Anti-drag hysteria is sweeping the land like a cynical brain virus, as the centuries-old phenomenon of men performing in women’s clothes has become a bizarre wedge issue in the culture wars. Just last week, a group of Houston area schools canceled field trip plans to see James and the Giant Peach at Main Street Theater due to concerns over cross-gender casting and (false) reports of drag performance. venerable Houston theater company is stepping up with a double dose of drag, scheduled far before the current controversy but still delicious in its timing. First up is The Legend of Georgia McBride , Matthew López’s 2014 play about a down-on-his-luck Elvis impersonator in Florida who kicks his career into high gear when he joins a drag troupe. The show will run concurrently with Drag Wonderettes , a new show featuring '50s and '60s songs performed by the drag group The Marvelous Wonderettes. Stages is trying to present art, not send a message. “The work speaks for itself,” says … [Read more...] about Two new Houston plays push back against anti-drag hysteria in Texas
Shakespeare
The gang always knew Glenn Howerton had another side to him
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 Rob McElhenney first heard about the performance a few weeks ago at a Wrexham soccer match. He knew that Glenn Howerton, his longtime "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" co-star, had shaved his glorious locks for his first major starring film role in "BlackBerry." What he didn't know is how much of his sitcom character Howerton had also buzzed away to play the volatile businessman who helped launch the mobile device revolution. "I just have to tell you, your friend, Glenn, is fantastic," Shawn Levy, the director of "Night of the Museum" and the upcoming "Deadpool 3," told him at the game. "Well, have you ever seen him before?" said McElhenney. "I only know him from 'Sunny,'" said Levy, "and I just never put two and two together." Since 2005, Howerton, 47, has played Dennis Reynolds on the FX sitcom with McElhenney, Charlie Day and Kaitlin Olson. (Danny DeVito … [Read more...] about The gang always knew Glenn Howerton had another side to him
Tom Cruise tells King Charles he can be his ‘wingman any time’
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 WINDSOR, England - In one of the more surprising moments heralding this country's new sovereign, Hollywood royalty Tom Cruise assured actual royalty King Charles III that he could be his "wingman" anytime. The "Top Gun" actor's message was among the highlights of Sunday evening's concert celebrating the weekend's coronation. Some 20,000 members of the public, ticket holders via a lottery, gathered with the royals on the grounds of Windsor Castle - the first time a concert has ever been held here. Many more watched on the telly at home. They enjoyed an eclectic mix of dance, music, spoken tributes and skits. And there were gasps from many people during a dazzling drone show, which lit up the night sky with the colorful outlines of a whale, lion, rabbit, flower and other images. During his prerecorded sketch, a nod to Charles's training as a jet pilot in his early 20s, … [Read more...] about Tom Cruise tells King Charles he can be his ‘wingman any time’