The electricity in the air isn’t just because it’s springtime; it’s most likely due to the presence of Madonna in New York City. Here to promote her new album, Hard Candy (see review page 38) including a special performance at Roseland Ballroom, M was also on hand for the premier of her documentary, I Am Because We Are, which sheds light on the plight of Malawi’s AIDS-orphaned children. Nathan Rissman (the talented husband of her real-life nanny) directed the film while Madonna wrote, produced and narrates it. At the premier last Thursday at the TriBeCa Film Festival, M-Dolla strolled the red carpet along with pals Rosie O’Donnell and Donna Karan. The documentary is a call to action for all human beings, as we are all the same. Not only did Madge introduce the film’s director to the audience but stayed after for a 20 minute Q&A, and she’s never been more radiant or passionate. She explained that most festivals were “afraid of the honesty of the film and the intimacy of the stories they tell” and expressed gratitude to Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of the Festival, “for her risk-taking and her bravery. She’s my kind of girl.” When asked what our government was doing to aid Malawi she responded, “I don’t know what our government does!” Now that’s our kind of girl! (If you want to get involved: IAmBecauseWeAre.com).
In the bad-news-for-gay-NYC department, Foodbar closed its doors indefinitely after nearly 15 years in business, conceding to skyrocketing rent in the popular gayborhood. Staffers were shocked to receive phone calls Monday morning saying not to show up for work. The owners assure us they aren’t closed for good, and they’re still trying to work something out to stay open. What is gone for good is East Village oasis Rapture Café, which closed its doors on April 26. New York just got a little bit less interesting.
But not so in movieland, where The Big Gay Musical hopes to make a splash. Producer Fred M. Caruso (A Four Letter Word) hosted a reading of his upcoming film about a pair of gay boys in a gay musical having a gay old time in New York! The action is even set in some of the Big Apple’s notoriously tiny gay bars. We love the Duplex, but how are they going to get a film crew in there?
It’s no wonder that Altar Boyz has been running for three straight years at New World Stages, but this fantastic song-and-dance show that satirizes Christian culture and boy bands just got even more popular thanks to new cast member Neil Haskell of So You Think You Can Dance. This blond hottie takes up the role of Luke, the doltish band member, and knocks the role out of the park. Oh, and Neil, we’d kneel for you any day!
Thursday night, recording legend Barry Manilow hung out with NYC’s own legendary host-with-the-most Scott Nevins as they dined with friends at Midtown hot spot HK. Apparently, they’ve been friends for a few years, proving that Nevins really does know everybody! Manilow was in town performing at the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund benefit.
Later, we hit up Barracuda for the classic night of Star Search. We have to hand it to Shequida—while she may have joked in her show that “black people don’t work,” the Jamaican drag star is still one of the hardest working in the biz. Her opening number—a hysterical montage musical of a black woman from plantation slave to modern fashionista—involved three elaborate costume changes all in a matter of a few minutes. That makes most drag hostesses seem quite lazy in comparison!
On Sunday we hit the superpacked Hiro, where, after dancing to the frenetic, exciting mix of Honey Dijon—and ogling the hot go-gos—we slipped upstairs to chill for a bit. But from behind we felt a tongue on our ear and got some unwanted ogling ourselves. “You know a snake gives their prey a lick before they strike,” Alexandra told us. The nightlife staple and pseudo dominatrix (you should go see her order the go-go boys around at Campus Thursdays at Splash!) nearly tried to suffocate us with her ginormous boobs (who needs a date-rape drug when you can render someone unconscious with those things!). Amanda, please tell her we don’t like titties. Unless, of course, they’re Madonna’s… N
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