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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2011)
Ih n o t m OREGON'S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE W *i ■ Jones recently landed his dream role play ing Angel in Rent. Sanchez saw him in the production and invited him to audition for BOOMCRACKLEFLY. The play marks his first time originating a role. “Angel was terrifying. I think playing a part like that is scary because if you do some thing wrong you’ll have a riot. People will be pissed,” says Jones, explaining that audiences have come to expect a certain performance from Angel. “So this is the first. I get to do whatever I want and call it good, which is fim. I get to explore all the time, which is what I really like." Jones will have considerable freedom with the role since Smith didn’t provide much of a hackstory for Fulana. Smith says she imag ines the character living life as a woman, but doesn’t elaborate on what that means in terms o f an identity. “I’m leaving it to Tyler’s hands. I envi sioned it as maybe he went back and forth between identities, but primarily living out life as a woman in terms o f gender,” Smith says. The way she sees it, “everybody is their own gender actually and people are different gradations of straight and gay and everybody is probably at some point on the spectrum. These divisions we want to impose on people are more for our own comfort.” Jones has had his own run-ins with identi ty-based divisions. Still, he doesn’t seem worried about being typecast in gay roles. Nor does he buy the argument that gays can’t play straight and vice-versa. MARCH 18, 2011 'V ^ ' “I think it’s bullshit. I know that when it’s just Tyler, I’m feminine, and I’m okay with that. It comes out when I’m playing Fulana, it comes out when I’m playing Angel. But I’ve played Prince Charming. I think if you’re an actor and you say that [gays can’t play straight roles], you’re not giving yourself enough credit and if you’re watching and seeing someone you don’t believe, then you’re not buying into the scene.” If anything, Jones says he sees his race as a bigger roadblock than his sexuality, especially in less diverse areas. In high school, he re calls, his drama teacher wouldn’t cast him as Curly in Oklahoma ! because, she told him, “You don’t look like a cowboy and you never really will look like a cowboy.” In Portland, there simply aren’t enough roles open to African-American men, and Jones says he finds himself competing with a small group of actors for the same roles, de spite age and other differences among them. Jones says he is excited to he a part o f a play that leaves more open to interpretation. BO OM CRACKLEFLY is like nothing he’s ever seen or read. “It’s completely original and thought pro voking,"Jones says. “It’s beautiful. Once you get right down to it, the words are gorgeous.” J0] BOOM CRACKLEFLY, March 25-April 16 , Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Satur days at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.; Milagro Theatre, 525 SE Stark St.; $14-$25; 503-236- 7253 or milagro.com. v SCA R “ 2 9 .J Ì “ The 75-m in u te parody plays fast and loose, like a live John W aters m ovie!” — la s Vegas Weekly Modeled m asterfully after the Academ y-Aw zard winning film . ‘Clam s’ is funny, uproarious, provocative and sm art.” — Provincetown Banner 4 SHOWS ONLY! i ' ! *• V » • mum *"*» «MB» i I I I I W »V W I V ^ • » ' i • W W . \ Y . W • • k » P ortland A ctors C onservatory 11436 SW M ontgomery S t . i _ 800-838-3006 BR0W NPAPERTICKETS.COM St>onsoreri in p.»rt by: Y ^ r t 'iu ip magazines clothing lingerie multichannel arcade huge selection gift cards available . THURSDAY AFTER W O R K W IN D D O W N SPEC IA L D O U n il Y O U R T IM I iff the fIMtitle bool!.; tint! luke till v tin tiiije of In a lure t|ie<ltilt Walk-in testing for guys into guys m Clark County between 4pm timl /pm emh f but stliiy tint Inti Murth nf our MlK Ini til Ion nntl our HVntl iiml DlvUlon Imutimi. ALL $9.95 DVDs FOR $20 W W W .TA BO O VIDEO .CO M ) When Tuesdays 11am-1pm Thursdays 4-8pm y Where ) For more Info: Harm Reduction Center 3701 East Fourth Plain Vancouver, WA 98661 (3 6 0 ) 750-7964 off yguysolar k O c a s c a rie a id s or g Se fiatila aapafiol Propria'; rie VIM pere hurnbres VANCOUVER 82N D AVE. MLK BLVD. BROADWAY (PEARL) 4811 NE 94th Ave. Vancouver WA 2330 SE 82nd Ave. Portland OR 237 SE MLK Blvd. Portland OR 311 NW Broadway, Portland 97209 (3 6 0 ) 2 5 4 *1 1 2 6 (5 0 3 ) 7 7 7 -6 0 3 3 (5 0 3 ) 2 3 9 -1 6 7 8 (5 0 3 ) 2 2 7 -3 4 4 3 HUGE SELECTION OF DVDS • ADULT TOYS • LINGERIE • MAGAZINES ALL STORES OPEN 24 HOURS TO SERVE YOU! PRIVATE AND INTIMATE MULTICHANNEL ARCADE
