Critics’ Choice Gay Appreciation Award
On behalf of Tony Leggio and myself, I am pleased to announce the nominees for this year’s Critics’ Choice Award that will be presented as part of the 36th Gay Appreciation Awards (GAA). They are:
Carousel produced by Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane University
The Crucible produced by Fat Squirrel
The Drowsy Chaperone presented by New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA)
Frankenstein produced by The NOLA Project
Primary Trust produced by Crescent City Stage
Varla Jean Merman’s The Drowsy Chappell Roan
Varla Jean Merman in The Drowsy Chappell Roan; The cast of The Drowsy Chaperone at NOCCA
Works that were produced from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 were eligible. The GAA will be presented at the Marigny Opera House (725 St. Ferdinand St.) on Saturday, July 25. The show starts at 7pm–SHARP–but come early, from 6-7:00pm, and walk the Red Carpet with Felicia Phillips and Tiffany Alexander. All are invited to attend. Tickets will be sold at the door and Eventbrite for $20.
(clockwise from left) Carousel, The Crucible, Frankenstein, Primary Trust
The Gay Appreciation Awards thanks those individuals and businesses in the LGBTQ community who are often not recognized for the outstanding services they provide and contributions they make. Over 25 categories are voted on by Ambush Magazine readers. The Critics’ Choice Award, however, is selected by Ambush’s two culture vultures who see the vast majority of theater and performing arts events in the Greater New Orleans area. Congratulations to all involved in each of our nominees!
Macbeth at Tulane’s Lupin Theater through July 12
[With apologies to the Bard of Avon.]
Double, double toil and trouble;
At Tulane’s Lupin Theater, Macbeth does bubble (thru July 12).
James Bartelle, Zarah Hokule’a Spalding, Georgia Morgan, as Witches three,
Hissed and slithered, weirdly, most appropriately.
James Lanius’ projections, in the air and on the floor,
Conjured supernatural mystery which I did adore.
Most stylish costumes by Kaci Thomassie
Were worthy of McQueen, Alexanderie;
Still, though very chic and made by hand,
Would such high fashion’ve been in medieval Scotland?
Double, double toil and trouble;
Other than Witches and costumes, this cauldron did not much bubble.
Directed by Graham Burk
No keen new insights here did lurk.
Despite a modern patina of some genders switched
Swords still did clang; a boardroom setting the drama might’ve enriched.
Line after glorious line of this play,
Burk allowed his cast to rush, the deeper meaning thrown away.
Greatest tragedy of all was the Macbeth of David Lind,
Whom I had previously admired, 'twas here a King of little substance, merely wind.
Jana Mestecky, as Lady M, was somewhat better, if a bit shrill,
As she bent her ambitious husband to her will.
Still, where was the vital sensuality between this pair?
Their requisite chemistry vanished in the air.
Of the others, Anja Avsharian (Lady Macduff), Robert A. Mitchell (Duncan), & Edward Carter Simon (Macduff) stood out;
The others well-fulfilled their roles, not some of the Bard’s most exciting, without a doubt.
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
If only there had been baboon's blood,
Perhaps this production would have been firm and good.
David Lind in Macbeth
[For tickets and further info, go to https://neworleansshakespeare.org/]
Curtain Up
Things heat up in New Orleans in July and August so head indoors and cool off while watching any of the upcoming productions listed below.
If you prefer a little lighter fare than Shakespeare, you can stay on the Tulane campus but go next door to Dixon Hall for Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane University which will be offering two Tony-winning musicals, Jerry Herman’s La Cage aux Folles, July 9–12, directed by Diane Lala (https://liberalarts.tulane.edu/summer-lyric-theatre/tickets/la-cage-aux-folles), and Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, July 30–August 2, directed by Ricky Graham (https://liberalarts.tulane.edu/summer-lyric-theatre/tickets/little-night-music).
Next door, at Loyola’s Marquette Theatre, The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans continues its season, July 23-August 9, with Williams’ Tony Award winner The Rose Tattoo in which a grieving widow living in a tight-knit Gulf Coast community rediscovers the power of love when a wild, big-hearted truck driver crashes unexpectedly into her world.
Starring Kristin Witt and Nick DiJulio, the production features Janet Shea, Gwendolyn Foxworth, and Alex Wallace, and will be directed by Augustin J Correro. (https://www.twtheatrenola.com/)
Yet another Tony-winner can be found down in Arabi when A Company: A St. Bernard Community Theater presents its final show of the season, Cabaret, July 10-19, at the Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge.
Destinie Collins directs Kander & Ebb’s classic musical adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s 1939 novel Goodbye to Berlin. Expect Nazis and showgirls as love and art collide in the decadent Kit Kat Klub in 1930s Berlin. Arianna D’Antonio stars as Sally Bowles while Jorden Majeau is the Emcee, the role that made Joel Grey a star. (https://thecompanystb.com/)
They might not be Tony winners, yet, but two recipients of the Carol Sutton Memorial Grant (which yours truly administers) will be having their world premieres in August.
Local playwright Harold Ellis Clark’s Ganking Mr. Guidry will debut at Le Petit Theatre August 13-16.Set during the 1878 Louisiana sugarcane harvesting season, Ganking Mr. Guidry deals with five workers who band together to stand against injustice, as well as with Isaiah Dorman, a U.S. Army interpreter who spoke several Native American languages and the only Black man who died with General George A. Custer during the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876.
“I am inspired and excited to bring a work like Ganking Mr. Guidry to the Le Petit stage,” said A.J. Allegra, Le Petit’s Artistic Director. “This is a thought-provoking new play by a Louisiana playwright with a clear love of history and a masterful skill for storytelling. Works like these allow us to revisit fascinating portions of our region’s past that are too often forgotten.” John Grimsley will direct the production which features Al Aubry, Martin “BATS” Bradford, Kenneth Brown, Jr., Nicole Collins, and Rahim Glaspy. (https://www.lepetittheatre.com/events/ganking-mr-guidry)
Baton Rouge’s UpStage Theatre Company will present Bridge in the Distance by Clarence Holmes, Jr. on August 15 at 6:30pm and August 16 at 3:00pm at the Frank Hayden Theater on the campus of Southern University.
Bridge in the Distance takes places not far from the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the aftermath of 1963’s Bloody Sunday that occurred there when police attacked Civil Rights demonstrators with horses, billy clubs, and tear gas as they were attempting to march to Montgomery. The play, which Holmes expanded from a one-act to a full-length, examines one man’s determination to be the first person in line to vote in that day’s sheriff’s election
UpStage Theatre’s Artistic Director Ava Brewster-Turner directs Alexander Scott, Elizabeth Erving, Gardner Clark, Corrinne Odom, and Trey Townsel. (https://upstagetheatre.biz/)
A little closer to NOLA, but still on the North Shore, Playmakers Theater of Covington tells a tale of a fateful trip with Gilligan’s Island: The Musical, a stage version of the iconic 60’s TV sitcom. Shipwrecked on a remote Pacific island, the seven castaways build huts and discover strange hieroglyphics in a cave, which speak of an ancient legend. The weather gets rough, Gilligan foils the best-laid of the castaways’ rescue plans–there’s even some romance. Sounds better than a three hour tour.
Gilligan’s Island: The Musical stars Shane Carter, Vince Boston, Derek Thrush, Tiffany Mortillaro, Christian Gray, Aisha Sofia Johnson, Sal Mortillaro, is directed by Thrush, and runs through July 26. (https://bontempstix.com/events/gilligans-island-the-musical)
Another fun musical on the Northshore should be Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s Seussical at Slidell Little Theatre. Don’t know too much about it yet except that it will be there August 28-September 13, and stars The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, lotsa Whos, and a Grinch. (https://www.slidelllittletheatre.org/home)
You’d have to be a Grinch not to like Matthew Broussard, a Cajun/Jewish former financial analyst with a degree in computational mathematics who’s now a stand-up comedian. I happened to see a clip of him online and found him to be truly funny, something that I wouldn’t say about most so-called comics. He’ll be appearing on August 28 and 29 at Sports Drink on Magazine Street with two shows each night of his Educated/Amoral Tour, a solo tour that showcases his latest material. A Cajun/Jewish comedian? How can you resist?! (https://www.sportsdrink.org/)
Matthew Broussard
And how can you resist Southern Decadence, one of New Orleans’ grandest celebrations?! Two of the many fabulous happenings during this Labor Day weekend extravaganza are the PoP Ball and Bette Bathhouse and Beyond.
The 23rd annual Prince of Perversion (PoP) Ball, presented by NOLA’s Radial Faeries on Friday, September 4, at Poor Boys Bar (1328 St. Bernard Avenue in the 7th Ward) , will be hosted by the 2025 Prince of Perversion, Brad “Danger” du Puy. “Danger” has selected “A Spectacle of the Subversive” as his theme so prepare to celebrate everything that is eerie, strange, sensual, seductive and dangerous.
“A Spectacle of the Subversive” is the theme of this year’s Prince of Perversion (PoP) Ball
The official colors are cobalt and taupe. The Ball starts at 8pm, with the highlight occurring when the torch will be passed to the 2026 Prince of Perversion. The festivities continue until midnight, accompanied by the sounds of DJ Sunshine Edae.
Costumes or fantasy/fetish gear are encouraged, or just take it all off. All ages, body types and kinks are welcomed. Poor Boys Bar has a large, secluded outdoor patio, so there’s no telling what unexpected pleasures you might find. Anything goes, as long as you respect yourself and others. Consent is a must! While no one shall be turned away for lack of funds, there is a suggested $25.00 donation upon entry to this feast for the senses that “Danger” promises will leave you begging for more.
And, after 8 years, Bette Bathhouse & Beyond has definitely become a Southern Decadence tradition, so you won’t want to miss this immersive celebration inspired by Bette Midler’s legendary performances at New York City’s infamous Continental Baths on Sunday, September 6, beginning at 9:00pm at Café Istanbul.
NYC impresario (and erstwhile part-time New Orleanian) Daniel Nardicio brings Bette Bathhouse & Beyond back to New Orleans where acclaimed vocalists Seth Sikes and Tim Young will recreate the magic, humor, and musical brilliance of one of Bette Midler’s iconic shows at that notorious gay bathhouse in a series of three 20-minute live performances throughout the evening (10pm, 11pm, & midnight).
Renowned NYC DJ Johnny Dynell will be playing “Bathhouse Disco” classics from the era while the Continental Go-Go Dancers add to the atmosphere. As an added bonus, there’ll be a special guest performer — Jimbo, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars who’ll bring clownish chaos and larger-than-life personality to the festivities.
(clockwise from top) Tim Young (two versions), Jimbo, and Seth Sikes will be appearing at Bette Bathhouse & Beyond
The audience will be required to wear only towels, bathrobes, or underwear (bring your own towel, or rent one from the Bette staff for $3) to recreate the raunchfest vibe of the famed bathhouse, tho clothing is optional, so all Bette’s are off! Tickets are available now at www.RedeyeTickets.com
Enjoy! And try, as it says on the label of Hellman’s Mayonnaise, to keep cool but do not freeze.
