Not a Drill: This ‘Golden Girls’ Puppet Parody Is Happening Off-Broadway: REVIEW

Picture it…wicker furniture with floral cushions in soft, pastel hues, the sound of canned violins, and the shenanigans of four women you’d swear were your best friends despite whatever age difference may exist between you.

Now imagine a hand reaching up their skirts. America’s favorite ‘80s ladies have been reunited off-Broadway — in puppet form, courtesy of That Golden Girls Show!, which opened October 3 at the DR2 theatre.

You may assume any number of things to be true of creator and director Jonathan Rockefeller’s campy homage to the cult-favorite sitcom, which has been in ceaseless syndication since its original run from 1985-1992.

Yes, the production packs in some of the show’s great punch lines and draws on various plotlines fans will find familiar (Rose’s pet fish, Blanche’s botched cosmetic surgery, Dorothy’s louse of an ex Stan). The intermissionless show consists of what seems like three half-hour episodes, stitched together with blackouts that might as well read, “To be continued…” Diehards will recognize that the story arcs here form a kind of collage rather than replicas of specific episodes, which is for the best.

No, the laughs don’t always land as they do on the series, but that’s to be expected. (How could anyone live up to the comic genius of Bea, Estelle, Betty, and Rue?) It would be impossible to reach every high bar set by the original, so a puppet parody feels like the right medium to revisit the iconic characters.

The performers are all to be applauded for tackling such well-known personalities; each of them voices their character and supplements their puppet’s performance with their own expressions and body language, while careful not to pull too much focus. As the sardonic, barrel-voiced Dorothy, Michael LaMasa is the standout of the bunch, nailing Ms. Zbornak’s razor-sharp tongue.

The puppets themselves are a treat, too, their faces subtly fixed into the characters’ most dominant state of mind. (Rose’s eyebrows are perpetually raised, while Blanche’s eyes always seem to be making whoopee.)

For all its laughs, like the series itself Rockefeller’s parody traverses such territory as the nature of life and death, and what it means to grow older, form attachments, lose your way, and find what you’ve been looking for right under your nose. The Golden Girls appealed to millions because the ladies know things about life it can take years to learn. And even their hardest-won wisdom comes with a laugh — and in this case, a whole lot of felt.

Recent theatre features…
Irving Berlin’s ‘Holiday Inn’ Twinkles on Broadway: REVIEW
‘The Encounter’ Marries Ingenuity and Tedium on Broadway: REVIEW
‘Cats’ Is Back on Broadway and Trippy As Ever: REVIEW
Judith Light Opens in Neil LaBute’s ‘All the Ways to Say I Love You’ Off-Broadway: REVIEW

Follow Naveen Kumar on Twitter: @Mr_NaveenKumar (photos: russ rowland)

The post Not a Drill: This ‘Golden Girls’ Puppet Parody Is Happening Off-Broadway: REVIEW appeared first on Towleroad.

Not a Drill: This ‘Golden Girls’ Puppet Parody Is Happening Off-Broadway: REVIEW

Billy Gilman Stuns ‘The Voice’ with ‘Laser’ Sharp Performance of ‘Man in the Mirror’ – WATCH

Out former child country star Billy Gilman won a head to head battle against fellow Team Adam member Andrew DeMuro on last night’s The Voice, advancing to the next round of competition after they took on Michael Jackson’s epic classic “Man in the Mirror” together.

RELATED: Gay Country Singer Billy Gilman Wows ‘The Voice’ with Beautiful Adele Cover – WATCH

Said Blake Shelton after the performance: “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a more evenly matched battle. Billy has this voice that just cuts through everything, just like a laser voice. It’s so good, man. Then Andrew has all these little runs and things that he throws in there that separates from Billy. So, I don’t think you can go wrong here either way.”

Added Alicia Keys: “Billy your voice started out in this crystal space…and then you think of where we are in the world. It ended up making me feel that maybe things aren’t so bad as they sometimes seem, so thank you for that.”

Miley Cyrus agreed. Adam Levine chose to eliminate Andrew, however.

Watch:

The post Billy Gilman Stuns ‘The Voice’ with ‘Laser’ Sharp Performance of ‘Man in the Mirror’ – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

Billy Gilman Stuns ‘The Voice’ with ‘Laser’ Sharp Performance of ‘Man in the Mirror’ – WATCH

HRC Celebrates National Coming Out Day With Video Highlighting Celebrities Advancing Equality

Today, the HRC Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, celebrated National Coming Out Day by releasing a new video highlighting actors, athletes, musicians, and others who are helping to advance equality by coming out and sharing their stories. HRC is also featuring guides and resources that are part of its National Coming Out Project.

“Coming out — whether as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or as an ally — is incredibly important in our fight to advance LGBTQ equality,” said Mary Beth Maxwell, HRC Senior Vice President for Programs, Research, and Training. “Research proves that when people know someone who is LGBTQ, they are far more likely to support equality. It takes bravery and courage to come out, and by speaking up and sharing our stories, we are helping to make the world a better place by changing hearts and minds.”

Every year on October 11, National Coming Out Day promotes a safe world in which LGBTQ people can live truthfully and openly. In honor of the important annual event, HRC’s new video highlights actors, athletes, musicians and YouTube sensations who have helped advance the movement for equality by coming out over the past year. Numerous celebrities and public figures have come out for equality in 2016, including Sara Ramirez, Marcelas Owens, Stefanie Dolson, Bill Kennedy, Michael Angelakos, Amandla Stenberg, Charlie Carver, Rowan Blanchard, Gus Kenworthy, Rayvon Owen, Brendan Jordan, Colton Haynes, Lilly Wachowski, Trey Pearson, Keke Palmer, Mara Wilson, Aubrey Plaza, Alexis G. Zall, Stephanie Beatriz, Claire Kittrell, Bella Thorne, Eva Gutowski, Ricky Dillon, Reid Ewing, Shawn Balentine, Nyle DiMarco, Rebecca Sugar, Elizabeth Gilbert, Brian Anderson, and Holland Taylor.

Coming out and living openly is a journey that individuals choose to make every single day of their lives. Whether it’s for the first time ever or the first time today, coming out can be an arduous journey. Every coming out experience is unique and must be navigated in the way most comfortable for the individual. To help in that journey, HRC through its National Coming Out Project has released invaluable guides and resources, including:

• A Resource Guide to Coming Out
• A Resource Guide to Coming Out as Bisexual
• Transgender Visibility Guide: A Guide to Being You
• A Resource Guide to Coming Out for African Americans
• Religion and Coming Out Issues for African Americans
• Coming Out Issues for Asian Pacific Americans
• Family and Coming Out Issues for Asian Pacific Americans
• Religion and Coming Out Issues for Asian Pacific Americans
• Coming Out Issues for Latinas and Latinos
• Family and Coming Out Issues for Latinas and Latinos
• Language and Coming Out Issues for Latinas and Latinos
• Guía de Recursos Para Salir Del Clóset
• Religion and Coming Out Issues for Latinas and Latinos
• Coming Out to Your Doctor
• Coming Out at Work
• Coming Out at Work as Transgender
• Coming Out as a Straight Supporter
• Find other coming out guides and resources

In addition to the power of coming out, this year it’s more important than ever that LGBTQ and pro-equality voters use their power to elect candidates who will support the progress we’ve made, and work to advance it in the future. With so much at stake in this year’s elections, HRC has been working throughout the year to mobilize pro-equality voters as part of an unprecedented #turnOUT campaign. In addition, HRC recently launched a multi-state voter contact effort that, for the first time, reaches well beyond the nation’s nearly 10 million LGBTQ voters to mobilize the growing ranks of allies with a history of supporting equality.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-celebrates-national-coming-out-day-with-video-highlighting-celebrities?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

HRC Celebrates 28th Annual National Coming Out Day

Today, on National Coming Out Day, as we celebrate the courage of countless LGBTQ people to live authentically, we are also reminded of the powerful impact that coming out can have by changing hearts, opening minds, and moving our country forward. Coming out is a recognition of our own individual right to live our lives to the fullest, but it also helps blaze a trail for others to do the same.

While not every LGBTQ person feels safe and comfortable coming out, those of us with the privilege and opportunity to do so can take this day to rededicate ourselves to building a world that respects and protects all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. This November, those of us who have already come out have the chance to turn out to vote for a future where every person is able to live openly.

LGBTQ voters represent a significant voting bloc. Across the country, there are approximately 9.4 million potential LGBTQ voters. In battleground states like Nevada, Ohio, North Carolina, and Florida, the number of LGBTQ voters exceeds the average margin of victory over the last three presidential elections.

But the power of the pro-equality vote does not end with LGBTQ people. Equality voters – Americans who are not LGBTQ, but care about our dignity and equality – increase in numbers and passion as more of their friends and loved ones come out.

2016 will be critical in preserving our progress and building on it at the local, state, and federal level. We have the chance to vote for a Congress that can pass the Equality Act and a President who will sign it into law. We have the chance to ensure a Supreme Court that respects the rights of all LGBTQ people. And we have the chance to elect local and state officials who will defeat hateful legislation, repeal discriminatory laws like North Carolina’s HB2, and move equality forward.

Coming out creates a ripple of change. When a student comes out, it can change a school. When a worker comes out, it can change a workplace. And when those of us who have come out also turn out, it can change the country.

Pledge to turn out to vote by visiting hrc.org/VoteEquality, and visit www.hrc.org/local-issues to find your home state and ensure you don’t miss the voter registration deadline.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-celebrates-28th-annual-national-coming-out-day?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Coming Out as a Proud Black Bi Woman Married to a Man

National LGBTQ Task Force policy counsel Candace Bond-Theriault could easily stay in the closet but chose to break down the door. 

www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/10/11/coming-out-proud-black-bi-woman-married-man

A Strip Mall Gay Bar in Detroit Helped Me Come Out

Before he was a successful fertility doctor, Guy Ringler was dipping his toe in some friendly gay waters.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/10/11/strip-mall-gay-bar-detroit-helped-me-come-out

Come Out If You Can, But Don't Judge Those Who Can't

It’s a personal and difficult journey for all of us.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/10/11/come-out-if-you-can-dont-judge-those-who-cant

'Coming Out' Documentary: Say It Loud, Say It Proud! (Video)

Young filmmaker Alden Peters rips off his coming-out Band-Aid in his deeply intimate and very personal documentary, Coming Out. Watch clips of the film below.

www.advocate.com/coming-out/2016/10/11/coming-out-documentary-say-it-loud-say-it-proud-video