Florida Agenda

WANDA SYKES AT THE KRAVITZ CENTER
Comedienne Wanda Sykes will be appearing in the Alexander W. Dreyfoos Concert Hall at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, December 11 at 8 p.m. Whether you know her from her stand-up work, or her roles on TV sitcoms “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “The New Adventures of Old Christine” or her appearances in films such as Monster-in-Law starring opposite Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda, you know her most of all for her unique blend of stinging humor and outspoken honesty on topics ranging from politics, gay marriage, healthcare, racial profiling, the pressure of being a woman and the perks of getting older. Tickets are $20 and are available for purchase at the Kravis Center box office, 701 Okeechobee Boulevard in downtown West Palm Beach; or go online to www.kravis.org; or by phone at 561-832-7469 or 800-572-8471.

“THE GIFT GOES ON”
Tickets are on sale for the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus traditional holiday concert. “The Gift Goes On” will once again help lift your holiday spirits with traditional holiday favorites as well as some fun new songs that are sure to delight. One performance only, December 18 at 8 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Fort Lauderdale, UCC, 2501 NE 30 Street in Fort Lauderdale. General admission: $25; premium general admission: $40. Tickets are on sale now at 954-832-0060.

“cirque dreams holidaze”
At the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, December 1 through January 1. The New York Daily News said that “Cirque Dream Holidaze” is “so full of energy, it could end our dependence on oil.” “Stuffed with so much holiday cheer and audacious act, Scrooge would exit with a big ‘ol smile on his face,” said the Erie Times News.

For more information and tickets, visit www.broadwayacrossamerica.com or call 954-626-7814.

win new year’s eve celebration
Women in Network (WIN) will be holding their third annual New Year’s Eve celebration on Saturday, December 31 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Hugh’s Catering, 4351 NE 12 Terrace in Oakland Park. The evening features a full dinner buffet, open bar, private parking and dancing all night long. Members $100, non-members $120. Reservations are non-refundable but are transferable. For the full menu and to order tickets, visit: womeninnetwork.com.

“JERSEY BOYS”
2006 Tony Award-winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. January 11 through 29 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. For tickets, please call 954-626-7814.

This weekend is the 34^th annual PrideFest produced by Pride South Florida. Again this year, the festival will held at Jaco Pastrorius Park on North Dixie Highway and NE. 40 Court in Oakland Park. Pridefest will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 12 and 13 from noon to 6 p.m.

Entertainment this year includes Chely Wright, Georgie Porgie, Linda Clifford, Chantal Carrere, Debby Holiday, Shelina, Teri Catlin, Heather Craig, Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus, Marc Hansen, Fort Lauderdale Woman’s Chorus, South Florida Pride Jazz Ensemble, KP Productions, Church of the Holy Spirit Song, Mark Angelo Cummings, Rising Action Theatre and Bishop SF Makalani-MaHee.

Spinning in the dance tent this year will be D.J. MIIK, D.J. Bugie, D.J. Sol and D.J. Gina.

Masters of Ceremonies this year will be Craig Stevens, Donna & Denise and Derek Hartley.

Florida’s oldest gay pride celebration is a must-see once again this year.

If you go, what you need to know:

- Pridefest 2011 is on Saturday and Sunday, March 12 & 13, 2011 from noon to 6 p.m. both days.
- Pridefest is at Jaco Pastorius Park, Dixie Highway and NE 40th Ct in Oakland Park.
- Pridefest fees are $5 parking and $5 entry.  No bills larger than $20 will be accepted.

- Please park in the on-site lots or in off-site locations.  Pride South Florida is offering a free shuttle to get you from your vehicle to the gate.  Please park legally, towing and ticketing will be enforced.
- Pride South Florida reserves the right to inspect all handbags, knapsacks or any other large containers.
- You may not pass out materials at Pridefest unless you are a paid vendor.  Materials will be confiscated and you will be ejected.
- You may exit, but re-entry will be required through the entry gate to be inspected once again.
- No pets, coolers, outside food or drink are allowed.
- Please feel free to bring blankets and sun chairs to enjoy the entertainment. No sun umbrellas please.

Enjoy the Party!

Make sure to stop by the Florida Agenda, Mark’s List and Mark Magazine booth a Pridefest 2011 and say hello.

Both Groups Claim Ownership of Name

By BOB KECSKEMETY

On Tuesday, September 7, a majority of the membership of the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus walked out of their first rehearsal after their summer break leaving less than half of the 75-person membership remaining in the room. Those that left claim they have issues with director/conductor Todd Wiley.

Shortly after rehearsal began at 7:30 p.m., an unidentified member of the Chorus stood up and read a petition he said was signed by 44 of the 75 active members asking for director Wiley’s resignation. Those that signed the petition said they were heading to a different rehearsal locale and invited everyone, whether they signed the petition or not, to join them.
Gordon Roberts, the former assistant conductor of the Chorus and was one of those that left the rehearsal, said the Gay Men’s Chorus was celebrating its 25th anniversary and under the direction of Wiley for the last 10 years. Yet, in those 10 years, the group

showed little growth. He claimed that the organization needed to make changes to its bylaws and needed a fundraising board to help obtain the funds necessary to help the chorus keep functioning. Currently members are charged $30 a month each to fund the group.

Animosity between a majority of the members and Wiley came to a head a couple of months ago when the Gay Men’s Chorus stopped rehearsing at the Sunshine Cathedra/MCC. The two organizations worked together for many years. Wiley, who was also an employee of the church, said that he was “relieved of duty” from the MCC. “We were not allowed on premises and it was just 3 or 4 weeks before a show,” he said. “Our directors found St. Mark’s Episcopal Church which opened its doors to us and allowed us to rehearse and we opened the show.”

Roberts contends that the Chorus members considered the Sunshine Cathedral its home and that the group was told that if they removed Wiley from their organization, the Chorus could return.

Another grievance that Roberts and his group have with Wiley was the “termination” of about 10 members, one of which was Roberts himself, without valid reason. He claims that anyone who spoke out against how the Chorus was being run were eventually told they were in violation of the rules and their membership terminated. “If you spoke up, you were quietly taken to the woodshed and told to go home,” according to Roberts. He said that the group’s handbook does have a list of violations for termination, but none of the ten were given the specific reason. He also said that another 8 members left on their own because they didn’t like how the Chorus was being run.

Wiley said those terminated were terminated for just cause and those that left on their own were malcontents.

The two also disagree on the methodology for removing a director from the Chorus. Roberts says that a simple majority vote of the active membership is all that is required to remove a director. Wiley contends that the board of directors has to initiate the removal of a director however, however the general membership can override the board vote with a 2/3 vote of the active membership.

Roberts said that the board was hand-picked by Wiley and that by going through the board, Wiley would in effect have to fire himself since he is also president of the board. Roberts added that the bylaws also permit the membership to initiate the removal.

Roberts added that the 10 members who were “terminated” were going to return to the new group and the eight that left earlier were also planning on returning. The addition of these members will bring the total up to nearly the original 75 people. At their new meeting location, Roberts placed a phone call to the Sunshine Cathedral on a speakerphone. The person from the Cathedral was told what had just happened at rehearsal and the church welcomed the group back ‘home’. The group will start meeting there again starting this weekend. A vote of those present also chose Roberts as their new director.

In the meantime, both groups plan to use the name “Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus” as they both content they are the official group. Both also plan to move ahead a normal with plans for a Christmas concert.

Wiley said he was not surprised by what happened that evening and he was expecting it. Wiley also said he knew they were unhappy but according to the bylaws, this was not how a director is hired or fired.

Sold Out Show Concludes 24^th Season

By DMITRY RASHNITSOV

Like a She BOP wrap from Rosie’s, sometimes it’s easy to forget how good the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus really is. But just because these boys have been tooting their vocal horns for 24 years, doesn’t mean that they have lost any of their steam.

On Friday June 25, more than 60 members of the group performed their final show of the season, “Feeling Groovy” a high energy concert with clips from over 70 songs from the 1960’s.

Gay Men’s Chorus Director Todd Wiley led his merry band of misfits through renditions of songs originally sung by The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and The Beach Boys. The group also put together a section of nostalgia, singing favorite TV themes from the 1960’s including “Gilligans Island”, “The Andy Griffith Show” and “The Munsters”.

This was also the first season that the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble led by Artistic Director Dan Bassett accompanied the Gay Men’s Chorus. The bringing together of so many talented singers and musicians into one show is exactly why the Parker Playhouse, a venue that holds several thousand, was overflowing with applause, laughs, cheers and standing ovations during the entire show.

The Gay Men’s Chorus is taking a break until their holiday show next season, but rumor has it that they are teaming up with a well known Broadway and television actress and “fag hag” next season to present their very own original musical.

Until then, the Gay Men’s Chorus is looking for people to help them out with donations, so the shows can continue to be an amazing representation of their community.

The group has put together a “Director’s Circle” club for those that are interested in donating between $500-5,000. Some of the perks include free tickets to shows, free parking passes, invitations to VIP receptions and the chance to get face time with Todd Wiley!

For more information about the group or to donate visit: www.fortlauderdalegaymenschorus.org.