Romeo and Juliet at Tulane’s Dixon Hall on January 12 [Romeo and Juliet, which played at Tulane’s Lupin Theater last summer, returns on January 12 for one performance at Tulane's Dixon Hall. The following are excerpts from my July 2023 review of it.] In trying to review the New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane’s (NOSF) production of Romeo and Juliet, to use the … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards January 9, 2024
Arts & Culture
Trodding the Boards December 31, 2023
The Year in Review So, do I look at the cup half full or half empty, the “cup” being New Orleans’ 2023 theatrical season? On one hand, about 25% of the productions I saw provided memorable, worthy evenings, some spectacularly so, certainly a respectable amount. On the other hand, the other 75% faded quickly from the mind, not even noble failures, “okay” but not much more. … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards December 31, 2023
Under the Gaydar (January 2024 Event Calendar)
Welcome to 2024! New Year, new you and all that fun stuff. January does not mean the end of the holiday season in NOLA, but the start of it with 12th Night. Mardi Gras season is upon us and it is a short one folks, so hold on to your feather masks and boas, it is going to be a wild and bumpy ride. Here are just some of the hot happenings in January to put on your … [Read more...] about Under the Gaydar (January 2024 Event Calendar)
A Gay on the Mississippi Gulf Coast: Ambush on the Road
Family time can always go one of two ways, either fun-filled joy, or a test of your patience and tolerance (or in most cases a little of both). Every Thanksgiving, I do a road trip with Mama Dawn to somewhere fun. Past trips have included Branson, Natchez, Nashville, Natchitoches, Mobile, Pensacola, Memphis, San Antonio and Houston. As she … [Read more...] about A Gay on the Mississippi Gulf Coast: Ambush on the Road
Trodding the Boards December 15, 2023
A Christmas Carol at Loyola’s Marquette Theater through Dec. 21 Crescent City Stage is presenting Patrick Barlow’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at Loyola’s Marquette Theater through December 21. In the spirit of the season, let’s do a “Naughty” and “Nice” review-- Nice --James Lanius III’s projections take us outside to the cobblestone streets of … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards December 15, 2023
Bartender Spotlight – December 2023
New Orleans has a lot of magical qualities that draw people to her (yes, I like to think of our 300+ year-old city as a Grand Dowager full of stories, history and sass) such as our architecture, cuisine and the artistic scene. But we have another huge draw, our cocktail culture. The cocktail may not have been invented in New Orleans but we have been a renowned … [Read more...] about Bartender Spotlight – December 2023
Bulbancha was Queer
In 1720, just two years after French colonizers renamed Bulbancha “New Orleans”, a French military officer named Ladun complained to Governor Bienville about indigenous queerness. Bienville, who founded New Orleans and lived into his 80s without ever marrying, told the young man to relax, that queerness was quite common in these parts among the Natives. Ladun recorded … [Read more...] about Bulbancha was Queer
Under the Gaydar (December Events Calendar)
Happy holidays Y’all! December is upon us and no one celebrates the holidays like the Big Easy. It is filled with parties, lights, glitter, drag queens and festively gay happenings. Here are just some of the hot happenings in December to put on your “Gaydar.” If you want your event listed, send me an email at ledgemgp@gmail.com. Weekly … [Read more...] about Under the Gaydar (December Events Calendar)
Trodding the Boards November 28, 2023
Curtain Up The holidays are upon us so don’t expect anything too heavy on local stages for the next month or so. Or to kinda quote Stephen Sondheim, “Comedy tomorrow, tragedy next year!” If you’re looking for something to do besides caroling and standing under the mistletoe, check out some--or all--of the following– Wicked, now the 4th longest-running show in Broadway … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards November 28, 2023
Trodding the Boards November 20, 2023
Chicago Culture I hadn’t been to Chicago in a while and certainly not in November. I guess I shouldn’t complain as I had overall nice, sunny weather. But now I know why they call it the Windy City. No, it’s not because of Mother Nature’s blowjobs. Rather, it refers to the city’s windbag politicians. Still, I would’ve been much happier if someone had turned off the wind … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards November 20, 2023