Armistead Maupin's Blog, page 36
March 4, 2011
Opening Night Gala "Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City , A New Musical" June 1, 2011
Join us for a dazzling event celebrating the must-see show of the season!
Enjoy specially priced $250 tickets for a limited time only.
After March 4, the price goes up to $350.
Three decades after Armistead Maupin mesmerized millions with his daily column in the city's newspapers, his iconic San Francisco saga comes home as a momentous new musical from the Tony Award–winning creators of Avenue Q and the musical minds behind the glam-rock phenomenon Scissor Sisters. Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City unleashes an exuberant celebration of the irrepressible spirit that continues to define our City by the Bay.
Experience the magic of this epic event—right in the heart of San Francisco.
Your $250 Disco Party Ticket includes:
• A preshow cocktail reception at the American Conservatory Theater
• A ticket to the opening night gala performance of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City
• Access to the private disco afterparty, featuring special guests
Want even more from your evening? Visit us online to reserve a table at our black-tie cocktail reception and opening night gala dinner in a tented Union Square.
Tickets are going fast—act now!
Buy tickets online or call 415.439.2470.
March 2, 2011
Larry Keigwin: Moving Between Mediums
The esteemed choreographer discusses his new full-length piece EXIT, working on the new musical Tales of the City, and getting ready to tackle Rent.
By: Brian Scott Lipton · Mar 2, 2011 · New York
The worlds of modern dance and musical theater have long been interconnected, from pioneers like George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins through such modern masters as Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp, and Bill T. Jones. The latest choreographer to make this leap -- and in particularly spectacular fashion -- is Larry Keigwin.
On March 8, he will formally debut his first full-length dance-theater piece, Exit, for a week-long run at New York's Joyce Theater. After that engagement, he will turn his focus to choreographing the world premiere musical Tales of the City, which bows at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre on May 19, and the new Off-Broadway production of Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Rent, which begins previews at New World Stages on July 11. "My goal in life has always been to move between these mediums," says Keigwin.
Exit is an hour-long piece that deals, in part, with the nature of addiction. At one point, Keigwin was going to call the work, Bad Habits, but decided to go in a different direction. "I think the title Exit has a larger scope and more room for interpretation," he says. "I actually love titles and I think a good title is a great asset. I find it frustrating to go to an art museum and see something called 'untitled,' because then I don't have a way in to the work."
The genesis for Exit was a 15-minute piece he did last year in a large theater in Santa Barbara. "Everything on the stage had been stripped bare, and I noticed this exit sign in a corner of stage and that was my inspiration," he says. "A lot of people can relate to exiting a bad situation or a bad relationship."
Over the past year, Keigwin has worked with his troupe to expand the piece, which he admits was quite intimidating. "Since I've usually done shorter dances, I wasn't able to put the puzzle pieces together at first. But ultimately, I realized this is just a lot of short dances put together - an hour is really six 10-minute dances. The most challenging part was sifting through all the material I created and finding what really resonated. I wanted to tell a non-linear story about dependency, but I didn't want people drinking beer or shooting heroin on stage."
One of the most unusual aspects of Exit will be the music, which was composed by Chris Lancaster for the acoustic cello and which will be mixed and manipulated live each night by pianist Jerome Bergin. "It is like a ride with many peaks and valleys; in some ways, it's like being on drugs: there's anticipation, climax, and withdrawal. It sounds very urban, but the strings will give it a more emotional, melodic line. It's very different for me; it's more environmental, atmospheric, and collage-like than what I usually use."
For Tales of the City, which is based on the series of books by Armistead Maupin, Keigwin will be working with a score by Jake Shears and John Garden of the glam-rock band Scissor Sisters. The show had an in-depth workshop last year, but there's plenty still to be done, he notes. "We only staged four songs out of the whole score. The workshop was much more about double-checking how the story and music fit; the choreography was just there to find a palette," he says.
Since much of the story is set in the 1970s, Keigwin will be incorporating some disco dancing into the show -- but his job is much more than recreating the Hustle. "Choreography is about more than just the moves," he notes. "I think I'm good at creating human traffic and behavior on stage, and I look forward to working with Jason Moore [the show's director] on implementing my ideas."
As for getting the chance to work on Rent, he says he couldn't be more excited. "I know it's not a traditional dance show, but this music and material is my generation," he notes. "I can't wait to look at the work again and then create choreography that will work in this intimate setting. And because the book and music are already done, there will be a lot of time to focus on the staging. I already have so many ideas in my head."
http://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/03-2011/larry-keigwin-moving-betwen-mediums_34692.html
By: Brian Scott Lipton · Mar 2, 2011 · New York
The worlds of modern dance and musical theater have long been interconnected, from pioneers like George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins through such modern masters as Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp, and Bill T. Jones. The latest choreographer to make this leap -- and in particularly spectacular fashion -- is Larry Keigwin.
On March 8, he will formally debut his first full-length dance-theater piece, Exit, for a week-long run at New York's Joyce Theater. After that engagement, he will turn his focus to choreographing the world premiere musical Tales of the City, which bows at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre on May 19, and the new Off-Broadway production of Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Rent, which begins previews at New World Stages on July 11. "My goal in life has always been to move between these mediums," says Keigwin.
Exit is an hour-long piece that deals, in part, with the nature of addiction. At one point, Keigwin was going to call the work, Bad Habits, but decided to go in a different direction. "I think the title Exit has a larger scope and more room for interpretation," he says. "I actually love titles and I think a good title is a great asset. I find it frustrating to go to an art museum and see something called 'untitled,' because then I don't have a way in to the work."
The genesis for Exit was a 15-minute piece he did last year in a large theater in Santa Barbara. "Everything on the stage had been stripped bare, and I noticed this exit sign in a corner of stage and that was my inspiration," he says. "A lot of people can relate to exiting a bad situation or a bad relationship."
Over the past year, Keigwin has worked with his troupe to expand the piece, which he admits was quite intimidating. "Since I've usually done shorter dances, I wasn't able to put the puzzle pieces together at first. But ultimately, I realized this is just a lot of short dances put together - an hour is really six 10-minute dances. The most challenging part was sifting through all the material I created and finding what really resonated. I wanted to tell a non-linear story about dependency, but I didn't want people drinking beer or shooting heroin on stage."
One of the most unusual aspects of Exit will be the music, which was composed by Chris Lancaster for the acoustic cello and which will be mixed and manipulated live each night by pianist Jerome Bergin. "It is like a ride with many peaks and valleys; in some ways, it's like being on drugs: there's anticipation, climax, and withdrawal. It sounds very urban, but the strings will give it a more emotional, melodic line. It's very different for me; it's more environmental, atmospheric, and collage-like than what I usually use."
For Tales of the City, which is based on the series of books by Armistead Maupin, Keigwin will be working with a score by Jake Shears and John Garden of the glam-rock band Scissor Sisters. The show had an in-depth workshop last year, but there's plenty still to be done, he notes. "We only staged four songs out of the whole score. The workshop was much more about double-checking how the story and music fit; the choreography was just there to find a palette," he says.
Since much of the story is set in the 1970s, Keigwin will be incorporating some disco dancing into the show -- but his job is much more than recreating the Hustle. "Choreography is about more than just the moves," he notes. "I think I'm good at creating human traffic and behavior on stage, and I look forward to working with Jason Moore [the show's director] on implementing my ideas."
As for getting the chance to work on Rent, he says he couldn't be more excited. "I know it's not a traditional dance show, but this music and material is my generation," he notes. "I can't wait to look at the work again and then create choreography that will work in this intimate setting. And because the book and music are already done, there will be a lot of time to focus on the staging. I already have so many ideas in my head."
http://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/03-2011/larry-keigwin-moving-betwen-mediums_34692.html
Olympia Dukakis and Laura Linney Chair Gala For TALES OF THE CITY 6/1
Tuesday, March 1, 2011; Posted: 03:03 PM - by BWW News Desk
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.)'s Opening Night Gala celebrating the world premiere of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City will take place Wednesday, June 1, 2011.
The black-tie event begins with a cocktail reception and gala dinner in a tented Union Square, followed by the performance at the theater and a dance party with the cast and special guests at Ruby Skye nightclub after the show.
The gala is the culmination of A.C.T.'s two-year effort to bring Armistead Maupin's famous San Francisco stories to the stage as a new musical. The Opening Night Gala is chaired by A.C.T. Trustee Marilee K. Gardner and Barbary Lane Committee Chairs JaMel Perkins and Roselyne C. Swig.
Honorary chairs include Olympia Dukakis and Laura Linney, who both starred in the television miniseries adaptation of Tales of the City on PBS, and author Armistead Maupin. Gala tables at the $12,000 level are already sold out, and prices for the Opening Night Gala now start at $15,000 for tables and $1,250 for individual tickets. A limited number of performance-and-party-only tickets are available for $250 through March 4. For more information and to purchase tables or tickets, please visit act-sf.org/gala or call A.C.T. Manager of Special Events Luz Perez at 415.439.2470.
"A.C.T. has brought us amazing stories for more than 40 years, and I can think of no better place to stage this musical production of Tales of the City," says celebrated author Armistead Maupin. Longtime A.C.T. supporter Marilee K. Gardner adds: "Tales of the City is the quintessential San Francisco story, and we want to celebrate this production with a classic San Francisco party. Attendees will experience this once-in-a-lifetime event beginning with dining in a tented Union Square, then attending the amazing production, and finally celebrating our success into the night. All proceeds go to support American Conservatory Theater-the quintessential San Francisco theater company."
In addition to those who purchase tables and tickets to the gala, members of The Tales of the City Circle, an exclusive group of theater lovers who have already contributed more than $1 million to bring this momentous new musical home to San Francisco, will be A.C.T.'s special guests at the gala celebration. Chaired by Ambassador James C. Hormel, A.C.T. Board Chair Nancy Livingston, and trustee Lorenzo Thione, the Tales Circle has provided vital support for the development of the production and the world premiere of the musical based on Armistead Maupin's celebrated books. A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff speaks to the resources needed to bring an ambitious project like Tales of the City to life: "This new musical is going to be an extraordinary valentine to our entire community, and it will take the support of the entire community to make it happen. A.C.T. is a nonprofit organization, and we are shouldering a considerable financial risk by taking on this enormous and truly thrilling new production. But we believe that Tales will be a major addition to the American musical theater canon, as well as the theatrical event of the season in the Bay Area. Supporters will get a wonderful inside look at the unique and complex process of bringing a new musical to life, as well as the opportunity to celebrate our city by giving Armistead Maupin's moving and hilarious stories new life for new generations. We hope you will all join us on this adventure!"
With their tax-deductible contributions, Tales Circle members will get a chance to revel in the spark of the creative process, going behind the scenes to witness the creation of an epic theatrical event. Exclusive benefits include invitations to attend rehearsals-all leading up to a thrilling walk down the red carpet as A.C.T.'s honored guest at the opening night gala celebration. Those who give $1,200 or more will be recognized in the performance program and enjoy numerous other benefits, including a ticket to the opening night gala. The Tales Circle gives A.C.T. supporters a unique chance to get inside access to the creative process of a production truly conceived in celebration of San Francisco, where, as Maupin reminds us, "everyone-gay, straight, and traveling-has learned to recognize . . . the infinite possibilities of humanity." For more information and to join The Tales of the City Circle, visit act-sf.org/TalesCircle
The world premiere musical production of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City features a book by Tony Award-winning writer Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q) and music and lyrics by Jake Shears and John Garden of the glam-rock band Scissor Sisters; is directed by Tony Award winner Jason Moore (Avenue Q and Shrek: The Musical); and is choreographed by Larry Keigwin. The world premiere production takes over the American Conservatory Theater May 19-July 3, 2011. The press and subscriber opening for Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City will take place Tuesday, May 31, 2011, at 8 p.m.
A.C.T.'s production of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City is sponsored by American Airlines, The Fairmont San Francisco, Foggy Bridge, the Koret Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Kenneth Rainin Foundation. Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City is also made possible by commissioning sponsors Priscilla and Keith Geeslin, Ambassador James C. Hormel and Mr. Michael P. Nguyen, Nancy Livingston and Fred Levin, The Shenson Foundation, Kathleen Scutchfield, and Jeff and Laurie Ubben; production sponsors Ray and Dagmar Dolby, Burt and Deedee McMurtry, and Susan A. Van Wagner; music sponsors Lesley Clement, Lorenzo Thione and David Palmer, Jack and Susy Wadsworth, and Carlie Wilmans; choreography sponsors Stephen Belford and Bobby Minkler, Marilee K. Gardner, Jo S. Hurley, Byron R. Meyer, Mr. Milton J. Mosk and Mr. Thomas E. Foutch, David and Carla Riemer, Laila Tarraf, Larry and Robyn Varellas, and Nola Yee; and casting sponsors Lucia Brandon, Carlotta and Robert Dathe, Jerome L. and Thao N. Dodson, Drs. Caroline Emmett and Russell Rydel, Mr. and Mrs. Kirke Hasson, Toby and Sally Rosenblatt, Frank Stein and Paul May, Bert Steinberg, Jack Weeden and David Davies, and Beverly and Loring Wyllie. A.C.T. would also like to acknowledge its 2010-11 season company sponsors: Ray and Dagmar Dolby, Priscilla and Keith Geeslin, Ambassador James C. Hormel and Mr. Michael P. Nguyen, Nancy Livingston and Fred Levin, The Shenson Foundation, Burt and Deedee McMurtry, Patti and Rusty Rueff, Kathleen Scutchfield, Mary and Steven Swig, Jeff and Laurie Ubben, and Susan A. Van Wagner. Development of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City was supported by the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center during a residency at the National Music Theater Conference of 2009.
http://sanfrancisco.broadwayworld.com/article/Olympia_Dukakis_and_Laura_Linney_Chair_Gala_For_TALES_OF_THE_CITY_61_20110301
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.)'s Opening Night Gala celebrating the world premiere of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City will take place Wednesday, June 1, 2011.
The black-tie event begins with a cocktail reception and gala dinner in a tented Union Square, followed by the performance at the theater and a dance party with the cast and special guests at Ruby Skye nightclub after the show.
The gala is the culmination of A.C.T.'s two-year effort to bring Armistead Maupin's famous San Francisco stories to the stage as a new musical. The Opening Night Gala is chaired by A.C.T. Trustee Marilee K. Gardner and Barbary Lane Committee Chairs JaMel Perkins and Roselyne C. Swig.
Honorary chairs include Olympia Dukakis and Laura Linney, who both starred in the television miniseries adaptation of Tales of the City on PBS, and author Armistead Maupin. Gala tables at the $12,000 level are already sold out, and prices for the Opening Night Gala now start at $15,000 for tables and $1,250 for individual tickets. A limited number of performance-and-party-only tickets are available for $250 through March 4. For more information and to purchase tables or tickets, please visit act-sf.org/gala or call A.C.T. Manager of Special Events Luz Perez at 415.439.2470.
"A.C.T. has brought us amazing stories for more than 40 years, and I can think of no better place to stage this musical production of Tales of the City," says celebrated author Armistead Maupin. Longtime A.C.T. supporter Marilee K. Gardner adds: "Tales of the City is the quintessential San Francisco story, and we want to celebrate this production with a classic San Francisco party. Attendees will experience this once-in-a-lifetime event beginning with dining in a tented Union Square, then attending the amazing production, and finally celebrating our success into the night. All proceeds go to support American Conservatory Theater-the quintessential San Francisco theater company."
In addition to those who purchase tables and tickets to the gala, members of The Tales of the City Circle, an exclusive group of theater lovers who have already contributed more than $1 million to bring this momentous new musical home to San Francisco, will be A.C.T.'s special guests at the gala celebration. Chaired by Ambassador James C. Hormel, A.C.T. Board Chair Nancy Livingston, and trustee Lorenzo Thione, the Tales Circle has provided vital support for the development of the production and the world premiere of the musical based on Armistead Maupin's celebrated books. A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff speaks to the resources needed to bring an ambitious project like Tales of the City to life: "This new musical is going to be an extraordinary valentine to our entire community, and it will take the support of the entire community to make it happen. A.C.T. is a nonprofit organization, and we are shouldering a considerable financial risk by taking on this enormous and truly thrilling new production. But we believe that Tales will be a major addition to the American musical theater canon, as well as the theatrical event of the season in the Bay Area. Supporters will get a wonderful inside look at the unique and complex process of bringing a new musical to life, as well as the opportunity to celebrate our city by giving Armistead Maupin's moving and hilarious stories new life for new generations. We hope you will all join us on this adventure!"
With their tax-deductible contributions, Tales Circle members will get a chance to revel in the spark of the creative process, going behind the scenes to witness the creation of an epic theatrical event. Exclusive benefits include invitations to attend rehearsals-all leading up to a thrilling walk down the red carpet as A.C.T.'s honored guest at the opening night gala celebration. Those who give $1,200 or more will be recognized in the performance program and enjoy numerous other benefits, including a ticket to the opening night gala. The Tales Circle gives A.C.T. supporters a unique chance to get inside access to the creative process of a production truly conceived in celebration of San Francisco, where, as Maupin reminds us, "everyone-gay, straight, and traveling-has learned to recognize . . . the infinite possibilities of humanity." For more information and to join The Tales of the City Circle, visit act-sf.org/TalesCircle
The world premiere musical production of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City features a book by Tony Award-winning writer Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q) and music and lyrics by Jake Shears and John Garden of the glam-rock band Scissor Sisters; is directed by Tony Award winner Jason Moore (Avenue Q and Shrek: The Musical); and is choreographed by Larry Keigwin. The world premiere production takes over the American Conservatory Theater May 19-July 3, 2011. The press and subscriber opening for Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City will take place Tuesday, May 31, 2011, at 8 p.m.
A.C.T.'s production of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City is sponsored by American Airlines, The Fairmont San Francisco, Foggy Bridge, the Koret Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Kenneth Rainin Foundation. Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City is also made possible by commissioning sponsors Priscilla and Keith Geeslin, Ambassador James C. Hormel and Mr. Michael P. Nguyen, Nancy Livingston and Fred Levin, The Shenson Foundation, Kathleen Scutchfield, and Jeff and Laurie Ubben; production sponsors Ray and Dagmar Dolby, Burt and Deedee McMurtry, and Susan A. Van Wagner; music sponsors Lesley Clement, Lorenzo Thione and David Palmer, Jack and Susy Wadsworth, and Carlie Wilmans; choreography sponsors Stephen Belford and Bobby Minkler, Marilee K. Gardner, Jo S. Hurley, Byron R. Meyer, Mr. Milton J. Mosk and Mr. Thomas E. Foutch, David and Carla Riemer, Laila Tarraf, Larry and Robyn Varellas, and Nola Yee; and casting sponsors Lucia Brandon, Carlotta and Robert Dathe, Jerome L. and Thao N. Dodson, Drs. Caroline Emmett and Russell Rydel, Mr. and Mrs. Kirke Hasson, Toby and Sally Rosenblatt, Frank Stein and Paul May, Bert Steinberg, Jack Weeden and David Davies, and Beverly and Loring Wyllie. A.C.T. would also like to acknowledge its 2010-11 season company sponsors: Ray and Dagmar Dolby, Priscilla and Keith Geeslin, Ambassador James C. Hormel and Mr. Michael P. Nguyen, Nancy Livingston and Fred Levin, The Shenson Foundation, Burt and Deedee McMurtry, Patti and Rusty Rueff, Kathleen Scutchfield, Mary and Steven Swig, Jeff and Laurie Ubben, and Susan A. Van Wagner. Development of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City was supported by the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center during a residency at the National Music Theater Conference of 2009.
http://sanfrancisco.broadwayworld.com/article/Olympia_Dukakis_and_Laura_Linney_Chair_Gala_For_TALES_OF_THE_CITY_61_20110301
Armistead Maupin in San Francisco
01 March 2011
Luke Malone
Long after establishing itself as a centre of countercultural creativity, San Francisco retains a fiercely liberal heart. US author Armistead Maupin is its number-one fan.
Armistead Maupin's Tales Of The City series helped cement San Francisco's position on the literary map. The books, which started as a serial in The San Francisco Chronicle, tell the story of naive Ohio native Mary Ann Singleton as she makes a new life for herself in the city. For many readers, the characters' friends and neighbours formed an introduction to life in the magnetic bayside city during the swinging 1970s.
Maupin's latest book, Mary Ann In Autumn, sees her returning from two decades in New York, to modern-day San Francisco, seeking comfort from old friends, as demons from her past collide with those of her present.
Maupin, speaking from his home office in a wooded area high above Golden Gate Park, on the eve of a visit to Australia, is excited about his latest offering and the opportunity to talk about his beloved metropolis. He, too, moved to the city from somewhere else – South Carolina, in 1971 – and never left. In his writing he made San Fran a character as integral as any other. He has been witness to the changes it has undergone, from being a drawcard for hippies, artists, gays and runaways, to the more gentrified environment of today. But the successful author is sanguine about the changes.
"It's changed in the ways that most cities have changed," he says. "There's a faster pace, the traffic is worse, people are a little more harried than they used to be. But it has also improved a great deal in terms of its physical beauty."
Along with his fellow San Franciscans, he's been active in the city's upkeep. "We've torn down freeways because we didn't like the way they looked. We've renovated a number of wonderful old buildings. We've made the place more habitable for its residents and even more attractive for tourists."
Now 66, Maupin says he doesn't long for what others might see as the city's heyday. "There's nothing to miss. I'm sitting here in my office right now looking over the same city. If anything, I have to remind myself that time has passed because most of my adult experience has been here. I'll sometimes ask myself who that old guy is in my reflection when I pass a shop window because, in many ways, I still feel like I'm 27 and I've just arrived in town."
He concedes that the dot-com boom of the '90s changed the urban demographic. "I'm very lucky I bought a house here 17 years ago when the market was low. I suspect if I sold my house and left town I'd never be able to afford to move back. It's easier for people with money to live here now than young, struggling artists. I suppose that contributes somewhat to a loss of colour."
But that doesn't mean the city is no longer vibrant. Long after establishing itself as a bastion of countercultural creativity, it retains a fiercely liberal heart. Maupin points to the thriving and varied arts scenes. "There's a poetry scene and we have a literary festival here called Litquake, where people travel around from bar to bar to recite poetry and drink. There's always something interesting if you keep your eyes open. I still hear from young people who come here with a dream in their pocket and stay."
What is it that makes San Francisco so universally loved? Other cities have equal amounts of fans and detractors; for every rapt visitor to New York or LA, another will complain about the noise or pollution. But San Francisco is a deeply comforting place.
"That character seems to be immutable," agrees Maupin. "It's physically beautiful, to begin with, and quite seductive. The fog rolling in from the sea and over these hills is quite magical and lends it a certain ethereal quality. It's also a very small place. We have only about 750,000 inhabitants, so it manages to be a small town and cosmopolitan at the same time."
Though he once had a summer home on New Zealand's South Island – now a B&B run by his sister, Jane – Maupin and his husband, Christopher Turner, have never thought seriously about relocating. "We used to consider the suburbs because we were fantasising about a big green lawn and a place for our dog to run. But I'm not sure that would ever outweigh the beauty of living here in the heart of all this humanity."
Armistead's city
Thirsty: 440 Castro
440 Castro Street. +1 415 621 8732.
An easy-going neighbourhood bar with hot guys of all ages.
Grab a snack: Café de la Presse
352 Grant Avenue. +1 415 398 2680.
A charming spot near the Chinatown gate that also happens to be in the heart of our French Quarter. Yes, we have a French district! This place offers newspapers from all over the world.
Wine & dine: The Slanted Door
1 Ferry Building #3. +1 415 861 8032.
The Slanted Door specialises in cleverly updated Vietnamese food. The Shaking Beef is not to be missed. Elegant atmosphere and a great view of the harbour from the Ferry Building.
La Mar
Pier 1½. +1 415 397 8880.
A Peruvian seafood restaurant in one of the old piers (just to the left of the Ferry Building). More great views and every imaginable kind of ceviche.
Koh Samui & The Monkey
415 Brannan Street. +1 415 369 0007.
Delicious Thai food in a stunning second-floor room with big casement windows overlooking the street.
Worthwhile tourist spot: Ferry Building
1 Ferry Building. +1 415 983 8030.
Pretty much the core of all that's wonderful on the waterfront. It has a farmers' market and a lot of artisanal foodstuffs. Don't miss the Cowgirl Creamery and its many delectable cheesy treats. It's all made an hour north of the city – by cowgirls, of course.
Locals only: The Ramp
855 Terry Francois Street. +1 415 621 2378.
A great burger joint on the waterfront in a semi-industrial neighbourhood. Tourists almost never find it.
Culture vulture: The de Young Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. +1 415 750 3600.
Our new pride and joy, smack dab in the middle of Golden Gate Park. The building, resembling a giant, rusting aircraft carrier, is striking and beautiful in that green setting. The Sculpture Garden is worth exploring.
Go green: Crissy Field
1199 East Beach (Crissy Field Center). +1 415 561 7690.
Where we walk our dog on special occasions. It's a reclaimed tidal marsh with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Kids and dogs and sailboats and kites – heaven on a sunny day.
Source Qantas The Australian Way March 2011
http://travelinsider.qantas.com.au/armistead_maupin_in_san_francisco.htm
Luke Malone
Long after establishing itself as a centre of countercultural creativity, San Francisco retains a fiercely liberal heart. US author Armistead Maupin is its number-one fan.
Armistead Maupin's Tales Of The City series helped cement San Francisco's position on the literary map. The books, which started as a serial in The San Francisco Chronicle, tell the story of naive Ohio native Mary Ann Singleton as she makes a new life for herself in the city. For many readers, the characters' friends and neighbours formed an introduction to life in the magnetic bayside city during the swinging 1970s.
Maupin's latest book, Mary Ann In Autumn, sees her returning from two decades in New York, to modern-day San Francisco, seeking comfort from old friends, as demons from her past collide with those of her present.
Maupin, speaking from his home office in a wooded area high above Golden Gate Park, on the eve of a visit to Australia, is excited about his latest offering and the opportunity to talk about his beloved metropolis. He, too, moved to the city from somewhere else – South Carolina, in 1971 – and never left. In his writing he made San Fran a character as integral as any other. He has been witness to the changes it has undergone, from being a drawcard for hippies, artists, gays and runaways, to the more gentrified environment of today. But the successful author is sanguine about the changes.
"It's changed in the ways that most cities have changed," he says. "There's a faster pace, the traffic is worse, people are a little more harried than they used to be. But it has also improved a great deal in terms of its physical beauty."
Along with his fellow San Franciscans, he's been active in the city's upkeep. "We've torn down freeways because we didn't like the way they looked. We've renovated a number of wonderful old buildings. We've made the place more habitable for its residents and even more attractive for tourists."
Now 66, Maupin says he doesn't long for what others might see as the city's heyday. "There's nothing to miss. I'm sitting here in my office right now looking over the same city. If anything, I have to remind myself that time has passed because most of my adult experience has been here. I'll sometimes ask myself who that old guy is in my reflection when I pass a shop window because, in many ways, I still feel like I'm 27 and I've just arrived in town."
He concedes that the dot-com boom of the '90s changed the urban demographic. "I'm very lucky I bought a house here 17 years ago when the market was low. I suspect if I sold my house and left town I'd never be able to afford to move back. It's easier for people with money to live here now than young, struggling artists. I suppose that contributes somewhat to a loss of colour."
But that doesn't mean the city is no longer vibrant. Long after establishing itself as a bastion of countercultural creativity, it retains a fiercely liberal heart. Maupin points to the thriving and varied arts scenes. "There's a poetry scene and we have a literary festival here called Litquake, where people travel around from bar to bar to recite poetry and drink. There's always something interesting if you keep your eyes open. I still hear from young people who come here with a dream in their pocket and stay."
What is it that makes San Francisco so universally loved? Other cities have equal amounts of fans and detractors; for every rapt visitor to New York or LA, another will complain about the noise or pollution. But San Francisco is a deeply comforting place.
"That character seems to be immutable," agrees Maupin. "It's physically beautiful, to begin with, and quite seductive. The fog rolling in from the sea and over these hills is quite magical and lends it a certain ethereal quality. It's also a very small place. We have only about 750,000 inhabitants, so it manages to be a small town and cosmopolitan at the same time."
Though he once had a summer home on New Zealand's South Island – now a B&B run by his sister, Jane – Maupin and his husband, Christopher Turner, have never thought seriously about relocating. "We used to consider the suburbs because we were fantasising about a big green lawn and a place for our dog to run. But I'm not sure that would ever outweigh the beauty of living here in the heart of all this humanity."
Armistead's city
Thirsty: 440 Castro
440 Castro Street. +1 415 621 8732.
An easy-going neighbourhood bar with hot guys of all ages.
Grab a snack: Café de la Presse
352 Grant Avenue. +1 415 398 2680.
A charming spot near the Chinatown gate that also happens to be in the heart of our French Quarter. Yes, we have a French district! This place offers newspapers from all over the world.
Wine & dine: The Slanted Door
1 Ferry Building #3. +1 415 861 8032.
The Slanted Door specialises in cleverly updated Vietnamese food. The Shaking Beef is not to be missed. Elegant atmosphere and a great view of the harbour from the Ferry Building.
La Mar
Pier 1½. +1 415 397 8880.
A Peruvian seafood restaurant in one of the old piers (just to the left of the Ferry Building). More great views and every imaginable kind of ceviche.
Koh Samui & The Monkey
415 Brannan Street. +1 415 369 0007.
Delicious Thai food in a stunning second-floor room with big casement windows overlooking the street.
Worthwhile tourist spot: Ferry Building
1 Ferry Building. +1 415 983 8030.
Pretty much the core of all that's wonderful on the waterfront. It has a farmers' market and a lot of artisanal foodstuffs. Don't miss the Cowgirl Creamery and its many delectable cheesy treats. It's all made an hour north of the city – by cowgirls, of course.
Locals only: The Ramp
855 Terry Francois Street. +1 415 621 2378.
A great burger joint on the waterfront in a semi-industrial neighbourhood. Tourists almost never find it.
Culture vulture: The de Young Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. +1 415 750 3600.
Our new pride and joy, smack dab in the middle of Golden Gate Park. The building, resembling a giant, rusting aircraft carrier, is striking and beautiful in that green setting. The Sculpture Garden is worth exploring.
Go green: Crissy Field
1199 East Beach (Crissy Field Center). +1 415 561 7690.
Where we walk our dog on special occasions. It's a reclaimed tidal marsh with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Kids and dogs and sailboats and kites – heaven on a sunny day.
Source Qantas The Australian Way March 2011
http://travelinsider.qantas.com.au/armistead_maupin_in_san_francisco.htm
March 1, 2011
An Evening with Armistead Maupin
Everything I've ever written is based on something in my life.
Armistead Maupin, best-selling author of the Tales of the City novels, is back with the latest story in the series. Mary Ann in Autumn continues his exploration of 'alternative' lifestyles in the city by the bay.
The popular series broke new ground with its open reflection of San Francisco's gay community in the 70s and 80s as well as its frank discussion of AIDS. Maupin's willingness to broach this subject, at a time when many wouldn't, has ensured his place in literary history.
Audiences can hear him read aloud from his latest novel before watching him take part in a lively interview with Julie McCrossin. Fans will then have the opportunity to question him about his life and work. As a best-selling author, social commentator, gay soldier in Vietnam, and advocate of homosexual rights, Maupin has led a fascinating life which has earned him a place as a literary icon.
"My hope is that we're close to the time that homophobia takes on the status of racism today -- normal, mainstream people don't accept it." Armistead Maupin
"Tales, the phenomenon that started in 1976 has evolved into a pop cultural phenomenon that has come to define a San Francisco era and ethos." Los Angeles Times
BOOK SIGNING
As part of this event, Armistead Maupin be available for you to meet and personally sign your 'Tales in the City' book directly after the event in the Concert Hall foyer.
FIND US ON FACEBOOK
'Like' Ideas at the House on Facebook to find out about upcoming talks and special offers. Plus feel free to let us know your thoughts about events you've seen, or one's that you think we should have!
View Armistead Maupin's website
Part of the 2011 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Please note this performance will be filmed for broadcasting.
Venue: Concert Hall
Dates: 3 March
Duration: 75 minutes including Q&A
Book Online Now!
Select your preferred date on Calendar and click Buy Tickets.
Make a night of it with a Show Plus Package and save!
Add pre- theatre dinner, interval drinks, parking or a tour.
Or, purchase drink vouchers in advance - click here
http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/whatson/an_evening_with_armistead_maupin.aspx?start=yes
Armistead Maupin, best-selling author of the Tales of the City novels, is back with the latest story in the series. Mary Ann in Autumn continues his exploration of 'alternative' lifestyles in the city by the bay.
The popular series broke new ground with its open reflection of San Francisco's gay community in the 70s and 80s as well as its frank discussion of AIDS. Maupin's willingness to broach this subject, at a time when many wouldn't, has ensured his place in literary history.
Audiences can hear him read aloud from his latest novel before watching him take part in a lively interview with Julie McCrossin. Fans will then have the opportunity to question him about his life and work. As a best-selling author, social commentator, gay soldier in Vietnam, and advocate of homosexual rights, Maupin has led a fascinating life which has earned him a place as a literary icon.
"My hope is that we're close to the time that homophobia takes on the status of racism today -- normal, mainstream people don't accept it." Armistead Maupin
"Tales, the phenomenon that started in 1976 has evolved into a pop cultural phenomenon that has come to define a San Francisco era and ethos." Los Angeles Times
BOOK SIGNING
As part of this event, Armistead Maupin be available for you to meet and personally sign your 'Tales in the City' book directly after the event in the Concert Hall foyer.
FIND US ON FACEBOOK
'Like' Ideas at the House on Facebook to find out about upcoming talks and special offers. Plus feel free to let us know your thoughts about events you've seen, or one's that you think we should have!
View Armistead Maupin's website
Part of the 2011 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Please note this performance will be filmed for broadcasting.
Venue: Concert Hall
Dates: 3 March
Duration: 75 minutes including Q&A
Book Online Now!
Select your preferred date on Calendar and click Buy Tickets.
Make a night of it with a Show Plus Package and save!
Add pre- theatre dinner, interval drinks, parking or a tour.
Or, purchase drink vouchers in advance - click here
http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/whatson/an_evening_with_armistead_maupin.aspx?start=yes
February 25, 2011
Maupin Basks in Autumn Days
Kylie Northover
February 26, 2011
FOR almost four decades, the much-loved characters from the Tales of the City novels have aged in real-time along with their creator, American author Armistead Maupin, and his fans.
In the latest, eighth, instalment, Mary Ann in Autumn, published late last year, Maupin takes a nostalgic tone, but fans of the seminal gay author should not read this as an indication that the end is nigh.
Maupin, who appears at the Athenaeum Theatre tomorrow as part of the Wheeler Centre's Big Gay Week, says the nostalgia in the latest book is ''a function of my age, not the fact I'm trying to wrap up anything''.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Maupin, 66, also rejects criticism that has been levelled at him that the new book is a treatise on the ''taboo topic of gay ageing''.
''I've been talking about ageing forever, and I don't consider it a taboo,'' he says. ''I consider it a privilege to be an ageing gay man because so many of my friends weren't able to come along on the journey with me.
''It's not fashionable to be old and gay but I don't give a f---! It rankles me to hear that there are gay men who moan about being old. It's OK to groan about aches and pains but to devalue the privilege of being here after all these years is quite obscene.
''I lost my best friend two weeks after his 40th birthday and I still miss him terribly. I feel those people - the people we lost - are being dishonoured when that talk comes up.''
Maupin has famously chronicled gay life (he was the first author to broach AIDS) and the notion of non-biological ''families'' since his Tales series began as a newspaper serial in the San Francisco Chronicle in the mid-1970s. And while Maupin has written novels that aren't part of the series, it's for the Tales that he is most feted, with ardent fans who tend not to merely like his work but fervently adore it.
During our phone conversation, several have tweeted the author to tell him he is now a specialist subject on the British quiz show Mastermind.
''I've made it now,'' he says, laughing, ''although someone just sent me the questions and I flunked a couple of them! That fan clearly knew more than I did.''
Given his global fan base, which increased after the 1996 TV mini-series based on his novels, it's hardly surprising.
''The books went viral before there was an internet - people passed them around and it spread on its own,'' Maupin says. ''That's why I have a certain amount of confidence in the story after all these years. People share it with each other and make it a part of their own family structure.''
Ask any fan what they think of Mary Ann, one of the Tales core characters, and arguments are bound to ensue.
''Part of why I wrote the new book is because I got tired of people asking why Mary Ann became such a bitch,'' Maupin says. ''And because I put a certain amount of my own emotional life into that character, I take it personally!''
He admits there's something of himself in all of the main characters. ''I have been DeDe, I relate to that character a lot; she's a reformed debutant and so am I. I grew up in a very conservative, socially aristocratic family in North Carolina where they thought it was the most important thing the world,'' he says.
''Then Brian's a failed lawyer, and I dropped out of law school. Also, Brian's womanising was roughly the equivalent of my man-chasing back in the '70s.''
His fans, too, see themselves in various characters.
''People tell me they read the books over the years, in real-time, and connect it with incidents in their own lives. That's the rare privilege I've had - to be able to tell a story in real-time over 34 years.''
He has also, albeit reluctantly, become something of a spokesperson for gay rights, partly as himself and partly as the character he identifies with most, Michael Tolliver.
(That character's coming-out letter to his mother, in More Tales of the City, has been used as a real-life template by countless others to reveal their sexuality to family and friends.)
''I squirm a little when people say I'm a spokesperson - I'm only speaking for myself,'' he says. ''Although 35 years ago it was rare for anybody to speak about it all.''
Maupin married Christopher Turner just before California's Proposition 8 was voted in. Maupin met Turner, who is 27 years his junior, after seeing him on a ''specialist'' dating website.
The story goes that Maupin saw his photo on the site, then saw him in the street, and chased him down the block, calling out ''Didn't I see you on Daddyhunt.com?''
''Yes, that is absolutely true,'' Maupin says. ''It might have been the uncoolest thing to say but as he actually owned the website he was very happy.''
The pair were married earlier in Canada in 2007 (a marriage recognised only in British Columbia), and refuse to refer to each other as ''civil partners''.
''Elton John has a 'civil partner'; I have a husband. We have so many serious problems in the world and that people spend even 10 minutes fretting about this is preposterous to me,'' Maupin says.
''It says to me they don't understand the first thing about love if they don't understand how it can happen to a variety of people in a variety of configurations.''
There are still a few tickets left to see Armistead Maupin in conversation with Noni Hazelhurst tomorrow at 7.30pm at the Athenaeum Theatre. wheelercentre.com
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/maupin-basks-in-autumn-days-20110225-1b8lq.html
February 26, 2011
FOR almost four decades, the much-loved characters from the Tales of the City novels have aged in real-time along with their creator, American author Armistead Maupin, and his fans.
In the latest, eighth, instalment, Mary Ann in Autumn, published late last year, Maupin takes a nostalgic tone, but fans of the seminal gay author should not read this as an indication that the end is nigh.
Maupin, who appears at the Athenaeum Theatre tomorrow as part of the Wheeler Centre's Big Gay Week, says the nostalgia in the latest book is ''a function of my age, not the fact I'm trying to wrap up anything''.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Maupin, 66, also rejects criticism that has been levelled at him that the new book is a treatise on the ''taboo topic of gay ageing''.
''I've been talking about ageing forever, and I don't consider it a taboo,'' he says. ''I consider it a privilege to be an ageing gay man because so many of my friends weren't able to come along on the journey with me.
''It's not fashionable to be old and gay but I don't give a f---! It rankles me to hear that there are gay men who moan about being old. It's OK to groan about aches and pains but to devalue the privilege of being here after all these years is quite obscene.
''I lost my best friend two weeks after his 40th birthday and I still miss him terribly. I feel those people - the people we lost - are being dishonoured when that talk comes up.''
Maupin has famously chronicled gay life (he was the first author to broach AIDS) and the notion of non-biological ''families'' since his Tales series began as a newspaper serial in the San Francisco Chronicle in the mid-1970s. And while Maupin has written novels that aren't part of the series, it's for the Tales that he is most feted, with ardent fans who tend not to merely like his work but fervently adore it.
During our phone conversation, several have tweeted the author to tell him he is now a specialist subject on the British quiz show Mastermind.
''I've made it now,'' he says, laughing, ''although someone just sent me the questions and I flunked a couple of them! That fan clearly knew more than I did.''
Given his global fan base, which increased after the 1996 TV mini-series based on his novels, it's hardly surprising.
''The books went viral before there was an internet - people passed them around and it spread on its own,'' Maupin says. ''That's why I have a certain amount of confidence in the story after all these years. People share it with each other and make it a part of their own family structure.''
Ask any fan what they think of Mary Ann, one of the Tales core characters, and arguments are bound to ensue.
''Part of why I wrote the new book is because I got tired of people asking why Mary Ann became such a bitch,'' Maupin says. ''And because I put a certain amount of my own emotional life into that character, I take it personally!''
He admits there's something of himself in all of the main characters. ''I have been DeDe, I relate to that character a lot; she's a reformed debutant and so am I. I grew up in a very conservative, socially aristocratic family in North Carolina where they thought it was the most important thing the world,'' he says.
''Then Brian's a failed lawyer, and I dropped out of law school. Also, Brian's womanising was roughly the equivalent of my man-chasing back in the '70s.''
His fans, too, see themselves in various characters.
''People tell me they read the books over the years, in real-time, and connect it with incidents in their own lives. That's the rare privilege I've had - to be able to tell a story in real-time over 34 years.''
He has also, albeit reluctantly, become something of a spokesperson for gay rights, partly as himself and partly as the character he identifies with most, Michael Tolliver.
(That character's coming-out letter to his mother, in More Tales of the City, has been used as a real-life template by countless others to reveal their sexuality to family and friends.)
''I squirm a little when people say I'm a spokesperson - I'm only speaking for myself,'' he says. ''Although 35 years ago it was rare for anybody to speak about it all.''
Maupin married Christopher Turner just before California's Proposition 8 was voted in. Maupin met Turner, who is 27 years his junior, after seeing him on a ''specialist'' dating website.
The story goes that Maupin saw his photo on the site, then saw him in the street, and chased him down the block, calling out ''Didn't I see you on Daddyhunt.com?''
''Yes, that is absolutely true,'' Maupin says. ''It might have been the uncoolest thing to say but as he actually owned the website he was very happy.''
The pair were married earlier in Canada in 2007 (a marriage recognised only in British Columbia), and refuse to refer to each other as ''civil partners''.
''Elton John has a 'civil partner'; I have a husband. We have so many serious problems in the world and that people spend even 10 minutes fretting about this is preposterous to me,'' Maupin says.
''It says to me they don't understand the first thing about love if they don't understand how it can happen to a variety of people in a variety of configurations.''
There are still a few tickets left to see Armistead Maupin in conversation with Noni Hazelhurst tomorrow at 7.30pm at the Athenaeum Theatre. wheelercentre.com
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/maupin-basks-in-autumn-days-20110225-1b8lq.html
February 11, 2011
Just announced: Armistead Maupin to be keynote speaker at Seattle PrideFest 2011
Seattle PrideFest just announced that best selling author Armistead Maupin will be the keynote speaker at Seattle PrideFest at Seattle Center on Sunday, June 26. The writer of the beloved "Tales of the City" series of novels focusing on the complicated lives of a group of queer and straight friends living in San Francisco is also a fierce advocate of LGBTQ rights. Mr Maupin was recently in the Seattle area back in November of last year, promoting the 8th book in the "Tales" series, Mary Ann in Autumn and he's also gearing up for the world premiere of the theatrical musical version of the first two novels in the series which debuts May 18, 2011 at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco with music and lyrics by Jake Shears and John Garden of Scissor Sisters and a book by Avenue Q writer, Jeff Whitty.
Seattle PrideFest will announce more artists as they are booked, including performers for this year's big Saturday, June 25th concert, and artists for the Red Party events also scheduled for that Saturday night.
http://www.seattlegayscene.com/2011/02/just-announced-armistead-maupin-to-be-keynote-speaker-at-seattle-pridefest-2011.html
Seattle PrideFest will announce more artists as they are booked, including performers for this year's big Saturday, June 25th concert, and artists for the Red Party events also scheduled for that Saturday night.
http://www.seattlegayscene.com/2011/02/just-announced-armistead-maupin-to-be-keynote-speaker-at-seattle-pridefest-2011.html
February 6, 2011
Darker Tales of the City
Written by Andrew Shaw | 07 February 2011
Author Armistead Maupin is coming to Australia to read from his latest book in the 'Tales of the City' series and meet his fans. He spoke with Andrew Shaw about his new, darker take on life in the city.
Armistead Maupin's career is the stuff of legend. Starting out as a newspaper serial in the Seventies, his Tales of the City books about the residents of a boarding house at 28 Barbary Lane, San Francisco became international bestsellers.
Maupin wrote through the eyes of several characters – eternally optimistic gay man Michael 'Mouse' Tolliver, strait-laced, 20-something Mary Ann Singleton, the eccentric landlady, Anna Madrigal, who welcomed new tenants by taping joints to their doors. Although not all his characters are gay, over the years Maupin kept up with changes in the queer community – the impact of HIV/AIDS, the rise of American conservatism – and his characters aged with him.
Maupin, now 66, still lives in the city that made him famous – and vice-versa – with his husband, Christopher Turner. Recently, when San Francisco became home to America's first gay museum, he was called on to donate an exhibit. He chose a dress that actress Laura Linney, playing Mary Ann, wore in the 1993 Tales TV series. Coincidentally, Maupin's latest book, Mary Ann in Autumn, begins with Mary Ann, now 57, returning to San Francisco to stay with 'Mouse' and catch up on old friends after a long absence. It's the eighth in the Tales series.
In 1989's Sure of You, Mary Ann left San Francisco to marry a wealthy, conservative New York CEO. The accusation from some was that she had 'gone Republican', and it's been suggested Maupin is trying to redeem her character with the new book.
Maupin laughs. "She didn't exactly 'go Republican', but she moved to New York, which is almost as bad in the eyes of San Franciscans. I don't think anyone can be 'redeemed'... In the end, we are who we are. But I wanted people to understand her a little bit more in this novel."
Maupin's style is often compared to Charles Dickens', who also had his early stories serialised. In Mary Ann in Autumn, one of the characters is warned about getting too close to a mentally disturbed street person, telling her that life isn't "quaint and Dickensian".
"I'm sort of making a joke on myself there, to tell you the truth," Maupin laughs. "Dickens never shied away from the grim details of life himself. In this book I've probably embraced that a little bit more than I have in the past with the homeless storyline."
In fact, this Tales book is much darker and more disturbing than any previous novel, edging closer to Maupin's non-Tales thriller, The Night Listener. There is one extremely disturbing turn of events in Mary Ann that will leave many readers of the series gasping.
"It's about as dark as you can get," Maupin admits. "I was thinking last night that the line I hear most often from people and that you can see time and time again on Amazon is: 'It was like visiting with old friends!' And I thought, 'Well, I've written a book that involves cancer, pederasty, child abuse and homelessness and people still think it's like visiting old friends.'"
Maupin shocked his readers in the early Tales story when it was revealed Anna Madrigal was a transwoman. Now in her 80s, Anna is one of the most loved characters in gay literature. But she cannot live forever, and Maupin is not relishing writing her death scene. In fact, it clearly upsets him.
"Yes, I am a writer and yes, I probably have a certain understanding... God... I'm stammering here... I really don't know how to answer you here. It kind of disturbs me, to tell you the truth. I have had people moan and groan at public gatherings when the possibility even arises. But I can't keep her around forever unless I move into the vampire genre."
In the latest book, Michael Tolliver and his 21 years younger partner, Ben, have a loving, open relationship, guided by trust and communication. "I hope it comes across that way," Maupin says of their bond. "It reflects some of the neurosis that occurs when an older man is with a younger man, but it also reflects the solidity of the relationship. But I don't adhere to any strict definition of what 'marriage' means. That's what freedom's about.
"I know gay people who are strictly monogamous and I know gay people with relationships so open you could fly a 747 through them. I think Chris and I have something somewhere in between. But all of it relies on staying open and loving with each other.
"Even in a loving relationship it's easy to get wrapped up in your own concerns and fears that you lose track of the other person: 'What was your day like?' is an extremely important question."
Maupin and hubby Turner are married in the eyes of the State of California – they got in before Prop 8 closed the window of opportunity. Maupin disagrees that Seventies activists would be horrified at the way some gay men are embracing marriage. "I am an old school activist from that time, and I see it as the final fulfilment of our civil rights – or one of them," he argues.
"Marriage is defined by whatever two people are married – we make our own rules. I want to be recognised in the eyes of my government in the same way that anyone else is. In part because it has financial benefits but mostly because I don't want to be told that my love is any less than other, straight couples. Supporting marriage is part of my continuing defiance."
Maupin is looking forward to his appearances in Melbourne and Sydney, where he will be reading from his book, and answering questions from the audience. He finds the public appearances enjoyable, despite the expectations people may have when meeting 'Armistead Maupin'.
"I'm generally able to live up to people's expectations of me," he laughs. "I don't mean that immodestly, I just mean that there's nothing particularly complicated about me. It's not like I'm some porn star they want to fantasise about. I'm just a storyteller and that's what they get when they meet me."
An Evening with Armistead Maupin, Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, Thursday, March 3, 2011. Bookings: (02) 9250 7777, sydneyoperahouse.com
http://sxnews.gaynewsnetwork.com.au/feature/darker-tales-of-the-city-008365.html
Author Armistead Maupin is coming to Australia to read from his latest book in the 'Tales of the City' series and meet his fans. He spoke with Andrew Shaw about his new, darker take on life in the city.
Armistead Maupin's career is the stuff of legend. Starting out as a newspaper serial in the Seventies, his Tales of the City books about the residents of a boarding house at 28 Barbary Lane, San Francisco became international bestsellers.
Maupin wrote through the eyes of several characters – eternally optimistic gay man Michael 'Mouse' Tolliver, strait-laced, 20-something Mary Ann Singleton, the eccentric landlady, Anna Madrigal, who welcomed new tenants by taping joints to their doors. Although not all his characters are gay, over the years Maupin kept up with changes in the queer community – the impact of HIV/AIDS, the rise of American conservatism – and his characters aged with him.
Maupin, now 66, still lives in the city that made him famous – and vice-versa – with his husband, Christopher Turner. Recently, when San Francisco became home to America's first gay museum, he was called on to donate an exhibit. He chose a dress that actress Laura Linney, playing Mary Ann, wore in the 1993 Tales TV series. Coincidentally, Maupin's latest book, Mary Ann in Autumn, begins with Mary Ann, now 57, returning to San Francisco to stay with 'Mouse' and catch up on old friends after a long absence. It's the eighth in the Tales series.
In 1989's Sure of You, Mary Ann left San Francisco to marry a wealthy, conservative New York CEO. The accusation from some was that she had 'gone Republican', and it's been suggested Maupin is trying to redeem her character with the new book.
Maupin laughs. "She didn't exactly 'go Republican', but she moved to New York, which is almost as bad in the eyes of San Franciscans. I don't think anyone can be 'redeemed'... In the end, we are who we are. But I wanted people to understand her a little bit more in this novel."
Maupin's style is often compared to Charles Dickens', who also had his early stories serialised. In Mary Ann in Autumn, one of the characters is warned about getting too close to a mentally disturbed street person, telling her that life isn't "quaint and Dickensian".
"I'm sort of making a joke on myself there, to tell you the truth," Maupin laughs. "Dickens never shied away from the grim details of life himself. In this book I've probably embraced that a little bit more than I have in the past with the homeless storyline."
In fact, this Tales book is much darker and more disturbing than any previous novel, edging closer to Maupin's non-Tales thriller, The Night Listener. There is one extremely disturbing turn of events in Mary Ann that will leave many readers of the series gasping.
"It's about as dark as you can get," Maupin admits. "I was thinking last night that the line I hear most often from people and that you can see time and time again on Amazon is: 'It was like visiting with old friends!' And I thought, 'Well, I've written a book that involves cancer, pederasty, child abuse and homelessness and people still think it's like visiting old friends.'"
Maupin shocked his readers in the early Tales story when it was revealed Anna Madrigal was a transwoman. Now in her 80s, Anna is one of the most loved characters in gay literature. But she cannot live forever, and Maupin is not relishing writing her death scene. In fact, it clearly upsets him.
"Yes, I am a writer and yes, I probably have a certain understanding... God... I'm stammering here... I really don't know how to answer you here. It kind of disturbs me, to tell you the truth. I have had people moan and groan at public gatherings when the possibility even arises. But I can't keep her around forever unless I move into the vampire genre."
In the latest book, Michael Tolliver and his 21 years younger partner, Ben, have a loving, open relationship, guided by trust and communication. "I hope it comes across that way," Maupin says of their bond. "It reflects some of the neurosis that occurs when an older man is with a younger man, but it also reflects the solidity of the relationship. But I don't adhere to any strict definition of what 'marriage' means. That's what freedom's about.
"I know gay people who are strictly monogamous and I know gay people with relationships so open you could fly a 747 through them. I think Chris and I have something somewhere in between. But all of it relies on staying open and loving with each other.
"Even in a loving relationship it's easy to get wrapped up in your own concerns and fears that you lose track of the other person: 'What was your day like?' is an extremely important question."
Maupin and hubby Turner are married in the eyes of the State of California – they got in before Prop 8 closed the window of opportunity. Maupin disagrees that Seventies activists would be horrified at the way some gay men are embracing marriage. "I am an old school activist from that time, and I see it as the final fulfilment of our civil rights – or one of them," he argues.
"Marriage is defined by whatever two people are married – we make our own rules. I want to be recognised in the eyes of my government in the same way that anyone else is. In part because it has financial benefits but mostly because I don't want to be told that my love is any less than other, straight couples. Supporting marriage is part of my continuing defiance."
Maupin is looking forward to his appearances in Melbourne and Sydney, where he will be reading from his book, and answering questions from the audience. He finds the public appearances enjoyable, despite the expectations people may have when meeting 'Armistead Maupin'.
"I'm generally able to live up to people's expectations of me," he laughs. "I don't mean that immodestly, I just mean that there's nothing particularly complicated about me. It's not like I'm some porn star they want to fantasise about. I'm just a storyteller and that's what they get when they meet me."
An Evening with Armistead Maupin, Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, Thursday, March 3, 2011. Bookings: (02) 9250 7777, sydneyoperahouse.com
http://sxnews.gaynewsnetwork.com.au/feature/darker-tales-of-the-city-008365.html
February 4, 2011
OUT in America In Their Own Words, a portrait of LGBT Americans From a News Release
Premieres June 2011 on PBS
New York, NY, January 24, 2011 — Emmy award-winning director Andrew Goldberg and PBS, in association with Oregon Public Broadcasting, today announced a new national PBS special, OUT in America. The one-hour film will make its national premiere on PBS in June, in conjunction with National Gay & Lesbian Pride Month.
OUT in America is an uplifting collection of unique, transformative stories and inspiring personal narratives told through the lens of the country's most prominent LGBT figures and pioneers, as well as many average, yet extraordinary, citizens from Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender communities. The program weaves together diverse stories - from urban and rural America, from the heartland to New England, from San Francisco to Harlem. Deeply moving and often humorous, viewers will get a glimpse of awakenings, first crushes, unlikely soul mates, intimacy and liberation. While separated by circumstance and upbringing, the film's subjects are all united in their shared experiences of self-discovery, coming out, pride and love as well as a triumph over adversity and a true sense of belonging. Against the backdrop of historical events, each also traces their own hopes, struggles, influences and contributions towards advancements in equality and broad social change.
"The first of its kind, OUT in America is a more realistic portrait of LGBT life than almost anything seen on TV before," says Goldberg. "So often, media coverage of LGBT life in America is polarizing or exploitative of controversy and homophobia, or alternately LGBT individuals are presented as caricatures of a stereotype. OUT in America however focuses on empowerment, diversity and relationships."
The special features interviews with and anecdotes from cult TV personality Andy Cohen (Bravo TV Host), famed Tales of the City author Armistead Maupin, country music star Chely Wright, humorist Kate Clinton, as well as legendary LGBT activists James Hormel (philanthropist), Urvashi Vaid (former Executive Director of the pre-eminent civil rights organization National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, recently cited in Out Magazine's list of most influential men and women in America) and Dr. Patricia Hawkins (psychologist renowned for her early work with HIV patients). Other influential lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people in the film include: Reverend Peter Gomes, who came out on the steps of Memorial Church at Harvard; PJ Serrano, Puerto Rico's first openly gay and HIV positive political candidate; a transgender police lieutenant, who transitioned while on active duty; a Muslim lesbian from the country of Mauritius; a gay rancher; the organizer of Capital Queer Prom; a Latino rapper; a West Point graduate and former Captain in the US Army; a drag queen; a great-grandmother; and "The Harolds," a giddy bi-racial couple in their 80s, who reminisce, in unison, about their five decades together. "We've had a good life. We still love each other, which is rare in most cases…it just gets better."
OUT in America examines the ways in which LGBT Americans obtained a sense of freedom from social oppression by reconciling conflicts between their sexuality and other prominent factors in their public lives such as faith, family and service in the military. The film addresses the complexity of an individual's tendency to embrace multiple identities across lines of race, gender, class, religion, age and nationality. While much progress has been made to emerge gay life from underground to mainstream over the past 50 years, many caution the urgency for political and social activism is more important than ever, indicating that legality of marriage, the repeal of the nation's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and other legislative victories still don't ensure equality and acceptance around the country or at home in their own cultural, religious and ethnic groups.
With early media coverage and public attention on the community primarily focused on gay men, OUT in America also looks at the patriarchal shift and growing role of lesbians in the rights movements, in particular their visibility in marches on Washington, a division and subsequent alignment with the feminist and women's liberation movements and most significantly, the organizational change and growth in leadership as healthcare providers and activists during the early years of the AIDS crisis.
OUT in America was written, directed and executive produced by Andrew Goldberg of Two Cats Productions. The film was edited by Linda Lamm; Steve Rubinstein served as Associate Producer; and Douglas Chang as Coordinating Producer.
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30423
New York, NY, January 24, 2011 — Emmy award-winning director Andrew Goldberg and PBS, in association with Oregon Public Broadcasting, today announced a new national PBS special, OUT in America. The one-hour film will make its national premiere on PBS in June, in conjunction with National Gay & Lesbian Pride Month.
OUT in America is an uplifting collection of unique, transformative stories and inspiring personal narratives told through the lens of the country's most prominent LGBT figures and pioneers, as well as many average, yet extraordinary, citizens from Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender communities. The program weaves together diverse stories - from urban and rural America, from the heartland to New England, from San Francisco to Harlem. Deeply moving and often humorous, viewers will get a glimpse of awakenings, first crushes, unlikely soul mates, intimacy and liberation. While separated by circumstance and upbringing, the film's subjects are all united in their shared experiences of self-discovery, coming out, pride and love as well as a triumph over adversity and a true sense of belonging. Against the backdrop of historical events, each also traces their own hopes, struggles, influences and contributions towards advancements in equality and broad social change.
"The first of its kind, OUT in America is a more realistic portrait of LGBT life than almost anything seen on TV before," says Goldberg. "So often, media coverage of LGBT life in America is polarizing or exploitative of controversy and homophobia, or alternately LGBT individuals are presented as caricatures of a stereotype. OUT in America however focuses on empowerment, diversity and relationships."
The special features interviews with and anecdotes from cult TV personality Andy Cohen (Bravo TV Host), famed Tales of the City author Armistead Maupin, country music star Chely Wright, humorist Kate Clinton, as well as legendary LGBT activists James Hormel (philanthropist), Urvashi Vaid (former Executive Director of the pre-eminent civil rights organization National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, recently cited in Out Magazine's list of most influential men and women in America) and Dr. Patricia Hawkins (psychologist renowned for her early work with HIV patients). Other influential lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people in the film include: Reverend Peter Gomes, who came out on the steps of Memorial Church at Harvard; PJ Serrano, Puerto Rico's first openly gay and HIV positive political candidate; a transgender police lieutenant, who transitioned while on active duty; a Muslim lesbian from the country of Mauritius; a gay rancher; the organizer of Capital Queer Prom; a Latino rapper; a West Point graduate and former Captain in the US Army; a drag queen; a great-grandmother; and "The Harolds," a giddy bi-racial couple in their 80s, who reminisce, in unison, about their five decades together. "We've had a good life. We still love each other, which is rare in most cases…it just gets better."
OUT in America examines the ways in which LGBT Americans obtained a sense of freedom from social oppression by reconciling conflicts between their sexuality and other prominent factors in their public lives such as faith, family and service in the military. The film addresses the complexity of an individual's tendency to embrace multiple identities across lines of race, gender, class, religion, age and nationality. While much progress has been made to emerge gay life from underground to mainstream over the past 50 years, many caution the urgency for political and social activism is more important than ever, indicating that legality of marriage, the repeal of the nation's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and other legislative victories still don't ensure equality and acceptance around the country or at home in their own cultural, religious and ethnic groups.
With early media coverage and public attention on the community primarily focused on gay men, OUT in America also looks at the patriarchal shift and growing role of lesbians in the rights movements, in particular their visibility in marches on Washington, a division and subsequent alignment with the feminist and women's liberation movements and most significantly, the organizational change and growth in leadership as healthcare providers and activists during the early years of the AIDS crisis.
OUT in America was written, directed and executive produced by Andrew Goldberg of Two Cats Productions. The film was edited by Linda Lamm; Steve Rubinstein served as Associate Producer; and Douglas Chang as Coordinating Producer.
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30423
New TALES dates on sale now -- including Pride weekend!
Due to popular demand, Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City has already been extended an extra two weeks—now playing May 19–July 3. As a Tale Chaser, you have the first chance to buy tickets for this brand-new set of performances—including fabulous seats during San Francisco's Pride weekend. Act now before they go on sale to the general public this Sunday!
Order online or call 415.749.2228 to be first in line for the best new seats.
Expecting company? Save up to 20% off regular prices with a group of 15 or more. Call 415.439.2473 for details.
Lock in your tickets today, or extend this special offer to friends and family to revel in the most highly anticipated theatrical event of the season.
And don't forget . . .
Be among the first to order your copy of the limited-edition Tales poster. Available for a limited time only, this collector's item is flying off the shelves. Get one before they're gone!
This just in! Fans in the U.S. can now watch the beloved television miniseries—based on the first Tales of the City novels—for free on Hulu! Starring Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis, this captivating adaptation will get you in the mood to see Tales come to life this spring.
Connect with thousands of fans on our Tales of the City Facebook page. While you're there, become a fan of Armistead Maupin, the legendary author who wrote the best-selling novels that inspired the musical. Pick up his latest Tales of the City novel, Mary Ann in Autumn, to follow the continuing adventures of these iconic characters, and check out his schedule of upcoming events and appearances to see him in person!
http://www.act-sf.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=12343.0&dlv_id=15543
Order online or call 415.749.2228 to be first in line for the best new seats.
Expecting company? Save up to 20% off regular prices with a group of 15 or more. Call 415.439.2473 for details.
Lock in your tickets today, or extend this special offer to friends and family to revel in the most highly anticipated theatrical event of the season.
And don't forget . . .
Be among the first to order your copy of the limited-edition Tales poster. Available for a limited time only, this collector's item is flying off the shelves. Get one before they're gone!
This just in! Fans in the U.S. can now watch the beloved television miniseries—based on the first Tales of the City novels—for free on Hulu! Starring Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis, this captivating adaptation will get you in the mood to see Tales come to life this spring.
Connect with thousands of fans on our Tales of the City Facebook page. While you're there, become a fan of Armistead Maupin, the legendary author who wrote the best-selling novels that inspired the musical. Pick up his latest Tales of the City novel, Mary Ann in Autumn, to follow the continuing adventures of these iconic characters, and check out his schedule of upcoming events and appearances to see him in person!
http://www.act-sf.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=12343.0&dlv_id=15543
Armistead Maupin's Blog
- Armistead Maupin's profile
- 1953 followers
Armistead Maupin isn't a Goodreads Author
(yet),
but they
do have a blog,
so here are some recent posts imported from
their feed.
