As same-sex marriages soon overtake churches and government halls in England and Wales, so too will British culture invade The
Saban Theatre (8440 Wilshire Boulevard) in
Beverly Hills as Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) presents "God Save the Queen(s)," the second show of the Chorus's 35th season, tonight, March 29, 2014 at 8 p.m. and Sunday March 30, 2014 at 3 p.m.
"God Save the Queen(s) - A Not So Proper British Invasion" is a journey from the 1960s all the way through today. It's a fun show basking in the heyday of rock-and-roll classics like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Queen and
David Bowie, along with modern one-name wonders like Adele, Seal, Elton and Sade. The show will also feature tributes to
James Bond and Monty Python, and contemporary songs by Imogen Heap, Radiohead, Florence and the Machine, and the
Spice Girls!
GMCLA welcomes subscribers, Angelenos and all guests to enjoy a concert unlike any other in its 35 year history. Each concert is a celebration of LGBT pride and culture; creating social change through live performance. "God Save the Queen(s)" promises to be a light-hearted spectacle that is sure to showcase the full monty of both British and LGBT cultures.
"We're gearing up for one of our most highly-anticipated shows ever," said
Chris Verdugo, Executive Director of GMCLA. "'God Save the Queen(s)' is going to be a non-stop series of high-energy performances that are sure to get the audience dancing in the aisles. We're carrying on a tradition that is both important and fun."
This summer GMCLA will perform its 35th Anniversary Concert at
Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown Los Angeles. Act One, "City of Angels," will salute the entertainment capital of the world, paying homage to the finest music to rise out of LA. Act Two, an oratorio entitled I Am
Harvey Milk, with words and music by Tony nominated composer
Andrew Lippa (The Addams Family, Big Fish), celebrates Milk's remarkable life from childhood to his rise as the first openly gay man to hold public office in California, and his untimely assassination. Part choral work and part theater piece, I Am
Harvey Milk is an emotional celebration of a true American icon, co-commissioned by GMCLA and five other gay men's choruses. Produced in association with Oscar winner
Bruce Cohen (Silver Linings Playbook and Milk), I Am
Harvey Milk will feature Lippa in the title role. The 200+ singers of GMCLA will be joined by members of the other co-commissioning choruses for a combined powerhouse performance featuring more than 500 voices!
GMCLA's 35th Season also includes the U.S. tour of "it gets better" -- a joint production with Speak Theater Arts and the It Gets Better
Project -- wherein chorus members will join local communities in states like Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Nebraska presenting workshops, rehearsals and multimedia theatrical performances to bring visibility to LGBT rights and issues. GMCLA's local community outreach programs support L.A. youth through
Outside Voices (an LGBT youth chorus) and the Alive Music
Project (AMP), a unique music education program of master classes and in-school presentations for middle and high school students to create a powerful anti-bullying message. The Voice Awards, GMCLA's annual fund raising gala, will be held on May 3, 2014 at the Globe Theatre at
Universal Studios.
To order tickets for "God Save the Queen(s)," to become a subscriber, or for more information on Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, visit
www.gmcla.org.
ABOUT Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA): GMCLA has garnered international acclaim for artistic excellence while remaining deeply rooted in service to the Los Angeles community and beyond by promoting civil rights, tolerance and acceptance through music. Founded in 1979, critics have proclaimed the Chorus "inspired," "expressive, innovative, and utterly moving," and hailed it for presenting "meaningful entertainment." It is one of the largest and most influential men's choruses in the nation; the first gay chorus to perform for a sitting president -
Bill Clinton - and recently for
President Barack Obama. The 240-member Chorus has toured internationally, released 15 CDs, commissioned over 300 new works and guest starred on such TV shows as "$#*! My Dad Says," "Will & Grace", "Six Feet Under" and "The 2013 Oscars." In October 2010, in response to the sharp rise in anti-gay related suicides, GMCLA produced an It Gets Better video featuring
Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors," a viral sensation that has received more than 800,000 hits. Presenting several concerts each season in Los Angeles including the popular "Holiday Spectacular," they perform frequently at the Alex Theatre,
Saban Theatre and
Walt Disney Concert Hall and feature music legends such as
Billy Porter,
LeAnn Rimes,
Melissa Manchester,
Stephen Schwartz, and
Jerry Herman. (
www.gmcla.org)
