www.ExpressGayNews.com • November 4, 2002 Q37 CYMK Q-COVERstory A Feast of Entertaining Treats Gay Music, Film, Theater and Events Make the Scene By Mary Damiano Mr. Florida Leather Meet Matt Arts & Entertainment Editor If you’re into men in leather, then Fort Damon What good is sitting alone in your room Lauderdale—or is it Fort Leatherdale—is the The big news this week when there are all these wonderful things to place to be this weekend. at the Fort Lauderdale do? The Mr. Florida Leather Weekend kicks International Film Festival This is a great week for entertainment in off Thursday with pre-registration at Ramrod, (FLIFF) is the appearance by South Florida, a week jam-packed with terrific and then on Friday, there’s a meet-and-greet Matt Damon, the Oscar- music, movies, theater and events. session with the judges and contestants of winning screenwriter of In addition to The Rocky Horror Show the Mr. Florida Leather Contest. There will Good Will Hunting and star and The Lion King (both reviewed in this also be a Spit Booth—I don’t even want to of Saving Private Ryan and issue), there is something for every taste. know—to benefit Tuesday’s Angels. The Talented Mr. Ripley. If it’s music you want, check out the The festivities Saturday include a Damon will appear at Indigo Girls at the Pompano Ampitheatre. barbecue in conjunction with the Flamingo the Regal Las Olas Theatre Maybe you want to watch a gay movie, or Car Club’s Bahama Beach Bash. Gay- this Friday evening. After a see a hunky star up close and personal. Get owned classic cars will be on display. And presentation of clips from over to the Fort Lauderdale International Film if you’re a boy looking for a daddy or a the actor’s films, Damon will Festival, which features an array of gay- leather daddy looking for a boy, don’t miss do a Q&A with the audience. themed movies and a special event with Matt the Find a Daddy/Find a Boy Auction at A benefit party will follow. Damon. the Eagle. All the proceeds will go to If it’s men in leather you want, you The main event, the Mr. Florida help a friend of Damon’s should find what you’re looking for at the Leather Competition is Sunday, and features who is battling leukemia. Mr. Florida Leather Weekend. And if you’re lesbian leather comedian Shann Carr. There The other news this in the mood to see a production of one of the will also be a Victory Dance at the Junkyard week is all the gay movies most dynamic shows in Broadway history, Bar and a Leather Bear Contest that evening available. FLIFF is presenting working-class, Jewish friends who became go to West Palm Beach and catch the special at Jackhammer. more gay films than ever before, everything lovers and defied their families to be together. engagement of Cabaret. All proceeds benefit Tuesday’s Angels, from a documentary with drag queens and the Dates: November 9. Whatever you crave in entertainment an organization that helps people with pope’s jubilee to a taut drama about a therapist Gay Shorts this week, you’re sure to find something to AIDS. For more information, visit http:// who claims to convert gays to heterosexuality. Gaydar , USA (plays before Devil in satisfy your appetite. hometown.aol.com/mrfloridalthr/ Visit www.fliff.com for showtimes and locations. the Holy Water)—A gaydar gun helps a man myhomepage/profile.html. discover if his crush is gay or straight. Blind Spot, USA—Three Strangers Sexy , USA (plays before Fixing develop a bond when they discover they’ve Frank)—Five friends debate the question, each been cheated by the same man. Dates: “What is Sexy?” November 8 and 9. Devil in the Holy Water, Canada (subtitles)—Documentary about the first World Gay Pride Day, which coincides with the Pope’s Jubilee in Rome, and features a colorful cast of characters, from neofascists to drag queens. Dates: November 4, 7. Fixing Frank, USA—An intricate cat and mouse game between a writer who sets out to do an exposé on a therapist who claims to convert gays to straight. Co-stars openly gay actor Dan Butler, best known as Bulldog on Frasier. Dates: November 6, 8, 9. I Love You Baby, Spain (subtitles)—A disco ball and a case of amnesia change the course of true love for two young men in Indigo Girls Spain. Dates: October 30, November 5, 6. Before Melissa Etheridge became the Life is a Cabaret Ruthie & Connie: Every Room in the poster child for lesbians in music, there were You can’t really get your gay card without House, USA—Documentary about two the Indigo Girls. seeing Cabaret. The title song, which The folk-rock duo has shot to stardom says that “life is a cabaret” is the in the last decade, bolstered by their original ultimate nightlife anthem. sound and loyal fan base. This lusty musical, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers met in celebrating decadence in 1930s elementary school in Decatur, Georgia, and Berlin, is a classic. Cabaret is the began making music together. They played story of American Sally Bowles under various names before christening and her friend, Cliff, who meet in themselves the Indigo Girls in 1985. the gloriously sordid Kit Kat In 1987, they released their first CD, Klub and then get involved in Strange Fire, on their own. They rode the affairs with the same man. The wave of popularity of a new generation of story is set against the backdrop folk-rock singer-songwriters, and in 1988 of rising Nazi power and the landed a record deal with Epic. They later shadow of World War II. won a Grammy award for Best Contemporary The Broadway musical was Folk Recording and a nomination for Best a huge hit when it premiered in New Artist. 1967, garnering the Tony Award The duo is a constant presence on the for Best Musical. Over the course activism front and have used their music of its Broadway history, Cabaret and celebrity to bring attention to many has won nine Tonys. Both Joel issues and organizations. And they have Grey and Alan Cumming won a each been active in their own projects— Tony for playing the Emcee. Grey Ray released a solo album, Stag, and originated the role in 1967, and Saliers owns and operates a restaurant Cumming wowed audiences in with her partner. the 1998 revival, which was The Indigo Girls, who released their staged at the old Studio 54. latest CD, Become You, earlier this year, will Cabaret runs Nov. 5-10 at bring their popular acoustic sound to South Dreyfoos Concert Hall at the Florida this Friday. Kravis Center, 401 Okeechobee Indigo Girls will play the Pompano Blvd., West Palm Beach. For Beach Ampitheatre, 1801 NE 6th St., tickets and more information, call Pompano Beach, Friday, Nov. 8, at 8pm. 561.832.7469 or 1.800.572.8471, Tickets are $25-$35. or visit www.kravis.org. Q38 • www.ExpressGayNews.com • November 4, 2002 CYMK Q-INreview No Doubt—This Show Rocked Stefani and the Boys Wow Audience By Mary Damiano She’s right out there with them, touching Arts & Entertainment Editor hands, bringing fans up on stage and getting Watching No Doubt in concert, it’s easy right out there with them as much as possible. to see why glamor-puss front-woman Gwen Their set list didn’t disappoint. All the Stefani works so hard to get that body—and hits were there—“Don’t Speak,” “Just a Girl,” how she keeps it. “Ex-Girlfriend,” “Hey Baby,” “Underneath It Throughout the band’s hour-and-45- All” and many other popular album tracks. minute set at the Office Depot Center in Garbage, featuring lead singer Shirley Sunrise last Tuesday night, Stefani never Manson, opened for No Doubt. Stefani and stood still. Wearing cropped tartan low-rise Manson are cut from the same cloth; they’re pants and a black bra top—which showed off that famously toned midriff—with her platinum mane pulled into a high ponytail, Stefani jumped, bounced, danced, ran and literally did cartwheels across the stage, high-kicking her way through hit after hit. The great thing about No Doubt is that though they have become megastars, they haven’t lost their scrappy garage band sensibilities. The stage had a wide runway that allowed the band to get out closer to their audience. There were no elaborate sets, no costume changes and only one video screen backdrop to magnify the action and to show little video montages of the group. both tough and tender girly girls. In addition A singer with Stefani’s charisma is rare. to Garbage supplying an intense balance to One raise of her hand turned the fans on the No Doubt’s sunny-side-up ska pop, one gets floor into one flesh-colored, bouncing blob. the feeling that Garbage was partly chosen The audience loves her, and she’s not for the tour so Gwen and Shirley could hang content to merely accept their adoration. out together. The Lion King: a Roaring Success Musical Spectacle Is a Must-See Event By Mary Damiano Mufasa, the king of Pride Rock. The bond Arts & Entertainment Editor between Mufasa and Simba is genuine and The lion does not sleep tonight. He heartwarming. dances and sings and roars and leads this Of course, Mufasa’s evil brother Scar is incredible musical to its place as the theatrical not happy that Simba will succeed Mufasa event of the year.