This Weekend in #ILoveGayPalmSprings for October 6-9, 2017

Joshua Tree Music Festival is "A Celebration of Life"

"The festivals are a celebration of life, lovingly produced by a family of friends and funsters who believe that music is the soul of life," say organizers of this week's 12th Annual Joshua Tree Music Festival.  "These intimate, family friendly experiences in the magical Mojave go deep to create positive and meaningful life-changing moments.  The music is diverse, positive and potent; featuring artists on the rise. A happy, loving and egalitarian space is created, where the boundary between artist and audience is blurred. We’re all in this together."

They add, "JTMF is honored to align with Joshua Tree Living Arts (501c3), a non-profit dedicated to enriching lives, empowering people, and strengthening community via sustainable educational programs. JTLA creates a robust schedule of playshops & classes at Kidsville, the Positive Vibration Station, and the Yoga & Healing stage at the festivals. Art enriches (and saves) lives."

Find the entire October 5-8 lineup here.

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EQCA's Equality Awards Set for The Riviera This Weekend

Each year EQCA’s Equality Awards honor the inspirational leaders and outstanding allied organizations whose selfless work helps create a more fair and just society.  

In 2017, Palm Springs is proudly honoring Hon. Ginny Foat with thw Lifetime Achievement Awards, Raymond Cree Middle School with the Equality For All Award, and Hon. Maxine Waters with the Geoff Kors Leadership Award.

Equality California brings the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating, and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve.  More Info on the Palm Springs Equality Awards
 

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Desert Oasis Music Festival Comes to the Empire Polo Fields this Weekend!

Desert Oasis Music Festival will present reggae bands Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Rebelution as headliners. Also on the two-day bill of more than 20 acts on three stages are hip-hop and R&B artist J-Boog, Latin rockers Los Lobos, the ska punk band Reel Big Fish, rapper Warren G, roots singer-guitarist Janelle Phillips, the desert reggae band Mozaiq and Joshua Tree’s genre-bending Spankshaft.

Saturday artists: Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Steel Pulse, Los Lobos, E-40, The Green Murs,Hirie, Quinto Sol, Courtney Chambers and more
Sunday artists: Rebelution, J-Boog, Reel Big Fish, Warren G, Fortunate Youth, Inner Circle, Through the Roots and more.

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30,000 Preparing for Gay Days Anaheim

Gay Days Anaheim is an annual event that attracts 30,000 to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA. This year’s 21st annual event, will feature two dance parties, a pool party, a scavenger hunt, and special events for ladies, bears, families, and youth. So break out your red shirt and join us at Disneyland! More Info

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The Review is In for “Vanya and Sonia & Masha + Spike” at the Desert Rose Playhouse

The Desert Rose Playhouse, the Valley’s LGBTQA+ Stage Company, presents Christopher Durang’s comedy, VANYA & SONIA & MASHA + SPIKE, opening Friday, September 22, 2017, for a four-week run.  Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, through October 15, 2017.

Writes our reviewer, Stephen Radosh, "But in this production, it is Adina Lawson’s Sonia that makes the evening a success.  In one scene she receives a phone call from someone she met the night before asking her out on a date.  Watching her face as she reacts to the unheard part of the conversation is like a lesson from a master class of acting.  Every change of intent and emotion is as clear as if we in the audience could hear the voice on the other end of the phone.  In another scene, her impression of Oscar winning Maggie Smith as the Oscar nominated actress in California Suite is nothing shy of brilliant and brought forth loud laughter from the audience."

Vanya and Sonia live in their family’s home in Bucks County, PA. Their “Movie Star” sister Masha arrives with her new boy-toy Spike to tell them she is selling the family manse and moving on with life. Add a “Snow White and the 7 Dwarves” costume party and a voodoo-spell-casting housekeeper and it’s Christopher Durang at his best!  Tony Winner for Best Play 2013!

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Carol Channing at Streetbar? Why Yes…in the Form of Nicky Ciampoli!

Carol Channing impersonator Nicky Ciampoli launches a new cabaret show this Sunday at Streetbar featuring special guests Steven Justice, Randell McGlasson, and Heather Bates.

When it comes to portraying the essence of Carol Channing, few artists have had Nicky's advantage. For several years Nicky was Miss Channing's personal assistant, observing her personality up close and learning her mannerisms.  Now Nicky gives us his take on one of the American Musical Theatre’s greatest artists as he performs Channing’s signature comedy routines and sings her legendary songs including "Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend”, “I’m Just A Little Girl From Little Rock”, “Hello Dolly” and many, many more..  Who knows what he'll throw in at the cabaret.  You'll just have to attend and find out!.

Nicky's performance is pure enjoyment for all ages.  One of the best aspects of Nicky-as-Carol is that everything performed is live – no lip-synching here!   And, because of that, each show is unique and spontaneous based on the audience's reactions.  Nicky does such a good job of BEING Carol Channing – with physical mimicry, facial expressions, costumes, make-up and a spot-on recreation of Channing's unique voice.  When the curtain comes down, you have a wonderful warm sensation that you have just shared a part of Carol’s life.   Nicky has brought Carol Channing to a national audience, working with celebrities including: Thea Gill from "Queer as Folk", Lucie Arnaz, Ann Walker, Kaye Ballard, Debbie Reynolds and Jimmy James.

 

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1st Annual Palm Springs International Animation Festival Kicked off with Preview Event at EIGHT4NINE October 5; The Festival's Set for Nov 9-11.

The 1st Annual Palm Springs International Animation Festival will take place November 9-11, 2017.

Explain organizers, "This inaugural season we have received over 2700 unique film entries from 103 countries. Each year our team of jurors work to select 250+ titles from shorts to features that showcase the breadth of the art form. We hold our judging to nine cinematic virtues: storytelling, humor, heart, ideas, originality, visual interest, craftsmanship, diversity, and gut-level viewing pleasure.

We're proud to be featuring award winning films from Cannes, Annecy, Tribeca and Sundance with Oscar and Grammy artists and producers in a variety of styles from 2D, 3D, Hand Drawn, Water Color, Oil Painted, VFX & Rotoscoping, Experimental, Sand, Paper, Anime, and Stop-Motion. We will be featuring film for All Ages in a variety of genres from Drama, Comedy, Sci-Fi,  Fantasy, Horror and Abstract. 

The festival experience is about more than just watching film after film. During intermissions, or at the after-parties, strike up a conversation about what you’ve just seen. Review the show with your date, pointing out personal favorites in the program. Ask one of the animators about what went into creating their project. Join the animation tribe, trading tips about local job opportunities. At its heart, the festival is a family reunion for animation-lovers.

Whether you’ve been attending since year one, or whether you’re discovering indie animation for the first time… The magic ingredient that turns films into a festival is you. We’re here together to celebrate creativity of these artists who have worked so hard to transform their daydreams into a fantasy reality and appreciate how much love has been poured into these projects.

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The 5th Annual Left Coast Lesbian Literary Conference Underway

The 5th Annual Left Coast Lesbian Literary Conference brings Lesfic readers, writers, and publishers together from around the U.S. to promote lesbian literature and to inspire up-and-coming writers. Guests will have access to all the authors, editors, and publishers to mix and mingle at the beautiful SkyLark Resort in Palm Springs, CA.
 
The LCLC consists of four fun-filled days packed with panel discussions, workshops, author chats, author readings, and a special keynote speaker event at the Palm Springs Library.

It is an all-inclusive event with meals, drinks, and snacks provided daily for All-Access Pass holders. The LCLC is open to all Lesfic authors, editors, publishers and readers regardless of publishing status or publishing house. The LCLC is produced by Sapphire Books, Curve Magazine, and Desert Palm Press.  

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