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Happy New Years
James Duggan
copyright 2010
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 My first visit to Philadelphia was in 1976. I came here to walk the BSA Philadelphia Bicentennial Trail of Freedom. I was only in town for a few hours but the experience left a lasting impression on a then 16-year-old kid. I next returned to Philadelphia in 1992 to continue my theological studies and quickly fell in love with this beautiful city. In 1994, I made the decision that I would call Philadelphia my home and start a new life here.
Flash forward 16 years later, and I'm just as happy with my decision to relocate and to have planted my roots for all this time.
Philadelphia is truly a great city, not just for its fascinating history or its spectacular architecture, but for its neighborhoods and its people. Everyday unsung heroes toil to make our lives better and more secure in this amazing city. Advocates, directors, managers, members of boards, glorious invaluable volunteers, and strong-hearted staffers provide care and services to our youth and seniors, our sick and disenfranchised, and our poor and rich alike. All are sharing their time and talents for the greater good of the queer community. I am reminded of a thought I heard many years ago: "I will always be enthralled by the good works of others for they lift me up from the doldrums of life and give light to my darkness."
All of these contributors of and to the queer community should be applauded and commended; for these are the true leaders of our community, the true heroes who every day give voice to those whose voice would not be heard if were not for them.
This New Year's Eve's QUEERtimes celebrates the thousands of individuals who give and serve and lead for the good of others, in all of the queer community's diversity.
Let us embrace that diversity, forever making us strong and whole, and never allowing our differences to divide us.
The time is now to resolve those issues and personalities that endanger the health and well-being of our thriving local queer community that tends to separate us. We don't need factions, opposing camps, or divisiveness.
It is important to be united, focused and active in the affairs of the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. Beyond all of our everyday lives, we must be ready to fight (and win) even bigger battles like queer civil rights.
We wish you all a wonderful New Year and hope that 2011 will be the year where we will all lay aside our differences and unite as one for the greatest good of us all. Comments:james@QUEERtimes.net 
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What It Looks Like From Here
Thom Cardwell
copyright 2010
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Please tell me that I'm not in denial.  Unlike other writers evaluating 2010, I don't want to review the good and bad things that characterized the past year. Instead, I only want, as the famous popular song lyrics go, to "accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative."
Having admitted that publicly to you now, does that mean I've become an eternal optimist? A hopeless romantic? A silly gadfly of the clichéd axiom, "the good shall prevail"? That's a bit of a stretch, frankly, because, I'm not a believer in religion. But, somehow, I do end up having faith in the "greater good" and "the endearing and prevailing" quality of the human spirit. Enough about the psychological jujitsu I'm inflicting upon myself in trying to justify, to you, as readers, mentioning only the good things about 2010, I'm just going to do it. After all, my list is compiled, based upon my only personal interests and, having determined that, my selection will definitely be both eclectic and celebratory, So for those of you who care to read it, it's my list of what has been the highlights of my year (and, in some cases, yours} shared with me in a "collective consciousness" of making us happy, creative, fulfilled, satisfied, even to the point of being elated.  So I'll be right upfront about my "guilty pleasures" for 2011! I can't seem to get enough of Alan Ball's brilliant HBO series, "TrueBlood." Vampires in a sexy series works for me every time! Then there's some other items of this list: "True Love," another HBO original series, all the boys in the "Twilight" series, Patti "Millionaire Matchmaker" Stanger.
 I'm thankful for the repeal--finally and hopefully forever--of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and am proud of all the gays and lesbians that have served and are serving in our nation's military. It's a landmark decision and amazing victory for us all! Somehow, I truly believe that we'll see other victories for ourselves and our queer community in the near future.
 I'm delighted that even tonight as I am watching the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors included two out entertainers/artists--choreographer Bill T. Jones and composer/lyricist Jerry Herman (pictured right)--and that in the latter's tribute 100 members of the D. C. Gay Men's Chorus were featured on national television on a major network show! I'm certain that it's a first!
There's a darker side to life but I tried my hardest to stay in the light. But others sometimes can't see the light for the darkness so it saddens me that queer designer Alexander McQueen ended his life by suicide and no one is even sure why and at the height of his career, too. I'm happy that I've made it to the age of 65, but, bittersweet about having outlived both of my parents, and most of my gay generation who succumbed to HIV/AIDS. I'm empowered and proud of beginning to undergo my own "recreation" (with Madonna as my inspiration, among others) and, with "a little help from my friends," as the popular song lyrics go, in co-writing my first screenplay, "You Can't Have It All," that not only got produced but opened Philadelphia Qfest 2010 in July. What about New Year's resolutions? I don't adhere to them so, after all these years, I don't bother about that. However, I do ascribe to one of my favorite quotes as my motto: "Life is not a dress rehearsal" and intend, in 2011, to experience and achieve new, dynamic and purposeful projects!
comments@QUEERtimes.net
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Thom's Art
Thom Cardwell
copyright 2010
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Traverse Arts Project produces "Coming: A Rock Musical of Biblical Proportions" starring Erik Ransom and featuring Reichen Lehmkuhl at Prince Music Theater on January 22!  The gay winter theater season in Philadelphia just got warmer and more exciting as Traverse Arts Project (TAP), producers of "Festivale!," the annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual spring arts festival, will be producing "Coming: A Rock Musical of Biblical Proportions"starring Erik Ransom and featuring Reichen Lehmkuhl, and co-directed by Mark A. Dahl and Bill Egan, Thursdays through Sundays, January 22 to February 6 (in previews on January 20 and 21) at Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut Street, Broad Street, the city's Avenue of the Arts.
"'Coming' sits somewhere between high camp and modern allegory" explained the multi-talented Ransom, who wrote the music, lyrics and book, and will also perform as narrator Damian Salt, an openly bisexual, avowed atheist glam icon who just so happens to be the anti-Christ.  Of his character, Ransom said: "Damian is an amalgamation of everything I love in a role. He is tortured, morally ambiguous, loved, loathed, obsessive and terribly, terribly flawed. But is he, ultimately, a villain? It is for the audience to decide".
No stranger to the stage in both New York City and Philadelphia, Ransom has appeared in the long-running "My Big Gay Italian Wedding" off-Broadway and "Carrie" produced by Brat Production in Philadelphia. "To add to the social commentary on pop culture and fame that is present in the 'Coming,' the show's run will feature various local and national celebrities who will appear as 'American Icon' guest judges," announced Ransom, "The first of these will be Reichen Lehmkuhl (Winner of The Amazing Race, and star of 'A-List: New York' currently airing on the LOGO channel), who has signed on to play himself on Opening Night on January 22 at 8pm." Obeying the laws of camp, the piece is hardly flat or predictable, utilizing familiar Biblical stories loosely enough to find a unique sense of humor, mining it for nuanced puns and broad sex jokes, relishing a sacrilegious tone without succumbing to a clichéd anti religious criticism. "'Coming' is classic camp- it refuses to take itself too seriously, but at the same time engages some of our most heated political discourse-terrorism, Islamophobia and gay rights. It does so against the backdrop of an American Idol spoof, a Manhattan S&M club and the battle of Armageddon. In spite of its blasphemous humor the piece remains religious in its own way," agreed Dahl and Egan.
According to Ransom, Damian seduces and eventually falls in love with emerging teenage pop sensation Joshua Crenshaw, a native of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Deeply religious and raised by a struggling single mother, Joshua amusingly learns that he is the second coming of Jesus Christ.  Damian and Josh's relationship plays out amidst a paparazzi obsessed spotlight, fueled by a rock score that evokes the union of David Bowie and Lady Gaga. " All of this is paired with an irreverent, theologically flecked book," quipped Ransom.
Joining Ransom, the cast of "Coming" will include: Adam Hostler as Josh Crenshaw, Cindy Spitko as Magda Plajova, Paul Del Signore as Peter Taylor, Ryan Townsend as Death, Colleen Corcoran as Famine, Maya Tepler as Pestilence, and Nick Rocco as Dancer, and with Music Direction by Jacob Bremkamp and Costume Design by Bobby Fabulous. "Coming" is TAP's first fully staged "Barrymore Awards" eligible production, although the diverse group has been prolific in the past year, writing and producing the raucous monthly series "POP: Sketch Comedy for the Gifted," alongside their "Festivale!," two time Barrymore nominee and POP. "TAP has the ability to define itself by the risks we want to take. As a new company we are unencumbered and not afraid. The bigger the risks, the better the evolution of who we want to truly be," said Keith Conallen, director, actor and TAP Board member, 'Coming' is the perfect show for us as it allows us to express ourselves as producers and artists. Tickets are $20 in advance ($27 at the door); $15 in advance ($22 at the door) for seniors and students with valid ID. Tickets are $5 off the regular price for two preview nights only, January 20 and 21, at 8pm. Tickets for Opening Night Gala of "Coming" and Benefit for TAP with pre-show reception and a post-show "Saints and Sinners" party, including a meet-and-greet with special guest star, Reichen Lehmkuhl, are $50 in advance and $60 at door. Tickets can be purchased online at traversetheater.org or call 1.800.595.4849.
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What They Said and Did!
copyrighted 2010
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Out actor T. R. Knight, best known for his five seasons as a cast member of ABC's medical drama, "Grey's Anatomy," is someone who also wants, literally, "A Life in the Theater," the well-known  play by the same name by celebrated American playwright, David Mamet, that the 37-year-old actor played opposite veteran fellow thespian, Patrick Stewart, on Broadway that debuted in early October and closed, to mixed reviews, on November 23. The outspoken and dedicated stage actor, who already had gathered an impressive theater career before entering into a weekly television series, that included playing opposite to Patti Lupine in the 2001 revival of "Noises Off," is terribly honest about his failures as well as his successes. Known for being both thick-skinned and possessing a masochistic streak, says that he would now most likely to want to work with stage director, Doug Hughes, who actually fired him from earlier productions. Of Knight, Hughes told Eric Grode (The New York Times, October 3, 2010): "He's an incredibly acute and honest comic actor, but there's a cauldron in him that I'd love to tap . . . The part T. R. was cast was a chorus part, and you should never cast a star in the chorus." Of his sexual orientation, Knight returns to his statement, originally released to People magazine, upon his outing as a queer actor: "While I prefer to keep my personal life private, I hope the fact that I'm gay isn't the most interesting part of me . . . Hopefully, as time goes on, people care less." __________________________________________________ Twilight's megahunk Kellan Lutz knows how to sell his wares. He told People magazine (November 29, 2010) that that's his secret to his success as an actor, model (Calvin Klein underwear) and a  favorite of the paparazzi as he admitted of his natural "knack for moving merchandise: "When I was 16, I worked at Macy's in the housewares department. It was funny because you'd get rewarded if you sold a certain item and got people to sign up for a membership . . . I always got people to do it." Soon to appear in Meskada, a murder mystery film (a break from the Twilight franchise), he admitted to his innate "powers of persuasion": "I have dimples, so thank the Lord I was blessed with something that I could use to look like a little beggar. I could flirt and smile. Even with my mother I could sell her stuff because she'd be like, I can't not buy chocolates from you when you put that little face on." His dimples aren't the only asset that has skyrocketed him to stardom. His "body of death" that is displayed in several revealing and seductive images, shirtless and in very, very low-rise khakis goes along with his come-thither look as a model in the "25 Years of Sexy," it's the fleshiest issue of People ever and sure to be a collector's item. Of serving as a Calvin Klein model, Lutz said: "The first time I saw the billboard. I was on Sunset Boulevard, and looked up, and there I was. I was a little embarrassing being four stories high and you're just in your underwear, but it quickly changed to a moment of being proud. It turned out really cool and tasteful and provocative, so yeah, I'm just really proud." __________________________________________________ American actress Elizabeth McGovern has always had a place on my personal favorite actors' list. At only 19, she was on the fast track in the world of Hollywood royalty landing the part of the ordinary girl in  no less than, "Ordinary People," the Oscar-winning film in 1980, directed by Robert Redford. She followed that role with one at the opposite end of the spectrum, playing a turn-of-the century extraordinary girl from the popular novel, "Ragtime." Soon she was playing lead roles with films super stars Dudley Moore, Robert De Niro and Sean Penn. Then something dramatic happened to her life and career when she married British producer/director Simon Curtis and the Illinois native relocated to England, making it her "home." Ever since, she has strongly felt that the move aboard has contributed to her "continued artistic growth." She told Laura Jacobs (Vanity Fair, January 2011): "Of course, it's dangerous to generalize, but for the English, it's more of an ordinary job--acting. They look at it as a craft. And there's much less a cult of personality about it, much less of playing the showbiz game. On the 'Downtown Abbey's' [soon to be aired on HBO] set, the actors were very prepared and very hard-working and very patient--really inspiring to me . . . There is a cultural divide between the countries, even though we speak the same language. The English are fascinated by America and everything it represents. And slightly star struck by America. But they don't want it in their garden, if that makes sense. They like it better far away."
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Publishers
Thom Cardwell
James Duggan
Editor
James Duggan
Editor-at-Large
Thom Cardwell
Contributor
John Adam Di Pietro
Copyright 2010
All Rights Reserved - BUCKmonkey, LLC
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QUEERtimes is published weekly as a service for discerning queers and heterosexuals alike in Philadelphia and beyond.
Expressed opinions are that of the author(s) and do not represent the thoughts, feelings and /or opinions of any person, organization, company, staff member, or any of our advertisers.
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