classifieds hardware New Orleans, LA [504] MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER HARD- WARE, 732 N. Rampart,

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1 classifieds CHARTRES LOUISA ROYAL FRANKLIN DAUPHINE 2400 DECATUR CHARTES 2100 CANAL STREET ST. LOUIS 500 TOULOUSE 600 DUMAINE ST. PHILIP URSULINES GOVERNOR NICHOLLS ELYSIAN FIELDS BARRACKS ESPLANADE French Quarter/Faubourg Marigny/Bywater attorneys MARIGNY Troy A. Tureau, Attorney at Law, Compass & Tureau, LLC, 3801 Canal St., Suite 301,l , bars Mobile, AL [251] B-Bob's Downtown, 213 Conti St., , B-Bobs.COM Flip Side Bar & Patio, 54 S. Conception St., , FlipSideBarPatio.COM GABRIEL'S DOWNTOWN, 55 South Joachim St., THE MIDTOWN PUB, 153 Florida St., Pensacola, FL [850] EMERALD CITY, 408 E. Wright St., , EmeraldCityPensacola.COM THE ROUNDUP, 560 East Heinberg St., GEORGE'S, 860 St. Louis, , SPLASH, 2183 Highland Rd., , SplashBR.COM Lake Charles, LA [337] CRYSTAL'S, 112 W. Broad, ROYAL FRENCHMEN 2000 IBERVILLE BIENVILLE CONTI 1900 BOURBON RAMPART DAUPHINE ST. PETER ORLEANS ST. ANN BURGUNDY RAMPART Metairie, LA [504] FOUR SEASONS & PATIO STAGE BAR, 3229 N. Causeway, , FourSeasonsBar.com 700 CLUB, 700 Burgundy, , BIG DADDY'S, 2513 Royal, BOURBON PUB & PARADE, 801 Bourbon St., , BourbonPub.COM CAFÉ LAFITTE IN EXILE, 901 Bourbon Street , Lafittes.COM CORNER POCKET, 940 St. Louis, , CornerPocket.NET COUNTRY CLUB, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, CUTTER'S, 706 Franklin, THE DOUBLE PLAY, 439 Dauphine, THE FRIENDLY BAR, 2301 Chartres, GOLDEN LANTERN, 1239 Royal, , Facebook.COM/GoldenLanternBar GOOD FRIENDS BAR, 740 Dauphine St, , GoodFriendsBar.COM GRANDPRE'S, 834 N. Rampart St., , Facebook.com/grandpres KAJUN'S PUB, 2256 St. Claude Ave., , KajunPub.COM LUCKY PIERRE'S, 735 Bourbon St., , LuckyPierresNOLA.com OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, , OzNewOrleans. COM PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, , NewOrleansPhoenix.COM RAWHIDE 2010, 740 Burgundy St., , Rawhide2010.COM TROPICAL ISLE: Home of the Hand Grenade, 721 Bourbon St., , TropicalIsle.COM TULANE AVENUE BAR, 3813 Tulane Ave., VOODOO LOUNGE, 718 N. Rampart, Slidell, LA [985] BILLY'S, 2600 Hwy. 190 West, Biloxi, MS [228] CLUB VEAUX, 834 Howard Ave., Houston, TX [713] NEON BOOTS DANCEHALL & SALOON, Hempstead Hwy., , book stores FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., chiropractic DR. MICHAEL LECHLEITER, D.C., 1526 Magazine, [is2514] circuit/events Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015, 16th Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade.com Sept. 2-7, 2015, 44th Official Southern Decadence Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture, end of Summer Blowout including the Southern Decadence Parade & loads of activities, bringing over 150,000 revelers to New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush & SouthernDecadence.com Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2015, Halloween 32, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, HalloweenNewOrleans.com Dec. 26, 2015-Jan. 1, 2016, Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.com Feb. 5-9, 2016, 67th Official Gay Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush, GayMardiGras.com costumes QT PIE BOUTIQUE Dauphine St., florists FOUR SEASONS FLOWERS & GIFTS, 3482 Drusilla Ln., Drusilla Shopping Center, , Marrero, LA [504] I BLOOM FLOWERS & GIFTS, 1604 Barataria Blvd., galleries CASSELL-BERGEN GALLERY, 1305 Decatur St., cassellbergengallery.com, guides America Damron Travel Guide, , Gulf South/United States AMBUSH Mag, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA ; , AmbushMag.COM; marsha@ripandmarsha.com groceries/delis QUARTERMASTER DELI, THE NELLIE DELI, 1100 Bourbon, hair salons BOBBY BLUE CONTEMPORARY BAR- BER & BEAUTY PARLOR, 906 Bourbon St., HEAD QUARTERS HAIR SALON, 900 Rue Dauphine, MICKEY NOLAN'S SALON, 717 Toulouse St., TWO GUYS CUTTING HAIR, 2372 St. Claude Ave., Suite 125, appointments: Adikus , Trent hardware MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER HARD- WARE, 732 N. Rampart, health New Orleans Urgent Care, 201 Decatur St., 700 Magazine St., , NewOrleansUrgentCare.com lodging/accommodations New Orleans [504] AARON INGRAM HAUS, 1012 Elysian Fields, New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: , us at ingramhaus@yahoo.com. Condos with queensize beds, private entrances; located only six blocks from Bourbon Street and walking distance to most New Orleans attractions. Several favorite bars are within one block. [0714 BURGUNDY BED AND BREAKFAST, 2513 Burgundy St., New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE/FAX: , Toll Free (Continental US only): , theburgundy.com, us at theburgundy@cox.net. Gay owned and operated in newly renovated 1890's double. Four guest rooms with private baths, guests' parlor and "halfkitchen", courtyard and half-open tubhouse with spa (hot tub/whirlpool). Clothing optional in sunbathing and hot tub area. Walking distance to French Quarter. Immediate vicinity of gay and lesbian bars/venues. [0814] CHATEAU LEMOYNE FRENCH QUAR- TER, 301 Dauphine St., New Orleans, LA 70112, Phone: , Enjoy a stay enriched with the culture and history of New Orleans at Chateau LeMoyne. Our historic building features all the best of old-time architecture and our prime location allows guests to stay just steps from the French Quarter, while still at enough distance to enjoy a peaceful night s rest. Versatile guest accommodations include charmingly appointed suites and cottages, while on-site amenities include drinks and dining, a scenic courtyard area and pool, and meeting and event space. When you re ready to explore, top New Orleans attractions are only moments away. We look forward to welcoming you to the Big Easy. ELYSIAN GUEST HOUSE, 1008 Elysian Fields Ave. New Orleans, LA 70117, Phone: , info@elysianguesthouse.com. The Elysian Guest House is within walking distance to all the fun spots. Five to steps to a few blocks to all the action. We have a Jacuzzi too. Call and lets talk. THE FRENCH QUARTER GUEST HOUSES, 1005 St. Peter, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone: , FrenchQuarterGuestHouses.com, Info@frenchquarterguesthouses.com. Four meticulously restored boutique inns located in the heart of the French Quarter's most popular LGBT neighborhood. Each building's individual character and charm provides an unforgettable authentic French Quarter experience! FRENCH QUARTER SUITES HOTEL, 1119 North Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone , Toll Free: ,FrenchQuarterSuites.COM. us at Reservations@bpmhotels.com. Official Host Hotel of OZ New Orleans. A locally owned and operated French Quarter hotel that has been 26 The Official Mag : AmbushMag.com April 21-May 4, 2015 Official ficial Southern n Decadence Guide since 1982 SouthernDecadence.com

2 beautifully transformed into spacious multi-bedroom suites. Several historical townhouses are also available to accommodate larger groups of up to 26. Just 3 blocks from Bourbon St., free Wi- Fi, swimming pool, and continental breakfast included. Off street parking is available. MAISON DE MACARTY BED & BREAK- FAST, 3820 Burgundy St., New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: , MaisonMacarty.com, kurt@maisonmacarty.com. Luxury gay owned and operated bed and breakfast. 8 bedrooms with ensite baths, pool, sun deck and beautiful courtyard. Sleep, eat and play at Maison de Macarty,. Book it now! NEW ORLEANS COURTYARD HOTEL, 1101 North Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone , Toll Free: , NOCourtyard.COM. us at Reservations@bpmhotels.com, Official Host Hotel of OZ New Orleans. A 19th century home that has been historically restored and transformed into a locally owned and operated hotel. Experience the rich history and hospitality of New Orleans at an affordable price. Just 3 blocks from Bourbon St, free Wi-Fi, swimming pool, and continental breakfast included. Off street parking is available. marketing & printing SIR SPEEDY, 343 Carondelet, , , offering printing and marketing services including web design and hosting. info@sirspeedyneworleans.com, sirspeedyneworleans.com massage RIGHT TOUCH MASSAGE -- Christopher - Full body therapeutic massage (Swedish/Deep Tissue); heated table; private studio; tropical garden; Faubourg Marigny Area, French Quarter. Upgrade (Salt Scrubs Bodywork & Thai/Sport Stretching massage). Call/text / For pictures License #LA4553 [is2515] media AMBUSH Mag, Official Gay Easter Parade Guide, Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide, Official Gay New Orleans Guide, Official Gulf South Guide, Official Pride Guide, Official Southern Decadence Guide, 828-A Bourbon St., , , AmbushMag.COM; marsha@ripandmarsha.com AMBUSHonLINE, 828-A Bourbon St., ; , ambushonline.com, marsha@ripandmarsha.com museum/arts BEAUREGARD-KEYES HOUSE, 1113 Chartres, CABILDO, 701 Chartres, Jackson Square, CAC [Contemporary Arts Center], 900 Camp St., , cacno.org EDGAR DEGAS HISTORIC HOME, 2306 Esplanade Avenue, tours by appointment: , the house tour lasts one hour, is led by a great-grand-niece of Degas, and includes the award-winning documentary video, Degas in New Orleans: A Creole Sojourn 1850 HOUSE, 523 St. Ann GALLIER HOUSE, 1132 Royal, GERMAINE WELLS MARDI GRAS MU- SEUM, 2nd Floor Arnaud's, 819 Bienville HERMANN-GRIMA HISTORIC HOUSE, 820 St. Louis, HISTORICAL PHARMACY MUSEUM, 514 Chartres, HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION, 533 Royal, LONGUE VUE HOUSE AND GARDENS, 7 Bamboo Rd, Metairie, , MUSEE CONTI HISTORICAL WAX MU- SEUM, 917 Conti, NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART, City Park, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART, 925 Camp St., OLD U.S. MINT, 400 Esplanade PRESBYTERE, 751 Chartres, Jackson Square ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL, Jackson Square WORLD WAR 2 MUSEUM, 945 Magazine, , music New Orleans [504] SKULLY'Z RECORDZ, 907 Bourbon St., organizations ACLU and ACLU Foundation of Louisiana, P.O. Box 56157, New Orleans, LA 70156, x25, Fax: , laaclu.org AIDS HOTLINE, in New Orleans, AIDS[2437]-9 toll free statewide AIDSLaw of Louisiana, 3801 Canal St., Suite 331, , AIDSLAW.org ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, BIG EASY STOMPERS, Country & Western line dancing. Weekly lessons and monthly Country & Western dance party, info@bigeasystompersneworleans.com BELLE REVE NEW ORLEANS, AIDS Residence for Families, PO Box 3305, 70177; COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK, a project of the NO/AIDS Task Force which works with the gay community to implement HIV prevention activities, 507 Frenchmen St., , noaidstaskforce.com COPS 8 (Citizens' Organization for Police Support in the 8th District), 840 N. Rampart St., #51, 70116; 588.COPS (2677), cops8.org FOOD FOR FRIENDS, FORUM FOR EQUALITY, 336 Lafayette, Suite 200, 70130; , ForumForEquality.COM FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE MARDI GRAS (FNBMG), PO Box , New Orleans, LA ; , fridaynightbeforemardigras.com, fnbmg@cox.net GAY APPRECIATION AWARDS, 828-A Bourbon St., ; ; AmbushMag.COM/GAA GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A Bourbon St., , , info@gayeasterparade.com, GayEasterParade.COM GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., , , GayMardiGras.COM GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., , , GayNewOrleans.COM HAART (HIV/AIDS Alliance Region Two, Inc.), 4550 North Blvd. Ste. 250, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, , offers a complete continuum of care to people living with HIV/AIDS including housing, primary care, medications, case management, and an array of supportive services. In addition HAART provides HIV prevention education and FREE testing to the Baton Rouge area. HALLOWEEN IN NEW ORLEANS, INC., PO Box 52171, ; halloween neworleans.com/ambush KREWE OF AMON-RA, PO Box 7033, Metairie, LA 70010, KreweOfAmonRa.COM KREWE OF ARMEINIUS, PO Box 56638, New Orleans, LA , kreweofarmeinius.org KREWE OF MWINDO, PO Box 51031, 70156; , KreweOfMwindo.ORG, krewe@kreweofmwindo.org KREWE OF NARCISSUS, PO Box 3832, New Orleans, LA Contact: KREWE OF PETRONIUS, PO Box 1102, Kenner, LA , KREWE OF QUEENATEENAS / KING CAKE QUEEN ROYALTY CLUB, 828-A Bourbon St., , , GayMardiGras.COM/KCQ KREWE OF URSUS, kreweofursus@aol.com LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, 1308 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116, , LORDS OF LEATHER, 1631 Elysian Fields, #161, 70117, Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans, services at 10am, 6200 St Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118; MCC MYSTIC KREWE OF SATYRICON, 2443 Halsey Ave., New Orleans, LA 70114, Todd J. Blauvelt / Secretary, krewe.of.satyricon@gmail.com, MysticKreweOfSatyricon.COM NEW ORLEANS BEAR AND BEAR TRAPPER SOCIAL CLUB, P.O. Box 57756, New Orleans, LA , , theneworleansbears.com NEW ORLEANS GAY MEN S CHORUS, , nogmc.com; nogmc@aol.com NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FES- TIVAL, nojazzfest.com NO/AIDS TASK FORCE, 2601 Tulane Ave., Suite 500, 70119; ; NOAIDSTaskForce.COM PFLAG/NO [Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays/ New Orleans], PO Box 15515, 70175; , , pflagno.org, info@pflagno.org PRIDE CELEBRATION in New Orleans NOLAPride.ORG PROJECT LAZARUS, A Residence for PWAs, PO Box 3906, ; REGIONAL AIDS INTERFAITH NETWORK [RAIN], RENEGADE BEARS OF LOUISIANA, PO Box 3083, New Orleans, LA 70177; renegadebearsoflouisiana@gmail.com SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828-A Bourbon St., , , SouthernDecadence.COM ST. ANNA'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1313 Esplanade Avenue New Orleans, LA , stannanola.org VOLLEYBALL NEW ORLEANS, PO Box 13306, ; volleyballneworleans.com, postmaster@volleyballneworleans.com pets DR. MIKE'S ANIMAL HOUSE, 1120 N. Rampart, pharmacy AVITA PHARMACY, offers personalized, convenient care to those affected by chronic illnesses. Avita offers free delivery, co-pay assistance, benefit coordination, and refill reminder calls as well as access to a pharmacist 24/7. Every prescription filled today helps Avita give back to the community tomorrow. AVITA PHARMACY, offers personalized, convenient care to those affected by chronic illnesses. Avita offers free delivery, co-pay assistance, benefit coordination, and refill reminder calls as well as access to a pharmacist 24/7. Every prescription filled today helps Avita give back to the community tomorrow. MUMFREY'S PHARMACY, 1021 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043, , Supporting & serving the LGBT Community for over 20 years. Local pharmacy offering personalized family-like service, automatic refills & free metro wide confidential pickup & delivery. Also offering shipping for out-side our delivery area. When you call us you speak to a person, not a machine. See our ad. photography GRAHAM/STUDIO ONE NEW OR- LEANS, by appointment, grahamstudioone.com real estate GARDNER REALTORS, Micah Loewenthal, your local Realtor. Buy/Sell/Lease. List your home from NO to BR. LGBT FQ Resident. Free Appraisal / Cell, Off, Micahsells@gmail.com, 1820 St Charles Ave. LATTER & BLUM, Agent Brian M. Pawlowski, brianrealtor@aol.com, Agent Stace McDonald, stacerealtor@aol.com, 840 Elysian Fields, repairs Metairie, New Orleans, LA Mr. Fixer L.L.C., appliance & home repairs, "Reliable, Quality Work & Pricing!" , restaurants Mandeville, LA [985] The Po-Boy Shack, 1703 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, LA [504] Chef Ron's Gumbo Stop & Pub, 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., , GumboStop.com 801 Royal, 801 Royal St., , 801Royal.com Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., , CloverGrill.COM Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, Deanie's Seafood, French Quarter: 841 Iberville, ; Bucktown: 1713 Lake Ave., Metairie, ; Deanies.COM Fatoush Mediterranean Grill, Coffee House & Juice Bar, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #130, FatoushRestaurantNOLA.COM, Gene's Po-Boys, 1040 Elysian Fields, Horn's, 1940 Dauphine St., Lil Vic s Rosticceria, 719 Toulouse, Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro, 720 Orleans, , OrleansGrapevine.com Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St., , QuartermasterDeli.NET Retrouvailles Bistro & Balcony Dining, 700 Bourbon St., The Ruby Slipper, 2001 Burgundy St., retail/shopping BOURBON PRIDE, 909 Bourbon, COK (Clothing or Kinkl), 941 Elysian Fields, HIT PARADE, 741 Bourbon St., Facebook.COM/HitParadeNOLA MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER KITCHEN & BATH, 732 N. Rampart, MR. BINKY'S BOUTIQUE, 107 Chartres St., , MrBinkys.com PANDA BEAR, 415 Bourbon St., QT PIE BOUTIQUE Dauphine St., RAB DAB CLOTHING AND GIFTS, 918 Royal St., theatres CAFE ISTANBUL, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #140, , CafeIstanbulNOLA.COM MID-CITY THEATRE, 3240 Toulouse, , MidCityTheatre.COM NEW ORLEANS FRINGE FESTIVAL, NOFringe.ORG tours Gay New Orleans Walking Tour, Crescent City Tour Booking Agency, (LGBT Business of the Year) 638 St. Ann St., follow Gay New Orleans Walking Facebook.COM GayMardiGras.com GayEasterParade.com April 21-May 4, 2015 Facebook.com/AmbushMag The Official Mag : AmbushMag.com 27

3 under the gaydar...from 25 ducer B.E. Mintz, Faux/Real has assembled a team that will represent the community and the talent within. New members will be announced in the coming weeks. Already on board as Co-Producers are Michael Cerveris (TONY Award winning Broadway and Television Actor), A.J. Allegra (Artistic Director of the NOLA Project,) Richard Mayer (Owner, The Old Marquer), and Bremner Duthie (multi-award winning performer.) Lisa Pasold will serve as Literary Coordinator. Kirk Estopinal (Bellocq) Nick Dietrich (Cane & Table), and Avery Glasser (Bittermen s Bitters, Vendetta) will work in an advisory role on the food and beverage end of things. Performance companies both local and nation-wide are encouraged to apply and register. The Festival will provide marketing and promotion, support, and a central box office facility. Individual groups will still manage their own venue and on-site box office with 100 percent of ticket sales going back to the artists. Registration begins May 15 and ends September 15. Several groups are already curating their own satellite festivals under the Faux/Real banner including Razor s Edge (solo performance plays) Shooting Stars (college and high school companies) Mic Stand (standup comedy) and a three day installation of burlesque, drag, and sideshow. These events will fall under the Faux/Real umbrella, but will be independently curated and produced. Elements of the culinary component will include food trucks, two cocktail competitions, a sausage competition, bar takeovers, tap takeovers, Cajun spice tasting, a hamburger throw-down, pop-up pub crawls, dinner clubs, and themed meals blending food and performance. The literary element will focus on poetry during week one, prose during week two, and publishing during the final week. For more information, go to fauxrealneworleans.com. trodding the boards by Brian Sands bsnola2@hotmail.com The Lady with All the Answers at Christ Episcopal School Theatre, Covington through April 26 Back before there was an Internet you could turn to with questions about anything and everything, there were two women, who millions of people looked to for advice, with different and incredibly WASPy last names. Newspaper columnists Abigail ( Dear Abby ) Van Buren and Ann Landers, however, were actually Midwest-born, twin sisters of Jewish background. In David Rambo s The Lady with All the Answers, which JPAS is presenting on the North Shore, Landers relates her life story, providing an illuminating two hours or so for a now easily overlooked, but once pivotal person in American society to be in the spotlight again. We meet Eppie (short for Esther Pauline ) Lederer (Janet Shea) in her Chicago apartment late on a June night in Toying with her electric typewriter, she is preparing to write the most important column of my career, although procrastinating would be more like it (Gee, and I thought I was the only procrastinator columnist.). She s also sorting readers letters for a forthcoming book and is only too happy to share some of them with us in Rambo s fourth-wall-breaking approach. So whether it s lovelorn teens or confused couples, nude housekeeping or sex in a motorcycle helmet, or just the proper way to hang toilet paper, Landers offers the letter, her response, and then the response to her response which sometimes, as in the case of what the proper way to hang toilet paper is, dumbfounded her in its size and vehemence. Socially conservative (she was a virgin on [her] wedding night ) but politically liberal, Landers acquired friends in high places through her involvement with Democratic politics and her husband who founded Budget Rent-a-Car. In one of the most moving parts of the show, Landers describes her experiences visiting soldiers in Viet Nam and then, after returning stateside, calling the families or friends of every one of them to let them know how their loved one was doing. In Taylor Marrs convincing helmet of a wig, Shea is a charming hostess for the evening, and she and Director Uncle Wayne Daigrepont give The Lady a smooth and fluid, if somewhat leisurely, pace; I wouldn t have minded if the parts about Landers affinity for chocolate and the aforementioned toilet paper had been a bit quickened. As it is, they seem like filler. Daigrepont avoids the static nature that sometimes accrues to one-person shows by deploying Shea all over Kyle Hanson s set; having her do calisthenics at one point also adds visual diversity. (What adds visual diversity but which I could ve done without were projections that popped up in the apartment s window of things or people that Landers was referencing. They unnecessarily hammered home the obvious.) Rambo s script is not without its share of blatant exposition and his words flow much more naturally from Shea when she gets to the more dramatic moments. But she is never less than engaging whether recounting a TV show appearance with Linda (Deep Throat) Lovelace or her rivalry with her sister. And when a filing cabinet drawer holding a vital prop refused to open, Shea handled the set malfunction gracefully and with wise ad libs. The Lady with All the Answers reveals much to admire in Landers, a woman who in many ways, such as her views on homosexuality and push for cancer research dollars, was ahead of her times. And if it s a portrait more pleasant than deep, how fitting for a lady who would rather have my column taped to a million refrigerator doors than win a Pulitzer Prize. The Tennessee Williams Festival It is meant as no disrespect to say that 2015 s Tennessee Williams Literary Festival was like every other year s a wonderful overstuffed buffet of offerings both popular and academic, covering a tremendously wide range of topics, and featuring so many courses that it would be impossible for one person to indulge in all. If, as is often the case, the fare tilted more literary than theatrical for a Fest celebrating one of America s greatest dramatists, a sprinkling of celebrity more than made up for it. One of the most delicious of those sprinklings was auteur and author John Waters who not only appeared on a number of panels but headlined his own one-man show, This Filthy World: Filthier and Dirtier, at the Joy Theater, a co-presentation by the Fest with nightlife impresario Daniel Nardicio. Using no notes, Waters regaled the packed house for over 80 minutes of standup comedy mixed with personal philosophy and tales of how he was thrown out of every school he went to and how he lived in New Orleans in 1973 while waiting for Pink Flamingos to come out. Speaking of which, where the infamous trailer was located is now an Indian burial ground of filth. In his polished stream of consciousness, Waters drolly mused, Every child molester neglected me; I don t know how to feel about that. A self-described 60ish nerd with a mischievous streak (duh), he wonders How can I be bad at 70? With nary a dull stretch, as Waters trenchant monolog ranged over a host of topics from Marcel Duchamp to Madalyn Murray O Hair, Ingmar Bergman to Paul Bowles, I got the feeling that some of these references might have gone over the head of the youngish crowd. Oh well, their loss. But as he waggishly differentiated the terms blossom (for gays) and rosebud (for straights) and invited the audience to have sex on his grave, even the gent at the light board was shaking with laughter. Just the kind of glorious evening you d expect from Mr. Waters. A somewhat more refined atmosphere prevailed when Keir Dullea and his wife Mia Dillon were interviewed by Foster Hirsch. Dullea may be best known for 2001: A Space Odyssey but he starred in an acclaimed 1974 Broadway revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof while Dillon not only received a Tony nomination for the original Crimes of the Heart but appeared in Our Town alongside Paul Newman. Prompted by Hirsch, Dullea and Dillon, who seem like the nicest of people, generously shared stories of Newman and Liz Taylor and Geraldine Page and Liz Ashley and Lana Turner and Sal Mineo, whom Dullea was the last known person he spoke to before his murder. Dullea recalled his battles with Otto Preminger on the set of Bunny Lake is Missing and how Laurence Olivier came to his defense, saying Otto, dear boy, I wish you wouldn t scream at the children. But in addition to such chatty recollections, the audience also received a fascinating exploration of Cat and the gay men in it, not only Brick s friend Skipper, but the former owners of the plantation that Big Daddy inherited. Dullea and Dillon, however, didn t just talk. On successive evenings they performed scenes from two Williams plays, Cat, with Dillon as Big Mama and Dullea moving from his earlier Brick to Big Daddy, and Night of the Iguana with Dullea taking on Rev. Shannon to Dillon s Hannah Jelkes. Both performances were splendid; having already appeared in Cat at Provincetown s Tennessee Williams Festival, one hopes they will have the opportunity to do a full production of Iguana. Held under a tent at the Old Ursuline Convent, a beautiful setting, in addition to the Iguana scene, Blue Devils and Better Angels: A Tennessee Williams Tribute also featured author/columnist Ask Amy Dickinson, British thriller writer Rebecca Chance and actress Cristine McMurdo- Wallis each marvelous reading Williams diary, letters and other such reminiscences, all of which offered the playwright s blazing honesty to moving effect. John Patrick (Doubt) Shanley also read a scene from a new autobiographical play, Prodigal Son, which will debut on Broadway next year. Before the previous day s Williams Birthday Bash culminated with the scene from Cat (and some scrumptious birthday cake), scenes from Glass Menagerie, Ambush Theatre/Performing Arts Critic Brian Sands & John Waters Sweet Bird of Youth and Vieux Carre, as well as Christopher Durang s funny Williams parody For Whom the Southern [continued on 30] 28 The Official Mag : AmbushMag.com April 21-May 4, 2015 Official ficial Southern n Decadence Guide since 1982 SouthernDecadence.com

4 Southern Decadence: The Whole Gay Weekend Only available at: GayMardiGras.com GayEasterParade.com April 21-May 4, 2015 Facebook.com/AmbushMag The Official Mag : AmbushMag.com 29

5 trodding the boards...from 28 Belle Tolls, were presented by a talented krewe including Joel Vig, Janet Daley Ducal, Lucy Faust, Michael Aaron Santos and Aimée Hayes. At the Suddenly Last Summer Play & Film Discussion, Brenda Currin, who was a ferocious Violet Venable in Southern Rep s recent production of that play; John Lahr, winner of the 2014 National Book Critics Circle Award for his Williams biography; and scholar Robert Bray discussed how Summer was a narrative of Williams heart, its grotesque style, and how Hollywood handled (or mishandled) this allegorical tale. Currin also delineated how she approached playing Violet, all making for a fascinating panel. (Next up at Southern Rep is Boudin, an original production that celebrates the music, art, magic, and history of New Orleans; it plays at Ashé Power House Theater through May 17.) It s a shame that Joel Vig s Truman Talks Tennessee had only one performance. I wasn t sure what to expect from it and was afraid it could turn into mere camp. But Vig has done his homework to provide a manifesto of Capote s opinions and observations in a witty and well-detailed reading. Vig looks and sounds like Truman but switched effortlessly to conjure up Tennessee s raspy voice for a terrific dual portrait. An exploration of these two literary giants, each who had distant, alcoholic fathers and overbearing mothers (Williams once said that Friends are God s way of apologizing to us for our family. ), TTT expertly limned how Truman and Tennessee went from being acquaintances to friends to enemies and back to friends again tossing out great anecdotes along the way like the time their mutual friend Yukio Mishima gave a party with 1,000 drag geishas. Wish I coulda been there. One of the Fest s other theatrical offerings was a reprise The Hotel Plays at the Hermann-Grima House. It had been one of last year s highlights and I was looking forward to the experience again of watching four short plays in different sections of this historic house. Not inappropriately for Williams, my expectations were somewhat dashed. Director David Kaplan switched out two of last year s one-acts for two others, ostensibly so that all four would be from the 1940s and to provide more of a thematic consistency. That may be all well and good but by replacing 1970 s Green Eyes and 1981 s The Traveling Companion with Last of My Solid Gold Watches and Lord Byron s Love Letter, both from 1946, Kaplan sacrificed two complete works of power and passion for two that seemed more like sketches, interesting but not as potent as the others. This new configuration also permitted an introduction to the Hermann-Grima House before two of the playlets and, while worthy enough, it went on too long and disrupted the carefully calibrated mood of the Williams pieces. Ironically, the changed line-up caused Lady of Larkspur Lotion and Mister Paradise, which had been solid last year, to become the strongest of them now, their exploration of faded hopes and dreams more resonant than Gold Watches s death of a Southern salesman motif and Lord Byron s desperate hustlers. Regardless, the cast could hardly be better. George Sanchez as Watches bigoted salesman past his prime and Joel Derby as a young buck were excellent. As the Tutweilers, tourists from Milwaukee hoping to see Lord Byron s love letter, Jackson Townsend and especially Francine Segal were phenomenal, as though they just wandered over from Bourbon Street. As Mr. Paradise and Larkspur Lady s defender, Robert Mitchell was more energetic and less brittle than 2014 s David Landon, nicely differentiating the two characters. The returning Francesca McKenzie, Kathryn Talbot, and Desiree Ledet were even stronger this year with Talbot adding more shadings to her manipulative hooker, Ledet fiercer as the put-upon landlady, and McKenzie even more genuine and achingly sincere. Like Townsend, who did a lot with a little, Ledet conveys as much with her expressive reactions as with her lines. I do hope The Hotel Plays will return next year though preferably with the original, or another different, line-up. In the meantime, for all those going through Williams withdrawal, The Anthony Bean Community Theater is presenting The Glass Menagerie through April 26 with an African-American cast led by that superb actress Gwendolyne Foxworth. It s about time. Pre-Memorial Day DEADLINE: April The Official Mag : AmbushMag.com April 21-May 4, 2015 Official ficial Southern n Decadence Guide since 1982 SouthernDecadence.com