Listen to this articleAnd so the Oscar race begins. Now out, The Rum Diary, with Johnny Depp sure to be nominated, and The Ides of March, starring the multi-Oscar nominee George Clooney. I’m sorry to say this but it must be said — though Clooney is like a gay blow-up doll for so many homos, I for one would like to hit his smug face with a shovel. See what he does to me, my sweet innocence is waning desperately. Anyhoo, other likely Oscar contenders opening soon are listed below. But my bet for the most Academy nods will go to The Muppets — please, their nonverbal expressions and body language are awe-inspiring.
10thursday — I should have my Platinum gay card revoked because I forgot to include this event in the last issue. Thankfully, there are still a few performances remaining that every gay boy should go see. Weber State University Department of Performing Arts is currently mounting the musical comedy Xanadu. Based on the 1980 film, starring Olivia Newton-John, the show … well, all you need to know is that it involves a roller disco, with the cast skating on stage. Fabulous!
7:30pm, through Nov. 19, Eccles Theater, Val A. Browning Center, 3848 Harrison Blvd., Ogden. Tickets $8–11, 1-800-WSU-TIKS, weberstatetickets.com.
Award-winning gay screenwriter Dustin Lance Black’s highly anticipated new film hits the silver screen today. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Clint Eastwood, the biographical film J. Edgar is based on the “the face of law enforcement in America for almost 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover, who was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career and his life.”
For participating theaters and times, visit fandango.com.
11friday — Just as WSU is doing, the University of Utah Department of Theatre is also producing a classic hit show, the great 1960s tribal rock musical Hair. It’s a celebration of life, a love letter to freedom, and a passionate cry for hope and change. It is the story of a group of friends who struggle to balance their young lives, loves, and the sexual revolution with their rebellion against war, their conservative parents and society.
7:30pm, through Nov. 20, Babcock Theatre, 300 S. 1400 East, UofU. Tickets $15–20, 801-581-7100 or kingtix.com.
All right, for those women who love women and those gay guys who love sexy women in sexy outfits doing a sexy dance (which is every gay guy, right?), check out Park City Burlesque!, an evening of provocative song and dance to stimulate the sensual side. Hopefully, the temperature in Park City isn’t sub-zero, we don’t want the girls’ nipples to crack and shatter — like what happens to poor, wussy Jesse, the boy who cried mother’s milk.
Times vary, through Saturday, Egyptian Theatre, 328 Main St., Park City. Tickets $20–30, 435-649-9371 or egyptaintheatrecompany.org.
QSaltLake is co-sponsoring the Sugar House Art Walk, so be a QSaltLake Cheerio, betches, and be a part of this event. Participating galleries and businesses include Rockwood Art Studios, The Joint, Sugar House Coffee, Patrick Moore Gallery and more. Artists include Nicholas Adelman, Flossie Kehr, Chris Miles, Mark Knudsen and many more.
6–9pm, participating galleries and businesses in the heart of Sugar House. Free, visit sugarhouseartwalk.info.
13sunday — You may have seen this cute boy in Shortbus or Holding Trevor, but not only is Jay Brannan an actor, he is also a singer-songwriter. He describes his music as “the sound of the angry, sad woman.” He’s built a music fan base with his YouTube videos recorded in “Toilet Studios.” Tonight, he comes out of the toilet to play such songs as “Half-Boyfriend,” “Soda Shop,” and “Um, Please Don’t Attack Me.”
8pm, Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East. Tickets $13 adv/$15 day of, 24tix.com.
14monday — The Damn These Heels LGBT film group presents a screening of Poison, the groundbreaking Sundance award-winning film from director Todd Haynes. The film is inspired by the writings of Jean Genet, and deftly interweaves a trio of transgressive tales that build toward a devastating climax. The stories involve patricide, a mad sex experiment and an obsessive same-sex relationship.
7pm, Tower Theatre, 876 E. 900 South. Free, 801-359-5158 or utahfilmcenter.org.
18friday — Theater Arts Conservatory presents Blue, a world premiere by Kyle Lewis. Inspired by poet Dante Alighieri and the Japanese dramatist, Ota Shogo, Blue is a journey of hope and regret in search for redemption and understanding. From a lover’s longing for solitude to the aggressor’s need for asylum, the drama of a life once lived unravels through movement, music and imagery in this unique, theatrical experience.
8pm, through Saturday, Studio Theatre, Rose Wagner Center, 138 W. Broadway. Tickets $10, 801-355-ARTS or arttix.org.
Utah native performance artist Alan Palmer returns with the epic follow-up to his one-man show Fabulous Divas of Broadway. This time he pays hilarious tribute to great Hollywood actresses. In this new show, Fabulous Divas of Hollywood, Palmer parodies the likes of Judy Garland and Audrey Hepburn, plus at least a dozen others.
7:30pm, One Mind Studio, 216 W. Paxton Ave. Tickets $20, 801-463-6463 or onemindstudio.com or at the door.
Repertory Dance Theatre Company presents Snapshots, an entertaining and playful look at our diverse neighborhoods. The performance features choreography by RDT dancers and Zvi Gotheiner, plus photographs, music and interviews with students that will hopefully generate discussions about the things that concern us and the things we love about our neighborhoods.
7:30pm tonight & 2pm, Saturday, Jeanne Wagner Theatre, Rose Wagner Center, 138 W. Broadway. Tickets $10–20, 801-355-ARTS or arttix.org.
23wednesday — In 1956, a young Oxford student inspired by the film industry meets Marilyn Monroe on the set of a movie. His enchantment with the star then inspires his diary to be published. In the new film My Week with Marilyn, the two share one idyllic week together in England, the one week missing from the diary. Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain) stars as Marilyn.
For participating theaters and times, visit fandango.com.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Nov. 24
Pride Center Thanksgiving
Potluck Dinner
Dec. 1
Hotel Monaco
Red Party
Dec. 9–11
Salt Lake Men’s Choir
Holiday Concert
