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June 08, 2006

More frequent flyer miles/on the road

Dscn3242 Debra Shapiro, MD writes:

We just returned from KC's fabulous Santa Rosa, Calif. show. This was part of the Sonoma County's Pride weekend and the Luther Burbank Center now owned by Wells Fargo Bank was packed to the rafters with eager dykes of all ages, shapes, colors and even genders!

Kate met with us for 2 hours before her performance in her hotel room for lunch. It was too hot outside for the delicate northerner. We had brought lunch after checking with her publicist, the extremely lovely Michele, and, in case you are wondering, no beets, ever! And no carbs, minimal fat. Really, she eats almost nothing. I think she runs of caffeine, broiled chicken, some lettuce leaves and, of course, Nicorette gum.

First thing out of her mouth was an irritated comment regarding the bad Bush pushing his nasty anti-gay marriage amendment this week. And we were off... We talked about everything from her tour, performing comedy, losing one's place in a routine and finding it again, her other gigs such as writing for the Advocate magazine, and being featured on In the Life to World Pride in Jerusalem, which we found rather ironic (should it be held in Spain, don't you think?), Crucifix wielding homophobic thugs in Moscow, the European Parliament (my favorite topic) and radical rabid, foaming at the mouth secularism and Freedom of Speech (for which we are still grateful). We were exchanging book referrals. Kate had told me to read End of Faith, by Sam Harris which I, in turn, have been promoting at every opportunity, and we told her about the new Quincy Jones autobiography. She told us about meeting "Q" at one of her performances. He had said to her backstage, simply, "You're funny." Kate told us of her happiness in her dear Provincetown and her 19 years of Love with the strong, smart and beautiful Urvashi.

We stayed with Kate until we saw the first yawn and then we quickly left her to herself for a couple of hours before the show.

Believe it or not, there were tailgate parties happening at the Luther Burbank Center. Large groups of women hanging out in the parking lot eating and laughing. I was reminded of the Grateful Dead tours of my past. Was I no longer a Dead Head, but a Kate's Kid?

We met up with our friends from the Olivia Greek Cruise who were kind enough to get us tickets. There were 1300 dykes in the hall, and a few gay men, too. The opening act, an LA comedian named Andre Kelley warmed up the crowd and he was actually doing quite well until, near the end, he mistook a woman in the audience for a cute dude and it was not a good thing. His last minute scrambling to recover was painful and we just couldn't wait for our beloved KC to enter.

This was my 7th show of the tour and we got in some trouble in Victoria, because Kate thought that we laughed too early for some of her jokes. I feel, in our defense, that we were not laughing before the next joke, we were merely STILL laughing from the previous joke. We were safely tucked up in the balcony, but we needn't have worried as she had added lots of new material to her show.

There was some summer humor, regarding vapor locked packages in bathing suits; some urinary humor..all the president's leaks; and more political humor, although I hate the image of Ann Coulter and Kate...but, as she says: "Anything to shut her up!" Ain't it the truth. Sometimes listening to Kate makes me feel like Proust taking a bite out of the Madeleine. I become flooded with all the memories of her other performances through the years. I feel the power of her humor, the importance of what she is saying with her humor. The greater message of how to disarm and even disassemble our oppressor. Laughing and waving as the rapture of change carries them away. The metaphor, the reality, our collective power to save ourselves from being ravaged by religious bigots.

Kate didn't have time for an encore, but she got a great long standing ovation from the very enthusiastic and appreciative audience.

Posted by admin at 08:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 06, 2006

Pinball Wizard

Though it was the 16th Annual Gay Days in Orlando, it was my first time in attendance. The ballroom of the Hotel Royal was packed to the rafters, thanks to the producer, Margaret Nolan and we had a raucous good time. The hotel was also the site of a gay trade fair and non-stop parties. What started sixteen years ago as a day, has now burgeoned into a weeklong celebration. Not only does it bring gays together from all over the country, according to Pat Robertson, it also causes hurricanes and other natural disasters.

And we have the power to destroy marriage. We're amazing. It's time for a Gay Years.

From the excellent road managing of Kathy Mullen, whom I last saw stage managing the March on Washington and who now works for, as she says, "The Mouse" I was off to Santa Rosa, California. I really have to get my booking agent a map.

Tracye Lea Lawson met me in Oakland and we drove up through the vineyards to Santa Rosa. The hard-working, Ellen Maremont and Robyn Branhal of We Mean It productions brought me to a packed house of 1300 at the Wells Fargo Center, FKA The Luther Burbank. The staff of the venue is one of the best in the country. Andre Kelley rocked the house with a funny opening set and introduced me. It was a blast and then, because those California gals don't know when to stop, they had a dance after!

The flight home was my favorite kind - uneventful. Since my return, I feel as if my head might blow off with fury at the 'president' and his marriage amendment. We've established what a calculating, mendacious piece of work he is, but what is really frying me is our so-called allies who dryly blather on about procedural-this and state's-rights-that when it's your and my life they are talking about. They are disgusting.

For quite a while, I've had a June roots tour planned to Ireland. No, not my hair. We'll do our best to come back to the states. No guarantees.

O'okay - I promise I'll be back for the NY GLBT Center Garden Party and the End Violence Against Women Concert. But then I'm going to Ptown for the summer. Come see me at the Crown.

Posted by admin at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 01, 2006

Kate hosting "PRIDE IN ACTION" this month on In the Life

PROGRAM: In the Life, America's Gay & Lesbian Newsmagazine on Public Television
EPISODE: 1509, June 2006
EPISODE TITLE: "Pride In Action"
FEED DETAIL: 1509 K1: Monday, May 29, 2006, 1500-1600 ET/511

PROGRAM SUMMARY: This month on In the Life, "PRIDE IN ACTION" is hosted by political humorist and performer Kate Clinton.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: This June on In the Life, America's gay and lesbian newsmagazine presents "PRIDE IN ACTION," an episode featuring three remarkable members of the LGBT community–a young medical student, a high school student, and a veteran actor–each of whom is making unique contributions to social activism. Hosted by political humorist and performer Kate Clinton.

In "A Bronx Tale," we meet John Paul Sanchez, known as J.P., who's about to graduate from New York's renowned Albert Einstein College of Medicine. With his skill and drive J.P. could succeed anywhere, but his dream is to stay right where he is to serve a community in need, the community he grew up in, the Bronx.

There are roughly 3,000 gay-straight alliances (GSAs) in high schools across the country. These student-run groups promote dialogue and tolerance. Some have been openly welcomed, others bitterly opposed. In "I'm Still Emily," In the Life travels to the heartland of the nation to meet seventeen-year-old Emily Frerichs, the only person to publicly come out in her rural community. Her efforts to start a GSA offer a window into what it means to be young, gay, and a devout Christian in middle America.

In this month's Real to Reel, filmmakers Charles Ignacio and John Catania share their insights into the genius of actor and playwright Charles Busch in their documentary, "The Lady in Question is Charles Busch."

To find out more, please visit In the Life's website at www.inthelifetv.org or call 1-800-627-ONTV (6688) for a complimentary monthly bulletin.

(CC)(New)

Produced by In the Life Media, Inc.
Originally presented by Thirteen/WNET New York
and seen on American Public Television

Posted by admin at 01:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Mamorial Day Weekend

First there was the lovely visit to Maggie Cassella's 10th Annual "We're Funny That Way" Comedy Festival. I really was a guest worker! From the opening night dinner gala through a rotating schedule of comedy - The Nellie Olsens, Dina Martini, Karen Williams and Maggie herself - the weekend is a Juste Pour Gay Rires. Maggie raises and then donates money to lots of arts projects in the area. She'll be back at the Vixen in Ptown this summer. You have not really lived until she "flyers" you!!

Since I had a little time in the apres midi, I got to visit with Elvira Kurt and see her new baby - le petit Madeleine. Elvira and Chloe have a beauty! Elvira's comedy stylings often involve deft imitations of her mother. Goes around, comes around. I saw Madeliene do an imitation of Elvira doing a goo goo.

I made it through customs - when they ask, "Are you bringing dangerous weapons into the country?" I always want to point to my tongue. The nine-seater from Boston to Ptown was almost canceled due to thick fog, but my Muse was with me, and we flew off when there was a tiny window of opportunity.

We used to call the long Memorial weekend "Bud Lite Weekend" because all the young gals, just graduated from colleges in the Northeast, all in backward baseball caps were seen lugging huge coolers of beer into their motels and rental houses. But a wag on the west end of town told me that he called it "Mamorial Day." It's not about pink ribbons and walking - it's about partying and carrying on and having a blast. And they did.

It was a great kickoff to another summer season at the Crown and Anchor. The C&A season resumes for me on June 22, after stops in Orlando and Santa Rosa, and a week in Ireland where I'll be tracing my roots. Not hair, dears, although they are getting darker and trashier by the minute.

Happy Gay Pride - the month formerly known as June!

Posted by admin at 08:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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