On The Purple Circuit With Bill Kaiser Volume 10, Number 1 THE CHARLES PIERCE ISSUE WELCOME TO ON THE PURPLE CIRCUIT! realize why I admire playwrights so much — they are the eyes and ears, mind, heart and conscience of our We exist to promote GLQBT theatre and performance community! throughout the world and invite you to join in that Several noteworthy shows in Los Angeles recently were endeavor! LIKE AN OLD SONG by Larry Dean Harris which shows that the older generation still has some surprises for us and a lot The original vision of The Purple Circuit was a network of to say too! For information on production, write to supportive theatres or producers around the U.S. and [email protected] beyond, which performers and shows could travel on. While that ideal has not been fully realized, I am excited that our Another interesting show was PRIVATE LIFE with Craig first issue of 2001 honors a man who did just that. For over Archibald that gave a fascinating insight into Noel Coward's 40 years, Charles Pierce created his own Purple Circuit. This private life. great female impressionist, illusionist or male actress as he referred to himself was a talented professional who I'm excited over some upcoming projects in Los Angeles. entertained and enlightened his devoted audience. He was Shoshana Henri and Jay Willick will be doing "Dolly & Victor also a great humanitarian and courageously out-front. Kevin at Les Deux Magots" — Dolly Wilde and Victor Cunard at the Bochynski has created a beautiful Web site with Charles' Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance Uptown Cabaret March help at www.bochynski.com/charlespierce 10. This is a preview to a show Ms. Henri is creating on the life of Oscar's niece, Dolly Wilde. For information go to Our issue will coincide with the upcoming Charles Pierce [email protected] exhibit that I am curating for The Performing Arts Collection at ONE Institute & Archives, called “Satirist in Sequins: The Also after the reading I organized of Arch Brown's World of Charles Pierce.” The PAC has acquired some PANTHEON, it will have a run at the Ruby Theatre in wonderful costumes, memorabilia, and other materials that Hollywood in April. It is a very funny comedy about the should delight his old and new fans during this multimedia ungodly deities in heaven. Watch for this world premiere exhibit. I hope it will be a highlight of The Grand Opening of directed by Jay Willick. ONE's new building at 909 West Adams in Los Angeles, a part of The University of Southern California on Sunday, May In this issue, we have our faithful columnists — Tom W Kelly 6, 2001. For further information: 213-741-0094 or see in San Francisco, Gerald Semas in Central California, and www.oneinstitute.org now Tom O'Neil from New York. You may have seen Tom O’s handsome face on many of the award shows on E! with OTPC is undergoing changes too. Fewer copies have been Joan and Melissa, and now his new book "Movie Awards" mailed with this issue, as we must become self-supporting. covering 13 top film awards is out from Variety Press. This means that only paid subscribers, theatre organizations, Hopefully Howard Casner's Chicago Scene will be back in artists with comp subscriptions and press will continue to our next issue. We are always looking for volunteer receive mailed copies. Also we have an alert list for people corespondents in other parts of The Purple Circuit especially who don't need or want a mailed copy but want to know in the lesbian community. Contact me at [email protected] when a new issue with be on our Web site. If you would like if you are interested. this alert, contact me to [email protected] Thanks for making this issue possible go to: Don Kobus, An expanded OTPC as well as news and other features that Fritz Klein, Michele Forsten, Tom Vegh, Michael Kearns, are updated regularly are available on our Web site (thanks Tom W. Kelly, Tom O'Neil, Gerald Semas, Linda Eisenstein, to Demian, and Jim Russell) at Carolyn Gage, Shoshana Henri, Greg Walloch, Jan www.buddybuddy.com/pc.html Einarson, Larry Dean Harris; all the Publicists and Other Friends who sent information; Our Purple Circuit Theatres, We still need your contributions. Subscriptions are $20 or Producers, Performers, Designers and Playwrights; Derek more. Send payable to "Bill Kaiser" at 921 N. Naomi St., Charles Livingston; Our Subscribers and Donors; Demian, Burbank, CA 91505. Associate Editor Jim Russell and Sally Barron. Playwright Sidney Morris is featured in an exhibit at The New If you are interested in saving Pacifica Radio, contact York Historical Society called "20 Unsung Heroes". Though www.savepacifica.net and take action! in constant pain, he is hard at work writing a play about internalized homophobia called DOIN' THE NASTY. Now I Keep creating Purple performances, Bill Kaiser, editor Volume 10, No. 1 Page 1 *Glory Box with Tim Miller. A funny, sexy and politically charged exploration of same sex marriage and the struggle for binational Gay ON THE BOARDS and Lesbian immigration rights. Rude Guerilla Theater, Santa Ana CA, Jan. 2001; Bailiwick Rep, Chicago; Apr. 13-14, 2001; 773-883- Note: Descriptions are based on press releases or personal 1090. knowledge. An * indicates a current or future show, information *Gypsy by Styne, Sondheim and Laurents. Daring revival with subject to change, shows may be extended so check them out, and Alexandra Billings. Bailiwick, Chicago; opened Jan. 15, 2001; 773- remember to see a gay or lesbian show tonight. 883-1090; www.bailiwick.org Hannah Free by Claudia Allen. An exceptional moving story of two *Babe; an Olympic Musical by Carolyn Gage and Teresa Wilhelmi, women who love each other over a lifetime. University of North world premiere, Luthor Burbank Center, Santa Rosa CA, opens April Dakota; Dec. 2000. 28, 2001. *Head Games by Scott Miller. A comic riff on gay comedies with Bare, a pop opera with music by Damon Intrabartolo and lyrics by gratuitous nudity. Lillian Theatre, Hollywood; opening April 6, 2001, Jon Hartmere Jr. A hit musical in a Catholic school with teen angst. also tentatively in London. Hudson, Hollywood, Oct. 2000-Feb. 2001. Coming to Broadway *The History of Religion with The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, soon! a benefit for Highways, Santa Monica; Mar. 30-Apr. 1, 2001; 310- Beautiful Thing by Jonathan Harvey; Richmond Triangle Players, 315-1459; for info on the sisters: www.lasisters.org Richmond; Feb. 2001. The Holy Cross Quadrilogy with Rob Nash. The epic solo work Blade to the Heat by Oliver Mayer. Sexual identity set in the macho follows three teenage heroes through four years of high school. Hispanic boxing world. Stage 52, LA; Jan.-Feb. 2001; moved to Vortex Rep, Austin; Dec. 2000. Coast Playhouse, Los Angeles. I Reject These Labels with LeVan D. Hawkins, a stunning collage of Bloom, a new performance piece by Danielle Brazell. A cross- performance, the show's subjects include the image of Martin Luther pollinating journey through mind and body. Highways, Santa Monica; King Jr. as a role model, and the conflict between Hawkins need for Feb. 2001. love and his partner's need for fantasy sex; The Village, Hollywood; Bodybuilders in Jockstraps or Age & Affection. A comedy by Feb. 2001. Kenneth Krauss. Albany Civic Theatre; Nov. 2000. The Importance of Being Oscar by Michael MacLiammoir; Irish *Bonnie and Clyde, the world premiere of a new musical, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, NYC; Feb. 2001. Rep, Chicago. Opens March 13, 2001; 773-883-1090. *It Started with a Lie by Paul Vander Roest. A hilarious look at Gay *Breaking the Code by Hugh Whitemore. The tragic story of Alan relationships. Hudson Ave. theatre, Hollywood; opens April 20, 2001; Turing. Diversionary Theatre, San Diego, opened March 2, 2001; 310-289-2999. 619-220-0097. Kissing the Witch by Emma Donoghue. Based on traditional *Cafe Depresso by Tom Vegh. Group therapy gone wrong! Exit European fairy tales. HAG Theatre, Buffalo; Feb. 2001. Theatre, San Francisco, Feb. and more dates, 415-255-7450. *The Laramie Project conceived by Moises Kaufman and Tectonic *C-Cup by Doug Field. A comedy about a survivor of breast cancer Theater Project. A performance about the murder of Matthew living and coping in Texas. The Complex, Hollywood; opened March Shepard through interviews with townspeople of Laramie. Denver 3, 2001; 323-957-9009. Center Theater, Denver; March-April 2001. The Cleaning Man adapted by Michael Holmes from a deposition in The Last of the Aztecs by Joe Feinstein. A NYC social club's the matter of the estate of Rock Hudson; Chandler Studio, N. members are dwindling and one has a Lesbian granddaughter. MET Hollywood CA; Dec. 2000-Feb. 2001. Theatre, Hollywood; Jan.-Mar. 2001. Cologne with Tony Abatemarco. A story of youth. Evidence Room, Leading Ladies; a Cabaret Musical by Carolyn Gage and Teresa Hollywood; Jan.-Feb. 2001. Wilhelmi; world premiere, Wild Wimmin Theatre, Rochester, NY; Corpus Christi by Terrence McNally; New Conservatory Theatre Feb. 10-Mar. 3, 2001. Center, San Francisco; Nov. 2000-Jan. 2001. Legends and Bridge by C. Stephen Foster. A reading of a fantasy- *Dame Edna: The Royal Tour. Shubert Theatre, Century City, CA; comedy where Joan Crawford, Judy Garland and Bette Davis are opens May 15, 2001; 800-472-2272. roommates. Diva Works Inc, LA; Feb. 2001. Dark Goddess by Bonnie Cullum. A theatre ritual invoking the spirits *Let a Hundred Flowers Bloom by David Zellnik. A hot new of the Goddesses. Vortex, Austin; Jan. 2001. comedy about a disabled writer of gay Marxist pornography and his David by Tom O'Leary.