Follies 2003 - Let's Put On A Show

There’s nothing like the enthusiasm you feel upon getting the spark of an idea for a skit. Excitement builds as you develop choreography, create costumes/props/set, add funny elements at rehearsals, keep the act a secret, and finally feel the adrenaline rush of performing to the cheering audience.

Follies 2003 will include better sound, lighting and a runway jutting out into the audience.

As of this writing there’s still room for more skit groups. Contact me at 302-226-6655 or ChrisRiss@JackLingo.com if you want to have time of your life creating a Follies skit.

Our purpose is, of course, to raise money for CAMP Rehoboth whose efforts to improve Rehoboth continue to benefit us all. An equally important reason is to create community among us. It’s that feeling of community that makes Rehoboth the special place it is.

If you don’t have the chutzpah to produce and perform a skit, we’ll be glad to have you as a $300 sponsor, which allows you four seats in the front rows. Hosts, for $100, will have two seats just behind the sponsors. General admission, $25, will fill in from there. A skit/sponsor/host/ticket form is on the next page. Tear it out, fill it out, drop it off, or send or fax it to CAMP Rehoboth. Seats are first come, first serve until they sell out again in July.

The skits will be judged based on entertainment value, costumes/props/set, execution, difficulty and creativity. Our judges are confirmed bachelor Bryce Lingo, artist and City Commissioner Patti Shreeve, Miss America Pageant judge Rick Tedrick and Miss wine, woman and song, Peggy Raley and a yet to be named mystery judge. The best three skits win Gold, Silver and Bronze Barbie awards.

Doors will open at the Convention Center at 7 p.m. to allow attendees to find their seats for the evening and enjoy a cash bar thanks to the talented staff of the Blue Moon. The entertainment begins at 8 p.m. with an opening act presented by last year’s Sonny and Cher skit makers and Golden Barbie Award winners, Cliff Lassahn, Jon Kaplan, and company.

As the stage is cleared between skits, a few fabulous items will be auctioned, including: A weekend in Palm Springs courtesy of Domenic Mannello and Terry Knoy; a Gary Fisher framed painting; a full-page, four-color ad in Letters for all of 2004; a weekend for two at NYC’s Fifth Avenue Clarion Hotel; a framed Barbara Kinney photo, Love with a Twist; a kayak with gear courtesy of Frank Serio; a framed Rodney Cook painting; and a trip for two to Toronto, North America’s new gay marriage capitol, courtesy of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Some of the groups making plans to participate this year are:

Brent Minor’s Delmarva Divas. Their last year’s parade of states skit from When Pigs Fly was a crowd favorite and won the Silver Barbie. But Brent doesn’t like silver, he loves gold, only gold.

The Power Surges led by Fay Jacobs, who hope to better 2002’s Bronze Barbie showing. Can they be more creative than last year’s "Nothing Like a Dame" number? Don’t underestimate them.

Amen to AM Men are the men of 13 State being whipped into shape by Michael Ulrich. Little house, big dreams.

Daniel Lee AKA Tisha Towers and winner of Follies 2002 biggest hair award has been devastated by the demise of her former drag show home, the Renegade. She’s full of pent up drag queen energy which is ready to burst onto the Follies stage.

Julie (Jay) Cabell and her drag king buddies are working up a routine to show us there is joy in dressing as a boy.

Marc Anthony is out to prove that leather bears can have fun in dresses too.

Steve Alexander AKA HRH Miss Kitty and 1997/8 Miss Adams Morgan will lead the likes of HRH Alma Childrens, Miss Adams Morgan 2002 to what they expect will be the Golden Barbie performance. Is there enough room on the stage for all those crowns, sashes and egos?

This summer’s fun boys of Four Country Club are full of freshmen summer energy. Skit leader Randy Whetzel’s head is spinning with creative, witty ideas. They plan to borrow costumes from the hit show Naked Boys Singing.

After sleeping his way into a front row seat at last summer’s Follies, Justin Nelson is ready for the real thing. He plans his 312 Bayard Follies skit to be as fun and well done as his Rehoboth theme parties.

Gene Cavazos and Paul Frene of Victoria’s Secrets Hooters girls skit fame are again keeping their skit concept a complete secret even to themselves.

What was written about last year’s Follies:
"What was so great about the Follies was the enthusiasm of the participants and attendees, which was a great cross section of our community...It was a crowd that symbolized the coming of age of our community here in Rehoboth…We have a bright new addition to the firmament of annual summer events in Rehoboth..." Peter Rosenstein

"Oh what a night! …a sold out event that was heels over head better than I ever expected…my favorite part of the Follies experience was…excitement in Convention Center before the show. Everyone was so enthusiastic...the air was so thick with anticipation and support you could cut it with an eyeliner pencil! We were all there for each other and it was the strongest sense of community I’ve ever felt in this town… this was first time I ever performed…Though I was thrilled we won the Golden Barbie Award, the competition part of the event was insignificant. Every skit accepted and accomplished a challenge while making our friends laugh and cheer. We all won. It was truly an evening "over the rainbow." Cliff Lassahn

"The CAMP Rehoboth Follies, what a great show! I was amazed to be sitting in the Convention Center surrounded by hundreds of women and men, young and old, all laughing uproariously at antics taking place on the stage. Anyone who hasn’t been to town since CAMP Rehoboth came on the scene would not believe their eyes…I can’t wait until next year." Diane Rogers

"If you weren’t among the thousand or so people jammed into the Convention Center for this extravaganza, you should put it on your calendar NOW for next year. What a hoot! …cast was delighted with reception they got…As one of only two groups of women among men’s (mostly) drag acts, we were thrilled to take part..."Oooh, you lesbians are so cool," said one youngster with washboard abs, "I need to meet me some lesbians." So we had another kind of pride—pride that Rehoboth’s gay men and gay women were celebrating together…Two straight women friends of mine came to Follies and hooted and hollered, "We’ve never been to such an outrageous show and had so much fun in our lives!" The cheers, laughs, trashy humor, and sense of community just rocked the Convention Center…11pm when the show was over, audience and performers (many boys still in high heels, high hair, and phony tits) spilled out onto Rehoboth Avenue, heading around town for a nightcap. It was an impromptu gay pride parade all its own…next morning, when our heads cleared (oh, did I mention the cash bar at Follies? It was all for charity) we wound up at brunch…people at several tables recognized Follies divas and commented on their performance…most tables included both gay and straight diners, and everyone was jabbering about Follies." Fay Jacobs

Last year’s Follies tickets sold out quickly, so make your reservations early. For tickets, to sign up to perform, to volunteer, or for more information about the CAMP Rehoboth Follies 2003, call 302-227-5620, or stop by the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center, 39 Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach.