celebrazzi (celebrations-paparazzi)

ueen and King Apollo XXVII Les Mut and John Sallinger, as the Lioness and he Krewe of Queenateenas kicked off Gay Carnival Season with the 15th Lion, were presented at Baton Rouge Krewe of Apollo’s 27th bal masque anniversary King Cake Queen of Gay Mardi Gras Coronation on Jan. 4. King Qin the River Center Arena in Baton Rouge. The ball held on Jan. 5 paid tribute TCake Queen (KCQ) XII Savanna DeLorean and KCQ XIV Princesse Stephaney to animals with the theme They All Asked For You. join new King Cake Queen XV Marsha Naquin-Delain in her Victorian parlour along with KCQ VII Stephanie Williams of Las Vegas and KCQ VIII Phyllis Denmark of Largo, Florida. The celebration brought almost 300 guests through the receiving line in the first floor Ambush offices of the 828 Bourbon Street mansion. Here, guests could sample the Voodoo-Fleur de Lis Duck & Sausage Gumbo and the She Devil-Freedom Cream Cheese Pyramid de Italia (Italian cheese, meats and olive salad). Wine and beer were also available on the first floor. From there guests went up into the private residence of the Naquin-Delain’s to Belle Lain Magnolia Bar for cocktails, the Victorian parlour, the formal dining room, and out onto their world famous Bourbon Street balcony. The Captain’s Table was served in the dining room with each dish named in honor of the King Cake Queens. It included Amazon-Rainbow BBQ Venison and Baby Corn, Jewel of the Nile Wild Boar Boudin Dressing, Goddess Plat de Fromage et Fruit (gourmet cheese and fresh fruit), Pearl of the Sea Antipasto di Fruitti di Mare (featuring smoked oysters, clams, mussels and calamari), Peacock-Fantasy Cooper Pennies (sweet and sour carrots along with, marinated asparagus, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, baby onions and giardiniera), aptain Petronius XLVII Bill McCarthy, Queen and King Petronius XLVII-Elect and Diamond-Czarina Gorilla King Cake stuffed with cream cheese. Wild game was Dawn Falgout-Loebig and Charles Turbeville, King and Queen Armeinius courtesy of the Chaisson Family from Patterson, Louisiana. XL-Elect Charles Maddox and Tommy Dietch, and Captain Armeinius XL Renowed photographer Larry Graham unveiled the “official” portrait of King Cake C Jim Johnson, welcomed guests to the Krewe's of Armeinius and Petronius’ 2008 Royal Queen XV Marsha during the receiving line. His work, as always, was sensational. Courts Announcements at Algiers Point in New Orleans. Couturier to the Queen, Opal Masters, under the label Mr. Mike, created a royal spectacle with the burgundy coronation overlaid in exquisite lace highlighted in gold and the colors of a peacock. The lace also covered the royal collar which boasted 4 yards of beaded fringe. To complete the ensemble, 12 gross of burgundy rhinestones and 12 gross of crystal rhinestones embellished the gown and collar. Hair stylist and makeup artist Savanna DeLorean (King Cake Queen XII) created the high coif and soft facial features bringing elegance to the Queen. Queenateenas’ Captain Rip Naquin-Delain had dangling pierced crystal rhine- stone with the letters KCQ made for the Queen. The Queen had crystal rhinestone pins with the letters KCQ and a dangling fleur de lis made and presented them to each King Cake Queen during the King Cake Queen gift exchange. The Queen used her pin as a pendant for the evening. King Cake Queen XV Marsha Naquin-Delain will lead the 21st Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 5th at 2pm from Ambush Headquarters balcony. For more info, visit GayMardiGras.COM.

ords of Leather Captain XXIV George Hester, Lord King and Lord Consort XXIV Danny Alford and Danny Starnes, join Captain XXV David Boyd in a cham- Lpagne toast at A Royal Leather Tea hosted by the krewe upstairs at JohnPaul’s in the new parlour room in New Orleans.

ystic Krewe of Satyricon’s 6th annual 12th Night Ball Jan. 5 presented 12th Night King Dick Egyud, King and Queen Satyricon VI-Elect Scott Loyed and MCarl Mack, and 12th Night Queen Karen Riggleman at The Country Club ouisiana State Gay Rodeo Association’s (LSGRA) Member-at-Large Mike in New Orleans. Captain Mickey Gil did the honors with the assistance of Queen Andrews, Vice President George Schwandt and President Lance Pippin Satyricon I Becky Allen and Queen Satyricon V Hoyle Byrd. Country Club Chef Miles Lwork the special LSGRA Beer Bust hosted by Cafe Lafitte in Exile over BCS Prescott created a 12th Night Feast for the revelers in attendance. weekend in New Orleans. MAIN~16 of 52 • AmbushMag.COM • Jan. 15-28, 2008 • The One & Only Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM GayNewOrleans.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • Jan. 15-28, 2008 • AmbushMag.COM • MAIN~17 of 52 she unzips one of the bananas from Baker’s iconic , mention was made of a German shepherd. Of course, never having owned a dog, I had no idea what she was trodding the boards referring to. As always, videos reveal yet more of Varla’s talents, as well as allowing for backstage changes. If one in which she seems to take on Al-Qaeda to the tune by Brian Sands of Something’s Coming Over Me ends with a luscious twist, she then tops herself (what E-mail: [email protected] an image that is!) when she sends up international adoptions with Beyonce’s Irreplace- able and gets in a dig at Bianca del Rio as well. Absolutely nothing is sacred to La Merm. If Varla recycles her Teutonic Private Dancer from I’m Not Paying For This!, I had Varla Jean Merman Loves a Foreign Tongue at Le Chat Noir no complaints. Not only did it add a bit of Deutschland to the mix but I’ll gladly see anything that fabulous twice. Likewise, every time she accompanies herself on ukelele t a Twelfth Night party I recently attended I felt a slight pain around my mouth. to sing “You can take the girl out of New Orleans/But you can’t take the New Orleans out No, it wasn’t from opening my orifice too wide to stuff king cake into it. Rather, of the girl” she humanizes her outrageous self to touching effect, not unlike Hillary I had been laughing and smiling and grinning so hard watching Varla Jean A getting choked up in New Hampshire. Merman’s newest show at Le Chat Noir that my face literally hurt...but in the best way For now, while sex is never far from Varla’s mind, she seems to have put the possible! personal demons away that she explored in Under A Big and Girl with a Pearl Varla Jean Merman Loves a Foreign Tongue takes us on a round-the-world ( intimacy, love, clowns, etc.) and replaced them with a righteous anger aimed journey with promises that you “don’t have to get on a plane to be exposed to different at our soon-to-be gone President. With that in mind, her tribute to our Northern neighbor languages, cultures and tuberculosis.” Varla, who first appeared wearing a red and ended Foreign Tongue with a coup d’theatre that made even me appreciate Canada. black ruffled, sequined outfit singing a medley of La Isla Bonita and Besame Mucho, Now that’s talent! is a willing, if not always the brightest, tour guide. So what if she gets confused between Austria and Australia? Or tells you that Hawaii is “off Korea”? Or avers that Holland is in the nether regions? She can still say “This sore is not contagious” in 27 different languages and demonstrates at least a half dozen of in the spotlight them. Jeff Roberson’s brilliant creation continues to amaze. In an age when most The Fifth Annual Americans can barely find Europe on a map—only 11% even have passports s/he informs us—Varla refuses to play to the lowest common denominator. So not only do Ambie Awards we get bitchily witty references to Oprah and Larry Craig and Heather Mills, but Roberson by: Brian Sands & Patrick Shannon even invokes Roman gods and goddesses. Okay, so they’re Testikles and Klymidia, ew Orleans’ theatrical land- but still... scape came roaring fully back Seriously, how many comic chanteueses can viably pull off operatic versions of Con Nto life in 2007 with over a hun- Te Partiro and I Got You, Babe with a little bit of Pagliacci thrown in? Varla can and, with dred productions that took us from Kenner Cedric Bridges playing Placido Domingo to her Joan Sutherland, does, mixing high and to Slidell, from the North Shore to the West low art to delicious effect. Bank. There was comedy, there was In keeping with the international theme, VJM takes us to gay Paree for a tribute to tragedy...and not all of it was at City Hall. Josephine Baker with Le Freak. Though I find it difficult to describe what it looks like when Rather, the theatrical community— actors, writers, directors, designers, tech- nicians—came together to give the Cres- cent City and its environs a theatrical buffet Theatre; Sugar Babies, Le Petit Théâtre worthy of a city that was not still enduring du Vieux Carré; Thoroughly Modern Millie, the aftereffects of the most dramatic show Rivertown Repertory Theatre Mother Nature, with various governmental Best Production of a Drama: Boy agencies in featured roles, had ever pro- Gets Girl, Actor’s Theatre of New Orleans; duced. Bury the Dead, Cripple Creek Theatre In recognition of the extraordinary work Co.; Doubt, All Kinds of Theatre and South- done in the past twelve months, we are ern Rep; The Pillowman, DEM BOYS Pro- thrilled to announce the nominees for the ductions/Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré; Fifth Annual Ambie Awards. In a measure Rising Water, Southern Rep; The Sty of of the vibrancy of our local theater scene, the Blind Pig, Anthony Bean Community no fewer than 57 productions have been Theater honored with at least one nomination. As Best Production of a Comedy: always, the Ambies are totally subjective, Carries’s Facts of Life, Running With occasionally arbitrary, inclusive only of the Scissors; Dog Sees God, Tulane Univer- shows we saw (sorry to all others) and not sity Department of Theatre; The Lieuten- at all validated by Price Waterhouse. Con- ant of Inishmore, Southern Rep/The NOLA gratulations to all our nominees who have Project; Natalie Needs a Nightie, trod the boards during these challenging Minacapelli’s Dinner Playhouse; The Ti- times with flair, imagination and theatrical tanic Adventures of the Love Boat wizardry. Poseidon!, Running With Scissors; Sponsored by Ambush Magazine, Valhalla, To Do Productions the Ambies will be presented at Le Chat Best Original Work: Carries’s Facts Noir on Monday, February 11 and we hope of Life, Jack Long and Richard Read/ that all nominees will be able to attend. Running With Scissors; Finding the En- There will be a slight, suggested admis- emy, John Grimsley/Anthony Bean Com- sion charge with the net proceeds being munity Theater; Fleeing Katrina, Rob Flo- donated to NOCCA’s Theater Department. rence/Jefferson Performing Arts Society; Please spread the word and wish a hearty The Red Light District Variety Show, Bud “Break a leg!” to all whose names appear Faust, Jim Fitzmorris, Aimée Hayes, Sean below: Patterson & Rudy Vorkapic/Two Sisters Unique Theatrical Experience: I LLC; Rising Water, John Biguenet/South- Know What It Means..., Ricky Graham/ ern Rep; The Sunken Living Room, David Performer & Writer; The New Orleans Caudle/Southern Rep BINGO! Show; The Red Light District Most Outstanding Benefit: Carol Variety Show, Two Sisters LLC; Varla Channing in Concert: The First Lady of Jean Merman is Anatomically Incorrect!, Musical Comedy, Dillard University; From Jeffery Roberson/Performer & Writer with Broadway with Love!, Patrick Lee; Mario Jacques Lamarre; YEAH, YEAH, YEAH! Cantone Does Le Petit!, Le Petit Théâtre A Concert Celebration, Jefferson Per- du Vieux Carré; The Women, Running forming Arts Society With Scissors Best Production of a Musical: Bitter/ Best Director of a Musical: Jonne Sweet, Rich Arnold/Le Chat Noir; Chi- Dendinger, Naked Boys Singing; Derek cago, Summer Lyric Theatre; Naked Boys Franklin and Sonny Borey, Sugar Babies; From Varla Jean Merman Loves a Foreign Tongue Singing, Marigny Theatre & To Do Produc- (Costume by Cecile Casey; photo by Michael von Redlich) tions; Singin’ in the Rain, Slidell Little [continued on Main-20] MAIN~18 of 52 • AmbushMag.COM • Jan. 15-28, 2008 • The One & Only Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM GayNewOrleans.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • Jan. 15-28, 2008 • AmbushMag.COM • MAIN~19 of 52 smooth, stopping once to scrape down 1 teaspoon salt the sides. Cover and chill. Yield 1 ½ cups ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper cookin' with auntie dee pesto. 1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth 2 pounds cooked, ready to eat craw- STRAWBERRY SALAD WITH fish tail meat by Donnie Jay CINNAMON VINAIGRETTE ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley E-mail: [email protected] 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, ¼ cup chopped fresh chives 6 cups Photo©GrahamStudioOne.COM drained cooked rice 1 pint fresh strawberries, stemmed Melt butter in a large Dutch oven over Mardi Gras 2008 ½ teaspoon salt and halved medium-high heat. Add onion and next four ingredients; sauté five minutes or can not believe it. Mardi Gras 2008 ¼ teaspoon pepper 1 small red onion, thinly sliced until tender. Add flour salt and cayenne; is already upon us and I still have French baguette slices ½ cup coarsely chopped pecans, cook stirring constantly, until caramel-col- my Christmas lights and decora- Prepare Garden Pesto. With food pro- toasted I ored (about twelve minutes). Add broth; tions hanging in my windows. Martha cessor running, drop garlic cloves through 1 avocado, cut into chunks cook from three to five minutes until thick Stewart would just cringe and take away food chute; process until minced. Add 1 (10 ounce) package romaine let- and bubbly. Stir in crawfish meat; cook five my medal of conduct. But alas I am truly goat cheese and next three ingredients; tuce minutes or until thoroughly heated. Stir in amiss in this situation. I for one personally processing until smooth, stopping to Cinnamon Vinaigrette (recipe fol- herbs. Serve over hot cooked rice. Yield: attended the official beginning of the Gay scrape down sides. Line a three cup bowl lows) six servings Mardi Gras on Friday, January 4th. It was with plastic , allowing three inches to Combine first six ingredients in a of course the coronation of the hang over sides. Spread ½ cheese mix- large bowl. Drizzle with half of Cinnamon SWEET POTATO SALAD Queenateenas' King Cake Queen XV ture into bowl; top with pesto. Top with Vinaigrette tossing to . Serve remain- Marsha Naquin – Delain, a more deserv- remaining cheese mixture. Cover and chill ing vinaigrette with salad. Yield: six serv- 3 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut ing queen there could never be. Marsha eight hours. Invert chilled Torta onto a ings. into 1 inch cubes was radiant in her royal attire and just blew serving platter; remove plastic wrap. Serve Cinnamon Vinaigrette: Vegetable cooking spray all the attendees away. Congratulations with Baguette slices. 1/3 cup olive oil 1 teaspoon salt, divided Marsha. Garden Pesto: 1/3 cup raspberry vinegar 3 ribs celery, diced Now today’s column is not going to be ¼ cup chopped pecans 1 tablespoon sugar 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely one of those and how to prepare for the ¼ cup pine nuts ½ teaspoon salt chopped masses of house guests that may be 2 garlic cloves ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¾ cup diced onion heading your way this festive season, as 2 ½ cups firmly packed basil leaves ¼ teaspoon ground pepper ½ cups diced bell pepper I write every Decadence and Mardi Gras, ¾ cup loosely packed fresh parsley ½ teaspoon hot sauce 4 tablespoons brown sugar but rather a menu for a cozy sit down leaves Combine all ingredients in a jay; cover 3 tablespoons chopped fresh pars- dinner for from four to six people, that even ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan tightly, and shake vigorously. Chill at least ley during this rushed season can be satis- cheese two hours. Shake well before serving. 6 tablespoons white vinegar fying and make for many fond future memo- ½ cup olive oil 2 tablespoons vegetable oil ries. Bake pecans and pine nuts in a shal- CRAWFISH ETOUFFEE 1 teaspoon hot sauce low pan at 350 degrees for eight minutes. ¼ cup butter 1 teaspoon prepared mustard GOAT CHEESE TORTA Let cool completely. With food processor 1 medium onion, chopped 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled running, drop garlic through food chute; Arrange sweet potatoes in an even ¾ cup Garden Pesto (recipe follows) 2 celery ribs, chopped process til minced. Add basil and parsley; layer on a baking sheet. Coat with cooking 4 garlic cloves 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped process until minced. Add nuts and spray; sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt. Bake 1 (10.5 ounce) package goat cheese 4 garlic cloves, minced cheese. With processor still running, pour at 400 degrees for twenty-five minutes or 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, 1 large shallot, chopped oil through food chute; process until just until tender. Allow to cool slightly. Stir softened ¼ cup all-purpose flour together remaining ½ teaspoon salt, cel- ery, and the next nine ingredients in a large fifth ambie awards ...from Main-18 Kyle Daigrepont, A Funny Thing Hap- Gural, Meredith Mullins, Samuel Repshas, bowl until blended. Add potatoes and toss pened on the Way to the Forum; Ricky Amy Sherman, Jenny Smith, Marty Smith, gently. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon. Serve J. Hammons, The Red Sneaks; Diane Graham, Chicago; P.J. McKinnie, The Leeann St. John, Katherine Thomas, An- warm or chilled. Yield: six servings. Lala, Chicago; Gary Rucker, Thoroughly Rocky Horror Show; Bryan Reilly, Singin’ drew Wuestenfeld); Naked Boys Singing Modern Millie; Scott Sauber, Singin’ in in the Rain; Dane Rhodes, Purlie; (Julius Dietze, Jason George, Philip Gor- PRALINES the Rain Kristopher Lloyd Shaw, The Best Little don, Marshall Harris, Travis Resor, Bryan 1 ½ cups granulated sugar Best Director of a Play: Chelle Whorehouse in Texas Wagar); The Sty of the Blind Pig 1 ½ cups firmly packed light brown Ambrose & René J. F. Piazza, Boy Gets Best Featured Actress in a Musical: (Gwendolyne Foxworth, Donald Lewis, sugar Girl; Anthony Bean, The Sty of the Blind Tracey E. Collins, The Fix; Janie Heck, Patricia McGuire-Hill, Will Williams) 1 cup evaporated milk Pig; Dane Rhodes, The Pillowman; Ryan Singin’ in the Rain; Charlotte Lang, Chi- Best Costume Design: Carolyn ¼ cup butter Rilette, Rising Water; Andrew Vaught, Bury cago; Joanne Mehrtens, A Funny Thing Barrois, Regina Schlotzhauer, Roy 2 cups pecan halves, toasted the Dead; Noel Wilson, The Lieutenant of Happened on the Way to the Forum; Asia Haylock, Cecile Casey Covert, Linda Fried, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Inishmore Rainey, Purlie; Joan C. Spraggins, The Sugar Babies; Sally Anne Buras, Singin’ Bring sugars and milk to a boil in a 4- Best Actor in a Musical: Rich Arnold, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in the Rain; Cecile Casey Covert, Scrooge quart saucepan, stirring often, for eleven Thoroughly Modern Millie; Fenwick Best Featured Actor in a Play: Der- in Rouge!; Linda Fried, Thoroughly Mod- minutes or until candy thermometer reg- Broyard III, Purlie; Tyler Chetta, The Red rick Deal, The Three Sisters; Bob Edes, ern Millie; Michael Velasquez & Cecile isters 232 degrees (thread stage). Stir in Sneaks; James C. Martin, Chicago; Dane Jr., The Breach; Tom Hassinger, Natalie Casey Covert, Varla Jean Merman is butter and pecans, and cook, stirring con- Rhodes, Sugar Babies; Josh St. Cyr, Needs a Nightie; Dane Rhodes, The Boys Anatomically Incorrect!; Julie Winn, Jane stantly, until candy thermometer registers Singin’ in the Rain Next Door; George Sanchez, The Lieu- Eyre 232 degrees. Remove from heat; stir in Best Actress in a Musical: Elizabeth tenant of Inishmore; Will Williams, The Best Lighting Design: Timm Holt, vanilla. Beat with a wooden spoon for two Argus, Chicago; Joel Dyson, Once On Sty of the Blind Pig Naked Boys Singing; Andrew Kingsley, minutes or just until mixture begins to This Island; Kelly Fouchi, Thoroughly Best Featured Actress in a Play: Coti Bury the Dead; Earl H. Lennie III & Scott thicken and lose it’s gloss. Quickly drop by Modern Millie; Megan Sauzer Harms, The Gayles, Gem of the Ocean; Megan Sauzer Sauber, ...and the World Goes Round; heaping tablespoonfuls onto buttered wax Pajama Game; Samantha Helmstetter, Harms, The Boys Next Door; Morrey William Liotta, Rising Water; Melissa paper; let stand until firm. Yield 2 ½ dozen Jane Eyre; Idella Johnson, Purlie McElroy, Ordinary People; Carrie Anne Oliver, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH! A Concert candies. Best Actor in a Play: Blake Balu, The Rose, Kennedy’s Children; Benita Scott, Celebration; Martin Sachs, My Uncle Sam Pillowman; Danny Bowen, Rising Water; Morning, Noon, & Night; Janet Shea, Flee- Best Set Design: Isabel & Moriah Curley- MAPLE COFFEE Andy LaRocca, Ordinary People; Michael ing Katrina Clay, Relativity; Geoffrey Hall, Rising 2 cups half and half Martin, Finding the Enemy; Rudy Best Ensemble: Bitter/Sweet (Rich Water; Takeshi Kata, The Breach; David 1 cup maple syrup Mungaray, The Sunken Living Room; Arnold, Trina Beck, Natalie Boyd, Meredith Raphel, Doubt; Chad Talkington, Finding 3 cups strong brewed coffee, hot Jamie Wax, Doubt Long, Michael Tramontin); The Breach the Enemy; Tricia Vitrano, The Three Sis- Cook half and half and maple syrup in Best Actress in a Play: Alison (Troi Bechet, Kenneth Brown, Kesha ters a saucepan over medium heat for five Blackwell, Trumpets & Raspberries; Bullard, Bob Edes, Jr., Lance Nichols, Best Choreography: Kelly Fouchi/ minutes or until thoroughly heated. (Do Caitlin Clifford, Bright Ideas; Gwendolyne Sean Patterson); Carries’s Facts of Life Casey Thompson, Thoroughly Modern not boil). Stir in hot coffee. Yield: 6 cups. Foxworth, The Sty of the Blind Pig; Adella (Travis Acosta, Brad Caldwell, Bob Edes, Millie; Karen Hebert, Sugar Babies; You may contact me at Gautier, Gem of the Ocean; Anysia Donald Lewis, Jack Long, Brian Peterson, Arieuna McGee, 504; Gerry McIntyre, Once [email protected]. Have a won- Manthos, Boy Gets Girl; Patricia McGuire- Lisa Picone, Dorian Rush); My Uncle On This Island ; Maritza Mercado-Narcisse, derful, safe and happy New Year. Hill, Morning, Noon, & Night Sam (Molly Breeskin, Ryan Davis, Clayton Marsha reign with all the dignity you [continued on Main-22] Best Featured Actor in a Musical: Faits, Stephen Foley, Claire Gresham, Ron posses. Love ya, Auntie Dee MAIN~20 of 52 • AmbushMag.COM • Jan. 15-28, 2008 • The One & Only Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM