Ambush Magazine

The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™

Brian Sands

Brian Sands began writing for Ambush Magazine in 1996. He became Co-Theater/Performing Arts Editor in 2002, going solo in 2011 upon the retirement of his late colleague Patrick Shannon with whom he founded the Ambie Awards in 2003 and presented them through 2011. He is a member of the Big Easy Theater Committee. He currently co-hosts, with Brad Rhines, Stage Talk with Brian and Brad; episodes can be seen at https://www.facebook.com/StageBeatNewOrleans

Trodding the Boards December 15, 2023

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A Christmas Carol at Loyola’s Marquette Theater through Dec. 21 Crescent City Stage is presenting Patrick Barlow’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at Loyola’s Marquette Theater through December 21. In the spirit of the season, let’s do a “Naughty” and “Nice” review-- Nice --James Lanius III’s projections take us outside to the cobblestone streets of … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards December 15, 2023

Trodding the Boards November 28, 2023

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Curtain Up The holidays are upon us so don’t expect anything too heavy on local stages for the next month or so. Or to kinda quote Stephen Sondheim, “Comedy tomorrow, tragedy next year!” If you’re looking for something to do besides caroling and standing under the mistletoe, check out some--or all--of the following– Wicked, now the 4th longest-running show in Broadway … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards November 28, 2023

Trodding the Boards November 20, 2023

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Chicago Culture I hadn’t been to Chicago in a while and certainly not in November. I guess I shouldn’t complain as I had overall nice, sunny weather. But now I know why they call it the Windy City. No, it’s not because of Mother Nature’s blowjobs. Rather, it refers to the city’s windbag politicians. Still, I would’ve been much happier if someone had turned off the wind … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards November 20, 2023

Trodding the Boards October 31, 2023

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I Wrote a Song at The AllWays Lounge I Wrote A Song, Trey Ming’s 2018 musical, recently returned to The AllWays Lounge. Based on countless true stories, it’s just your average boy-meets-girl, boy-gets-married, boy-looks-at-gay-porn-becomes-a-Baptist-preacher-sneaks-off-to-bathhouses-gets-outed-in-disgrace-tries-a-conversion-camp-comes-out-anyway story. Set to music. I had … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards October 31, 2023

Trodding the Boards October 17, 2023

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Varla Jean Merman's Stand By Your Drag at Cafe Istanbul In July, I went to a Comedy Festival at the New Orleans Arena. Other than Tiffany Haddish, who was very funny, I laughed more at Varla Jean Merman's Stand By Your Drag than all the other comics combined. Why hasn’t Ms. Merman yet gotten her own sitcom? Stand By Your Drag, Varla’s (she really needs only one name) … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards October 17, 2023

Trodding the Boards October 3, 2023

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Carrie: Blood in the Water at the Drifter Hotel through October 7 Aqua Mob’s Water Ballerinas and Ballerinos may not be quite ready yet for the Olympics, but do any of those athletes who “go for the gold” perform their synchronized swimming routines wearing high-heeled shoes as Daisy Konfused does in Carrie: Blood in the Water? I think not. I’ve been attending Aqua Mob’s … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards October 3, 2023

Trodding the Boards September 15, 2023

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Spring Storm at Loyola’s Lower Depths Theatre through September 23 In 2010, Tennessee Williams' early play Spring Storm received its European premiere in Northampton, England; virtually unknown in America, it had never been mounted in the playwright’s lifetime. The production then transferred to London's National Theatre where it received universal acclaim. I wonder how … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards September 15, 2023

Trodding the Boards September 5, 2023

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The Stratford Festival...and More For many years, I had heard of Canada’s Stratford Festival in Ontario, not only through press coverage of its celebrated productions, but because my high school drama teacher would go each year with his partner and write glowingly about it in their annual Holiday letter. (That said, until a few moments before writing this, I thought it was … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards September 5, 2023