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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 2005)
auaust lì 2QQ51 jllSt OUt 3g tassel twirling techniques Bound for So. Cali? and teases to Portland for a weekend of condensed the There is no lovelier (or gayer) sum atrical play from Aug. 26 to mer tradition in Los Angeles than the 28. annual Hollywood Bowl season. Packing “Participants are going to a picnic from Patina or Trader Joe’s and learn a step-hy-step process enjoying a concert under the stars and for creating a burlesque rou crisscrossing airplanes is a total joy—in tine and learn about creating fact, the most hotly contested element in burlesque characters,” says many an L.A. will or divorce settlement Miss Indigo Blue. “I’m going revolves around who gets to keep the to teach students to take bowl box seat season subscription. those characters and place Things are better than ever now them in situations that are that, thanks to last year’s umpteenth naughty, tunny and titillating renovation (the bowl has had more and present those on stage.” facelifts than Joan Collins), the music The limited-capacity actually sounds kinda like a live per workshop includes character formance. The new shell has brightened Miss Indigo Blue will teach burlesque workshop students the tricks of the development, costume and and burnished the sound—especially for trade Aug. 26 to 28. prop tips, makeup and wig pop and jazz and the occasional appear secrets, and specialized ances of the renowned Hollywood Bowl instruction in burlesque dance moves. Students and to the dismay of his minivan, Himan has Orchestra—and the new lighting equipment will perform their newly minted creations dur relentlessly driven from town to town, spread and video screens are vast improvements. ing the graduation recital 8 p.m. Aug. 28 at ing his sound and picking up fans in a most This season has been a particularly gala Holocene, 1001 S.E. Morrison St. grassroots manner. They will attest that catch one—and it’s only half over. Highlights so far Miss Indigo Blue opened the Academy of ing him live is the way to go. have included the Stephen Sondheim 75th Burlesque three years ago and teaches classes, Despite Himan’s appearances at queer Birthday Celebration, which served as a kind mostly in Seattle, in a six-week format. She has events and accolades from gay groups, his narra of Gay Lourdes to thousands of musical theater taken her workshop on the road and overseas, tive lyrics mysteriously use the “she” pronoun. queens all over the West Coast. It was a fun most recently teaching in London. This, he explains, is an effort to make his music evening—yes, Bernadette Peters was hoarse and “I don’t know quite how I got this gift. 1 was “relatable” and keeps his music from being not all the stars were as starry as they could put on the planet to teach women about their “politically gay.” The results are found in these have been—but it was worth it just to see femininity and about their own empowerment,” Angela Lansbury and she says. Len Cariou re-create Although Miss Indigo Blue says the work their roles as the origi shop will be most beneficial to those who nal Sweeney Todd and already have a character, routine or concept in Mrs. Lovett (with Ms. mind, it is open to all levels, genders, abilities Lansbury sounding and persuasions. Students must be old enough ready to attack to enter a bar for the performance. Broadway again in a Miss Indigo Blue will also perform with minute), hear Barbara Mozzarella 8 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Egyptian Cook do her un Club, 3701 S.E. Division St., followed by a stu surpassed version of dent reception and social. “Losing My Mind” or be Workshop prices range from the rock- devastated by Audra bottom rate of $225 to a $320 package, which McDonald’s searing includes a commemorative packet with photos, account of “Not a Day a video, satin gloves, a feather boa and Goes By.” And then TwirlyGirl pasties with adhesive. Barbra Streisand To register, call 206-47-TWIRL, e-mail deigned to come down academy@twirlygirl.net or visit among us mere mortals www.missindigoblue.com /academy.html. and lead the sold-out —JRC From left, Mary Steele, Wendy McGinnis and Kiera O'Hara formed the house in singing “Happy jazz band Sweet Thunder in 1999. Birthday” to a beaming Steve Sondheim—it Tall, Dark and handsome lyrics for “White Horse”: “I’m waiting for my was all very L.A. With a chiseled, stark expression and a gui man on white horse. She says, I’m waiting for Later in the month there was a fun Roaring tar slung over his broad shoulders, openly gay my man on white horse.” ’20s evening with Ute Lemper doing Kurt singer/songwriter Eric Himan is easy on the File his albums next to other country-rock- Weill and Kander and Ebb in her signature, folk-blues-funk fusion experiments. eyes. übemeurotic fashion and Joel Grey proving His voice has been described as “honeyed Himan performs 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24 at that he still has a Hoofer’s panache (and chamomile,” an accurate if not gooey compari Mississippi Pizza Pub, 3552 N. Mississippi Ave. remains the creepiest Emcee ever to grace the son, and his sound has been likened to Ani For more information visit hellish Cabaret). www.erichiman.com. DiFranco. Another evening, somewhat awkwardly Dark Horse, Himan’s fourth album, was —JRC titled The Great American Women Concert, released on his own label, showcased three mighty talents: the fabulous Thumbcrown, named after the soprano Deborah Voigt (unfortunately having a crown tattoo on his thumb. The rare off night), the divine jazz diva Dianne disc features 11 songs from Reeves channeling the spirit of Sarah Vaughan Himan, all original with the and, once again, the remarkable Barbara Ccxik exception of his cover of Simply sounding like a wise angel and showing us just Red’s 1986 hit “Holding Back what the art of singing is all about. the Years.” There is a wealth of music yet to come The Pittsburgh resident con before the season closes Sept. 25, with such quered the coffee shop circuit delights as the La Dolce Vita Italian music around Penn State University night, John Williams doing his John Williams before touring Pride festivals thing, Portland’s own Pink Martini, Luciano nationwide. The summer of Pavarotti, a Russian Fireworks Finale and a 2004 brought him on a promo sing-along Rocky Horror Picture Show con tional tour to 40 different cert. The bowl is not only the largest outdixir Borders stores from Fort amphitheater in the United States, it is also the Lauderdale, Fla., to Seattle and only place where you will find Frank-n-Furter back again. on Monday night and Ludwig Van on Tuesday. Pittsburgh singer/songwriter Eric Himan performs Aug. 24 at For the past several years, —Jon Kretzu JH Mississippi Pizza Pub. Go to Adorn or go to Hell. Tattoos • Piercing 503.292.7060 9217 SW Bvtn Hills Hwy Portland, OR 97225 [ornbodyart.coi www.Dharma-Rain.Org Z egon Camera Everything Photographic Uc h.i\c .1 knowledgeable, friendly staff hclpinu you find the ridit camera, binoculars, or photographic accessories. \ ■family' owned and operated business since 199". M2 SW Atom Am (S4Q7U-2m
