Julie Harris (1925-2012)

Tony Awards

I'm not really a "theater queen," but I usually watch the Tony Awards to see what shows I'm missing by living in LA. This year's telecast was pretty amazing. From great musical performances by host Neil Patrick Harris, Hugh Jackman, Sutton Foster and Daniel Radcliffe to wonderful acceptance speeches, including Ellen Barkin's tear-inducing win for Larry Kramer's THE NORMAL HEART. There were a few low points too, Brooke Shield's embarrassing flub and clumsy apology, the awful number from the worst titled musical SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK and of course the great, but crazy Frances McDormand's outfit.

I'm not Mr. Blackwell, but come on Frances - we all know you're dedicated to your art, but must you really show up for Broadway's most elegant evening looking like a meth whore? Ah, theater people...

Celebrity Deaths Update

I've missed a bunch of celebrity deaths over the past month or so. After Liz Taylor, we lost a whole slew of talented folks including Loleatta Holloway (born 1946), Lanford Wilson (born 1937), Farley Granger (born 1925), Sidney Lumet (born 1924), Sol Saks (born 1910), Marie-France Pisier (born 1944), Phoebe Snow (born 1950), Yvette Vickers (born 1928), Poly Styrene (1957), Marian Mercer (born 1935), Jackie Cooper (born 1922), Arthur Laurents (born 1917), Dolores Fuller (born 1923), Norma Zimmer (born 1923) and Sada Thompson (born 1937).

I remember this gripping episode of FAMILY in which Sada's character awaits the results of a biopsy. A strange marketing decision by ABC shows an inappropriately whimsical logo for the series in an otherwise grim TV GUIDE ad. Notice the guest appearance by NANNY & THE PROFESSOR's Kim Richards.

CANNED HAM

Last night, I attended a preview performance of Tom Judson's auto-biographical solo show “Canned Ham”. The show documents hunky Mr Judson’s strange trajectory from Off-Off Broadway composer and performance artist to Broadway actor to this surprising career turn as gay porn superstar Gus Mattox!

In between wonderful accordion arrangements of familiar showtunes, Tom recounts working with such folks as director Rob Marshall, stage goddess Ann Magnuson (who was in attendance), actress Teri Hatcher, and porn mogul Chi Chi LaRue. Show biz stories, male escort adventures and touching remembrances of his late partner Bruce make for an evening of both laughter and tears.

“Canned Ham” is opens tonight - Friday, April 30 at 9pm and will run Fridays and Saturdays at 9pm and Sundays at 7pm through May 16. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and are available online here. The Cavern Club Theater at Casita del Campo is located at 1920 Hyperion Avenue in Silver Lake.Visit Tom's blog here.

THE MISMATCH GAME Returns!

Where else could you see legendary stars like Charles Nelson Reilly, Phyllis Diller, Ricardo Montalban and Shelley Winters interact LIVE on stage with today's top personalties Miss Piggy, Rosie O'Donnell and Jessica Simpson? Plus - throw Margot Kidder, Karen Black, Evie Harris and the Virgin Mary(!), into the mix - and it could only be Dennis Hensley's THE MISMATCH GAME!

With Your Host, Dennis Hensley, and All-Star Cast featuring (scheduled to appear) Tony Tripoli, Jackie Clarke, Felix Pire, Jack Plotnick, Tom Lenk, Maile Flanagan, Drew Droege, Willam Belli and Patrick Bristow! Plus you can be a contestant - and win prizes!!!

FRIDAY, JULY 24 - 8 PM • SATURDAY, JULY 25 - 8 PM • SUNDAY, JULY 26 - 7 PM
The Renberg Theatre • 1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood

Tickets $15 • Call 323-860-7300 • By tickets online here.

What will be the next "Sonseed"?

ONE NIGHT ONLY! Come see the show that re-started the "Sonseed" phenomenon–8 years ago!

Click here for tickets or just show up at the REDCAT Theater @ Walt Disney Concert Hall - Saturday July 11th @ 9:30 PM

The Douglas Michael Show with guests Chico's Angels

CHICO'S ANGELS has been an underground cult hit on the Los Angeles theater scene for over half a decade. This summer’s stage show is titled Chico’s Angels 2: Love Boat Chicas! The gals are getting all dolled up to solve another case - this time on the high seas when Charo hires the Angels to find out who is trying to kill her...and her ocean-going career!!!


CHICO'S ANGELS are Kay Sedia (the pretty one), Chita Patrol (the smart one) and Frieda Laye (the “friendly” one). These three glamorous ladies have been solving crimes, breaking hearts and making us laugh on stage for six years now–and there's no stopping them as they continue to skyrocket to fame as internet superstars.
Recently, the Angels filmed three mini-episodes to premiere exclusively on their website. Their heavenly site features weekly-updated Angel blogs, bios, hot videos, on-fire merchandise, and tickets for the stage show.
Doug: Ladies, Wow! What can I say? I've been a fan for a long time. You all look spectacular. Thanks for being my first three-way, um interview.

Kay: Aye! don be so nasty all the tines!!
Frieda: Oh, that's called a manage a trough!
Chita: Hi and stuff!
D: Let's start with your look. Each one of you has a unique and individual style. Who was your inspiration?

K: Rosarita, from Rosarita beans.
F: I would have to say Farrah Faucett & Goldie Hawn in a paintball fight with Cleopatra Jones.
C: All the sexy Latinas that came before me.

D: I've noticed that all good things (and some bad things) come in threes. Angels,

Brady children of the same sex, Star Wars movies, etc. Did you ever consider have a fourth Angel? If so, who?

K: Only if she's fat and has no chi chi's so that Chita doesn't feel so lonely.
F: Well, there my sister Juana Laye, but she's too mush of a slut to work with us.
C: No way, I can barely put up with the other two!D: With you three appearing all over Hollywood lately, any celebrity crushes or on-set romances to report?

K: Crushes? I prefer Fanta.
F: Aye jes, I always had a thing for Jason Statham, Huge Jackman and Cantinflas.
C: I'm in love with ...... What's today?....oh yeah.....Jake Gyllenhal.

D: As Latina role models, is there any advice you can give to young chicas out there?

K: Make chure it's tight and shiney!
F: Learning to talk Enlitch good, 'cause the peoples will judge ju and think ju don't know nothing.
C: Use a Sharpie #4.

D: I just noticed that your initials add up to KFC - is that an happy accident?

K: No accident, were a bunch of breast , thighs, and dumstick (that's not misspell!)
F: Aye, no! ...but I can tell ju about accidents...
C: No, cause we're tender and finger lickin good!D: What can you tell me about your upcoming webisodes? Any juicy spoilers?

K: Lot's of shirtless men's! And me getting the boys!
F: I'm not allowed to say nothing, cause I signed a competency agreement, but I will say they sexy, sexy and action pack!
C: Kay getting the boys, I hate her!!
D: Any other places fans can catch the Angels? Any trade shows? Parades?
Supermarket openings? Tupperware Parties coming up?

K: I'm on the Garden Grove and Pacioma Tupperware tour at the moment. An ju can find me on my soon to depute web site . Oh and in the basement of a Mexican restaurant doing our thing!
F: In addition to the webs, facebook, myspace and the chicosangels.com, I can be found around Santa Monica & Orange depending on the hour.

C: The show has been extended thru August 2nd. You better come or I'll kick you in the shins!
D: Ow, Chita! Okay - I will be there this weekend. Thanks so much for chatting with me, I hope the next time I see you gals will be on primetime TV - because I think you're all more talented that most of what I see on the boob tube these days.

K: Oh, ju chould see Chita wearing a tube top! So funny when et's around her knees!!
F: Aye, thank ju! Now tell me more about these boobs that are like tubes....
C: Thank ju! We hope to be spreading the Chico's Angels love all over the world!

The show's extended run goes until August 2nd - with 2 Sunday matinees added on July 26th and August 2nd at 2:00pm Shows are Thursday – Sunday 8PM. Tickets on sale at chicosangels.com Location: Cavern Club Theater inside Casita Del Campo Restaurant 1920 Hyperion Los Angeles, CA 90027

MORE ABOUT THE ANGELS:

Kay Sedia: Born in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, Kay is the youngest of 18 children and the prettiest of them all. Chico discovered her from an ad for girdles in the Penny saver Magazine. When not being chased by hunky hotties and creepy criminals Kay finds time to make a modest living selling Tupperware . Kay’s job title is detective/model/Tupperware sales lady, but any crime she uncovers is always by accident. Kay thinks of herself as voluptuous and the pretty Angel.
Frieda Laye: Fredida was born in what is known as La Frontera de Chihuahua, Ciudad Juarez Mexico, or as it's come to be known across the border, J-Town. Frieda was left under the door mat of a convent, Las Hermanas de la Madre Guadalupe de los Chavos. She realized that her destiny was to be one of Chico's Angels and that she was to use her special abilities to fight crime as a private investigator. ...and to supplement her income as a private dancer as well. Frieda is proud to be one of Chico's Angels, and while she may not have the brightest halo, it is the blondest.

Chita Parol: She was born in East Los Angeles, California as a first generation Mexican/American. As the smart one, and angry about it, Chita keeps focused on the job, except for those small moments, far and in between, where she gets to shine. She never seems to get the guy, mainly due to her anger management issues. She’s working on that, and getting better. Now she only hates everyone just a little bit. Chita fancies herself the pretty one.

Coming tomorrow...

An exclusive Douglas Michael Show interview with CHICO'S ANGELS!

Ann Magnuson: Back Home Again

This is where I'll be Saturday night...
A Surreal Romp through the Hills and Hollers of 'Almost Heaven' West Virginia

The Cavern Club Theater in Los Angeles is proud to host a workshop production of "Back Home Again (Dreaming of Charleston)", a new one-woman performance piece by writer, performer, Silver Lake resident and West Virginia native Ann Magnuson.

The show is a loving (if often twisted) reminiscence of growing up in WV with all of its hopes, dreams, good times, sad times and crazy times as well as notes from the long and winding road that took her from Charleston to London, New York, Los Angeles and nearly every continent in the world, always to return 'back home'.

"I have to return to West Virginia at least once every year," Ann has said. "Not only does it give me much needed perspective on this myopic business we call Show, it's a beautiful and often bizarre place that yields a treasure trove of material. And I'm not talking about the hillbilly stereotypes. There is much more to the place; something so unique, strange and, yes, even mystical about them thar hills and hollers that keeps me in its thrall. Like the mythical Brigadoon, Charleston is nestled in a difficult-to-reach valley and exists in its own special world with a colorful cast of characters who feel that they can never leave. Oxycontin abuse and mountaintop removal notwithstanding, "Almost Heaven" is often just that. It is one of the most beautiful states in the nation, yet it can also produce nightmares. Those two states of mind weave themselves into one doozey of a double helix and it's that particular wild 'n wonderful dream state that this mountain mama aims to explore on stage!"

In addition to those dreams, the show will include original songs (including a few Bongwater classics), poetic reveries, comedic monologues and music referencing everything from Disney to Debussy to The Moody Blues to Mae West. To enhance your down home psychedelic experience, Los Angeles- based musician Alexander Rannie will provide a suitable soundtrack with his heavenly harp.

Get tickets here.

LEGENDS - One Night Only!

Legends is a celebrated and rarely performed play written by James Kirkwood, Jr. It originally toured the states from January 1986 to January 1987. The play concerns the rivalry of two aging film stars, originally played by Broadway grande dames Mary Martin and Carol Channing. It also inspired Kirkwood's memoir, Diary of a Mad Playwright. Joan Collins and Linda Evans, former DYNASTY co-stars, toured with the show from September 2006 to May 2007. Both productions never made it to Broadway.

Now - for one night only   - MONDAY, MARCH 23 Legends will be staged at New York's Town Hall starring LYPSINKA, WHOOPI GOLDBERG and CHARLES BUSCH! Also starring BRYAN BATT of TV's MAD MEN! This is a once-in-a-lifetime event. If you love theater and/or are a fan of any of these outstanding performers - you must see Legends!

Go here for the lower priced tickets. For VIP tickets call 800 996 5433.
Also, visit Lypsinka's Blog for more news and info.

The MISMATCH GAME Returns This Weekend Only

The weekend, I'll once again be the contestant wrangler for The MISMATCH GAME–A live, on-stage parody/homage to TV's Match Game! 

If you're in LA this weekend, come out and play.

METROSOURCE LA calls it "A low-tech screamer...not to be missed." 

With your host, Dennis Hensley, and an All-Star Cast.

SCHEDULED TO APPEAR:

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30 - 8 PM

Jack Plotnick as Paul Lynde

Ted Biaselli as Miss Piggy

Tony Tripoli as Charles Nelson Reilly

Jackie Clarke as a mystery guest

Felix Pire as Ricardo Montalban

Madeline Long as Shelley Winters

plus John Carrozza as Greg Evigan

SATURDAY, JANUARY 31 - 8 PM

Jack Plotnick as Paul Lynde

Tony Tripoli as Charles Nelson Reilly

Tom Lenk as Margot Kidder

Oscar Quintero as Charo

Madeline Long as Shelley Winters

plus John Carrozza as Greg Evigan

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1 - 7 PM

Drew Droege as Karen Black

Tom Lenk as Heidi Klum

Tony Tripoli as Charles Nelson Reilly

Nadya Ginsburg as Cher

Felix Pire as Ricardo Montalban

plus John Carrozza as Greg Evigan

For clips and more, visit: myspace.com/mismatchgame

The Renberg Theatre • 1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood

(One block east of Highland, just north of Santa Monica Blvd.)

Tickets $15 • Call 323-860-7300 • By tickets online 

HOLY MISMATRIMONY! EMERGENCY 'NO ON 8' FUNDRAISER

Come Out and Join Us This Thursday September 23 at 8PM for a Special "No On Prop 8" Edition of THE MISMATCH GAME!!!

Laugh along as we send-up the classic TV game show and raise $$$ to combat the evil forces that want to make gay marriage illegal in California. Basically - they want to take away a right that we ALREADY HAVE! WTF? Can't these people deal with their own fucked-up lives and leave us alone? There's sure to be some timely politically charged humor as well questions about the latest celebrity bullshit. Madonna's divorce, anyone?

Hosted by DENNIS HENSLEY with an All-Star Cast including...
TED BIASELLI as Miss Piggy
DREW DROEGE as Karen Black
JOHN CARROZZA as Greg Evigan
MADELINE LONG as Shelley Winters
TOM LENK as Heidi Klum
NADYA GINSBURG as Cher
SAM PANCAKE as Lisa Whelchel
JACK PLOTNICK as Evie Harris
FELIX PIRE as Ricardo Montalban

DOUGSPLOITATION (that's me!) will also be there working the line and recruiting contestants! YOU can play on stage with the stars - and win fabulous prizes! There may be other special guests and surprises as well!

ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Thursday, October 23 at 8pm
at the Renberg Theatre
1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood, USA
(one block east of Highland, just north of Santa Monica Blvd.)

All proceeds go to benefit the ‘NO on 8’ Campaign to help secure Marriage Equality in California.

Tickets $25
Call 323-860-7300 or Buy tickets ONLINE at: www.lagaycenter.org/boxoffice

For clips and more, visit myspace

There WILL Be Blood!

ANN MAGNUSON AND ADAM DUGAS: DUELING HARPS - October 17-18, 2008

at the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (in the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles)A darkly elegant evening of gorgeous melodies with a theatrical flourish. Ann Magnuson and Adam Dugas face off on vocals as Alexander Rannie and Mia Theodoratus strum their harps in this twisted match of musical one-upmanship. The quartet thrusts and parries with an arsenal of tunes ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime: psychedelic calls to prayer, Henry Purcell's Baroque art songs, Kraftwerk, Buffy St. Marie, Lee Hazlewood and Pink Floyd, as well as original songs by Magnuson and Dugas. 

New York art star-turned-L.A. Woman, Magnuson is a prolific writer and actress of stage and screen and the former lead singer of the band Bongwater. Dashing underground cabaret impresario Adam Dugas was a founding member of the performance troupe The Citizens Band and frequently produces and performs at Deitch Projects gallery. Watch as Magnuson and Los Angeles composer and artist Rannie defend the home turf against East Coast crooner Dugas and comely musician Theodoratus. There will be blood. For tickets go here.

Ann Magnuson -photo Rocky Schenck, Adam Dugas and Theodoratus -photo Lyndsy Welgos, Alexander Rannie -photo JayPG Photography.

How's about a nice SLIDESHOW?

For the past three years, there's been an incredible fun (and cheap!) thing to do in LA called SLIDESHOW. It happens once a month in a cool space called THE FAKE GALLERY (4319 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, CA 90028). Well on Friday, October 17th, Steve Silverman's cult hit turns the BIG THREE! If you haven't seen it (or been in it, like me) - this is your chance to experience one of the most unique theater/performance art/stand-up comedy/monologue things in town.Basically a bunch of performers (sometimes famous, sometimes not) tell you a story (often times hysterically funny, sometimes poignant) while clicking through accompanying and almost always appropriate slides. The subjects range from topics as diverse as the performers themselves. Some of my favorites included a collection of department store kiddie portraits, a tragic Hawaiian honeymoon and a sordid tale of a horny teen-age gay stalker. Like I said - something for everyone! My "performance" was a parody of the NBC 1974 line-up...here's a few samples of my slides with commentary (I will post more if there's a clamoring for them...)This year Monday Night at the Movies features a stellar line-up of movies in which child star Linda Blair is imprisoned and assaulted repeatedly, becomes an alcoholic, runs away, steals things and finally–gets possessed! 
Yes, LITTLE WHOREHOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE - sure to warm the heart with tales of cowboys & sexually transmitted diseases...and soon to be a Broadway musical...BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE.
Following the whores is a bold new show that combines the star of a great musical film with the premise of an action thriller. It's CABARET meets DIRTY HARRY in...THE EQUALIZA! Oscar winner Liza Minnelli takes the law into her own hands and sings her way through the mean streets of San Francisco, cleaning up the city scum with 45 calibers worth of jazz hands and Fosse-inspired dance steps.
We proudly present an ensemble cast of eight rising young actors who are ready to do whatever it takes to rescue those in need. Introducing Chad, Max, Randy, Cody, Ridge, Conner, Ben and Ryan...THE RANGERS IN THE WILD. These 8 handsome young rangers will patrol the Sierra National Park, charged with keeping the park clean and supervising the ever-growing number of tourists who come to enjoy it. An average episode involves protecting half-naked campers from bears, rescuing lost campers and enforcing very strict regulations.
Get me THAT SLUT COP! She's a tramp working undercover for the Los Angeles Police Department... Is that Angie Dickinson? Who else can pull of slutty and coppish. I'd like to see Bea Arthur try THAT in a muu muu!!

Eight all-time favorites (Bobby Banuelos, Hutch Foster, Stacy McQueen, Elizabeth Payne, Amanda Philipson, that guy Steve Silverman, Terri Simmons and Mari Weis) will be returning to load up Steve's state-of-the-art 1974 Kodak Carousel Slide Projector and deliver what the LA Times calls "Shockingly honest stories" and "Downright magical!" To make it a real party - they even got FREE FOOD, FREE DRINK, and HUGE PRIZE GIVEAWAYS! If you miss the 1970's - and WHO DOESN'T? - then DON'T MISS SLIDESHOW'S Third Anniversary Show! Call 323-692-3086 for more info and to make a reservation! Tell 'em Dougsploitation sent ya!

This is the story of three special girls...

The Angels are back! The LA sensation, Chico's Angels #3 : Chicas in Chains is returning for a limited run.  Join the hysterical Kay Sedia, Chita Parol, Frieda Laye and Bossman as they infiltrate a high school hooker ring, get thrown behind bars and look fabulous all through the action! Plus songs, dancing and super-fabulous costumes!Chico's Angels returns Sept. 26-Oct. 26 to The Cavern Club Theater/Casita Del Campo -1920 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake, CA 90027 - Thursdays and Sundays at 8 PM * Fridays and Saturdays at 9 PM

Also Premiering in SAN DIEGO @The Diversionary Theatre -4545 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92116 - November 7,8,9 * Fri. and Sat @ 9pm * Sunday @ 2pm and 7pm

To purchase tickets (for both cities) visit www.cavernclubtheater.com or call 1- 800-595-4849. Visit the angels at www.myspace.com/chicosangels

Tell 'em Dougsploitation sent you!

Get ready to match the stars...

THE MATCH GAME is a "definitive" TV classic. I remember many afternoons (when I had outgrown cartoons) sitting in front of of the "boob" tube watching adults like Nipsey Russell, Bart Braverman, Brett Somers, Fannie Flagg, Dick Gautier, Betty White, Patty Deutsch, Joyce Bulifant, Elaine Joyce, Marcia Wallace, Richard Dawson and Eva Gabor play the silliest, most naughty, childlike game on television. And you know what? I laughed my BLANK off then...and I still do today when I watch the timeless and endless reruns on GSN.

I also remember owning the not-as-cool-as-you-think home game. Those folks at Milton-Bradley really knew how to take a fun game show and turn into a BLANK-ing dull board game.

But did you ever wonder what it would be like it today's "stars" like Heidi Klum, Madonna, Chloe Sevigny and Tim Gunn appeared on the panel along with deceased showbiz greats like Paul Lynde, Charles Nelson Reilly, Shelley Winters and Herve Villachaize?

Well wonder no more! Also throw in fun 70s and 80s celebrities like Cher, Charo, Patty Duke, Ricardo Montalban, Lisa Welchel, Miss Piggy and Greg Evigan and there you have...the legendary L.A. sensation...THE MISMATCH GAME with your host Dennis Hensley!


See the parody/homage that has been making studio auidiences lose their BLANK for years - It's the filthiest, funniest, most un-PC game show ever and it's LIVE on stage this weekend! FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 - 8 PM • SATURDAY, AUGUST 9 - 8 PM
 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 10 - 7 PM

Where: The Renberg Theatre • 1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood, USA
(One block east of Highland, just north of Santa Monica Blvd.)

Tickets $15 • Call 323-860-7300
or buy tickets online!

SCHEDULED TO APPEAR:


• FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 - 8 PM
 Jack Plotnick as Paul Lynde; Oscar Quintero as Charo; Tony Tripoli as Charles Nelson Reilly; Kate Flannery as Patty Duke; Felix Pire as Ricardo Montalban; Madeline Long as Shelley Winters


• SATURDAY, AUGUST 9 - 8 PM
 Tom Lenk as Heidi Klum; Sam Pancake as Lisa Whelchel; Tony Tripoli as Charles Nelson Reilly; Nadya Ginsburg as Cher; Danny Casillas as Herve Villechaize; Madeline Long as Shelley Winters


• SUNDAY, AUGUST 10 - 7 PM
 Drew Droege as Chloe Sevigny; Ted Biaselli as Miss Piggy; Tony Tripoli as Charles Nelson Reilly; Nadya Ginsburg as Madonna; Patrick Bristow as Tim Gunn; Madeline Long as Shelley Winters



Oh yeah - and audience members can be contestants...and win real prizes!

For clips and more, visit myspace