It’s Fall and the weather is looking great. October is such a glorious month for parties, festivals and events. It is also my birthday month (shout out to all the Libras out there!). And since it is my birthday this week, October 11 and National Coming Out Day, here are some festively gay things to do.
#1. Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Oh the Horror of it all. Join the krewe of the Tulane Avenue Bar starting October 7 at 8:00 pm and every Wednesday for American Horror Story with Vanessa Carr as your host. It is sure to be lots of fun and screams of course. The Tulane Avenue Bar is located at 3813 Tulane Avenue.
#2. Thursday, October 8, 2015
Join the Fall Social of the official Gulf South affiliate chamber of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) at Foundation Room | House of Blues New Orleans. Guests will have an opportunity to mingle with members, corporate sponsors and supporters. Register Here: http://ow.ly/SONhM. The House of Blues is located at 225 Decatur Street.
#3. Thursday, October 8, 2015
Need ideas for your next dinner party, than Wine, Dine & Design presented by Whitney National Bank is the place for you to be. View amazing, over-the-top tablescapes created by local designers and boutiques, as you sip wine and indulge in tasty treats. 100% of ticket sales are donated to Operation Homefront Wounded Warriors. The event is from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Audubon Tea Room (65oo Magazine Street). Tickets are $40 and available at MyNewOrleans.com/Events.
#4. Thursday, October 8, 2015
Fashionistas Attention! Fashion After 5 at the Columns is hosting a social from 5 – 7 p.m. Mix and mingle with the Fashion Group International New Orleans Board and Members at the grand Columns Hotel on St. Charles Avenue (3811 St. Charles). Meet, Greet, Brainstorm, and Network while you sip and savor with your fellow fashion aficionados. This event is free so bring a friend.
#5. Thursday, October 8 – Monday, October 26, 2015
See ‘Em On Stage: A Production Company with Some People, LLC are very proud to announce the New Orleans and regional premiere of “A New Brain” written by Tony-award winning writers William Finn (music and book) and James Lapine (book). The production is directed by Christopher Bentivegna who brought us the fabulous (Flowers in the Attic earlier this year. Running for three weekends, the exact show dates are October 8, 9, 10, 12 & 16, 17, 18, 19 & 22, 23, 24, 26. All performances will begin at 7:30pm.
For the first time ever, See ‘Em On Stage will present this show in a brand new venue for them: Kajun’s Pub. This unique theatrical environment will allow for an immersive and intimate experience for audience members who will be presented with a musical in a way that they have never seen before.
“A New Brain” premiered Off-Broadway in 1998 and tells the story of songwriter Gordon Schwinn who works at his piano to meet a deadline, irritated because he must write a song about spring for the children’s television host Mr. Bungee, who dresses as a frog. Gordon takes a break from his writing and meets his best friend Rhoda at a restaurant. During lunch, he clutches his head and collapses. Rhoda calls an ambulance, and Gordon is taken to the hospital, where he’s administered an MRI. His neurosurgeon tells him that he has an arteriovenous malformation, and needs an operation. If he doesn’t have it, he could die or never regain the use of his faculties. While in the hospital, Gordon contemplates his situation, with his mother, Rhoda, and his boyfriend Roger. Gordon’s greatest fear is dying with his best songs still inside him. After the operation, Gordon falls into a coma and while in that state, he hallucinates a surrealistic musical-within-a-musical starring the people in his life. This musical, which features an infectious score inspired by a multitude of Broadway-pop genres, is an uplifting and moving story of hope, family, love, and perseverance.
“A New Brain” stars Chris Wecklein (The Producers/Waiting Around) as Gordon and Tracey Collins (Young Frankenstein/Waiting Around) as Gordon’s mother Mimi. The all-star cast is completed by Robert Facio (Evil Dead: The Musical), Lisa Picone (The Normal Heart), Jessica Mixon (Blueberry Hill), Price Provenzano (Zanna, Don’t!), Janie Heck (Spamalot), Nethaneel Williams (The Wizard of Oz ), Kyle Daigrepont (Debauchery), and Nick Stephens (Peter and the Starcatcher).
The show is directed by Christopher Bentivegna. The musical director is Ainsely Matich. The choreographer is Amanda Zirkenback. The stage manager and costume designer is Monica Mazzaro. The set designer is Matthew Collier. Sam Cespedes is a co-producer. Abbey Peterson Murrell (props) and Ariel Schwab will act as production managers.
General admission open-seating tickets are $25. Preferred reserved seating tickets are available for $30. Monday nights (October 12th, 19th, and 26th) are special “Industry Nights” where members of the theater community (actors, directors, producers, etc.) will receive 20% off tickets that are bought at the door.
Patrons can call to reserve tickets or by visiting www.seosaproductioncompany.com or by visiting www.anewbrainnola.eventbrite.com. All performances will take place at Kajun’s Pub. 2256 St Claude Avenue.
#6. Thursday, October 8 – Sunday, October 11, 2015
Come celebrate a long weekend with Big Easy Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Exequatur as they celebrate their Exequatur ceremony. They will be a fully professed house of The Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence. Details are coming and will be finalized very soon but here’s a snapshot of what you can expect.
Thursday: Sisteroke at Café Lafitte’s in Exile. Come have a ball with The Big Easy Sisters!! Stretch your vocal cords and come sing some your favorite songs with them. There will be raffles for some fun prizes and of course great friends and Sisters. Hope to see you there!!
Friday: The “fais do do” begins with a special French Quarter wide “meet-and-greet.”
Saturday: The Exequatur starts Saturday evening with a traditional New Orleans Second Line through the French Quarter that heralds the arrival of The Sisters, and guests, at the venue of the Exequatur Ceremony.
Sunday: It’s National Coming Out Day! (Event TBD) Don’t say “goodbye” to New Orleans and The Big Easy Sisters but “see you soon” with an afternoon BBQ and tea dance.
For more information please visit: https://www.facebook.com/TheBigEasySisters/ or http://www.thebigeasysisters.org/. The Big Easy Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, (Sisters of the Muddy Waters) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization comprised of people dedicated to the support, education, and development of our community, and our city. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence® is a leading-edge Order of queer nuns. Since our first appearance in San Francisco on Easter Sunday, 1979, the Sisters have devoted ourselves to community service, ministry and outreach to those on the edges, and to promoting human rights, respect for diversity and spiritual enlightenment.
#7. Friday, October 9. 2015
The National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana is hosting The Big Easy Speakeasy, a Prohibition Era themed party with an old New Orleans flair designed to bring together burgeoning and bravado members of the community for an extravagant night of fun, small plates, and finely crafted cocktails, combined with philanthropic efforts. The inaugural event is from 7 – 11 p.m. at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome’s own private Club XLIV at Champions Square. Featuring a premium cocktail contest sponsored by Lucky Player Vodka featuring concoctions that will “Lift Your Spirits,” featuring The ALoft’s WXYZ Bar, Belle of the Bar, Dat Dog, Eiffel Society, Gordon Biersch, and many more. Stir things up by sampling a great glass of giggle water from some of your favorite local bars – each time you do you’ll be donating back to The Foundation and all of its vital patient programs and services. This celebration presents an occasion for party goers, patrons, sponsors and the general public to celebrate this jazzy era in time; as well as raise awareness of our mission and vital funds that will be used to assist the 9,100 people on dialysis here in Louisiana with close to 700 awaiting a transplant here in the New Orleans metro area. It will benefit both sponsors and the Foundation by creating opportunities for community engagement and long-term support for the Foundation’s mission. For more information or tickets, go to http://kidneyla.org.
#8. Saturday, October 10, 2015
October brings the return of Japan Fest at the New Orleans Museum of Art, the annual celebration of Japanese culture featuring live music, food, dancing, fashion shows, guided Japanese art tours, martial arts demonstrations, and more. The festival starts at 10 a.m. with an energetic performance from Kaminari Taiko drumming ensemble on the steps of the museum. Japan Fest is organized by NOMA, the Consulate General of Japan in Nashville and the Japan Club in New Orleans. The cost is $5 for nonmembers and Free for NOMA members. NOMA is located at 1 Collins Diboll Collins Diboll Circle.
#9. Sunday, October 11, 2015
The Lipstixx-Ladies on Parade are presenting a special show entitled “A Taste of Heaven”. You will be treated to performances by The Ladies of The Heavenly Pageantry System and The Angels of The Bourbon Pub and Parade. The cast includes Opal Vanderhurst- Miss DOTS Plus/Owner of Heavenly Pageantry; Daphanie Dupree- Miss Heavenly 2016; Aubrey Synclaire- Miss Louisiana Continental 2015; Mercedez Ellis Loreal – Miss Mississippi Black Universe and Pharyst Avdemal- Forever Miss Gay Metairie America. Showtime is for 8 p.m. The Bourbon Pub and Parade is located at 801 Bourbon Street.