THU. FEB. 3
Verbatim Verboten
David Drake, Jonny McGovern, Shequida, Susan O’Connor and Jenn Harris bring Michael Martin’s longtime Chicago and New Orleans hit, “Verbatim Verboten,” a tale of words you were never meant to hear from the rich, powerful, famous and infamous to the New York stage at Fez through Feb. 28. John Pinckard directs this smorgasbord of transcripts, the playlist updated nightly, of comments by Rudy Giuliani, Spike Lee, Madonna, Michael Alig, Enron and Texaco executives, Prince Harry, Orson Welles, Jim Morrison and others. Every Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Fez, inside the Time Café, 380 Lafayette St. below Cooper Sq. Tickets are $10 at 212.533.2680.
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Texas Homos
Jan Buttram’s “Texas Homos,” a play about Lone Star gay folk, starts previews tonight at the Abingdon Theatre Company with Tony Award-Winner Melvin Bernhardt directing. The play opens tonight at the June Havoc Theatre, Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex, 312 W. 36th St., first floor. Call 212-868-4444 for times and tickets. $25.
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Comic Blizzard Forecast
Kim Cea, the comic diva David Noh raves about in his In the Noh column in this week’s issue, hosts an evening of “Homo Comicus,” featuring Jessica Kirson, Courtney Knowles, Guy Winch and more. Gotham Comedy Club, 34 W. 22nd St., 8:30 p.m. There’s a $12 cover and a two-drink minimum, but no additional charge for busting a gut. For reservations, call 212-367-9000.
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FRI. FEB. 4
Rhymin’ on the Bowery
Taylor Mead, the star of more than 100 films, a key actor in the Warhol Factory constellation and fresh from his appearance in Jim Jarmusch’s “Coffee and Cigarettes,” will wax poetic about the pleasures and horrors of sex and Bush (you decide), in this evening at the Bowery Poetry Club. Mead will appear at 6:30 p.m., with a $5 cover, followed at 7 p.m. by Rick Shapiro, with a $7/$5 cover, providing a mix of comedy, poetry, Bill Hicks, Buddy Hackett and a hardcore streaming strain of Beat politics and nihilism. Boulder, Colorado slammers and Buck Wild precede Mead beginning at 5 p.m. with free shows. 308 Bowery. For information, call 212-614-0505.
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I Remember Harlem
In the first of four weekly programs on Friday nights in February, Bill Miles’ documentary film on the early years of America’s most famous African-American community (1600-1930) is screened. Miles makes use of extensive archival material and personal interviews to tell his story. The filmmaker will be on hand to discuss his work in an event sponsored by the Freedom Socialist Party. Freedom Hall, 113 W. 128th St., btwn. Malcolm X Blvd. And Seventh Ave., 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 212-222-0633.
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“The Cherry Orchard”
Earl Hyman plays Firs and Wendell Pierce plays Lopakhin in this new staging of the Chekhov classic running through Feb. 27 at the Classical Theatre of Harlem. Thu. – Sat. at 8 p.m. and Sun. at 3 p.m. at the Harlem School of the Arts Theater, 645 St. Nicholas Ave. near 141st St. (Take the A, B, C, or D trains to 145th St.) Call 212-539-8828 for tickets.
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Disposable Men
HERE Arts Center presents “Interactive Tales of Disposable Men” created and performed by James Scruggs through Feb. 12. An African-American odyssey, the play is directed by HERE’s co-founder and executive director Kristin Marting, and runs on Tue., Sat.–Sun., Tue. at 8:30 p.m. (post-performance discussions on Feb. 9 & 10 with Dr. Carlyle Van Thompson, Woodrow Wilson fellow in the humanities at Medgar Evers College). 145 Sixth Ave. Ticket are $20 at 212.868.4444.
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Black Masculinities
Scholars, writers and activists will gather at The City University of New York Graduate Center for a day-long conference entitled “Black Masculinities.” The conference features a roundtable discussion with Keith Boykin, author of “One More River to Cross,” Ta-Nehisi Coates of the Village Voice, and cultural critic Greg Tate. Topics range from prisons to masculinity in art and movement to “On the Down Low.” Free registration is at: continuinged@gc.cuny.edu or 212-817-8215. 9 a.m. at 365 Fifth Ave., CUNY Grad Center.
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Brazilian Bear Fest
If you can’t go to Rio for Brazilian carnival this year, don’t worry, The Dugout is having Bear Carnival this weekend. Hot boys, drinks made from cachaça, songs, dance and joy. 10 p.m. tonight and tomorrow at The Dugout, 185 Christopher St. 212-242-9113.
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SAT. FEB. 5
That’s Totally Ridiculous!
Veterans of the Ridiculous Theatrical Company gather to remember its late founder and longtime heart, Charles Ludlam. The multimedia presentation and panel discussion will include Ridiculous actress Lola Pashalinksi, photographer Leandro Katz, Ludlam biographer David Kaufman (“Not So Ridiculous”) and artist Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt. The afternoon is moderated by Joe E. Jeffreys, a Ridiculous scholar and Tisch School of Arts professor. New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, Bruno Auditorium, 3 p.m. Admission is free, but seating is limited. For more information, call 212-870-1630.
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Authors Chat
Movie buffs take note! Housing Works Used Book Café continues its wildly successful “author2author” series with David Thomson and Geoffrey O’Brien tonight at 7 p.m., discussing Thomson’s new book, “The Whole Equation: A History of Hollywood.” Both authors will be available to sign books and answer questions after the reading. 126 Crosby St., one block east of Broadway between Houston and Prince Sts. 212-334-3324.
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Deeper Dating
Psychotherapist Ken Page offers a workshop on a concept that’s hard to argue with—deeper dating—for single men interested in meeting others committed to spirituality and values exploration. LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St., 7 to 10 p.m. The cost is $20. For more information, visit deeperdating.com.
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SUN. FEB. 6
Atomic Reading Series
Billed as “the reading series with something for everyone,” Atomic, curated by Cherly B., this month hosts Karen and Adriana from Atlanta’s Cliterati, Dirty Phoenix, AmyJo Goddard and London’s Tim Wells. Lucky 13 Saloon, 273 13th St. at Fifth Ave. in Park Slope, 7 p.m. There is no cover charge. For more information, visit lucky13saloon.com.
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Brooklyn Arts Exchange
The Groundhog Series for Family Audiences offers a series of afternoon performances through the month for children and parents. Today is “Spanish as a Living Language at the Brooklyn School for Collaborative Studies” that includes original scene work, poetry and theater games created by students and performed in Spanish and English directed by Albert Elias. 2 p.m. at 421 Fifth Ave. at Eighth St. in Park Slope. Call 718-832-0018 or visit bax.org for more information. $10 adults/$8 children or low-income folks.
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MON. FEB. 7
Rare Photographs
Annemarie Schwarzenbach (1908-1942), was an author, photographer and cult figure much celebrated in Europe who worked within the relatively new genre of photojournalism in the 1920s and 30s. In the U.S., her work has rarely been seen. The Godwin-Ternbach Museum at Queens College opens an exhibition of 100 Schwarzenbach photographs—images that document the Nazi uprising in Austria, dire social conditions in America after the Great Depression, and travels through Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Turkey during the 1930s.
Schwarzenbach, a lesbian, had a promising career but turbulent life, marked by drug addiction and various love affairs. She died at the age of 34. This exhibit runs through June. For directions and times, visit www.qc.edu/directions/ or call 718 997-4747.
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TUE.FEB. 8
Fat Tuesday
Pianist and vocalist “Big Chief” Rich Campbell and PARTI GRAS will be playing at Helen’s celebrating Mardi Gras with a seven-piece band playing New Orleans classics. 169 Eighth Ave. btwn. 18th and 19th Sts., 8 p.m. Chef Sara offers a special Creole menu. Admission is $15, with a $15 minimum. Call 212-206-0609.
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Volunteer for Tribeca Film Fest
The 2005 Tribeca Film Festival (Apr. 21-May 1) is looking for volunteers in special events, the box office, screenings and the “Family Festival” in addition to many other departments. Information about volunteering and an application can be found on the Web site at: tribecafilmfestival.org or at 212-941-2404. There will be two Q&A events for anyone interested in volunteering at this year’s festival. You must RSVP at: volunteers@tribecafilmfestival.org. Tonight at 7 p.m. at Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick Street (at Laight Street). Take the #1, #2, #3, A, C, or E trains to Canal Street.
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THU. FEB. 10
Bailey House Benefit
The “Open Your Heart” auction features exclusive photographs by celebrities of “The Look of Love,” and a vast array of items, including fine art and photography, couture, home furnishings, and travel and entertainment packages.
Todd Oldham is spearheading the photography project, sponsored by Hewlett Packard, which will include 40 photographic images, by such talents as Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Missy Elliott, Chloe Sevigny, and Amy Sedaris showcasing their meaning of love. 6:30 p.m. The Puck Building, 295 Lafayette Street. Tickets are $135-$2,500. Call 212-219-2953 or visit baileyhouse.org for more information.
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SAT. FEB. 12
Sweat and Lust
M8 continues its Euro-style, ubermacho fest—skinhead, biker, army, rubber, punk, sports kit, leather—with a celebration of hot man-on-man-on-mat action as the Metro Wrestling Alliance returns. This time around Greccogear.Com will arm the boys for battle in sexy, vintage fight wear. Raffle winners take home hoodies, T-shirts, DVDs and other cool stuff. Barber and bootblack give good head-to-toe. Guinness draft, hourly drink specials, submission wrestling videos and lots of hot men ensure for a night of sexy mayhem. Pussycat Lounge, 96 Greenwich St. at Rector St. 1-9-4-5 trains all within the block. Dress hard. $10. More info at M8NY.com.
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SUN. FEB. 13
African-American Theater
New York’s historic Town Hall will be the setting for an extraordinary salute to the endurance and influence of Woodie King, Jr.’s New Federal Theatre (NFT), for 35 years a seminal force in the Black Arts Movement, co-hosted by Ossie Davis and Lynn Whitfield. In addition to celebrating the NFT’s vital contribution to the arts internationally, the gala will feature a special “roast and toast” to Negro Ensemble Company co-founder award winning actor/director/writer, Douglas Turner Ward and an awards presentation honoring significant contributors to the development of the theatre. The gala celebrations will kick off at 3 p.m. at Town Hall followed by a dinner with the honorees, performers and national committee members. Tickets for the 35th Anniversary Gala Benefit are $75, $175, and $300 (includes dinner) and can be purchased by calling Lorelei Enterprises at 212-838-2660.
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“Broadway Sings The Jews”
Tony-Award winning performer Betty Buckley salutes Jewish identity in music, lyrics and composers with a concert presented by Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, an LGBT congregation. The concert is followed by an open reception. 5 p.m. at Congregation Rodeph Sholom, 7 West 83rd St. Tickets are $36. For more information, call 212-929-9498 or visit cbst.org.
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PFLAG
The New York City chapter of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays will hold its free monthly support group meeting at St. Bartholomew’s Church Community House, 109 East 50th Street between Park and Lexington Aves. at 3 p.m. This month’s featured speaker is Patrick Murphy, who will discuss challenges to the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. For more information, call 212- 463-0629.
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WED. FEB. 16
“Bless Me Father”
This new play by Patrick Suraci, a psychologist and actor, explores the crisis of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church in a two-act play that presents psychological portraits of a teenage boy and his family in the 1950s and the dedicated parish priest who attempts to help them. Directed by Jeffrey Stocker, the artistic director of the Film Acting Studio. 8 p.m. at The National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South. Meet the playwright, director and cast, a reception in the parlor will follow. Free.
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