The QueerCentric

Tovah Feldshuh portrays Mrs. Bunch, Rachel’s domineering mother, on the CW awardwinning musical series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which was recently renewed for a third season. Ms. Feldshuh is widely known for her starring turn as Deanna, the head of Alexandria, on AMC’s hit series The Walking Dead. Prior to that, she recurred on the Starz’ ballet series Flesh and Bone as ballet master Ivana. Ms. Feldshuh received her first Emmy nomination for Helena, the Czech freedom fighter, in the NBC mini-series Holocaust, and her second nomination for her continuing role as defense attorney Danielle Melnick on NBC’s Law & Order, a role she recently reprised for Chicago Justice. Ms. Feldshuh starred opposite Tommy Lee Jones in The Amazing Howard Hughes, James Woods in Citizen Cohn, Bill Cosby on The Cosby Mysteries and The Cosby Show, Richard Dreyfuss in The Education of Max Bickford, Piper Perabo in Covert Affairs, America Ferrara in Ugly Betty, and in The Good Wife, with Julianna Margulies, among others.

Ms. Feldshuh recently displayed her theater skills as Berthe in the Tony Award-winning Musical Pippin. Her show, Golda’s Balcony, by William Gibson, became the longestrunning one-woman play in Broadway history, and she also starred in Yentl, Sarava, Lend Me a Tenor, and Irena’s Vow. For her work on the New York stage, she has earned four Tony nominations for Best Actress and won four Drama Desks, four Outer Critics Circles, the Obie, the Theatre World and the Lucille Lortel Awards.

Film audiences recognize Ms. Feldshuh from Kissing Jessica Stein (for which she won a Golden Satellite Award), A Walk on the Moon, The Idolmaker, Lady in the Water, Just My Luck, Brewster’s Millions, The Blue Iguana, among others. Ms. Feldshuh recently completed filming roles in Peter Bogdanovich’s She’s Funny That Way with Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, Angelica with Janet McTeer, and Jena Malone, Unreachable by Conventional Means, The Life, and the title role in Glinda, a film that centers on a widow of jazz musician reclaiming the joy of life, which was selected as the “Best in Fest” at the 2014 Palm Beach Film Festival.

Ms. Feldshuh, long known for her commitment to social justice causes, is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, has taught at Yale, Cornell and New York Universities. She was awarded two honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees and is the recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanities Award, the Hadassah Mother of the Year Award, and the Israel Peace Medal. Ms. Feldshuh is married to New York attorney, Andrew Harris Levy. They have two children, Garson Brandon and Amanda Claire.

Jack has built a career as an award-winning actor, director and performance coach. He has performed in countless TV shows, commercials and feature films (103 credits on IMDB). You most likely will recognize Jack from his series regular and recurring roles on Grace and Frankie, The Mentalist, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Reno 911, Action, Ellen, and Drawn Together, and his appearance in the films Meet the Fockers, Down With Love, Rubber, Wrong, and Gods and Monsters.

Jack co-wrote and directed the Sony Pictures feature film, Space Station 76, starring Patrick Wilson, Liv Tyler and Matt Bomer. He also co-wrote and directed the Broadway musical, Disaster!, to rave reviews (New York Times CRITICS' PICK!)

Jack produced, directed and acted on the Lifetime Television comedy series Lovespring International. And he executive produced and starred in the feature film (and cult hit!) Girls Will Be Girls.

More about Jack - http://jackplotnick.com/

Do you have Relationship questions?

Do you have Sexually related questions?

Do you want to learn more about PrEP?

Send your questions to The Martini Lounge and we will have our friend and yours Damon L Jacobs answer your questions.

WELCOME!  If you are single or in a couple and looking for a different perspective on love, happiness, and pleasure, you’ve come to the right place.  I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has helped people find and maintain satisfying and joyful relationships with lovers, family members, and friends, for the past 18 years.  Together, we will create the relationship “structure” and agreements that are uniquely right for you.

My approach to happiness and serenity is derived from tenets of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Social Justice Theory, and A Course In Miracles.  The unique fusion of these models has enabled hundreds of my clients to create an enlightened balance of mind, heart, and action, as well as relationships that enable presence, peace, and pleasure.

Ellen Degeneres has called him “smart, hilarious and funny.” Variety has said, “Alec Mapa is a freak. No one should be this talented.” With uproarious live performances and groundbreaking television roles, actor and comedian Alec Mapa has entertained audiences worldwide in every imaginable medium.

Currently that medium is television. Alec’s latest comedy special Alec Mapa: Baby Daddy premiered on Showtime June 12, 2015. Based on his award-winning solo show, Alec Mapa: Baby Daddy hilariously, irreverently chronicles Alec’s journey to fatherhood via foster adoption. TV audiences can also enjoy Alec in his recurring roles on ABC Family’s Switched At Birth and Lifetime’s Devious Maids.

Audiences first discovered Alec on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning production of M. Butterfly. He guest starred on over 40 television series, including Alias, Friends, Roseanne, Seinfeld, and NYPD Blue. Alec played network television’s very first gay Asian series regular role on the CBS sitcom Some Of My Best Friends. He then starred in four seasons of the UPN sitcom Half & Half. Alec went on to appear in the ABC hit Ugly Betty and was a frequent guest star on Desperate Housewives. Film audiences howled at Alec as “N’Cream” in the wildly popular drag queen musical Connie and Carla. Other films include Playing By Heart, Marley & Me, and You Don’t Mess with the Zohan.

An accomplished stand-up comedian, Alec’s Wisecrack comedy special premiered on LOGO in 2005 and has since become a cult favorite. His follow-up comedy specials America’s Gaysian Sweetheart and No Fats, Femmes or Asians aired on the Here! And LOGO networks respectively.

Alec was awarded the prestigious Davidson Valentini GLAAD Award for promoting equal rights for the LGBT community. A tireless fundraiser, Alec has toured the country on behalf of The Human Rights Campaign and The Matthew Shepard Foundation earning him the unofficial title of “America’s Gaysian Sweetheart.”

Alec lives in Los Angeles with his husband Jamie and his son Zion.

Check out Alec's website - www.alecmapa.com

Today's Drink -

BRANDON STANSELL is a fresh face onto the Country Music scene, but has always been nearby; honing his craft and finding his voice. SLOW DOWN, co-written with Mylen and the title track off his new EP, is the epicenter of his "California Country" sound with the raw emotion of those first moments in a budding relationship. SLOW DOWN was produced by Nashville-based producer, writer, and guitarist Erik Halbig. Stansell met Erik a few years ago through friend, Ty Herndon, who is featured on the track.

While his casual country sound is appealing, there is more that meets the eye with this crooner of Nashville roots. He is navigating the path of an openly-gay Country Artist. Brandon, while not the first to chart these waters, is one of few people in the industry willing to lay everything out for the listener and the result is an honest, beautiful musical experience.

Director Trent Atkinson, once again, joined his team directing the SLOW DOWN music video and building on the cinematic scope their first collaborative work, DEAR JOHN, which was released in early 2016.

Visit his website:  www.brandonstansell.com

Follow Brandon:

Glenn Douglas Packard was born the eldest of three in Detroit, MI to Roger and Paulette Packard. When Glenn was 5 years old, his father convinced the family to pack up all their belongings and move to a run-down farm in Michigan, where Roger saw a potential future in the dairy business. As Glenn was growing up into adolescence and the farm grew profitable, he began working in the family business in Clare, MI. Eventually, Glenn went on to study Dairy Management at Michigan State University. On one of his vacation trips back home, he suffered a horrible accident with a 4-wheeler. With a compound factor to his right tibia and fibula leg, his doctors insisted the only option was to amputate his leg from the knee down. After months of fighting the infection, which had spread through his entire body, due to the open wound, countless surgeries and a steel rod places in his leg, Glenn had to relearn how to walk. He made a promise to himself that if, and when, he fully recovered, he would do the one thing he had dreamt of all his life; to dance and entertain.

While at 21, where most dancers are already experienced, Glenn was just walking into his first dance class. Within 2 years he was accepted into the scholarship program of the highly acclaimed Alvin Ailey School of Dance in New York City. Fast forward 10 years later, after being dubbed "Dancing entrepreneur" by The New York Times, Glenn is one of the most sought after dancer/artist directors and choreographers in the city. His multi-dimensional & innovative work made him an international commanding force in the entertainment industry. Providing a wide spectrum of styles, he has been celebrated for casting and choreographing such projects as Whitney Houston's All-Star Gala, featuring powerhouse artists like P!nk, Deborah Cox, & Brian McKnight, and A Miracle On 34th Street, performed at the world famous Madison Square Garden with numerous artists.

Along with the Latin market take over, Glenn is also known internationally, working on the King of Morocco's New Year's Eve Gala and in Bollywood for his groundbreaking choreography in the film, "Rhythm." Other films like Little Hercules in 3D, Dancing on the Edge, and feature as one of the top choreographers in the documentary MOVE: The Film.

His music video work is a spectrum of artist like Brooke Hogan "Everything to Me", Daddy Yankee & Price Royce "Ven Conmigo", Timbland "Not All About The Money", Fanny Lu "Ni Loca" & his very own music video "Love Dance" featuring the talent Beu Sisters. Glenn even has his own instructional dance DVD called "Everyone Moves".

Glenn's work had sparked a interest in the King of Pop himself Michael Jackson, and he was asked to be the choreographer for the Television major event, Michael Jackson's 30th Anniversary Celebration which Glenn worked along side industry greats like Usher, Liza, Destiny Child, Jill Scott, Missy Elliot, Gloria Gaynor, Al Jarreau, Britney Spears, NSync, Mya, Monica, & MJ himself, all artist came together to perform Michael Jackson songs, Michael was reunited with his brothers, the Jackson 5 for the first time in 20 years, & Michael performed for his last time his iconic songs. Glenn was honored with Emmy Award Nomination for Outstanding Choreography in Television.

As seen on the cover do Dance Spirit Magazine & acknowledged in Dance & Fitness Magazine, Glenn offer classes at NYC Broadway Dance Center, which were booked to capacity with a who's-who of dance. He goes around the world teaching his unique style and life experiences to young dancers inspiring them to be the next generation of talent.

Around the early 2000's, Glenn moved to Florida under the wing of Lou Pearlman, who, at the time, was owner of the Chippendales and creator of the boyband era with NSync, Backstreet Boys, and Otown. Glenn was part of a european boyband called twONEty, through Pearlman's camp, Glenn was introduced to Hulk Hogan's teenaged daughter, Brooke Hogan. The two quickly ignited a friendship with Glenn becoming a mentor for Brooke. Through this mentor/friend role, Glenn was then asked to join Brooke in a VH-1 television docu-series called VH1 Brooke Knows Best. For two seasons he costarred as Brooke's outgoing, gay best friend/roommate.

Glenn being no stranger to Television had worked on The Rupaul Show, Saturday Night Live, E! True Hollywood Story, Grachi, Miss USA, and HBO. Along with jumping on the pop culture of reality TV, with such shows as VH1 Hogan Knows Best, VH1 Mission Manband, and is the creator, producer, choreographer, and creative director of the E! Network movie event Men Of The Strip.

Glenn is also president of other companies he created such as The Untouchables-Miami elite dance troupe, The Knockouts-a sexy pop burlesque girl group, Boots N Boys-the 1st all-gay male revue, Tattooed Angels-a multi media company & GDP Wear-his trendsetting clothing line.

LINKS-

Margaret Cho was born Dec. 5, 1968 and raised in San Francisco. “It was different than any other place on Earth,” she says. “I grew up and went to grammar school on Haight Street during the ’70s. There were old hippies, ex-druggies, burnouts, drag queens, and Chinese people. To say it was a melting pot – that’s the least of it. It was a really confusing, enlightening, wonderful time.”

Ignoring the traditions of her patriarchal culture, her mother bravely resisted an arranged marriage in Korea and married Margaret’s father a Korean joke book writer. “Books like 1001 Jokes for Public Speakers – real corny stuff,” Cho says. “I guess we’re in the same line of work. But we don’t understand each other that way. I don’t understand why the things he says are funny and the same for him.”

What Margaret did know is that being a kid was hard. Racing toward adulthood as fast as she could to escape the constant bullying she endured, Margaret began writing jokes at 14 and professionally performing at age 16. Getting picked on, and not having a feeling of belonging, is a subject that’s not only near to Margaret’s heart, but something she still feels very deeply despite all of her successes. In that sense, Margaret has gladly and graciously become the “Patron Saint for Outsiders,” speaking for those who are not able to speak for themselves, and encouraging people who can to use their voice to promote change.

Her groundbreaking, controversial, and short-lived ABC sitcom, All-American Girl (1994) soon followed. Oddly, while chosen because of who she was – a non-conformist Korean American woman with liberal views – the powers-that-be decided they preferred for Margaret to “tone it down” for the show. She soon realized that though she was an Executive Producer, this would be a battle she could not win. “For fear of being too “ethnic,” the show got so watered down for television that by the end, it was completely lacking in the essence of what I wanted to accomplish.”

The experience was a traumatic one, bringing up unresolved feelings left over from childhood, and Margaret developed an eating disorder as a response to criticism about her body. She was so obsessive in her goal to try to be what she thought others wanted, that she landed in the hospital with kidney failure. Through out this period of self-abuse, Margaret continued performing to sold-out audiences in comedy clubs, theaters, and college campuses, working to channel her anger in to something more positive.

In 1999, her groundbreaking, off Broadway one-woman show, I’m The One That I Want, toured the country to national acclaim and was made into a best-selling book and feature film of the same name. After her experience with All-American Girl, Margaret wanted to make sure she would only ever have to answer to herself, putting herself in charge of the distribution and sales of her film, which garnered incredible reviews and broke records for ‘Most Money Grossed per Print’. In 2001, after the success of her first tour, Maragaret launched Notorious C.H.O., a smash-hit 37-city national tour that culminated in a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall. Notorious C.H.O., hailed by the New York Times as “Brilliant,” was recorded and released as a feature film. Both films were acquired by Showtime, and produced by Margaret’s production company, a testament to the success of Margaret’s business model.

In March of 2003, Margaret embarked on her third sold-out national tour, Revolution. It was heralded by the Chicago Sun Times as “Her strongest show yet” and the CD recording was nominated for a Grammy for Comedy Album of the Year. In 2005, she released Assassin, with The Chicago Tribune stating “(Assassin) packs passion in to each punch.” The concert film premiered in select theatres and on the gay and lesbian premium channel Here! TV.

In 2007, Margaret hit the road with Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry and Erasure, along with indie faves The Dresden Dolls and The Cliks, to host the True Colors Tour, benefiting the Human Rights Campaign. An entertainment pioneer, Margaret also created and starred in The Sensuous Woman, a live variety show featuring vaudevillian burlesque and comedy, which she took for an extended off-Broadway run in the fall.

Margaret returned to TV in 2008 with the VH1 series, The Cho Show. Describing it as a ‘reality sitcom,’ Margaret said at the time, “It’s the closest I’ve been able to come on television to what I do as a comic.” The Cho Show followed Margaret, her real parents, and her eccentric entourage through a series of bold and outrageous experiences, shaped by Margaret’s ‘anything goes’ brand of stand-up.

The aptly titled Beautiful came next, exploring the good, bad and ugly in beauty, and the marketers who shape our world. The concert premiered in Australia at The Sydney Theater, marking the first time Margaret debuted a tour abroad. While touring through the US, the concert was filmed at the Long Beach theatre, aired as a special on Showtime in 2009, and then released as both a DVD and a book.

In 2009 Margaret nabbed a starring role in the comedy/drama series Drop Dead Diva, which aired for six seasons on the Lifetime network. Margaret enjoyed not having the sole responsibility for keeping things afloat. “(Drop Dead Diva) was a very fulfilling experience. It let me taking about the things I talk about, like body image, and women feeling good about themselves.”

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Margaret stepped right up to the plate when asked to do Season 11 of the highly- rated Dancing with the Stars. Paired with pro Louie Van Amstel, Margaret was on the show’s most controversial seasons. Margaret got a very strong reaction to her Rainbow Dancing Dress during a time when the issue of bullying, especially among gay teens, was being heavily covered in the media. “I am very proud to have been able to wear a gay pride dress on a show that is so conservative.”

2010 culminated with another high honor, a second Grammy Award nomination for Comedy Album of the Year for Cho Dependent, her incredibly funny collection of music. Featuring collaborations with Fiona Apple, Andrew Bird, Grant Lee Phillips, Tegan & Sara, Ben Lee and more, the album received critical acclaim. The album is funny, but also quite musical, featuring not only her surprisingly strong singing voice, but her skill on the guitar, banjo and dulcimer. “I was inspired to make beautiful music with a comic edge. I took this very seriously, taking vocal and guitar lessons while I was touring.”

Margaret self released Cho Dependent on her own Clownery Records, and was encouraged by the acclaim, since there are only a handful of artists putting out true albums of comedy music – “Weird” Al Yankovic, Flight of the Conchords, The Lonely Island, to name a few – yet no women. In 2011, Margaret released the live concert film of Cho Dependent, which also had its cable network debut on Showtime. Shot at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA, she remained uncensored, with a characteristically no-holds-barred show.

In 2012, Margaret spent whatever free time she had crafting her all new standup show, the uproariously and aptly named MOTHER, which kicked off with both a US and European tour. According to Margaret, “MOTHER offers up an untraditional look at motherhood and how we look at maternal figures and strong women in queer culture.”

Margaret’s creative side moved ahead at full speed with an Emmy nomination for “Best Guest Performance” on Thirty Rock. After the death of her mentor, Robin Williams, overwhelmed her, a mutual friend told her not to grieve Robin, but to ‘Be Robin’. The hashtag #BeRobin was born, as Margaret began setting up shop in different places around San Francisco in an effort to raise money for the Homeless community. “All I do and create a distraction – comedy and music – for several hours and collect goods and donations for people who need them.” The GoFundMe page Margaret set up [at http://GoFundMe.com/BeRobin ] has raised over $20,000.00 in donations.

There’s no break for Margaret in 2016: The three-time Grammy and Emmy nominee will release her next studio album, American Myth, on April 29th on her Clownery label. The follow up to Cho Dependent, it’s the first collection of new music from Margaret in 6 years. She has already debuted three music videos: “Ron’s Got a DUI” [https://goo.gl/8j3SgH], “Fat Pussy” [https://goo.gl/B6rfER] and the song that set the Internet on its ass (take that, Kardashians), “(I Want To) Kill My Rapist” [https://goo.gl/SMuKhA]. Salon magazine called the song “A new anthem” and UK’s The Guardian reminded anyone who was offended that “Cho is famed for her boldness, her taboo-breaking humour.” Margaret spoke to Billboard about the song saying, “I’m a victim, and now a survivor, of sexual abuse and rape, and I think it’s really hard to talk about it. I think having a song to perform live will allow others to talk about it. It’s a huge issue, and this was cathartic for me.”

American Myth, made with her longtime collaborator Garrison Starr, also showcases Margaret’s first efforts as a composer. Margaret says the album is “my glamorous and glittering tribute to family, comedy, anger, fame, gayness, grief, fat pride, love and hate.”

In what is a fitting tribute, Margaret has also been named special co-host of E!’s Fashion Police, covering the biggest award shows of 2016. Since Joan Rivers was not only a friend, but also a vocal supporter of Margaret, this has a unique significance. “Although I am not quite a fashionista, I would love to look at it like I am changing it up – Fashion Police: Special Victims Unit. It makes me happiest to spend time with Melissa (Rivers), and when I see her laugh at my jokes, I feel like Joan is smiling.”

And in typical “go-go-go” style, Margaret has signed on to develop a “Highland,” a dramedy for Amazon. The hour long show follows Margaret, who after court-0rdered rehab, gets a chance to start over by moving in with her (dysfunctional) family who run a pot dispensary. Co-created by Margaret and writer Liz Sarnoff (“Deadwood,” “Lost,” “Alcatraz”) Margaret is set to star and executive produce as well.

With so much success in her artistic life, Margaret has never turned away from the causes that are important to her. She is incredibly active in anti-racism, anti-bullying, advocating for the homeless and gay rights campaigns, and has been recognized for her unwavering dedication. She was the recipient of the Victory Fund’s Leadership Award and the first-ever Best Comedy Performance Award at the 2007 Asian Excellence Awards. She also received the First Amendment Award from the ACLU of Southern California, and the Intrepid Award from the National Organization for Women (NOW). Margaret has been honored by GLAAD, American Women in Radio and Television, the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), PFLAG and LA Pride, who gave Margaret a Lifetime Achievement Award for leaving a lasting imprint on the LGBT community.

Through her hard work, Margaret has had the opportunity to be heard, to extend her point of view and become regarded as a true pioneer in her field. She takes none of it for granted. “It’s a wonderful thing to be known as a ‘safe haven’ for people. People come to see me, or buy my records and/or DVDs because my point of view satisfies a lot of what needs to be said out there. More than anything, that makes me really proud.”

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/officialmargaretcho

Margaret’s Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/mcho88

Twitter: http://twitter.com/margaretcho/

Official Website:http://www.margaretcho.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaret_cho/

“Damon L. Jacobs is a New York-based Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and HIV prevention specialist who focuses his work on love, sexual health, and pleasure. He is also the author of the books RATIONAL RELATING and ABSOLUTELY SHOULD-LESS. He is best known for championing the use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) through his work on social media, news print, broadcast appearances, is featured as one of 35 “Leading HIV Activists” by The Advocate Magazine, one of the Twelve “Influential Voices in HIV/AIDS for 2015” by Healthline Magazine, part of the “HIV Heroes” series through Metrosource Magazine, and one of the Ten “Most Captivating Voices of 2014” by HIV Equal.”

WELCOME!  If you are single or in a couple and looking for a different perspective on love, happiness, and pleasure, you’ve come to the right place.  I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has helped people find and maintain satisfying and joyful relationships with lovers, family members, and friends, for the past 18 years.  Together, we will create the relationship “structure” and agreements that are uniquely right for you.

My approach to happiness and serenity is derived from tenets of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Social Justice Theory, and A Course In Miracles.  The unique fusion of these models has enabled hundreds of my clients to create an enlightened balance of mind, heart, and action, as well as relationships that enable presence, peace, and pleasure.

We invite you to listen to past shows with Damon for insight and help. If you do not hear any advice that helps feel free to ask Damon any questions you may have about your sex life or relationship problems then tune in and get the much needed advice.

Send your questions to [email protected] and put in subject line “Sex Question“.

2oz Strawberry Schnapps

OBIE and Drama Desk winner Donna Lynne Champlin graduated with high honors from Carnegie Mellon University in 1993. A Princess Grace Foundation award winner and a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, she also received intensive training in Shakespeare and Chekhov at Oxford University on the Advanced Acting Scholarship and The Vira I. Heinz Grant to study abroad. While still in college, she received her Equity card starring as “Dorothy” in The Wizard of Oz with the celebrated Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera.

Champlin made her New York Debut in 1994 at Carnegie Hall starring as “May” in a concert version of Very Warm for May under the direction of acclaimed conductor John McGlinn. Her Broadway debut in 2000 as “Mary Jane” in James Joyce’s The Dead was quickly followed by another Broadway turn as “Honoria Glossop” in the Alan Ayckbourn/Andrew Lloyd Webber musical By Jeeves in 2001. In 2002, came the opportunity to work with Carol Burnett and Hal Prince in Broadway’s Hollywood Arms – the dramatization of Carol’s biography One More Time, in which Champlin played the iconic comedienne. Critics across the country proclaimed Champlin a “show-stopping star in the making” and described her performance as “brilliant”, “a triumph”, and “a tour de force.”

Next on Broadway, Champlin played “Pirelli” (and the accordion, flute and piano) in the groundbreaking 2005 revival of Sweeney Todd where the press called her both “hilarious” and “superb”. She then joined the Broadway company of Billy Elliot as “Lesley” in 2009 and simultaneously self-produced her solo debut CD “Old Friends” which was voted “One of the Best Ten Albums of 2009” and was hailed by critics as “brilliant”, “a masterpiece” and “breath taking”. She can also be heard on numerous cast albums including See Rock City, Sweeney Todd, By Jeeves, three and My Life With Albertine as well as many voice-overs.

Her film credits include Birdman, A Secret Promise, The Audition, The Dark Half, By Jeeves, and Sweet Surrender. And while her TV credits include The Good Wife, Law And Order, Mother’s Day, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Annual Tony Awards on CBS, The View (guest star), The Rosie O’Donnell Show, Regis and Kelly and Emily Dickinson of the PBS Voices and Visions series, she is perhaps most well known for her work as the caustic “Kim Gifford’ on the hit web-series Submissions Only.

Off Broadway, her performance as “Cora Flood” in the 2009 production of The Dark At The Top of the Stairs at The Transport Group (hailed by the NY press as “perfection”, “brilliant” and “a privilege to watch”), earned her the prestigious OBIE award. DL went on to win the 2013 Drama Desk Award for her performance as “Woman #3” in Working, The Musical at the Prospect Theatre and the NYMF Award for “Outstanding Performance” for not one but three separate productions including as “Jane Austen” in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Other favorite Off-Broadway credits include “Audrey” opposite Oliver Platt’s “Touchstone” in Shakespeare In The Park’s As You Like It and “Sophie” in Master Class opposite Edie Falco at the Broadhurst produced by the Metropolitan Opera.

Champlin also continues to perform her critically acclaimed one-woman show Finishing The Hat in NYC (SRO at Birdland, Ars Nova and The Laurie Beechman Theatres) and across the country while teaching master classes in acting at many prestigious colleges such as CMU, Hartt and NYU. Also of particular importance to Champlin is her fundraising for three of her favorite charitable organizations, BC-EFA, the ALSA and The Actors’ Fund.

In addition to being an actress, Donna Lynne also works as a director, writer, stand-up comedienne, pianist, composer, musical director and choreographer. A free-lance writer for Comedy Central, she is currently working on two books; a humorous non-fiction book inspired by her (mis)adventures in the theatre and the other a ‘how-to of comedy’.

Donna Lynne lives in New York City with her husband, actor Andrew Arrow and her son, Charlie.

The Drink for Today:

Crazy Ex Girl 

1 shot Southern Comfort® peach liqueur

Pineapple Upside Down Cake Martini combines yummy flavored vodkas with pineapple juice for an awesome cocktail!

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

Gary LaVard has been gracing the entertainment scene with his presence and charm for years. A Detroit native, he currently resides between Atlanta and Los Angeles where he is a model/actor. Gary has been involved with all things entertainment his whole life. While in high school he hosted local hip-hop shows and even contributed music production to the top selling Hip-Hop Documentary (Rap Files, Vol.1 2004) (under the name Cashada). Gary has since then graced the pages of many print publications including Kontrol, KRAVE, Hype Magazine + more and has walked for Atlanta & Washington D.C.’s Fashion Weeks and many notable charity shows such as Toys4Tots and Kids Against Hunger.

Gary LaVard has also been seen in print ads for renowned brands, Gap, The Get Tested Campaign, and most recently the billboard ads for Iridium Clothing Store. Even further divulging into the entertainment realm, Gary has graced television screens in such programs as Scream Queens (FOX), The Walking Dead (AMC) and Nightmare Next Door (ID) just to name a few. He can also be seen on FOX Sports commercials. Due to his impeccable physical stature, his body was used as the body cast for legendary NFL players, Jimmy Johnson and R.C. Owens of the San Francisco 49ers, on display inside the Levi Stadium, in Santa Clara, CA. In 2015, Gary also recreated the legendary John Carlos “Black Power Salute” which can now be seen at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. In 2016, through hard work and consistency, Gary has landed principal and supporting roles in short, independent and mainstream films and television shows such as Ambivalence, RAYE, Products of the American Ghetto, the highly successful LGBT streaming series, About Him (Season 1), TV One’s “#Murder”, OWN Network’s “Greenleaf”, BET’s “The Quad”, Fast8 & ArtHouse TV’s highly anticipated series, “REDSKIN”. 2017 will be an even bigger year with production starting for About Him Season 2: The Revolution, where Gary returns in his leading role starring an all-star cast. With personal influences from his mother and sister, he has always believed in studying one's craft, faith and hard work and is determined to leave an even bigger mark than he already has.