2009 LEFT OUT FESTIVAL Of Gay Performance Art Runs 4/16-27

The 2009 Left Out Festival, gay performance art, April 16-27, 2009 at Stage Left Studio, NYC
The 2009 Left Out Festival, a celebration of gay performance art, runs from April 16-27, 2009 at Stage Left Studio, NYC's only solo show repertory theater.

Festival producers Cheryl King and Joe Hutcheson are proud to announce that last year's Left Out Festival resulted in more than $2600 donated to Bailey House and GMHC. The net proceeds of this year's festival will again be donated to Bailey House and GMHC, with a portion reserved for the Campaign to Defeat Proposition 8.

The 2009 Left Out Festival is sponsored by The Village Voice, Backstage, nytheatre.com, HX, Blade, outimpact.com and Costello Wines.

The 2009 festival includes 14 performances and a Gayla party at Evolve Bar on April 15, from 8-10 pm, featuring Switch N' Play and Victoria, and happy hour prices on all drinks. Evolve Bar is located at 221 E. 58th St., NYC.

The opening night performance, April 16 at 8 pm, features the following monologues:
RICHARD BALLON - Doubletake, performed by Josef Wille
and Thumbprint, performed by Russell Jordan
FRANK BLOCKER - "The Great News" performed by Frank Blocker & "The Kroger What's Near My House" performed by Charnele Crick
ROBIN GOLDFIN - The Naturalist, performed by Robin Goldfin
RHEA MACCALLUM - Flushed Suicides, performed by Rhea MacCallum
ROBERT Michael Morris - Jack, a selection from Men of Distinction, performed by Miller Lide
MICHELLE RAMONI - Sunday Afternoon, performed by Michelle Ramoni
TONI SILVER - A selection from Shame Lips, performed by The Lovely and Talented Toni Silver
LISA STEPHENSON - Tracy, a selection from Bedside Manners, performed by Lisa Stephenson

The closing night performance, April 27 at 8 pm, will feature the following spoken word artists and musicians: Samantha Barrow, JEN/ed, Erin Markey, Athena and Company, Pandora Scooter, and Mahina Movement.

All Festival performances will be followed by a wine reception.

This year the festival will feature six solo shows:
Friday, April 17 @ 8 pm and Sunday, April 26 at 3 pm
Dreams of Martha Stewart, written by Pamela Parker, and directed by Frank Blocker, performed by Gina Bonati - On a pilgrimage (bus) to Turkey HIll, a woman accidentally finds herself in the unforgettable characters she meets-and it's A Good Thing.

Saturday. April 18 at 3:00 pm and Sunday, April 26 at 8:00 pm
In Heat, written by Lisa Haas, directed by Jocelyn Sawyer, performed by Sally Sockwell
Alarmed that lesbianism is being overshadowed by a new GenderQueer culture, life-long Sapphic sister Doris Anderson as has pioneered SILK, a cultural hospice for the last of the lesbians.

Saturday, April 18 at 8:00 pm and Saturday. April 25 at 3:00 pm
Roughhouse, written and performed by Topher Cusumano, directed by Matt Whalen
"Roughhouse" is a spoken word performance piece that indicts the gay male's relationship with aggression, masculinity, and concepts of power. "Roughhouse" will test the boundaries social construction by exposing the paradoxes of manhood and queerness. Written and performed by Topher Cusumano with direction by Matt Whalen, "Roughhouse" will leave you bruised, bloody, and begging for more!

Sunday, April 19 at 3:00 pm and Friday, April 24 at 8:00 pm
The Devil's Back Door, written and performed by Akil Wingate - A rousing evening of gospel, soul, and blues storytelling about all the folks who sold their souls to the devil at the crossroads.

Sunday, April 19 at 8:00 pm and Thursday, April 23 at 8:00 pm
An Evening with Ben Lerman and his ukulele, starring Ben Lerman
Ben Lerman is an NYC singer-songwriter and comedian making his TV debut in March on HereTV. Ben has toured nationally, is a regular guest on the Frank DeCaro Show on Sirius Radio, and hosts a monthly live version of the Match Game at the Bowery Poetry Club. He founded the band the Isotoners in 2003, and the band played the gay comedy rock circuit until 2005 when they discovered that there was no gay comedy rock band circuit. Ben has been playing solo in rock and comedy clubs, theaters, resorts and festivals since 2006. You can find out more at www.benlerman.net.

Monday, April 20 at 8:00 pm and Saturday. April 25 at 8:00 pm
Othernatural, written and performed by Laramie Dean, directed by Thomas Michael Campbell
A poignant journey of self discovery and sexuality. With monsters.

Tickets are $20. Seating is limited, and advance purchase is recommended. Tickets are available through Smart Tix, www.smarttix.com, 212-868-4444.

www.leftoutfestival.com