|
Special
Screening/Personal
Appearance by Film Star |
|
A
one night only showing
of the gay romantic
comedy, EATING OUT
3: All You Can Eat,
will benefit a national
touring memorial to
those lost to
gay-related hate crimes
as well as raise money
for our local Orlando
Youth Alliance
building fund. The third
in a series, the movie -
which features gay film
icons Mink Stole
and Leslie Jordan
- also stars
newcomer-hunk actor
Chris Salvatore.
That's Chris on the
left.
Strap yourself in for
the wildest, sexiest,
and most downright
hilarious Eating Out
yet. Just when the cute
but geeky Casey (Daniel
Skelton) is about to
throw in the towel and
give up on finding any
man who is anything more
than just an empty gay
clone, he stumbles
across uber-hot Zack (Chris
Salvatore)...and his
heart instantly melts.
When hysterical friend
Tiffani (the
irrepressible series
mainstay Rebekah
Kochan) hears of
this crush, she devises
a plan insuring Zach
will fall right into
Casey's arms or, more
likely, unleash some
real havoc!
Starring a litany of
hot, out, gay actors,
Eating Out 3: All You
Can Eat delivers all
the bawdy raunchiness of
the first two films plus
an added dose of
perfectly judged romance
to deliver the most
satisfying chapter yet.
This entry in the
EATING OUT series
offers plenty of the
sex-romp rowdiness that
made the first two films
into cult favorites.
 STAR
to ATTEND and PERFORM
LIVE at SCREENING
Chris Salvatore,
who will be attendance
at the screening
scheduled for one night
only - Wednesday,
February 17th
at 8 PM in the
Footlight Theatre,
will briefly take
questions at the
conclusion of the film,
and afterwards will sing
live songs from his new
CD.
Wanzie Presents booked
this event with the aim
of benefiting two
important charities -
one national and one
local.
Mr. Salvatore is
donating his time and
talent free of charge.
The film producers are
allowing the screening
of the movie free of
charge. WANZIE.com is
coordinating and
promoting the event free
of charge. The
Parliament House is
providing accommodations
for our guests, as well
as providing the theater
and the technical
support required to
stage the event free of
charge. Thus 100% of
all proceeds collected
will go directly to the
charities.
The first beneficiary is
the organization, which,
along with Mr.
Salvatore, helps create
these fundraising
events, and is touring
Florida and Georgia with
the program. That
organization is
American Gay Heroes
Foundation.
The charity is raising
funds to create a
NATIONAL GAY AMERICAN
HEROES RAINBOW MEMORIAL
intended to tour the
country to celebrate and
memorialize the lives of
all GLBTQ persons who
have lost their lives to
hate crimes, and to call
attention to our
nationwide failure to
adequately record and
address such crimes. The
foundation asserts -
"All people who live
honestly about their
sexual orientation or
gender identity are
heroic, as it takes
great strength and
courage to face the
daily
struggles for personal
freedom in the face of
enormous opposition; to
ultimately give their
life for said
freedom makes them--
HEROES."
It
is the desire of Chris
Salvatore and Gay
American Heroes
Foundation's event
producer Scott Hill
to not only call
attention to hate crimes
and raise money for the
hate crimes memorial
project, but also to
leave an equal amount of
money behind in each
city in which Salvatore
and the film play, to
benefit a gay
youth-supportive
organization in that
area. Susan Unger and
Wanzie chose the
Orlando Youth Alliance
to be the local
recipient of a full 50%
of the funds raised at
this unique
one-night-only Orlando
event.
A
minimum suggested
donation of $10
will be requested at the
door on the night of the
event for non-reserved
general admission
seating. Those so
inclined to do so may go
online and reserve a
specific seat of choice
for a minimum donation
of $25.
Please mark your
calendars for this
coming
Wednesday, February 17th,
at 8 PM. Box office
will open at 7 PM -
First-come, first served
(Minimum $10 donation).
or for $25 you may -
Select-A-Seat Now!
|
|
Be Part Of The Human
Heart! |
|
For the second year,
our WANZeGRAM
subscriber friends
Nicki & Rachel are
inviting all humans
to come to the
love-in at Loch
Haven Park where
once again everyone
will join hands and
form a giant human
heart.
There was a very
nice turn out last
year, even with
little advance
notice. The event
attracted a good
deal of attention
and press, and it
was announced a year
ago that this would
become an annual
event, so this time
around the gals are
expecting a huge
turn out, and we at
the WANZeGRAM hope
you will join in.
Nicki says, "It's
time to get our
Heart on
again...have a
heart, share the
love, pass it on."
Human Heart:
OUTright Love-In
Sunday, February 14
2:14 PM
The Lawn at Loch
Haven Park
(Next to Orlando
Museum of Art)
Human
Heart Controversy
Reprinted From
WANZeGRAM of
February 20, 2009:
Dear WANZeGRAM,
In your most recent
issue you featured a
photo from an event
called "The Human
Heart: An OUTright
Love-In." The photo
showed Margo and
Jack Dixon, along
with two clearly
confused teenagers
who obviously
thought they had
wandered into an
open Rave Party and
could score some
weed. The captions
under this photo
said, "Pictured here
are all the straight
friends of the gay
community who were
part of the human
heart."
Well sir, I will
have you know that
my lovely wife Lisa
(who as you know,
cannot have her last
name said aloud due
to some witness
protection
complications), and
I were also in
attendance and, in
fact, are featured
prominently in the
photo in that fine
publication, "The
Orlando Weekly."
Are we to assume
that we have been
removed from the
"straight" category
of Central Florida
residents and are
now "unsure,"
"curious,"
"confused," or some
other nebulous
category of sexual
orientation?
We ask, because with
tax time swiftly
approaching, we need
to know what box to
check.
Yours sincerely,
James Wolf
Dear Mr. Wolf,
I wrote the
caption, which
you reference in
your recent
communication
concerning the
Human Heart
event NOT for
the picture that
was posted, but
rather for a
posed group
photo, with
about 16 people
in it, in which
you and your
incognito wife
were also
present. Due to
an unfortunate
mix up at our
Melbourne
offices, our
photo editor
Toby
inadvertently
ran the wrong
picture with the
caption you
reference in
your
passive-aggressive/terse
communiqué.
Rest assured
that you, Mr.
Wolf, along with
little-miss-whomever-your-wife-is,
are still
considered
"straight" by
the home office.
Please proceed
with confidence
to file your
taxes in the
usual manner.
Please note that
you would indeed
be contacted by
Austin, who
heads up our
Bureau of
Subscriber
Sexuality, via
email marked
"URGENT" should
your sexual
orientation
classification
ever be deemed
to have changed.
Below please
find the picture
that was meant
to have appeared
in this space
last week.
I hope the
inclusion of the
above photo in
the GRAM at this
point in time
will help calm
your
stereotypically
straight male
angst and
obvious
insecurities
with regards to
your sexual
orientation.
Sincerely,
Michael
Wanzie
- Founder, CE0,
& Customer
Services
Representative
of the WANZIE
COMPANY and all
its
subsidiaries including,
but not limited
to, The
WANZeGRAM,
WANZIEworks.com,
WANZIE.com,
WANZIE Presents,
WANZIE.com
Online Box
Office, and the
WANZIE Home for
Wayward Young
Men with Nice
Feet.
|
|
Official WANZeGRAM
Outing TOMORROW! |
|
50% Discount for
WANZeGRAM Subscribers!
Fun
people we already know
are going:
Val & Gary, Kenny
& Barry, Jeff K., Reid &
Mark, The Greenbergs,
Rich & Brian, Tom &
Monique, James & Lisa,
Sherman & Marilyn, The
Fisher-Swanbergs,
and Wanzie
Join our group for
tomorrow's matinee
performance of
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
with BRUCE GOLDMAN
(in the leading
role), SHAYNA
ALBERTSON (in a
starring role),&
FRANK McCLAIN (in a
role he says you might
miss seeing him perform
if you get up to go to
the bathroom).
Saturday,
February 13, 2010
2 PM
Osceola Performing Arts
Center
(Formerly Tupperware
Auditorium)
3141 N. Orange Blossom
Trail
Kissimmee, FL 34744
No
Reservations Required
Just walk up to the box
office and state you are
part of the WANZEGRAM
group. They will deduct
$19.50 from the
$39 ticket price, and
you will be directed to
our reserved-seating
section. It's that
simple!
YOUR
PRICE: Only $19.50
Let Wanzie know you
intend to go, and he'll
send you pre-show /
post-show social
information:
wanziemichael@yahoo.com
Can't
make the Matinee?
For those of you who may
not be able to join our
matinee group, there is
also a performance at 8
PM that same evening.
You may also buy tickets
to that performance for
half price, but must do
so in advance by
ordering online and
entering the following
special WANZeGRAM
discount code indicated
below when purchasing
your tickets by logging
onto:
http://www.ticketweb.com/snl/EventListings.action?orgId=54953
SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE
FOR 8 PM SHOW:
FOTRCORP |
|
Show Tunes / Drag
Queens / Politicians In
the Park |
|
For the second year,
under the auspices
of Orange County
Commissioner
Linda Stewart,
BROADWAY UNDER THE
STARS - Act II will
take place at
Orlando's premier
Cypress Grove Park.
Singers include Miss
Sammy, Becky Fisher, DJ,
Janine Klein, Carol Lee
(as Carol Channing),
Karl Atkinson, Nick
Massoni (of 903
Mills Market fame), and
other talented
performers from the
local community along
with celebrity
look-a-likes from
Universal Studios, and
surprise appearances.
This free event is open
to all. Attendees are
invited to bring their
own picnic baskets and
soft beverages. Food and
drink will also be
available for purchase
from vendors.
Bring a blanket or a
lawn chair, and sit back
and enjoy three hours of
fabulous entertainment
for FREE.
This event is the
designated
Official WANZeGRAM
OUTING
After-FIDDLER
Social Activity
CYPRESS GROVE PARK
290 HOLDEN AVENUE
ORLANDO, FL 32819
|
|
WANZeGRAM Outing Details
for DRIVING MISS DAISY: |
|
The Beth Marshall
Presents production
of Driving
Miss Daisy
is being presented
tonight through
February 28, 2010 at
the Garden Theatre.
The show stars
Elizabeth Murff
and
Michael Mormon.
An official
WANZeGRAM OUTING
is planned for the
evening of Saturday,
February 27 at a
specially arranged
price. A Post show
cast meet & greet at
Tony's Bar is also
on the agenda.
Join WANZIE and
Daisy
Saturday, February 27th
SAVE
$5
You MUST make a
reservation
Online: type in code
word "WANZIE"
By
phone: Just tell them
you are reserving as
part of the WANZeGRAM
Group
All seats are assigned.
The first 20 to respond
are guaranteed to be
seated together in the
WANZeGRAM section
Please Note: When
booking online - The
code word "WANZIE" will
not result in a discount
for any performance date
other than Saturday,
February 27th.
DRIVING
MISS DAISY
February 12-28, 2010
Fridays & Saturdays: 8
PM
Sundays: 2 PM
Industry Night, Monday
February
22: 8 PM
Official WANZeGRAM
Outing: Saturday,
February 27: 8 PM
160 West Plant
Street
Winter Garden,
Florida
$18-$22:
407.877.4736
www.gardentheatre.org |
|
Dorman Installed as
Regional Director of
Professional Council |
|
 Multi-award
winning CENTURY 21
REALTOR ® David
Dorman has been
named Regional
Director of The
Professional Realty
Council (PRC) which
has just recently
formally announced
its arrival into the
Central Florida
Market.
PRC helps people
find REALTORS® they
can trust. The
Organization was
founded by CEO
Stephen O'Hara, a
former top producing
agent for Re/Max.
O'Hara envisioned
PRC as a way to help
the consumer
identify top quality
agents out of the
over 1.3 million
agents registered
with the National
Association of
REALTORS®. "Until
now, the consumer
had no real way to
tell the difference
between a new,
inexperienced agent,
and an agent with
years of education
and service-oriented
experience," said
O'Hara at a recent
PRC convention held
in Denver.
PRC is very
particular about
whom they invite
into the
organization, and
also takes extra
steps to ensure the
consumer is getting
a true
professional. To
qualify for
induction, agents
must have a minimum
of three years
experience and meet
a certain level of
success to be
considered. Each
agent being
considered as a
Council Member must
also be able to pass
a government level
background check for
criminal and civil
activity and ethics
charges. Most
importantly, PRC
tenaciously verifies
all of the potential
member agents'
credentials and
claims.
Heading up the
Florida Operation as
PRC's Regional
Director is David
Dorman.
Dorman has been
recognized as the
top-producing
CENTURY 21 agent in
his area for the
past several years,
and has just won the
Watermark WAVE Award
for excellence in
service as
"Orlando's Favorite
Realtor" for the
third consecutive
year. Dorman was
initially chosen by
PRC to be a council
member, but upon
reviewing his
success as an agent
and his customer
service training
acquired from his
early workforce
years with the Walt
Disney Company,
O'Hara asked the
Ocoee-based REALTOR
® to consider taking
on the position as
the Regional
Director for the
state of Florida.
"Being the Regional
Director for Florida
affords me a unique
opportunity to
identify agents who
rise above their
peers; not
necessarily by
volume or dollar
amounts, but by
their level of
service and
experience," said
Dorman.
PRC will be adding
only 250 Council
Members from the
entire state of
Florida. These
Council Members will
have access to
specialized
marketing for
consumers as well as
relocation services
through NRI
relocation based out
of Chicago. NRI
expressed a need for
agents they could
trust with their
valued clients,
which include FedEx
Ground, and
McDonalds, among
others. "Finding a
certified agent is
difficult,
especially when you
are a country apart
in some cases! PRC
enables us to find a
quality agent we
know we can trust,"
said Susan Bender,
CEO of NRI
Relocation.
Dorman is just
beginning his search
for the 250 agents
this month. Agents
interested in being
considered to become
a PRC Council Member
may email the newly
appointed Regional
Director at
DDorman@PRCstandards.net.
|
|
Advertisement |
|
Always
Serving
Pizza Onion
Rings Fries
Cheese Sticks
Mushrooms
Beer Wine Full
Liquor
Every Day's
an Occasion at
Stonewall
Neighborhood Bar!
MUSICAL MONDAZE Host - David Lee
TONEWALL TUESDAYS Host - ViJay VIVIAN
KRAY KARY KARAOKE WEDNESDAY Host - Janine Klein
THINK ABOUT IT THURSDAYS Host - Tony Edge
FEARLESS FRIDAY KARAOKE Host - Scott Carter
SAVAGE SATURDAYS Leather Night
MARTINI MADNESS SUNDAYS $1 Martini's
741 W. Church
Street
Orlando, FL
32805
407.373.0888
|
|
Now on Sale in our Box
Office! |
ONE NIGHT ONLY
THIS COMING
WEDNESDAY
$10
general
admission at
the door
Now Playing!
The
BIG Event Is
This MONDAY!!
SING OUT LOUISE!
The Chorus
Sings Out
In Unexpected
More-Adult Themes
|
|
Tchotchkes Big & Small |
I need to make room
fast, so I have
priced the following
fitness items far
below their resale
value to make it as
attractive as can be
for WANZeGRAM
subscribers to pick
up crazy-low-priced
home gym equipment:
Inversion
Table:
Only $25
"Competition" brand
TOTAL GYM:
Only $50
Ab Incline
Bench: $20
Talk to Steven in
person at Stonewall,
or call:
407.619.3863
Vintage
Lunch Boxes: Adam 12
and Justice League
of America
Classic metal lunch
boxes. Authentic.
Not reproductions.
$50 each, or $85 for
both!
Contact David Lee
at
leeviday@gmail.com
Premium
David Dorman Plastic
Sport-type Water
Bottles:
Incomplete set of 5
(not 6) of the often
copied but never
duplicated REALTOR
David Dorman
promotional
give-away water
bottles which I have
unwittingly
collected at various
parades, events, and
business expos where
Mr. Dorman has been
pimping himself.
Bottles are of a
high quality durable
plastic. White with
red cap and flexible
sipping straw, and
Dorman logo in red.
All 5 in excellent
condition. Some
never even sipped
from.
Entire collection
only $2.50
Note to Mr. Dorman:
I'm sure this is
less than you have
to pay to get them
made. It's a steal,
if you're
re-stocking!
Contact Richard
(Gidget Galore)
Kuntz:
gidgetgalore@live.com
Collection
of 1980's Comic
Books:
Titles include
Wonder Woman,
Superman, and Clive
Barker's Ecto Kid.
Over 50 books.
Entire collection
of 50 books: $100
Contact David Lee:
leeviday@gamail.com
A free marketplace
for WANZeGRAM
subscribers:
Subscribers are
invited to submit items
you wish to offer for
sale in this
complimentary-listing
section. Non-business
listings only. The
WANZeGRAM accepts no
responsibility for/takes
no active role in the
private transactions
between sellers and
buyers. Listings must
include an item header,
brief description of
item, price, your name,
and a means of contact.
(Pictures optional /
posted at our
discretion.) Garage
sales may also be listed
here free of charge.
PLEASE NOTE: we at the
WANZeGRAM do not
advocate or encourage
the exchange of funds
other than in person
after the buyer has
inspected the item on
offer. This is a local
market place for our
Central Florida
Subscribers. We reserve
the right to limit
listings. The WANZeGRAM
does not endorse any
particular
listing/seller, and the
WANZeGRAM warrants no
claims.
Submit A Listing |
|
We've Got Mail!
|
|
Dear Wanzie,
I just read your
article about being
single on
Valentine's Day, and
just loved it.
Sadly, I can relate
all too well to the
sentiments, but some
of your comments
make me literally
shout out loud with
laughter (sorry next
door office
neighbors). My two
fave comments were:
1) the one about how
even the homeless,
down-and-out and
less than sanitary
folks were not
single, and 2) the
idea of all the
monies spent on
Valentines stuff
being a Love Tax.
WOW. I feel better
already, mean it!
Your fan,
Robyn
Martin
Dear Robyn,
I see nothing funny
in what I wrote.
Wanzie
The
following letter was
submitted in
response to a
listing in the
Tchotchkes Big &
Small section of
the WANZeGRAM which
first appeared in
the last edition.
Dear Mr. Gidget
Explore,
I have so much to
say about your
recent post
regarding the
amazing sports
bottle collection
you have acquired
over the past year.
First, I would be
happy to provide you
with a 6th bottle to
complete your set!
These high quality
items prefer to
travel in even
numbers, so the mere
thought of you
having an odd number
is just plain
disturbing.
In regards to
pricing, I must say
I have some
concerns. These
bottles, while high
quality, were a
steal at the 89
cents I paid for
them, which included
the printing. So
for you to sell them
at $2.50 a pop is
just outrageous,
especially when you
include the fact
that these bottles
are NEVER given out
empty to
acquaintances, and
since you are a
devoted fan and
friend, I doubt that
your bottles are in
"mint" condition,
but rather used and
abused by the
numerous refills
based on your
behavior seen while
using said sports
bottles.
That all being said,
should you actually
secure a buyer for
these divine
bottles, I would
expect that you take
my share of the
profits and send
them to my new local
charity, "Joy
Charities".
As for "pimping
myself out," I think
it goes without
saying that if there
were a contest to
see who pimps
themselves out more,
we both know you
would win hands
down. One need only
walk the Parliament
House to see your
face plastered in
every bathroom
stall, sometimes
even on posters in
there. At least I
provide a true
service that people
need, rather than a
service that
requires a visit to
the walk in clinic
for a bottle of
Penicillin.
Hope to see you
soon,
David
Dorman
Dear David
We at the
WANZeGRAM will
be eagerly
awaiting a
response from
the Gidget you
reference above,
and feel certain
that among other
things, she will
point out to you
that the bottles
are not priced
at $2.50 apiece,
as you wrongly
indicate in the
above diatribe,
but rather the
price tag of
$2.50 is for the
entire
incomplete set
of five bottles.
One can only
hope -
especially in
light of your
recently
expanded
responsibilities
in the Real
Estate industry
- that you are
more observant
of minor details
such as the cost
of something you
may be buying or
selling on
behalf of your
clients, and
that you double
check your facts
prior to sending
off hastily
written letters
(or offers)
which contain
incorrect
figures.
Sincerely,
Wanzie
- the always
congenial and
accurate
We at the WANZeGRAM
are always just as
pleased as punch to
receive, post, and
answer our mail in
this public forum.
But it takes two to
play! Send your
email to WANZIE!
|
|
Short Takes:
|
"I never
lose sight of the
fact that just being
is fun!"
-
Katharine
Hepburn
Submit YOUR Short
Take directly to
WANZIE at michael@wanzie.com.Be
sure to type "Short
Take" in the subject
line. Short Takes
submissions must be
received no later
than midnight on
each Tuesday, for
inclusion in the
following Friday
GRAM. A strict
limit of 30 words
maximum is imposed.
You must provide
your first and last
name, which will be
printed following
your submission.
Your name will not
figure into your
word count. All
postings will be at
the sole discretion
of the management
team at the lovely
WANZIE.com World
Headquarters, with
offices
inconveniently
located in
Melbourne, and Lake
Mary, Florida.
|
|
My Two Cents:
|
|
Submit YOUR TWO
CENTS:
My Two Cents
submissions must be
received no later
than midnight on
each Monday for
possible inclusion
in the next Friday
GRAM. A strict limit
of 350 words will be
imposed. Please
submit your column
directly to WANZIE
at michael@wanzie.com
and kindly type "My
Two Cents" in the
subject line.
|
|
|
|
EVENT -
Sonnet-A-Thon -
TODAY! - FREE
A free to
the public
outdoor
presentation (in
Downtown
Orlando) of all
154 Shakespeare
sonnets read by
local
luminaries,
slightly
luminous people,
and also
politicians.
Orlando
Shakespeare
Theater's
Artistic
Director, Jim
Helsinger,
will act as the
Sonnet-a-Thon's
Master of
Ceremonies and
host. Readers
include
Orange County
Mayor Richard
Crotty, Senator
Bill Nelson,
Winter Park
Mayor Ken
Bradley, Orlando
Sentinel Theatre
Critic Elizabeth
Maupin,
Commissioner
Tony Ortiz,
Roger McGuinn,
David Lee, Barry
Miller, Joe
Swanberg, Becky
Fisher,
andour own
WANZIE.
Orlando
Shakespeare
Theater's
Friday, February 12
11 AM-3 PM
Plaza
Courtyard
155 South Orange
Avenue
Downtown Orlando,
FL 32801
FREE
THEATER -
The Fantasticks
Aaron
Babcock directs this
record-breaking
musical, which
features the song
"TRY TO REMEMBER"
(that kind of
September). At the
heart of The
Fantasticks'
breathtaking poetry
and subtle
theatrical
sophistication is a
purity and
simplicity that
transcends all
cultural barriers.
The result is a
timeless fable of
love that manages to
be nostalgic and
universal at the
same time.
Featuring; Adam
Shorts Boarman,
Lorelei Sandberg,
Joe Schmerler, Doug
Boarman Shorts,
Wesley Speed, Larry
Stallings, Charlie
Stevens, and Dave
West.
February 12 thru March
13
Thursday, Friday, &
Saturdays: 8 PM
Sunday Matinees -
February 14 & 28: 2:30
PM
A complimentary glass of
champagne and pastries
will be served at the
Valentines Day Matinee.
THEATRE DOWNTOWN
2113 N. Orange
Ave
(At Princeton)
Orlando, FL 32804
$15-$18:
407.841.0083
NOTE: The first Thursday
night performance all
Theatre Downtown
productions are priced
at only $10
THEATER
- How I Learned
To Drive
Rollins College
Theater
Department
production of
Paula Vogel's
Pulitzer
Prize-winning
play about a
young girl
growing up in a
dysfunctional
family. In her
search for love
and human
connection, Li'l
Bit finds
herself drawn to
an unlikely
partner, her
uncle. As he
teaches her more
than just how to
drive,
Li'l Bit looks
back on her
young life with
wisdom, honesty,
and
surprisingly,
humor. The play
portrays Li'l
Bit's triumph
over a dark
past, while
examining the
power of love,
forgiveness, and
the strength of
the human
spirit.
ANNIE
RUSSELL THEATRE
1000
Holt Avenue
(Rollins College
Campus)
Winter Park, FL
32789
Tonight &
Saturday,
February 13: 8
PM
Sundays,
February 14 &
20: 4 PM
Wednesday,
February 17 thru
Saturday,
February 20: 8
PM
Saturday,
February 20: 2
PM
$19 ($10
with student
ID):
407-646-214407.646.2145
THEATER -
Almost, Maine
The final
fully-staged
production of
Orlando Theatre
Project's 24-year
run in Central
Florida - Almost,
Maine. This
event will be a
celebration of one
of Central Florida's
finest professional
theater companies,
bringing back many
of the project's old
friends and
long-time
member/actors.
The play takes place
in the mythical
northern New England
town of Almost,
Maine. On a cold,
clear, moonless
night in the middle
of winter, all is
not quite what it
seems in the remote
town. As the
northern lights
hover in the
star-filled sky
above, Almost's
residents find
themselves falling
in and out of love
in unexpected and
often hilarious
ways. Knees are
bruised. Hearts are
broken. But the
bruises heal, and
the hearts mend
-almost -in this
delightful
midsummer's night
dream.
". . . a whimsical
approach to the joys
and perils of
romance. Magical
happenings bloom
beneath the
snowdrifts." - NY
Times
"A snowy charmer . .
. These nine tales
of love in the time
of frostbite have a
winning glow that
proves surprisingly
contagious."- NY
Sun
A Central Florida
Theatrical Event
Orlando Theater
Project Presents
ALMOST, MAINE
Written by John
Cariani Directed
by Jim Howard
Featuring
Darby Ballard S.
Elizabeth Block
Allison DeCaro
Beth Cunningham
Christine Decker
David Jachin Kelley
Ryan Gigliotti
Mark Lainer Linda
Landry
Ame Livingston
Philip Nolen
Jennifer Christa
Palmer
Krista Pigott
Eric Pinder Doug
Truelsen
David Veitch Mark
Whitten Richard
Width
and
T. Robbie Pigott
3-SHOWS
ONLY!
February
12-14, 2010
Friday & Saturday: 8
PM
Sunday: 2 PM
The Goldman Theatre
John & Rita Lowndes
Shakespeare Center
812 E.
Rollins Street
Loch Haven Park
Orlando, FL 32803
$20: 407-491-1397
(Please do
NOT contact Orlando
Shakes. Call number
above for
reservations. Pay at
door. Cash or check.
No credit cards
accepted.)
THEATER -
Five Women
Wearing The Same
Dress
Breakthrough Theatre
Company production
of the Alan (Six
Feet Under) Ball
play under the
Direction of J. Lee Vocque.
During an
ostentatious wedding
reception at a
Knoxville, Tennessee
estate, five
reluctant,
identically clad
bridesmaids hide out
in an upstairs
bedroom, each with
her own reason to
avoid the
proceedings below.
They are Frances, a
painfully sweet but
sheltered
fundamentalist;
Mindy, the cheerful,
wise-cracking
lesbian sister of
the groom;
Georgeanne, whose
heartbreak over her
own failed marriage
triggers outrageous
behavior; Meredith,
the bride's younger
sister whose
precocious
rebelliousness masks
a dark secret; and
Trisha, a jaded
beauty whose
die-hard cynicism
about men is called
into question when
she meets Tripp, a
charming bad-boy
usher to whom there
is more than meets
the eye. As the
afternoon wears on,
these five very
different women
joyously discover a
common bond in this
wickedly funny,
irreverent, and
touching celebration
of the women's
spirit. An
irreverent and funny
look at the
intricacies of
friendship and the
power of similar
dressing.
" A
fresh-as-a-daisy
comedy, funny as can
be. " - NY Daily
News
January 29 -
February 14
Fridays &
Saturdays: 8 PM
Sundays: 3 PM
Breakthrough
Theatre of Winter
Park
419A W.
Fairbanks Avenue
Winter Park, FL
32789
$15
Adult/$12
Seniors/$10
Students:
407-920-4034
THEATER -
All's Well That Ends
Well
Shakespeare weaves
elements of fairy
and folk tales into
a lively comedy
about the painful
nature of love, the
folly of youth, and
the road to
self-awareness. Rest
assured, all will
end well in this
Orlando Shakes
production under the
direction of Jim
Helsinger and a
spirited cast
featuring Brendan
Roberts, Johnny Lee
Davenport, and the
comic genius of Eric
Zivot.
February 10
- March 14
Wednesdays &
Thursdays: 7 PM
Fridays &
Saturdays: 8 PM
Sunday 2 PM
Senior Matinees -
Wednesdays, February
24 & March 10: 2 PM
Post-Show Talkback:
Thursday, March 4
Orlando
Shakes / Margeson
Theater
812 E.
Rollins Street
Loch Haven Park
Orlando, FL 32803
$16 - $38:
407.447.1700
http://www.orlandoshakes.org
Mo Laughs
Jeff Jones has
announced the lineup
for the next Mo
Laughs Comedy Night
at Hamburger Mary's.
Scheduled to appear
are Heather Leonardi,
Chris Eastwood, Tim
Murphy, and Darren
Moore. Jeff will be
there to emcee the
night and make sure
Darren Moore gets
top dollar for
taking his shirt
off. It promises to
be a crazy night!
JEFF JONES'
Mo Laughs Comedy
Showcase
Thursday, February
18
HAMBURGER
MARY'S
110 West
Church Street
Orlando, FL
32801-3304
(321) 319-0600
TRAVEL -
JOIN
WANZIE/WORLD'S
LARGEST
CRUISE SHIP
The
departure
date for the
seven-night
Eastern-Caribbean
Itinerary
cruise
sailing from
the port of
Ft.
Lauderdale
is April 24,
2010. Cruise
with Wanzie
and other
WANZeGRAM
subscribers
aboard what
is soon to
be the
largest
cruise ship
in the world
- Royal
Caribbean's
OASIS OF THE
SEAS. The
time to book
is right
now. Only a
$250 deposit
is required
at this
time.
For complete
information
and lots of
great
pictures of
the ship,
visit the
CRUISE WITH
WANZIE page
on the
Wanzie.com
website:
http://www.wanzie.com/cruise.html
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Coming Attractions: |
Upcoming
events which
are not
listed
elsewhere in
this edition
of your
WANZeGRAM.
Please note
that only
opening
dates are
indicated.
Some events
may have
extended
runs. Please
check with
the venue
for
additional
information.
A comprehensive
listing of most
performance
venues in
Central Florida,
including web
links and phone
numbers for
ticketing, may
be accessed if
you simply
CLICK HERE
Feb. 13 HARRY
CONICK, JR. - King
Center
Feb. 17
CABARET -
Peabody
Auditorium
Feb. 18
GLADYS
KNIGHT -
King Center
Feb. 19
BAILAMOS -
Orlando
Ballet
Feb. 20
RED BALL -
Parliament
House Resort
Feb. 26
CARMEN -
Orlando
Philharmonic
Orchestra
Feb. 27
INDIGO GIRLS
- House of
Blues
March 2 100
YEARS OF
BROADWAY -
Lakeland
Center
March 6
Mardi Gras -
Parliament
House Resort
March 9 IN THE
HEIGHTS -
Broadway at Bob
Carr
March 26
RENT - UCF
Conservatory
Theatre
All's Well That
Ends Well -
"I'll love her
dearly, ever,
ever dearly."
|
|
Now Playing: |
Ongoing
attractions
currently being
presented which
are not featured
elsewhere in
this edition of
your WANZeGRAM
Through Feb.
14 PHANTOM
- Broadway
at Bob Carr
Through Feb.
14 MARRIED
ALIVE -
Winter Park
Playhouse
Through
March 21 -
WITHOUT A
TRACE:
Artists
Imagine a
World
Without Us
-
Orlando
Museum
of Art
Fridays 10PM -
MAMA'S COMEDY SHOW -
Sleuth's
|
|
Performing Arts
Reservation Links &
Numbers: |
Our
companion
website -
WANZIE.com -
is pleased
to host a
permanent
listing of
Central
Florida
theatrical &
concert
venues, as
well as most
area
performing
arts
companies,
with phone
numbers and
web links
for
ticketing
and
reservations.
If you are
interested
in any event
listed in
the sections
directly
above, you
may quickly
access
venue/ticketing
information
when you
CLICK HERE.
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A Note From Wanzie:
|
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I want to personally
thank Robyn
Martin and
Dee Dee Marinaccio
for inviting me to
do something on
Valentine's Day. The
ladies invited me to
go to the matinee
performance of
Orlando Theater
Project's production
of Almost
Maine being
presented at Orlando
Shakes that day.
This will be my
first bona fide
Valentine's Day date
in the 23 years
since the untimely
death of the love of
my life, Ron
Kimber, who left
this world when he
was but 23 years
old. No offense to
the ladies, but I do
have to admit it
would have been more
exciting if the
invitation had come
from a guy, but I
guess a
double-vagina outing
with people I admire
is better than no
Valentine date at
all. I'm sure Ron is
happy I have
something to do that
day rather than just
visiting with him at
Glenn Haven.
Technically I guess
I'll be Robyn's
escort on this V-day
date since she is
single while Dee Dee
gets to go home and
sleep along side the
luscious and tasty
(and I say "tasty"
from a place of
personal knowledge
since I have indeed
licked the sweat
from her husband's
chest while
performing opposite
him in the
wonderfully crafted
play Not In My
Father's House -
one of three plays
featured in that
marvelous evening of
theater entitled
There's No Place
Like Home)
Michael Marinaccio.
And speaking of
Michael Marinaccio -
his friendship with
me, my admiration
for his acting
abilities, and my
great affection for
the man continually
presents me some
real life issues
owing to the fact
that the guy won't
stop acting at that
"Theater That Shall
Not Be Mentioned"
(think "Angry
Bovine") which, as
most of you know, is
an establishment I
have boycotted ever
since the last time
I went there, which
was specifically to
see Michael in
Candida way back
when the theater was
still situated
upstairs in the
landmark building on
Pine Street.
For those of you
unfamiliar with the
story of what
prompted my boycott
of said theater,
I'll not repeat it
here, since my New
Year's resolution
was to make an
earnest effort to
only write
negatively about
current issues,
people, or
practices, which
are, in and of
themselves.
negatively impacting
our community, our
country, or our
planet, rather then
dredging up old
wounds or alluding
to an old nemesis
without real or
necessary
provocation.
Thus - The Catholic
Church for instance
- remains fair game
because the
hierarchy of that
institution
continues to provide
safe haven for
wanted criminals
within the guarded
walls of Vatican
City, and because
the Pope opposes the
use of life-saving
condoms, and
continues to spew
anti-gay sentiments.
So I'll have at the
Catholic Church all
I want. But I'm
trying to not write
about, or even talk
about, certain
members of that
Church who have
personally hurt (not
physically) me in
the recent past.
My regular readers
may also note that
just before
Christmas I wrote in
this publication
that a certain City
Commissioner no
longer existed to
me, and indeed I
have not written a
word about that
person since. I
realized at that
time how much I was
allowing all the
dreadful things that
person had done and
said against me to
consume large
amounts of my time
and energy. I
therefore made a vow
not to take this
person to task in
the gram unless I
have a bona fide
issue with a
political stance she
may take, or the way
in which she may
intend to vote on
something that
affects, not just
me, but the
community as a
whole.
The point is I've
made a resolution to
try and be FOR more
things as I write
this Gram than
against.
Having been an
early-on gay rights
activist in this
city long before it
was fashionable to
do so, I sort of got
caught up in the
fighting spirit -
and for good reason
- and to
tremendously good
ends. But at 52
years of age (I'll
be 53 next month),
and living in the
post Will & Grace
era, I'm a little
tired of fighting,
and I'm trying to
reserve my anger and
my energy for the
really important
fights that matter
to us as a society,
more so than just to
me as an individual.
I'm sure I'll forget
myself sometimes and
falter here and
there, but I am
really trying. And
in doing so, I'm
also trying to
forgive, even people
of whom I am not
terribly fond. I
have not reached
that place where the
Pope is concerned,
and I'm not sure
I'll ever be able to
forgive George Bush,
but locally
speaking, I've
decided, for
instance, that while
I may choose to
withhold my money
and my patronage
from businesses and
people whose
practices are not in
keeping with certain
political or human
rights issues with
which I identify.
And while I may
still choose to not
frequent certain
establishments whose
employee relations,
lack of concern for
the local community,
and poor customer
service may offend
my sensibilities
(such as, I don't
shop at Wal-Mart), I
think I have finally
come to the
realization that, in
some instances, I
need to be able to
turn the other cheek
- if clinging to my
personal objections
to certain persons
and businesses comes
at the expense of
hurting the feelings
of friends, and/or
depriving myself the
benefit of their
talents which I so
enjoy. I have come
to realize that if
from time to time,
for friendship
shake, I make a
concession, it's
only that. A
concession. It
doesn't mean I'm
abandoning my
beliefs or throwing
my support behind a
certain business, if
for the sake of
friendship, I make
the occasional
compromise.
After all, I have no
interest in setting
foot inside a
Catholic Church -
ever - but I do so
from time to time
because witnessing
the wedding vows of
people for whom I
truly care, who just
happen to be
Catholic, far
outweighs my total
distain for that
harmful institution.
Which - believe it
or not - brings me
back to Michael
Marinaccio.
 No,
Michael is not a
Catholic, although I
did witness his and
Dee Dee's wedding
vows...well, not the
real ones on the
iceberg in Alaska,
but the do-over at
the Veranda
B&B...but again I
digress. (No
surprise there!) The
point is I love
Michael, and I
happen to think he
is one the very
finest actors in
Orlando. And I know
I have missed some
of his finest
performances due to
my anger with two
individuals
connected with a
certain theater
where he often
appears. As fate
would have it,
Michael is now again
appearing on stage
at The Mad Cow
Theatre - there
I said it - opposite
another amazing
actor and Pumpkin
friend of mine, the
very talented Tim
Williams, in the
theater's current
production of
Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern are
Dead,
now playing through
February 28th.
Well, I've decided
I'm going to see it!
After all, it's not
like spending my
money there is going
to help finance the
continuance of child
labor in China, or
put money in the
pockets of people
who deny insurance
to same sex couples
in their employ. I
do take issue with
the theater's pay
practices, but my
real reason for not
attending all these
years is very
personal, and to
this day, when I
think about it, it
remains upsetting to
me. I have come to
realize that by not
forgiving them I am
ultimately hurting
other people who
have invited me time
and again to see
shows with which
they have been
involved there,
which I ultimately
refused to see. By
holding this grudge
I have often denied
myself the good
feeling that comes
from supporting the
efforts of one's
friends, and the
enjoyment I derive
from their work. So,
in accordance with
my New Year's
resolution, I
forgive the people
in question, even
though they could
not bring themselves
to simply say the
words, "I'm sorry."
But I am
sorry, and willing
to say so right
here, to the many
friends whose work I
have not seen over
the years simply
because it was at
Mad Cow. To all of
you - "I'm sorry,
and I hope you will
forgive me."
Now, that being
said, please don't
go thinking you can
ask me to start
shopping at Wal-Mart
or to attend
Midnight Mass with
you on Christmas
Eve...but if and
when it matters to
you that I might see
your work, and your
work just happens to
be at Mad Cow, I've
decided I'll be
there, because my
friendships mean
more to me then
having to face a
couple of people
against whom I have
held a grudge for
umpteen years.
Still a work in
progress - I remain
WANZIE
- And That's All I
Wrote!
email
me
2009 Wave
Award Winner
for Favorite
Local Spiritual
Leader
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