Bring the KIDS and Celebrate Diversity -- Fresh Fruit Festival's
ROYAL SQUIRREL PUPPET THEATRE in MEET US PUPPETS!!!
A Pre-Festival Special, Wednesday June 29th, 7pm CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

A NIGHT TO CELEBRATE: A Tribute to Our LGBT Jazz Musicians: Performances by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Jazz Greats

Once again, the fabulous Rome Neal rounds up some of the best jazz performers to pay tribute to the LGBT greats of the jazz world. Sometimes haunted, sometimes closeted, sometimes freely out, these LGBT geniuses told us their stories with every note they hit and brought musical wonder to the world. Rome Neal is the artistic director of the Nuyorican Café. This year will include emerging jazz artists and some surprises.

Our Host - Rome Neal

THEATRE EVENTS at The BARROW GROUP Theatre

all shows $18 unless otherwise listed

advance tickets at SmartTix.Com

The Age of Miracles - Teresa Fischer performs an evening of cabaret featuring songs that encourage harmony and a world without divides. Frank Calo joins in on the fun as a guest singer. With Drew Sotomayor on piano. Performance: 7/17 at 2:30p; also performance at the Jan Hus on 7/9 at 7p.

The Austerity of Hope – Set in Astoria, three gay men in their 20s struggle with the changes that occur in their relationships, careers and lives. The election of Obama serves as a backdrop.Performances: 7/18 at 5p; 7/19 at 8:45p; 7/21 at 9p; 7/23 at 3:30p;

Dirty Secrets - by Joe Marshall - full length - A smart, gender-bent thriller that pokes fun at brainless gay stereotypes. Right from the opening scene you know you're watching a play about homosexuals. Instead of boring us with platitudes about the evils of pigeonholing people, the characters skewer stereotypes by spouting earnest lines like, "You don't act gay — you're masculine!" It's all about Tom, who shows up at the home of Nick and Shane, a gay couple who live in Manhattan. Tom is depressed because he's just discovered that his lover of eight years has had sex with another man. Shortly after Tom's arrival, the truth is revealed, turning the confrontation into a thrilling but dangerous ménage à trois. . . with many Dirty Secrets exposed! [nudity] Performances: 7/13 at 8:30; 7/14 at 5p; 7/16 at 6p; 7/17 at 4p;

3 Kisses and An Envelope by Ray Chao - Sometimes it doesn't take much to change your life. A kiss. An envelope. A kind word. The short plays in "3 Kisses" examine the lives of every day, average, ordinary people; who happen to be amazing, exciting and fascinating. Like you. Know Laughing Matter proudly presents "3 Kisses and an Envelope" written and directed by Ray Chao, and featuring a talented cast of NY and LA based actors. Performances: 7/22 at 7:30p & 7/24 at 3:30p;

SLICES OF FRUIT - an evening of One-Act Plays: Attack of the Dorothys – farce - Heterosexual fears about life after gay marriage and gay adoption are legalized; Dora and Jane - Young Lesbian couple confront each other over a secret revealed at a family reunion; Finding the Wildlife Preserve- A comedy. Two elderly church women find themselves unexpectedly stuck on Fire Island; and a new play by legendary playwright Robert Patrick entitled The Entry, in which “A participating playwright turns out to write better than he can read." Performances: 7/14 at 9p; 7/16 at 2:30p;

4 Martinis - full length drama - Everything goes bare when an Argentinean gallery owner celebrates after a successful art show opening. Along with his ex, a Puerto Rican transsexual, his houseboy and her boy-toy, they invite a nudist artist and his lover to stay for the night at the SoHo loft they share. Their art talk is quickly deconstructed after they inject it with comments about racism, ageism, alcoholism and simple discrimination. These outlandish characters bare their souls, and themselves, while discussing their sexual attitudes and the problems that surface when their relationships are saddled with the strain caused by cultural differences. [nudity] Performances: 7/18 at 9:15pm; 7/19 at 5pm; 7/21 at 7pm; 7/23 at 1:30pm.

Garbo - drama - Written by Joe Gulla. Directed by Brian Rardin. EAT. PRAY. UNREQUITED LOVE. This short comedy/drama tells the story of Joe, a gay New Yorker enjoying an extended holiday in Rome, Italy. Like any foreigner who visits the Eternal City, Joe's daily life is filled with ever-changing sensory delights – culture shock at its best! But it is not until he happens upon the tiny, candle-lit GARBO BAR – hidden on a small cobblestoned street in the ancient quarter of Trastevere – that his emotional adventure TRULY begins! Funny and heartfelt, GARBO explores why life and love may be better lived outside the closet... even (or especially) in the shadow of the Vatican! Performances: 7/23 at 8:30p; 7/24 at 5p;

Issues in Fruit - A Modern Dance Program: Dealing with "Issues." The evening includes works by choreographers Christopher Anderson, James Martinelli and Zee Hartman (photo, left). One Performance Only: Saturday 7/23 at 9:15p - $25 includes reception. Featuring: Rhythm Knights Dance Troupe in "Ssshh!" - a story told through Dance Theater about 3 soldiers facing their fears, repression and ultimate victory surrounding one of the most controversial topics of the gay community. All while using an emotional ride of comedic, exciting and funky style! Featuring the new single "Stand Our Ground" by Napalm Phoenix.

The Kevin Yee Show – Musical/Comedy Star, Gay, Chinese, and worst of all: Canadian! The Kevin Yee Show incorporates his comedy pop songs into storytelling which touches on his twenty plus years in the entertainment business, including his time with the failed boy band Youth Asylum. Performances: 7/17 at 1pm; and a special 'preview' performance at the Jan Hus 7/10 at 8:30pm

The Last Reading of Charlotte Cushman by Karen Shields: full length drama. A tour de force portrayal of the "farewell performance" of the famed Victorian stage actress Charlotte Cushman, said to be one of the most famous women in the English-speaking world! After a long and glorious career noted for her roles in female and male Shakespearean roles as well as her numerous "romantic friendships" with women, Charlotte regales the audience with moving and sometimes hilarious scenes from Hamlet, Oliver Twist, and the notoriously bad melodrama Guy Mannering - interspersed with anecdotes about her family, life in the theatre and the romantic intrigues in her circle of friends. Tuesday, July 12, 6pm Festival Opening Reception, 7pm Performance; Wednesday, July 13, 6pm;

Late Night Erotic Cabaret - Variety - Host Frank Calo gives us an evening of bawdy skits, songs and erotic poetry. One Performance Only: Friday 7/22 at 9pm - $20 includes reception

My Mom is a Sex Therapist written by Cara Maltz & Stephan Varnier. Performed by Cara Maltz. Playing three characters, Cara takes the audience on an unusual journey from childhood to becoming a woman searching for love with both men and women in NYC, and trying to make sense of her mom's advice on love, relationships and sex toys. Performances: 7/12 - 9:30p; 7/15 - 7p;

Moving Pictures - One Man Show - Bill Bowers gives us a collection of vignettes incorporating live piano with mime, physical storytelling and monologue. Performances: 7/19 -7p; 7/20 -6:30p

Ninja Motorcycle Babes - full length comedy - Leather-clad, motorcycle-riding and Kung-Fu-fighting Mary T and Beth - aka Ninja Motorcycle Babes - will stop at nothing to get the mass media to start treating women with respect, including terrorizing every commercial shoot that holds back their feminist ideas. Performances: 7/20 -8:15p; 7/22 -5p; 7/23 -6p; 7/24 -1p

Out In the Open - poetry/spoken word - A work of spoken word theater based on 91 interviews Andrea Cofino conducted across diverse cultures and communities. Interlaced with queer history, the experiences of a wide-range of LGBTQA people are brought to life on stage through 16 original spoken word monologues and connected through strands of struggle, resistance and survival. Performances: 7/17 at 8p; 7/21 at 5p

Posing - One Man Show that takes a comic, sometimes tragic and very naked look at the consequences of being a struggling artist. [nudity] Performances: 7/15 at 8:15p; 7/18 at 7:30p

Starting Over by Ken Bachtold - full length drama - After dealing with Love and Loss can we love again? Two gay men find out if they can. Performances: 7/14 - 7p; 7/15 - 5p; 7/16 - 4p; 7/17 - 6p

Songs for Sarah, Newt & Other Schoolyard Bullies - $20 - Saturday July 16th at 8:30pm. An all-star cast of LGBT and LGBT-friendly singer/songwriters, musicians, dancers, poets, monologuists, comedians, rappers let their feelings fly! Created and hosted by Robert Urban of URBAN PRODUCTIONS, NYC

The 10' Play Contest Winners! - 1st place – Shiny Pair of Complications, J. Stephen Brantley; 2nd Place – Mine or Yours, Duncan Pflaster; 3rd Place – tie – The Day The World Came Crashing Down, Michael F. Bruck / Lilith Cometh, Marjorie Conn; and since the voting was incredibly tight for third we will be including Graduation by Eugene Grygo. July 15th, 10pm, $10 - includes reception.

Free READINGS Series

Any Which Way Thou Wouldst Have It! - by George Rady. Based on Restoration comedy style circa 1700s, updated to reflect contemporary mores with regards to marriage, gender roles and class, a "defense of marriage act of 1753." - One Performance: A Reading, on Saturday 7/16 at 12 noon - FREE

What We Hold On To - by Craig Thornton. full length comedy/drama - Monica and her gay best friend Lawrence seem to have it all, and tempt fate when they plan and scheme to get even more which includes a baby. One Reading, Sunday 7/17 at 11am – FREE

Requiem For The Angel of Death in Anticipation of The Coming Of The Artisanal Child – by Keith Angora. Currently, this work is an agglomeration: According to Mr. Webster, "a heap or cluster of disparate elements." Are these elements connected? Is there a theme? Do they cohere? The audience is invited to locate a path, a story, a theme, if any, that the author has yet to uncover.- One Reading, Saturday 7/23 at 11am – FREE

Click - by Michael Bettencourt. Is it a hate crime if a homosexual man kills a hater of homosexuals? One Performance: A Reading, on Sunday 7/24 at 11am – FREE

 

 

- OTHER FESTIVAL EVENTS AROUND TOWN -

JAN HUS THEATRE - 351 E 74th St. New York, 10021 [between 1st and 2nd Ave]

All Out Music - A 3-day Festival, July 8-10 - Opening Event Extravaganza WIGAMANIA! - EMAIL US ABOUT THE SPECIAL 3-DAY $49 OPEN PASS TO THE MUSIC FEST! Festival continues with the following specials:

La Contessa's WIGAMANIA 2011 - Hosted by the notorious La Contessa - the world's favorite Puerto Rican Diva. This show is the official opener to the FRESH FRUIT FESTIVAL's "ALL OUT MUSIC!" at the Jan hus Playhouse, which is becoming the premiere LGBT community's music festival. This new annual celebration of Drag Queen and King performers promises to become the finest celebration of impersonation and performance artists in the world! Friday July 8th at 8:00pm; Tickets are $18.00

After the Ball - Full length Musical, telling of the love affair between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok. One Performance: 7/9 at 5pm; $18

The Age of Miracles - Teresa Fischer performs an evening of cabaret, featuring songs that encourage harmony and a world without divides. Frank Calo joins in on the fun as a guest singer. With Drew Sotomayor on piano. Performances: 7/9 at 7pm; (with an encore performance at the Barrow Group Theatre on 7/17 at 2:30p - $18)

The Grove Street Wannabees - Musical revue. Celebrating over 10 years of showcasing the many entertainers of Greenwich Village's night scene. Music Director is legendary pianist Martin St. Lawrence. Performance: 7/9 at 9pm; - $18

The Kevin Yee Show - Musical/Comedy. Gay, Chinese, and worst of all: Canadian! The Kevin Yee Show incorporates his comedy pop songs into storytelling which touches on his twenty plus years in the entertainment business - including his time with the failed boy band Youth Asylum. Performances: Sunday 7/10 at 8:30pm; (and an encore at the Barrow Group on 7/17 -1p); $12 - includes a complimentary beverage.

Welcome Table - David Brooks' Coming of age story about lessons learned along the way and how James Baldwin contributed to his growth. Performance: Sunday 7/10 at 6pm; $18

AT NUYORICAN POET'S CAFE 236 East 3rd Street (btwn Ave. B & C) NY 10009

All Out Jazz - hosted by the legendary Rome Neal. - Saturday July 2nd - $15

Poetry Slam – hosted by Cookie Pemberton. - NY Poets hit the ground running towards the $50 cash prize for Fresh Fruit's Slam Poet of the Year! The Slam begins at 7pm. Sunday 7/17 - $10

AT THE LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER

Cavalcade of Fruits - Musical variety curated by Carol Polcovar- A wonderful kick-off to the season and the Fresh Fruit Festival opener, which includes a variety of performances from upcoming shows in this year's festival and a reception all for Free - Performance: 7/7 – Room 301 - 7pm - FREE

 

 

Pears, Prose and Poetry From the Fresh Fruit Festival is a celebration of the literary works of contemporary LGBT poets and writers. Curated by Roxanne Hoffman. Performance: Monday 7/11 in Room 310 - 7pm - FREE

 

 

 

 

 

AT THE LESLIE LOHMAN GALLERY 26 Wooster St. NY 10013

Bright Lights, Queer City - An Art show, curated by Lady Clover Honey and Lovari - This exhibit features photographs, graphic art and multi-media installations, all capturing the City's Queer Nightlife and providing a most unique and exciting view of New York. FREE - Running 7/13 thru 7/23, Tuesday - Saturday, 12 - 6pm; Opening reception 7/13, 6-8pm.