How to Succeed
Maitland Middle and Winter Park High alum Michael Jackowitz is bracing for a big year. He’s executive producer of two of the most anticipated theatrical events in New York City this spring. The revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, starring Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) previews on Broadway later this month. Séance on a Wet Afternoon is a new opera by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin) that will run at NYC Opera at Lincoln Center for just two weeks in April. Michael’s parents, Syd and Enid, are active in the Orlando chapter of PFLAG and other LGBT-supportive organizations. Enid’s recently published book, The Rest of the Way: A Coming Out Story for Parents and Gay Children, is about her personal growth as the result of Michael’s coming out. Michael and his partner, Shawn, live in New York City.
More Gay Theatre News
Mark Baratelli is receiving rave reviews in the Winter Park Playhouse production of Five Course Love. The Orlando Sentinel’s Matthew Palm said, “Baratelli has that appealing desperate air of a clown, whether as an Italian waiter or a German realizing his dominatrix girlfriend and his secret boyfriend have arrived simultaneously at his restaurant.” Five Course Love runs through Feb. 13.
And the pre-Fringe gay buzz is growing. The Sentinel’s Commander Coconut called Miss Sammy Bakes a Cake his favorite play title ever. As impromptu as a morning talk show, the production promises numerous guest stars that will be spotlighted alongside, you guessed it, Miss Sammy. Margaret Nolan produces.
And opportunistic local theatre-types are already salivating over roles in the Oops Guys’ Bitches of the Kingdom. March 15 auditions at Mad Cow Theatre will be a hoot. We’re volunteering to sit in the audience.
Virtual Reality
Have you wondered what’s to become of the former Urban Think bookstore on Central Ave. in Thornton Park? The Metropolitan Business Association (MBA) wants to open an LGBT visitor center. And they’ve come up with a hot idea for the rest of the space: virtual offices. Budding businesses could have an address, phone number, office services and conference facilities for less than $100/month. MBA is compiling the names of interested parties. Contact mikael@mbaorlando.org. Blogger and longtime Watermark contributor Jim Crescitelli held down the fort at Urban Think for years. He’s contributed a short story to the recently published Fragmentation & Other Stories, and he’ll read a selection at the 625 E. Central location on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m.
