Final Night - MASQUERADE: A Dirty Masked Affair

Last night was the final show of "Masquerade: A Dirty Masked Affair".

It was certainly with mixed emotions that the curtain came down on the show.

As the hotel wants to have regular new lineups every 6-8 weeks, with sadness, our season came to an end. It has been so much fun performing the show - certainly the cast I assembled for this production has been a winner. I've been very proud of the performers, for the hard work they put into each night of Masquerade. The show was, particularly in certain sections, a technically difficult show to perform and required their experience and skill to get them through each performance. Well done to my fellow cast members!

I should mention that I'm so very glad I get to work with these talented artists who don't like to sit back and settle the status quo, and instead get out there and try to push their talents even further. In doing so, we push - sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, the idea of what a typical Sydney drag show should be. Really it comes down to "artistic growth", and I'm so glad to see each and every one of the performers I work with achieve that, not only collectively, but also in their own personal way. We also thank the audience for going along on the journey with us, when we perform ideas that sometimes work, and sometimes don't. Thanks again my performance buddies who are also my best advisors!

In any case,back to last night! We certainly ended the show with a bang, celebrating resident DJ, Shane O. Bear's 40th birthday last night also. Shane even said some wonderful things on the microphone about the cast and show, and we thank you for that Shane. We will miss working with you!

Hopefully that won't be too far away though, as Mr Mary's has requested us to come back for another season soon, and details will be posted when they are finalized.

My thanks go out to Mark Lowe, the Mr Mary's licensee, who has been a wonderful support to the crew each night we performed. Also thanks to my partner who helped so much, in so many ways with this show.

I now look forward to seeing you at Stonewall on Saturday nights for our shows..

• 11pm - Solo Spot Show

• 12am - Pink Street: Live & Gay (Production)
  

• 1am - Sing Us Your Pink Bits! (Production)

See you there!

*MWAH!*

Sing Us Your Pink Bits! - Opening Night

Last night I opened my newest show, "Sing Us Your Pink Bits!" - the most recent addition to the Bomshelle cast repertoire.

Following on from "Pink Street: Live & Gay", we decided to do another "pink themed" show, this time a tribute show to the music artist, Pink.

We start of with (of course) "Get The Party Started", then followed by Morgan's rendition of "Stupid Girls". After a medley from Ru Bella and myself of "You Make Me Sick" and "There You Go", we are at the finale, "God Is A DJ".

Once again we take to the microphones, singing the whole show live. The cast talked me out of a mimed show, and I must say I am enjoying the chance at singing again, especially now that my voice is 90% back! (BTW, my thanks to the cast for coping with rehearsals where I couldn't speak and had to put up with me playing "charades" in order to communicate!)

It's a fun show to perform and we look forward to entertaining the crowds on a Saturday night at Stonewall up until, and including, Mardi Gras Night. (That's when my family will see me in drag for the first time... arrgghh!)

Of course, as always there are people to thank: Kirsten Damned - For the fabulous costumes. As always, you did a wonderful job. Cleopatra Coupe - For the time and energy you took to do a recording session for us so that we could have our very own backup vocals! Connor: For putting the songs in the correct keys for us to sing! The Stonewall Staff - Especially Candy, Penny D, Reese & Ken. My partner - For enduring a mute boyfriend who was trying to produce a show. You love and support is always appreciated my sweetheart! Thank you. Ru Bella & Morgan (with the organ!) for being fantastic cast members.

So we now have our final lineup for shows at Stonewall on a Saturday night...

11 pm - Solo Spot Show
12 am - Pink Street: Live & Gay
1 am - Sing Us Your Pink Bits!

Come along and see the shows and cheer with your beer!

Until next time.. xxx

A Catchup.. Then Happy New Year!

Welcome to my first blog of 2007!

Firstly, I should say, there has been a number of people who have asked about my blog recently - mainly asking why I have not updated in a while after writing about being sick. Thank you to those people who have cared to ask - it's very sweet to know you are thinking of me.

It has been a while since I've posted (3 Dec 06) and it's not due to a lack of interest blogging. So many things have been happening (and not happening as the case may be!), that posting a blog wasn't on top of my list these last few weeks.

I plan to change that though.

As a New Year's Resolution, I plan to post a blog at least once a week (probably a Sunday) as a commitment to those who read my blog, and to myself.

So much has happened in these last few weeks - will fill you in on some of those things very quickly..

• My tonsillitis developed into a ear/nose/throat infection and I was off work at Ticketmaster for 3-4 weeks as I could not talk. (Some might say a blessing.. but I can tell you my bank balance is hurting!)
• My drag performance work still went ahead, however the singing show at Stonewall Hotel suffered a bit as we had to rework the show by cutting my song and dialogue from it. (Not an easy task - thanks to my cast!) Things are back on track now - voice back at 75% and no technical hitches on stage. In fact the audience went crazy for the show last night which was nice..
  
• The Xmas Show at Stonewall has opened and closed (3 week run). The management and punters loved the show - so if timing works right, we could do it again this year!
• Slipping in some politics, I'm very happy that Julia Gillard is in the deputy position in the Labour party. Even though I would like to see her as leader, it will be wonderful the day when Kevin Rudd leaves for another country and we have our first ever female Prime Minister (albeit an acting one!). I guess I shouldn't get ahead of myself, they haven't won the election... yet!
• Christmas was a quiet occasion, spending it with my partner, my dog Icypole, and my step-cat-children, Shadow and Scooter. We all opened presents on Xmas day, the animals got special food and my partner got 2 seasons of the West Wing and a Cookbook. I got a book "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins - I'm only part the way through, but it's an interesting read.
• NYE was wonderful and again, quiet. As I still had no voice, I avoided large gatherings and loud music by watching the fireworks from my apartment with my partner and dog, in between episodes of The West Wing of course!
• Scooter has been doing well and has put on weight again. He has become a new cat since his near-death experience. I'm serious! He used to be quite grumpy, but now he is born-again cat, and is a very loving and affectionate boy. When cats become diabetic, so many owners put the cat down as they think it's too much trouble. It's very easy to look after him - everything is normal except he gets a small injection everyday (he doesn't notice it!) and just some special food from the vets. Simple! And I think he has changed his tune cos he knows how much we love him..
• Over Christmas I booked some of my family in for flights to Sydney for Mardi Gras. I'm looking forward to having my Dad, my brother Matthew, sister-in-law Jessie and her sister Ana, here in Sydney. We are booked in for Priscilla on Mardi Gras Eve in the third row dead centre! Plus my family will see me perform in person for the first time on MG night at Stonewall. (We have had our season extended until MG night!)
• Speaking of Mardi Gras - I can now mention that I am creating the show for the Pool Party as part of the New Mardi Gras Festival. The working group has been meeting for a few months now, and I'm very excited to be part of the event. Stay tuned for more info!
• Plans are underway for the annual "Hats Off" at the Star City Showroom, and I've been asked to perform there for the HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. There are some huge names in Aussie showbiz there this year and it's gonna be amazing I promise you! Will give you more details soon..
• Mr Mary's shows have been cancelled over the last 2 weeks due to the Christmas/New Year season. I have been asked to organise a new show for the new year and will keep you posted on what is happening and when..
  
• On the topic of new shows, we will be opening our new production show for Stonewall (which replaces the Xmas show) next week. As always, naming a show is the last thing I do, so no names yet, but it continues along the Pink theme.. hint, hint!

That's about it.. I guess that wasn't so quick after all, but as many of you would know, I could have rambled on a lot more!

My best wishes to all of you for the new year. I hope that it is a better year for all of you.

My goals are to be more accepting and/or loving of others (especially my partner!), to care for the environment just that little bit more (be it animals or the Earth itself), to go to the gym and to update my blog weekly! I don't think that's a hard ask..

Love to you all.. Til next week..

XXX

Tonsilitis on Pink Street

Well the second night of a show rarely goes well and for me it was never going to..

I got the flu Tuesday last week, then by Friday I had definately moved on to tonsilitis. With a new singing show to break in, I was well and truely behind the eight ball.

Thankfully, after much medication (cold and flu/penicillin/difflam), I managed to squawk out something that sounded like the opening song.. From then on I was pretty much in the clear, as apart from backup vocals, I just had to act out some script.

We also had one DIVA judge in last night. I invited him back in the near future to see the show when I had recovered from my bout of tonsilitis and when we had settled the show in. He said he was happy to come back. Hooray!

It has been wonderful the support we have been receiving from the audience and our friends. We even have some of the cast from Priscilla popping in after their long day working to watch us! You would think they would be over drag queens singing on stage! (Thanks again for coming in guys..)

Anyways, I'm gonna hop back into bed and hide under the doona now I think.. I hope to see you out at my shows next week. Come up and say "Hi" if you do..

Cya Sweets..
xx

Pink Street: Live & Gay (Opening Night)

Well it was an eventful night for me last night, as I opened my new SINGING and dancing drag show - Pink Street: Live & Gay, at the Stonewall Hotel.

Yes that's right, I sang - and not too badly if I say so myself! Phew! I was very nervous though, so there were a few wrong notes, but I think I was, at very least, decent as a singing drag queen!

Adding the live singing element really made a difference to what the punters expect from a drag show. With a few of my shows now I have slowly added live elements, or pre-recorded vocals, sometimes with alternate lyrics (ie A Dummer Shade of Blonde & Murder She Mimed - The Musical) into the traditional mimed drag show format. For years now I have wanted to do a live show, but previously I have always chickened out of it... I'm very glad I stuck it out this time!

Even though we did do a tech. run earlier in the week, we started off with some technical difficulties - that being major feedback from the microphones, but we persisted through and the gremlins buggered off.

For the show, we have rewritten some of the lyrics to the songs "Keep It Gay" (The Producers - Musical), "I'm Super!" (South Park - Movie) and mixed together the songs "We Are Family" with "Express Yourself".

But even though it's obviously a VERY GAY show, with sets of completely pink costumes and a gay soundtrack, there is also a serious message behind it...

Oxford Street has, as we all know, been a vital part of our community. Lately there has been violence/abuse escalating from the mainly, drunk straight male crowds. This show has been my response to it.

As you can appreciate, it's a hard issue to tackle on the stage, let alone in a drag show, but judging from the feedback we have already received from last night, we managed to create a show that provokes some thought and was more than just a compilation of songs with some fab cossies. We have all created "compilation" shows before, but I like to have a storyline or some linear path to my shows - I think it's more satisfying for me and the people watching.

In any case, I like to challenge myself when creating and performing shows, and I'm lucky enough to be able to be the boss of all of the shows I perform in currently. It means I can create a team of performers, tailored to the show and the venue, plus surround myself with talented entertainers who I know like to extend themselves to do the best show possible.

I like to create a show that keeps the audience and the performers interested and I believe this show does just that!

I hope you get the chance to come along to Stonewall Hotel to watch our show. Shows are at 11pm and 12am, with Pink Street: Live and Gay at 1am. You can also click here for more details on any of my shows!

Now as always, there are people who helped me to make this show possible.. My thanks go out to...

Kirsten Damned - Your fabulous costumes really made an impact! You are incredible. Thank You! We look forward to our Xmas show cossies too!
Cleo Coupe - Your help creating the soundtrack has been absolutely invaluable. It was great to be able to work with you again. I love you heaps babe!
Vida Las Vegas - Even on the other side of the world, you still managed to be able to help me! Thank you again for sending me the "Keep It Gay" backing track all the way from jolly-old London! Mwah!
Mark - Thank you for helping with the script for the show. Your help was a God-send, as I don't see myself as a writer at all! Mwah!
Stonewall - All of the staff - especially Glen, Penny & Ken for their help and advice.
AVP/ACON - For your advice and support.
My partner - For your love and support. For what has been a long-time dream of mine, you have encouraged me all along the way... I love you deeply!!
Ru Bella & Morgan - Thank you for being the fabulous performers that you both are and for trusting me on creating a show from such a difficult concept. This show means so much to me and I thank you for helping to realize my dream.

My Brothers Wedding

Matthew and Jessie

My brother was wed to his high school sweetheart, Jessie, on Rememberance Day (11/11/06) this year.

My partner and pet dog (Icypole), made the trip to Perth, Western Australia for the ceremony in a beautiful Catholic church.


Of course I cried during the ceremony, seeing these two people that I have been together almost 10 years, finally getting married. Jessie has long been considered part of our family, and I guess the wedding is the offical welcome to our family. It was very special to see them both so happy..

I was asked to read the "Prayer of the Faithful", which I did with only one stumble. It was a wonderful honour to be asked to do so.

However, I am a little annoyed with myself.. A cuff-link was accidentally dropped on the floor just before "the kiss" and I leant over to tell my newphew to keep an eye on it... My bloody watch-out-for-the-earring-on-the-floor show instict kicked in and then I realised a moment later that I had missed "the kiss"! Damn it! I'll have to wait for the Wedding Video I guess..

Then it was off to the 3-4 hours of wedding photos planned.. It was a great day for a photo shoot outdoors.

In a white limo, we moved from from the church to the Supreme Court Gardens, then to a small Japanese park near Burswood (below) and another park in Guildford, before heading out to the Swan Valley wine region for the reception.


The brides and her maids were beautiful. Of course my neice, Paige (in pink) as the flower girl, was gorgeous! (Doesn't Jennifer (the blonde) look so much like Jennifer Hawkins???)

The reception on the whole was drama-free. As you can imagine, it's hard when you have family together, and drinking lots! I worked hard at trying to shield my brother Matt, and my now sister-in-law, Jessie, from any dramas - as of course the day was all about them and I wanted them to be as care-free and happy as possible!

It was a wonderful day and an amazing experience to be part of the official wedding party.

Doesn't my little dog Icypole look so adorable as part of the wedding party photo shoot!

It would be nice to see the day where gay people can also celebrate their relationships in a similar way.. I wait with anticipation..

Congratulations again to my brother and his bride. May you spend your lives in happiness together. After so many years going strong, I look forward to spending some of those important wedding anniversaries with you both!

Two films you should see...

I haven't talked about the enviroment for a while now, but considering all the discussions about climate change, water crisis' and droughts recently, it seems quite opportune to speak about it again now.

It has also been timely the release of two documentries, "The Inconvienient Truth" and "Who Killed The Electric Car?", and I've been to see them both.

As my partner says, these films would mainly be "preaching to the converted". Nonetheless, I think it is at least a reminder to we "converted" on how we should maintain a more enviromentally friendly lifestyle, and encourage others to do so too.

If you get some free time to watch a movie, why not go to the cinemas and watch these two films.

They will turn you green!