Lesbians abound in The Rainbow
Revue
04.22.02
HBO Producer Chrisanne Eastwood is
making waves in the Los Angeles
theater scene. Eastwood is an
accomplished comic performer,
writer, director and producer, and
has mounted and starred in two
original one-woman shows, including Popquiz
(Greenwich St. Theatre-NYC) and Lesbeans
and Other Legumes (HERE-NYC),
and she serves as headwriter and
co-host of The Rainbow Revue,
playing at The New Ivar Theater in
Hollywood through April 28th.
“Sincere intention and hard
work are much in evidence, and
diversity is a watchword,” writes
Daryl H. Miller in the Los Angeles
Times about The Rainbow Revue.
“These two dozen singers, dancers
and stand-up comics are a rainbow
coalition in a multicultural as well
as a gay-pride sense.”
“The Rainbow Revue is
sort of like ‘The Carol Burnett
Show’ meets ‘Laugh-In’ meets
‘Saturday Night Live,’”
explains creator & producer Matt
Gatson, “and is performed by a
powerhouse, Broadway-worthy cast of
acts that could each easily fill a
night of theater. From start to
finish, The Rainbow Revue bombards
the audience with non-stop
entertainment.”
Eastwood has performed stand-up
and improv across the country, and
was the founding director as well as
a member of the ground-breaking
gay/lesbian comedy troupe Planet
Q. Two of Eastwood’s sketches
are included in the humor anthology Out,
Loud, and Laughing (Anchor
Books). Eastwood was a regular
correspondent on the national
newsmagazine In the Life
(PBS), and has appeared on CNN,
CNBC, and HBO. Currently, Chrisanne
is a producer with HBO’s hit
comedy series Arli$$, where
she also has a recurring role.
Other stand out lesbian
performances in The Rainbow Revue
include Sandy Lawson's Conversations
with a Diva and Jennifer Moores
rendition of Fever in which
she struts the stage in a
red-sequined dress accompanying
herself with the trumpet and
interacting with a hard-bodied
female dancer. Lesian comics are in
rare form with Zina Camblin and her
stories of coffee crazed
egomaniacs--and Carmela Nudo on
sharing a California King-sized bed
with her lover.
Lesbians are all over this
co-gendered revue, including the
band under the co-musical direction
of Nancy Peterson, with Roseann
Aldrete on guitar, Georgia Gonzales
on trombone (and unicycle!), Rin
Kahla on bass guitar, and Colleen
Supan on drums and percussion. And
let's not forget Jennifer Moore,
who's playing when she's not
singing. Guy members of the band
include co-musical directors
Benjamin Bundt and J.D. Sebastian.
Paula Flowers offers soul to the
ensemble group Digital Soldiers,
and Pinky The Juggler who
happens to be deaf shares her craft.
At the top of the show, the solo
numbers are kicked off by the sexy
sounds and moves of Latina Jackie
Moreno who evokes screams from women
(and men) in the audience when
singing Paraiso.
Fab Magazine’s Marcus Knight
writes, “Completing the spectrum
is the sexy Fosse-esque choreography
of Bart Doerfler in stand out
numbers Love For Sale, and the very
homoerotic Lluvia Sensual, leaving
the audience panting for more.”
“There's not a weak link in the
ensemble,” writes Les Spindle in
Frontiers Newsmagazine, “and the
evening is so full of showstoppers
that it's hard to pick a
favorite.”
“There has never been a show
produced on the scale of The
Rainbow Revue,” explains
Gatson. “We have created a
showcase for some of the world’s
greatest talent in an environment
that celebrates diversity and
provides a theatrical thrill ride
for people of all ages from any walk
of life,” he adds.
The Rainbow Revue plays at
the Ivar Theatre in Hollywood (1605
N. Ivar) through April 28th, and
tickets ($25, $30, $35) may be
obtained by calling 310-289-1875, or
online at www.RainbowRevue.com/Tickets.
For extensive information about The
Rainbow Revue, including a photo
gallery, links to reviews, the
entire program, and more, visit www.NotesFromHollywood.com.
More info? E-mail RainbowRevue@aol.com.
Viewers
Rated This Article: 