Director Steve Balderson Announced To Direct Romantic Comedy MAYBE THIS TIME

Magical Iguana Productions and Let Us Entertainment are excited to announce the signing of award-winning director Steve Balderson to helm the upcoming romantic comedy feature film, "Maybe This Time" written by Richard DeFonzo, and starring Mel England ("Best Day Ever") and Chad Michaels ("RuPaul's Drag Race" and winner of "RuPaul's All Stars").

"I'm thrilled to be working with Mel & Richard on "Maybe This Time,"" Balderson mentioned. "When I heard Chad Michaels was involved, I got really excited because I've always wanted to direct Cher!"

"Maybe This Time" is based on DeFonzo's life as one of the most celebrated Liza Minnelli impersonators in the world, and centers on the backstage life of a hit Off-Broadway drag show that features a "Liza," "Cher," "Bette Midler," and even a "Beyonce." Producers are currently in talks with "A-list" talent to play the lead role of Robert, the "Liza" in the show. Michaels will play the "Cher" impersonator, DeFonzo the "Joan Rivers" impersonator, and England will play Peter, the new stage manager backstage.

Balderson has been a blaze-setting director, forging his own path from the mid-west indie-film world straight into Hollywood, and was recently named one of the "Top 50 Best LGBTQ Directors" on IMDb. His first feature "Pep Squad" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival at Le Marché du Film, and Roger Ebert honored Balderson's feature "Firecracker", starring Karen Black and Mike Patton, with a Special Jury Award for Best Film of the Year. His film "El Ganzo" won Best Feature, Best Actor and Best Cinematography at the Salento International Film Festival in Italy in 2015. In 2011, the U.S. Library of Congress selected his film "The Casserole Club" as part of its permanent collection. Most recently, Balderson directed the film "Elvis Lives!" for Mark Cuban's TV channel, a music video for The Go-Go's Jane Wiedlin, and is in post-production with his short film "Short Straw," to be released this year.

DeFonzo's "Maybe This Time" spotlights the challenging love-lives of all drag artists and female impersonators. "Finding love and romance BEYOND the make-up, wig and heels can really be a drag!" DeFonzo quipped.

In the film, Robert Hunter, a show-stopping "Liza" impersonator in NYC is looking for love -- but noone wants to date a drag queen! Desperate and willing to do anything, Robert's campy cast-mates team up to help him find love -- even if it means giving up Liza. When a new stage manager enters backstage left, has he finally met Mr. Right? Maybe This Time...

Vincent DePaul ("House of Cards") has also signed to co-star, and the film is being produced by a team including Tony award-winner Sue Vaccaro ("Clybourne Park"), Anton Khachaturian ("RuPaul's Drag U"), with England and DeFonzo as Executive Producers.

"As soon as we met with Steve, we knew we had the right 'man' for the job! He's a great director," added England. "His unique and powerful story-telling will bring this touching, romantic and funny movie to life!"

About the Filmmakers/Actors

RICHARD DEFONZO is one of the top Liza Minnelli impersonators in the US, most recently he was a headliner at The Hilton Hawaiian Village in the flagship production "CABARAE." He has entertained worldwide in theatres, cabarets, and exclusive events. He starred in VH-1's reality series "Boys Will Be Girls" and was featured on A&E in promos for Liza's "A&E Biography." As an actor, he appeared in the film "Jeffery," on "The Cosby Show," Off-Broadway at The Actor's Playhouse and performed in various National Tours and Regional theatre productions.

MEL ENGLAND has starred on screen and stage, Off Broadway, and internationally. In the title role of "Ron and Laura Take Back America," he won Best Acting Ensemble, and two Best Actor nominations. Other starring film roles include "Best Day Ever," "Little Big Top" "Persona Au Gratin." His one-man show "Swimming with the Polar Bears" premiered Off Broadway, featuring posters signed by Al Gore in a benefit for The Climate Project, whiich toured to the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, and the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day on the National Mall. He's also appeared Off Broadway with the Pearl Theatre, and is currently starring in the long-running "Electricity" in Palm Springs.

CHAD MICHAELS career as one of the world's premier Cher Impersonators now spans two decades of acclaim. Chad has collaborated with and entertained for Industry favorites such as David Foster, Bruce Roberts, Elton John, Christina Aguilera, Cyndi Lauper, Gene Simmons, RuPaul, and even the Diva Herself, Cher. Chad has been featured on such television productions as "The Cher E! True Hollywood Story", "The Cher A&E Biography", MAD TV, Women's Murder Club, Kath & Kim, "The Comedy Central Gene Simmons Celebrity Roast", E! Talk Soup, and most recently "Jane the Virgin" and "Two Broke Girls." In 2011, Chad competed in RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4 on the Logo Network and achieved a Top 3 position in the Race.

VINCENT DEPAUL, the star of the two-time Emmy® winning Amazon Prime series "The Bay," has been at the forefront of the LGBT indie scene for over a decade. One of his first starring roles was in the steamy "Contadora is for Lovers," about a bisexual love triangle. He has since starred in and produced many popular LGBT titles, including the award winning "Walk a Mile in my Pradas," "Wishmakers of West Hollywood," and "I Want to Get Married." DePaul began his career as an internationally renowned model then segued into acting in such mainstream feature films as John Waters' "Hairspray" and "Riding in the Car with Boys" with Drew Barrymore. His TV career includes appearances on "House of Cards" "West Wing," "Frasier," "Charmed," "Sex in the City," HBO's "Six Feet Under" and "As The World Turns."

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