Jim Smith turns 29 … WTF!!??!
In October 2001 my close friends Blaine and Steve made it official that they were a committed couple – after, like, four years of “I really like him, but I don’t know if he feels the same.” God damn drama queens! Anyhoo, it’s bewildering that after 11 years (going on, like, 15) they still keep me around. Of course, I am their buffer and their fluffer; everything is my fault and I’m a bad influence; and I’m their sounding board, house-sitter and fireman. I love them, and when they move to Supai, Ariz., to raise gay mink, I will weep for at least a year … or until they move me there. Happy anniversary, my darling betches!
Oct.26friday Endowed with a unique sense of musicality, lesbian composer and guitarist extraordinaire Kaki King graces the Utah stage tonight. The 33-year-old artist is known for her percussive and jazz-tinged melodies. Her diverse technique includes fret tapping and flamenco style percussion, just to name two. She’s been heralded by Rolling Stone as “a genre unto herself.”
9pm, The State Room, 638 S. State St. Tickets $17, 800-501-2885 or thestateroomslc.com.
Utah Museum of Contemporary Art presents Battleground States, a collaboration of local, national and international artists who critically engage with the discourse of visual culture and gender studies. Through video, sculpture, installation and photography, these artworks explore ideas of how figuration, the body and identity intertwine. Among the dozens of artists are Trevor Southey, Annie Leibovitz, Carlos Motta and David Wojnarowicz.
Regular gallery hours, through Jan. 5, UMOCA, 20 S. West Temple. Free, 801-328-4201 or utahmoca.org.
In Oscar-nominated out director Lee Daniels’ new film, The Paperboy, a reporter returns to his Florida hometown to investigate a case involving a death row inmate. Based on the award-winning novel by Pete Dexter, this sexually and racially charged film noir stars Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman.
Opens today, Broadway Centre Cinemas, 111 E. Broadway. Tickets $6.25-8.75, 801-321-0310.
29monday — Holy bat guano! Jim Smith is turning 29 years old — only one more year and he’s a troll … yaaay! Anyhoo, if you love Jimmy as much as I do, celebrate with him tonight at Jim’s Big Gay Birthday Bash. If you don’t know Jimmy, I mean biblically, just buy him one shot, that’s all it takes!
The earlier the better, he gets snockered pretty easily, Club Try-Angles, 251 W. 900 South. Free, 801-364-3203 or clubtry-angles.com.
30tuesday A unique outing the day before Halloween could be found in this haunting tale, seen in great delight throughout areas of Eastern Idaho and Utah. Told entirely through continuous, haunting music, Deep Love: A Ghostly Folk Opera blends traditional folk instruments and melodies with bluesy American rock to tell the story of jealous love’s tragic reach beyond the grave.
8pm, Jeanne Wagner Theatre, Rose Wagner Center, 138 W. Broadway. Tickets $12, 801-355-ARTS or arttix.org.
Nov.1thursday Anybody up for a meat pie? Oh, don’t get your prostate all in a tither, I’m talking about Sweeney Todd (The Demon Barber of Fleet Street). This classic musical tale, grotesquely appropriate this time of season, won eight Tony awards and was adapted to film, starring Johnny Depp … as if you didn’t already know. Check out this student production by the UofU Department of Theatre.
7:30pm, through Nov. 18, Studio 115, Performing Arts Bldg., 240 S. 1500 East, UofU. Tickets $11-18, 801-581-7100 or kingtix.com.
Unlike any other Cirque du Soleil show, Quidam doesn’t take spectators to an imaginary realm of fanciful, larger-than-life characters. Rather, it’s an examination of our world – inhabited by real people with real concerns. A young girl, lonely and neglected – an outcast of sorts – finds comfort in her imagination. She creates a world called Quidam, where she meets characters who encourage her to free her soul – a place for dreaming and genuine relations where all quidams, by proclaiming their individuality, can finally emerge from anonymity.
Times vary, through Nov. 4, Maverik Center, 3200 S. Decker Lake Dr., WVC . Tickets $33-100, 801-988-8800 or maverikcenter.com.
2friday Under new artistic director, Troy Powell, the renowned repertory dance company Ailey II is forging a fresh dimension to its already intense energy and spirited emerging dancers and choreographers. Don’t miss this boundless, sexy program as only the ark of Alvin Ailey, arguably the most influential African-American choreographer, can provide.
7:30pm, Eccles Center, 1750 Kearns Blvd., Park City. Tickets $20-67, 435-655-3114 or ecclescenter.org.
Conductor Jerry Steichen, with guests Jason Hardink on piano and vocalist Lisa Vroman, goes back over 80 years with George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. The often analyzed and criticized composition combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects.
8pm, through Saturday, Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple. Tickets $29-85, 801-355-ARTS or arttix.org.
4sunday He has been called one of the most influential musical artists of all time … and, let’s just admit it, one of the most controversial artists. Morrissey, an English singer and the former frontman of The Smiths, has produced, during his solo career, a catalog of music that includes 38 singles and nine Top 10 albums. And still no one for sure knows if he’s gay! But really, why should he shove it in our faces that he’s bent as a nine bob note?
7:30pm, Kingsbury Hall, 1395 E. Presidents Circle, UofU. Tickets $55-70, 801-581-7100 or kingtix.com.
5monday Gays and Geeks, a social arm of the Utah AIDS Foundation’s Gay Men’s Health Project, presents Psychics and Crystal Balls, an evening of spiritual introspection. A “legitimate” psychic will hold a group session, and you can get your hairy palms read or a tarot reading. I wanna go see if we can conjure Betty White … I know, she’s not deceased but close enough, right?
6pm, Salt Lake Roasting Company, 320 E. 400 South. Donations suggested, call Mario at 801-487-2323 for more info.
Westminster Poetry Series presents a reading by Lambda Literary Award-winning poet Cyrus Cassells. He has worked as a translator, actor, film critic and teacher as well as authored five books of poems, including the Lambda winner, Beautiful Signor. Cassells’ most recent book, The Crossed-Out Swastika, tells the stories of young people caught in the vise of World War II.
7pm, School of Business Auditorium, Westminster College, 1840 S. 1300 East. Free, for more info contact Natasha Sajé, at 801-832-2376 or nsaje@westminstercollege.edu.
8thursday Straight from Off Broadway, this parody revue of over 30 Broadway hits will have you rolling in the aisles. Forbidden Broadway pokes at not only great award-winning and popular shows, but also many of the actors. Now I can’t say which shows they’ll pick on, but for the love of a date with Dallin Oaks, I hope they satirize Book of Mormon, just sayin’!.
8pm, through Nov. 11, Egyptian Theatre, 328 Main St., Park City. Tickets $22-45, 435-649-9371 or parkcityshows.com.
10saturday Known for her prolific and smart performances on everything from Saturday Night Live to her panelist slot on NPR’s “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me,” the Emmy-award winner, and one-time Utah Pride headliner, Paula Poundstone, keeps the laughter flowing with clever banter. She’s a comedian with a knack for spinning the mundane into the hilarious.
7:30pm, Eccles Center, 1750 Kearns Blvd., Park City. Tickets $20-67, 435-655-3114 or ecclescenter.org.
11sunday Presented by SB Dance, award-winning Web sitcom Husbands hosts an evening to raise awareness about at-risk LGBTQ Utah youth. The evening opens with a social hour and then a screening of Husbands Season 2 and closes with a panel discussion featuring the series’ stars and creators Brad Bell (Cheeks) and Sean Hemeon (Brady), and representatives from National LGBTQ Organizations. All proceeds go to Youth Homeless Resource Center of Salt Lake.
6pm, Jeanne Wagner Theatre, Rose Wagner Center, 138 W. Broadway. Minimum of $5 donation, accepted through 801-355-ARTS or the ticket window.
15thursday Penetrating the tight-knit community of minority drag queens in New York City, director Jennie Livingston’s documentary, Paris Is Burning, offers an early glimpse at the art of “voguing.” The film also explores issues such as racism, homophobia and AIDS, while offering a detailed examination of the intricate Ball culture, in which queens are judged for their style and expression.
7pm, Brewvies, 677 S. 200 West. Free, utahfilmcenter.org.
16friday SAGE Utah, a program of the Utah Pride Center, is dedicated to enhancing the lives of LGBTQ adults in our community … and tonight, they’ll be doing it in a barn! Join the group for the Fall Harvest Potluck & Barn Dance. Question: Is it kosher to have a kiki in a barn?
6-9pm, Chase Mill at Liberty Park, corner of 600 East and 1300 South. Free, except for food, for more info visit utahpridecenter.org.
Mason Aeschbacher, musical director of Samba Fogo, presents Masonography, a unique form of performance art; it’s a dance concert with a plot, a play with no words, a musical without singing. Each dancer plays a character that’s based on an archetype, and remains the same character throughout. Compassion, conformity, sensuality, codependence, inspiration and strength will interact to expose some of the truths behind civilized society.
7:30pm, through Saturday, Black Box Theatre, Rose Wagner Center, 138 W. Broadway. Tickets $14, 801-355-ARTS or arttix.org.
17saturday Gay List #3 (considered euphemisms) by Lisa Lampanelli: “fag, queer, poop-chute Popeye, pudding pusher, stool tool, keester creeper (sounds like a Muppet), gerbil jouster, dung tonguer, turd tickler” … and of course, Paul Ryan. And that’s her softer side. Check out the Queen of Comedy Sleaze, as she tells it as she’s seen it and done it … only in Wendover.
7pm, Peppermill Concert Hall, 680 Wendover Blvd., West Wendover, Nev. Tickets $25–60, 1-800-217-0049 or wendoverfun.com.
24saturday Hey all you Bendover Bettys, it’s the second Big Gay Fun Bus of the season, yaaaaaay! Don’t miss out on this pilgrim-themed charter to Wicked Wendover of the West. There will be bingo, prizes, libations and Ocean Spray cranberry sauce … yes, canned is so much better than fresh.
Noon–9pm, pick up at Club Try-Angles, 251 W. 900 South. Tickets $25, 801-997-9763 or biggayfunbus.com.
27tuesday Openly gay Trey McIntyre is one of the most sought after choreographers working today … and he’s sexy! Though he has choreographed for many prestigious ballet companies in the world, today he focuses mostly on his own company, Trey McIntyre Project, creating works designed to re-imagine dance, push boundaries and, most importantly, captivate audiences.
7:30pm, Kingsbury Hall, 1395 E. Presidents Circle, UofU. Tickets $19.50-29.50, 801-581-7100 or kingtix.com.
30tuesday Sexy frontman Brandon Flowers takes the stage with the rest of The Killers tonight. The Grammy-nominated alternative rock/post-punk four-man band is sure to kill. No pun intended … oh, pshaw! Here’s a Wikipedia fact: Initially, The Killers played at small clubs in Las Vegas, Nev., where they often played at drag shows. How cute is that? Tegan & Sara open.
7:30pm, UCCU Center, 800 W. University Parkway, Orem. Tickets $28-53, 801-467-8499 or smithstix.com.
Upcoming Events
Dec. 31
Kristin Chenoweth
@Eccles Center, Park City
Jan. 5
Big Gay Fun Bus
@West Wendover
Mar. 9
Joan Rivers
@Kingsbury Hall