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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 2005)
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Free JIIV Testing Gax/Bi/ I rails Guys Thursdays 5 to 6:30 I’M Drop in clinic Two testing options: Rapid (20 niinute/saine day results) Oral sample (results in 2 weeks) Arabic elegance Portland Actors Ensemble’s production of As You Like It, which will be performed gratis in various outdoor locations through Labor Day as part of this year’s Shakespeare in the Park series. Willamette Week said the show “sucks eggs” but singled out Ruiz for giving two hilarious performances as the dandyish LeBeau and a lovesick shepherd named Silvius. Street; and Sept. 3 to 5 at Reed College, Southeast Woodstock Boulevard and Reed College Place. Visit www.portlandactors.com for more info. —Stephen Blair Have a night of drinks and conversation in Northeast Portlands newest bar, Zaytoon. The establishment is named after the Arabic word for “olive,” reflecting the owners heritage. Aysha Ghazoul, 32, has been living in Sweet hearts Portland for 11 years, but she is originally from Sweet Thunder is a three-woman jazz band Iraq and grew up in a small village in England. that recently released its first full-length CD of Despite intolerance in some Middle original music, Kinship. Eastern countries toward queers, Pianist Kiera O’Hara, bassist Mary Steele Ghazoul says she grew up in a progres and drummer Wendy McGinnis have been sive country with liberal and support playing together since 1999. O’Hara and Steele ive parents. “Iraq was very forward-thinking in met at a session for another Portland musician’s CD. When O’Hara decided she wanted to the ’70s. In Iraq, gays and lesbian’s are accepted but not discussed,” she says. develop some of her own material, she asked Multiculturalism in her own fami Steele to join her. Then they added McGinnis, whom Steele knew through Rose City Swing. ly was the subject of the documentary They played around with some music, decided My American Grandmother, a film Ghazoul made while she attended the it sounded pretty gixxJ and went on from there Northwest Film Center. The film is to create their own group and produce a CD. about her grandmother, who was a While performing live, Sweet Thunder plays showgirl in Texas. The movie aired a mix of original and standard jazz material. on Oxygen for two years. “When we play the standards, we play pretty Despite a lack of business experi much like a straight-ahead jazz trio,” says ence, Ghazoul says she is prepared to McGinnis. “But the originals are a little bit risk it all for Zaytixin. harder to categorize. They’re definitely based in “Of course it’s nerve-racking jazz with some Latin thrown in. They are their because you want to be a success, but own kind of thing.” when you have parents like mine who O’Hara creates the original tunes, with the are so incredibly supportive, I was final pnxluct being a collaborative effort. raised that it’s gcxxl to take risks. If it’s “They’re mostly in her head,” explains not a success, I’ve still got me, and my McGinnis. “She brings in a tune and plays it family and my friends are all I need in Aysha Ghazoul promises affordable drinks and the best for us. Then Mary adds her bass, and they go my life,” she says. back and forth. Then I add the drum part.” baklava at her new bar, Zaytoon, opening Aug. 21. Her parents have flown in from Sweet Thunder has played at a variety of England to support Ghazoul’s opening. Her In defense of the play, Ruiz says: “Our mis events including concerts, private parties, ban father and a family friend are investors in the sion is to provide free theater to people who quets, art gallery openings, commitment cere bar. wouldn’t otherwise go. This is the first taste of monies, Portland Pride and a few weddings Although Ghazoul is a lesbian, she says she theater for many families and kids. This experi when Multnomah County issued marriage is not trying to create a women’s establishment. ence is traditional and accessible, with a clean, licenses to same-sex couples. The feel of the spacious bar is elegant in cool direct representation of the text.” During live performances, Steele is happi w<xxl and steel. As You Like It is a playful tale of cross-dress est when the band is “really communicating “Conversation is the most important thing ing and mis musically and we for me,” says Ghazoul. She plans to project stu taken identi have an audience dent films on the wall, has built shelves to dis ties, set in that is sharing in play Last Thursday art pieces and would like to the Eden- that experience.” host small folk and jazz bands, but she wants to like Forest of For McGinnis, keep the noise level mild to promote chatting. Arden. Ruiz there is nothing The menu reflects Ghazoul’s Middle Eastern explains that quite like jazz. heritage, with Lebanese fcxxl and desserts. one of his “Because of the “They will never try a better baklava in characters, nature of jazz, there their life,” says Ghazoul of dessert chef Jennifer LeBeau, is is a set form, but Stevenson’s creations. never explic within that form, Although the muddled specialty drink menu itly identi there’s improving, so carries pricey elixirs, Ghazoul says her beers fied as gay. every time is differ (four on tap) and mixed drinks are cheaper But this ent,” she explains. than downtown establishments. production “And so sometimes Zaytoon, billed as “a new kind of bar,” opens “queers” him when we are com Aug. 21 at 2236 N.E. Alberta St. Its daily hours in the sense municating musically are 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. that he with each other, this —J ay mee R. Culi wears lacy synergy happens that clothing and is kind of indescrib swooningly able. It’s just...an Parking with speaks about incredible joy—the Dan Ruiz steals scenes in As You Like It, part of this year's fact that we are cre .i male Shakespeare in the Park series, Shakespeare wrestler. ating something Gay actor Dan Ruiz has never played a gay Ruiz, together and every character before. a Netf Orleans native, moved to Portland in time a kind of different thing develops.” “Of the few gay playwrights in the mtxlem 2002 to pursue a master’s degree in fine arts and Sweet Thunder will perform 2 p.m. Aug. 21 canon, like Tony Kushner and Terrence directing at University of Portland. Though his at Tryon Creek State Park, 11321 S.W. McNally, I don’t fit their parts.” all-time favorite Shakespeare plays are Terwilliger Blvd. Ruiz, who is the marketing director for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Titus Adromcus —Pat Young Miracle Theatre, attributes this misfortune to and The Tempest, his thesis is on the ultimate his bodily bulk. battle of the sexes, The Taming of the Shrew. Glitter, glamour and fun “It’s a shame," he says. “I’m still waiting for He’s a big fan of As You Like It, too. “It a theater to do Nicky Silver’s The Food Chain [a sends the message that life is as you want it to Learn to titillate, amuse and, most impor dark comedy about an overweight gay man] be,” he says. “There’s lots of ambiguity and tantly, entertain at a Weekend Burlesque and let an actor play the character without a fat androgyny.” Performance Intensive presented by Miss suit.” This character even strips at the end, and As You Like It plays 3 p.m. Aug. 20 and 21 Indigo Blue’s Academy of Burlesque and Ruiz is willing to go the distance. at Gabriel Park, Southwest 45th Avenue and Portland drag king Johnny Mozzarella. Until that day rolls around, Ruiz has his Nevada Court; Aug. 27 and 28 at Femhill Miss Indigo Blue, internationally renowned hands full with no less than two roles in Park, Northeast 41st Avenue and Holman burlesque performer, brings her patented turbo
