REAF PRESENTS A SPECIAL 'ONE NIGHT ONLY BENEFIT CABARET' SPECIAL. 'NEWS DAY/Lee Hartgrave'

DAVID BURNHAM - COURTESY PHOTO 

FOOTLIGHT PARADE





Touring with Company Members from 
The National Touring Cast of ONCE - 
Monday June 30, 2014 at the Famous 
Club Fugazi 

Well SHOWBUZZ is going to entertain you in a suite of rooms large enough to accomodate pretty girls and boys on stage. Especially the bouncy girls. Yep - the Boys and Girls will give us just the right lighting. Just one thing. There will be no 'Dancin' in the Nude."

They know how to work a room at REAF. Thank God, we have great singers on the stage. We flew, we drove and we walked and we Bart-ed to get to the venue. There is no doubt that there will be three encores and a standing ovation. The fanatical fans can't be wrong. I'm just doing this "One Night Only" - so be sure to write it on your dance card - Ready? I'm already so excited -- it makes my heart grow fonder. Yes, it's going to be electrifying. Only thing is, I don't think that they will do the "Tits and Bra" revue thing. The really great singing and choreography are the famous ones on the stage. They are unfailingly entertaining.  

Lets see -- what line do I have next? Gee, I can't remember - where in the world am I? Just don't put a stiletto twist on a lyric - I might fall down. But, I know that with your wonderful voices, genius cast and fantastic choreography, you will thrill the audience. I can't recommend it enough. 

Not only will 'ONCE' feature fantastic cast members from the touring cast of the Tony Award-winning show - there also these very special guests: David Burnham (Wicked), Sharon McNight (Starmites) and Spencer Day. 

Proceeds will benefit..... 
The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS - on Monday, June 30 - 7'30 PM - CLUB FAGAZI will bring the house down. 

HOME OF BEACH BLANKET BABYLON 
678 Green Street (At Columbus) - San Francisco 
Tickets: $25 - $100

Call the Beach Blanket Babylon Box Office 
415.421.4222

Visit the website at www.helpisontheway.org.  

Lee Hartgrave Tonight

  

JERSEY BOYS - NOW! CINEMATIC CROWNING PERFORMANCES. Lee Hartgrave Tonight

The Jersey Boys -- Incendiary music
Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons.   Courtesy Photo 

JERSEY BOYS - A MASTERPIECE! 
ONE OF THE GREATEST FILMS IN 
YEARS 

And here is a Big Surprise -- Clint Eastwood produced and directed -- and I believe that his movie will be at the top of the Oscars. Not only was I thrilled by the Jersey Boys - they also bowled me over with the well-plotted outstanding singing. I'd see it twice or more.  

I've seen many versions of the Stage play - but nothing compares with this movie version. And Gee Wiz -- was I enchanted. The music and visuals made us laugh - and the singing was stunning. The audience loved it, and I loved it - there was extreme jiggling in the seats. 

What a knockout cast this is. There is Vincent Piazza, Christopher Walken and John Lloyd Young as Frankie Valli. I was dazzled and overwhelmed with the absorbing and powerful filmmaking. 

THE JERSEY BOYS have a well-plotted movie. It's an unforgettable rare movie that is brilliant, exciting and deeply moving. 

Performances of a life time  

RATING: Six Stars****** or if you want - try six glasses of Champagne******

NOW PLAYING AT THEATRES EVERYWHERE

(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many articles for the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook. He has also produced and hosted an Entertainment section on PBS KQED for - 7 years))) 

TRIASSIC PARQ - WITH LEE HARTGRAVE TONIGHT - FOR ALL EVENTS

RAY OF LIGHT THEATRE (Eureka) 
215 Jackson Street 

TRIASSIC PARQ

IT'S NUTTIER THAN A FRUIT CAKE

We're talkin' about Rock music that is surprisingly shameless. When it gets going -- this Cult zips along with R & B and wild Rock. At the very beginning - it's shockingly bizzare. Well hey there - you out there in the country...this is basicly about sexual music infestation. 

This is really daunting. A female develops a male organ. In fact the heroine is prettily played by a male actor also. So what we have here is the popping out of genitals. There is not just one Penis pops out of the costume - but two. But, what the hell - the show is part jungle and part cage and not real. Everything is endlessly re-arranged. 

Alex Rodriquez stands out in three major musical roles. His roles are convincingly androgynous - and he has the voice that would carry the voices at the Opera House in Show Boat. Java Harnly is a Mime-a-saurus. Now if things weren't weird enough...but what the heck - the musical is absurd and it's a hit. 

Someone said to me - "I think it's an up beat Gay Show." Really...was it that phenomenal. I never would have known. But lets get real. This is a wonderful amazing super fun good time. The choreography is totally awesome. Oh, and by the way -- someone in the cast said: "I want to take a ride on my toot, toot train." I think you'll get it. 

I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE A HIT -- I KNOW THAT YOU DO! 

The show runs a compact 90 minutes with no intermission, but seems longer because of the constant climaxes. Still the howls of appreciation is a must see that is talking info Structure -- and gives us a genius cast and direction.

HERE IS THE SUPERB CAST: Javi Harnly, Chelsea Holifield, David Naughton, Lewis Rawlinson, Alex Rodriguez and Monica Turner

STUNNING MUSICIANS: Robbie Cowan, Nahuel Bronzini, Eugene Theriault and Geneva Harrison

DIRECTOR: ALEX KIRSCHNER, Musical Director - Robbie Cowan, Dane Paul Andres - Choreographer, Annie Dauber - Scenic Designer, Wendy rose Kaufman - Costume Designer, Kevin Pong - Props Designer. 

MUSIC BY: Marshall Pailet, Book by Marshall Pailet, Bryce Norbitz and Steve Wargo

PRESS MANAGER: Justin Sadoian 

(((Rating: Six Stars****** or You might want to drink Six Classes of Champagne******)))

DEVIL BOYS FROM BEYOND -FUNNY, LAUGH-OUT-LOUD

THE BAD BOYS ARE SCARING ONE OF THE GIRLS.
Photo: Lois Tema 

YEP -- NCTC HAS DISCOVERED THE PERFECT RECIPE FOR A SUCCESSFUL GAY SHOW

Even if they have put out a kinda slow low budget - this 50's Sci Fi flic brings out many laughable special effects. 

Here a good formula. Cast the show with campy 60's style drag queens. For spice (and there is plenty) - add two 70's go-go boys in sexy lures shorts. And guess what. Hail Sex -- and then you have a show for all era's 

There is plenty of heavy handed dialog -- which will delight the audience. Here's the plot -- two rival reporters suspect that either aliens have landed on your back, or it is a hoax. It's all about a murder. But oh, such fun. 

The final plot twist is worthy of Oscar Wilde. No need to take the nearest space ship to see this show - the boys will ship you out. But, you will certainly enjoy this summer's "Little Miss Sunshine." Who is that?  I'm sure you will know who THAT is. 

Can I say that this was an Exultant Farce? Lets go ahead and tip toes thru the Rhythms. Cheap is funny and fabulous, and so delicious. 

Hey Devil Boys - do land on Drag Heaven. We love to hear that sexy gun mall talk. Shocking of course - but you do love to destroy your friends. You know -- it's all about salty cynicism. This is pre-code sweeties. 

F. ALLEN SAWYER HELMS "DRAG HEAVEN ON EARTH' IN WEST COAST PREMIERE 

HERE ARE THE CAUSTIC WITTY UNFAITHFUL -  AND WONDERFUL AMAZING CAST

Chris Maltby, Brandon Richard, Gabriel Lopez, Jennifer McGeorge, Nathaniel Marken, Kai Brothers, A.J. Davenport and Drew Todd


YOU MIGHT WAKE UP DREAMING. The fantastic Cast will give the Audience wondrous Days and Nights. They are right above you 

RATING: Five Stars***** or You might want to Drink Five Glasses of Champagne*****

WALK LIKE A MAN - "GREAT, WONDERFUL, FABULOUS!"

WALK LIKE A MAN 
A Theatre Rhino Premiere 

This play is ground breaking theatre. If you have ever wondered how same sex couples make love when they don't don't have the right equipment, this play answered that question graphically. Maybe too explicit for the average audience, but the opening night SF audience was more than responsive. They cheered every revelation.  - and many in the audience gave it deep humor and thought.

The play is a series of vignettes portraying the trials and tribulations of all kinds of women. From skinny & boyish to voluptous and feminine. The acting is triumphant and superlative. All the players take over many roles. 

One of the players said: "Forget the B.
Sh-t! ...I walk like a man. I'm into sexual pleasure." Yep, this is a brassy, wild and unexpected evening. It's not just 'Ground Breaking' -- it's a roller coaster evening. You'll need to strap yourself to the chairs. And then there is this: Finger Massages. You might even feel impulses of modern routines - right there on your chairs. 

This is brilliant work. You won't want to miss the passion in this play. It fun, it's jaded and it is a very important piece of work. "Powerful" and exciting. I will even go further. It's going to be an international treasure. 

WALK LIKE A MAN -- IS FANTASTIC
BY LAURINDA D. BROWN

DIRECTOR: JOHN FISHER - MAKES EXCITING THEATRE

THE FABULOUS CAST: 

Alexaendrai Bond, Kelli Crump*(actors equity), Nkechi, Daile Mitchum and Desiree Rogers

THIS IS A BOMBSHELL - THERE IS NOT A MAN IN THE HOUSE -BUT OH WHAT FUN!

RATING: Six Stars****** or You can drink six glasses of champagne******

Now playing at The Costume Shop - 1117 Market St. (at 7th St.) 94103 SF
Wed-Sat 8pm - Sun 3:00pm

(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many articles to the San Francisco Chronicle Datebook Section. He also produced and hosted stories on PBS KQED - 7yrs)))