Baltimore’s newest theatre company, Two Strikes Theatre Collective, recently announced their 2021 season complete with virtual devised works, staged readings of original plays, a podcast, and the second annual Brown Sugar Bake-off play festival. The independent theatre company, founded in July 2019, celebrates, promotes, and encourages the intersectional voice of Black women and how it can be used for social change through art and community engagement. Baltimore OUTloud recently chatted with Aladrian C. Wetzel, Executive Director of Two Strikes, to discuss the upcoming season, their upcoming work The Crown is Mine (May 22nd – See Sidebar), and why now more […]
Two Strikes Collective Theatre Presents This Crown is Mine
On Saturday, May 22nd, Two Strikes Theatre Collective will showcase the production of This Crown is Mine, which will feature a series of original performance art about hair types, acceptance, and the perception of curl patterns by others. The production asks the question ‘How have Black women learned to love and appreciate our hair?’ Executive Director, Aladrian C. Wetzel chatted with Baltimore OUTloud about the upcoming performance. “This Crown is Mine was created because we wanted to talk about Black hair. It is a central part of being a Black woman. Our hair has been politicized, it’s been sexualized, […]
Artist Scott Ponemone On His “2 by 2” Series
Scott Ponemone began capturing portraits of pairs in 2017 for his “2 by 2” watercolor series. Evidently, some would go on to feature masks. He discusses capturing America, choosing subjects, and why he’s really an ethnographer. You typically approach strangers in public at the start of your portraits. What are your best ice breakers? Scott: I’m very straight forward. I approach people with “can I ask you a favor? I’m an artist and I do watercolor portraits of couples.” I show them a finished painting on my phone or an 8 by 11 glossy if I have one with me. […]
Spring into a new book: poetry
After a brutal winter, made even more difficult by the pandemic and killer storms, the Spring Equinox and warmer weather days are in sight. The following new poetry titles are another way to welcome the change in seasons. As I said in my blurb for Lambda Literary Award-winning lesbian poet and memoirist Maureen Seaton’s Undersea (JackLeg Press, 2021), her “sun- and sea-drenched poetry collection combines all of her strengths: teacher, lover, observer, seeker, reporter, tour guide, singer, naturalist, rover, sibling, and wordsmith. Seaton invites readers to a faulty but irresistible paradise, complete with detailed instructions, and we’d be foolish not to accept. […]
Phil Stamper’s Releases Coming-of-Age Story: As Far As You’ll Take Me
Author Phil Stamper has recently released his sophomore novel, As Far As You’ll Take Me to the delight of readers everywhere. In As Far As You’ll Take Me, Marty escapes his small homophobic town and flies to London, to play music, travel and really be himself for the first time. Stamper recently chatted with Baltimore OUTloud regarding the recent book release. Frankie Kujawa: In your own words, how would you describe your book for audiences? Phil Stamper: As Far As You’ll Take Me is a coming-of-age story that follows Marty as he leaves an unwelcoming life in Kentucky to live […]
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Brings Genderosity to Virtual Audiences
It’s all about gender expression and being fabulous! That’s the tag line for the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington D.C.’s upcoming performance of Genderosity. The performance, which will be a glam rock spectacle celebrating self-expression, was previously scheduled for March 2020, but will now be available from the comfort of your living room. Streaming online from March 13th – March 28th, the performance heralds the upcoming 40th Anniversary of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC (GMCW). “The goal was to have a really nice, high energy, colorful, joyful escape from everything else going on,” explained Dr. Thea Kano, Artistic […]
It’s a Sin is painful but important
HBO Max has been making good investments when it comes to bringing TV shows from the UK to the US, and now they are presenting the critically acclaimed limited series It’s a Sin from Russell T. Davies, the man behind everything from the original UK Queer as Folk to Doctor Who and Torchwood, Banana, A Very English Scandal and Years and Years. Davies is known for bringing LGBTQ stories and characters front and center with grace and humanity, never sensationalizing the subject matter for prurient interests. And he’s done the same with his latest series. The five episodes of It’s […]
Just Say Yeston!: an interview with Maury Yeston
Theater queens know their leading ladies and leading men. True theater queens know their librettists and composers. From Rogers & Hammerstein and Lerner & Loewe to Bernstein, Sondheim, Herman, Schwartz and Miranda. The name Maury Yeston also belongs on that list. Yeston, the man behind Tony Award-winners Nine and Titanic, as well as Grand Hotel, Death Takes A Holiday, and what has come to be known as the “other” Phantom of the Opera, has had a fantastic career in the theater. As if to drive home that point, we have two recently released albums; Maury Sings Yeston and Anything Can […]
Suggested reading: Winter 2021 non-fiction
So far, it’s been refreshing to President who knows the difference between truth and lies. If you’re the kind of reader who enjoys their prose with a healthy dose of truth, consider these new non-fiction titles to pass the winter days. Let Me Tell You What I Mean (Knopf, 2021) by celebrated writer Joan Didion opens with a lengthy intro by gay writer Hilton Als, before delighting readers with previously uncollected essays written between 20 and 50 years ago on topics as timely as ever, including college admissions stress, addiction programs, the state of journalism, as well as one on […]
Queer tunes to start the year
Lesbian singer/songwriter Tret Fure has been a prominent force in the women’s music world for many years. However, unlike many of her sisters in that independent scene, Fure actually began her career as a major-label artist, releasing her eponymous 1973 debut album on Uni Records. In addition to the original tunes, that album also featured Fure performing a cover of “My Love,” by lesbian rock legend June Millington (of Fanny fame). Fast forward almost 50 years later and Fure returns with her 13th solo album (excluding the three she recorded with Cris Williamson), the introspective Stone by Stone (Tomboy girl). The face mask Fure […]