SAN DIEGO — During last year’s Pride weekend, I took my then-girlfriend to a matinee at the Old Globe. As we were walking, we crossed paths with a young woman wearing a pink wig, short shorts and no top, just body paint and pasties. We looked a bit shocked that this young woman was going topless in public, but she just casually waved and wished us a “Happy Pride.”
Unfortunately, such up-close and personal festivities had to be cancelled this year. But rising to the challenge of making theatre during the pandemic, the Old Globe’s Arts Engagement teamed up with Diversionary Theatre to create coLAB Pride! directed by Skyler Sullivan and Katherine Harroff.
On Facebook Live, we were greeted by our Mistress of Ceremonies, Amber St James, a bearded drag queen and San Diego’s first official Mx Gay Pride. Appearing in colorful outfits, wigs and abstract make-up, Amber St James introduced the various acts with sparkling enthusiasm.
There were original sketches, performed via Zoom, highlighting the complexities of relationships. Some parents are accepting of their LGBTQ kids while others learn to be. And then there are those for whom it’s just a bridge too far.
Re—birth by Shairi Engle presents a helicopter mom teaching her trans-daughter to put on makeup. Out, Out and Away by Miki Vale has Jess, a young woman getting dressed for her mother’s funeral. Because of the way her mother felt, she’s not sure if her girlfriend should accompany her to the service.
Soroya Rowley is Max Boppins is a bright, sweet, non-binary children’s entertainer. They play for “children of all genders,” singing a song encouraging them to love themselves and accept their gender fluidity. It was done as a one-off sketch, but maybe they could turn it into something, a YouTube channel at least.
Teen Versionary presented some spoken word from Diversionary’s Teen Summer Acting program. At that age when they are figuring out the world without and within, these youth took on a host of social, political and economic issues. They’re getting wise to our society’s flaws. But with the optimism of youth, they are determined to fix them. Best of luck.
“I didn’t just want to be trans. I still wanted to be me.” -Casey
Teen Versionary’s Casey saw very little queer representation in the media when they were growing up. And what they did see was usually the butt of a joke. So they make an articulate, passionate plea for more and better queer representation in the media so that children like them will feel validated and better understand themselves.
Reaching into the archive, the Stonewall Salon helps LGBTQ seniors tell their personal stories. One man spent his childhood in a guilt and fear driven parochial school. He became HIV positive when that was a death sentence, and yet he has lived to see marriage equality.
There’s a lot more to it including a shadow puppet show and performances by San Diego favorites Lisel Gorell-Getz, Bryan Barbarin, Monique Gaffney, Joy Yvonne Jones, Patrick Mayuyu and Milena Phillips. So if you want to experience coLAB Pride! for yourselves, visit this website.
And that’s Show-Biz!
*
Eric George Tauber is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. he may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com