The original horror series The Lair debuts June 1 on Here.
The Men's Wellness Center screens The Opposite of Sex,
a scathing comedy that has it all: a self-absorbed teenager,
a hunky teacher and his even hunkier, often shirtless
boyfriend. Yummy snacks and sodas, too! (7-9 pm.
928 SW Stark St.)
/ gc A
Confluence: Willamette Valley Mixed GALA
Chorus performs in concert with Jubilate! The
Women's Choir of Corvallis at Unitarian Univeralist
Fellowship in Corvallis. Repeats June 9 at Chemeketa
Community College in Salem. (7:30 pm. 2945 Circle Blvd.
NW [Corvallis] and 4000 Lancaster Blvd. NE [Salem]. $12-
$15 from 503-587-SING.)
Clinton Street Theater screens The Pornography of the
Bicycle: Sexy Cyclists You Want to Ride! featuring
several pieces from nonstraight filmmakers, followed by
the Pedalpaloosa Midnight Mystery Ride. (8:45 pm.
2522 SE Clinton St.)
Tart is where the queer girls party every second Sunday at Holocene.
SAT • JUNE 9
The Adventure Group goes whitewater rafting on the
White Salmon River. (Jim 503-760-3814.)
Look ma, no hands! Learn how to orgasm with your
breath during a fully clothed workshop at BJuicy Studios
Stripper 101 founder Isis Leeor will utilize her training in
body psychotherapy, energy work and Tantra to show you
how to tap into your potential. Level 2 workshop June 16.
(11 am-7pm. 1417 NE 72nd Ave. $125 from 503-334-8578
or isis@becomingjuicy.com.)
Life coach Jill Nelson explores how you can create the
energy and excitement you are longing to experience dur
ing Bring More Joy to Life at Q Center. Learn how to
make simple but powerful changes in your life and leave
with tools to help get you where you want to go. (Noon-
3 pm. 69 SE Taylor St. $5 donation.)
A Call to Arms
Being politically active is now, more than ever
before, everyone’s responsibility. Whether it is for
equal human rights or against inhumane wars,
change happens when concerned citizens become
activists.
Admittedly, if Otep Shamaya weren’t the front
woman for the band Otep, she’d be an activist, too.
Fervent about the current state of the United States
and its politics, as well as the opportunities for
artists to be spokespeople for their communities, she
is convinced that her activism only takes on a dif
ferent voice.
“We as people, as women, as minorities, have
the opportunity in this country to speak up. If we
don’t, who will?” says the out lesbian musician.
Touring with more mainstream bands like Static X,
her message of political responsibility is reaching
the masses and changing perceptions.
Otep’s debut disc, Sevas Tra, is “a call to arms”
to anyone outraged by the political climate our
country has been submerged in, while its latest
release, The-Ascension, allows its creativity to shine
and shares the outspoken vein of its earlier music.
Writing material in post-Katrina New Orleans,
Shamaya says The-Ascension got the band’s
Otep Shamaya "learned exactly what is right
heads into the art that is writing and recording.
with this country, and exactly what is wrong.”
With members bringing everything including jazz
style to the process, the work reflects the powerful experience of writing material in post-Katrina New
Orleans. Seeing the aftermath caused by the storm—and the delayed response from the government—
the band left inspired, ready to record in Los Angeles.
“Being in that atmosphere, I learned exactly what is right with this country, and exactly what is
wrong,” Shamaya says. “At home it’s so easy to phase in and out; I need to live in a constant state of
creativity.”
Overall, the album’s mood is a refreshing reflection of the “tide turning toward the positive” among
Americans who are ready to vote in new power and move in a new direction. The_Ascension also reflects
Otep fans’ need to speak up.
“We’ve been hijacked by the conservative mind. We can’t let politicians get lazy or apathetic,” says
Shamaya. “Tolerance doesn’t mean you agree.”
Catch the conversation—and the music—June 5 at the Roseland. Listen to new tracks from
TheAscension by visiting www.otep.com.
—West Duncan
Celebrate size positivity during FatGirl Speaks 2007 at
Portland State University's Smith Ballroom. (7pm. 1825 SW
Broadway $16.50 from Ticketmaster)
Metropolitan Community Church of Portland presents
Road to Denver Gold: The Dean's List Benefit Concert
featuring The Dean's List, 2006 Evergreen District Quartet
Champions, and other top area quartets and choruses.
(7:30 pm. 2400 NE Broadway. $20 donation.)
"Gemo" (gay emo) artist Logan Lynn, whose video
"Burning Your Glory" video has been a big hit on MTV
Logo’s Click List, performs during the PDX Electronic
Showcase at Rotture. (9 pm. 315 SE Third Ave.)
SUN • JUNE 10
The Adventure Group takes an easy 22-mile bike ride
from Sellwood to Gresham and back along the Springbrook
Corridor. Meet at Oak Pioneer Church. (9 am. 455 SE
Spokane St. Sarah 503-341-6226.)
The Adventure Group takes a moderate 1.3-mile hike
through old-growth forest to Memaloose Lake and South
Fork Mountain. Meet in Starbucks at Hollywood Fred
Meyer. (9 am. 3030 NE Weidler St Laurent 503-227-2914.)
Bridgeport United Church of Christ presents
Daddy Sang Bass, an uplifting, lively concert of
inspirational songs with music ranging from
gospel to showtunes. Proceeds benefit the Friends of
People with AIDS Foundation. (2 pm. 621 NE 76th Ave.
$10 donation.)
OJs Harmony, Beyonda and Saffronica lay down the
hottest world, Latin, house and old-school beats during
Tart, a monthly party for queer girls at Holocene. (5 pm.
1001 SE Morrison St. $5.)
Clash of the Titans
In 1960, two of the greatest screen and theater legends of the 20th century collaborated on a London
stage production, and quickly discovered that the spotlight is only big enough for one egomaniacal genius.
Still riding on the fumes of fame from his 1941 classic Citizen Kane, Orson Welles agreed to direct
Laurence Olivier in the absurdist play Rhinoceros by Eugène Ionesco.
Playwright Austin Pendleton envisions the catty exchanges that ensued in Orson’s Shadow, a biting
comedy that brings Artists Repertory Theatre’s season to a close. Associate artistic director Jon Kretzu
helms the show.
“It was a marriage made
someplace in hell,” says Kretzu,
who is gay. “They were both
used to getting their own way.”
Olivier’s lover and Rhinoceros
co-star Joan Plowright also
figures prominently in Orson’s
Shadow, along with British
theater critic Kenneth Tynan
and Oliver’s mentally ill wife,
Vivien Leigh. Todd Van Voris
and David Carey Foster lead the
cast as Welles and Olivier,
respectively.
Though the play contains
Director Orson Welles (Todd Van Voris, right) battles actor
no explicit gay content, Kretzu
Laurence Olivier (David Carey Foster, center)—all under the
explains why it should have
watchful glare of theater critic Kenneth Tynan (gay thesp
plenty of appeal for queer audi
Michael Mendelson)—in Orson's Shadow.
ences. “Aiiytime there’s a play
about theater folk, there’s a certain gay sensibility,” he says. “This is one of the best cocktail parties you
can be at. The gay audience will have a field day.”
On a juicier level, just about every celebrity depicted in the play is rumored to have indulged in same-
sex escapades. In reference to Olivier’s sexuality, playwright and musician Noel Coward said he possessed
“a puppy-like acquiescence to all experiences." Some biographers have speculated that Olivier had an
affair with entertainer Danny Kaye, but these claims are meagerly substantiated.
“Vivien Leigh supposedly had her share of lesbian experiences,” Kretzu says. “She pretty much screwed
anything that breathed.”
He adds that Welles—who had three wives, including Rita Hayworth—is rumored to have done some
switch-hitting in his younger days.
Pendleton captures these icons at crossroads, collaborating on a play none of them likes in the hopes
that it will lead to film deals. “It’s a remarkable and clever play,” Kretzu says. “It’s so dangerous to wTite
about these people, and on top of that it could easily have been just a string of in-jokes.”
—Stephen BI oit