Florida Agenda » Jennifer Holliday

Jennifer Holliday Shows Diva-Antics, But Still Delivers On-Stage

kevinh — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:22:44 +0000

By Troy Maillis

After schedule changes and some “diva” behavior, Jennifer Holliday, the headline performer at this year’s annual Stonewall Street Festival, wowed the excited crowds with hit songs such as “One Night Only” and “I Am Changing” from the Broadway smash-hit “Dreamgirls”. A seasoned performer for 30 years, Holliday kept the Wilton Manors crowds anxiously awaiting her performance, and some fans were not very pleased with Holliday’s “diva” behavior leading up to the performance. Read more after the Jump, Jennifer Holliday Exclusive Interview

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Stonewall Street Festival and Parade

kevinh — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:17:02 +0000

(Photo: South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble marching in last year’s Stonewall Festival Parade. Photo by Dennis Dean)

By James Michaels

This Sunday, June 20, 2010 is the eleventh annual Stonewall Street Festival and Parade produced by Pride of Greater Fort Lauderdale. This is the second of the two annual gay pride celebrations held in Fort Lauderdale each year. After two-years of holding the parade on a Saturday night and the festival during the daytime on the following Sunday, PGFL has returned to a one-day format with the parade stepping off at 11 a.m. followed by the festival beginning at noon.

Grand Marshals for this year’s parade are photographer Adam Bouska and his partner, Jeff Parshley. Bouska and Parshley inadvertently started a national phenomenon when, after California passed the anti-gay marriage Proposition 8, took photographs of themselves of themselves wearing white t-shirts, standing in front of white background, had silver duct tape across their face and on the cheeks had written “NO H8”. Having seen the photos, their friends wanted their photos taken also. Soon the couple formed a non-profit organization to inform the public on gay marriage equality and charge for their official photos. Bouska and Parshley have now shot the photos over 5,000 photos, mostly in California. Having only shot in New York and Washington, D.C. in the eastern United States, they arrive in Wilton Manors to shoot at CopyThis on Wilton Drive on Monday.

The parade will be announced from the main stage located at the intersection of Wilton Drive and N.E. 6 Avenue by Eugene Ramirez and Kristin Anderson, hosts of “The Morning Show” on WSFL, channel 39.

The festival will include a main stage located on the corner of Wilton Drive and N.E. 6 Avenue and two dance venues, one in front of Sidelines Sports Bar and they are working in cooperation with the dance tent at Rosie’s Bar and Grille. There will also be additional entertainment at The Manor.

Jennifer Holliday leads the entertainment located on the main stage. Holliday is a well-known respected Broadway star and recording artist who appeared in the original version “Dream Girls”.

Also headlining are JuJuBe and Jessica Wild from “RuPaul’s Drag Race”, Kevin Aviance and Kitty Meow. Local favorites include Tiffany Arieagus, Electra , Nikki Adams and Debra Hampton. Other entertainers include Gio, Eryn Woods, Philip Alexander, Ray Boltz, Barry Brandon and Leah Driscoll. There are also other local entertainers and bands scheduled to perform. Misty Eyez, Shane Phoenix and “The Rickster” are emceeing the main stage.

Deejays spinning at the Sidelines Pride Dance Arena are headlined by deejays Wendy Hunt and deejays Miik and Marc Scott. Other deejays that day are deejays Sayho, Stu, DaddyO and Maximus 3000.

Additional events are being held at the “Pride Triangle” of Rosie’s New Moon and Matty’s on the Drive. This includes the traditional dance tent at Rosie’s. Throughout the festival will be additional amusements including dunk tanks and water slides and a “Family Friendly” is also on schedule with performances by the Rainbow Circus.

A VIP Party is being held during the festival at CopyThis starting at 6 pm which includes a meet-and-greet with the entertainers including Jennifer Holliday and Grand Marshals Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley.

The entire parade and the entertainment on the main stage will be streamed live world-wide over the internet by the Fabb Vision Network.

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Stonewall Pride announces entertainment lineup

kevinh — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:57:07 +0000

Singer and Tony-award winning actress, Jennifer Holliday will be headlining the Main Stage at this year’s Stonewall Street Festival and Parade to be held on Sunday, June 20, 2010. Holliday started her career on Broadway in musicals such as “Dreamgirls” and later became a successful recording artist. She is best known for her debut single, the “Dreamgirls” showstopper and Grammy-winning R&B/Pop hit, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” This is believed to be Jennifer’s first appearance in a South Florida LGBT pride celebration.

Some of the deejays that will be performing on the Main Stage and the dance arena which will be located in front of Sidelines Sports Bar are Deejays Wendy Hunt and Marc Scott.

D.J. Wendy Hunt is one of the longest spinning deejays today. She has a solid reputation for presenting the fresh and happy tunes to dance floors for thirtyfive years.

D.J. Marc Scott has spun at over 26 clubs and now appears at Atomic/Boom. He has also appeared at many major events around the country such as The Coming Out Ball (Chicago), The Halloween Ball (Denver), White Party and Winter Party (SoBe), and most recently as the headlining deejay for Pridefest in Long Beach, California. —FA

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