Growing up gay in the Mormon community gave up-and-coming alt-country musician Justin Utley a unique perspective. After spending two unsuccessful years in church-run ex-gay therapy, he split from the church in 2005 and moved to New York City to pursue a music career. Utley’s second CD, Nothing This Real, chronicles his journey. Abby Walker: How…
LGBT parents are among those being urged to encourage their high school-age budding actors to participate in preliminary auditions for the 2012 Globe Honors and The Road to the Jimmy Awards, an annual competition recognizing excellence in high school theater. The event will take place May 5, 6 and 7 at The Old Globe. Presented…
thursday, april 19 San Diego Asian Film Foundation Spring Showcase The 2nd annual San Diego Asian Film Foundation Spring Showcase is a week-long celebration of Asian cinema at the Mission Valley UltraStar Cinemas, April 19-26. An exciting collection of 11 titles from 8 countries features the best in Asian cinema. There are films from Japan,…
The Billboard Dance Chart success ‘I’m Free’ by international singer-songwriter Hayla was inspired by her cheating boyfriend who went out on her with another man, says the dance-pop star. After finding her cheating boyfriend in bed with his gay lover, Hayla decidedly remained calm. “Guess what?” she says. “I didn’t freak out at all. Everything…
thursday, march 15 Anna Christie Anna Christie is a gripping account of the relationship between an old sailor and the daughter he hasn’t seen in almost twenty years. Their new bond becomes strained when she falls in love with a young man whose seafaring life isn’t what her father wants for her. When Anna reveals…
There are some recording artists that are intertwined with the coming out process and beyond, forever encased in a piece of memory amber to be looked at under the light of remembrance, intrinsically using the spotlight of said musician to illuminate what they meant on a personal level over the years. For me, during the…
If you have seen Mamma Mia, Rock of Ages or The Jersey Boys, you will understand the premise behind The Marvelous Wonderettes. Thread a paper-thin narrative through a catalogue of songs that revolve around a Swedish band (ABBA), genre (rock-n-roll) or an era (the 1950s) and hey presto you have a musical. The Marvelous Wonderettes…
So, we’ve taken a hard look – sponsored in part by Viagra – at the first two installments regarding 2012’s TV shows and movies. But, this year’s musical resolutions aren’t a case of the first Gilligan’s Island theme song, in which I’m presenting an “and the rest” type of scenario. Simply put, it’s time to…
Full disclosure before we begin. I am not, nor have I ever been a trained theater critic. However, I have seen my fair share of shows in the West End, on/off Broadway and locally, and as a professional art critic, I can distinguish something truly amazing from something that makes me want to leave at…
