“Ideally, I’d like to date an older elegant man
who speaks beautifully and is filthy rich. 
Then I’d like to date a 40-year-old guy who is
passionate about something.  I don’t care what. 
Then I’d like to date an 18-year-old who I see
twice a week and whose name I don’t know.” 
– Liza Minnelli, as told to Michael Feinstein.  Although I
suppose it could just as easily be a Feinstein quote.

This is supposed to be the fun, frothy, frilly column that delivers some entertainment news, some industry dish, and a few chuckles.  So, I hate to kick things off with bad news.  When people talk about the current government infringing on people’s rights, none of us is immune.  The latest target is transgender people in Kansas.  If you live there and have gone through gender reassignment, you likely petitioned to change your birth certificate and driver’s license.  As of last week, those changes have been invalidated – and future changes to those documents are banned by a recent ruling.  I can’t say that this is how it begins…but this is how it’s happening now.

I am always delighted to spotlight great work of those I love.  So let’s start with the magnificent Miriam Margolyes, who is in the Oscar-nominated live action short A Friend of Dorothy.  What is extraordinary about Miriam is she always appears completely authentic.  There’s no “actor-y” nonsense about her.  She just “is”.  As Dorothy who bonds with a teenage boy, one suspects Miriam identifies with her more than some other characters.  But that doesn’t make it any the less staggering.  It should be noted that she’s well-partnered with Alistair Nwachukwu as Dorothy’s “friend”.  It’s a sweet, touching, lovely film which you can see on BillyMasters.com.  You can also see it on Disney+.

Then there’s my Play Mama, Jenifer Lewis.  Superlatives are almost superfluous when it comes to describing her.  Suffice it to say, she is someone whose talents are boundless and who always delivers.  Yes, she’s in GOAT playing warthog Florence “Flo” Everson, owner of the basketball team (fun fact – she also played Flo in Cars).  But the big news is that she’ll be reprising a memorable role when she joins the cast of the reboot of A Different World for Netflix.  In the original, she played Hillman College’s Dean Dorothy Dandridge Davenport.  In the reboot, Davenport is still at Hillman – but now she’s a professor.  Stay tuned.

Then there’s the divine Charles Busch – who I am certain would not mind being lumped in with Jenifer and Miriam.  With his own brand of “je ne sais quoi”, he’s carved a unique niche for himself in the theatrical annals.  One of his biggest successes was when he wrote the hit Broadway play, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife.  In 2019, Charles joined the original cast by taking on the leading lady role (that evening, the original leading lady, Linda Lavin, played the mother).  Busch is once again slipping into the pumps of Marjorie Taub.  This time, the venue will be Palm Springs’ Plaza Theatre as part of their rePLAY series.  This script-in-hand reading of the play will also feature Chris Carranza, Alix Korey, Lewis J. Stadlen, and the phenomenal Harriet Harris in the role created by Michele Lee.  Two nights only – March 13^th and 14^th.  You can grab your tickets at PalmSpringsPlazaTheatre.com.

Speaking of theatre, Megan Thee Stallion is headed to the Great White Way.  For her Broadway debut, Meg is joining the cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical.  Yes, the same Moulin Rouge which recently announced it will close this summer (a coincidence, I’m sure).  Starting on March 24^th, Stallion will take over the role of impresario Harold Zidler – the role currently played by Bob the Drag Queen and previously embodied by Boy George.  Reflective of the times we live in, Megan is being touted as “the first female-identifying performer to play the role”.  She will stay with the show for eight weeks, wrapping up on May 17^th.