Seattle Gay News
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Issue 20, Volume 39, May 20, 2011
Pride Idol corrals the talent on Country Night
na te go wd y
Curtain opens on Seattle International Film Festival
SGN sits down with SIFF artistic director Carl Spence
Ryan Smith
compete for a spot in the finals and a chance to become the next Pride Idol! Pride Idol is a citywide singing On May 15, Neighbours Se- contest produced and presented attle was transformed into a by SO&P, Verizon Wireless, country and western hoedown FUZE, Seattle’s Best Karaoke, as Seattle’s cowboys and cowgirls turned out for the 2011 Pride Idol “Country Night” to see pride idol page 32
After the start of the 37th annual Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), which featured the local premiere of the crowdpleasing The First Grader, I took a moment to sit down with artistic director Carl Spence and talk about what audiences can expect from this year’s 25-day event. “It does always seem to come around quickly,” Spence chuckled as we began our chat. “We started working on this year’s festival in earnest last September, but in reality sometimes it feels like we started yesterday.” While the size and scope of this year’s SIFF are as audacious
La Femme Magnifique celebrates 30 years Mar vin Pier son
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Join La Femme Magnifique International 2010 Lily Armani and La Femme Magnifique Washington Plus 2010 Katrina Duall along with Darcelle XV and the most beautiful female impersonators in the Northwest on May 22 at Neighbours in Seattle to see who will be crowned the next La Femme Magnifique Washington and Washington Plus. “This year’s pageant promises to be a packed evening of glitz, glamour, and show-stopping performances as we have five contestants running,” said Gaysha Starr, a past La Femme Magnifique International titleholder and the event’s organizer. “Throughout the evening, there will be performances from former La Femme titleholders and special guests Empress Precious Cargo, Penelope, and from Julia’s Le Faux show, Isaac Scott and Robbie Turner!” This year, Lady Chablis, Jada Starr, and Diamond St James will compete for La Femme see la femme page 32
SIFF artistic director Carl Spence
see SIFF page 28
Gay artist works to promote Just Another Sad Song by Anthony Greer SGN Contributing Writer Singer/songwriter Jeremiah Clark will be headlining a public outdoor House Concert in downtown Seattle on June 19. Clark’s album, Just Another Sad Song, is the openly Gay artist’s first full-length album and his second headlining tour, where he will be playing a mixture of house concerts, LGBT centers, and other venues. Clark explained that the album itself will have a live feeling to it.
Darcelle XV
courtesy jeremiah clark
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
file photo
by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN Contributing Writer
see clark page 33
Jeremiah Clark