They've got the beat: Kathy Valentine, Charlotte Caffey, Jane Wiedlin, Belinda Carlisle and Gina Schock
The world's head was a little less lost Monday night when Kathy Valentine reunited with the Go-Go's for a short concert at Bowery Ballroom to promote "Head Over Heels," the upcoming musical heading to Broadway featuring 17 of the band's songs.
An inspired mash-up of posh and punk, "Head Over Heels" is an unpredictable, Elizabethan romp about a royal family that must prevent an oracle's prophecy of doom. In order to save their beloved kingdom, the family embarks on an extravagant journey wrought with mistaken identities, jealous lovers, sexual awakening, scandal and self-discovery, where everything (and everyone) is not quite what it seems.
Insider buzz on “Head Over Heels” is strong. The show’s had a few workshops since it premiered at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2015. It’s gotten better each time, sources say.
It did hit a bump in the road when the original writer, Jeff Whitty, left the production. Whitty, who wrote the script to “Avenue Q,” is a talented writer. And at the Go-Go’s concert Monday night, people involved in the show told me much of his original script was “great fun” and “brilliantly theatrical.”
But it was long. “Head Over Heels” ran three hours in Oregon, prompting one of the Go-Go’s to remark, “I love the Go-Go’s. I’m in the Go-Go’s. But I can’t take three hours of the Go-Go’s.”
James Magruder stepped in to streamline the script, under the supervision of director Michael Mayer, who won the Tony for his terrific production of “Spring Awakening.”
While “Head Over Heels” uses Go-Go’s music, it’s not the band’s story. The show is based on “Arcadia,” a 16th-century prose poem by Sir Philip Sidney, and is set in a magical land of dukes, oracles, lions, bears -- and more than a couple of cross-dressers. The cast includes Jeremy Kushnier, Taylor Iman Jones, Andrew Durand, Rachel York and Peppermint (of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” fame).
While it's no secret I'm not a big musical theater goer, I don't know that there was anyone more excited to be there than I was -- especially with this guy by my side.
Damian's future's so bright ...
Legendary MTV veejay Mark Goodman spoke with director Michael Mayer -- who described the show as the perfect escapist antidote for today's troubled times -- before introducing the band.
And then out came the ladies ...
who launched into "Vacation," Kathy's classic written for her old band the Textones ...
followed by "How Much More," which Charlotte wrote with Jane ...
Andy Cohen and Sandra Bernhard -- (S)Andy -- were to my right, loving every minute of it ...
Was a little surprised that they then did "Mad About You," which was technically written (by replacement Go-Go Paula Jean Brown) for the band's first post-Jane album before ending up on Belinda's solo debut ...
Then came their cover classic, "Cool Jerk." Belinda really seemed to get into the song with Kath and her bad, bad bass ...
The play's title track was next -- a Caffey/Valentine collaboration ...
Followed by the one-two "Beauty and the Beat" punch of "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Wiedlin/Terry Hall)
... and "We Got the Beat” (Caffey).
Afterward we got to spend a little time with Kathy ...
And I confronted Mark Goodman about his missing trademark curly locks. (He hates them and gets his hair straightened these days!)
Miss Guy -- my all-time favorite deejay -- did not disappoint ...
Then I bumped into Charlotte and showed her the photo I took of her when my friend Mark and I stalked the Go-Go's on their 1984 tour. She was so tickled she went running -- with my phone -- across the venue (with no warning) to show her posse, laughing and saying, "That was definitely 'Talk Show' hair!"
It remains to be seen if "Head Over Heels: The Musical" is my cup of tea -- the music's obviously great and the cast is adorable, so that helps! -- but seeing these five women onstage again most definitely is. Here's hoping they continue to play together. We wouldn't want them to be rusty (or estranged) when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finally comes knocking.
Watch the cute pitch for Season 3 of this "comedic, original web series that follows the lives of best friends Ash and Gabe as they struggle to follow a dream that just no longer seems practical. New York City can be unforgiving and harsh, but it can be much easier when you journey through it with people you love -- and can be your big, gay, nerdy self around" and consider making a donation HERE.
I never bought Stevie Nicks's "Street Angel." With no hit single and always looking so sad in the bargain bin at Moby Disc, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. But lately I've been listening to bypassed albums of yesteryear on YouTube at work and discovering all sorts of things. In addition to finally hearing The Police's "Ghost in the Machine" and "Synchronicity" and the Talking Heads' "Fear of Music" and "Remain in Light" in their entirety -- I was on a budget as a teen and those never made the cut -- I've also finally heard the missing Nicks tapes and I was pleasantly surprised. Listen and see if you agree.
Woody Allen is my friend and I continue to believe him. It might be of interest to take a look at the 60 Minute interview from 1992 and see what you think. https://t.co/QVQIUxImB1
It's nice to see not everyone in Hollywood has been shamed into disowning Woody Allen based on claims that were found to be "baseless" by two separate investigations more than 25 years ago. Obviously Diane Keaton can see that Mia Farrow is a vindictive nut who would say and do anything to get back at Woody Allen for his cruel and humiliating betrayal, even at the expense of her own daughter. Perhaps Ronan Farrow should "investigate" why two of Mia's adopted children mysteriously committed suicide, one died from dirty needles, and two are permanently estranged. None of us know everything about this family, but one thing is for sure: This woman is not the saint she wants you to think she is.
Cherry Jones, the Tony- and Emmy-winning actress who appears in Allen's “Rainy Day in New York,” had this to say when asked how she felt about the director and whether she would work with him again. “There are those who are comfortable in their certainty. I am not. I don’t know the truth,” she told The New York Times. “When we condemn by instinct our democracy is on a slippery slope.”
Ran into James Duke Mason at the "Head Over Heels" on Broadway party last night and he tells me he is running for West Hollywood City Council. Have a look at what he hopes to accomplish if elected -- and consider making a donation below:
It's official- I've filed papers to run for West Hollywood City Council in the March 2019 election.
I'm running for a very simple reason: at a time when now, more than ever, people feel like they can’t count on Washington D.C. to look out for their interests, local government must step in and fill the void. In my time as a city official on the West Hollywood Lesbian & Gay Advisory Board (where I currently serve as Co-Chair), as well as during my tenure as a Board Member at the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation, I have stood up for the communities in our city who need it most- the LGBT community, women, seniors, people with disabilities, people in recovery and low income people.
Those are the people that have helped to make West Hollywood the unique, diverse, beautiful and creative city that we are, and I want to be their champion on the City Council. There are several key issues that I will be focusing on in this campaign: ending homelessness, expanding affordable housing, protecting rent control, supporting small businesses and assisting our seniors so they can age in place and live their lives with a sense of stability and security.
Obviously there are a lot of other important issues that also require attention as well, including public safety and transportation. Once we have the full fledged campaign launch in January, I will be laying out a clear and detailed agenda about how exactly we will tackle each of these individual challenges. But in the meantime, I wanted to at least make my intentions clear before the end of the year so we can start 2018 with momentum!
I hope you'll consider being one of the founding supporters of my campaign by visiting the link below and making a contribution. The maximum amount per individual is $500, but whatever amount you can give would make a huge difference:
The journey ahead will not be an easy one. I know that it'll be tough to take on the status quo and bring a new generation of leadership to City Hall. But it's worth the fight, and together, I believe we will win- not just win this campaign, but win better future for all of us.
Thanks for your support, and have a great holiday season!