Orlando – Jeff Jones and Miss Sammy are two of Central Florida’s funniest and most beloved people who like to talk about other people (especially when other people are listening). So who better to take the stage first when Watermark Media and the Orlando International Fringe Festival join forces to launch the second coming of Movies Out Loud later this year?
What is Movies Out Loud?
The premise: we pick an over the top, campy, so-bad-it’s-good film to show to a slightly inebriated audience while some of Fringe’s best and brightest verbally destroy the film, a la Mystery Science Theater… only Live!
We asked Jones and Miss Sammy to use their keen wit and comedic talents, which will be on display at the first installment of the revival of Movies Out Loud, to pick through and make sense of what is aimed at the LGBT community during the Orlando International Fringe Festival. The annual festival runs May 13-25 at the Orlando Shakespeare Center and at other locations in the Loch Haven Park area.
Movies Out Loud begins July 8, and runs every second Wednesday of the month, at The Abbey and features a revolving cast of Fringe Festival characters. All proceeds raised will go back to Fringe.
But enough about that. Let’s take a look at the gay offerings at this year’s Fringe Festival, which will be here before we know it. For a full schedule, visit OrlandoFringe.org.
1969: Stonewall
The creators of last year’s Weeki Wachee hit present a wickedly funny yet moving exploration of the revolutionary night that sparked the modern gay rights movement.
Michael Wanzie directs a handful of actors in a surprising tapestry of characters spanning all walks of life—all of which are forever changed by a fateful brick tossed by an angry drag queen.
“Some think it was a brick that was thrown,” says Miss Sammy. “But it was really a size 12 patent-leather pump…and it was mine! I never got it back either!”
Aqueous
Blue Star’s VarieTEASE, a Fringe favorite for 9 years, presents Aqueous, a Fatstar Production.
It’s an aquatic freak show set in 1901. This is a haunting and magical tale of how The Girl With Gills unexpectedly finds her true love and how sometimes love is not enough to change destiny.
“Blue’s shows are really amazing,” Jones says. “What’s even more amazing, though, is the amount of money she spends a year on nipple tape.”
Around the World in 80 Years: a Good Girl’s Guide to Being Bad
“A musical comedy about a woman having sex with a ukulele?” Jones asks.
Close, but not quite. A classy comedic “femme” with an international flair takes you on her 80 year journey around the world through songs (in French!), with her piano and ukulele.
Her escapades and sexcapades hold your attention since you won’t know what to expect next. You can expect standup comedy, sing-a-longs, and more.
“I think I saw this once in Amsterdam,” recalls Jones.
“Jeff, you were drunk,” Miss Sammy responds. “We were in Umatilla, and that was you and a ukelele!”
Bubble Gum Party
Join the Bubble Gum Party with dad Robbie, mom Debbie, and daughter Abby Bubble as they sing songs for real American families with real American values.
So come blow a bubble with us—but be careful or it might pop all over your face! This show is perfect for the whole family, except the children.
“This sounds like fun! I love bubbles, chewing gum, and teen-age sex parties…I mean homework,” Miss Sammy says.
“This show sounds perfect for Michele and Marcus Bachmann, especially Marcus. He loves it when a bubble pops all over his face,” Jones quips.
Cootie Catcher
In this hilarious and borderline-terrifying reflection, Lucas looks back on his many close encounters of the sexually transmissible kind. Through his naked (yet carefully wrapped) adventures, he struggles with his ability to remain sex-positive in an HIV-negative society.
“I cannot wait to see this show,” Jones says. “Though, I have been warned that if you sit in the first two rows you are required to wear a condom.”
“Two words,” warns Miss Sammy. “Splash Zone!”
Dark Wood
Three apes, two views, one cage.
Strong Arm and Rico have it good being apes living in captivity until they are put in a cage with an ape from the outside. Mbwane is from the wild, the Dark Wood. Captured and experimented on, he is determined to get out and get back to his family and the life stolen from him.
It should be mentioned that apes do not wear clothes so neither do the actors in Dark Wood.
“I used to have a DVD porno called Dark Wood and the actors in that were also in cages,” Jones says. “I think that might have been the only similarity.”
Dragness of God
It’s the 10-Year Anniversary revival of Patron’s Pick award winning, outrageous, Wanzie-penned parody of a hit Broadway play and film performed in drag! Try saying that 3 times fast.
Doug Ba’aser is Agnes, a nun prone to virgin birth and stigmata. Wanzie is the lesbian Mother Superior. Tommy Wooten is the psychiatrist investigating a dead baby found in a wastebasket, oh and there’s the appearance of a fully naked male angel.
“Don’t all male angels fly around naked,” Miss Sammy asks. “Isn’t that why they call it heaven?”
“I just think it will be nice to see Doug Ba’aser in a show that features a penis that isn’t his own.” Jones says.
Field Guide to the Gays 2
Watermark’s Fringe guide from last year is back! Dive deeper into his all new world of nightclubbing, activism, trans trivia, hankies and more.
Logan Donahoo’s award winning, one-man, multimedia safari into the gay community is back with a sequel to the original guide.
“Logan has no shame and each year he lets us deeper and deeper inside of himself,” tells Jones. “Rumor has it in 2016, he’s just going to have a colonoscopy on stage.”
“Eww,” Miss Sammy responds. “I wonder if they might find Richard Gere’s gerbil.”
From Como to Homo
A 10-year-old juggles her career on the Perry Como Show and the demands of her stage mom, all while dealing with gender confusion and a bumpy ride into the world of mortality and tap dance.
“Homos love tap! Enough said,” says Jones.
God is a Scottish Drag Queen III
With sold out shows in 2013 and 2014, Orlando’s favorite deity in a power suit is back to skewer everything from prayer to politics in an all new show. God has sold out in every city it has played, so get your tickets early and see what everybody is raving about.
“God is back again? Good!” Miss Sammy says. “Let’s see if we can get her to ‘flood’ a few thousand right-wingers!”
Janis Joplin, Little Girl Blue
Kaleigh Baker and an all-star band of Orlando’s finest musicians, including director Andy Matchett, present an in-depth and passionate look at the life, music and untimely death of one of music’s greatest icons, Janis Joplin.
“I hear this show is a ‘bring-your-own-southern-comfort’ kind of thing,” says Miss Sammy.
Baker swells in volume as she moves from a solo rendition of “What Good Can Drinkin Do?” to an explosive eight piece band backing her on hits like “Peace of My Heart” and “Get It While You Can”.
“This show will make Kaleigh Baker a gay icon,” says Jones. “Which is hard to do without appearing on RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Judy Garland
Simply put, Mark Baratelli performs as the iconic Judy Garland. The show sold out last year four times and wasn’t even listed in the program. This year it is back with a bigger venue and less expensive tickets.
“Mark Baratelli’s train wreck impression of Judy Garland is almost as entertaining as the real train wreck that is Liza Minelli,” Jones says.
“Can’t we leave my poor friend Judy alone?” Miss Sammy asks. ” All she wants to do is get back to Kansas…in a balloon…with flying monkeys!”
Late with Lance!
From the clown who brought you Desperately Seeking the Exit comes a brand new theatrical disaster.
Delusional, optimistic cruise ship entertainer Lance is docked in Orlando, so he’s hosting a musical variety-talk show with special guests Liza Minnelli, Hugh Jackman and Miami Sound Machine, but will they show?
“I do love a good theatrical disaster, especially when it’s not done on purpose,” says Jones.
“Oh Jeff, you would have adored Seven Brides,” Miss Sammy adds.
Lay, MS.
For every cause there’s a time, and for every movement a catalyst. This is a parody of Les Miserables set in the 50s and 60s culminating in the Stonewall Riots.
Watch as the show delves into the true history of pious cops, the mob, BDSM, porn and gay rights. With music stylized to the era, it promises to be a revolution.
“Thank goodness there’s a time limit on these shows,” says Miss Sammy. “By the time the real Les Mis was finished, I needed to shave my legs again!”
“I really hope the ‘Master of the House’ parody involves BDSM and a rotating stage,” Jones adds.
The Lion Queen and the Naked Go-Go Cub
“I am afraid to comment on this show or admit to wanting to see it,” confesses Jones. “Out of fear of retribution from the Walt Disney Company.”
In another Wanzie revival, this is an all new production of the biggest selling Orlando Fringe hit of all time. Kenny Howard directs this hilarious, skewering of Disney.
An opulent musical parody of that classic film and Broadway show twisted to depict the birth of the gay rights movement and death of Judy Garland.
“I’m not afraid,” says Miss Sammy. “I still have the pictures of Walt and Tinker Bell doing the ‘dirty boogie’!”
Massage a Trois
Indulge in a threesome of twisted one-acts, each with its own absurd take on our constant battle with self-esteem.
“I love threesomes,” says Miss Sammy. “I still have all the episodes of Three’s Company on VHS!”
John Connon presents his quirky world view in Cheat Meal, Ambush! and Massage a Trois, three outrageous vignettes featuring three hilarious actors exploring our complicated relationships with food, beauty and the occasional awkward massage.
“This show is basically a rub and tug on your funny bone,” says Jones. “I’m assuming the vignette about an awkward massage is about John Travolta.”
Obsessed
Are you obsessed with vampires, being gay or God?
“Vampires… being gay? Isn’t that redundant? asks Jones.
In this day and age of binge watching, movie sequels and social media, obsessions are hard to avoid. Guilty pleasures and addictive behavior have become the norm. But there is nothing normal about this hysterical one man show full of whacky characters and their mostly unhealthy obsessions.
The Peevira Chronicles: Wedding Whorrer
PeeVira is getting married and you’re invited to the absurdity. After a two year break, she is making her theatrical comeback with a sequel to her 2012 festival cult favorite.
Witness a pantomime drag show filled with sex, laughter, and parody. It’ll be a whore of a good time.
“This is basically the Miss Sammy story,” Jones points out. “Well, with more sex and laughter.”
“I better get script approval on this one,” adds Miss Sammy. “And script-boy approval.”
Shattered Chandelier
“When I first read the title I thought it said Shattered Chandler and it would be about Matthew Perry,” Jones admits. “This is very different.”
A dark, love story told through dance and music, it’s a modern version of Phantom of the Opera, choreographed with elements of classical Cecchetti ballet and modern and interpretive dance.
The spectacle should enchant and mesmerize audiences long after the chandelier comes crashing down.
“Like the sign in the antique store says, ‘You break it, you buy it’,” says Miss Sammy. “I wonder if they’ll take a Discover Card.”
Sissy
It’s after school and Coach BJ needs to teach his sissies a lesson. From Kitty Puncher comes Sissy, a devised comedy that’s making everybody squirt.
Watch as these boys stretch, suck and swallow their pride for Coach BJ’s viewing pleasure. There’ll be chills, thrills and loads of spills in your pants.
“In other words this is a good show to see with your parents,” Jones says.
Streisand, the Greatest Star—Like Buttah
Hello Gorgeous! Carla DelVillaggio, a multiple award-winning Barbra Streisand tribute artist, is back with a new show!
A celebration of the greatest songs from the Streisand songbook, featuring Broadway hits from Hello Dolly, Cats, West Side Story, Sunset Boulevard, and Carousel.
“She thinks her shit don’t stink…but it does,” says Miss Sammy. ” It smells like a dozen pink roses gently nudged by a sunlit-Spring-morning breeze.”
The Tricky Part by Martin Moran
Martin Moran’s 2004 Obie award winner for Best Play is a riveting, funny and surprising journey through the complexities of boyhood, manhood, Catholicism, desire, trespass and forgiveness.
“A show about boyhood, manhood and Catholicism,” Jones says. “How did they manage to keep Michael Wanzie out of it?”
“Haven’t you heard? Wanzie is a lesbian nun now,” Miss Sammy reminds us.
Truth or Dare with Pepe
Pepe is back and you never know what to expect with Truth or Dare. Last year nothing was off limits in this sexually explicit show, which featured discussions on pornography, lubricants and squirting.
“Pepe is always funny,” Jones says. “At least I think he is. I have no idea what the fuck he is saying half the time.”
“Truth,” adds Miss Sammy. “Neither does he.”
