“My Trip Down the Pink Carpet”

In an amazing stroke of luck, Leslie Jordan will be coming to Norfolk on September 13, 2008, for one show which will be a benefit for Tidewater AIDS Community Taskforce. I know a few folks who were able to see Jordan's show in some other cities and the reports are that it is hysterical. I've been a Jordan fan ever since I first saw Sordid Lives in which he plays Brother Boy. For those who do not remember Jordan from Will & Grace or the original movie, check out Sordid Lives the Series on LOGO on Wednesdays at 10:00 PM EDT. BTW, Jason Dottley who plays "Ty" in the series stopped by and left a comment on this blog last week. Here are some highlights about Leslie Jordan's career and successes:

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His critically acclaimed one man show entitled “My Trip Down the Pink Carpet” just completed a 25 city summer tour and has been a coast-to-coast triumphant tour-de-force. Continuing into the Fall by popular demand, Jordan is set to make his Virginia debut when the show plays Norfolk’s TCC Roper Performing Arts Center (located in the former Loew's State Theater building). The one night only performance is set for Saturday, September 13 at 8:00 P.M.
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Jordan’s current run in the limelight has also been reinforced with the recent premiere of SORDID LIVES, THE PREQUEL, reprising what arguably is his best known role of Brother Boy. His appearance in the 1998 cult classic first brought him to prominence on the art house film circuit. Premiering on the LOGO Channel in July, the new series has been airing throughout late Summer as a 10-episode follow up and as with the original, Jordan’s scene stealing presence is a delight to behold.

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Tickets for the Norfolk engagement of “My Trip Down the Pink Carpet” at TCC Roper Performing Arts Center located at 340 Granby St. are available through Ticketmaster by calling (757) 671-8100.

THIS IS A BENEFIT FOR TACT. CALL 1-757-583-1317 FOR INFORMATION.

"Brother Boy" and Sordid Lives

On a totally frivolous note, tonight is the series premier of the "Sordid Lives" on LOGO. If you haven't seen the original 1996 low budget film with a incredible cast of top talent, I recommend you rent the DVD. The movie is a scream and since much of the original cast has been signed for the series, it should be extremely funny as well. Having lived in Alabama and Texas in the past, I clearly can identify with the small town southern setting from places I experienced and the outrageous behavior of some of the characters. Although some of their traits are indeed somewhat universal. Leslie Jordan is hysterical as Brother Boy who believes he is Tammy Wynette. Here are some highlights from the Los Angeles Times:

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“Sordid Lives: The Series,” which premieres tonight on Logo, Viacom's LGBT-directed cable network, is a prequel to "Sordid Lives" (the movie), which was in turn adapted from "Sordid Lives" (the play). All were written and directed by Del Shores ("Queer as Folk," "Dharma & Greg"), whose range of accomplishment in diverse mediums makes him in a sense the Southern, white, gay Tyler Perry.

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Bonnie Bedelia, Rue McClanahan, Caroline Rhea and Olivia Newton-John (looking great, singing better than ever, and there is no irony intended in those words) are the names that should need no introduction; Leslie Jordan's is a slightly less familiar name but an immediately familiar face, even when he is made up as Tammy Wynette, which he is constantly. All but McClanahan and Rhea return from the film, as do the lesser known but superb Beth Grant, Ann Walker and Sarah Hunley, among others.

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The series splits its attention between Hollywood, where Ty (Jason Dottley) is trying to find work as an actor, and central Texas, where his relations are running farcically amok. The stories are connected only by phone calls between Ty, his "beautiful, controlling" mother, Latrelle (Bedelia), and his flamboyant Aunt LaVonda (Walker). . . . Also in Texas are Ty's grandmother Peggy (McClanahan), great aunt Sissy (Grant) and uncle Earl (Jordan), known as Brother Boy, who is in a mental institution, where an icy psychologist (Rosemary Alexander) plans to "de-homosexualize" him and where the death of Tammy Wynette leaves him suicidally distraught -- until he is visited by her spirit, played by Wynette's daughter, Georgette Jones, and told to carry on in her name.

Monday Musings

I did not post yesterday for the first time in weeks. After a lazy morning, we went to the beach in the Ocean View area of Norfolk (photos are posted above), arriving around noon. We went to the beach there because my Jeep is in the shop for repairs, so I had no way to get my surfboard to Oceanfront. In addition, Ocean View is not overrun by tourists, so we did not have strangers sitting almost on top of us.

It was very pleasant and relaxing and a treat to just do nothing. After the beach we ended up hanging out with friends and watching a crazy movie we find hysterical called "Sordid Lives," which has an all star cast and a serious message about coming out intermixed with the insanity. As a result, I never made it to the office where I do most of my Blogging because of better computer equipment and the files I have saved for the "Male Beauty" posts.