The Golden Gays Announce New Cast Member and Charitable Beneficiaries for 2010 Tour

"The Golden Gays", this fall's runaway hit Drag Musical Spoof and Tribute is back in 2010 with their first tour. Along with the tour comes some exciting additions. Vic Carmona will play the twisted Therapist who suggests "Drag Therapy" to his 4 patients and sets up the original plot for this new tribute. In addition to the LifeGroup Los Angeles, the show will add some other charities including the Aids Assistance Program ( Palm Springs), and Certified Humane (Humane Farm Animal Care Nationwide). 

The show runs in Los Angeles for six performances only: January 22nd,23rd,24th, 29th, 30th, and 31st. It then moves on to Palm Springs for 3 performances February 5th, 6th and 7th. More details can be found at www.thegoldengays.com

Vic Carmona is an unlikely candidate for the role of Dr. Leche. As a young man who set out on a military career path, he was discharged from the U.S. Navy under the "Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy". From there, he jumped into Corporate Life and only recently has come out and come out BIG as "Lady Vajajay". Lady V is currently a well-known greater Los Angeles Drag Personality who travels to different venues raising money for charities like Courage Campaign, OC Shanti, ASF to name a few. Born in Thailand, Vic was chosen for the role as much for his great heart as for his talent. This can be said for all "The Golden Gays".

John Patrick Trapper's Drag Musical Comedy Spoof "The Golden Gays" is the story of four men who have not been able to release their obsession with the third most popular sitcom ever and see the same therapist to try and work through the problem. Unfortunately, the therapist has his own obsessions with various television icons. Next comes some incredibly funny advice from a well knows sitcom figure from the 70s and 80s (voiced over by Marla Gibbs, the original Florence from the Jefferson's). The result is the new Fab Five moving on up into a deluxe tenement in Miami where they emulate the lives of the girls with some seemingly counter productive input from their therapist. As they work through the issues, they occasionally come to breaking points that are found in the lyrics of some colorful parodies of their favorite show tunes (and your too if you love Les Miserable, Kiss me Kate, Guys and Dolls, Pippin, Mame or Priscilla, Queen of the Desert).

While spoofing the famous show is nothing new, critics have hailed this version as a wonderful tribute to the actors and writers who made the show famous. It sets out not only to bring them back to life, but also to share some trivia about the show and the people involved through song and spoof. Great care was taken in presenting all four of the original actors comedic abilities and multi-dimensionality. This is the story about four men who love the Golden Girls as much as the biggest fan in the audience does. That's why it works.

John W. McLaughlin who won accolades as Damien, the bitchiest of the four who obsesses about Dorothy returns to the show where he will continue to channel the late Bea Arthur's comedic skills. David Romano will assist by throwing out comedic zingers as Samuel (Sophia) while John Downey III (Blaine/Blanche) will keep the revolving door of the new homestead as a passageway for many men (all played by the dreamy Ron Velasco). When he manages to figure out whom he is supposed to play in the therapeutic role-play, Robert Glen Decker, who also doubles as the shows musical Director plays Roger/Rose. The ensemble is topped off perfectly by nationally known comedian Julia Lillis who plays all the female roles.

During the fall premiere of The Golden Gays, the Troupe was able to raise over $1,000.00 for The LifeGroupLA. The LifeGroup is a wonderful charity that provides great support to those diagnosed with or affected by HIV. This made the group feels so good, that they thought they'd use this window of opportunity to help out some other worthy on-profits as well.

AIDS Assistance Program - Since its founding in 1991, the AIDS Assistance Program of Palm Springs remains dedicated to providing nutritional support to improve the quality of the lives of those surviving HIV/AIDS. Initiated by a small group of concerned citizens, led by the late Gloria Greene and Jeannette Rockefeller, AAP provided meals to members of the community with low incomes and suffering with HIV/AIDS. Since then, the AIDS Assistance Program's client roster has grown from approximately 20 to more than 500 people.

Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of farm animals by certifying their humane treatment. Endorsed by more than 34 humane organizations, the Certified Humane Raised and Handled® program is nationally recognized as the Gold Standard for certifying animal welfare from birth through slaughter. Since the program was unveiled in May 2003, more than 65 companies, representing hundreds of farms and millions of farm animals, have been certified. HFAC's Animal Care Standards were developed by a veritable "Who's Who" of national and international animal scientists and farm-animal welfare experts. Producer compliance with the HFAC standards is verified through annual on-site visits by HFAC's third-party inspectors.

It's no secret that the original actresses who made the Golden Girls so famous are and were all involved in philanthropic activities. Betty White is a pet enthusiast and animal health advocate who works with a number of animal organizations, including the Los Angeles Zoo Commission, the Morris Animal Foundation, and Actors & Others for Animals. Beatrice Arthur was longtime championing of civil rights for women, the elderly and the LGBT community-in her two television roles and through her charity work and personal outspokenness-has led her to be cited as an LGBT icon. Arthur bequeathed $300,000 to The Ali Forney Center, a New York City organization that provides housing for homeless LGBT youths. Her videos and statements on behalf of PETA were and still are some of the most convincing testaments on behalf of abused animals.

A lifelong animal-rights advocate and vegetarian, Rue McClanahan was one of the first celebrity supporters of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). She is also a lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party. In December 2003, she wrote a letter informing Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry that his pheasant hunting had cost him her vote, which went to Ralph Nader instead. In 2008, she endorsed then presidential candidate Barack Obama. Estelle Getty made countless appearances on behalf of various charities and proved charity begins at home when she helped to nurse her 29-year-old nephew Steven Scher, who was near death and suffering from the final stages of AIDS.

Since this show is as much a spoof as it is a tribute to The Golden Girls, we wanted to pick causes that remained true to their spirit. Even the Producers of the original Televison series supported many similar causes in both philanthropic activities and through the themes presented in their weekly broadcasts still seen everywhere in syndication.

For more information on this show and the charities being supported, please check out the officiAl Golden Gays website at www.thegoldengays.com.

Photo: Sex and the City Girls Pose - Vic Carmona, David Romano, John Downey III, Robert Glenn Decker, John W. McLaughlin

 

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