Top of the Line
Pride Month is here, and the events keep rolling every night of the week. To keep on top of events, see the Outlines calendar, or for future events, see www.outlineschicago.com .
Elton John's Aida won the Tony Award for Best Original Score Sunday night, with Heather Headley winning top "actress in a musical" honors for her role in the production. Aida also won for scenic design and lighting design. A special Tony for a live theatrical event went to Dame Edna, the Royal Tour. Other Tonys went to: Copenhagen ( Best Play ) , Contact ( Best Musical ) , The Real Thing ( Best Play Revival ) , and Kiss Me, Kate ( Revival-Musical ) . Kiss Me, Kate, by Cole Porter, wound up with five Tonys. Michael Blakemore won Best Director for both Copenhagen ( Play ) and Kiss Me, Kate ( Musical ) —that's a Tony first for directors.
City
Gardens
Oscar-winner Jodie Foster is expecting her second child, and she's once again not revealing who the dad is.
Showtime network has started production of Armistead Maupin's Further Tales of the City, the continuing adventures of 28 Barbary Lane. Olympia Dukakis, Laura Linney, Billy Campbell, Scott Thompson, Parker Posey, Mary Kay Place, Joel Grey, Lea DeLaria and many more will star. The show is expected to air sometime in 2001.
Mixed Media
Washington Post ombudsman E.R. Shipp chastised his own paper's reporting on the death of Sir John Gielgud last month, saying in the obit, "readers learned many things about him, including where and when he was born ( London, April 4, 1904 ) , something about his family ( his father was a stockbroker, and his mother's family supplied the 19th-century British theater with three of its leading ladies ) and when and where he died ( May 21 at his home in Buckinghamshire, England ) . The piece included extensive information about his significance in 20th-century theater, as well as about his work on screen. What readers did not learn from that May 23 obituary was that for about 40 years his companion had been a man. Other papers reported this in a routine, one might even say offhand, manner. ... Bart Barnes, who wrote the Gielgud obituary, said that the reason Gielgud's death warranted such attention 'was not because he was gay but because he was a great actor, a giant of the stage and the screen.' One might counter that his relationship with [ Martin ] Hensler was of greater significance than the fact that he never learned to drive a car and read trashy novels—which the obit did say."
Click for details on Lambda Publications Night at the Theater to benefit the medical expenses of one of our delivery women who is living with cancer.
The May 28 New York Times had an article on unique dance singer Katey Red, who has mega mainstream fans. Said the Times: "Born Kenyon Carter, Katey Red is one of the first openly homosexual rap and bounce-music artists to earn respect in this notoriously homophobic world. Add to that Katey Red's chronic stutter, and you have a most unlikely regional star, even in a city with a rich culture of cross-dressing. In the fast-dancing world of bounce, cuts by Katey Red dominate, with parties shaking to singles like 'Melpomene Block Party,' which makes explicit references to homosexuality and oral sex. At the Factory, his short, salacious performance had even gangsta-looking fans in Fubu gear and bandannas careening through the club, either lifting up their shirts or placing their fists under their shirts to imitate a breast-shaking dance. Katey Red's success ( the stutter mysteriously disappears when he gets on the microphone ) has prompted even those who were skeptical at first to respect his wish to be referred to as 'she.'" Red just released her first full-length album, Y2Katey, and soon plans to begin female hormone treatments. "I'm the first homosexual rapper, and when I'm out in the public I have to make sure I look good," she told the Times.
The Colin Higgins Foundation, founded by the writer, director and creator of such Hollywood classics as Harold and Maude, Silver Streak, Foul Play, Nine to Five and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, is honoring four individuals with "The Colin Higgins Courage Awards": High school jock, Greg Congdon, who bravely stood up to ostracism and small-town bigotry to become a role model and advisor to gay youth; Fourteen-year-old Boy Scout Steven Cozza, who waged a national campaign to end the ban on gays in scouting and finally got the attention of the leadership; Transsexual teacher Dana Rivers, who proved that excellence is the greatest weapon against bigotry by winning the approval of her students—but unfortunately not the support of her school board who made her give up her position in response to a few angry parents and; High school science teacher James Merrick, who won a major victory for lesbian and gay teachers after being thrust into the spotlight and out of the closet for condemning the homophobia of a Kern County, Calif., Human Rights Commissioner. The awards, which include a $10,000 prize, were established to honor the spirit of the filmmaker whose films celebrated honesty and integrity while challenging convention and bigotry.
That's entertainment
The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce Midsommarfest is June 10-11, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. ( 773 ) 728-2995. It's on Clark between Foster and Balmoral. Cathy Richardson is among the many performers. Lots of fun, food and shopping.
Unabridged Books presents a David Sedaris booksigning, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Friday, June 9, 7:30 p.m., 3251 N. Broadway, ( 773 ) 883-9119.
Temptations bar is bringing Ellen DeGeneres in LIVE for Pride Day, Sunday, June 25. She will perform at 10 p.m., $40, and you can purchase tickets at the club in advance, ( 847 ) 455-0008, 10235 W. Grand, Franklin Park. The event will benefit Howard Brown Health Center, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, and the ACLU Gay, Lesbian and AIDS Projects.
To the Cubs: Just say 'no' to Rocker
Atlanta Braves relief pitcher John Rocker is in boiling hot water again. In December, he pissed off just about every minority group, including Blacks and gays, with a tirade in Sports Illustrated and in subsequent TV interviews. Baseball's big kahunas did punish him, but he was allowed to play for the Braves this season with little more than a slap on his non-pitching wrist ( 14 days suspension and some counseling ) . Now, one day after a confrontation with a reporter, the Braves have shipped him to their AAA minor league affiliate in Richmond, Va., and fined him reportedly $5,000 for his latest "inappropriate conduct," reports Associated Press.
The incident happened between Rocker and the reporter who wrote the SI article, Jeff Pearlman, apparently blaming him for
the article and allegedly saying "This isn't over between us," and "Do you know what I can do to you?"
The Braves said Rocker's lack of onfield control was why he was demoted. Rocker may also face penalties from baseball's top dogs.
A few days before, Rocker held a 90-minute closed-door meeting with a coalition of Atlanta activists, including gay and AIDS activists. Activists called it a "first step" towards repairing the damage they say Rocker caused with his public comments, Southern Voice reported. Rocker did apologize during the meeting. He expressed regret for "my comments concerning persons afflicted with AIDS, as well as various minority groups," but has never specifically apologized for comments directed towards gay men and lesbians, the Voice said. Well, the next step will be in the hands of Rocker's next hometown "fans."
To the Cubs: Just say 'no' to Rocker
Atlanta Braves relief pitcher John Rocker is in boiling hot water again. In December, he pissed off just about every minority group, including Blacks and gays, with a tirade in Sports Illustrated and in subsequent TV interviews. Baseball's big kahunas did punish him, but he was allowed to play for the Braves this season with little more than a slap on his non-pitching wrist ( 14 days suspension and some counseling ) . Now, one day after a confrontation with a reporter, the Braves have shipped him to their AAA minor league affiliate in Richmond, Va., and fined him reportedly $5,000 for his latest "inappropriate conduct," reports Associated Press.
The incident happened between Rocker and the reporter who wrote the SI article, Jeff Pearlman, apparently blaming him for
the article and allegedly saying "This isn't over between us," and "Do you know what I can do to you?"
The Braves said Rocker's lack of onfield control was why he was demoted. Rocker may also face penalties from baseball's top dogs.
A few days before, Rocker held a 90-minute closed-door meeting with a coalition of Atlanta activists, including gay and AIDS activists. Activists called it a "first step" towards repairing the damage they say Rocker caused with his public comments, Southern Voice reported. Rocker did apologize during the meeting. He expressed regret for "my comments concerning persons afflicted with AIDS, as well as various minority groups," but has never specifically apologized for comments directed towards gay men and lesbians, the Voice said. Well, the next step will be in the hands of Rocker's next hometown "fans."
