About Me

San Francisco Premiere "A Red Carol"

Gearing up for the next holiday in these challenging times the San Francisco Mime Troupe will present the world premiere of “A Red Carol” Michael Gene Sullivan’s deconstructed, activist adaptation of Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol.” It runs on stage December 14th to 29th at Z Space in San Francisco, CA. We all know the story about the redemption of a cranky miser at Christmas, a ghost story designed to let an audience feel good about themselves for not being heartless. However Charles Dickens wasn't trying to make people feel good, he was trying to show them a stark reality, scaring them into being more human. He wrote "A Christmas Carol" to shake up society & with “A Red Carol” it re-establishes his story as the revolutionary call-to-action Dickens intended. In Dickens story Bob Crachit tells Scrooge, "People always think this story is about you. But it ain’t about you, it’s about us & how we let ourselves get infected with your ideas, your greed, your lies, it’s you steppin’ over the hungry & homeless & us following your lead, it’s us lettin’ you turn our government into a casino, listenin’ while you say day after day that profit is the new god & us not standin’ up & shouting NO! It ain’t about you it’s about us.” This isn't your average feel-good Christmas tale but it was never supposed to be. With music, joy & plenty of harsh truths about his time & ours “A Red Carol” is the demand for economic & social justice Dickens wanted then & we need now. 
No comments:

Positivity Queen Alethea Crimmins

Alethea Crimmins the widely celebrated "positivity queen" & "international hype girl" will deliver the keynote at the 81st Annual PANJ-EF Training Conference on November 26th at Atlantic City’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to help foster professional growth amongst New Jersey Probation Officers & supervisors. With over 1.6M TikTok followers & 1.1M Instagram fans Alethea has caught the attention of icons like Madonna, Viola Davis & Rihanna & recently made her third appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. Alethea Crimmins stated, “I’m super excited about spreading positivity to this phenomenal group of law enforcement professionals. These are individuals that give of themselves daily, putting their lives on the line for the people in their community. It is truly my pleasure to be able to motivate, empower & inspire them. I’m truly honored to give back to them a small token of what they give to others.” Alethea’s mission is to inspire others particularly women & our LGTBQ community to turn their own pain into purpose. Additionally Crimmins will lead a workshop entitled "Tips to Having a Good Day On Purpose" an empowering & interactive workshop designed to help you take charge of your day & cultivate intentional positivity. Through practical tips & hands-on exercises participants will learn to build effective self-care routines, harness the power of positive self-talk, rewrite limiting narratives & unlock their full potential. Drawing from personal challenges & triumphs Alethea will energize & motivate attendees to step boldly into their greatness. Crimmins inspires others through podcasts, keynotes, life coaching & music drawing on 15 years of experience in early childhood education to share her wealth of motivational insight & wisdom. 
No comments:

New Book “Trans Kids Our Kids” (AUDIO)

This week I talked with writer Alexis Stratton about the new book “Trans Kids, Our Kids” co-authored with Adam Polaski & Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara from the Campaign for Southern Equality & released by Ig Publishing. In these unprecedented times “Trans Kids, Our Kids” provides a narrative look into the challenges facing our transgender young people. This is especially crucial after the recent GOP presidential campaign distorted & targeted transgender issues to regain control of the White House. The new book provides a truthful blueprint addressing trans youth issues by taking a storytelling approach in capturing how people all across the country are meeting the moment to support, protect & live in solidarity with transgender youth & their families. The book is based on more than 50 interviews with transgender youth, their parents & the medical providers, advocates & faith leaders who are leading the fight against the wave of discriminatory legislation that has flooded statehouses since 2022. One primary focus of “Trans Kids, Our Kids” is the attack on trans youth’s access to gender-affirming care. Less than 2 years ago there weren’t any states that had such bans in effect. Currently there are now 26 states that have bans or restricted transgender youth from accessing hormone therapy with the issue coming before the Supreme Court in the case United States v. Skrmetti with oral arguments on December 4th. Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE) through their Trans Youth Emergency Project have supported more than 1,000 families of transgender youth in navigating healthcare bans. All royalties from book sales will benefit this project. I talked to Alexis about what they hope to accomplish with “Trans Kids, Our Kids” & their spin on our LGBTQ issues. (Design by Liz Williams) LISTEN  
No comments:

Celebrate Phyllis Lyon's 100th Birthday

Come celebrate what would have been Phyllis Lyon's milestone 100th birthday at El Rio! 3158 Mission Street in San Francisco, CA on Sunday Nov 24th. Doors open at 3P for a fun-filled event honoring this incredible woman. Especially during these challenging times with our LGBTQ rights in jeopardy it’s important to come together & celebrate community & dance the pain away & gather together to show our love & appreciation for Phyllis & Del 2 fabulous Lesbian Icons. There will be performances from The Red Hots Burlesque & legendary lesbian DJ's Page Hodel & Downtown Donna will be spinning. Pioneering lesbian & civil rights activist Phyllis Lyon died at age 95 in 2020 & her wife Del Martin who passed in 2008 cofounded the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) in San Francisco in 1955 becoming the first social & political organization for lesbians in the United States. They both acted as president & editor of The Ladder until 1963 & remained involved in the DOB until joining the National Organization for Women (NOW) as the first lesbian couple to do so. Phyllis Lyon was not only a legendary pioneer in the fight for equality she was also founder of Lyon-Martin Health Services. This fabulous event is a fundraiser to support the documentary “The Day the Curtains Came Down” which tells the story of Phyllis' last years & her creative, loving & stealthy AF all-queer caregiving team. So don't miss out on this special fabulous occasion that happens at El Rio Sunday November 24th from 3P to 8P PST with tickets $20.20. 
No comments:

Alan Cumming & Ari Shapiro Perform

Alan Cumming & Ari Shapiro are performing their “Och & Oy! A Considered Cabaret” tour at The Cabot in Beverly, MA on Saturday November 23rd at 8P. Both haver transported their audience to other worlds through their stories & now they’re joining forces in song with musical direction by Henry Koperski. Cumming stated, “I’ve got to know Ari over the last few years, both socially & when he interviewed me for a couple of events. The last time was an evening in D.C., & by the end of it I realized our chemistry & the unusual combo of us, as well as the fact that Ari has an amazing voice, would make for a really great cabaret show & kapow! We’re doing it! What I love most is it’s fresh and ever-changing.” Shapiro concluded, “When Alan first suggested that we create a show together, I didn’t quite believe him. Then as we started to dig in to this collaboration, I realized how much our professional lives actually complement each other. We’re both storytellers who try to help audiences better understand themselves & the world around them. This show lets us explore those shared ideals on stage together, through stories & songs.” They have performed together for a few seasons in Provincetown & now they’re performing at the historic Cabot Theatre a North Shore treasure & legacy of the visionary showmanship & architectural passion of the Ware Brothers. Their Westport, CT show has sold out so get your tickets while they last. Tickets run from $69.00 to $114.50. 
No comments:

International Human Rights Art Festival

The International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF) returns to NYC for its 6th year & takes place December 9th to 15th at The Tank in midtown Manhattan. There will be 60 new shows presented including new short musicals, dance pieces, one act plays, solo shows, poetry, puppetry & musical acts. Over 200 local & international artists will showcase their work which revolves around pressing social issues such as climate change, religion, immigration, caregiving, identity, diversity, LGBTQ, women's empowerment & more. Tom Block, IHRAF’s Founder & Executive Director stated, “As an organization that highlights & supports activist artists around the world, we now become one of them, instead of simply innocent bystanders in the international struggle for justice & human rights. As America enters its most challenging era since the Civil War, we will stand not with or against one or the other political parties, but for our values: human rights, social justice & celebrating diversity, equally for all people. Our artists open space through their own sincerity & vulnerability (no anger or finger-pointing, justified though it may feel) for conversation, understanding & appreciation of the ‘other,’ however imagined. Our work is based on our common humanity & the talent, passion & creativity of our performers.” IHRAF was founded in 2017 with the mission to amplify the critical voices of artists who bring human rights issues to the forefront of conversation & to inspire social change around the world. IHRAF, a 501c3 non-profit believes in a world where artists are free to use their creativity to provide an engine for social change & their work is honored as a human right. 
No comments:

Trans Week of Remembrance Film Fest

Transgender Film Festivals are happening across the nation gearing up to the celebration of Trans Day of Remembrance that takes place Wednesday November 20th. In Massachusetts The Theater Offensive & Coolidge Corner Theatre at 290 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA are bringing 3 evenings of film highlighting our Trans community with “Black Trans Women at the Center” on Monday November 18th at 7:15P, “Kokomo City” on Tuesday November 19th at 7P & “Paris is Burning” on Wednesday, November 20th also at 7P. All the screenings will be accompanied by introductions & panel discussions. “Black Trans Women at the Center” presents the next wave of new plays through this theatrical recording of the 5th annual Black Trans Women at the Center: Virtual New Play Festival. Witness the symphony of voice rising to claim their rightful place at the forefront of the theatrical landscape led by the visionary Long Wharf Theatre Artistic Ensemble member Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi. The festival will feature a staged streaming of her new work Shapeshifter. Then “Kokomo City” on Tuesday November 11th directed by D. Smith & featuring Daniella Carter, Koko Da Doll, Liyah Mitchell, Dominique Silver will takes place at 7P with a post-film panel discussion with guests from The Theater Offensive. Concluding with the classic documentary “Paris Is Burning” directed by Jennie Livingston & featuring Dorian Corey, Pepper LaBeija, Venus Xtravaganza, Octavia St. Laurent with post-film panel discussion with guests from The Theater Offensive & moderated by Rev. Irene Monroe. Watch our nonpartisan VOTE PSA we produced with Rev. Irene Monroe.  
No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Featured Post

New Play Divine Beyond The Flamingos

This fall a legend returns when Eureka O'Hara steps into the pumps of trailblazing drag icon Divine in a new play Divine: Beyond The Fla...

Popular Posts

  • Ariana Grande Launches Foundation
    Ariana Grande has announced the launch of The Brighter Days Ahead Foundation that champions justice & equity through 4 core funds to ...
  • MBCC 27th Against the Tide Event
    Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) will hold its 27th annual Against the Tide Athletic Fundraising Event at DCR's Hopkinton ...
  • Gay Character Joins Star Wars
    It’s been announced that the official "Star Wars" universe is getting its first openly gay character. A lesbian governor appears...