by Eric A. Crabtree
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Carmen Staged in Austin
The Triangle On Stage & the Austin Lyric Opera's Gay and Lesbian Outreach group will celebrate Carmen at its last event of the 2000-2001 opera season on Mon., May 14. A reception will begin at 5:30pm on the Rooftop Garden of the Mary Ann Heller Opera Center at 901 Barton Springs Rd. A discussion of this new production, followed by an opportunity to attend an actual working rehearsal of the Orchestra at the City Coliseum will take place. Refreshments will be provided and this event is free. Please RSVP at 512.472.5927 to attend the event. This new production of Carmen is a totally original concept and is the brainchild of ALO general director Joseph McClain. The entire interior of Austin's City Coliseum will be transformed into Seville, Spain, and the audience will be virtually surrounded by the actual production during the performance. Carmen will be performed May 18-28. Tickets, from $12-$99 are available via 512.472.5992 or from www.austinlyricopera.org.
Jason Stuart Performs Gay Comedy Without a Dress - Actor/comic Jason Stuart is back by popular demand and headlines Austin's Bad Dog Comedy Theatre located on Riverside and Congress from May 17 to 19. For info., call 512.804.BDOG or www.baddogcomedy.com. What does this busy comic have to say about President Clinton's last days in the White House? "I hear Bill and Hillary took everything that wasn't nailed down! I guess 8 years in the White House can feel like a hotel and a painting given as a gift can look like a towel?" and regards to Queer As Folk: "If everybody in Pittsburgh is that gorgeous, what am doing in Hollywood?" Most recently, Jason was cast in a guest shot on the ABC pilot Me & My Needs. In addition he has performed in recent episodes of Three Sisters, Providence, The Sausage Factory, The Huntress, Norm, The Drew Carey Show, Charmed and Will & Grace. Check out Jason's Web site for photos and additional info. at jasonstuart.com or his new column on www.gaywired.com click to pop and go to Jason Stuart Says.
Club Skirt & Book Signing May 18 - Austin Club Skirt invites all to get active and come share the moonlight with dancing, food, refreshments and a book signing with beneficiaries to go to Liv In The Game and Every Woman's Self Defense held at Fiesta Gardens on Fri., May 18 starting at 7pm. A special appearance by former National Champion Houston Comet Lady Longhorn and syndicated columnist Fran Harris will be at Club Skirt signing copies of her new book, Summer Madness, the wild and wacky world of the WNBA. Book Woman will be on hand selling the books for $15.95. A book signing begins at 8pm. Suggested donation is only $10 before 8pm. You must be 21 and have an ID to attend Club Skirt. Austin Club Skirt is a fund-raising organization that holds benefit social/dances to raise donations for non-profit organizations in the Central Texas area. For more info. go to AustinClubSkirt.
Austin Observes 18th International AIDS Candlelight Service - Please join all in remembrance on Sun., May 20 from 8pm - 9pm at Republic Square Park (5th and Colorado St.'s - down from RCC) for the 18th International AIDS Candlelight Service, "One Voice, Many Faces... United For Life." A candlelight service will be held for AIDS/HIV victims with special prayers, remembrances, statistics, speakers, poems and songs. Please bring candles, your friends and loved ones. The event is sponsored by Ambush, AIDS Services of Austin, HIV Wellness Center, the Austin Men's Project - AMP, Project Transitions, Metropolitan Community Church at Freedom Oaks Logo and other great organizations & individuals. For more info., visit the Web site.
Pro Arts Announces James Baldwin's The Amen Corner - Pro Arts Collective of Austin will present The Amen Corner, by James Baldwin, through May 20 at the Santa Cruz Center for Culture, located at 1805 East 7th. Performances are Fri.'s and Sat.'s at 8pm and Sun.'s at 2pm. "[Play] is set in a store-front church in Harlem, run by a self educated woman preacher who through Baldwin's artistry, emerges as a wholly rich and beautiful characterization." (New York Telegram and Sun). At the time the play opens her son, the church organist, seems beat on following in the footsteps of his jazz musician father and the heaven of the church world she has created seems about to crumble. There are many vibrant scenes that ensue when the jazz player comes home to die. This classic African American drama, produced by Pro Arts Collective, will be directed by Para L. Jackson (Flyin' West, Colored Museum, Raisin in the Sun). Baldwin's highly energetic play features "live" Gospel music offering an evening of drama, music, and entertainment. For ticket info. call 512.454-TIXS.
Memorial Weekend Storms "Tribal Rain" - Ben Parsley & Splash Productions presents Meltdown 2001- "Tribal Rain" from May 25-27. Meltdown 2001 kicks off on Fri., May 25 with MYSTIC THUNDER - the official welcome to Austin Party at Radisson Ball Room located at 111 E Cesar Chavez and Congress Ave. from 10pm - 4am. DJ Phil B. (San Francisco). Advance tickets are $20/door $25. On Sat. morning, May 26, party barges loaded with food, drink and hot guys are at LOST LAGOON, Hippie Hollow, Lake Travis. DJ Troy Sands (Dallas) guest spins from 11am to 5pm. Tickets are $55 and include all food, drink & lake barge trip. LOST LAGOON launches for those with full weekend pass from 'ust for Fun at Emerald Point Marina (by Carlos N Charlie's) starting at 11:30am. The last boat departs the marina at 12:30pm sharp. Afterwards a taxi ski boat will shuttle back and forth to take late comers and those wanting to leave the lake early on a first come basis. $35 half boat passes allow entry to the party barges only at Hippie Hollow and only if space is available. The party bus to the marina will leave from the Radisson at 10:30am. The cost is $20 for this bus ride and reserved in advance by calling 512.478.1791. The bus should be back around 6:30pm.
Sat. night it's the main event with TRIBAL RAIN featuring DJ Roland Belmares (Austin / LA) and lighting by Obedient Lighting & Chakra 7 Lasers. The venue will be the Austin Music Hall located at 209 Nueces from 11pm till 4:30am. Tickets are advance $30/door $35. Sun. morning on May 27 rolls with MORNING HAZE with DJ Joe Gauthreaux (New Orleans) at Element Nightclub located at 301 W. Fifth St. (Fifth & Lavaca St.) from 4:30am till 8/9am. Tickets are advanced $15 /door $20. Sun. afternoon turns into TROPICAL STORM Tea Dance with DJ Don Bishop (Palm Springs) at the Radisson pool,111 E. Cesar Chavez St. & Congress Ave., from 4pm - 10pm. Tickets are advance $15/door $20. Meltdown 2001 climaxes on Sun. night with RAIN DANCE featuring DJ Michael Tank (Houston) at La Zona Rosa located at 612 W. 4th St. from 11pm-dawn. Tickets are advance $25/door $30.
Advance tickets & VIP passes for Meltdown 2001 are almost gone. You can still buy online or via the ticket outlets in Austin (Sparks & TapeLenders), Dallas (Union Jack & Outlines) & Houston (Basic Brothers). VIP weekend passes are $129 with priority access to all Meltdown 2001 events, free shuttle to Sat. night parties, and private VIP chill area with fruit at Sat./Sun. night events. Rooms are available for Meltdown 2001 at the host hotel, Radisson on Town Lake, with the opening party Fri. night and tea dance by the pool Sun. Airfare is handled via American Airlines. There's a free shuttle bus available Sat. night for VIP pass holders only. It will run between the Radisson Hotel & Austin Music Hall on Sat. night from 11pm - 5am & shuttle from Austin Music Hall to after-hours and back to the Radisson until 8am. For more info. please visit www.partyaustin.com/meltdown2001 or call 1.888.558.1791 toll free or in Austin at 512.478.1791. Associate Producers for Meltdown 2001 are Fireball - Chicago, BBMC - Montreal, ReUNION@CityHall - San Francisco, Cherry 06 - Washington DC, Jungle IX - Houston, & K/os - Dallas.
Let's Get a Tattoo! - Ok, I am now one of the boys in a membership pack of an exclusive club of millions. I have a tattoo. Tattoos are not new to mankind, as they have been around for centuries marking existence of tribal cultural, fraternities, individualism, and even inked on some kings and queens. Speaking of queens, many GLBT family members are tattooed to announce their individualism through body-art. I thought it was time for my body-art and individualism. I admit, I was scared at first and thought hard on where and what I wanted to have tattooed on my body. After many years, I jumped into the ink when last month I got arm branded with a very original cool tattoo. A professional of 18-year tattoo artist did the artwork. My unique tattoo is made up of hearts due to my Valentine's Day birthday and my Aquarius water symbol sign all incorporated into a circuit graphic background. I love it and have proudly displayed it to many.
When looking to adorn one's body with tattoo art, here is some advice. First, know you have to be 18+ years old, not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and know what you what on your body and where you want it. I would advise considering all graphic options before you are inked. After all, the tattoos might be very inexpensive to adorn, but it is very expensive ranging in the $1,000's to remove. Secondly, look for tattoo parlors that have been in the business for years and know what they are doing. Most all tattoo parlors are licensed through the state so please ask for references. Tattoo artists, in my opinion, should have several years in the profession and use only sterilized equipment, ink and their studios should be clean and inviting. Selections for body-art can be found at almost all parlors with many samples called 'flash' designs on the walls or from books. (Ready-Made Artwork) Many opt for their own original design as I did and the individual tattoo artist can help and assist you with your body-artwork and come up with some designs meeting your specifications. If you are still hesitate about getting a permanent tattoo, consider temporary tattoos or perhaps a Henna Tattoo that can last for a couple of weeks with proper care. Did it hurt? That was the one question I kept hearing. Yes, it stung a little, like a bee sting or pen etched hard into your skin but it does not last long. The location and sensitivity of one's body ranges per person. Areas that are more sensitive than others are thighs, underarms and face areas. Many opt to have tattoos done on their buttocks, or legs or upper arms/shoulders where they can not be seen easily. Others opt for very visible tats like chest, lower arms, and even their face. It's all an individual's choice.
Once one's tattoo is selected, the artist makes one sign a disclaimer and waiver of liability on their work, infections and discomfort and some even on issues such as HIV/AIDS. Next the artist sits you in a chair and cleans and sterilizes your skin. The ink design is placed on the skin via a stencil rub for the artist to follow an outline and begin his craft. The process begins with a sterilized needle gun dipped into black or colored ink beginning the body-art. The process can take less than 30 minutes to hours depending on the artwork done and colors used. The process is complete after the artist puts Bacitracin Zinc or A & D ointment cream on your new tattoo and it is kept bandaged for a couple of hours. Afterwards, remove the bandage and please follow the directions of the artist / tattoo parlor for proper care until the tattoo is healed in 2-4 weeks. You now have body-artwork to proudly display. There are many local tattoo parlors in Austin. I suggest trying out Capital City Custom Tattoos & Exotic Piercing on 6th & San Jacinto St. Singapore John's Tattoos on IH-35 North @ Rundberg Lane. Notorious Ed's located soon also on 6th Street with a fetish dungeon by the people who brought you Bloodfest. In San Marcos, try Exotic Piercing and Tabu Tattoos on West Hopkins St. For those looking to get into the business, Capital City Custom Tattoos & Exotic Piercing is looking for an apprenticeship for two-years. Apply for details at that location. All these locations sponsor their 1st annual Biker Rave - June 1-3. Check out their ad in Ambush for details.
