 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Performing for pride
By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN, Times Staff Writer Fans of Elvis, country music, sacred music, Broadway tunes and comedy should enjoy the "Suncoast Pride Variety Show" tonight at the Spirit of Life Metropolitan Community Church in New Port Richey. The show is today's featured event in the week-long celebration of Gay Pride Month by Suncoast Pride, a local gay and lesbian organization. Both gay and straight people are participating in the variety show. "This is the first time we have done anything like this," said event chairman and master of ceremonies John M. Evola about the week-long celebration and the variety show. Until now, the local observance has been low-key and centered around one favorite gathering place of Suncoast Pride members, Evola said. So far this week, the group has had held a brunch, a road trip to St. Petersburg to gather with other gay people, a film festival, a game night, and a pool tourney. The variety show, a noncompetitive bowling tourney on Saturday and a special religious service on Sunday will wind up scheduled events. The show will open with a message from the minister of Spirit of Life, Judy Davenport. That's followed by The Lord's Prayer by tenor Gregg Galla, a medley of old standards by Dominic Elia, a tribute to Elvis by Jerry Francis and excerpts from two comedy recordings, God Save the Queens and Out of the Closet. "These are comedy albums I used on my radio show, Gaily Speaking, on WDET (PBS) in Detroit," Evola said. "There's one cut by "Stone Lawrence,' a play on the name Rock Hudson -- Hudson and Lawrence are both rivers, you see," Evola said. "Another is in the old This Is Your Life format." After an intermission, country and western singer Evan Daniels will perform several songs, including the Travis Tritt hit T-R-O-U-B-L-E, and Tim McGuigan will do Razzle Dazzle from the Broadway show Chicago. "I've been performing in this area for six years," McGuigan said. His first professional show was Broadway...Off Broadway at the Show Palace Dinner Theatre. He later performed in La Cage aux Folles, Annie and the Show Palace awards night, where he won "Showman of the Year, 1999." Francis has performed since he was 6 or 7 years old. "I started out in Rio (de Janeiro), Brazil, when my dad was there working for IBM," Francis said. Now a full-time entertainer, he performs mostly in the Tampa Bay area for clubs and organizations. Besides the Elvis impersonation, he does Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond, Kenny Rogers and songs made famous by Glenn Miller, he said. Daniels left his job at Tampa International Airport two years ago to devote himself to his singing career after he won a singing contest at the Louise Mandrell Theatre in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The Canadian native later was named "male entertainer of the year 2001" at the local Orange Blossom Country Music competition. "I didn't even know I could sing," he said. "I went to a karaoke place one night, and somebody said, "Why don't you get up and sing' and the rest is history." Daniels will also headline a show at Spartan Manor on July 13. There will also be door prizes given during the variety show, Evola said. Suncoast Pride's celebration continues with: SATURDAY: Noncompetitive bowling, 1-4 p.m., Lane Glo North, 6935 Ridge Road, Port Richey. Lane Glo has donated nine lanes for free bowling to current and new members (first-come, first-serve) and free shoe usage to all participants. SUNDAY: Religious services at the Spirit of Life Metropolitan Community Church (see address above), with a special message by minister Judy Davenport. All events are open to the public. At a glanceWHAT: Suncoast Pride Variety Show WHERE: Spirit of Life Metropolitan Community Church, 4133 Thys Road, New Port Richey WHEN: 7:30 p.m. today TICKETS: $10 at the door
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From today's Pasco Times Letters |
