Song of the Day: 'Good Guys Win' by Robby Benson (for Michael and Eduardo)

It's not every day I get an email from someone whose image in tighty whities is seared into my brain. 

But that's just what happened yesterday when my friend Michael Menzies sent out a mass email announcing he'd finally "made it legal" with his partner of 33 years, Eduardo, and their friend Robby Benson replied to all with this musical greeting to the newlyweds. Best wishes, boys!

Mystery Actress to Star as Hannah in Live Reading of Woody Allen's 'Hannah and Her Sisters'

Tickets HERE.

Just now hearing about a first-ever live reading of Woody Allen's "Hannah and Her Sisters," to be held at the Times Center in New York on Friday, directed by Olivia Wilde and produced by Jason Reitman and Film Independent. The cast includes Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, Uma Thurman, Michael Sheen, Maya Rudolph, and Salman Rushdie. EW reports that Thurman and Byrne will play Hannah’s sisters, Holly and Lee, originally brought to life onscreen, respectively, by Dianne Wiest (who won an Oscar for her role), and Barbara Hershey. Sheen will star as Hannah’s husband, a part first played by Caine (who also won an Oscar), with Rudolph filling the shoes of Carrie Fisher and Rushdie taking on Max von Sydow’s character, whose in a relationship with Byrne’s Lee. Cannavale will play Hannah’s ex-husband, a role Allen starred in for the Oscar-winning film. Casting for the role of Hannah herself, portrayed in the movie version by Mia Farrow, has not been announced. Wilde teased on Twitter that more actors would be announced on Thursday. My vote for Hannah? Mia Farrow!  

Order HERE.

Fitting that I would hear about this today after attending my first-ever stage reading of a play. Michael Menzies' adaptation of his 2012 memoir, "Deeply Superficial" -- about his fantastical childhood dreaming of Marlene Dietrich and Noel Coward being his parents -- was a charmer and delight, featuring understated performances by David Garrison, Ellen Foley and Sean Hudock who each effortlessly brought the characters to life. Here's hoping the project finds investors so you too can appreciate this gem of a tale!  

Truly, Madly, 'Deeply'

Congratulations to my dear friend and publishing-mate Michael Menzies, whose delightful memoir -- "Deeply Superficial: Noël Coward, Marlene Dietrich, and Me" -- is making its way to the stage, with a New York City reading featuring Tony Award nominee David Garrison, Sean Hudock (above) and Ellen Foley! Details HERE.

Order HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Face to Face' by Siouxsie and the Banshees

With thanks to Michael: Every talking picture Marlene Dietrich starred in is featured here in this video set to Siouxsie Sioux. 

Michael and Me

The lovely Michael Menzies -- whose own memoir, DEEPLY SUPERFICIAL: Marlene Dietrich, Noël Coward, and Me, is an utter delight -- strikes a "Wonderful" pose!

5 Questions With Michael Menzies, Author of 'Deeply Superficial: Noël Coward, Marlene Dietrich, and Me'

You may recall that on my Summer Reading List back in June there was a delightful-sounding memoir called "Deeply Superficial: Noël Coward, Marlene Dietrich, and Me," written by film executive Michael Menzies. I had heard about it through my upcoming book's editor, Don Weise, who also worked with Mr. Menzies. Don had been gushing about what a delight Michael's tome was, so I was eager to dig in. Despite the obvious conflict of interest, it turns out Don didn't lie -- or even exaggerate much. Part Coward biography, part Dietrich biography, part memoir and all heart, "Deeply Superficial" is a must-read for fans of Old Hollywood, or really anyone who's ever felt a special kinship for a celebrity.

Growing up a fish out of water in New Zealand during the 1940s, Menzies discovered the autobiography of actor/writer/composer Noël Coward and was consumed by it. While just 12 years old at the time, he identified hugely with Coward -- so much so that he believed he must be his hero's love child. But who was his mum? Like any budding gay boy of that era, of course he decided she could only be Marlene Dietrich. Menzies then decided that as soon as he could leave NZ, he would trek around the world to confront Coward and Dietrich in person and announce himself as their son. Yet even after he finally abandoned his dreamy plan, Menzies continued his search for them -- and their pasts -- spending the rest of his life following in their footsteps, traveling to London, Paris, New York, Berlin, Switzerland and Jamaica.

I recently pinned Mr. Menzies down at his West Hollywood home for five questions about the summer's sweetest read, now available HERE.

KIT212: I was drawn to your book because like you with Noël Coward and Marlene Dietrich, I grew up thinking I was the love child of Genghis Khan and Madeline Kahn. Please tell my readers how your quirky story wound up becoming a book? 

MM: When I was about 4 years old. my mother correcting some flaw in my character - the nerve of her! - said to me: "People don't behave like that in the real world." That was the moment I decided to reject reality, and create my own world. I felt I had to write about this, to give people an alternative way of seeing life. It doesn't have to be all grey and dull. For instance no matter where you are, if you squint, you can see Paris. Odd too, that you should mention your relationship with your "parents." In 1979 I worked on a movie in New York City titled SIMON which starred your mother (Madeline Kahn) who did a great impersonation of my mother (Dietrich). It is quite possible through this connection that we are distantly related, even though Ms. Kahn never mentioned anything about you , despite the the various lunches we shared on set.

KIT212: As a fabulous gay boy, you were more than ready to leave New Zealand behind you. Have you been back recently? (And if so, do you think today's gay boys would find it more welcoming to their way of life?) 

MM: Last time i visited New Zealand was in 1988. (I was quite spry then).   I am contemplating another trip sometime within the next year. Historically New Zealand has always been politically progressive. it was the first country in the world to give women the vote (in 1893!). They approved same-sex marriage in April 2013, and the NZ senate burst into song at its passage. And as for the current boys in New Zealand click HERE.

The author with his companion of 30 years, Eduardo de la Grana 

KIT212: There is a point in the book where you are literally lurking outside one of Mr. Coward's homes (Chalet Covair in Les Avants, Switzerland). Driving by for a photo is one thing, but peering through the windows for a lengthy period of time is, well, a stalkerish. You seem to find it rather cathartic, though, saying you could not remember another occasion when you were "so full of joy." Were there any things you did in the name of fandom that you left out of the book? 

MM: You are right: it was stalker-like on my part. (Is "stalkerish" a word? ) I apologized in the book for doing so. But I was beautifully dressed and arrived at Coward's Chalet in a chauffeured limousine, so if challenged, I am sure my knowledge and affection for The Master and my mode of arrival would override any call to the police. Here I am at the entrance and on the front lawn. I did nothing else in the name of fandom (is that a word, too?) that I left out of the book.

KIT212: Who would play Michael Menzies in the big screen adaptation of "Deeply Superficial"? 

MM: I have written a one-man show based on an incident in my life: the night I was attending the first show Marlene Dietrich did on Broadway. It was a truly starry occasion -- the world was there. I was 33 at the time and my ideal choice for the role is John Krasinski, who was partly educated in England and therefore has the right voice. And why not choose someone sexy and handsome if you are going to cast yourself? If two other characters are added to the play (who could play both Dietrich and Coward and my real parents) I would choose Constance Towers and Peter Katona. A movie of the book seems daunting, but the chapter where Dietrich at 60 falls in love with a Polish actor 25 years her junior could be adapted, I think. For that I would want Charlotte Rampling and John Krasinski, whose father was Polish and therefore has the right voice. What do you think?

KIT212: I approve! And finally, if Noël and Marlene have Kindles in heaven, what do you think they would say about your little tale? 

MM: I prefer "frothy tome" to "little tale". but in answer to your question, I think Noël would say "Dear boy...." and Marlene would say "Sweetheart, can you show us how these things -- the Kindles -- work?" I would have to say, "No I can't, but when Kenneth M. Walsh arrives, I am sure he will be able to show all of us". Noël will probably respond that "it is unlikely that Mr. Walsh will arrive in heaven .... have you seen his blog?" Thank you for the interview, and may I have a second helping of that delicious English trifle, please?

"Deeply Superficial: Noël Coward, Marlene Dietrich, and Me" is available in paperback, e-book and audio book HERE.

Summer Reading: Dan Savage, David Rakoff, Bill Clegg and More

While I don't have any specific beach plans yet -- Montauk two weekends ago was a rain-drenched disaster, and my next vacation is to my birthplace, my first time in the Motor City in about eight years -- but I do have my summer reading list up and running. I'll show you mine if you show me yours, in the comments.

No one is better suited for the fits and starts of summer reading than David Sedaris. His latest, "Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls," is enjoyable enough, although he's more serious and less funny than in the past. The sentimental story, dealing with his childhood realization that he was gay, was a nice change of pace. But some of the political and U.K. stuff left me kind of cold. Easily my least-favorite book of his, although that's still not the biggest put-down given where I was starting from. Get HERE. 

If you're looking for a quickie, might I recommend "Fun as Hell," my friend and former New York Times colleague Luke Kummer's Kindle Singles debut:

A down-on-his-luck reporter sets out to write about a military training facility that has invited tourists to experience war firsthand. But after his girlfriend decides to join him on this madcap daytrip he is forced to unravel a bigger story. This uniquely told narrative—call it truly strange—weaves a fast-paced, humorous and gripping account together with the author’s recollections of writing for newspapers in New York, the Middle East and Washington, falling in love and traveling to places touched by violence. "Fun as Hell" is a captivating ride with sharp turns. What it reveals about war, the media, relationships and our times will shake readers and leave them hungering for more.

Luke deftly weaves a journalistic outing with tales of his floundering relationship and career uncertainities in this fun and frenetic mini-memoir. Download HERE.

I'm a big fan of Dan Savage, dating back to when I worked at PR Newswire in the '90s and one of my editors used to save the most salacious letters from Savage Love to share with me. Still, I've never read any of his books, despite hearing great things about them --  most notably "The Kid: What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided to Go Get Pregnant" -- and even buying a copy of "It Gets Better." (I just used that one to get a pic-with Dan and his hubby, Terry.) That all ends with "American Savage: Insights, Slights, and Fights on Faith, Sex, Love and Politics," which I got a review copy of and started the other night. Get HERE.

This one's gonna be bittersweet. The hilarious David Rakoff died last year after finishing his first novel(la), "Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, Perish," a rhythmic, rhyming tale that "captures the lives of several generations of Americans, from a hobo riding the rails during the Great Depression to a man coping with AIDS in 1980s San Francisco."  David shared this preview with me while he was writing: 

Here's a filthy couplet from the Clifford chapters (b. in the 1930's, first cousin to Helen, from the Christmas poem), He loves to draw, gay, moves to SF in the Summer of Love, becomes a minor underground success for his underground comic strip, "The Adventures of Cap'n Cocksure and his sidekick, Throbbin,'" dies of AIDS in 1984): "O, it's true what the song says, my heart's San Francisco's! (Suck on this, dear, while I work out where this goes...)" 

I'm thrilled to have one more work from him -- sure hope there's an audio version, his reading is the best -- but I can't help but wish it were another collection of personal essays, of which there were far too few. Perhaps this was a deliberate distraction when his prognosis turned dire, and writing about himself was no longer something he wanted to do. Like I said, bittersweet. Pre-order HERE.

"Dreadful: The Short Life and Gay Times of John Horne Burns" arrived on my doorstep yesterday, David Margolick's rather substantial biography of the late gay novelist:

American John Horne Burns (1916–1953) led a brief and controversial life, and as a writer, transformed many of his darkest experiences into literature. Burns was born in Massachusetts, graduated from Andover and Harvard, and went on to teach English at the Loomis School, a boarding school for boys in Windsor, Connecticut. During World War II, he was stationed in Africa and Italy, and worked mainly in military intelligence. His first novel, "The Gallery" (1947), based on his wartime experiences, is a critically acclaimed novel and one of the first to unflinchingly depict gay life in the military. "The Gallery" sold half a million copies upon publication, but never again would Burns receive that kind of critical or popular attention. 

 Get HERE.

I loved Bill Clegg's sex-and-drugs memoir, "Portrait of Addict as a Young Man," but never got around to reading the follow-up. His relapse memoir, "Ninety Days," is out in paperback, so I picked it up at Three Lives the other day. Get HERE.

 Heard about "Confessions of a Fairy's Daughter" in Out magazine:

When Alison Wearing was 12, her father came out as gay. Nearly unheard of in 1970s small-town Canada, the revelation changed the course of her and her father’s lives, both captured in Wearing’s funny and moving memoir.

I'm in! Get HERE.

And finally, Michael Menzies' "Deeply Superficial: Noel Coward, Marlene Dietrich, and Me" sounds like a hoot:

In this dazzling memoir that also serves as a dual biography of stage and film legends Noël Coward and Marlene Dietrich, film and music executive Michael Menzies chronicles in hilarious detail his life-long obsession with the theater in general and these two international superstars in particular. At age 12, Menzies discovered the autobiography of actor/writer/composer Noël Coward and was consumed by it. Although still only a youth, Menzies identified hugely with Coward—so much so that he came to believe that he must be the star’s love child. But with whom? In a burst of inspiration Menzies worked out that his mother could only be Marlene Dietrich. The author then decides that as soon as he can he will voyage around the world to confront Coward and Dietrich in person and announce himself as their son. Yet even after he finally abandons his plan, Menzies continues his search for them—and their pasts—spending the rest of his life following in their footsteps, traveling to London, Paris, New York, Berlin, Switzerland, and Jamaica. 

Get HERE.