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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 3, 2011)
OREGON S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE JUNE 3. 20H • pridefiles- Kennedy says. Over the years, Kennedy has been an actor, singer, dancer and director—and has been involved in more than 150 productions. Ginger Lee, the almost-accidental diva, played by Brian Block, was Carmichaels’ other obvious choice. Block, who worked as a spotlight operator for Darcelle XV, de scribes being “roped into” drag in September 2002. The show’s coordinator, M onica Bou levard, approached Block and asked him if he’d join the cast. Block hesitated, but Bou levard pressed hard, and he relented. His first rehearsal was two days later, his first show a day after that. “Darcelle and the rest o f the cast were very helpful in getting me started,” he explains. From there, Ginger Lee emerged, becoming a fixture with D ar celle and company for five years. After his tenure at Darcelle’s, Block planned to hang up Ginger Lee’s wigs and take a “much needed break.” Bolivia Carmi chaels had other plans. “Bolivia was relendess and bothersome, begging me to join her,” Block recounts, smirking. “I ’m teasing, o f course. Bolivia attacked— I mean ap proached— me with an idea to bring on more performers for her show Sunday nights. I was honored that Bolivia picked me out o f all the performers she knows. Honey Bea was also on board. We sat down one evening and ‘The Superstar Divas’were hatched.” Four years later, The Superstar Divas have routines and roles down pat—Celine dress, Reba wig, Adele gown. In addition to per formances, each diva settles into a defined, practical capacity. “Bolivia is the motivated one, the choreographer— and books guests,” Kennedy explains. “Ginger manages us; she books our shows elsewhere. I’m the logical one— the person putting the setlist together each Sunday.” One even senses these roles while watching the divas perform— and in teract. “We get along really well,” Kennedy adds. “The chemistry is such we don’t worry about much. I’m not saying we don’t have fights or arguments. W hat siblings don’t?” Elliott adds, “W e’ve certainly had our yelling matches. Sometimes it gets a little spicy.” One o f the most im portant aspects o f the show, though? The audience— on that point, the divas are in wholehearted agree ment. “We bring our all each week,” Elliott says. “We feed off our audience. An ener getic audience really raises the bar.” The show rarely wants for energy. W e’d expect nothing less from three o f the hard est-working, most talented performers in the city. The show offers a unique, eccentric mix of songs, skits and performances— ma terial often spans generations and genres. The Superstar Divas Mega Show is a desti nation, now an indispensable Portland insti tution. m P 5 INTEGRITY & EXPERIENCE FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS Cell (503) 957-7705 Office (503) 297-2523 shellycasteelOyahoo.com Serving You St tu e l ifIS 0 re 30 nrealty.com/shellyc 8552 SW Apple Way, Portland 97225 Sundays, 8 p. m. -m idnight; C C Slaughters, 2 1 9 N W D avis St. They'll be o ff Pride weekend; their Pride kickoff show is Sunday, June 12. VISIT OUR BOOTH AT THF PRIDE FESTIVAL A FEMALE FRIENDLY SEX TOY BOUTIQUE SUN-THRS11-7, Ftl-SAT t l- t . 909 M B«e<h Street. Historic Mississippi Districi 5 0 M 7 M 0 U s M U p te s te rre e t % • h * t
