was aware of how often some version of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ would come on the radio, or someone would reference the Yellow Brick Road in a conversation.

Rehearsal by the cast of Wizzer Pizzer – courtesy of Theatre22 (Devin Bannon)

Rehearsal by the cast of Wizzer Pizzer – courtesy of Theatre22 (Devin Bannon)

In an interview with SGN, Amy de“Years ago, I remember my mom asking scribes what made her think of The Wizard me why the rainbow was the symbol for Gay of Oz and link the story to that icon. She pride. I told her it’s a symbol that the comsays, “I often also work from myth. The munity uses to identify each other or Gay-

friendly businesses. That was a surprise to her at the time.

“I grew up in Oklahoma and didn’t come out till adulthood. (I explained that) the story created a safe space for us to recognize each other and find a safe way to connect.”

Amy describes the thematic substance of the plays she writes, and how this one began for her. ”I’m always dealing with issues that I think are relevant and that I see going on in the culture. I’m Gay and that’s a lens that I see everything through and experience life through. A lot of my plays do deal with sexual and gender identity. We’re living in such an interesting time when that’s evolving so quickly.

“It doesn’t mean all my plays are about gender and sexuality, but identity and diversity are always a part of it. It’s so important as theater artists that we deal with the intersectionality of identity. Race and class, gender identity… it feels important to me to be approaching that, paying attention to the complexity of what it means to be human in the 21st Century.

the ‘Emerald City’ and it’s my home. Producing it with Theatre22, we’re in such a different (historic) space (than when I first wrote it) – we have marriage equality and even President Obama has said we should do away with reparative therapy. But homophobia still exists in a lot of places in this country. On Capitol Hill (Seattle), people are still being attacked for being Gay. “When change starts to happen, the forces against that change become even more virulent and violent. It’s because we’re evolving and entering a new time of equality and acceptance and love. But just because we can now get married, it doesn’t mean that homophobia goes away.”

Amy is very excited working with Theatre22! “They’re a dream to work with and are such a gift to this community. They produce a play every year celebrating Pride.

They made a special point of having more plays by women. Half of their season is by women. It’s a fantastic cast, including Eric Mulholland, who I’ve been able to work with, and there is a depth to his perfor-

Rehearsal by the cast of Wizzer Pizzer – courtesy of Theatre22 (Devin Bannon)

“Very often plays come to me in a dream state, so I started with an image with a guy in drag performing ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and having it go terribly wrong.

The journey of the play became the reverse Dorothy story – became Dorothy’s journey in surprising ways.

“Wizzer Pizzer deals with the dark night of the soul in one guy’s life but humor opens it up to allow me to skewer different perspectives where I see homophobia in the culture. I can use humor to make it dynamic.”

And how does the play reflect current reality? Amy says, “I’ve always wanted this play to be produced in Seattle, because it’s

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mance because the character is in his bones.

I’ve been wanting to work with Rhonda Soikowski and Alyssa Keene for years.

“They are so passionate, this company.

They very much want to realize my vision of what’s on the page. That’s a gift to the playwright. To have talented skilled people bring it to life, so I’m absolutely thrilled with it.”

More information and tickets can be found at http://www.theatre22.org/currentseason/wizzer-pizzer.php. Pay-what-youcan preview Thursday July 9, 2014, 8:00 p.m., continues July 10-August 1 at 12th Avenue Arts. Thursdays are pay-what-you-can.

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july stage continued from cover

guered by seagulls face their existential crises by ______ and _________. Come help fill in their blanks as you mad-lib with them to make a musical. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/1733136 The Two-Character Play, Civic Rep at New City Theater, July 10-August 1.

Tennessee Williams set this darkly comic play in a theatre, following the journey of Clare and Felice, sibling actors with a questionable grasp on reality. On the day of a performance, they find themselves abandoned by their theatre troupe and forced to perform in front of a hostile audience. As they get lost in the performance, they begin to rewrite the script in an attempt to face their demons and make sense of their lives. h t t p s : // w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / events/1584659188462762/

Smitty and Miles, West of Lenin, July 10-11.

Matt Smith and Pattie Miles are a sketch duo improvising the day-to-day journey of a married couple and their guests (audience volunteers). After their strong, sold out debut in April, West of Lenin is extremely excited to have them return (in July and August). http://www.smittyandmilesareback. brownpapertickets.com/ Wizzer Pizzer: Getting Over the Rainbow, Theatre22, July 10-August 1 (at 12th Ave Arts).

Somewhere over the rainbow Gays are checking themselves into Dr. Nora’s Reparative Therapy Clinic, where an ex-Gay, ex-Lesbian couple teach them to be born again straight. When Frankie finds love at the clinic with the poster girl for cured Lesbians, all Oz breaks loose. Wizzer Pizzer is a wild, outrageous, modern ride back out the Yellow Brick Road. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/907129

hearted band of pirates, naïve maidens, a gullible young man with a slavish devotion to duty, and a “properly-educated” major general! http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/1557739 ...and Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi, Sound Theatre Company in co-production with Brownbox Theatre, July 16-August 2 (at Seattle Center Armory).

Here is a poetic retelling of the myth of Demeter and Persephone set during the Civil War and narrated by the Mississippi River. Having run away from a plantation, a father searching for his daughter is murdered and resurrected in the fertile, wartorn landscape of Louisiana. Combines traditional storytelling, gospel music, and a wicked sense of humor to allow trees to preach, rivers to waltz, and Jesus to moonwalk. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/1321529 Sidewinders, Fantastic.Z Theatre Company, July 16-August 1 (at Richard Hugo House).

In this existential Transgender wild western, Dakota and Bailey find themselves stranded in a strange barren land.

While Dakota worries about how the two get home, Bailey is more concerned with the matter of their sexual identity. The two discover that true love does not come from your genitalia, but from your heart. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/1622851

unborn heir. http://theatrebattery.strangertickets. com/ Hold These Truths, ACT Theatre, July 17-August 16.

This is a powerful, tightly scripted play

by Jeanne Sakata, and a must-see event about local hero, Japanese internment refuser George Hirobayashi. Gordon agonizes over U.S. Government orders to forcibly remove and mass incarcerate all people of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast during WWII and refuses, politely, to comply. http://www.acttheatre.org/Tickets/OnStage/HoldTheseTruths2015 Short Shorts (an evening of comedy with SPC), Seattle Playwrights Circle with Phoenix Theatre, July 17-26.

Seven short plays in an evening of comedy by six local playwrights. http://shortshortswspc.brownpapertickets.com/ Dance Like a Man, Pratidhwani, July 24-August 9 (at ACT Theatre).

Aging Bharatnatyam dancers are focused on their daughter’s upcoming performance at a high-profile dance festival.

Daughter nervously awaits the meeting between her parents and the man she wishes to marry. Is the older generation always right? Is the younger generation always rebellious? Do we all become our parents? http://www.acttheatre.org/Tickets/OnStage/DanceLikeaMan

Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival, ALL DAY on both July 10 and 11 at Volunteer Park.

As You Like It and Henry IV, Part 1, Seattle Shakespeare Company/Wooden O (July 9-August 9) Hamlet (abridged) and The Tempest (abridged), Last Leaf Productions Much Ado About Nothing and The Two Noble Kinsmen (thought to be written by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher), Greenstage (July 10-August 15) The Lost Folio, Jet City Improv To Be or Not TV, Shakespeare NW For children: The Epic of Gilgamesh, Theater Schmeater The Journey of the Bell: Tales of Wonder & Adventure from Hans Christian Andersen, 14/48 Projects www.greenstage.org/sotf for a full schedule of events and links to companies.

Orpheus Descending, Intiman – The Williams Project, July 10-August 2 (at 12th Ave Arts).

A 1957 play by Tennessee Williams is a modern retelling of the ancient Greek Orpheus legend and deals, in the most elemental fashion, with the power of passion, art, and imagination to redeem and revitalize life, giving it new meaning. The story is set in a dry goods store in a small Southern town marked, in the play, by conformity, sexual frustration, narrowness, and racism.

Into this scene steps Val, a young man with a guitar, a snakeskin jacket, a questionable past, and undeniable animal-erotic energy and appeal. http://www.intiman.org/orpheus-descending/ The Pirates of Penzance, Gilbert & Sullivan Society, July 7-25.

The Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s annual operetta tells the story of a kind-

A Maze, Theater Battery,July 16-August 1.

Presenting a kaleidoscope of interlocking stories of art, addiction, and celebrity, A Maze is a new mystery. It’s fragmented at first, allowing things not to make sense and trust that all will be revealed. Two rock stars struggle to regain their art after rehab, a young kidnapping victim finds her voice on a reality talk show, and the King and Queen of a distant fairy tale protect their

davis

classical or the contemporary and why?

Davis: I definitely prefer the contemporary. It’s more my sound and my niche and more my look. But I also enjoy doing the classics. It wasn’t until the last few years that I started to appreciate the classics, when I started taking more voice lessons.

My voice is defining itself more towards the classics now that I have the techniques. My go to is definitely contemporary. I knew I was going to enjoy Grease, even though I wasn’t familiar with the stage play. The play is right up my ally. It’s fun, like Hairspray.

Andrews-Katz: Do you think the musical theatre is leaning towards more cutting edge musicals, RENT/Spring Awakening, or the nostalgia types like A Christmas Story or An American in Paris?

Davis: The theatre is doing both. In order for the theatre to survive, new and cutting things need to happen. The more traditional shows need to happen because that’s where the money is. That’s what people want to see who don’t know anything about musical theatre. Bringing shows to different cities is what people have and what they become familiar with. But new shows need to happen as well.

Andrews-Katz: What is it about Grease that appeals to the mass audiences?

Davis: You mean besides the fact that it was a movie and reached a lot of people?

It’s about people that others (audiences) can relate to. The characters are representations of people we have gone to high school with, and people we were in high school. High school memories can be traumatic or wonderful and they bring in emotions. Plus the musical has catch, ‘50s nostalgic music.

Andrews-Katz: How do you relate to

your character Frenchy?

Davis: I love Frenchy! I like to wear makeup a lot, which goes with the theatre.

Having worked on the character I think about the fun clothes that I’m going to get to wear, which is all about Frenchy! It’s not that she’s shallow; it’s just that clothes are something that makes her thrive. As Sarah, I sort of express myself through clothes and imagine what I’m wearing for the fittings. She’s like a lot of high-schoolers in that she’s lost, and doesn’t know what to do in life. She keeps changing her hair to find the right look. She wants to go to beauty school, but then drops out. It’s hard to find your path in life especially in high school.

As for me, I didn’t go through that in high school. I knew what I wanted to do once I found theater at an early age.

Andrews-Katz: How did you forget the movie persona and make the character your own?

Davis: I have to say that I haven’t seen the movie in a long time. I watched it a ton as a kid, but I haven’t seen it since I got cast last summer. There will be homage to the voice of Frenchy (Didi Cohn in the film), because I think it’s really iconic for that role. I think a big part of it is not studying the movie. I try to explore in rehearsals and working with other people that you are playing with helps to inform and react to the other people around you.

Andrews-Katz: What happens to Frenchy after high school ends?

Davis: In our world, the last thing we hear about is that Frenchy got a job selling make-up at Woolworths. It’s probably not the only job she ever has. She goes on to find something else later, but stays in the worlds of beauty and fashion.

Andrews-Katz: If you could play any role regardless of any limitation, what would it be and why?

Davis: That’s a hard question. I wish I’d practiced that one. I’m sure it is some awesome man role that I can’t think of right now. I’m sitting here blank. I could say a dream role I would love to play is Louise in Gypsy. It’s one of my favorite musicals of all time. I grew up with it, watching it over and over. I thought the Bette Midler movie was great as a kid. I like the sisterly relationship between Louise and June. Another role I’d love is when they make a bio-pic of Barbra Streisand’s life.

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continued from cover with Sarah Rose Davis (playing Frenchy) in the new production. With several 5th Avenue productions to her credit (A Chorus Line, Jasper in Deadland), Ms. Davis is ready to get Greased!

Eric Andrews-Katz: Who were your earliest influences in becoming a performer?

Sarah Rose Davis: Definitely Bette Midler. I used to watch Gypsy (the Bette version) on VHS growing up. I watched The Sound of Music also. My dad would tape all the musicals that were on TV. Also, I’d have to say Barbra Streisand.

Andrews-Katz: What was the theatrical production that gave you the “theatre bug”?

Davis: Actually, I thought I had a different path. I wanted to be a recording artist and was in several choirs. I was in choirs that did their own productions, and it seemed that every group I was in was geared towards musical theater. I started to like theater from doing that.

Andrews-Katz: What challenges did you face working on a new musical like Jasper in Deadland?

Davis: You need to be willing to discover the character and to make crazy things up as you go along. You have to be willing to let things go when they get cut, because that’s how musicals work. You can’t hold on too tightly because it might get cut. You get over it knowing that it was best for the show and to understand that if something gets cuts, it’s for the better to tell the story.

Andrews-Katz: You have credits of both classical and contemporary musicals to your credits. Which do you prefer, the

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Is She Dead Yet?, Annex Theatre, July 31-August 22.

A brand new savage satire updates Euripides’ tragicomedy Alcestis – about a young wife who sacrifices herself to save her husband from death – into an absurd exploration of American whiteness. The young wife turns out to be the last black person on earth, and her sacrifice will render the planet entirely white! What? Written and directed by (local talent) Brandon J. Simmons.

Grease opened on Broadway February 14, 1972 to a series of mixed reviews. Nominated for seven Tony Awards, it won none but did bring a Theatre World (1972) Award to Adrienne Barbeau who originally played Betty Rizzo. The musical helped launch the careers of Barry Bostwick (Danny), Jeff Conaway (Danny understudy) as well as eventually helping out the career of Richard Gere (Danny) in the Original London Cast. The musical was about to end its run on the Great White Way when the 1978 film erupted starring John Travolta as Danny, Olivia Newton-John as Sandy, Stockard Channing as Rizzo and Jeff Conaway as Kenickie. Due to the huge success of the film, the play went on to become the Longest Running Broadway Show in America (running 3388 performances) until A Chorus Line beat the record a few years later.

A 1994 revival on Broadway starred Rosie O’Donnell (Rizzo), Sam Harris (Doody), Billy Porter (Teen Angel), Hunter Foster (Roger), and Megan Mullally (Marty). Another revival was launched in 2007.

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Celebrating 41 Years!

The Return of Chaos at Teatro ZinZanni Superheros of Seattle. Along with them is Kevin Hart, another familiar member of the troupe providing part hostess, part villainess and 100% fun to the audience. Joe de Paul returns to Teatro as Captain Canada.

His talent is comedy and he does it well. Using props or improvisation, there is a reason all of these people have returned to Teatro ZinZanni for the new show; they all do their jobs of entertaining us very well.

The executive chef Erik Carlson designed the menu for this production. The appetizer consisted of polenta presented in two ways, with tiny pyramids of sun-dried to-

by Eric Andrews-Katz SGN A&E Writer

quickly followed. The main course choices were the usual grilled salmon, braised beef ribs, or, of course, the vegetarian option.

(Not being a fan of ribs, I opted to pay a very small fee and have a fillet substituted instead. I was not disappointed). If you like alcohol with dinner, consider trying one of the many signature cocktails, or the wine flight – a variety of wines expertly chosen to enhance each course.

Teatro ZinZanni is a fun way to celebrate anything. Anniversaries, birthdays or just another night out, the evening is full of laughter, good food, and high enter-

Ensemble – photo by Michael Doucett

THE RETURN OF CHAOS TEATRO ZINZANNI Now playing The excitement of being under “The Big Tent” is a delight known to millions of people. Much fewer in number are the people that get to enjoy the goings-on under the big tent of Teatro ZinZanni. The magical combination of circus, acrobatics, and dinner has become a Seattle institution of magical delight and pure entertainment.

The story may be simplistic, but it’s always fun. This time it is “The Return of Chaos.” The “Superheroes of Seattle” (who

Joel Salom as Monoman – photo by Michael Doucett

all have common alter egos working at landmarks in the city) gather in a final effort to fight chaos, and keep gloom and doom from the city. Gloom and Doom are helpers to Chaos who wants to take over. It is a battle for the beer and to keep Seattle safe!

As one can expect from any circus-like performance, there is more than just sto-

rytelling. The performances are filled with aerial acrobatics, singers and jugglers. Their timing is impeccable whether they are scaling poles, balancing on one another, or juggling several items at a time.

Two of the jugglers are Mickael Bajazet and Joel Salom. These men use their exquisite and precise timing to keep several balls or juggling pins in the air. As a team they interact with one another, throwing and catching to each other with such incredible speed that it is difficult to keep the blurring whirl of pins in sight. Mr. Salom goes to the extreme of unbuttoning his jacket and letting his pants fall, all the while not ever stopping the incredible speed of his juggling.

Then, to take matters to the next level, he gets dressed again – without using his hands – still juggling, and without any assistance except for an audience member to reach through the thrown objects and button his coat. It is truly an amazing thing to see.

Vita Radionova returns to Teatro Zinzanni with great skill and dexterity. Ms. Radionova uses her slim body like a machine to consistently spin more than a dozen hoola-hoops at once. As the colorfully lit hoops are twirling off each wrist, her torso, and her waist, Ms. Radionova has the gall to stand on one foot and successfully elicit pure astonishment from the audience.

The “Duo Madrona” and Domitil Aillot are the aerial acrobats of this Teatro ZinZanni performance. Both have appeared before and consistently prove why their acts under the tent have become legendary. The duo consists of Ben Wendel and Rachel Nehmer. This is their eighth performance at Teatro. The team works with a hanging trapeze doing aerial acrobatics. They work off and with one another so well they move like a well-oiled machine producing wonder as each of them scales up the other’s body in turn. Their bodies interlock above the ground, hanging above the audience.

Domitil’s work is solo. Leaping onto the pole he scales up as easily as climbing an escalator. There are times where he is horizontally hanging off the pole as if a flag. It is truly astounding to see the ways he manipulates his body.

The singer for the night is Anki Albertsson who plays the superheroine, Sparkle Danger. Sporting a tight white outfit, she has lights sparkling in her huge white hair.

Starting off the night she sings “We Need A Hero,” not only belting out the song but also providing an anthem for the evening. Her voice is strong, clear and easily understood, reaching every corner under the tent.

Then, of course, as with any other circus, there are clowns. The comedians here are The Collins Brothers (playing Gloom and Doom). Using slapstick comedy they are minions to Chaos and are out to foil the

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Vita Radionova – photo by Michael Doucett

mato puree on top. The next course was the “beanie martini,” which was Mr. Carlson’s own version of a three-bean salad served in a martini glass. The actual salad for the evening was a blue-cheese wedge salad that

tainment. Sharing with its sister-company in San Francisco, the show rotates and is changed every three months or so to help keep everything fresh and exciting.

Domitil Aillot as The Space Needler – photo by Michael Doucett

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Mike still has plenty of magic

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer MAGIC MIKE XXL Now playing It’s been three years since Mike (Channing Tatum) hung up his thong, left the Kings of Tampa, and gave up life as a wellpaid male stripper to go into business for himself as a furniture designer. While the business is doing okay – not thriving, not bringing in big bucks, but well enough he can at least contemplate opening a retail storefront – that doesn’t mean he isn’t at a crossroads, something notable missing even if he can’t pinpoint exactly what that is.

All of which makes it perfect that the remaining Kings of Tampa have dropped into town on their way to the annual male stripper convention in Myrtle Beach, SC. Ken (Matt Bomer), Richie (Joe Manganiello), Tarzan (Kevin Nash), Tito (Adam Rodriguez) and Tobias (Gabriel Iglesias) find themselves cast adrift and on their own, so heading to the convention for one final ride only seems practical. Mike, eager for a few days off, takes their arrival as a sign, making up his mind to hit the road with them in order to re-solidify old friendships while also reigniting the creative spark within that’s been absent for longer than he’d care to admit.

There’s not a lot of actual plot in Magic Mike XXL, the sequel to 2012’s surprise summertime smash Magic Mike. The movie is a random excuse to get the band back together, jettisoning what some (not me) considered the weak links (actors Alex Pettyfer and Cody Horn) instead choosing to focus instead on the bro-centric camaraderie of the returning sextet to the exclusion of almost everything else. Returning screenwriter Reid Carolin and new director Gregory Jacobs (Wind Chill) don’t try to go above and beyond, but that doesn’t mean they still haven’t constructed something interesting, vital and most of all fun. Make no mistake, this is a good movie, and in all the ways that matter an even better sequel.

If anything, and go with me here, the movie is akin to an odd, hedonistic melding of Hal Ashby’s 1973 classic The Last Detail and Jack Kerouac’s landmark 1957 classic On the Road, a virtually plotless examination of self where the vignettes and what transpires during them is more important than the actual destination itself. There’s maybe 20 minutes of plot, and that’s stretching things, Carolin and Jacobs more interested in the people Mike and his group encounter on their way to Myrtle Beach than they are with anything analogous to narrative complexity.

And it works. It works because no one, especially Tatum, takes themselves too seriously, no matter how silly or over the top things become. It works, because the homoerotic underpinnings never devolve into

camp but are played with lucid, existential authenticity. It works, because the six guys at the center of all of this have magnificent chemistry, each playing off the other as if they’ve been doing it since they were children cavorting on the playground. It works, because, let’s face it, the dance-slash-stripping sequences are extraordinary, bristling with an electricity and an excitement that permeates through every fiber of this film’s very being.

But, most of all, and somewhat strangely, it works because of how it treats women. It’s kind of odd that, in a film with few primary female characters (there are two notable ones: one that is extraordinary, the other who is sadly anything but), and a film where the screaming throngs who are here by the dozens are stripped to as lewdly and as suggestively as possible, the film would end up making so many proudly feminist statements. The script doesn’t so much put women on a pedestal as it treats them as fiery queens worthy of respect, a trait that struck me with surprise. More than that, though, it refuses to belittle them, their stories – both told as well as left to the viewer’s imagination to figure out on their own – are almost always poignant, thought-provoking and emotionally complex.

Which leads me to where I was going in regards to the film’s best character, which just so happens to be one of its few female ones. An important figure from Mike’s past, the fiery, ferociously confident Rome

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Seattle Gay News

Magic Mike XXL – Warner Bros.

runs a club where fantasy is reality and every woman who enters is treated like royalty. As portrayed by Jada Pinkett Smith, this woman is a rolling thunderbolt of femininity. She has no illusions about what it is she is selling yet at the same time isn’t about to apologize for it, doing what she wants to when she wants to, never allowing a man even a passing chance to order her to do otherwise.

Smith steals the show. Her delivery is stupendous, the way she examines and analyzes what’s going on mesmerizing. Rome’s introductions to both the acts in her club and, later on, to the Kings of Tampa during the convention are hypnotic, the veteran actress slinking through the film with a carnal savagery that’s unique. Smith rules every moment, and even when a dancer is bumping and grinding right next to her there’s something about the performance that makes her an irresistible force of nature.

It’s not all smooth sailing. A subplot involving Amber Heard (made up and dressed to look almost exactly like the departed Horn, which honestly is just plain bizarre) as beautiful loner Zoe goes nowhere. She’s mainly around to allow Mike to get over his lost love, mending his broken heart as they meet periodically over the weekend’s jaunt to South Carolina. She’s the only absolutely useless character in the entire film, and considering how well the remainder of the women in this story are

treated that’s about as lamentable and frustrating a fact as any.

That the sequel doesn’t suffer more due to this misstep is rather incredible. That it manages to soar to heights similar, if not quite equal, to its predecessor even more so. Jacobs, taking over for departed director Steven Soderbergh (whose presence is still nonetheless felt as he remains as executive producer, editor and director of photography), does a fine job maintaining momentum. More, he manages to manufacture a sense of merriment mixed with a sense of purpose that’s sensational, building things to their stripper-ific conclusion with vigorous dynamism. He also melds newcomers Donald Glover and Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss into the proceedings with ease, the latter joining Tatum in a spectacular dual production number that brings the Myrtle Beach convention to its climax.

For those who were put off by the 1970s character-driven, angst-riddled spirit of the first film, sorry to say you’re unlikely going to be pleased by this one, either. Same time, Magic Mike XXL isn’t above playing around in the cravenly sexual sensationalism inherent to a story like this, having a jovial spirit that’s infectious right from the start. The film is a blast, an animated shot of bare-chested adrenaline that’s easy to drink and even more satisfying to savor, the sequel stripping inhibitions to the point they vanish leaving only pleasure behind.

Celebrating 41 Years!

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Celebrating 41 Years!

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Bawdy Overnight a promiscuously adventurous affair

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer

Overnight– www.bbook.com

Emily (Taylor Schilling) and Alex (Adam Scott) have just relocated from Seattle to Los Angeles with their young son RJ (R.J. Hermes). Meeting the friendly Kurt (Jason Schwartzman) at a local park where he’s watching his own son Max (Max Moritt), the California newbies are quick to accept an invitation to his home for a smallscale welcome to the neighborhood dinner.

Once there, and after the kids have gone to bed, Emily and Alex are persuaded by this smooth-talking hipster and his beautiful French wife Charlotte (Judith Godrèche) to spend the rest of the evening engaging in a different kind of fun, something decidedly more adult in nature.

The Overnight, the latest off-center, not as straightforward as you might initially think, low budget independent effort from Creep maestro Patrick Brice, is a remarkably silly adult sex comedy that goes to some pretty dark places once all is ultimately said and done. What’s interesting is that, as crazy as that destination might be,

as thought-provoking as elements might become, it’s the stuff that happens long before the denouement that gives this Sundance and Seattle International Film Festival favorite its memorable staying power.

What I mean by that is, for all its thirtysomething bourgeois middle class sensibilities, for as ribald and as sensationalistic as things might eventually become, none of it would matter if the interior road map both Emily and Alex follow to get there wasn’t worth walking on right alongside next to them. It also goes without saying that if Schilling and Scott weren’t up to the challenge none of what transpires would matter, it being incumbent upon them both to make the transitions, recriminations and various attractions that take place throughout feel as organic and as believable as possible.

Thankfully, they’re superb, both delivering beautifully layered, nicely organic performances that run the emotional, physical and sexual gamut with dexterous glee. They are the heart and the soul of the picture, the engine Brice confidently allows things to be powered by, each of them going places that are continually of interest yet also, and somewhat oddly feel entirely natural once they get there. They do glorious work, both of them, working together

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THE OVERNIGHT Now playing

Seattle Gay News

in harmonious, give-and-take fashion that’s one part Tracy/Hepburn, another Taylor/ Burton and a final piece Abbott/Costello.

They’re so good I’d love to see them work together again, change gears into something more tightly scripted and less whimsically pieced together, the duo showing a chemistry that could blossom into something magical if allowed to develop in future cinematic endeavors.

That’s probably overstating things, especially considering just how slight and how obvious The Overnight finally becomes, but that doesn’t mean I think either Schilling or Scott are any less impressive. Mix the sarcastically self-effacing Schwartzman into the mix and by and large you have comedy gold, and there are moments, especially right after RJ and Max are gone and the real festivities begin, where I hadn’t the first clue what was going to come out of the actor’s mouth next.

Apparently the majority of the film was ad libbed during filming, the cast given the outline of what was going to happen and when, Brice both guiding them where it was he wanted the quartet to go, while also making sure cinematographer John Guleserian’s (Breathe In) camera was there to catch all the shenanigans. The only weak

link amongst the group is Godrèche who just doesn’t look entirely comfortable trying to make sense of all that’s happening (which says something considering she’s one of the two primary instigators). Still, overall, the group is pretty terrific together, and it’s hard not to imagine they had a blast on the set trying to make things feel more realistic and natural than it by all accounts would be if any of this were taking place for real.

That is the rub, of course. As confined and character-driven as all of this might end up being, the central conceit is just too broadly lewd and hedonistically fanciful to be entirely believed. Yet Brice, much like he did with the found-footage shocker Creep (currently playing OnDemand as we speak), manages to make the unimaginable feel authentic, finding easygoing, interpersonal rhythms that connect one person to the next with comforting ease. The Overnight isn’t a groundbreaking comedy, but it is a funny one, and thanks to Schilling and Scott I’m probably going to be pondering its various nuances far longer than I otherwise would have had they not been willing to engage in this promiscuously adventures affair with such passionate dynamism.

Celebrating 41 Years!

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Celebrating 41 Years!

Energetic Dope overflowing in youthful vitality

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer DOPE Now playing Life isn’t easy for Malcolm (Shameik Moore). A self-professed geek, musician and 1990s Hip-Hop/R&B enthusiast on the cusp of graduation, the high school senior was born and raised in The Bottoms, a brutal Inglewood, CA neighborhood where if the jocks aren’t beating you up then the gangbangers probably are. He and his best friends Diggy (Kiersey Clemons) and Jib (Tony Revolori) are biding their time until they can get out and move on to college, carefully plotting each step so as not to accidentally make a wrong one.

Well, make that watching most of their steps, because after inadvertently making friends with local drug kingpin Dom (A$AP Rocky) the trio get invited to his late night birthday party at a local club, deciding to go even though each of them fully realizes it’s likely not the best idea they’ve collectively had. But go they do, Malcolm even getting infatuated with another local girl, Nakia (Zoë Kravitz), the young woman currently studying for her GED in hopes of getting into college and potentially getting out of The Bottoms just like he wants to do.

From that point onward, writer/director Rick Famuyiwa’s (The Wood) freewheel-

Dope – watchcloud.com

ing, unhinged, slice of life Hip-Hop comedy Dope brazenly forges its own path, and while the story is hardly unique, it’s delivered with such electrifying authenticity the fact it isn’t original ends up not being as much of a big thing as you might initially expect. The film has a freewheeling, adrenalized grace that’s intoxicating, playfully rolling around in cultural youth touchstones of today while also deftly paying homage to everything from Pulp Fiction to The 400 Blows to Boyz N the Hood.

The central quagmire revolves around Malcolm attempting to free himself from a backpack that’s been mysteriously filled with Dom’s drugs. With rival dealers trying to steal it, and with the people he’s been instructed to turn it over to only wanting the money earned from its sale and not the actual product itself, the super-smart teen with dreams of going to Harvard suddenly finds himself in the middle of a mess that could derail all his future plans. Now he and his friends are forced to attend class, avoid the police and take the SATs while at the same time figuring out the best plan to get rid of Dom’s product, one that hopefully doesn’t get them shot in the process.

The movie is all over the map, its plot far more sprawling and gigantic than the initial, and actually fairly simple, synopsis would lead one to believe. Characters of all backgrounds, groups, races and economic strata come and go yet do so in ways that both drive the narrative forward while also

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adding complexity to Malcolm’s overall maturation, everything coming together in ways that feel vital, of the moment and breathlessly self-aware. More than that, as dark and as dangerous as events might ultimately present themselves to be, Dope never loses its comedic edge, maintaining a sense of joyful discovery throughout that’s giddily impressive.

By keeping the froth bubbling Famuyiwa smartly understands he’s also increasing the dramatic stakes, so when Malcolm is forced to do things against established character traits the effect it has on him, his friends, his adversaries who know him well and finally people sitting in the audience taking it all in is devastating. Everyone understands what it means for this kid to potentially be led towards the doorstep of darkness, grasps what should be in store for him in the future if he’s allowed to continue down the road his determination and intelligence have set him on. There is a stark, ominously disturbing aura to these moments that came close to generating tears, making the kid’s perseverance in the face of all that’s against him all the more courageous.

Relative newcomer Moore is outstanding. He’s the one that keeps the movie on track, never allowing it to drift too far into absurdity or sentimentality, anchoring the proceedings with a complex, potently effective portrait of youth in revolt. As terrific as his costars might be (and Clemonds

and Revolori are both wonderful), as strong as the supporting cast is (Kravitz is pitchperfect, rapper Rocky makes a sensational debut, while veterans Kimberly Elise and Roger Guenveur Smith more than make their presence felt), this is Moore’s showcase and he runs with it, delivering a performance that by all accounts should instantaneously make him a star.

The film is a little overstuffed, and not all of the elements, particularly a segue into the world of the dark interwebs, bitcoins and a doped-up college hacker played by Blake Anderson, work nearly as well as I think Famuyiwa intends them to. Additionally, the balance between the comedy and the violence can sometimes feel a little off, the transitions happening with such brutal suddenness the impact can be jarring, and not in a good way.

Not that it matters. Spectacularly edited

by Lee Haugen, overflowing in the musical energies of today, the 1990s and those composed just for the film (assembled and written by executive producer Pharrell Williams and composer Germaine Franco), Dope has a manic youthful effervescence that delights at every turn. Famuyiwa has done his best work yet both as a writer and as a director, delivering a piece of frothy social commentary masquerading as comedic farce we’re going to be talking about, analyzing, obsessing over and, most importantly, enjoying for many years to come.

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Beautiful, movingly intimate Marnie an animated masterpiece

When Marnie Was There – reviewsbymatt13.blogspot.com

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer

Anna (voiced by Sara Takatsuki) has moved for the summer to the seaside home of her aunt Setsu (Toshie Negishi) and uncle Kiyomasa (Susumu Terajima) for health reasons. Shy, introspective and not one to make friends easily, the youngster is still a talented artist with an uncommon skill to bring portraits of those that captivate her to life. She is fascinated by a secluded mansion surrounded by marshes and made virtually inaccessible during the night thanks to the incoming tides. It’s almost as if she’s seen the house before, and for reasons she can’t quite fathom she’s drawn to it in a personal, decidedly intimate way.

After a series of highly unusual events, Anna comes into contact with the doll-like Marnie (Kasumi Arimura), the beautiful blonde, blue-eyed daughter of affluent mixed-race parents. There is an instant connection between the two girls, the pair developing an unbreakable bond in what feels like seconds. But who Marnie is and the secrets she is concealing are mysteries Anna feels compelled to learn the answers to, the pursuit of doing so potentially fixing her relationship with her stressed-out mother Yokiko (Nanako Matsushima) while also

allowing her to find an inner confidence she didn’t know was there.

Based on the popular novel by Joan G. Robinson, if When Marnie Was There truly is the last production for revered animation pioneers Studio Ghibli then the house that Hayao Miyazaki built is going out on top.

Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi (The Secret World of Arrietty), the movie is a hypnotically transfixing puzzle box overflowing in emotion, everything building to a powerhouse of a climax that had me drowning in joyful tears. It is a movie that revels in the minutia of the human experience, mixing reality and fantasy with deft, unhurried grace.

The sense of time, the knowledge of place, all of it permeates every frame. Yonebayashi, his fellow screenwriters and his crackerjack team of animators allow character and circumstance to feed one into the other, the story coming together in ways that are honest, true and consistently pure. Anna’s journey is as internal as it is external, her growing connection to Marnie transcending death, life and the otherworldly realities lying between them.

Stunningly animated, filled with eyepopping mixtures of color and texture that amaze, I love how light the film feels, how it almost seems to float upon the clouds or wash up to shore with the tide as things methodically progress to their conclusion.

I am captivated by the way Anna interacts

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WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE Now playing

Seattle Gay News

with those she knows are flesh and blood, while at the same time understanding without reservation something surreal and inhuman is happening between her and Marnie. The internal complexities that help manufacture a sense of self, assist in making us who we are and set us on the path to adulthood, all of that is here, the connection to our family histories sometimes key in figuring out which steps are the best ones to take.

Having never read the book I still had my own ideas how all of this was going to come to an end. What’s impressive about Yonebayashi’s adaptation is that, while not entirely unexpected, the bond between Anna and Marnie isn’t quite what I thought it was going to be, their relationship far more complex, yet no less personal, than I’d let myself imagine. The purity of it caught me almost entirely off guard, as did the reactions it garnered from the young heroine as she finally comprehends and embraces the truth. The way this affects her relationship with her mother Yoriko is astonishing, the two getting a chance to embrace and commit themselves one to the other as they never had before.

If Studio Ghibli is indeed closed, if they are done making movies under their own banner, their loss is going to be felt for years, if not decades, to come. From Castle in the Sky to Spirited Away, from Princess Mononoke to My Neighbor Totoro, from

The Wind Rises to Kiki’s Delivery Service, the studio has left an imprint on both popular and cinematic culture that is undeniable.

When Marnie Was There doesn’t just live up to the high standards of the countless classics that proceeded it, in many ways it brings all of the themes and the ideas Ghibli has been interested in dissecting throughout their storied history to brilliant summation. It’s a masterpiece, and as final efforts go I cannot think of anything better than that.

PLEASE NOTE: I watched When Marnie Was There during the 2015 Seattle International Film Festival. It was presented with its original Japanese soundtrack.

GKids is releasing an English language version of the film to domestic theaters featuring the voice talents of Hailee Steinfeld, Kiernan Shipka, Geena Davis, John C. Reilly and Vanessa Williams with a screenplay adapted by David Freedman. By all accounts, it is every bit as marvelous as this version is.

Celebrating 41 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

July 3, 2015

Seattle Gay News 23

24

Seattle Gay News

July 3, 2015

Celebrating 41 Years!

Volunteer Park

• BACON MANSION

E. PROSPECT ST. • SHAFER MANSION E. ALOHA ST.

12TH AVE. E.

E. ROY ST.

16TH AVE. E.

15TH AVE. E.

13TH AVE. E.

• B&B ON BROADWAY E. ROY ST. • UNDER U 4 MEN

E. VALLEY ST. 14TH AVE. E.

11TH AVE. E.

FEDERAL AVE. E.

10TH AVE. E.

BROADWAY AVE. E.

E. WARD ST.

E. MERCER ST.

MALDEN AVE. E.

BROADWAY E.

• THE CANTERBURY E. REPUBLICAN ST. E. HARRISON ST.

E. THOMAS ST.

E AV

10TH AVE. E.

• UPS STORE

• CLUB Z BATHS

11TH AVE.

E. HOWELL ST.

• THE STRANGER

NAGLE PL.

Cal Anderson Park

• LAMBERT HOUSE

BROADWAY

Seattle Central Community College

HARVARD AVE. E. • LINDAʼS • BILLʼS OFF BROADWAY

C.C. ATTLEʼS• TOMMY GUN•

E. DENNY WAY

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P

E. JOHN ST.

• NEUMOʼS

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BOYLSTON AVE.

• GLOʼS • SEATTLE EAGLE

GAY CITY HEALTH PROJECT •

• NEIGHBOURS

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• BALTIC ROOM

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• THE CRESCENT

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• HOT MAMAʼS PIZZA • TOYS IN BABELAND

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BELMONT AVE.

• REBAR

• THE FEED BAG

• KREMWERK

SUMMIT AVE.

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• THE GSBA

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•BAUHAUS • STEAMWORKS

DENNY WAY

• SIMPLY FRAMES & MINER GALLERY

METRO CLOTHING CO. • STUDIO 229 • PANACHE • LAUGHING BUDDHA TATTOO •

BELLEVUE AVE.

• SEATTLE COUNSELING SERVICE FOR SEXUAL MINORITIES MELROSE AVE.

• JULIAʼS

E. OLIVE ST. THE SGN GLSEN ONYX LEATHER • SEAMEC

BATHS

CLUB Z - (men) 1117 Pike near Boren - 622-9958 HOT HOUSE SPA & SAUNA - (women) SW corner of Pike & 11th (stairs behind Wildrose) - 568-3240 STEAM WORKS - (men) 1520 Summit - 388-4818

RESTAURANTS & BARS

88 KEYS - 315 2nd Ave. S. - 839-1300 BALTIC ROOM - 1207 Pine St. - 625-4444 THE BOTTLENECK LOUNGE 2328 E. Madison St. - 323-1098

C.C. ATTLE’S BAR & GRILLE 1701 E. Olive Way - 726-0565 THE CANTERBURY - 534 15th Ave. E. - 322-3130 CHANGES IN WALLINGFORD 2103 N. 45th - 545-8363 THE CRESCENT - 1413 E. Olive Way - 720-8188 THE CUFF COMPLEX 1533 13th Ave. - 323-1525 DIESEL BAR - 1413 14th Ave. - 322-1080 DOUBLE HEADER - 407 2nd Ave. S. - 464-9918 GLO’S - 1621 E. Olive Way - 324-2577 HOT MAMA’S PIZZA - 700 E Pine St. -322-6444 JAZZ ALLEY - 2033 6th Ave. E. - 441-9729 JULIA’S - 300 Broadway Ave. E. - 860-1818 KREMWERK - 1809 Minor Ave. #10 - 682-2935 MAE’S CAFE 6412 Phinney Ave. N. - 782-1222 MADISON PUB - 1315 E. Madison - 325-6537

• WILDROSE • HOT HOUSE

ON

E.

E. PIKE ST. • CHOP SUEY • MADISON PUB • DIESEL BAR • PONY

NEIGHBOURS - 1509 Broadway - 324-5358 OUT WEST - 5401California Ave. SW POCO WINE + SPIRITS 1408 E. Pine St. - 322-9463 PONY - 1221 E. Madison St. - 324-2854 PURR - 1518 11th Ave. - 325-3112 R PLACE - 619 E. Pine - 322-8828 RE-BAR - 1114 Howell at Boren - 233-9873 SEATTLE EAGLE - 314 E. Pike - 621-7591 TOMMY GUN - 1703 E. Olive Way WILDROSE - 1021 E. Pike - 324-9210

RETAIL SHOPS

CASTLE SUPERSTORE #17 1017 E Pike St. - 204-0126 THE CRYPT - 1516 11th Ave. 325-3882 DOGHOUSE LEATHERS 1312 E. Pike St. - 257-0231 EMERSON SALON - 909 E. Pike St. - 323-7437 LIFELONG THRIFT STORE 312 Broadway Ave E - 329-5792 METRO CLOTHING CO. 231 Broadway Ave E - 726-7978 ONYX LEATHER - 1605 12th Ave. #8 - 328-1965 OUT OF THE CLOSET THRIFT STORE 1016 E Pike St. - 302-2040 PANACHE - 225 Broadway E. - 726-3300 STAN’S ADULT SUPERSTORE 9630 16th Ave. SW - 762-3299 TABOO VIDEO - 9813 16th Ave SW 767-4855 TOYS IN BABELAND - 707 E. Pike St. - 328-2914 UNDER U 4 MEN 709 Broadway Ave. E. - 324-6446 WILD AT HEART 1111 NW Leary Way - 782-5538

BELLINGHAM

LOVER’S 193 Telegraph Road - (360) 752-1862 RUMORS CABARET 1119 Railroad - (306) 671-1849

EVERETT

BAR MYX - 1212 California St. - 425-610-4071 LOVER’S - 112 SE Everett - (425) 353-3607 LOVER’S - 3402 Broadway - (425) 252-8754

KENT

LOVER’S 25801 104th Ave. S.E. - (253) 852-1720 THE VOYEUR 604 Central Ave. S. - (253) 850-8428 NASHVILLE’S SPORTS BAR (Drag Shows) 114 - Railroad Ave. N. - (253) 852 - 0909

Visit us online www.sgn.org

• POCO WINE + SPIRITS

• THE CUFF COMPLEX E. PINE ST. • PURR • THE CRYPT • POST OPTIONS • DOGHOUSE LEATHERS

E. UNION ST.

SEATTLE

• THE GASLIGHT INN

July 3, 2015

IS AD

ST.

M

E. UNION ST.

LA CONNER

THE HERON INN & WATERGRASS DAY SPA 117 Maple Ave. - (877) 883-8899 info@theheron.com

OLYMPIA

DARBY’S CAFE 211 5th Ave. S.E. - (360) 357-6229 LOVER’S 3959 Martin Way E. Suite D - (360) 456-7300 JAKES - 311 4th Ave. E. - (360) 956-3247 URBAN ONION 116 Legion Way - (360) 943-9242

PORT ANGELES MAPLE ROSE INN 112 Reservoir Rd - (800) 570-2007

SPOKANE

ANDY’S 1401 W. 1st Ave. - (509) 747 - 0304 IRV’S (Drag Shows) 415 W. Sprague Ave. - (509) 624 - 4450 NYNE BAR AND BISTRO 232 W. Sprague Ave. - (509) 474 -1621 SPOTLIGHT LOUNGE 321 W. Sprague Ave. - (509) 624 - 0722

TACOMA

CASTLE SUPERSTORE 6015 Tacoma Mall Blvd. - (253) 471-0391 CLUB SILVERSTONE 739½ St. Helens Ave. - (253) 404-0273 THE FANTASY SHOP 2301 6th Ave. - (253) 272-6640 LOVER’S 7002 Tacoma Mall Blvd., #F - (253) 475-2271 THE MIX - 635 St. Helens Ave. - (253) 383-4327 RAINBOW CENTER 2215 Pacific Ave. - (253) 383-2318 SHAKABRAH JAVA CAFE 2618 6th Ave. - (253) 572-2787 TANDEM FOR GEAR, CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES 3019 6th Ave, Ste. B - (253) 301-3026

TUKWILA

LOVER’S 530 Southcenter Blvd. - (206) 248-5085

WENATCHEE

THE CELLAR CAFE 240 N. Mission St. - (509) 662-1722

Seattle Gay News 25

Meetings Events Activities

TO GET A CALENDAR LISTING: To have your meeting or event considered for the Community Calendar, please mail, fax, or drop off details to: SGN, Attn: Community Calendar, 1605 12th Ave, Ste 31, Seattle, WA 98122.

SGN phone: 324-4297. Fax: 322-7188. E-mail: sgn2@ sgn.org. INCLUDE: Date, time, location, contact phone # for publication (if possible), brief description of event & sponsoring organization. DEADLINE: Tuesday 5pm.

ACCESSIBILITY: Is your event accessible to LGBTQ people with visible or hidden disabilities? See Jean’s List webpage www.scn.org/activism/calendar/disabilities. html for Marla Nonken’s disabilities accommodations lists.

NOTE: Phone numbers accompanying listings are within area code (206) & locations of meetings/ events are in Seattle unless otherwise noted.

community calendar

SATURDAY - July 4

Independence Day (Because of the July 4th holiday some regularly scheduled events may be cancelled or rescheduled. Contact the sponsors of your event to confirm date, time & place.)

Dignity USA Convention (7/2-7/5). Renaissance Hotel, 515 Madison St. Features Seattle Mayor Ed Murray (July 2) & Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu (July 2 & 3). For complete information visit conv2105. dignityusa.org Seattle Frontrunners Fun Run. 9am. Greenlake (outside Evans Pool). Every Saturday. GLBT running & walking club sponsors weekly runs, monthly potlucks, track & field activity, annual Run With Pride. 448-8518. www.seattlefrontrunners.org.

Fourth of July Community Picnic. 11am-4pm. Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11th Ave. A family-friendly day of fun. Live music by local bands including Heartwarmer, Tangerine & the Not-Its. Free hot dog fest, all ages root beer tasting garden & a pie-eating contest. Kids activities including face-painting, hula hooping, poi spinning, a real fire truck tour & more! CAPA arts & crafts booth, kids writing with Hugo House & music with Meter School of Music. Sponsored by Cal Anderson Park Alliance.

31st Annual Naturalization Ceremony. Concert 11am, Ceremony 12noon. Fisher Pavilion, Seattle Center. More than 400 candidates from 75 countires will be sworn in as US citizens. Features speeches by Sen. Maria Cantwell, Rep. Jim McDermott, Gov. Jay Inslee & Seattle Center Director Robert Nellums with MC Mayor Ed Murray.

Northwest Bears Potluck and Meet & Greet Beer Bust. 6pm. The Cuff, 1533 13th Ave at E. Pine St. Meets 1st Saturday each month. Northwest Bears is a Gay men’s social and service organization providing a focal point within the Gay community for Bears and Bear admirers. www.nwbears.com.

Oasis Youth Center in Tacoma - For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Youth, Ages 14-25. 6pm-12 midnight. Call for location & details. Every Saturday. (253) 671-2838. www.oasisyouth center.org.

Rainbow Duplicate Bridge. 6pm. Bus-accessible Central Area location. Every Saturday. Games also on Tuesdays & Thursdays. $4 fee includes coffee & snacks.

For more information visit www.rainbowbridgeclub.org or email rainbowbridgeclub@gmail.com

SUNDAY - July 5

For information on GLBT-friendly religious/spiritual organizations in the Greater Seattle area, call or email Rick at the SGN office: 206-324-4297; sgn2@ sgn.org.

Dignity USA Convention (7/2-7/5). Renaissance Hotel, 515 Madison St. Features Seattle Mayor Ed Murray (July 2) & Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu (July 2 & 3). For complete information visit conv2105. dignityusa.org Border Riders Motorcycle Club First Sunday Ride.

Contact Border Riders for details and rendezvous point.

Meets 1st Sunday most months. BRMC provides a social & educational fraternity for individuals interested in recreational motorcycle touring. www.borderriders.com Seattle Soto Zen. 9:15am-Zazen Instruction, 9:30amZazen. 101 Nickerson St, Lower Level. Follow the traditional forms of the Soto school of Zen in a spirit of warmth & inclusion. Anyone interested in meditation, whether new or experienced in Zen practice or other traditions, is welcome. 323-1659, www.seattlesotozen.org Gay Men’s Bowling in Lynnwood. 9:30am. Brunswick Majestics Lane, Lynnwood. 9:30am Every Sunday.

Spectators welcome. Join us for lunch afterwards!

Sponsored by the Snohomish County Gay Men’s Task Force. For info email John at johndmarsh@mac.com; www.gaysnohomish.org Seattle Sunday Bowling. 10:30am. West Seattle Bowl, 4505 39th Ave SW (at SW Oregon St). Open bowl every Sunday for the GLBT community & friends. You don’t have to worry about how you bowl! $6.50 + $2 shoe rental. (425) 785-4725.

Meditation for GBT Men. 11am-1pm. Cal Anderson House, 400 Broadway. Suitable for beginning & experienced meditators. Sponsored by Dharma Buddies.

Contact Forrest Rode, 920-6117, Mike Chin (509) 990-0007, or Doug Allison, doug.l.allison@gmail.com. www.dharmabuddies.org. (Women may wish to contact our sister meditation group at www.LotusSisters.org.)

Just for Today. 12-1:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Sunday. Drop-in 12-step (Narcotics Anonymous) group open to anyone in recovery. 322-2437; www. sasgcc.org

26

Seattle Gay News

Paths to Recovery Al-Anon Family Group. 12-1:30pm.

Seattle University Student Center, 901 12th Ave, Room 122. Every Sunday. LGBTQ supported. The Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives & friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength & hope in order to solve their common problems. We believe alcoholism is a family illness & that changed attitudes can aid recovery. Greater Seattle AIS 24-hour number 625-0000; www.seattle-al-anon.org Rain City Soccer Club - Ripple Effect. Every Sunday afternoon. Location varies. Ripple Effect soccer team plays a weekly recreational scrimmage game for Gay guys in Seattle. Perfect for guys looking for more relaxed play, who are just getting back into soccer, just learning the game and/or want to supplement their competitive play with a recreational team. To sign up visit www. raincitysoccer.org PFLAG/Kittitas County. 4-5:30pm. First United Methodist Church, 3rd & Ruby Sts, Ellensburg. Meets the first Sunday of every month. For information, (509) 925-7937.

Orca Swim Team Workout. Sun: 5-6:15pm; Mon/Weds/ Fri: 7:30-8:45pm. Seattle University, Connolly Athletic Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. Every Sun, Mon, Wed & Fri. Pre-registration required. Orca Swim Team workouts are for both competitive & recreational swimmers. www.orcaswimteam.org Shame to Grace Sunday SAA. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Sunday. SAA is a fellowship of men & women who share their experience, strength & hope with each other so they may overcome their sexual addiction & help others recover from sexual addiction or dependency. Seattle SAA helpline 237-8828, SAA International Service Organization 1-800-477-8191.

SASG 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Noche Latina - Latino Night. 10pm. Neighbours, 1509 Broadway. Every Sunday.

MONDAY - July 6

SOBER - On Meds. 1-2pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Monday. 12-step group open to anyone in recovery & living on a medicine regimen. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Strength Over Speed. 2-3:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. FREE drop-in support group (not a 12 step) for Gay & Bi men who desire recovery from meth. For information visit www.strengthoverspeed.org. SASG 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Healing Words. 6:30-8pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Monday. Drop-in group open to all who are healing from trauma, addiction, or just the challenges of life

July 3, 2015

in general. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org.

Pozitively Me! 6:30-8pm. Gay City Health Project, 517 E. Pike St. Every Monday. A group and conversation about HIV for Gay & Bi men newly diagnosed and for Gay & Bi men facing the challenges of living with HIV longterm. www.gaycity.org.

Freely Speaking Toastmasters. 7pm. FredLind Manor, 1802 17th Ave. Every Monday (except holidays & the last Mondays in August & December). Seattle’s only LGBT speaking club. www.FreelySpeaking.org Orca Swim Team Workout. 7-8:15pm. Seattle University, Connolly Athletic Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday listing at 5pm.)

Trans Youth Group. 7-8:30pm. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave. Every Monday. A chance for youth to talk with others about their experiences & concerns related to identifying as Transgender. www.lamberthouse.org Lambert House Art Night. 7:30-9:30pm. 1818 15th Ave. Every Monday. Bring your ideas & let’s have some fun.

322-2515, www.lamberthouse.org Unity Gay Men’s AA Group in Tacoma. 7:30pm. New Heart MCC, 759 S 45th St. Tacoma. Every Monday.

(253) 474-8897.

Washington Gender Alliance Support Group Meeting in Shoreline. 7:30pm. Center for Human Services, 17018 15th Ave NE, Shoreline. Meets every Monday. For information email info@washingtongender alliance.com Les Be Honest. 8-9pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Monday. Open women only AA group. 322-2437; www. sasgcc.org.

TUESDAY - July 7

Simply Positive. 2:30-4pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Tuesday. Drop-in support & social group for anyone HIV/AIDS positive. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Lifelong Thrift Grand Opening Party. 4-7pm. 312 Broadway E. Post-opening Grand Opening Party and Special Sale with hourly giveaways and small bites.

Double your chance at winning an awesome door prize by bringing a bag of donated goods.

Artful Expression. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Tuesday. This is an ongoing art group to visualize the journey thru creative expression. 322-2437; www. sasgcc.org LGBTQ Questioning & Allied Youth Drop-in Group in Renton. 6-8pm. Renton Area Youth Services (RAYS), 1025 S 3rd St, Renton. Meets every Tuesday. Confidential. Snacks provided. Bring friends or come alone - anyone 12-18 is welcome. Questions? Call Sarah Har-

July 4 thru July 12 din, 425-271-5600 ext 155, or email sarahh@rays.org Strength Over Speed. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. FREE drop-in support group (not a 12 step) for Gay & Bi men who desire recovery from meth. For information visit www.strengthoverspeed.org. SASG 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Alzheimer’s Association’s LGBT Caregivers’ Support Group. 6:30-8pm. Elderhealth Northwest, 6555 Ravenna Ave NE (entrance on NE 68th St). Meets 2nd Tuesday each month. A free information and support group for care partners, family members and friends of individuals with dementia. For more information, contact group facilitator Caila Nickerson, 781-248-3524 (cell) or email: cailanickerson@gmail.com The Continuing Fight for Full LGBTQ Equality: What Lies Ahead? 6:30-8:30pm. Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave. FREE community meeting to celebrate the Supreme Court ruling & to discuss the continuing work to achieve full equality. Attorneys from Lambda Legal, ACLU, Legal Voice & QLaw will explain the court’s ruling & answer questions. RSVP to QLaw.events@gmail.com Diverse Harmony. 6:30-9pm. Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave. Every Tuesday. Diverse Harmony is the nation’s first Gay/Straight Alliance Youth Chorus. Youths ages 13-22 are welcome regardless of sexual orientation. www.diverseharmony.org LGBTQ MS Connection/National MS Society. 6:308pm. Swedish Conference Center, Cherry Hill Campus, James Tower, 550 17th Avenue, Room E, 1st Floor.

Meets the 2nd & 4th Tuesday each month. MS Connection is a support group with the goal of providing a safe environment for the LGBT community to express their experiences and the impact of MS on their lives and the lives of their loved ones, as well as provide support for one another. Contact Shelly at 206-250-5002 or LGBTMSConnection@gmail.com.

Queer Young Females Group - For Female-Identified Youth, Ages 22 & Under. 6:30-7:30pm. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave. Every Tuesday. Topics range from family issues to school happenings to like/lust/love relationships. All Queer females welcome. Come discuss how smart. strong Queer women live their lives. 322-2515, www. lamberthouse.org No Safeword Writers Group. 7pm. Meets 2nd Tuesday each month. NSWG exists to provide mutual support for members’ efforts. Support is in the form of critique & commentary on each other’s work, information about publishing opportunities, & discussion of issues facing writers. NSWG’s primary focus is erotic writing - but they welcome anyone who writes. The only requirements are to write, to attend, & to be respectful. For info & location, NSWG@sexpositiveculture.org; www.nosafewordwritersgroup.org. (Also meets 4th Sunday, 1pm.)

Over 40’s Group - For Lesbian Women 40 & Older.

7-8:30pm. University Congregational Church, 4515 16th Ave NE, Pilgrim Room. Every Tuesday. Open group for Lesbian women, 40 & older, in every stage of coming out or being out. Lots of social activities in addition to Tuesday meetings. 545-3521.

Rainbow Duplicate Bridge. 7pm. Bus-accessible Central Area location. Every Tuesday. (See Saturday listing at 6pm.)

Tuesday Night Sex Addicts Anonymous (GLBTQI).

7-8:30pm. All Pilgrims Christian Church, 500 Broadway E (enter at 509 10th Ave E; buzz in, Dickson room). Every Tuesday. SAA is a fellowship of men & women whose primary purpose is to stop addictive sexual behavior & help others recover from sexual addiction. Seattle SAA helpline 237-8828. SAA International Service Organization 1-800-477-8191.

Different Drummers. 7:15-8:30pm. Every Tuesday.

Hand drumming classes for Gay men. It’s easy, it’s fun & anyone can do it! Learn traditional African & AfroCaribbean rhythms & basic hand drumming techniques.

Experience connection, community & spirituality. Drums are provided. For info & location call Dennis at 363-4500 or www.outdrum.com What About Me? 7:30-9pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Tuesday. Drop-in social, support & discussion group for Gay & Bi men of all ages. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Here & Now Gay & Lesbian AA Meeting in Tacoma.

7:30pm. Christ Episcopal Church, 310 N “K” St, Tacoma.

Every Tuesday.

Spiritual Empowerment. 7:30-9pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. A group for all LGBT & friends of any spiritual belief to explore how spiritual practice can enrich their life. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Washington Gender Alliance Open Support Meeting in Bellingham. 7:30-9pm. St James Presbyterian Church, 910 14th St., Bellingham. Every Tuesday. (360) 445-2411; www.washingtongenderalliance.com. (See Wednesday listing at 7:30pm for details.)

Seattle Poetry Slam. Doors 8pm, Show 8:30pm. Rebar, 1114 Howell St. Every Tuesday. A spoken word poetry event that features a weekly open mic, feature poet, and slam (poetry competition). Come out and express yourself. LGBTQ- & QTPOC-friendly; all genders welcome. $5. 21+. seattlepoetryslam.org

WEDNESDAY - July 8

Mature Friends Morning Exercise/Health & Fitness Get-Together. 10am. Ballard Odd Fellows Hall Bldg, 1706 NW Market St. Every Wednesday. An hour of health-related activities, followed by a walk around Greenlake & lunch at a local restaurant. MF is a social group for Gay men & women, 40 years & over. www. maturefriends.org

Celebrating 41 Years!

Mature Friends Dining Out Luncheon. 12:30pm. Call for details, location & to RSVP. Meets 2nd & 4th Wednesday most months. MF is a social organization for Gay men & women, 40 years & over. www.maturefriends.org True Colors: Connecting LGBTQ Teens in Shoreline.

4-5pm. Every Wednesday. Discussing your important issues, building a supportive community. For information, location & to REGISTER call Lindsay Bagley 362-7282 x 8018 or email lbagley@chs-nw.org GSBA Prime Time Candidate Reception. 5:307:30pm. 4th & Madison Bldg, 7th Floor Rooftop Patio.

A great opportunity to meet dozens of candidates for municipal, state & judicial positions. Tickets: $15 GSBA members, $20 non-members. Walk-ins add $5 at the door. www.thegsba.org GLOBE (GLBTQ Loving Ourselves, Becoming Empowered): A Support Group & HIV/STD Prevention for Youth (14-20) in Everett. 6-8pm. CCA Building, 3331 Broadway - Bottom Floor, Everett. Every Wednesday.

Sponsored by PFLAG Everett chapter. David/Brenda, (425) 263-2908. globeleaders@hotmail.com POZ Seattle BBQ Social. 6-8pm. The Cuff Complex, 1533 13th Ave. Hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken breasts, veggie burgers...with all the fixin’s! Beverages at cost from the bar. $5 suggested donation; but no one turned away for lack of funds. POZSeattle is a social organization run for and by Seattle-area HIV-positive men that is committed to planning and promoting fun, social activities. www.pozseattle.org.

The Rowing Team Peer Recovery Group. 6-7:30pm.

All Pilgrims Church, 500 Broadway E. Meets every Wednesday. This peer recovery group provides a safe & supportive faith community to share your recovery journey with, God answers our prayers & sends us a boat.

Sometimes rowing furiously for yourself & sometimes for others. All are welcome.

Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Wednesday. Discuss the best LGBT novels with other book-lovers in a safe, comfortable conversation. Come once or come every week.

Check our website for this month’s book. http://faculty. washington.edu/swittet/sglbookclub/ SASG 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Lotus Sisters Meditation & Dharma Discussion North. 6:15-8pm. Ravenna Bryant neighborhood. Meets every Wednesday. Call 525-7295 for location. www.

LotusSisters.org.

Seattle Frontrunners Fun Run. 6:30pm. Volunteer Park (in front of Black Sun across for museum). Every Wednesday. (See Saturday at 9am.)

Entre Hermanos Trans Latino & Foreign-Born Support Group. 7pm. Entre Hermanos, 1105 23rd Ave. Bilingual (Spanish/English) Transsexual support group meets 2nd & 4th Wednesday each month to provide information, counseling, healthcare, sisterhood & social activities for Latino & foreign-born people in their transition. For more information contact Abby 322-7700, www. entrehermanos.org HIV/AIDS Support Group. 7-8:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Wednesday. Please arrive by 7:00pm.

FREE peer-facilitated emotional support group for HIV+ men who are newly diagnosed or newly dealing. 3222437; www.sasgcc.org Ingersoll All-Trans Drop-In Support Group. 7-9pm.

Seattle Counseling Services, 1216 Pine St, Suite 300.

All Transgender, Gender Variant, Gender Queer, Gender Questioning, allies, family & friends are welcome. This is a drop in group to get & give support, social interaction & information for the whole Gender community. www. ingersollcenter.org Seattle Movie Bears Movie Night. Check website for details. Every Wednesday night. Gay & Bi men enjoy a movie at a local theater with opportunity to socialize before & after movies. More info: http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/seattlemoviebears; or e-mail: seattlemoviebearssubscribe@yahoogroups.com Seattle Chamber Music Society Music Under the Stars (7/8, 7/15, 7/22). Live music 7:15pm, Broadcast 8pm. Volunteer Park, 1400 E Prospect St. FREE. www. seattlechambermusic.org/community-engagement/ in-the-park/ Mature Friends Weekly Bridge Group. 7:30pm. Call for location. Every Wednesday. All levels welcome. MF is a social organization for Gay men & women, 40 years & over. www.maturefriends.org Orca Swim Team Workout. 7:30-8:45pm. Seattle University, Connolly Athletic Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday listing at 5pm.)

“March of the Penguins” with the Seattle Symphony.

Benaroya Hall, 3rd Ave & Union St. The entire Oscarwinning film + Morgan Freeman’s iconic narration + the original score performed live by the Seattle Symphony = a once-in-a-lifetime cinematics experience. www. seattlesymphony.org “StageFright” - Youth Open Mic - For Aspiring Writers & Performers, Ages 14-24. 7:30pm. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave. Meets 2nd Wednesday each month. FREE. Everyone welcome to attend. StageFright not only features young folk, but is also MC’d by young folk & attended in great majority by young folk.

Richard Hugo House is a community gathering place where writing & reading is celebrated & explored thru events, performances & programs. 322-7030; www. hugohouse.org.

Washington Gender Alliance Open Support Meeting in Everett. 7:30-9pm. Everett United Church of Christ, 2624 Rockefeller Ave, Everett. Every Wednesday.

Trained peer facilitators lead a structured support meeting helping people deal with issues of gender identity & expression. All adults are welcomed, including those who are questioning, allies, or identify as FTM, MTF, Transgender, Queer, or Intersex, among others. (360) 445-2411; www.washingtongenderalliance.com.

community calendar

www.lamberthouse.org Rain Country Dance Night. 7-11pm, lessons at 7:15pm.

The Cuff, 1533 13th Ave. An evening of country-western dancing for the LGBTQ community. FREE. www.raincountrydance.org.

Destiny Gay AA Group in Tacoma. 7:30pm. New Heart MCC, 759 S 45th St, Tacoma. Every Friday.

(253) 474-8897.

Orca Swim Team Workout. 7:30-8:45pm. Seattle University, Connolly Athletic Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday listing at 5pm.)

LGBT Friday Night Al-Anon Family Group. 7:45pm.

Seattle Counseling Service, Rainbow Room, 1216 Pine St at Melrose Ave. Every Friday. The Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives & friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength & hope in order to solve their common problems. We believe alcoholism is a family illness & that changed attitudes can aid recovery. Greater Seattle AIS 24-hour number 625-0000; www.seattle-al-anon.org

SATURDAY - July 11

Border Riders Motorcycle Club Meet & Greet. 8-9pm.

The Cuff Complex, 1533 13th Ave (at E Pine St). Meets the Wednesday before the 3rd Saturday each month.

BRMC provides a social & educational fraternity for individuals interested in recreational motorcycle touring. www.borderriders.com

THURSDAY - July 9

Alcoholics Anonymous “Safe & Sober Group.”

12noon-1pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Open meeting of AA. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org.

BABES Women’s Support Group/Lunch Meeting.

12 noon-2pm. Call for location. Every Thursday. The BABES Network is a peer led agency; a sisterhood of women facing HIV together. 720-5566 or 888-292-1912; www.babesnetwork.org.

Oasis Youth Center in Tacoma - For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Youth, Ages 14-25. 4-10pm. Call for location & details. Every Thursday. (253) 671-2838, www.oasisyouthcenter.org (Also Fridays 4-10pm & Saturdays 6pm-12 midnight.)

Queer Night at the Bremerton/Kitsap Health Department. 4:30-7pm. 109 Austin Dr, Bremerton. Meets 2nd Thursday each month. HIV/AIDS & STD testing in a GLBT positive environment. Call Sue or Steve at (360) 337-5235.

Capitol Hill Arts Walk. 5-8pm. Participating shops & galleries in the Pike/Pine corridor. 2nd Thursday each month. Keep your eyes out for curbside A-boards that mark each participating venue. Pick up a walking map from any location & you’re on your way. Enjoy refreshments & meet the featured artists as you stroll the Hill. www.caphillchamber.org Queer Parent Networking Dinners (Sept-Oct, JanJune). 6-8pm. Calamus Auditorium at Gay City, 517 E. Pike St. Meets 2nd Thursday each month. Open to all LGBT, Two-Spirited, Queer & Questioning families including parents, co-parents & other people who have a significant role in the life of a child. RSVP requested to facilitate planning for dinner and childcare. 568-7777 or info@nwnetwork.org.

Shifting Gears. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Thursday. Drop-in support group (non 12-step) for anyone of any orientation or gender who desires recovery from drugs or alcohol. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org B-GLAD (Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Trans & Questioning Adolescent Drop-In Group). 6:30-8pm. Call for location. Every Thursday. Sponsored by Youth Eastside Services, which offers many programs for GLBT youth.

(425) 747-4937.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

Boys’ Group - For Male-Identified Youth, Ages 1422. 7-8:30pm. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave. Every Thursday. Youth take the opportunity to talk about issues that relate to their everyday lives, with the facilitation of a male volunteer. 322-2515 ext 16. www.lamberthouse.org PFLAG/Whatcom County-Bellingham Monthly Meeting. 7pm. First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham. Meets 2nd Thursday each month.

Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays is a national support organization for parents, spouses, & families of GLBT persons, as well as those minorities. 360-7331500; www.whatcompflag.com; PFLAG/Puget Sound: 325-7724.

Rainbow Duplicate Bridge. 7pm. Bus-accessible Central Area location. Every Thursday. (See Saturday listing at 6pm.)

Buddhism & Recovery. 7:30-9pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Thursday. A meditation/recovery group.

322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Gay Fathers Association of Seattle. 7:30-9pm. Group Health, 201 16th Ave E, Central Bldg, Lower Atrium.

Every Thursday. Support meetings for Gay fathers & Gay men who are currently or previously married. Safe, anonymous, non-judgmental environment of caring fathers & friends. You are not alone. For information, community events & “questioning” visit www.gfas.org or our message board at http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/ gayfathersseattle Gay Male Sexuality & Relationships. 7:30-9pm.

SASG, 303 17th Ave. E. Every Thursday. A discussion group that is strictly focused on sexual topics and relationship issues related to being a Gay male. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org

(See previous Saturday for ongoing activities.)

Tacoma Pride Festival (7/10-7/18). www.rainbow cntr.org A Gathering of Men in Edmonds. 8:15-11:30am.

Edmonds UUC, 8109 224th St SW, Edmonds. Meets 2nd Saturday each month. Men gather monthly for drumming, singing, storytelling & sharing of life experience. We create a safe, confidential & sacred space in which a man can speak his truth from the heart, to heal & empower himself. We are fiercely non-political, non-sectarian & non-judgmental. All men are welcome. www.agatheringofmen.org Tacoma Pride - Out in the Park. 12noon-5pm. Broadway between S 9th & S 11th, Tacoma. All ages. $5 suggested donation. www.rainbowcntr.org Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival (7/11 & 7/12). Sat 7/11 - 12noon-9pm; Sun 7/12 - 11am-9pm. Volunteer Park, 14th Ave & E Prospect St., at Amphitheatre, Museum Lawn & Conservatory Lawn. For a schedule of performances visit www.greenstage.org/sotf 2015 Fox Theatre Film Series: Father of the Bride.

2pm & 7pm. Fox Theatre, 123 S Tower Ave, Centralia. $8 single, $20 family of 3-4 persons. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1761372 Emerald City Black Pride 2015 Bowling Fun. 3-7pm.

The Garage, 1130 Broadway. FREE bowling, FREE food, FREE fun! Presented by the Center for Multicultural Health. www.intheknowseattle.org Georgetown Art Attack. 6-9pm. 2nd Saturday each month. Reflects the industrial-strength character of the neighborhood. For information stop into Georgetown Records at Airport Way S & S Vale or visit www.georgetownneighborhood.com Ballard’s Second Saturday Artwalk. 7-10pm. Pick up maps at participating shops & galleries located in the Ballard business district (Ballard Ave NW & NW Market St area). Meets 2nd Saturday each month. Enjoy an evening of art as local galleries & businesses showcase artists from Ballard & beyond. 784-9705.

Seattle Reign FC Vs. Western NY Flash. 7pm. Memorial Stadium, Seattle Center. For info & tickets visit reignfc.com

SUNDAY - July 12

(See previous Sunday for ongoing activities.)

Tacoma Pride Festival (7/10-7/18). www.rainbow cntr.org Lotus Sisters Guided Meditation. 11am-1:30pm.

SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Meets 2nd Sunday each month.

Senior students lead the meditation, provide dharma talks or reflections & lead discussion. 329-5908; www.

LotusSisters.org; www.sasgcc.org (Meets in 2nd floor meeting room; no elevator.)

Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival (7/11 & 7/12). Sat 7/11 - 12noon-9pm; Sun 7/12 - 11am-9pm. Volunteer Park, 14th Ave & E Prospect St., at Amphitheatre, Museum Lawn & Conservatory Lawn. For a schedule of performances visit www.greenstage.org/sotf Emerald City Black Pride 2015 BBQ. 1-6pm. Alvin Larkins Park, 1501 34th Ave E. FREE entertainment, FREE food, FREE fun! Presented by the Center for Multicultural Health. www.intheknowseattle.org Three Dollar Bill Cinema’s Cineoke! 6:30pm doors; 7pm show. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St. Meets 2nd Sunday each month. It’s like Karaoke - only better! You’re the star of your favorite movie musical. Pick any scene to sing along to, while the film and lyrics are projected onto the screen. There are hundreds of songs to choose from, or you can bring your own special request (on DVD). $8 cover ($5 for Three Dollar Bill Cinema members). www. threedollarbillcinema.org.

Knights of Mantra Monthly Meeting. 7:30pm. The Cuff, 1533 13th Ave. Meets 2nd Sunday each month.

K of M/Jet Chapter is a fun-loving leather/Levi social & charitable organization that raises money for various FRIDAY - July 10 causes & organizations. Social functions include Mr & Tacoma Pride Festival (7/10-7/18). www.rainbow Ms Wrangler Contest, La Femme Grotesque, Movie Auction Night, Memorial Day Weekend Camp-Out, Sir Guy cntr.org Contest, Beggars Feast, holiday parties & other events.

Oasis Youth Center in Tacoma - For Gay, Lesbian, 329-0886, mailbox@jetchapterkofm.com Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Youth, Ages 14-25. 4-10pm. Call for location & details. Every Friday.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES (253) 671-2838, www.oasisyouthcenter.org (Also ThursAllyship - an organization of LGBTQ individuals fighting days 4-10pm & Saturdays 6pm-12 midnight.) for economic and social justice. www.LGBTQ Allyship.

Strength Over Speed. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave org, allyship@yahoo.com, 279-8169.

E. FREE drop-in support group (not a 12-step) for Gay & Bi men who desire recovery from meth. www.strength- American Veterans for Equal Rights - www.aver.us overspeed.org. SASG 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Another Gay Social Club! - www.meetup.com/AnotherLambert House Queer Movie Night. 7-9:30pm. Lam- Gay-Social-Club/ bert House, 1818 15th Ave. Every Friday. Lambert House Bellingham/Whatcom County - www.theslowlane. is a nationally-recognized activities & resource center com/guide.html for GLBT & questioning youth, ages 14-22. 322-2515,

July 3, 2015

Seattle Gay News 27

BiNet Seattle is a mixed gender, social group for Bisexuals, their partners & other Bi-friendly folks - www. binetseattle.org.

Bremerton/Kitsap County - www.outwestsound.org Capitol Hill Alano Club - www.chacseattle.org Central Washington University GALA Hotline: (509) 963-1994.

DIFFA/Seattle (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS). 763-8885; www.diffaseattle.org DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULT: Crisis Clinic, 461-3222 (24 hour line); King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) - 24-hour crisis line for information, support, & medical & legal assistance: 1-888-99-VOICE; Northwest Network - support & advocacy for Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian & Gay Survivors of Abuse & Dating Violence, 568-7777 (voice), 517-9670 (tty), www.nwnetwork.org; Pierce County Domestic Violence Helpline: Teresa, (253) 798-4166; Seattle Counseling Service for Sexual Minorities - offers on-going support groups for men: 323-1768; Seattle Police Dept Domestic Violence Unit, 684-0330; State Wide Domestic Violence Hot Line, 1-800-562-6025.

In an emergency call 911. Report domestic violence and sexual assault.

Equal Rights Washington - 324-2570; www.equa lrightswashington.org Everett/Snohomish Cty - www.gaysnohomish.org Freely Speaking Toastmasters - www.freely speaking.org Gay City organizes events & activities for Gay & Bi men & offers anonymous & confidential HIV/STD testing at the Center for LGBT Health, 517 E Pike St. More info or to schedule an appointment, 860-6969. www.gaycity.org Gay & Lesbian National Hotline (GLNH): 1-888-THEGLNH (1-888-843-4564). Non-profit, peer-counseling, information & local resources telephone hotline for GLBT people across the country.

GLSEN/WA - Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network - 330-2099; www.glsenwa.org Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) - 3639188; www.thegsba.org HIV/AIDS Program, Seattle/King County Dept of Public Health, provides confidential/anonymous information about & testing for HIV/AIDS. 205-7837. For a comprehensive list of HIV/AIDS service organizations see the GSBA Guide or visit www.thegsba.org or call Lifelong AIDS Alliance, 328-8979.

Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle & the Olympic & Rainier Empire - www.facebook.com/ISCSORE; www. imperialcourtofseattle.com Lambert House - 322-2515; www.lamberthouse.org LGBT Library - 517 E Pike St. Open Mon-Fri 2-8pm; Sat 2-5pm. A wide range of fiction and non-fiction for the LGBT community and allies can be borrowed free of charge.

LGBT MS Connection - 250-5002; LGBTMS Connection@gmail.com. Support group for LGBT persons with MS and their partners and their caregivers.

Lifelong AIDS Alliance - 328-8979, www.lifelongaids alliance.org MEN: Gay City: 860-6969, www.gaycity.org; Knights of Mantra: 329-0886, www.jetchapterkofm.com; Mature Friends: Gay men & women 40 & over, www.mature friends.org; Northwest Bears: www.nwbears.com; The Olympians: www.TheOlympians.net; POZSeattle: www.pozseattle.org; Q-Squared: www.qsquared.org; Rain City Jacks: 888-809-5035, www.raincityjacks. org; Seattle Gay Couples: www. seattlegaycouples. org; Seattle Men in Leather: www.seattlemeninleather. org; Seattle Prime Timers: Gay & Bi men 40 & over, www.seattle primetimers.org. (See also listings under Bisexual, Parenthood, People of Color, Transgender.)

MUSIC: Diverse Harmony: www.diverseharmony.org; Rainbow City Band: 1-866-841-9139 ext 2126; rainbowcityband@onebox.com; www.rainbowcity band.com; Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus: 388-1408, 323-0750. www.flyinghouse. org.

Northwest Lesbian & Gay History Museum Project - gayhistnw@aol.com Northwest Rainbow Alliance for the Deaf - www. nwrad.org Olympia/Thurston County: www.RainbowCenterOly. org Out & Equal Workplace Advocates/Seattle Regional Affiliate supports the work of LGBT employees and the growing number of ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) making a difference within local companies, including Alaska Airlines, Amazon.com, Amgen, AT&T, Bank of America, Deloitte, Macy’s, Microsoft, Russell Investments, Safeco Insurance, Starbucks Coffee, Xerox. www.outandequal.org/affiliates/seattle PARENTHOOD: Families Like Ours provides a gateway for LGBT families interested in adoption & provides a network of safe placement agencies, training, support & resources: 441-7602, www.familieslikeours. org; Family Works offers support, information & activities for LGBT families: 694-6727, www.familyworksseattle. org; Gay Fathers’ Association of Seattle offers support groups & social activities: www.gfas. org; Proud & Loud Families - Northwest, www.meetup.com/proudand-loud-families-northwest, plfnorthwest@aol.com; Queer Parent Networking Dinners: 568-7777, info@ nwnetwork.org; Rainbow Families of Puget Sound: www.rainbowfamiliesps.org PFLAG is the national organization for parents, families, allies, and LGBTQ people united for equality with chapters in Seattle, Bellevue/Eastside, the Puget Sound region and across Washington state. PFLAG Seattle: 206-325-7724, info@pflagseattle.org, and www.pflag seattle.org; PFLAG Bellevue/Eastside: 425-4836642, info@bellevue-pflag.org, http://community.pflag. org/PFLAGBellevue; PFLAG Pacific Northwest: www.pnwpflag.org; PFLAG Washington state: www.

28

Seattle Gay News

community calendar

pflagwsc.org.

PEOPLE OF COLOR: Asian/Pacific Islander Queer Network Program at API Chaya, 467-9976; Center for MultiCultural Health, 461-6910, www.multiculturalhealth.org; Entre Hermanos, GLBT Latinos/as, 322-7700, www.entrehermanos.org; Ile LaiLai, 7813565, iya@ilelailai.org; Men of All Colors & Cultures Together (MACCT), 923-8313, macctseattle@yahoo. com, www.macctsea.org; Nubian Pride Productions, nubianpride@gmail.com; People of Color Against AIDS Network (POCAAN) offers rapid HIV testing, M-F, 10am-5pm, 322-7061, www.pocaan.org and on Facebook; Seattle Two Spirit, SeattleTwoSpirit@ hotmail.com; Sistah 2 Sistah, LBT women of African descent, 322-7061, 255-8951; Sistah Sinema, www. sistahsinema.com, info@sistahsinema.com; TrikoneNorthwest, GLBT South Asians, (425) 985-4376, www. trikonenw.org; Two-Spirit Honor Project, 1-866-6850164; U.T.O.P.I.A. Seattle.

Pride Foundation - 323-3318; www.pridefoundation. org Project NEON is a program of Seattle Counseling Service providing FREE information & services to Gay & Bi men to reduce health risks associated with methamphetamine use. 323-1768. www.crystalneon.org Public Health-Seattle & King County Online Comprehensive Health Information for Sexual Minorities: www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/personal/ glbt.aspx Q Law: The GLBT Bar Association of WA - 682-6711; www.q-law.org Q Law GLBT Legal Clinic - 235-7235.

Resource & Referral Line can connect you to LGBTfriendly resources throughout Puget Sound and beyond.

Call 323-LGBT Mon-Fri 2-8pm; Sat 2-5pm. At other times leave voice mail and your call will be returned. Or visit www.gaycity.org to view list of resources online or through Facebook.

Safe Schools Coalition - www.safeschoolscoalition. org; 451-SAFE (451-7233).

SEAMEC interviews, researches & rates candidates for public office on issues of concern to the LGBT community. 905-9941, www.seamec.org Seattle Area Support Groups & Community Center (SASG) is a non-profit organization that builds community and cultivates powerful, healthy lives by providing emotional support and personal development services to those affected by HIV/AIDS, the Queer communities, and those who love them. Our work is done in a spirit of safety, trust, inclusiveness, and celebration of individual

July 3, 2015

differences. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Seattle Commission for Sexual Minorities - 684-4503.

Seattle Counseling Service for Sexual Minorities is a community mental health service for GLBT persons & their families providing comprehensive mental health services on a sliding scale. 323-1768.

Seattle Out & Proud - 206-322-9561; www.seattle pride.org Seattle Police Department Sexual Minorities Community Advisory Council: kim.bogucki@seattle.gov Seattle PrideFest - www.seattlepridefest.org Seattle Treatment Education Project (STEP) E-zine is an electronic resource distributed to people affected

by HIV/AIDS, case managers, front line workers & other health professionals. Now a part of Lifelong AIDS Alliance, 328-8979, www.thebody.com/step/steppage.html Servicemembers Legal Defense Network - (202) 328-3244; www.sldn.org SHIFT: A Peer Recovery Network - www.shift recovery.org Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The Abbey of St. Joan - 860-3666; www.theabbey.org Snohomish Health District HIV/AIDS Program provides free confidential/anonymous HIV counseling & testing 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, until 7pm Tuesdays.

(425) 339-5298.

Social Outreach Seattle (SOSea) - www.facebook. com/socialoutreachseattle South Sound Q Calendar - LGBTQ events in Tacoma, Olympia & Sound Puget Sound area; www.South SoundQCal.com Spokane/Inland Northwest - www.outspokane.com; www.stonewallnews.net SPORTS & RECREATION: Bent Car Guys: www. bentcarguys.org; Border Riders Motorcycle Club: www.borderriders.com; Bottom Dwellers Scuba Club: www.bottomdwellers.org; Capitol Hill Cyclers: join their Facebook group or email capitolhill cycling@ groups.facebook.com or jordan.l. simonson@gmail.com; Cascade Flyers: www.cascade flyers.org; Different Spokes Bicycling Club: www.differentspokes.org; Emerald City Mudhen Rugby: www.mudhenrugby.com; Emerald City Softball Association: www.emeraldcitysoftball.org, www.eteamz.com/womensecsa; Ethyl Forever Car Club: ethylforever@hotmail.com; Festival of the Babes: www.festivalofthebabes.com; Olympic Yacht Club: www.oycnw.org; OutVentures: outdoor education & recreation activities, www.outventures.org; Pacific Northwest Gay Rodeo Association: www.pa-

cific nwgra.org; Puddletown Squares: www.puddletown squares.org; Rain City Soccer: www.raincitysoccer.org; Rain Country Dance Association: a country-western dance organization catering to the LGBTQ community but open to all, www.raincountrydance.org; Sea Dawgs: LGBT ice hockey - SkateSeaDawgs@gmail.com and on Facebook; Seattle Frontrunners: www.seattle frontrunners.org; Seattle Gay Basketball Association: www. seattlegaybasketballassociation.com; Seattle Orca Swim Team: www.orcaswimteam.org; Seattle Otters Water Polo: www.otterpolo.com; Seattle Quake Rugby: www.quakerugby.com; Seattle Tennis Alliance: www. seattletennisalliance.org; Seattle Unified Bowling Association (SUBA): magee98106@aol.com, www. teamseattle.org/bowling.htm, www.theprideleague. com, Century 21 League; Seattle Volleyball Club: www.seattlevolleyballclub.com; Ski Buddies: www. skibuddies. org; Team Seattle Gay Sports Network is an umbrella organization for a wide range of local GLBT sports activities, 367-4064, www.teamseattle.org (see website for comprehensive list of sports clubs); Triangle Recreation Camp at Bender Creek: recreational camping for GLBT folks. Must be 21; ID required. trc@camptrc.org, www. camptrc.org, 1122 E Pike St #1069, Seattle 98122-3934.

Strength Over Speed - www.strengthoverspeed.org Tacoma/Pierce County - Rainbow Center, 2215 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, a resource center for the LGBTIQA community of Pierce County, (253) 383-2318, www. rainbowcntr.org TRANSGENDER: Emerald City Social Club: (425) 827-9494; Gender Alliance of the South Sound: www.SouthSoundGender.com; Gender Justice League: www.genderjusticeleague.org; Gender Odyssey: www.genderodyssey.com; Hermanos Trans Latino & Foreign-Born Support Group: 322-7700; Ingersoll Gender Center: 329-6651, www.ingersoll center.org; The New BoyZ Club: www.olympiaftm group.webs.com; Olympia Trans Discussion Group: www.facebook.com/pages/Olympia-Trans-DiscussionGroup/262449878114; Washington Gender Alliance: (360) 445-2411, www.washington genderalliance.com WOMEN: BABES: support groups for HIV+ women.

720-5566, 1-888-292-1912; Festival of the Babes: www.festivalofthebabes.com; Lesbians Over 40: 7220729; Mature Friends: Gay men & women 40 & over, www.maturefriends.org; Older Lesbians Organizing for Change/WA State Chapter: gloria@oloc.org, mary@oloc.org, www.oloc.org; Pacific Northwest Lesbian Archives: www.pnwlesbianarchives.org; RainshadowWomen: RainshadowWomen@aol.com; Seattle Girls of Leather: www.sgol.org; Tacoma Lesbian Concern (TLC): www.tacomalesbianconcern.org; WOWS: a fun, member-driven social group for Lesbians, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/womenofwest seattle; YWCA Women’s Health Outreach: providing low or no-cost mammograms for income eligible 40+ LBTQ individuals. Follow us at http://lbtqhealth-ywca.blogspot. com, twitter.com/ingridWHO or email lbthealth@ywcaworks.org, 461-4493. (See also listings under Bisexual, Parenthood, People of Color, Transgender.)

Yakima: First Fridays - (509) 576-0276. www.gayakima.com/1stfridays.html YOUTH: B-GLAD (Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Trans & Questioning Adolescent Drop-In Group): Youth Eastside Services offers many programs for GLBT youth, including B-GLAD, (425) 747-4937; Diverse Harmony: www.diverseharmony. org; GLSEN/Washington State (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) & Washington State GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) Network: GLSEN works to create safe schools for LGBT students.

WA GSA Network supports youth-led GSA’s to fight harassment & homophobia in Washington state schools.

330-2099; www.glsenwa. org; www.wagsa.org. GLOBE (GLBTQ Loving Ourselves, Becoming Empowered): a support group & HIV/STD prevention program for GLBTQ youth, 14-20, in Everett, (425) 263-2908, www. globeyouth.org; Health Education Youth Outreach: for LGBTQ youth, ages 16-24 - Jessica Hatlo, 206957-1665, jessicah@llaa.org; It Gets Better Project: www.itgetsbetter.org; Lambert House: an activities & resource center for LGBT youth, 14-22, in Seattle, 3222515, www.lamberthouse.org; www.MatthewsPlace. com; Oasis Youth Center: for GLBTQ youth, ages 14-25, in Tacoma, (253) 671-2838, www.oasisyouthcen ter.org; Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG)/Puget Sound: 325-7724, www.seattle-pflag. org; Pizza Klatch: weekly lunchtime support groups for LGBTQ youth in Thurston County, www.pizzaklatch.org; Prism: for LGBTQ youth, 14-21, in Puyallup - Cherise.

Alexander@ multicare.org; www.facebook.com/PuyallupPrism; Proud Out Wonderful (POW!): for LGBTQ youth, 13-21, in South King County, 206-326-9112, www. facebook.com/proudoutwonderful; Q Youth Resources: in Kitsap County - 360-698-3335; www.kchaf.org; Queer Youth Space: 206-495-9963; www.queeryouth space. org; Renton Area Youth Services (RAYS): LGBTQ, questioning and allied youth drop-in group, ages 12-18 Sarah Hardin, 425-271-5600, ext 155; sarahh@rays.org; Safe Schools Coalition: www.safeschoolscoalition.org; 451-SAFE (451-7233) (non-emergency), 1-877-SAFESAFE (1-877-723-3723) (crisis line); Seattle Young People’s Project (Queer Youth Resource Board): 860-9606, www.sypp.org; Teen Link: 461-4922, 1-888431-TEEN; The Trevor Project: 866-4-U-Trevor; www. thetrevorproject.org; True Colors - Connecting LGBTQ Teens: in Shoreline, 362-7282 x 8018, lbagley@chs-nw. org; Vista Youth Center: for LGBTQ, questioning and allied youth, ages 14-21, in Kennewick, 509-396-5198, www.vistayouthcenter.org; YouthCare/Orion Center: 622-5555; YouthCare/Isis Program (Transitional Living Home for LGBTQ Young Adults, 18-22): 5228412; Youth Suicide Prevention Program (OUTLoudGLBTQ): 297-5922, ext 116, 1-800-273-TALK, www. yspp.org

Celebrating 41 Years!

_______________________________ 10 housemates

19 19 home services

_______________________________

_______________________________

10 housemates

11 for rent

11 FOR RENT

_______________________________

12 12 housing wanted

HOUSING WANTED

_______________________________ LOOKING FOR A PLACE to live.

My name is Marc, 64 y/o, GWM, looking for a new place to live. Am on disability income. Looking for studio apartment, furnished. Can afford $325 a month. Please contact Mark, 206-388-9516. 29/3 _______________________________ 13 13 housing for sale

HOUSING FOR SALE

_______________________________ real estate REAL ESTATE _______________________________ SEATTLE’S TOP GAY REALTORS Buying a Home? Choose a Top Seattle Gay Realtor Offering FREE Buyers Representation! Relocating anywhere in the country?

Visit: WWW.GAYREALESTATE. COM 28/3 _______________________________

14 HELP WANTED

14 help wanted

HOME SERVICES 20

20 health & health & well being

WELL-BEING

_______________________________ ENERGY/BODYWORK Therapeutic massage. 29 years experience. Relaxation, major/ minor injuries, chronic muscle pain. Small Queen Anne home office/studio. Massage table or massage chair. Convenient parking. (I’m a Gay-friendly straight male graphic artist, web author.)

First session 50% off = $45/1.5 hours (travel extra). By appointment only. References available.

Chris Pringer, Reiki Master, 206286-0899. If you get a voice message mentioning “extension #,” please hang up and call back again. Brochure, testimonials, etc. via chalicebridge.com/BMIBrochure.html. 44/21 _______________________________

21

21 licensed LICENSED massage MASSAGE non-sexual

- NON-SEXUAL

_______________________________ RELAXATION and DEEP TISSUE massage on Capitol Hill. Last minute appointments welcome until 9 pm. Jeff, LMP, 206-6500542. www.broadwaymassage. com. 30/5 _______________________________

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Visit us online www.sgn.org

EXCEPTIONAL BODYWORK Given by highly trained LMP. I specialize in injury treatment, acute, chronic, and repetitive stress motion. I have a studio on CapHill, and one just north of the UW. Insurance accepted.

Matt Shafer, LMP, 206-235-7766.

34/12 _______________________________ 36 escorts

36 ESCORTS

_______________________________ BROWN SUGAR color, 8-1/2 cut, smooth, 143 lbs. Also do bodywork. Call 206-886-2286.

Tony. 28/3 _______________________________

37 BODYWORK

37 bodywork

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DADDY BEAR I’m known for my magic touch for the best bodywork. Please contact me between 12 noon and 9pm.

Bear, 206-328-5828. 20/3 ________________________________ AMAZING BODYWORK! Deep tissue, erotic bodywork by handsome, hairy-chested, hung therapist. Reasonable rates. Photos, phone number and reviews at website: www.amazingbodywork. com. Robert. 31/6 ________________________________ EROTICALLY CHARGED nude full body rubdown from playful top, stimulating the senses. Get seduced. Incalls in Renton area.

Scott, 206-355-4469. 25/3 ________________________________ GREAT MASSAGE given by highly-trained, clean-cut, handsome guy. I have two private studios, one on CapHill, and one just north of the UW. Call/ text Matt, 206-235-7766. In/out calls. 34/12 ________________________________

38 men

38 MEN

_______________________________ RAIN CITY JACKS Seattle’s own JO Club, RCJ hosts three group jack-off events every month. Hot, friendly, safe fun!

Adult men only. 888-809-5035. info@raincityjacks.org; www. raincityjacks.org. 31/12 _______________________________ FREE & ANONYMOUS HIV & STD COUNSELING/TESTING Walk-In or by Appt GAY CITY HEALTH PROJECT 517 E. Pike St. MON-FRI: 3pm-8pm SAT: 12:30pm-5pm More Info & to Schedule Appt 206-860-6969 _______________________________

July 3, 2015

SEATTLE PRIME TIMERS A social organization for Gay and Bisexual Men over 40 and their admirers. www.seattleprimetimers.org; info@seattleprimetimers. org SGN/ _______________________________

dress for the occasion use a condom to prevent hiv & other stds

Seattle Gay News 29

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Seattle Gay News

July 3, 2015

Celebrating 41 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

July 3, 2015

Seattle Gay News 31

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Seattle Gay News

July 3, 2015

Celebrating 41 Years!