MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Events

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES

SHADE-O-METER RATING

4 OUTTA 5 WERKS: “SHE GAVE GOOD FACE – SHE SERVED IT”

By Mike Jeknavorian

What’s La Cage aux Folles?  It’s a musical from 1983, which is based on a French play of the same name.  Harvey Fierstein wrote the book, and Jerry Herman wrote the music and lyrics.  The show is a farcical comedy about a gay couple’s son that’s marrying into a conservative family.  The original cast starred Gene Barry and George Hearn as the couple.  The play was also turned into the American film, The Birdcage.

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What’s the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC)?  It’s a new-ish theater in Lauderhill, Florida.  The theater holds over 1,100 people, and it opened in 2016.  It has two levels.  Also, the orchestra pit, which was at the front of the stage, was the biggest one that I’ve ever seen, ready to gobble up a performer—who took one wrong step—like some kind of theatrical version of The Mighty Sarlacc.

How was the venue?  The theater is nice enough, but, given its size, it’s more suited to big road shows or for big stars.  The lobby is probably its most impressive feature.  How was the parking?  Weird.  You’re directed to meander all around the back of the venue, just to get to a parking lot that’s directly to the right of the venue.  Why can’t you just turn right and drive into the parking lot?  In any case, parking is free.

Does the venue serve liquor?  Only wine.  How were the drinks?  Fine, I supposed.  One glass of wine, which was served in a plastic cup, was $7.  Does the venue serve food?  Only finger food and candy.  Strangely, they have someone peddling popcorn.  How was the food?  We didn’t get any.  How much were the tickets?  $48 each.  Where were the seats?  They were in the orchestra.  And any seat offers a good view.  I can’t comment on the view from the mezzanine.  Was the show sold out?  Not even close.

How was the show?  Regarding the book, it’s not quite as strong or as clever with the situational comedy as the original French film is (I never saw the play, so I don’t know about that).  This is the first production that the Stage Door Theater, the longstanding theater company in Broward County, has had at their new residence, the LPAC.  There are issues that have to be worked out with the audio, as the sound was cutting in and out at times.  There were also some problems with the costumes.  Some didn’t necessarily look of sufficient quality to be worn in the “hottest drag club on the Riviera,” and there was one number where the back of Zaza’s dress was either ripped or it wasn’t zipped up.  In addition, strangely, some of the Les Cagelles dances—which are supposed to be drag performers—appeared to be biological women.  But despite these minor complaints, the show was excellent.  The production shinned in the numbers that featured the leads, Larry Buzzeo as Albin/Zaza and Jamie Michael Parnell as Georges, with appropriate humor and chemistry between them.  What singing expertise Buzzeo may have lacked in some numbers, he made up for in the famous, “I Am What I Am.”  And although Parnell might have looked too young to play Georges, rarely will one hear a voice of this caliber outside of the walls of a first-rate Broadway show.  His numbers were hands-down the most enthusiastically received of the evening.  Elijah Word cleverly channeled the edginess of the leads from the hit TV show, Pose, with his characterization of the couple’s longsuffering butler/maid, Jacob.  Regarding the ensemble, they gleamed the brightest in “La Cage aux Folles,” with wild can-can-type dancing.

How was the crowd?  They appeared to consist primarily of season pass holders, and, not to be ageist, they were rather on the elderly side.  The company could probably stand to market to a younger demographic to even out the crowd.  What could have improved the show?  The audio needs to be fixed, and more attention needs to be paid to the costumes.  Regarding the venue, to each his own, but, to me, much of the production’s energy is gobbled up by the vastness of the house.  Maybe the runs should be shorter, in hopes that the theater would be fuller?  It’s a shame that they didn’t build another house that held about 400.

What was surprising about the show?  The quality of Parnell’s voice, the size of the cast (over 20), and the number of people in the live band (seven).

The Lauderhill Performing Arts Center is located at 3800 NW 11thPlace, in Lauderhill, Florida.  The production runs to September 23.

MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Events

THE BITCH IS BACK!: JOE POSA AS JOAN RIVERS

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By Mike Jeknavorian

Joe Posa performed his one-man show, The Bitch Is Back!: Joe Posa as Joan Rivers, to a packed house at The Grille On The Drive this past Friday.  And although most people are aware that there’s no shortage of Joan Rivers impersonators, none of the other performers are likely as proficient at imitating Rivers as Posa was.  Through his own blend of alchemy, Posa captured Rivers—even down to her posture—to the point where there were moments that one forgot that they were seeing an impersonation and not the real deal.  Nevertheless, impersonations are one thing; it’s another to be able to think in someone else’s persona.  Mr. Posa successfully accomplished both.  No doubt, the astute observer realized that they were witnessing two things at once in Posa’s performance: an impersonation, and a layer beneath, a skilled improv comic at work.  If you missed Posa’s show, you can check him out at the Rrazz Room in Boca Raton on December 14.  The show should be listed shortly.  Manny Estralla accompanied himself nicely on the piano after Posa’s show.

 

MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

DAVID MIXNER

An unparalleled record of activism against injustice for over 50 years.  Check.  Was once called the most powerful gay man in the country by Newsweek.  Check.  Best selling author and acclaimed playwright.  Check.  Quizzed about Bill Clinton during sex.  Check.  Introducing David Mixner, an American original.   

PHOTOGRAPH BY NIGEL BARKER

By Mike Jeknavorian

Where did you grow up?  On a farm outside a small, southern New Jersey town called Elmer, which had about 1,000 folks.  What do you miss about it there?  The outdoors, the animals, the wildlife, the lightening bugs, and the folks.  Where do you live now?  In the theater district in NYC, about a half block from Times Square.  What drives you crazy about Time Square?  Nothing.  I absolutely love the wild and unpredictable nature of it.  I love people-watching.  Although New York may have changed, what’s still special about Manhattan?  Hands-down, the diversity of people, ideas, entertainment and politics.  It’s 24/7 and a place that never sleeps—there’s a place and a role for everyone in Manhattan.  I’m also an architecture nut, so I revel in the buildings, public spaces, and design of this unique and wonderful place on earth.  What New York venue do you miss that that’s gone?  The destruction of New York Penn Station and replacing it with this Soviet-style brutalist architecture called, “Madison Square Garden.”  It was one of the most obscene moments. 

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In this stirring personal history, one of America’s most influential gay rights advocates recounts his extraordinary career as a policy maker and adviser to the major political leaders of our time, and his own often anguishing, ultimately triumphant life as a gay man.

Of all the places that you’ve lived, what was the best one?  Guess I would have a tie.  One was the time on a houseboat in Amsterdam writing a screenplay while my lover was painting art.  It was magical. The other would be living in Turkey Hollow in the Catskills, recreating a “Walden Pond” moment with the abundance of wildlife.  I became a first-rate animal whisperer with the deer, bears, wild turkeys, and other wildlife.  Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now?  Being a janitor cleaning food halls at Arizona State University.  I hated it.  If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered?  That, without fail, I served others my entire life.  What do you want to live long enough to see?  Beto O’Rourke in the White House.  Will you ever retire?  When I can’t contribute to making the world a better place through my activism, performances and writing, then it’s time for me to go. 

PHOTOGRAPH BY NIGEL BARKER

Of all your awards and accomplishments, which one do you cherish the most?  Living my values and principle even when they made me very unpopular and I was attacked for them by many people who I loved and respected.  Also, any awards that may come out of my writing or performances would be very satisfying in my later years.  What’s the weirdest question that a fan has asked you?  I was having sex one time, and a guy looked up at me and asked, “What is Bill Clinton like as a person?”  I must say that it killed not only the moment, but the entire evening.  What celebrity did you act like a “fan” around?  Oh God, I have a horrible man-crush on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.  If I ever met him, I think he’d have to take a restraining order out on me the next day!  He’s the person at this stage of my life that I’d most like to meet.  What’s the last thing that you looked at online?  Beto O’Rourke’s video on “Taking A Knee.”  I’ve looked at it over and over. It’s simply extraordinary.  What’s the best place that you’ve visited?  Singita Castleton in South Africa. 

PHOTOGRAPH BY NIGEL BARKER

What was the most unjust war that America was ever involved with?  Oh God, there were so damn many, but just for kicks, the war on Native Americans, The Spanish-American War, World War I, the Vietnam War, the Iraq War, and all those covert operations by the CIA in places like Guatemala, Chile, the Congo, and Indonesia—those operations led to the death and torture of millions.  Who’s the most important political figure since WW II?  President John F. Kennedy, who in such a short time moved us from being totally a cold war nation to the light of helping other nations, to transitioning into civil rights, and to inspiring in so many of us that we should work for something greater than our selves.  What’s your guilty pleasure?  Judge Judy and TV crime shows.  What’s your favorite band?  Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band.  What’s your fondest childhood memory?  Swimming naked in the irrigation ponds in the countryside with my buddies.  What were you like in high school?  Oh God, I think they must have looked at me as a goofball, and not quite sure what to do with me, but I really liked high school and had tons of fun at it.

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Bestselling author and renowned presidential campaign adviser (Bill Clinton, Dick Gephardt, Jerry Brown, Gary Hart) David Mixner returns with his first book in 10 years. In At Home with Myself, Mixner writes from and about his country home in Turkey Hollow, an upstate New York town so small and remote that it has just 10 residents.

Do you think that entertainment awards should be genderless?  Yes, I do.  Acting is acting and has no gender.  What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older?  Two things: how to cope with loneliness, and to never stop laughing and being outrageous.  What did you learn from your parents?  To help thy neighbor.  Who’s your favorite performer?  Judith Light.  What’s your best characteristic?  That I’m spectacular and a loyal friend.  How do you enjoy spending your time?  Having kinky sex.  What celebrity do you have a crush on?  Ed Harris.  Who do you admire?  President and Mrs. Obama.  If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be?  My sister, Patsy.  Where would you go in a time machine?  I’d go along with Lewis and Clark. I’d also go to the roaring 20’s and hang around with Hemmingway, Josephine Baker, Picasso, Gertrude Stein, and so on.  What would your last meal be?  Ice cream, pizza and coconut cake.  What do you worry about?  Where am I going to get the next month’s rent?  What are you afraid of?  Earthquakes. 

If you were a musical instrument, what would you be?  The sax.  It’s so fucking sexy.  Are you more like a sheep or a wolf?  A lamb.  Who depends on you, and for what?  My cats, for love and food.  Who are you closest with?  My small circle of friends, who I love and adore.  What music do you listen to when you’re upset?  The blues and country.  What’s on your bucket list?  Seeing the northern lights, taking a first-class rail trip with a hot man, having a nudist weekend with friends somewhere, and getting rid of Trump.  What’s your greatest regret in life?  Not coming out of the closet sooner and allowing more intimacy into my life earlier.  What’s the great tragedy of your life?  The AIDS epidemic.  What’s something that you never told anyone else?  It shall remain a secret.  Nice try!  Where can we see you?  On Twitter, Instagram and my Facebook page.  Also, I’m single and can be arranged to be seen any weekend night.


MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Restaurants

EL TOVAR LOUNGE

SHADE-O-METER RATING

3 OUTTA 5 WERKS: “NO SHADE, BUT SHE DIDN’T TURN IT OUT”

What’s the El Tovar Lounge?  It’s the cocktail lounge at the El Tovar Hotel in the Grand Canyon Village. The Grand Canyon Village is in the southern rim of the Grand Canyon.  The El Tovar opened in 1905, and it’s the preeminent hotel in the Grand Canyon.  Was there an age restriction?  Unfortunately, no.  And if you can believe it, the table next to us had an infant that was about two years old (who was being fed baby food), and two other kids that were about 10-years-old—wonderful.  What time did we go?  At about 12.30 p.m.

How was the maître d’?  They don’t really have one.  If one of the servers happens to catch you as you walk in, you’re advised to sit where you’d like.  What was the décor like?  A bit different than the rest of the hotel, which was modeled on a European hunting lodge.  The cocktail lounge more closely resembles a hotel from the gilded age.  What was the seating like?  The main bar is inside.  It has some seats around the bar, and some free-standing tables.  There are also about 12 tables outside.  What was the atmosphere like?  For the most part, subdued.

What was the crowd like?  There probably wasn’t one person here who wasn’t a tourist.  And although the female servers weren’t dressed in vintage Harvey attire, a slightly obsequious atmosphere persists.  When’s happy hour?  They don’t have one.  What libations were ordered?  We ordered a Pomegranate Manhattan for $9.60, a Canyon Cooler for $8.90, and a Cucumber Gimlet for $9.60.  Were they served timely?  Yes.  How were the drinks?  All of them were excellent.  The Manhattan had Grand Canyon whiskey as its base, some pomegranate liquor (but not homemade) as a main enhancer, and it had a giant rosemary sprig (but not singed) in it.  The gimlet was supplemented with a cucumber.  The vodka cooler, although refreshing, was composed of the following prefabricated supplements: lemonade and berry schnapps.

What was ordered?  We ordered a Street Tacos for $10.95 and a Local Natural Navajo Nachos for $8.75.  Was the food served timely?  Yes, but it was served too fast.  The drinks were served, and then barely two minutes later, like the speed of a military mess hall, the food was brought out.  How was the food?  The taco had shredded pork in it, which, unfortunately, tasted a bit funny.  It also supposedly contained cotija cheese, although I didn’t see much of that in it.  The Navajo nachos—which was the better of the two dishes—was mainly composed of taco meat and beans on top of nachos.  The meat and the beans in the nacho dish were good.  However, they were too scant.

How was the service?  Excellent and attentive.  What stands out about the restaurant?  The opportunity to whet the whistle after a trek on the canyon, and, undoubtedly, the view (the outdoor seats are just a few dozen yards from the precipice of the canyon).  What could be improved?  The quality of the food and the pour of the liquor.  The food was nothing special, and the drinks, although the concoctions were on the higher end, were too measured.  For example, as if one were in the prohibition era when the hotel was still new, the liquid in the martinis was barely half full in the glass.

What was surprising?  Although others may be used to it, I’m not used to seeing children—especially infants—in bars, just because the bar serves food (and the website said that you have to be 21 to be in the lounge; guess they’re not enforcing this).  Regarding the view of the canyon, I didn’t expect it to be so close.  It provides one of the best views in the area.

The El Tovar Lounge is located at 9 Village Loop Dr., in Grand Canyon Village, Arizona.  It’s open seven days a week from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

 

 

MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Restaurants

THE ASYLUM

SHADE-O-METER RATING

4 OUTTA 5 WERKS: “SHE GAVE GOOD FACE – SHE SERVED IT”

What’s The Asylum?  It’s a restaurant that’s located in the Jerome Grand Hotel, which is in Jerome, Arizona.  Jerome is an old copper mining town, and the Jerome Grand Hotel was originally The United Verde Hospital, which serviced the mining community.  The building operated as a hospital from 1926 to 1950, and it’s estimated that 9,000 people died in the hospital during its illustrious tenure.  Hence, the building is purported to be one of the must haunted sites in Arizona.  The hotel opened its doors to the living in 1994, and the restaurant opened to them in 2003.

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Was there an age restriction?  None for the living.  What time did we go?  Not at the witching hour, unfortunately.  We went at about 1:00 p.m.  How was the maître d’?  Materialized.

What was the décor like?  It played into the haunted mystique of the building.  The vintage wheelchair outside was an especially nice touch.  What was the seating like?  There’s a bar area, which has seating at the bar and some high top tables.  There’s also a small dining room inside—which has spectacular views—and a small dining area outside.

What was the atmosphere like?  Upscale casual.  What was the crowd like?  They appeared to be virtually all tourists.  When’s happy hour?  No happy hour.  The spirits won’t allow it.

What libations were ordered?  We ordered an Electric Shock Lemonade for $9, a Screaming Sazerac for $12, and a Blood Orange Margarita for $11.

Were they served timely?  Yes.  How were the drinks?  The lemonade, which had house-infused lemon vodka in it, wasn’t exactly shocking, but it was tasty.  The margarita, which was made from house-infused blood orange tequila and homemade sweet and sour, was slightly more spectral in effect.  However, the standout poison was the New Orleans absinthe-laced Sazerac.  The drink was excellent, and contained the required louche.  However, considering that we were customers and not patients, I wasn’t a fan of the bartender’s clinical reliance on the jigger measuring tool.

What was ordered?  We ordered a Turner Family Farms of New Zeeland Calamari for $16.50 and a Mushroom Bacon Burger for $14.99.  Was the food served timely?  Yes.

How was the food?  The calamari was made from Turner gourmet calamari, and it had both dehydrated wasabi chick peas and chives on top of it.  It was also served with picked ginger and three kinds of sauces—Atomic horseradish cocktail sauce, a lemon basil aioli, and a wasabi aioli.  I supposed that Turner calamari is a bit better than regular calamari.  Regarding the three sauces, the wasabi aioli was the best.  The cocktail sauce was too salty.  The burger had sautéed shitake and button mushrooms, an “onion medley,” and mesquite smoked bacon on top of it.  It was also served with a side of Kennebec fries.  The burger was great.  The fries definitely had a homemade taste, but they were a little too chewy.

How was the service?  Polite and astute.  Of note, the server said that he lives in Jerome, which only has a population of about 500 (living) souls.  What stands out about the restaurant?  The history, the theming, and the vistas.  The award for the best drink name goes to “Liquid Valium.”

What could be improved?  I would uniform the wait staff in vintage medical attire.  Also, even though Jerome is a tourist area, I would still lower the prices a bit to align more closely with the cost of a public hospital in Central Arizona (which is where Jerome is), as opposed to prices that one would typically encounter at an exclusive, private clinic in, for example, Sedona.  What was surprising?  The Ouija board slate with the restaurant’s name on it.

The Asylum at the Jerome Grand Hotel is located at 200 Hill St., in Jerome, Arizona.  It’s open seven days a week from about 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.     

MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Interviews

JAMES “JT” THOMPSON

As the creator of Key West’s official philosophy, “One Human Family,” and the host of 1 Saloon’s popular weekly event, the Cock Shock, few have lived longer on the island, or are associated more with it, than James “JT” Thompson.  But beyond this, what saturnalian talent does Thompson wish that he still had?

Where did you grow up?  In Denver.  How long have you lived in South Florida?  Longer than I can remember.  How long have you lived in Key West?  For 39 years.  What part of Key West do you live in?  In Old Town.  Specifically, in the Bahama Village.  What do you like most about living there?  I like that it’s a community where individuality is rewarded.  Was Key West better 20 years ago, when it seemed more “gay”?  We used to only hang at gay resorts.  But the goal of “gay lib” was inclusion in society as equals.  Key West is still gay—and more LGBTQ-supportive than ever—but we’re enjoying all of the resorts and activities in the island, not just the gay ones.  What Key West venue do you miss that’s gone?  The Copa was a heady, carefree time.  Where do you hang out in South Florida?  At my home bar, 1 Saloon.  What’s your claim-to-fame?  I’m the founder of Key West’s official philosophy, “One Human Family,” I have fun being sex-proud in vids with Al Parker and later on Treasure Island Media, and I’ve hosted “Cock Shock”  (which encourages everyone to be sex-proud and body-proud) at 1 Saloon for nine years.

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What philanthropic accomplishment or award are you the proudest of?  The Equality Florida’s “2017 Voice for Equality” Award.  What’s your day job?  I’m a graphic designer.  I used to do graphic design for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner as well.  Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now?  I swept floors for 35¢ an hour in 1967.  That, and every job since, has taught me something about being a responsible and indispensable employee.  How did you come up with your name?  I was helping a friend raise her kids, and her two-year-old couldn’t say James, so we all went by initials.  “JT” is short for James Thompson.  Locals call me “Key West’s John Lennon” or “The One Human Family Guy.”  If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered?  As someone who promoted unity, equality and diversity.  What do you want to live long enough to see?  I’d like to see a return to presidential dignity, integrity and honesty.  Will you ever retire?  I love my work and don’t have a rocking chair, so probably not.  What’s the weirdest question that a fan has asked you?  I have fans…? 

What celebrity did you act like a “fan” around?  I was on The Joan Rivers Show in 91’ talking about The Hung Jury, and I found her to be as joyous, genuine and honest as anyone I’ve ever met.  What’s the last thing that you looked at online?  Men.  What’s the best place that you’ve visited?  Amsterdam, for the Gay Games in 1998.  Who would you like to be for a day?  I’m too happy being me.  Do you believe in an afterlife?  Quantum physics needs 17 dimensions, and that means that they’re at least a dozen dimensions that we can’t sense.  We also know that energy can’t be created or destroyed—it only changes form.  So, our personal energies will continue in dimensions that we can’t see, and it will be guided by the unavoidable law of karma.  Do you think that this is the most amoral time that’s ever existed?  I’m deeply worried, and highly motivated!  Who or what is the greatest love of your life?  My dad, my mom and my doggies—Doe, Shadow and Beau.  What talent would you most like to have?  I used to be able to do it when I was young and flexible.  What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older?  To appreciate every day and every friend, and to take nothing for granted.

What did you learn from your parents?  To stand up tall for what you believe in.  Who’s your favorite performer?  Jelly Roll Morton.  What’s your best characteristic?  Dependability.  How do you enjoy spending your time?  Hanging with my buddy, Beau (he’s a pit/lab from the shelter).  What celebrity do you have a crush on?  Sam Elliott and Joe Manganiello.  Who do you admire?  Eleanor Roosevelt.  Partially, because she wrote the UN’s “Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”  If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be?  Since I was a child, I’ve had countless past-life flashes involving Lincoln.  I’d like to have a long lunch with him.  Where would you go in a time machine?  Let’s stay in 2018.  We have a lot of fucked up things to undo and repair.  What would your last meal be?  Maybe a joint?  What do you worry about?  Health care getting so expensive that only the rich can afford to be healthy.  What are you afraid of?  America being pulled backwards in a time when we must instead be accelerating forward. 

If you were a musical instrument, what would you be?  We’re all methane horns already.  Are you more like a sheep or a wolf?  I’m not a predator or carnivore, so I guess I’m more like a sheep.  Who depends on you, and for what?  My clients depend on me for my work, the community depends on me for One Human Family, and my buddy Beau depends on me for love and doggie kisses.  Who are you closest with?  My dad.  He’s always been my hero, and he’s ninety-years-old now!  What would your autobiography be called?  Today is the Only Day You Can Live, Love and Laugh.  What music do you listen to when you’re upset?  Ragtime.  What’s on your bucket list?  Touring Egypt.  What’s your greatest regret in life?  Not appreciating people while I had them in my life.  What’s something that you never told anyone else?  I’m an open book; I have no secrets.  Where can we see you?  In Old Town Key West, driving the One Human Family’s 1930 Model A Ford, or at the Cock Shock at 1 Saloon every Friday night.