Articles in Theatre
B!D!F!W! Penny Arcade’s Sex and Censorship Show at Out North starting this weekend
B!D!F!W! is a powerful critique of the Christian right as well as of the politically correct Left. A blend of outrageous humor, political humanism, freedom of expression and erotic dancing, the show shocked NY’s supposedly unshakeable downtown art scene with its brazen use of strippers and erotic dancers and its huge audience dance break. 1500 international performances later, this show (like all true masterpieces) has never left the cutting edge; it comes to Anchorage, finally, to up the ante on the hot topic of “choosing respect.”
“The show was everything you ever wanted to know about censorship, feminism, counterculture and joy.” – Rolling Stone
“Arcade’s strength is that she takes issues which divide and frighten people and exposes the absurdity behind them. A wonder to behold…Beg, steal a ticket.” – Newsweek
About Penny Arcade: Born Susana Carmen Ventura to an immigrant Italian family in the small factory town of New Britain, Connecticut, she became Penny Arcade at age 17 in an effort to amuse her mentor and patron, openly gay photographer/artist Jaimie Andrews. It was Andrews, a member of The Playhouse of the Ridiculous, who introduced the young Arcade to legendary director John Vaccaro. Vaccaro, then directing Kenneth Bernard’s potent play The Moke Eater, subsequently gave Penny her theatrical debut in the groundbreaking production. Soon after, Arcade became a teenage superstar for Andy Warhol’s Factory with a featured role in the Morrissey/Warhol film Women In Revolt, but quickly found the life of an upcoming pop tart too one dimensional and fled to Amsterdam.
She has been a legendary, provocative, ground breaking performance artist ever since. Plus, she’s super cool and super kind.
Find out more about her at www.pennyarcade.tv.
What Out North does: Produces and presents art that challenges and inspires; nurtures creative space where people of all cultures, generations, circumstances and abilities can gather and learn; champions artists whose work pushes traditional boundaries of aesthetics and content.
18 and older unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Date/time: Fridays and Saturdays November 4 to 19, 8 PM
- Location: Out North Contemporary Art House, 3800 DeBarr Road Anchorage, AK (see map)
- Cost of admission: Tickets $25 general, $20 students/60+/military in advance at Centertix. Or $30/$25 at the door.
- Further info: see Facebook events page
Neil Patrick Harris, actor (LGBT History Month)
Neil Patrick Harris is an award-winning television, film and stage actor. Starting at age 16, he has forged an enduring career as a performer in Hollywood and on Broadway. Bent Alaska presents his story as part of our celebration of LGBT History Month 2011, with thanks to the Equality Forum.
Neil Patrick Harris
“I am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest.”
Neil Patrick Harris (born June 15, 1973) is an award-winning television, film and stage actor. Starting at age 16, he has forged an enduring career as a performer in Hollywood and on Broadway.
Harris grew up in Ruidoso, New Mexico, the son of two lawyers who ran a restaurant. He took up acting in the fourth grade, playing the role of Toto in “The Wizard of Oz.” When Harris was 15, the family moved to Albuquerque. That same year, he made his feature film debut in “Clara’s Heart,” for which he received a Golden Globe nomination.
In 1997, Harris accepted the role of Mark in the Los Angeles production of “Rent” and received a Drama League Award for his performance. He made his Broadway debut in 2002 opposite Anne Heche in “Proof.” Thereafter, he appeared as the Emcee in “Cabaret” and as Lee Harvey Oswald in Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Assassins.”
Harris came out publicly in 2006, telling People magazine,
The public eye has always been kind to me, and until recently I have been able to live a pretty normal life. Now it seems there is speculation and interest in my private life and relationships.
So, rather than ignore those who choose to publish their opinions without actually talking to me, I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love.
In 2010, he was named one of the 100 Most Influential People by Time magazine. Later that year, Harris and his long-term partner, David Burtka, had twins, Gideon Scott and Harper Grace. Harris and his family live in Los Angeles.
Here’s Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Horrible in Act 1 of “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” (also featuring Felicia Day as Penny and Nathan Fillion as Captain Hammer). Watch:
For more about Neil Patrick Harris, follow him on Twitter or visit his LGBT History Month page or Wikipedia article.
Photo credit: Neil Patrick Harris at a ceremony for Harris to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 15 Sep 2011. Photo by Angela George; used in accordance with a Creative Commons license.
Alan Cumming, actor (LGBT History Month)
Alan Cumming is an award-winning film, television and stage actor. He has appeared in more than 100 films and television series, as well as major theatrical productions in London and on Broadway. Bent Alaska presents his story as part of our celebration of LGBT History Month 2011, with thanks to the Equality Forum.
Alan Cumming
“We need to do everything we can to counteract hatred and shame and we need to be strong in this fight.”
Alan Cumming (born January 27, 1965) is an award-winning film, television and stage actor. He has appeared in more than 100 films and television series, as well as major theatrical productions in London and on Broadway.
Cumming grew up on the east coast of Scotland, the son of a forester and a secretary. As a teenager, he began appearing in high school plays and local theater productions. In 1982, he enrolled at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, where he received a B.A. in dramatic studies.
After graduation, Cumming worked in Scottish theater and television before moving to London. In 1985, he married fellow acting student Hilary Lyon. The couple divorced eight years later.
In London, Cumming performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre. He received two Olivier Awards, including Best Actor in a Musical for playing the Emcee in “Cabaret.” In 1998, he reprised this role on Broadway, receiving a Tony Award and a New York Drama Critics award for his performance.
Cumming’s many film credits include “Golden Eye,” “Emma,” “Eyes Wide Shut,” “Nicholas Nickleby,” “X2,” and “Burlesque.” On television, he has appeared on “Frasier,” “The L Word,” “Sex and the City,” Logo’s “Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World,” and on the hit series “The Good Wife” as conniving campaign manager Eli Gold.
In 1998, Entertainment Weekly named Cumming one of the 100 Most Creative People in the World. In 2008, he received the Trevor Hero Award from The Trevor Project for being “a true role model for gay and questioning youth through his spectacular and highly successful career.”
Cumming and his longtime partner, Grant Shaffer, entered into a civil partnership at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London. Cumming and Shaffer live in New York City.
Alan Cumming as the Emcee and the cast of the Broadway revival of “Cabaret” peformed “Wilkommen” at the Tony Awards in 1998. Watch:
For more about Alan Cumming, visit his website, LGBT History Month page, or Wikipedia article.
Photo credit: Alan Cumming during the 2011 New York Fashion Week, 11 Feb 2011. Photo by Christopher Macsurak (cropped from original); used in accordance with Creative Commons licensing.
Out North hosts Season Revealing Party Thursday
Artists at work. Visual art for sale. Performances to see. Tickets, wine, goodies and services to bid on.
Support Out North’s programming, outreach and education programs by joining us for our Season Revealing Party and Auction.
There will be comedy (in the theater). There will be sorrow (when you low-bid that set of kd lang tickets or Talkeetna Air Taxi seats). And there will be beer.
You can also donate online by going to www.outnorth.org, and clicking the “donate” button on the calendar page. Just enter $35 or more in the amount field and write “Revealing Party” in the text field provided.
(PS: If you want to donate objects, services, tickets, vacation opportunities, etc., to the auction, contact development@outnorth.org.)
Out North, a nonprofit multidisciplinary art house that produces and presents art that challenges and inspires; that nurtures creative space where people of all cultures, generations, circumstances and abilities can gather and learn; that champions artists whose work pushes traditional boundaries of aesthetics and content.
- Date/time: Thursday, September 8, from 5:30 to 8:30 PM
- Location: Out North Contemporary Art House, 3800 Debarr Road, Anchorage (see map)
- Cost of admission: The admission price of $35 includes food and beverages, entertainment and art explorations, bidding on good stuff, and seeing art forms of all kinds in the making and on exhibit. Tickets at the door or in advance by stopping by or calling Out North at 279-8099.
- Further info: See the Facebook event page.
Wanda Sykes + k.d. lang = Best. Weekend. Ever.
OMG! Wanda’s coming to Anchorage! Tickets are on sale now for the Dena’ina Center on Sept 17… oh, wait… that’s the same date as k.d. lang’s second night at the PAC. Whose idea was that? Where is the Lesbian Coordinating Committee when you need it?
Well, if you’re lucky enough to have tickets for k.d. lang’s Friday concert, then get your Wanda tickets for Saturday and you’ll be ready for a weekend of amazing entertainment with a lesbian twist, right here in Anchorage.
Wanda Sykes has been called “one of the funniest stand up comics” by her peers and ranks among Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Funniest People in America.
Her HBO Special “I’ma Be Me” has been nominated for Two Primetime Emmys. She’s already won 4 Emmys for other projects. Watch the awards on August 29 to see if she wins again.
In addition to her three television specials – “Wanda Sykes: Im’a Be Me”, “Wanda Sykes: Sick and Tired”, and “Tongue Untied,” all available on DVD – she can also be seen on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and heard on Comedy Central’s “Crank Yankers” as the voice of Gladys Murphy.
In June, she was honored with the first Hope of L.A. award presented by Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa to celebrate the city’s LGBT Heritage Month.
Watch this hilarious clip from “I’ma Be Me” on coming out Black to her parents:
And this clip on how anyone could believe Sarah Palin’s “death panels” meme:
Don’t miss this show!
Wanda Sykes in Anchorage
Another Northern Stage Production
When: Sept 17 at 8pm
Where: Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center
600 W 7th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska
Cost: $48.50 and $68.50
(Actual price: $59.55 and $80.35 with the fees.)
Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com, the Sports Arena (named after the mayor who vetoed our rights), and Fred Meyer ticket outlets.
More Info: Wanda Sykes home page and the Anchorage event.
GLBT performances at Out North
