BalletBoyz Hit New York

If you prefer your ballet when it is not all cluttered up with skinny ballerinas in pink tutus then you will love The Ballet Boyz : The Talent.  This celebrated rather stunning group of contemporary Brit dancers are just finishing their current US Tour with a week performing at The Joyce Theater in New York.

The show features two commissions from leading British choreographers: The Murmuring by Alexander Whitley and Mesmerics by Christopher Wheeldon. The cast of 10 dancers have been receiving rave reviews for their pyrotechnic performances which is part of the  newer, more approachable presentation that their Company has earned its reputation on.  

BalletBoyz; The Talent is the brainchild Michael Nunn and Billy Trevitt who met when they were principal dancers with Britain's prestigious Royal Ballet.  Now 12 years later loaded with a stack of Awards, the Company appearances have continued to attract enthusiastic young audiences that are completely new to ballet and who can relate to unconventional, often sensual male-male partnering.  

The BalletBoyz are at The Joyce Theater through to February 28th . For tickets and information click here

Marie's Crisis : Show Tunes Heaven

When Show Tune Queens click their heels three times and pray for home we know that they don't mean Kansas with Toto, but the one place in the world which is the nearest they will ever get to heaven. It's called Marie's Crisis Cafe and for the past 40 years (and maybe more?) it's been New York's most treasured piano bar where local gay men and musical theater performers gather round the keys nightly and sing their hearts out to their favorite Broadway show tunes. What they lack in talent (!) is made up for in boundless energy and passion.  As the pianist says each night 'Welcome to Marie's Crisis, where showtunes come to die!'

It's a little like stepping back in time as you enter and walk downstairs as after all there has been a bar there in the West Village since the 1850's. Initially it was a prostitutes den, then became a boy bar in the 1890's and it lasted right through Prohibition.  It's curious name came from The Crisis Papers by Thomas Paine who died in the house, not it must be said from an overdose of sentimental renditions of numbers like 'You're The Top' or 'Climb Every Mountain'. 

Now the American Theater Wing has produced this rather wonderful tribute to one of New York's most venerated venues.  As bartender Doug Thompson (pictured above) aptly sums up “Marie’s is the island of misfit toys for people who love show tunes,”   And don't be confused by the fact there are women in the video, Marie's has always been a hetero friendly place too. 

Macbeth (of the Oppressed)

There are seemingly endless ways to play any of Shakespeare's great classic dramas and NY gets to see yet another interpretation of his Scottish tragedy Macbeth this Fall.  Fab Marquee Productions are presenting Macbeth (of the Oppressed) at The 14th Street Y which will feature two real-life husbands in the starring roles, and with most of the other actors playing a role that is opposite of their actual gender.

Latino actor Antonio Minino will play Macbeth whilst his husband David Stallings will play 'Husband Macbeth'.   The producers stress that their version is not just performed through an LGBT prospective, but a multi-cultural one as well.  Minino adds ' “Although with Shakespeare, theatre makers are less scared of casting Latino actors in caucasian roles, they tend to be supporting roles. As an out Latino actor, I never imagined I would have the opportunity to play Macbeth. It’s a great testament to Tom Slot’s vision and the universality of the Bard’s story.”

Directed by Tom Stott, the play will have a three-week limited engagement beginning October 8th.    Tickets and information : http://www.fabmarqueeproductions.com/macbeth.html.

Alan Cumming : the new Queen of the Meat Market

Showtime TV have just taken over a passion project that out-gay Scottish/American actor Alan Cumming had been developing with director Rosemary Rodriquez ('The Good Wife') of a 30 minute dark comedy series based on the story of one of N.Y.'s most flamboyant restaurateurs Florent Morellet. 

Morellet opened the restaurant that bore his name in the early 1980's in the Meatpacking District when it was still a scary neighborhood populated by hookers and hustlers and before it was discovered by both the gay community and N.Y's fashion and art glitterati.  It was THE place to go and be seen and be part of the craziness that Morellet encouraged until he became a victim of the success that he was crucial part of that had turned the Meatpacking District into the most desirable, and over-hyped,  area of the city. When his landlord drastically increased the rent, Florent's doors were finally closed for good after his 23 year reign.  

As well as being an outrageous host Florent Morellet was also an ardent gay activist, particularly when it came to AIDS which earned him countless wards and honors, including being the Grand Marshall of NY's Gay Parade in 2006.   He seems like a role that the Cumming, a Tony Winner and an Emmy nominated actor, was born to play.

In 2011 filmmaker David Sigal captured both the heady and the last days of the restaurant in his captivating documentary Florent : Queen of the Meat Market which is now on DVD/VOD on several platforms.

Ryan Raftery is The Most Powerful Woman In Fashion

Ryan Raftery is 'The Most Powerful Woman in Fashion'.  Even Anna Wintour's daughter Bee Shaffer went to check him out in his hit musical to see how much like her mother he really is. She evidently took a video of the performance and showed it to her diva Ma who just remarked 'he didn't get the fashion right'.  Now Ryan aka La Wintour is back in New York for one final Fashion Week before he hangs up his faux Chanel jacket ( that he bought after Bee's visit) up for good.  On Sunday 13th at Joe's Cafe on Lafayette street he ends two successful sold out runs in LA & NY to an end.

When asked he thought/hoped La Wintour may even show up herself, he said he would prefer that she didn't. 'There is only one star of a Helen Lawson production'.

For Tickets and Information click Here

Cinderella Wants You To Go To The Ball

Company XIV have just announced their 2015/2016 Off-Broadway Season which includes two World Premieres  : Cinderella (September 22 - November 15) and Snow White (January 26 - March 12)  plus the return of their smash hit holiday show Nutcracker Rouge (November 24 - January 17th). The reason they are billed as 'adult only' shows is that they are sensual and erotic productions that feature XIV's unique blend of live opera, circus, burlesque, vaudeville, baroque dance, gender-bending, over the top costuming and sumptous design

The Company continues to garner critical accalim. The NY Times called Artistic Director Austin  McCormick’s work as  “inventive and brainy, a high-entertainment mix of music-hall, cabaret, theater and dance” and added that Nutcracker Rouge was "dazzling and genius".   It was also a Critics Choice for Time Out NY, and NY Magazine.  

If you never heard of Company XIV and their glorious and stunning productions before (!) then check out this 'Meet The Theatre' video, as you will be sorry if you miss out.

For information and to book tickets, click HERE