September 29, 2017 | Volume XV, Issue 11 All Eyes on B’more Black Film Festival as Black Pride Begins BY KENNETH MOORE, JR. of self-discovery and International features never-be- “Pay no attention to the man behind the self-acceptance can fore-seen footage curtain” is the advice given by Todrick be influenced by fami- event of the final days Hall in the Katherine Fairfax Wright-direct- ly and friends, but ulti- of the Stonewall ed documentary film Behind the Curtain: mately we all must find showcases Riot veteran and Todrick Hall. The film premieres in Mary- our own paths. Todrick 85 movies a trailblazer in land October 4th as the opening feature of teaches this through a the modern gay Utkarsh the fourth annual Baltimore International humorous, emotional, and honest depic- and transgender rights Rajawat Black Film Festival (BIBFF), which is pres- tion of how dogged perseverance led to movement. Twenty-five (Berowne), ent by Sogaa. This film offers an intimate his improbable success as an openly gay years after Marsha’s Flynne look into the creative process Todrick black pop vocalist, YouTube sensation, TV mysterious death, fol- Harne undergoes as he tells his life’s story in personality, and Broadway star. low one woman’s cru- Todrick Hall – king of the “Straight Outta Oz,” a theatrical reimaging Behind the Curtain: Todrick Hall kicks- sade to solve this cold documentary Behind the of the Wizard of Oz. off the festival, but there’s so much more case and unearth an- Curtain, opening BIBFF Forget about clicking red emerald slip- in store down the road in the over 85 films swers to how we lost pers to find your way home. When you see this year. this beloved resistance leader. males in New York City. Todrick in his glittery red Timbs, you’ll know Another highlight is The Death and Life How the club scene provides safe In Jewel’s Catch One, we see the oth- for sure that home for everyone is a unique of Marsha P. Johnson, which spaces for young black gay and lesbian in- er side of this phenomenon, when black- and special place. Our individual journeys dividuals is central to Dancing in the Dark, owned establishments close after decades a documentary about black and Latino —continued on page 23 BY FRANKIE KujAWA The “Music of the Night” will Love Never Dies Brings waft through the streets of Baltimore as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies Phantom to Baltimore spellbinds audiences at the Hippodrome Theatre this you were forced to see the Breathless ing her way across South America month. Running from Tues- drama behind the scene with Miley Cyrus on the Bangerz in- day, October 3rd to Sunday, and in the dressing room, Phantom ternational tour in 2014, her role in October 8th, the sequel to but also experienced the sequel at the Love Never Dies is a dream. “[Fleck] Webber’s Phantom of the Op- opera itself. They did a is an aerialist extraordinaire. She is era will play its special pre- very good job of that in Hippodrome one part of the three-headed drag- view engagement in Baltimore Love Never Dies, but it’s on that is nicknamed ‘The Trio’ and as the season opener of the almost like a fever dream with all the el- I’m the only girl in the trio. The boys are 2017-2018 Hippodrome Broad- ements coming together Gangle and Squelch. Fleck is a little bit way Series, prior to the official Katrina Kemp so that you can’t hardly of a scallywag. She’s definitely born and opening of its North American – Los Angelena take a breath between raised by the circus and lives for the drama Tour. Baltimore OUTloud spoke can’t wait to hit scenes.” backstage. We’re a little bit of conniving in- Charm City to Katrina Kemp, who plays For Kemp, the Los An- stigators, but at the same time we live for Fleck in a performance that will “It’s very fast-paced and it’s very cinemat- geles-native whose acting the show. Fleck, especially, has an ear out entrance and captivate audiences. ic. The transitions between each scene are and professional credits include several for everything going on with our main cast “I think audiences are going see some- seamless, in the way that the first Phantom music videos (for Rihanna), guest-starring divas and our main Phantom. She’s always thing brand new that they’ve never seen makes you feel that you’re sort of in that roles on TV (“RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “Amer- ‘in the know.’ Wherever the party is at – or experienced before,” Kemp told me. voyeuristic, erotic cloud. As an audience, ican Horror Story,” “Fameless”) and twerk- —continued on page 22 NEWS // black pridE 2017 Baltimore Black Pride Calendar pratt street, baltimore). the film is a be- Co-Publishers Jim Becker • Jim Williams hind-the-scenes look at the creation of the [email protected] Baltimore Black Pride Week runs October Tickets $35 for the reception and screen- soul album Zo in Detroit. A discussion with Executive Editor 3rd through 9th. There are however, events ing, $25 for the reception only, and $15 for the director follows Tickets are $10.50, and Jim Becker planned all month long in October to cele- the film screening only, and are available at are available at Myevolutiontix.com/event/ [email protected] brate Black Pride. Myevolutiontix.com/event/BIBFFOPENING. REGLEWIS. [email protected] October 3th – Club Bunns will host an October 5th – The Kick Off at Baltimore At 7:30 pm, the Baltimore International Associate Editor & Director of Marketing & Production Mary Taylor A-List Party from 10 pm to 2 am at 606-608 Eagle event will be from 10 pm to 2 am at Black Film Festival will host its [email protected] W. Lexington St. in Baltimore. 2022 N. Charles Street in Baltimore. closing night feature film, Quest, October 4th – The Center for Black Eq- October 6th – The Center for Arts and Entertainment Editor directed by Jonathan Olshefski, Frankie Kujawa uity Baltimore will partner with Sogaa / Black Black Equity Baltimore will in their feature directorial de- [email protected] International Film Festival for a reception at host a community but, at the Murphy Fine Arts Leather Editor Nancy by SNAC (131 West North Avenue, reception at Club Center at Morgan State Uni- Rodney Burger Baltimore), from 5 to 7 pm. Bunns (606-608 versity (2201 Argonne Drive, [email protected] The 4th annual Baltimore International West Lexington in Baltimore). Variety de- Restaurant Critic Black Film Festival opens at the Charles Street, Baltimore), scribes the film as a living, Richard Finger Theatre and will hold screenings at the from 5 to 9 pm, with breathing, stunning docu- Contributing Writers for Baltimore OUTloud Reginal F. Lewis Museum and the Mur- dance music by DJ Ava Barron-Shasho • Janan Broadbent, Ph. D. mentary study of an Afri- Josh Buchbinder • Anthony Calo • Lee Carpenter phy Fine Arts Center, bringing the best in- Tommy Davis. can-American family in Jeffrey Clagett • Wayne Curtis • Lynda Dee dependent films to baltimore for and by October 7th – The North Philadelphia weath- Woody Derricks • Deborah J. Draisin • Chuck Duncan Richard Finger • Joe Garvey • John Redmond-Palmer African-Americans, the African diaspora, highlight of Baltimore ering a tumultuous decade. Tickets Rev. David D. Harris • Dr. Eva Hersh • Cheryl A. Jones Esq. and the same-gender loving, bisexual, and Black Pride, the 15th an- are $15 at Myevolutiontix.com/event/bibff- Mark S. King • Brother Merrick Moses • Harvey O Frankie Kujawa • Sage Piper • David Placher transgender community! #ReelUnity nual Cultural Affair and 2017closing. Megan Sandwick • Mark Segal • Gregg Shapiro Buying a festival pass gets you into any Icon Award presentation runs from 7 October 11th – Marking National Com- David Sugar • Bill Redmond-Palmer • David Egan screening or panel throughout the event, Elyse Buchbinder • Dr. Loren Olson pm to midnight at the Eubie Blake Nation- ing Out Day and the 15th birthday of Bal- Alex “Bear” Conley • Ryan M. Clark the opening night film and reception, plus al Jazz Institute (847 North Howard Street, timore Black Pride, the Center for Black Contributing Writers for OUT in the VALLEY the closing night film and awards ceremony Baltimore). For more info, see the article this Equity Baltimore and the GLCCB invite you Laura Anderson • Debbie Anne • Rev. Kelly Crenshaw and reception. For more info visit Bibff.com. issue. to celebrate from 6 to 8 pm at the GLCCB Rev. Dr. Robert Apgar-Taylor • Brian George Hose the opening night feature film, Behind October 8 – The 15th annual Baltimore (2530 North Charles street, third floor, in E. A. Perper •Elizabeth Thompson The Curtain: Todrick Hall, directed by Kath- Black Pride Fall Festival will take place from Baltimore). For more info it’s Bit.ly/2xwN- Contributing Writers OUT in Asbury Park, NJ erine Fairfax Wright, will begin at 7 pm at 4 to 11 pm outside of Club Bunns (606-608 D4L. Rai Guerra-Nelson • Christy Girlington the Charles Theatre (1711 North Charles West Lexington Street, Baltimore). The October 12th – From 2 to 4:30 pm, the Graphics street). the film is an intimate portrayal of event is free to the public, and includes a Center for Black Equity Baltimore will host Ramon Montiel Todrick Hall: a talented singer, songwriter, youth village, a ball, and prizes. Enjoy some a workshop “Wisdom and Words and Tradi- Cartoonist dancer, actor, choreographer, playwright, of the community’s hottest DJ’s and some tions of Elders of Color” at the LGBT Health Bruce Garrett costume designer, Broadway performer, of DC’s, Maryland’s, and Virginia’s best per- Resource Center of Chase Brexton Health Photographer Bruce Garrett American Idol finalist, star of his own self-ti- formers.