Check out our tour schedule and see if we’re coming to your town!  And be sure to check www.thefemmeshow.com for updates and last-minute-added shows!

Saturday August 14: Worcester, MA
Lucky Dog Lounge, 89 Green St
3 pm• $10

Sunday August 15: Albany, NY
Steamer 10 Theatre, 500 Western Ave
9:30 pm

Tuesday August 17: Pittsburgh, PA
Shadow Lounge, 5972 Baum Blvd
6:30 pm • $5-10 sliding scale

Wednesday August 18: Philadelphia, PA
Studio 34, 4522 Baltimore Ave
9 pm • $10
Lesbian Dorkestra opens!

Thursday August 19: Philadelphia, PA
Giovanni’s Room, 345 South 12th St
7 pm
*a special evening of femme smut and other readings to benefit Giovanni’s Room, a queer Philly bookstore!

Friday August 20: Washington, D.C., TBA!

Saturday August 21: Baltimore, MD
The Windup Space, 10-12 W. North Ave
8 pm • $8

FEATURES:

Stuff Magazine “Rising Stars”: http://stuffboston.com/photos/stuff/category9682/picture282931.aspx

INTERVIEWS:

Gay RVA “Hir Say”: http://www.gayrva.com/2010/05/03/hir-say-interviewing-johnny-blazes/

Qtown VA “Cabaret, theatre, queerness– oh my!”: http://qtownva.com/tag/transgender/ (Scroll down for my interview)

MENTIONS:

Boston Globe feature on Dr Sketchy’s “Drawing attention”: http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2010/07/09/dr_sketchys_combines_art_with_spirit_of_burlesque/

Boston Globe review of Mischief in the Machine: http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2008/06/03/the_spirit_of_mischief_lies_in_flights_of_fancy/

Portland Phoenix blurb on my collaboration w/ Katie Diamond: http://thephoenix.com/BLOGS/abouttown/archive/2010/03/30/johnny-blazes-wo-n-man-show.aspx

Portland Phoenix review of TraniWreck “Drag city”: http://portland.thephoenix.com/Topic/Drag+City.aspx?rel=inf

Providence Phoenix review of Anti-Poetry Slam “Bring us your worst…”: http://providence.thephoenix.com/Music/45900-%E2%80%98Bring-us-your-worst-/?rel=inf

RADIO:

Touch Our Monkey Show segment on The Femme Show: http://touchourmonkey.com/files/immcast/168/The_Femme_Show_Interview.mp3

NPR segment on Le Cabaret Grimm: http://www.wbur.org/media-player?url=http://www.wbur.org/2010/04/08/experimental-theater&title=Despite+Grim+Moments%2C+Experimental+%26%238216%3BLe+Cabaret+Grimm%26%238217%3B+Rolls+Along&segment=experimental-theater&pubdate=2010-04-08

There are a few items in the article that I’d like to address.

Firstly, I was misquoted.  I’m quoted as calling myself: “A double triple threat. Singing, dancing, acting, circus arts, and drag.”  What I actually said was: “I like to call myself a double triple threat: singing/acting/dancing; circus arts/drag/burlesque.”  Not a huge misprint—but I don’t want my fans to go around thinking I can’t do math. Two times three is not five, it’s six.  For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a “triple threat” is someone who acts, sings and dances—usually in the musical theater genre.  I like to think that the cabaret equivalent to the triple threat is doing  drag, burlesque and circus arts.  Hence, double triple threat.

Secondly, I have never in my life packed with “a black sock.”  I’m not sure what the reporter thought she saw; I was wearing black socks earlier in the day, so perhaps she saw those in the pile of discarded costumes and made a leap of logic about what was in my drawers.  So, if you are one of the many who are still wondering whether I use a soft pack or my junk is homegrown, fear not, the mystery shall not be revealed: you may go on wondering.  Just don’t imagine anybody’s socks in my drawers, please, that’s not my thing.

Lastly, I’m sure you can’t have failed to notice the use of the pronoun “she” to describe me.  This happened because the author’s editor cited “style issues” and insisted that I choose one of the “traditional” pronouns.  I chose to be called “she” because, as I told Cate, “my stage persona at the moment is a rather feminine one, and it makes sense to me that if I’m going to be squeezed into a binary that I go with the option that fits my current characters.  I also experience privilege and oppression in many of the same ways that women do, so being called “he” assigns me power that I don’t have.”  However, in the article, Cate mentions that I “acceded” to feminine pronouns without any context for that concession, and mentions that I prefer to be referred to by gender neutral pronouns without ever naming what those pronouns are.

In response to this last issue, I believe that letters to the editor are in order.  Please join me in writing to the Editor of the Boston Globe encouraging them to rethink their exclusion of gender neutral pronouns from their style guide.  At the bottom of this post you’ll find instructions on how to reach the editor.  Below is my own letter.

To the Editor of The Boston Globe:

I would like to clarify the circumstances under which I “acceded to the feminine pronoun,” as reported in “Drawing attention” (Page G18, July 9).  The author, Cate McQuaid, told me in an email that my request to be referred to by gender neutral pronouns could not be honored by the Globe because of “style” issues.  Although I cannot address issues of style, I can address issues of respect and accurate reporting.  In my community, it is respectful to refer to individuals by the names and pronouns with which they feel most comfortable.  For me, those pronouns are ze (subject pronoun) and hir (direct object).  This has nothing to do with the biology of my body, but instead with my gender expression.  As McQuaid quotes in an otherwise very good article, “I don’t come down on one side or the other.”  Thus it is not only disrespectful but also inaccurate to call me she, as she doesn’t describe my gender.

I urge you to change your stance on gender neutral pronouns.  You will not estrange any readers by explaining and using them, but you do estrange many readers (more than you might think) by forcing people to choose pronouns that do not fit them.

Best,
Johnny Blazes

To submit a letter to the editor
e-mail letter@globe.com or use their form.

Letters may be sent by regular mail to this address:

Letters to the Editor
The Boston Globe
P.O. Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

Or by fax to (617) 929-2098

Please include your full name, address, and a telephone number for confirmation purposes. Letters should be 200 words or less and are subject to condensation.

Please contact PhinLi Bookings LLC with inquiries.  bookings (at) phinli (dot) com

Some programs I offer:

-My evening-length one-person vaudevillian performance “wo(n)man show”

-Workshops in drag performance, circus arts, and other performance-related topics

-3 or 7 Day Residencies in clowning/object manipulation, leading up to a class performance

-Hosting and performing for student drag shows/parties

-Guest lecture/demonstrations in Gender and Women’s Studies and Performance-based classes

Monday June 7
King and Queen of Pride Pageant
Machine, 1254 Boylston St, Boston
doors 7 pm, show 8 pm
$12

I’ll be celebrity judging, and pulling out a number that’s only been seen once before!

Then I’ll be heading over to see my favorite gals Katya, Becca d’Bus, Fried Fries and Miss Nicholle Pride at Perestroika: The Best Drag Show in the World!

Jacques Cabaret
79 Broadway, Boston
10:30 pm
$7 21+

Wednesday June 9
wo(n)man show
OBERON, 2 Arrow St, Cambridge
doors 7:30 pm, show 8:30 pm, dancing 9:30 pm
Tickets $15 at https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/8079495

This is your ONE-AND-ONLY chance to see my one-person vaudevillian show in public performance in the Boston area in 2010!  NEW INFO: Afterparty tunes provided by DJ Chris Ewen!

Thursday, June 10
OPTIONZ: 4th Annual Pride Party from Queer Women of Color and Friends (QWOC+ Boston) co-hosted by MadFemmePride
9:00pm-2:00am // 21+
Underbar/Caprice, 275 Tremont Street Boston
Discounted & posse tickets available online until 5pm on the 9th.

You’ve got OPTIONZ! Get ready to celebrate pride to the international sounds of DJ Pup Dawg.. share a rant with a new neighbor… raise a glass or break a sweat in celebration of our queer, multicultural, trans-positive, and bi-friendly community! Read more on the Facebook event.

Friday, June 11
Dyke March
6pm gather, march steps off at 7pmGazebo in Boston Common near Boylston T stop

Even if, like me, you don’t exactly identify as a “dyke”, you’re still invited to join as an ally.  Dyke March is a community-focused, grassroots alternative to the larger, more commercial Boston Pride celebration. The main mission of Dyke March is to provide a dynamic and welcoming space for participants of ALL sexualities, genders, races, ages, ethnicities, sizes, economic backgrounds, and physical abilities. Read more on their Facebook event.

Saturday June 12
Boston Pride Parade and Festival
Check out the parade route here
Parade starts at 12 noon
Want to join the TraniWreck contingent in the Parade?  RSVP here!

Festival at City Hall Plaza
TraniWreck is performing on the Pride Mainstage at 4:30 pm! Don’t miss it!

The Neighborhood
The Midway Café, Jamaica Plain
9 pm – 2 am
$5 21+

Join me at the return of JP’s favorite queer and trans-inclusive dance party, The Neighborhood! Featuring sets from DJs D’hana, Sir Loins and Stella.  I won’t be performing, but you’ll definitely catch sight of me on the dance floor!

Dr. Sketchy’s South Jersey
Sunday May 2, 2-5 pm
Artist’s Consortium
129B N. High St, Millville, NJ
$10 at the door
http://www.facebook.com/dssouthjersey
FB invite: http://bit.ly/c6klQm

wo(n)man show – Richmond
Wednesday May 5, 8 pm (doors at 7 pm)
Richmond Gay Community Center Event Hall
1407 Sherwood Ave, Richmond, VA
$10 (pay as you’re able), cash bar available
www.gayrichmond.com
FB invite: http://bit.ly/9lmo7s

wo(n)man show – DC
Thursday May 6, 8 pm
The DC Center
1810 14th Street NW
$10 in advance, $15 at the door
http://thedccenter.org/supporters_johnnyblazes.html
FB invite: http://bit.ly/cszxad

“Transforming Text” Workshop
in conjunction with the WORMS reading series
Friday May 7, 7 pm
The Annex
419 E. Oliver St, Baltimore, MD
$5-10 sliding scale at the door
FB invite: http://bit.ly/9zjWDX

wo(n)man show – Baltimore
Saturday May 8, 8 pm
The Annex
419 E. Oliver St, Baltimore, MD
$5-15 sliding scale at the door
FB invite: http://bit.ly/9zjWDX

Dr. Sketchy’s Baltimore
Monday May 10, 7 pm
The Wind-up Space
12 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD
$8 at the door
http://drsketchysbaltimore.wordpress.com/

wo(n)man show – Philadelphia
Tuesday May 11, 8 pm
The Rotunda
4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
$5-10 sliding scale at the door
www.therotunda.org
FB invite: http://bit.ly/9Z4vo5

wo(n)man show – Hudson Valley
Wednesday May 12, 8pm
BEAHIVE
314 Wall St, Kingston NY
$12 at the door
http://beahivekingston.com/

Giddy Multitude Vaudeville Co. Show
Friday May 14, Saturday May 15 8 pm
WOW Café Theater
59-61 E. 4th St, 4th floor, Manhattan, NY
$10
www.wowcafe.org

Clowning Workshop
Saturday May 15, 3-6 pm
WOW Café Theater
59-61 E. 4th St, 4th floor, Manhattan, NY
$25 (financial aid available, contact johnny@johnnyblazes.com)
www.wowcafe.org

Check out the merchandise offerings here: http://trannyroadshow.com/merchandise.html

And while you’re at it, check out The Tranny Roadshow tour schedule!  I’m unable to be on tour with them this week, but if you’re in the Pacific Northwest, you should definitely try to catch one of their shows.

papapapuppets

Week 1 of Le Cabaret Grimm’s HUBbub was superb! Madge of Honor, jojo the burlesque poetess, Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys, and I created an incredible first act ensemble that flowed from number to number, creating creepiness, laughter, and thought-provoking sexiness.  Or maybe sexy thought-provokingness…  Can’t wait for this team of folks to join up again for future endeavors!

And I barely have to wait for the next incarnation of the HUBbub: Week 2 starts this Thursday, April 15 at 7:30 pm.  ACTUALLY… the fun starts at 7 pm, with an opening set from my good ole pals, Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band, playing entrance music for you to take your seats to.  Then at 7:30 we’ll kick off the show with Ms Lolita LaVamp, The Boston Typewriter Orchestra, and of course, hosted once again by yours truly.  Shows again Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, music starts at 7:30.

Come for the HUBbub and stay for the cabaret-inspired musical, Le Cabaret Grimm!  Or come for the musical and get there early for some sexy variety talent!  Either way, get your tickets before they sell out like they did last night! http://www.performancelaboratory.com/cabtix.html

Ms Lolita LaVamp

Boston Typewriter Orchestra

climACTS under the Big Top
Tuesday April 27
tickets at: http://thetheateroffensive.org/climacts/