In this documentary portrait, a spirited, older, gay, Jewish man undergoes an evolution of awareness amid his joys and sorrows. In revealing the raw truth of his life, he offers us an opportunity for reflection about the complexity of human identity.
Starring: Steve Stone
Runtime: 58 minutes
Other Genres: Action | Biography | Bollywood | Comedy | Drama | Documentary | Horror | Lesbian | Musical | SciFi | Short | Thriller | Trans | TV Series
The Glamour & The Squalor is the inspiring true story of Marco Collins, one of America’s last great DJs. While battling his personal demons, Collins popularized the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Beck, and changed our culture forever.
Starring: Carrie Brownstein, Macklemore, Marco Collins
Runtime: 1 hour, 18 minutes
Release: 2017
IMDB: 8.8/10
Other Genres: Action | Biography | Bollywood | Comedy | Drama | Documentary | Horror | Lesbian | Musical | SciFi | Short | Thriller | Trans | TV Series
Employees document the struggles they faced while working at Petco retail store in Texas. Not only were employees being harassed but they were also being discriminated against because they were of color, or queer. Women were refused promotions and men of color often had to transfer to different stores to receive other opportunities. This documentary follows two women who share their story.
Runtime: 50 minutes
Other Genres: Action | Biography | Bollywood | Comedy | Drama | Documentary | Horror | Lesbian | Musical | SciFi | Short | Thriller | Trans | TV Series
At a crucial turning point in his life, Tony Ferriaolo’s inner voice said, “Create yourself.” This credo once saved his life and now serves as a guiding principle as he educates transgender youth, as well as their parents. Lori Petchers’ moving A Self-Made Man interweaves the poignant story of Ferraiolo’s personal transition with his life work as a transgender youth advocate.
Runtime: 56 minutes
Other Genres: Action | Biography | Bollywood | Comedy | Drama | Documentary | Horror | Lesbian | Musical | SciFi | Short | Thriller | Trans | TV Series
Myth of Father is a documentary about acceptance. Director Paul Hill’s father, Jodie, is a transsexual woman. Having been estranged from Hill for years, she came out to him as a woman, prompting Hill to start a journey of discovery.
Runtime: 52 minutes
Release: 2001
Other Genres: Action | Biography | Bollywood | Comedy | Drama | Documentary | Horror | Lesbian | Musical | SciFi | Short | Thriller | Trans | TV Series
Raw, eye-opening documentary about a group of impassioned Theatre for Social Change students who unite in a stand against LGBT discrimination in America, and find empowerment by facing the truths about their own prejudices and sexual orientation.
Starring: Austen Elizabeth Edwards, Gabrielle Shulruff
Runtime:1 hour, 0
Release: 2016
IMDB: 7.2/10
Other Genres: Action | Biography | Bollywood | Comedy | Drama | Documentary | Horror | Lesbian | Musical | SciFi | Short | Thriller | Trans | TV Series
Voices From the Front, the first feature-length documentary on AIDS activism in America, makes clear the emotional and political effects of community activism using the voices of those directly engaged. It is a powerful distillation of photos & words from events organized to change public consciousness, expose the failure of the health care systems, & challenge government inaction concerning AIDS.
Other Genres: Action | Biography | Bollywood | Comedy | Drama | Documentary | Horror | Lesbian | Musical | SciFi | Short | Thriller | Trans | TV Series
Although The Walking Dead didn’t have any LGBT reputation for the first three seasons, it has made up for lost time by casting at least six openly gay, lesbian or bisexual characters. So who are they?
Tara, played by Alanna Masterson was the first openly lesbian character in The Walking Dead. She appeared in season Four, during the episode “Live Bait” which was the 6th episode in the season.
Alisha who is played by Juliana Harkavy first appeared in the seventh episode, “Dead Weight” of the fourth season of The Walking Dead. She was the girlfriend of Tara Chambler.
Aaron is played by Ross Marquand and is the first openly gay character in The Walking Dead. He appears, with his boyfriend, Eric, in the tenth episode of season five.
Eric is played by actor Jordan Woods-Robinson. The character appears, alongside his boyfriend, Aaron in episode 10 of season five.
Denise, played by Merritt Wever first appeared in the second episode of the sixth season of The Walking Dead. It is revealed that she is lesbian or bisexual when she kisses Tara. She becomes Tara’s girlfriend.
Paul is played by the actor Tom Payne and first appears in season 6 of The Walking Dead in the 1oth episode. It is not known if he’s has a boyfriend or any romantic relationships.
There’s always a worry that there’s a reason a musical stayed under the water (be warned, the ‘frog’ puns are just too easy to resist) and in this case, it’s easy to see why this one floundered and never quite hit the shoreline.
The story is based on an ancient Greek comedy and concerns a demi-god and his slave who decide to travel to the underworld to bring back a great writer. It’s as silly a story as it sounds and a mad musical but one with a timely political undertone about the role of the arts in society. The chorus sidle on and off the stage playing a variety of parts, jazz-handed and legs crossing and high-kicking in the tiny space of The Jermyn Street Theatre. Dionysos and his slave have some great interactions but the songs are sparse with long discourses in between about theatre and the arts. It sounds dull but isn’t at all, apart from a peculiar piece in the second act that slackens the pace. This being Sondheim, the lyrics are densely packed and razor sharp. It can feel like a list of ‘in’ jokes at times with riffs on theatre etiquette and the behaviour of actors but they’re funny ‘in’ jokes nonetheless. Michael Matus as Dionysos is a musical theatre stalwart/legend and it’s a privilege to see him perform in such an intimate venue.
The Frogs was originally performed in a swimming pool with Sigourney Weaver and Meryl Streep splashing around amongst the cast. According to Sondheim, the acoustics made it sound like it was being sung in a urinal and it bombed. Nathan Lane (The Birdcage, The Producers and The Good Wife) re-invigorated the play in 2004 but still; it’s a difficult beast.
If like me you’re a Sondheim fanatic then you’ll love this. If you’re not initiated then it might feel like a drag.
The Frogs plays at the Jermyn Street Theatre until 8th April 2017
Assraf Nasir has pulled off the best version of Britney’s “Toxic” we’ve ever seen (although Craig Revel Horwood’s in Lip Sync Battle UK was pretty darn good). Assraf, however, has the extra added bonus of being a real-life worker for an airline.
https://twitter.com/FarhanRzman/status/842405850673111040
As in Britney’s original chart-topper, 2003’s “Toxic”, Assraf dances down the aisles, sings into the intercom and pushes a food trolley down the Airbus 330’s cabin – all in perfect precision – mimicking Britney’s very own dance moves for the hit.
The 1-minute film starts with the airline worker singing into the aircraft’s intercom system. He perfectly manages to lipsync to the song’s words.
Then he perfectly dances the exact routine to the 2003 Britney hit.
Just as in the original video, a food trolley is used to run through the aeroplane’s main cabin. The video has already been retweeted over 4,000 times as Britney’s fanbase fall in love with the viral video.
Stepping Out steps into the West End again but it’s on the wrong foot and it’s not a very exciting show.
First staged in the West End in 1984 and running for three years and winning an Evening Standard Comedy Award, Stepping Out was then made into a 1991 movie starring Liza Minnelli. It now returns to the West End in a new production starring Amanda Holden and Tracey-Ann Oberman among others playing characters from various backgrounds who attend a weekly dance and tap class. They also meddle – no surprise – into each others personal lives. Holden is Vera, a wealthy woman who seems to have nothing better to do because her whole life revolves around her husband who apparently spends lots and lots of time with their teenage daughter. Then there is Oberman who plays the brash Maxine, and who gets all the best lines in the show. Anna-Jane Casey is Mavis, the dance teacher who is a bit frustrated, not only because her students can’t dance but also because she’s got issues in her personal life (Tamzin Outhwaite had to pull out of this role temporarily because of a broken foot). So Stepping Out centres around the seven women (and one man – Dominic Rowan as Geoffrey) plus the piano player (a wonderful Judith Barker) as they dance and talk but then get the opportunity (of a lifetime!!!) to perform at a charity show. Wow, how exciting! Will they be ready for the show in time? Will one of the students not drop her hat like she’s done many times in rehearsals? Will more dark secrets come out and, god forbid, will one of the woman pull down the towel where Geoffrey is changing behind to add a bit of excitement to this show because this show has no excitement at all?
It’s The Full Monty without the Monty! Sure, the women do their best to get ready for the big charity show, but it’s hardly worth our time. We really don’t get to completely know, or sympathize, with the characters, and only a couple are likeable (Sandra Marvin brings a bit of sass to her role as the token black woman – Rose), and Oberman is wonderful, but there’s not really a whole lot to love in this production. Rowan is one note – not at all attractive or likeable as the lone man – he’s a widow but it would’ve been nice to put him in some sort of romance with one of the ladies. Written by Richard Harris in 1984, with this version directed by West End producer wonderwoman Maria Friedman, Stepping Out, which will be playing at the Vaudeville Theatre until June 17, 2017, probably won’t last that long. Do yourself a favour and just step right past the theatre.