LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Follies Countdown |
by Chris Riss |
Just a few weeks remain until the exalted winners stand on stage, trophies held high, as the rest of us stand in ovation.
Saturday, July 27 is the day the costumes must be ready, the choreography down, lines memorized, creative differences put aside, make-up just right, lighting figured out, set designed, props working, music ready, wigs teased up, rehearsals complete and stage fright ignored for ten groups to perform their campy skits at the First Annual CAMP Rehoboth Follies. The ten entries are: The "Sexy Sussex Swingers" of 88 Sussex which includes the legendary Female Delussionist Cliff Lashon, choreographer Jon Kaplan, Kevin Majoris, Joel Pearson, Robert Mittleman and Rut Paal who are busy piecing together their lives and a skit they think will win the big one. 302 Laurel residence, The Glamour "Girls of LeMore LeMerrier Lounge" lead by the ever glamorous Miss Sassy AKA Brian Barbra Streisand along with the wind beneath her wings, Jim Huge, the breeze between her knees, Jack Strokus and supporting cast of Ed Boozhazy, Eric Livingood, Willard Hoser, Lou Ripholz and Chuck Sudquest are teasing Sassy's hair, buffing her nails, mud masking her face all in preparation for July 27. 10 George's Tom Minnuto teamed with award winning female impersonator Eric Morrison, John Anderson, Bob Lorch, Jim Gruschus and Greg Campbell are "The Georgie Girls." Given their talent, make up, wigs, costumes and drive they can just about feel the big one in their hands. Paul Frene and Gene Cavazos's ever present enthusiasm are leading 3 Victoria Square's preparations for their super secret stealth skit. It's so secret they don't even know what it is yet. Fay Jacobs, prolific contributor to Letters, will direct "The Power Surges of Scarborough Flair" which includes Libby Stiff, Joan Glass volunteer extraordinaire, Bonnie Quesenberry, Marie Martinucci, high bidder Laura Simon, Pam Kozey, Cathin Bishop and Carol Dadds. They're ready to show the boys who'll be girls that the girls who'll be boys can do anything they can do better than they can. Barbara Anne, Myrna from Smyrna, Flo Park, Jon Bukiwicz, Miriam Archer and Big Girl have a long skittish history given their years of Drag Volleyball skits. No stage fright or lack of creative energy here. Could they be the team to beat? Their greatest weakness: Doritos. New to the beach scene is occasional actor Michael Buie (pronounced Buie) of 28 Robinson. He plans to get known quickly by directing a winning skit with the likes of Phillip Galbreath, Armando Molina-Boy and Kevin Casey AKA "Pearl's Chokers". Legends & Lore Gallery presents Regina AaMacha, Mandi AaMacha, Amie AaMacha, Rudy AaMacha, Yadda Yadda AaMacha, Mitchell Tree, Mary Brett, Samie Decker, and Gaby Romeri as the "The Dancing Mermaid." These ladies seem very organized and are leaving no detail to chance. Boys, don't get too cocky, we could have a lady's sweep. One-C Sixth Street's Mario Acosta AKA Miss Puerto Rico and second place winner from last fall's Miss Adams Morgan Pageant with the help of Bill Barker and Mark Cosorow has no intention of letting the big one slip through her fingers this time. The Blue Hat Boys at 3105 Eagles Landing lead by Greg ??? and James Speigelhoff are Philly's new spirited beach boys who plan to show Rehoboth's DC dominated social scene that Philly fellas can have fun too. Our five judges are James FitzSimmons, Artistic Director from Henlopen Theater Project, Barry Becker, Director of the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, Peter Rosenstein, President and Founder of Arts in Action and theater queen from before most of us were born, Sondra Arkin, artsy, creative type and ------------ very good looking, great body...all are easily corruptible and look forward to being showered by favors by the competing skit troupes. Barring undue influence they'll judge the skits based on entertainment value, costumes/props, execution, difficulty and creativity. The best three skits will win awards. Tie breaker is entertainment value, so crowd reaction counts. Doors will open at the convention center at 7 p.m. to allow attendees to find their seats for the evening and enjoy the cash bar provided by the Blue Moon and featuring Foursquare Rum and Krowleska Vodka. At approximately 8 p.m. we'll start the entertainment with an opening act being prepared by Fay Jacobs and her thespian pals. The competitive skits mentioned above will follow. Since it takes a few minutes for each act to clear the stage and the next to set up, we'll use the time between skits to auction off various items. Some of the likely auction items are: Painting by Gary Fisher, the artist whose Poodle Love Shack graced the cover of Letters last issue and sold for $3,000 at the June 1 Black and White Ball; full page ad in Letters; framed, original promotional poster from NYC's old SAINT night club; artist Rod Cook's orchid themed painting titled Phalaenosis; framed body beautiful photo from former Colt photographer Chris Costa; weekend for two at Fifth Avenue's Clarion Hotel in New York City; a private party at Washington, DC's 30 Degrees (2nd floor of Cobalt); and airline tickets for two anywhere in the USA courtesy Ugo Girl Travel. If you have an item you think might bring a handsome sum please contact Chris Riss at ChrsRiss@AOL.com. After the last of the competing skits clears the stage and scores are being tabulated a closing act will be performed by the professional actors of Jeffrey Keenan's Actor's Theater of Washington who'll give us a sneak peak at their fall production of Naked Boys Singing. Get your tickets now, since this event will likely be a sell out. Sponsors contribute $300 for four seats in the front rows and name(s) in the program. $100 makes you a host with two seats just behind the sponsor's section and name(s) in the program. General admission seats are $25 each. 100% of the net proceeds will benefit CAMP Rehoboth. If you know a videographer who could cover the event for us or an angel who'd be willing to underwrite the videographer please contact Chris Riss at ChrsRiss@AOL.com. Let's put on a show! For tickets, call CAMP Rehoboth, 302-227-5620 or stop by 39 Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 12, No. 08, June 28, 2002. |