Arts & Entertainment
Liza sparkles in new Variety cover story
Iconic show biz diva Liza Minnelli has stepped into the spotlight once again, this time for a Variety cover story in which she takes us on a deep dive into her storied past, offering reminiscences about her famous mother, her movie career, and her struggles with addiction – along with anecdotes that reveal how truly charmed her life has been, regardless of its ups and downs.
The 73-year-old Minnelli, for those just arrived on Planet Earth, is the daughter of Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli; like her mother, she has developed an enormous following in the LGBTQ community, especially among gay men.
In the lengthy article, which also features comments from a few of the EGOT performer’s famous friends and collaborators, she doesn’t talk about that.
She has a lot to say, however, on many other topics.
Some of the highlights are below.
About her relationship with fashion designer Halston:
“What he did for me, he didn’t do for anybody else.”
On Bob Fosse, who directed her Oscar-winning “Cabaret” performance:
“I have scoliosis, and he noticed that because when I’m standing, sometimes it looks like a little knock knee. He noticed that one leg went higher than the other. He took all my mistakes or things that I did that I thought were awful or he thought were unusual and he used them.”
On growing up with celebrity parents:
“My parents were my parents. I didn’t know that I had to dodge questions about Mama until people started asking me questions.”
On following in her mother’s footsteps:
“The hardest part was getting to be known as myself as opposed to somebody’s daughter.”
On her Broadway education:
“I went to see shows. My dad was nice enough to tell the producers to let me in. I watched a lot of them from the back, so I could see every detail.”
On her memories of winning the Academy Award:
“[My] father screamed and he gave me tinnitus. I had tinnitus because of the way my father screamed at the Oscars, honestly.”
About her famous mother:
“We had such fun because she was so funny. She was funny, and she loved her kids so much. She was protective and very strict. She wanted you to do the right thing, like any mother. It’s that simple.”
About the recent film, “Judy,” detailing Garland’s final days:
“I hope [Zellweger] had a good time making it.”
On the subject of whether she would like to act again, Minnelli replied simply, “Oh, sure.” When asked what she would like to do, she said, with characteristic pluck:
“Whatever comes up. I’ve always been like that.”
Celebrity News
Madonna announces release date for new album
‘Confessions II’ marks return to the dance floor
Pop icon Madonna on Wednesday announced that her 15th studio album will be released on July 3.
Titled “Confessions II,” the new album is a sequel to 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” an Abba and disco-infused hit.
The new album reunites Madonna with producer Stuart Price, who also helmed the original “Confessions” album. It’s her first album of new material since 2019’s “Madame X.”
“We must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies,” Madonna said in a press release. “These are things that we’ve been doing for thousands of years — they really are spiritual practices. After all, the dance floor is a ritualistic space. It’s a place where you connect — with your wounds, with your fragility. To rave is an art. It’s about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people,” continued the statement. “Sound, light, and vibration reshape our perceptions. Pulling us into a trance-like state. The repetition of the bass, we don’t just hear it but we feel it. Altering our consciousness and dissolving ego and time.”
Denali (@denalifoxx) of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” performed at Pitchers DC on April 9 for the Thirst Trap Thursday drag show. Other performers included Cake Pop!, Brooke N Hymen, Stacy Monique-Max and Silver Ware Sidora.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
In an act of artistic defiance, Baltimore Center Stage stays focused on DEI
‘Maybe it’s a triple-down’
By LESLIE GRAY STREETER | I’m always tickled when people complain about artists “going political.” The inherent nature of art, of creation and free expression, is political. This becomes obvious when entire governments try to threaten it out of existence, like in 2025, when the brand-new presidential administration demanded organizations halt so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming or risk federal funding.
Baltimore Center Stage’s response? A resounding and hearty “Nah.” A year later, they’re still doubling down on diversity.
“Maybe it’s a triple-down,” said Ken-Matt Martin, the theater’s producing director, chuckling.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
Gay D.C. police lieutenant arrested on child porn charges
Demonstrators disrupt OMB director hearing over PEPFAR
HIV/AIDS group NMAC is ‘destabilized’ and in financial crisis: sources
Madonna announces release date for new album
Senegalese court issues first conviction under new anti-LGBTQ law
An effort to increase the number of psychiatrists of color
Comings & Goings
Trump budget targets ‘gender extremism’
Minimal version of ‘Streetcar Named Desire’ heading to Dupont Underground
