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by Jim Farmer
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March 01, 2013 00:00 |
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A lead character whose sexual orientation is up for question is at the heart of the musical “The Drowsy Chaperone,” opening March 14 at Aurora Theatre.
Directed by Anne Towns, “The Drowsy Chaperone” is a parody of musical theater, paying tribute to the jazz-age shows of the 1920s.
Its central figure is Man in Chair (played here by Steve Hudson), a musical theater junkie who puts on the cast album of his favorite musical and sees it pops to life around him, as a Broadway star’s (Courtney Patterson) wedding day becomes increasingly complicated.
Man in Chair – whose name we never learn – is content to be an observer of the action until the end, when he is able to enter the picture. “Chaperone” won five Tony Awards in 2006, more than any other musical on Broadway that year. A touring version of the musical came to Atlanta in early 2008.
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by Laura Douglas-Brown
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February 13, 2013 11:05 |
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Topher Payne doesn’t seem like an angry fag. But then, at first glance, neither do Bennett Riggs and Cooper Harlow, the main characters of Payne’s new play, “Angry Fags,” opening Feb. 21 at 7 Stages Theatre.
They picnic in the park. They banter about cheese and wine. They tease each other about everything from letter writing to dating with the loving sarcasm gay men seem to have perfected.
Then they set off a bomb.
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by Jim Farmer
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February 01, 2013 00:00 |
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When the Atlanta Ballet presents Michael Pink’s “Dracula” next week at the Cobb Energy Centre, it pays farewell to one of its most prominent members. Openly gay Brian Wallenberg is calling it quits as a dancer. He has been with the Ballet for 15 years now, acting as a performer for 13 years and working as the social media coordinator for the last two. His first appearance with the troupe was in 1998 with the show, playing Harker, the same character he takes on in the remount.
Wallenberg realizes that he is no longer as young as when he first danced the part. “My character gets beat up a lot in the show,” he says. “I had my first rehearsal and I felt beat up. (Dancing now compared to when I started), I have to take better care of myself.”
Two years ago he quit dancing on a regular basis but knew that he would be available for specific projects if they came out. When this one did, he was game.
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by Jim Farmer
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January 31, 2013 13:45 |
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A lesbian couple pops up among the characters of the Alliance Theatre’s new “Bike America,” making its world premiere this week as part of the Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition.
In Mike Lew’s play, the character of Penny (Jessica DiGiovanni) is a student traveling across the country, trying to do some self-discovery and find out who she is during a cross-country cancer fundraiser. During her journey, she meets a number of fellow participants, including two women who want to get married in every state that allows them to do so.
Marilyn Torres plays one half of the lesbian couple, Annabel, who is partners with Rorie (Je Nie Fleming). The actress feels Annabel, like Penny, is finding herself and her own strength as part of the event. “She is way optimistic and hopeful and is on this wonderful journey of love,” she says. “She is living out loud for the first time. She is a lesbian and proud.”
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by Jim Farmer
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January 17, 2013 11:11 |
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Editor's note: After this article was published, the Fox Theatre posted the following message on its website: "Due to an emergency health issue, Gary Beach will not be performing in THE PRODUCERS. The role of Roger DeBris will instead be played by David de Vries." The show still opens Jan. 25 at the Fox.
Openly gay performer Gary Beach estimates he has played the role of Roger DeBris in the musical “The Producers” somewhere around 1,700 times — not consecutively, but here and there over the years. He reprises the role again for a special Atlanta engagement, courtesy of Theater of the Stars, beginning next week.
Mel Brooks’ comedy, last staged in Atlanta eight years ago, is adapted from his 1968 film. In it, Broadway producer Max Bialystock – fresh off of an unsuccessful production – comes up with a scheme with his sidekick, laid back accountant Leo Bloom.
They plan to intentionally stage the biggest stage flop of all time and bilk millions out of their financial backers, using the worst director in New York. Said director is flamboyant, gay Roger DeBris, who wants to camp up the show and rewrite history so that Germans win WWII. What Max and Leo don’t anticipate is that the new production is a huge success.
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