Where are you originally from? How did you end up in New Orleans? I am originally from Baltimore (shoutout to SweetSpotBaltimore!) but I’ve been here in New Orleans for 11 years. The first time I visited New Orleans was in 2010 to help move my (at that time) ex-boyfriend to New Orleans. We were still friends and I volunteered to drive his moving truck with him from Baltimore … [Read more...] about Drag Queen Profile: Debbie with a D
Arts & Culture
Bartender Spotlight
I have been interviewing bartenders for a long time and they all seem to have this one trait in common -- a gregarious personality. Bartenders tend to be outgoing people and have a strong desire to be around people. I also believe that they are all true entertainers even if that may not be their actual vocation. They keep us laughing, they take our mind off our problems, … [Read more...] about Bartender Spotlight
Trodding the Boards March 8, 2022
Curtain Up With 2022's marvelous Mardi Gras now a happy memory and Covid slowly but surely being brought under control, New Orleans’ spring theater season will get to blossom fully for the first time in three years. Here are some of the shows that will be opening between now and Jazzfest. I hope you’ll get to see some -- or all -- of them! The venerable Le Petit Théâtre … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards March 8, 2022
Under the Gaydar (March 2022 Event Calendar)
March in New Orleans is the perfect place to Get Lucky and not just on St. Patrick’s Day. Here are just some of the hot happenings in March to put on your “Gaydar.” If you want your event listed, send me an email at ledgemgp@gmail.com. Weekly Events Monday: SAGE New Orleans Walking Group; Lafitte Greenway; Rainbow Plaza by on Norman C. Francis Pkwy.; 6 … [Read more...] about Under the Gaydar (March 2022 Event Calendar)
Trodding the Boards February 22, 2022
Frozen at the Saenger Theatre I was a frozen virgin, um, I was a Frozen virgin until this Disney musical’s national touring company played at the Saenger Theatre recently. Sure, I had seen a few seconds from the movie's Let It Go video but that was it. Now that I've experienced it, I have a few questions: Why is Elsa dangerous? What did the satyr-looking guy do to her … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards February 22, 2022
The Lost Krewes of Gay Carnival
If you live in New Orleans, there’s a chance you’ve attended one of the several gay Carnival balls presented each Carnival season. If you have, you know these balls are highly elaborate productions requiring hundreds of hours of work and thousands of dollars. Perhaps the most amazing thing about the gay balls is that they are produced by relatively few people, depending on the … [Read more...] about The Lost Krewes of Gay Carnival
Ambush Interview: F. Michael Haynie
Theater audiences are “Letting It Go” this February with the New Orleans premiere of Frozen at the Saenger Theater. The Tony®-nominated Best Musical completed its Broadway run in March 2020 after breaking four house records at The St. James Theatre. I was lucky enough to see the show on opening weekend and it was fantastic. The lighting, costumes and set were just gorgeous … [Read more...] about Ambush Interview: F. Michael Haynie
“The Children of Yuga”
The 73rd year of Gay Carnival is upon us. For those familiar with it, Gay Carnival usually means formal balls produced by krewes such as Petronius, Amon-Ra, Armeinius, Lords of Leather, Mwindo, and Narcissus. But Gay Carnival did not start out with krewes or balls. It began with a group of gay men who decided to do lunch. It all began in 1949 when Bob … [Read more...] about “The Children of Yuga”
Trodding the Boards February 8, 2022
Blue at Slidell Little Theatre through February 13 If you want to see a young actress who, though she’s just making her stage debut, sparkles with a talent many with far more experience can only aspire to, then head to Slidell Little Theatre (SLT) this weekend for its production of Blue. And be ready when Asia Sylvas enters the stage. Sylvas plays LaTonya Dinkins, a high … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards February 8, 2022
Drag Queen Profile: Analia XO
Where are you originally from? How did you end up in New Orleans? I was born and raised in Honduras, but I came to the U.S. when I was 10 years old. At the time, I was living with my mom in South Carolina, but was having financial struggles, so our aunt offered her a job here in New Orleans back in 2009, and I’ve been here ever since. How long have you been doing … [Read more...] about Drag Queen Profile: Analia XO
