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
Trodding the Boards October 17, 2023
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
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
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
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
Trodding the Boards August 22, 2023
2023 Critics’ Choice Gay Appreciation Award winner On behalf of Tony Leggio and myself, I am delighted to announce that the winner of this year’s Critics’ Choice Gay Appreciation Award (GAA) is Where the Suga Still Sweet written by Brian Egland and produced by No Dream Deferred. The award was presented as part of the 33rd Gay Appreciation Awards at Oz New Orleans on … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards August 22, 2023
Trodding the Boards August 8, 2023
The Bodyguard, the Musical at the New Orleans Jazz Market through August 27 About seven years ago, the Anthony Bean Community Theater (ABCT) was asked to leave its longtime home on Carrollton Avenue as the church that rented space to them wanted to start using its auditorium hall for other purposes. After a brief search, ABCT thought it had found a new home, a … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards August 8, 2023
Trodding the Boards July 25, 2023
Romeo and Juliet at Tulane’s Lupin Theater through July 30 In trying to review the New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane’s (NOSF) current production of Romeo and Juliet, to use the lingo of today, “It’s complicated.” First of all, it’s a good solid production without a weak link in the cast, similar to NOSF’s Twelfth Night earlier this year. A 2-for-2 NOSF season … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards July 25, 2023
Trodding the Boards July 11, 2023
Critics’ Choice Gay Appreciation Award On behalf of Tony Leggio and myself, I am pleased to announce the nominees for the Critics’ Choice Award that will be presented as part of the 33rd Gay Appreciation Awards (GAA). They are: The Baltimore Waltz produced by Fat Squirrel Big Freedia with the LPO presented by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Little Shop of … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards July 11, 2023
Trodding the Boards June 27, 2023
New in New York If you’re heading up to New York for July 4th, or any other time this summer, I wish I could recommend a bunch of new theatrical offerings for you to enjoy. Alas, that is not the case (and more on that later). What has blossomed, in many cases just since I was last up there in April, is a plethora of worthy exhibits at museums throughout Manhattan. If you … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards June 27, 2023