BWW Interviews: Ari Weinberg talks SHAMELESS Benefit

This weekend Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is hosting a very special fundraising cabaret called Shameless for a Cause! It is the brain child of Ari Weinberg, who has gathered together some of the city's best and brightest talents for a fun night of comedy and song to support LGBTQ youth initiatives.  All the money raised will go towards the Buddies in Bad Times Youth Programs and The Youth Project which is an LGBTQ program in Halifax.

Set to perform are cabaret superstars SharRon Matthews and Michael Hughes, as well the cast of Theatre Sheridan's smash hit production of RENT and Dancap's current presentation of West Side Story.  Accompanying them will be Chris Tsujiuchi, as well as Kritty Uranowski, Constant Bernard, Marc Bendavid, Becky Johnson and Konstantinos Haitas. Admission is Pay What You Can and there are great prizes to be won as well!

I sat down to speak with Ari and learn a bit more about the two causes they are working to raise money for, as well as what people can expect from the evening if they attend.  He opened up about his passion for LGBTQ initiatives, his love of cabaret and much more:

Why is this cause so close to your heart?

Supporting LGBTQ youth is important to me because there is always going to be someone somewhere who needs to be told that it's okay to just be who they are, and they need to find the right outlet to help them accept that they are awesome and unique and special. "It Gets Better" is a constant reminder to all of us to be more accepting of each other as individuals, regardless of who we love or what we believe in, and that you can find a community out there who will welcome you with open arms for just being yourself.

How did you choose who would be involved in the evening?

Shameless! started out as a series of open mic nights at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre over three years ago. They were nights to bring together the massive musical theatre community in Toronto and I used to pepper them with "special guests" to help draw crowds. Now, I only do a Shameless! every once in a while to help raise money for LGBTQ causes and I try to bring a diverse and eclectic mix of talent to the line-up. The first thing I do is call Chris Tsujiuchi to see if he is available because he is one of the best cabaret performers in the city and a fantastic accompanist. SharRon Matthews is a Shameless! staple because she helped me get the gig a few years ago, so she is always the first person I ask to perform (she's also one of my all-time favourite performers), and then I approach a bunch of friends who I think will bring something fun and fabulous to the stage, or have upcoming projects that are exciting (like Michael Hughes who is taking his show "Mickey and Judy" to Edinburgh). This time around I reached out to a friend on the national tour of West Side Story, Alex Frohlinger, to see if they might be interested in getting involved- and they jumped right in! Also, I wanted to include some sensational emerging talent, so I invited the graduating class of Sheridan to perform a few numbers since they're doing Rent at the Panasonic. The lineup is just jam packed with awesomeness... it's gonna blow the roof off of Tallulah's!

Could you tell us a bit more about both the Buddies and Halifax based programs?

To quote directly from the Buddies' website:
"The Queer Youth Arts Program is one of the most vital elements of Buddies' yearly activities, providing an artistic meeting space for queer youth aged 15-25 to build connections with established queer artists, like-minded peers, and the broader queer and arts communities."
They offer all kinds of workshops and performance opportunities to queer youth. Check it all out at: http://www.buddiesinbadtimes.com/youth.cfm

And to steal from The Youth Projects site:
"The Youth Project is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to providing support and services to youth, 25 and under, around issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. We have a provincial mandate so although we are located in HRM, we travel around the province to meet with youth in other communities. We provide a variety of programs and services including support groups, referrals, supportive counselling, a resource library, educational workshops, social activities, and a food bank."
More info can be found at: http://www.youthproject.ns.ca/

What kind of music will we hear at the event?

A lot of times I don't ask what the performers are going to sing... I like for them to show up and be just as surprised as the audience, BUT I do know that there will be some 80's tunes, some showtunes, and some pop hits, as well as some music from the east coast. There is going to be something for everyone.

What do you think is the biggest obstacle facing LGBTQ youth today?

Acceptance and tolerance. I mean, we are definitely living in a world that is more LGBTQ aware with each passing day. I came out when I was 14, in 1999, which was right at the start of Will and Grace. Things are so different now, and I think that teens that are coming to terms with their sexuality and identity can have an easier time talking about it with their peers and loved ones, but it's still hard. It's always hard. Even now, at almost twenty-eight, I'm still figuring out who I am and how I fit into different social circles- social anxiety never goes away. I think that's the biggest obstacle for LGBTQ youth today and always- finding a place where you don't feel judged or threatened or scared. LGBTQ youth programs are the best place to help those who are struggling find a sense of community.

If you could tell the younger version of yourself one thing in the "It Gets Better" vein, what would it be?

I'd say to the younger me "Slow down. You don't need to have all the answers right away. Take your time to figure things out, and trust that your friends like you for who you are, not because of who you want to sleep with. Chill the F*&$ out."

And honestly, I still tell that to myself almost every single day.

When and Where?

Shameless! For a Cause

Sunday May 20^th at 8PM

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

12 Alexander St

Admission is Pay What You Can at the door!

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