www.ExpressGayNews.com • March 31, 2003 • Q1 CYMK Q_COVERstory South Beach Nightlife Newsflash! Sassy DJ Escape Signs Residency at Miami’s Crobar By Andy Zeffer Nightclub. Escape describes his style as a they were looking for and were out by 3am. Features Editor lot of tribal, base-driven beats. He says he But the gay boys knew the music, and they Quick-witted DJ Escape announced last usually begins with high energy, flattens stayed until the lights went up in the week that he has signed a residency at it for awhile and then peaks again so he afternoon. The music was part of their lives, Miami’s hot nightclub, Crobar. Escape held can enjoy watching everyone tear apart just as it was mine.” prior residency at the now-defunct Liquid, the dance floor. Escape, who is straight, says that 90 the once popular playpen of Madonna’s pal The DJ shoots straight from the hip percent of his gigs are for gay crowds. The Ingrid Cesares. when it comes to the difference between gay DJ says crowds can look forward to new The native New Yorker first began crowds and straight crowds, which he first stuff, but at the same time, he’ll give them spinning hip hop and reggae tunes at age noticed early in his career. what they want to hear. 13, but became enthralled by dance music “The straight boys were looking for a His next mix CD, Circuit Party Volume during a visit to Manhattan’s Palladium piece of ass,” he says. “They found what 8, will be released April 2003 by SPG Music. Circuit Update Winter Party Releases this Year’s Figures By Andy Zeffer organizations that started a year ago. Features Editor The GLFSF provides grants to a number The Gay and Lesbian Foundation of of organizations serving the gay, lesbian and South Florida (GLFSF) have released the transgender communities. The organizations results of Winter Party events, announcing include Project YES, Pridelines Youth that a net amount of $325,000 was raised. Services, Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Though the results were a bit lower than last NO to Discrimination/SAVE Dade, Food for year, GLFSF President Joe Guerrero said he Life Network, Mothers’ Voices (dedicated to hopes that keeping a tighter check on HIV education for parents) and many “...the gay boys expenses will mean more grant funds despite professional and social organizations. the dip. The next GLFSF fundraising event will knew the music, and they Winter Party 2003 was a celebration of be AquaGirl, coming to Miami Beach May stayed until the lights music, dance, comedy, film and art that took 15-18, which is targeted primarily to the female went up in the afternoon. place March 1 through March 10. The GLFSF GLBT community. For AquaGirl information, cited the expansion of the Winter Party to visit www.AquaGirl.org. To find out more The music was part of Broward County this year, to coincide with about GLFSF, visit their website at their lives, just as it was the foundation’s funding of Broward County www.glfsf.org or call them at 305.572.1841. mine.” -DJ Escape Q2 • www.ExpressGayNews.com • March 31, 2003 CYMK Q_EXCLUSIVEinterview The Real Word ‘The Real World’ Star Dan Renzi Set to Attend Gay Life Expo Miami By Andy Zeffer “It is a cottage industry,” Renzi admits. Features Editor “The Real World started Survivor, and Dan Renzi settles into conversation with Survivor kept us going. It’s a total symbiotic a reporter over the phone as easily as he relationship. You’ll never hear Real World would with a few close friends in his living cast complain about Survivor,” Renzi jokes. room. It comes as no surprise that Renzi beat For Renzi, his first time appearing on out 40,000 other hopeful applicants to appear reality TV wasn’t so easy. He claims a lot of on The Real World: Miami. His outgoing things are taken out of context. He goes on demeanor makes him an interesting to explain that if you take things out of context personality on the enduringly popular MTV and people’s motivations aren’t shown, you series, so much so that MTV has brought end up with a weird conglomeration of goofy him back as one of the contestants on Real stories that are entertaining to watch— World/Road Rules Battle of the Sexes, entertaining for the audience but horrifying currently airing on the network. A favorite of to the person who partook. Renzi had to force gay and straight fans alike, Renzi’s good himself to watch an all-night marathon a few looks are easy on the eyes as well. years after his first appearance, where he had It’s these same attributes that Renzi to force himself to hold his eyes to the screen. brings to his volunteer and spokesperson But this time around is different. The work, so it makes sense that he will be cast member who once clashed with his appearing at The Gay Life Expo Miami as roommates is now a bit older, more mellowed part of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) out, but most importantly, does not take the booth. The Gay Life Expo Miami is a gathering show or himself that seriously anymore. It of over 100 gay-owned and gay-friendly has been a while since he was first thrust “in businesses from across the country, a place the fish bowl” as it were, and things have to network, make connections, shop, plan a changed. vacation, wine and dine and much more. And “Now I love it. It is just so much fun,” he what social and business event would be says of his current appearances. complete these days without reality The MTV hottie is now busy pursuing television being represented? further showbiz endeavors, putting his But Renzi’s work with HRC means much experiences together as a basis for stand-up more than that. He began volunteering with comedy. His one-man show, I Don’t Talk Too the organization to make a difference, not Much, is witty, irreverent and very, very blunt. strut his reality television status around. As Renzi says his style of comedy is similar to “I can go to a university and people are more a matter a fact, he was volunteering in the famous comedienne Margaret Cho, in that office stuffing envelopes and taking calls much of his material is based on his family. inclined to listen to me,” —Dan Renzi before the concept of using him as a For example, explaining to his grandmother spokesperson ever came up. It wasn’t until a what The Real World is turned out to be a 20- young staffer came aboard, recognized him minute ordeal. The same stories, in fact, from MTV and concluded that he could be helped him land a spot on the program. used much more advantageously to the So how does being an attractive gay guy organization. Specifically, he could be used on major network television affect one’s to help target the college demographic. personal and social life? “After MTV, I had this chunk of spare “It has eliminated my sex life,” Renzi time on my hands,” Renzi says. “I thought I jokes. could either spend it drinking beer and Ironically, most of Renzi’s friends and watching TV or I can move on and do the people he dates don’t have cable. “I don’t something. It wasn’t an attitude like I was know if that’s the type of personality I am on reality TV so, therefore, I can change the drawn to or if it makes it easier that they world, but I was someone with time to give.” haven’t seen me on MTV,” he says. And he has given time, hitting the He goes on to explain that every so often campaign trial with HRC this past November. someone will approach him with, “You’re Dan He also lectures about HIV transmission, and from The Real World,” but that everyone has been certified as an HIV counselor since else’s reaction is that he doesn’t want to be college. bothered. In fact, he thinks most people have “I can go to a university and people are the urge to purposefully not speak to him. more inclined to listen to me,” Renzi says. That is something that frustrates Renzi, who His continued presence on MTV helps believes that “the vast majority of people are make him a recognizable figure to the younger friendly and respectable.” demographic. In fact, The Real World has So with that in mind, be sure to come to become a cottage industry for Renzi and many the expo. And while you’re there, be sure to of his fellow cast mates. Renzi is surprised to swing by the HRC booth, where the see himself on the network years later. engaging Real World star awaits your hello. The Gay Life Expo Miami will be at the Miami Beach Convention Center Saturday, April 5, noon-7pm and Sunday, April 6, noon-6pm. For more information, call 212.352.3535 or visit www.GayLifeExpo.com. www.ExpressGayNews.com • March 31, 2003 • Q3 CYMK Q_THEATERreview In Gay Company Pays Off with Big Laughs Cabaret-Style Show Bridges the Years with Songs and Clever Acting By Mary Damiano one-night stand, the pressure on Toes,” which features Dan Arts & Entertainment Editor “bachelors” to get married, the Kelley, Peter Sentkowski and In Gay Company, which plays this consequences of cruising in a theater Danny Ducello in outrageous weekend at the Religious Science Fort balcony, gay infiltration in the firehouse ballet togs.