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PAGE 20 T Q-Notes ▼ September 6,1997 Golden girl plays Oklahoma in North Carolina by Brian D. Holcomb Q-Notes Staff As reported in the last issue of Q-Notes, a new theatrical organization has been formed in Charlotte for the purpose of presenting clas sic musicals. Thomas S. Wilson, M.D. and Michael Vance have formed Wilson & Vance Entertainment, and in a short time have man aged to cause a stir among the theatre scene in Charlotte. In 1992, Vance founded The Vance Theat rical Organization which presented shows at Central Piedmont Community College. The series was distinguished by show selection and casting. Many of the shows that Vance pre sented were either unusual for regional produc tion, or shows that were not in general release. For example. Metropolis (1993) was the first production of this British show in North America. Even for shows that were not unusual to find in production, Vance managed to bring in per formers from around the country. Mary Setrakian, for m^y years a “regular” in Char lotte theatre, was first introduced to local audi ences in a Vance production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. In May, Vance sold a controlling interest in his company to Dr. Thomas Wilson, forming Wilson & Vance Entertainment. There are big plans for this company’s future, but their first project will be seen as soon as next month. “The Broadway Series of Charlotte,” which is just one of the projects of Wilson & Vance Enter tainment, will present Rue McLanahan (of television’s Golden C;>/f fame) in Oklahoma! zx. Ovens Auditorium. The Broadway Series of Charlotte will be Theatre an annual series of Broadway musicals, pro duced by Wilson & Vance, and will feature national stars and talent. Casting calls have been held in New York, which will bring an infusion of non-local talent, along with local actors who will make up much of the cast. In addition, Wilson & Vance Entertainment is hiring tech nical personnel, designers, and the like, which means a significant increase in the amount of professional theatre work that will be available in Charlotte. The old Capri Theater on Independence Boulevard has been purchased by Wilson & Vance and is undergoing extensive renovations to return it to its classic mid-century appear ance. Inside the former movie theater there are spaces for offices, rehearsals, ticket sales and (eventually) a small theater. Wilson & Vance hope to turn this space into a dinner theater or performance space for cabaret-style shows within the next few years. For now, all energies are focused on the Broadway Series. “It is important to note,” states Wilson & Vance’s marketing company, “that this series is not in competition with others in town, such as the Broadway Lights Series at the [NC Blumenthal] Performing Arts Center. They are interested in expansion of what is avail able already in Charlotte.” Coincidentally, the Performing Arts Center is presenting a schedule heavy vrith Rodgers and Hammerstein shows this season, but this had no impact on Wilson & Vance’s choice of Okla homa! as their season opener. In fact, neither of the seasons was aware of the other’s choices until after final arrangements had been made. What this will do is allow Charlotte audiences the unique opportunity to see four Rodgers & Hammerstein shows in one year — and actu ally presented in the order in which they were written. After Oklahoma!, which plays October 14- 19, the series will present Marla Maples Trump in The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas February 10-15,1998, and then AfoweJuly21-26,1998. No star has been announced yet for the final production, but one will certainly be in place soon. For tickets and information, call (704) 567-1980. T Music Dance Film White Rabbit Books & Things BOOKS ■ POST CARDS & NOTECARDS ■ MUSIC ■ MAGAZINES T-SHIRTS ■ BANNERS ■ BUTTONS ■ JEWELRY ■ CAPS POSTERS ■ CALENDARS ■ SAFE SEX SUPPLIES ■ STICKER GUIDE BOOKS ■ EROTIC MAGAZINES ■ AND MORE! GREENSBORO 1833 Spring Garden St. (910) 272-7604 Open Monday-Friday 10 am-9 pm Saturday 10 am-7 pm Sunday 1 pm-6 pm CHARLOTTE 834 Central Ave. (704) 377-4067 Open Mon(day-Satur(jay 11 am-9 pm Suniday 1 pm-6 pm RALEIGH 309 W. Martin St. (919) 856-1429 Open Monday-Friday 11 am-9 pm Saturday 11 am-7 pm Sunday 1 pm-6 pm Your Gay & Lesbian Everything Store! Cornwell’s writing is back on track by Brian D. Holcomb Q-Notes Staff Patricia Cornwell, former Charlottean and part-time lesbian, has recendy published Un natural Exposure, the eighth in her series of novels focusing on Kay Scarpetta, the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia. Although her first publication was a mere six years ago, Cornwell has achieved almost cult status among readers of mystery and suspense novels. In ad dition, she has amassed a considerable fortune and led a life filled with bizarre twists rivaled only by that of her beloved Scarpetta. Cornwell grew up in North Carolina, all but an adoptee of the Reverend Billy Graham and his wife Ruth. With their assistance, she secured a scholarship to Davidson where she met and married one of her professors. She worked as the crime beat reporter for The Charlotte Ob server for some years before relocating to Rich mond where she still resides. Through training with the actual Chief Medical Examiner ofVir- ginia, the FBI, and a variety of other sources, Cornwell is arguably one of the most knowl edgeable forensic pathologists in the country, although she has no degree in medicine. Kay Scarpetta began as the oppressed M.E., resented for being a woman in a powerful posi tion. Although Scarpetta still has her battles to fight on this front, Cornwell has expanded the character gready over the course of her novels. Her niece, Lucy, has grown from a prepubes- cent computer nerd into an independent les bian FBI agent. In the 15 years it took Lucy to make this jump, Kay has aged about two years, a creative license Cornwell allows herself. Cornwell’s writing has mirrored her own life and interests from the beginning. In her first novel, those interests were serial murderers and medical pathology. Those interests remain, but as her personal life began to take unusual turns, so did her characters’ lives. Cornwell had what is now a well-known affair with a female FBI agent which caused the agent’s husband, also FBI, no small amount of grief. Cornwell claims to have been seduced and also claims no re sponsibility for the ensuing drama. These events include a midnight shootout in a Richmond church, wounding a priest, as Cornwell’s lover was held hostage by her husband. At about the same time as Cornwell’s afifeir, Scarpetta’s niece began a lesbian affair of her own. Similarly, she was seduced by an FBI agent who was also involved with a man. Their rela tionship was equally fraught with drama, re sulting in a near-fatal car crash and Lucy being suspected of treason (naturally, all of this was the fault of the evil lesbian and poor Lucy was but a dupe). While Cornwell was writing this, however, her own life was a secret. When it became public knowledge, her life and writing were thrown into a tailspin. After two disas trous novels (one with all action taking place in Charlotte), few thought she would recover. Fortunately, she is back. Cornwell has taken the reins again, and while Kay’s life is certainly interesting and hectic, it is no longer chaotic. Unlike Cornwell, Lucy has faithfully remained a lesbi^ and in fact may be at the center of a “don’t ask, don’t teU”-style conflict at the FBI. Old demons are hard to kUl, however...the evil lesbian from Lucy’s past is up for trial and Scarpetta is out to see her fiy. Unnatural Exposure is everything that Cornwell fans have come to love and expect and which was so painfully missing from re cent novels. It is funny, it is fresh and it is intel ligent. Cornwell knows that most of her read ers wUl not understand the medical terms that are de riguer for Scarpetta, but she does trust that they will catch on. And they do. She also deals with cutting-edge topics. She has a cell phone and Internet access and is hip to the problems of young urban homosexuals. Probably most important to the success of the Scarpetta series is that everything does not turn out all right. Kay always identifies the killer, but she can’t always catch him. Her per sonal life is painful, so she becomes absorbed in her work. So much of what Scarpetta does and how she works seems umeal, so the per sonal angst makes her interesting. Unnatural Exposure is classic Cornwell and leaves you anx ious for the next installment. T CficLrCotte Qay Men s Cfioms Is Recruiting! CGMC is looking for a few Good Men as volunteers for the following positions: • TTBB Singers • Assistant Dir. / Accompanist • Stage Manager • Helping haniis CALL Chorus INFO Line: 561-CAST (2278) Rehearsals start Sept 15th, 1997! Toaster Ovens NOT available during this recruiting ilrive! • To fsl.ihlish .111(1 nur- luro .1 network ol luisi- iiess .111(1 prol'ession.il re- soiirc es. • To entotir.ige lellovv- sliip .111(1 support .iinong Inisiness, protessioii.il .111(1 (li.irit.ilile pursuits. • Id provide .ind pro mote positive role mod els in the C..iy .ind Les- lii.in (ommunity. POST orricf box bbxxb UlAPL'jlll lit 70 4 bfj; 50 7 5 •y ^, .>|j- r . Special Guest Speaker Human Rights Campaign Executive Director ELIZABETH BIRCH Monday, September 15 Call today for reservations (704) 565-5075 CENTER CITY 230 N. College Street Charlotte
Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.)
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