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Gemma’s Gem of the Week: Celebrating Bi Visibility Week

Published

2 years ago

September 17, 2021

It’s bi visibility week, and baby I am bi

A part of me always knew I was queer, but my schools growing up never taught queer education, so I truly didn’t even think of that as being an option for me. We most certainly still have a ways to go when it comes to bringing queer education to schools.

Since then however, stepping into my sexuality and embracing her with open arms has been one of the most beautiful, liberating elements of growth I’ve experienced. I’ll never forget the abundance of love I received the day I came out on April 13th, 2020. Here’s the photo I used from that day:

*Nothing like posing in front of an inflatable rainbow popsicle!*

It’s not always easy – especially with so many fears tied to being fetishized, not looking or acting “gay enough,” and still navigating my sexuality overall.

The most important thing is that you know your truth. If you identify as queer, then baby – you are queer! Coming as your glorious, magnificent self is enough.

We’re always evolving in the queer community. And that’s pretty damn beautiful.

To my fellow bi butterflies, you are so heard. You are so seen. And you are so deeply loved.

Our bodies, minds, and souls are temples, which are only amplified by the identities and truths we stand in. We are worthy of love and sex and magic.

I am so proud to be a member of my beautiful bi community, and so lucky to have friends who are constantly creating safe spaces for me to come as I am.

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Gemma Farquhar

Gemma Farquhar is the writer of "Gemma's Gem of the Week" and author of "The Shape of Something New." She is passionate about the future of storytelling and welcomes all ages to her column.

Cabaret

My View: Someone Named Storm Caused Lots Of Excitement In New York City Last Night

Published

13 hours ago

March 23, 2023

Stephen Sorokoff

Storm Large has made a name for herself from tours with Pink Martini to orchestral appearances at Carnegie Hall to the television stage of “America’s Got Talent.” But it is with her loyal and fearless band, Le Bonheur, that she grabs audiences. by the lapels and refuses to let go. Love, Storm her new show played 54 Below last night. It’s a playlist of songs by pop luminaries, rock goddesses, and Storm’s fiery originals. There might be someone in the news with a variation of her name currently causing some political excitement, but few entertainers can create the musical excitement that exists in a Storm Large performance.

STORM LARGE

ALAN PAUL, artistic director Barrington Stage Company

EDA SOROKOFF & ALAN PAUL

Cabaret

My View: The Only Thing Missing Was A Latte ( with extra foam) Marcy & Zina Party at 54 Below

Published

1 week ago

March 15, 2023

Stephen Sorokoff

The only thing missing at last night’s party for Marcy and Zina was a Latte choice in the beverage section on the menu at 54 Below (with extra foam). The show, titled Make Your Own Party: The Songs of Goldrich and Heisler was conceived by Scott Coulter and performed by a cast of five. It celebrated over three decades of quirky, heartfelt and utterly contemporary romantic comedy songs written by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich.

From “Taylor the Latte Boy” to under appreciated altos we were introduced to the cast of characters that inspired these inseparable, irreverent friends to write over three hundred and counting musical love letters to the city, the theatre, and the people who make them sing. The evening was filled with the heart felt stories that these two award winning women have created and was performed by a first rate cast of Broadway super singers. The lyrics, the music, the luscious harmonies…it was the best party of music I’ve ever been invited to.

The Performers: Jill Abramowitz, Cole Burden, Alex Getlin, Joe Kinosian, Kelli Rabke, and Austin Rivers.

Joe Kinosian,piano, Matt Scharfglass, bass

Marcy & Zina have been performing and writing together since 1992. Their critically acclaimed romantic comedy songs have been featured in venues across the world, recorded by artists across many genres, and appear in numerous folios and collected works. Their Off-Broadway musical Dear Edwina earned them a Drama Desk nomination, and other works have been produced by regional powerhouses such as Paper Mill playhouse, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Goodspeed, and the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. Their shows include Ever After, JUnie B Jones, and The Great American Musical, based on the bestselling book by auther/director Julie Andrews.

KELLI RABKE & JILL ABRAMOVITZ

MAKE YOUR OWN PARTY: THE SONGS OF GOLDRICH AND HEISLER

KELLI RABKE

KELLI RABKE & ALEX GETLIN

ALEX GETLIN

JILL ABRAMOVITZ

COLE BURDEN

AUSTIN RIVERS

KELLI REBKE & JILL ABRAMOVITZ

KELLI REBKE & ALEX GETLIN

JOE KINOSIAN

COLE BURDEN, KELLI RABKE, JILL ABRAMOVITZ, AUSTIN RIVERS

SCOTT COULTER, PRODUCER

MAKE YOUR OWN PARTY

54 BELOW

ZINA GOLDRICH & MARCY HEISLER

Cabaret

My View: Live from 54 Below…Saturday Night Love Songs

Published

1 week ago

March 13, 2023

Stephen Sorokoff

If there is one night during the week when you want-need?- to hear love songs, well, it’s got to be a Saturday night. And this last Saturday, 54 Below provided just the right tonic of famously romantic songs in a show created and hosted by Scott Siegel titled “Love Song Saturday Night”. It’s a new hit series at the club and the songs in the show came from every genre, including Broadway, country, pop, R&B, and more. They were performed by a richly talented cast of stars that sing not from the page, but from the soul. The packed house of mostly lovers had a sensational time and Eda and I got home in time for Saturday Night Live

The Performers: Edward Staudenmayer, Elena Mindlina, Christopher Brian, Moipei, Matthew Drinkwater, Ryan Knowles, Ben Jones. Ron Abel, music director