THUR. JAN. 22
“Kalighat” is a new play that addresses homosexuality and religion under the watchful eye of Calcutta’s favorite nun. Based on openly gay playwright and director Paul Knox’s experiences working with Calcutta’s sick, the play dramatizes the work of Mama T’s Missionaries of Charity and the conflict of gay and lesbian volunteers whose sexualities clash with their religious beliefs. Tonight and tomorrow at 7 p.m. with additional dates and times through February 15, at Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Ave. (theater entrance on 25th St.). $19 or $15 for students and seniors. Call 212 868 4444 or visit www.smarttix.com.
FRI. JAN. 23
Movie Night for Women
Lesbian Cinema Arts presents “Ruth & Connie,” directed by Deborah Dickson. Like many women in the 1970s, Ruth Berman and Connie Kurtz got divorced. But unlike most, they left their husbands for other women — each other. In “Ruth & Connie,” the couple reflect upon 40 years of friendship and love. 7 p.m. socializing and 8 p.m. screening at the LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. $6 for members and $10 for nonmembers. Call 212 620 7310 for more information.
Truly Outrageous Musical
“Above and Beyond the Valley of the Ultra Showgirls,” is the story of the rise and fall of the all girl group, Super Vixen. With big boobs and big dreams, the girls want to make it in rock. Starring D’Arcy Drollinger, Brandon Olson, Alyssa Wendt, Chris Tanner, D’Arcy Dersham, Anne Gaynor, Jay Rhoderick, and Camille Habacker, the musical also features a live rock band with all original songs. 8 p.m. at Pyramid, 101 Ave. A, between 6th and 7th Sts. $12 Call 212 505 1700 ext. 14 for tickets.
Urban Drama
The Wings Theatre presents “Banjee,” a play by A.B. Lugo, a powerful drama that charts the relationship between two young Latino hustlers. “Angel and Tony are young, tough and for sale—just don’t tell their girlfriends.” The show runs through Feb. 21, Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m., Mon. at 8 p.m. at The Wings Theatre, 154 Christopher St. Tickets are $19 available at 212 627 2961 or www.wingstheatre.com.
The Havana Film Festival
Cool New York 2004 presents “Los Sobrevivientes,” a film about Cuba in 1978 starring Vicente Revuelta, Reynaldo Miravalles, Enrique Santiesteban, Ana Viña. A bourgeois Cuban family of aristocratic origin locks itself into its mansion when the Cuban Revolution comes to power, waiting for the new regime to be overthrown. As time passes, they regress to older and older systems of political order, from capitalism to feudalism to “primitive savagery.” This dark comic classic, by one of Cuba’s most acclaimed directors, has never been released commercially in the United States. 6 p.m. at the NYU Cantor Center, 36 East 8th St. Tickets are $10.
Erasure Mania
They’re still loving the new “Erasure Hits” DVD so much so that from 10:45 p.m. to midnight, Erasure songs will play on the dance floor, as well as Erasure videos in the basement all night, at Pyramid, 101 Ave. A. $8 Doors open at 10 p.m. Visit www.SpinCycleNYC.com for more information.
Ionesco’s Final Work
The Brooklyn Arts Exchange presents “Journeys Among the Dead,” Eugene Ionesco’s final haunting work adapted and directed by Joanna Settle. Puppet and multi-media performance techniques will combine to create a physics- and vaudeville-infused landscape of time trails and memory bends. Tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m. at 421 5th Ave. in Brooklyn (F train to 4th Avenue). Tickets are $8-$15 available at 718 832 0018 or www.bax.org.
SAT. JAN. 24
PFLAG in Newark
Newark, N.J.’s first Parents and Friends of Gays and Lesbians chapter will meet today at the Paul Robeson Center at Rutgers University. Facilitated by the Newark Pride Alliance, an LGBT rights organization that was founded after the May 2003 killing of Sakia Gunn, a lesbian teen, this meeting will inaugurate PFLAG’s presence in the Garden State’s largest city. 11 a.m. at 350 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Newark. All are welcome. Visit www.geocities.com/newark_pride_alliance/ for more information.
Lesbian Love Connection
Meet available women at Date Bait’s lesbian event. Come inside and get a number, then you introduce yourself to the other women and get a chance to chat. Then you write down the name of the women who interest you and the Date Bait computer tabulates any love connections and announces them. The rest is up to you. 7:30 p.m. at the LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. $15 at the door. Call 212 620 7310 for more information.
Gay Cabaret
Toby Blackwell’s show “Bitter” is a combination of traditional cabaret and stand-up comedy with a varied musical repertoire including pop, folk, R&B and musical theatre. Blackwell sings a tribute to divas and gets political with his tales from being gay in the Navy during “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” 7 p.m. tonight and Jan. 31st and Feb. 7th at 9 p.m. at the Duplex, 61 Christopher St. $10 plus 2-drink minimum Call 212 255 5438 or visit www.theduplex.com.
“Valhalla”
This new play by Paul Rudnick, directed by Christopher Ashley, is about a comic collision of a Teutonic titan and a Texas teen both searching for a life of operatic beauty. King Ludwig II is the real-life 1860s ruler madly in love with Wagnerian opera and remembered for dotting the German countryside with ornate castles. James Avery is a dangerously precocious 1940s teenager marooned in austere Dainsville, Texas. Tickets are usually $60, but you can save $20 on this New York Theater Workshop play by calling 212 947 8844 and mentioning code VLHND27. 79 East 4th St. in the East Village through March.
SUN. JAN. 25
Chinese New Year Celebration
Q-GLU, or Queens Gays and Lesbians United, is having a party to celebrate the Chinese New Year 4701, the year of the monkey. Q-GLU brings together the LGBT community in Queens to gather, network and socialize. The New Year’s party will have a buffet and live entertainment. $22 in advance or $28 at the door. 1:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center of Jackson Heights, at the corner of 37th Ave. and 77th St. Send check or money order to P.O. Box 4669, Sunnyside, N.Y. 11104. Call 718 205 6605 for more information.
Greek Comedy in Brooklyn
With an anti-war twist and a cast of 100, the centuries-old tale in “Lysistrata 100” opens in Brooklyn tonight. The Greek comedy by Aristophanes tells the story of how the women of Athens were fed up with the men’s obsession with the Peloponnesian War in 410 B.C. Using their feminine powers of persuasion to promote peace, they cut off all sexual communication with all men within 500 miles and stop the war. 7 p.m. Sun., 8 p.m. Mon. to Wed. at the UnderWater Theatre, a brand new theatre in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood, at 66 Water St. between Main and Dock Sts. $25 Call 212 868 4444 or visit www.smarttix.com.
Cher and Cher-Alike
Devon Cass, who has even fooled Cher herself, performs his last show, “Cher: Four Decades Live,” tonight. Cass puts on the costumes and sings Cher’s greatest hits in his own voice in an intimate setting for all the fans who missed the farewell tour. 8 p.m. at Fez, located inside Time Café at 380 Lafayette St. at Great Jones St. $20 Call 212 533 2680 for reservations or visit www.spincyclenyc.com.
Schumann is Blissful
Jonathan Bliss, the 23-year-old phenomenal pianist, will perform Schumann with the Staatskapelle Berlin and its music director, Daniel Barenboim. The afternoon promises to be another staggering performance by Bliss. Tickets are $29 — $120, available at 212 247 7800. 2 p.m. at Carnegie Hall, Isaac Stern Auditorium, 7th Ave. and 57th St.
MON. JAN. 26
Promote Yourself
Out Professionals presents “B2B Networking: Building Your Client Base,” a 2-hour networking session for LGBT professionals and business owners, who want to sell themselves and their businesses. Develop new business leads, identify potential vendors, expand referral networks and meet new people. Bring 50 business cards or flyers and rehearse a 90-second introduction. 7 p.m. at the LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. Non-members $15, OP members $12. Call 212 462 9255 or visit www.outprofessionals.org.
Justice for Aunt Jemima
After her agent asked her to audition for an Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix commercial, Michelle Matlock began developing “The Mammy Project” to confront the American stereotype, Mammy, who was imagined from slavery, minstrel shows and racist advertising. “The Mammy Project” re-imagines these cultural traditions, evolving their oppressive power with humor, outrage and grace. Mon. at 8 p.m. at The Palace of Variety, 125 W. 42nd St. between 6th Ave. and Broadway. $15
TUE. JAN. 27
Porno Spoof
Adult film producer and sex toy designer Candida Royalle presents her new film, “Stud Hunters,” a flick about a porn film director and her female star searching for the perfect leading man. 7 p.m. at Toys in Babeland, 94 Rivington St., 212 375 1701. Free
WED. JAN. 28
Gay Male S&M Activists
This advocacy group continues its annual series of workshops tonight with a leather get-together and Strip-the-Stud raffle. 7:30 p.m. at the LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. $7 suggested donation. Visit www.gmsma.org for more information.
THUR. JAN. 29
Alice Does Wonderland
“Alice in Wonderland” is a Bill Osco’s musical rendition of the classic story. In this version, Alice lives in a trailer park in New Jersey and she is about to have a sexual awakening. Her adventures with the White Rabbit, the Caterpillar and the Cheshire Cat teach her what gets her hot and what turns on others. This naughty journey through Wonderland in search of sexual fulfillment is for adults and it contains full nudity. 8 p.m. Mon.- Sat. with additional shows at 10 p.m. Fri. – Sun., 410 W. 43rd St. $50 Call 212 239 6200 or visit www.telecharge.com.
Men in Briefs
Check your clothes at the door and celebrate in your skivvies at the third Tigerbeat Underwear Party. Daniel Nardicio and DJ Sammy Jo host the mandatory clothes-check party. $8 gets you in, plus clothes check and one drink, at the Slide. 356 Bowery 10 p.m.
Schubert Revival
Eos Orchestra with Jonathan Sheffer, conductor, present “Franz Schubert: Unfinished/Refinished,” an exploration of the unfinished works of the composer, as well as transcriptions of his works by later composers. The concert will be at the newly-renovated concert hall at the Ethical Culture Society, 2 West 64th St. at 8 p.m., preceded by a MusicTalk discussion at 7 p.m. Tickets are $45-$65 available at 212 691 6415.
Fire Island History
Out Professionals presents a screening of “When Ocean Meets Sky,” a new 90-minute documentary by Crayton Robey, celebrating 50 years of Fire Island history and focusing on the Pines, considered one of the world’s great gay resorts. Robey tells his story principally through the eyes and voices of the Pines community. On-screen interviewees include Carson Kressley, of Bravo’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” and Tony Award-winning composer Jerry Herman, creator of the scores for “Mame,” “La Cage aux Folles” and “Hello, Dolly!” Other on-screen presences include author (“Faggots”), playwright (“The Normal Heart”) and activist Larry Kramer, co-founder of ACT UP, as well as many other commentators. Admittance is $10 for group non-members, $7 for members. 7 p.m. at the LGBT Community Center. 208 W. 13th St.
Film Forum Presents
“Lõage Dõor” (1930) and “Un Chien Andalou” (1929), Luis Bunuel’s and Salvador Dali’s landmarks of surrealist cinema, will have a one-week engagement through February 5. Both films are shown together, with “Lõage Dõor” presented in a new 35mm print. Daily show times at 2, 3:40, 5:20, 7, and 8:40 p.m. For more information visit www.filmforum.com or call 212 727 8110.
Spanish Composers
The New York Festival of Song, Steven Blier, artistic director, presents “Homage to Barcelona,” an evening of art songs, folk arrangements and theater music by Mompou, Montsalvatge, Granados and other masters. Artists will include Jennifer Aylmer, soprano, and Hugh Russell, baritone, with Blier on the piano. 8 p.m. at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center, 129 West 67th St. Tickets are $38, $15 for seniors and students at 212 501 3330.
FRI. JAN. 30
Playtime for Women
An event for single gay women only, “Playtime” is a fun way to meet new friends and to find romance using interactive theatre games and innovative mingling techniques with a focus on laughter. The games are not corny and the atmosphere is not threatening. Break the ice and meet new people without the loud and crowded bar scene. Hosted by Marilyn Galfin, a professional comic, clown, mime and laughter leader. 8 p.m. at the Center, 208 W. 13th St. $16 Call 212 989 8549 to register.
SAT. JAN. 31
Mango Tribe
This Asian American women’s performance collective presents “The Creation Myth Project,” tales that tell the women’s stories and go beyond expected parameters. Mango is comprised of over 20 Asian and Pacific Islander Women from across the U.S. The show, sponsored by the Abrons Art Center and Henry Street Settlement, is at the Experimental Theater, 466 Grand St. at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at 212 598 0400 for $10, $5 for students.