The QueerCentric

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.

I can help you explore and change issues related to:

– Diminished sexual desire in long-term relationships

My office is conveniently located at Madison Square Park (26th/ Broadway) in New York, New York. Late night appointments are offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, as well daytime on Saturdays. For more information, please email me at [email protected] or call 347-227-7707

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Book, Music, and Lyrics by RICHARD O’BRIEN

Directed by Lance Babbitt

STUDIO THEATRE

Rating: R

Ticket Prices:

Thursday – Saturday: 7:30pm

Civic is dripping with antici…pation to bring this cult classic to our stage.

One fateful night, Brad and his fiancée, Janet — a wholesome, well-behaved, utterly normal young couple in love — innocently set out to visit an old professor. On the way, a thunderstorm and a flat-tire force them to seek help at the castle of Dr. Frank ’N’ Furter, an alien, transvestite scientist with a manic genius and insatiable libido. The night’s misadventures will cause Brad and Janet to question everything they’ve known about themselves, each other, love, and lust. A loving homage to the classic B sci-fi film and horror genres with an irresistible rock’n’roll score, The Rocky Horror Show is a hilarious, wild ride that no audience will soon forget.

Get your Tickets NOW!

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Peter wrote and directed the multi-award winning 5 Guys Chillin’, which played Brighton Fringe Festival, Dublin international Gay Theatre and The Kings Head Theatre in London for 4 months. He recently adapted a gender-swapped version of The Revengers Tragedy (The Rose Playhouse, London)

Other credits include: Signal Failure (Soho Playhouse-Off Broadway 6 week run). Kindness- BBC Radio 4 (Pick of the week- the Independent), Frank Sent Me (Soho Theatre/ The Underbelly/ Theatre 503), Githa (St James Theatre, W/E and York Theatre Royal) Pinocchio (Sutton Theatres), Tom’s Midnight Garden (Orchard Dean: open air production) 6 degree’s (Soho Theatre: Main House, Edward II (The Rose Theatre), Mysterious Skin (Gilded Balloon, The Drill Hall, Teacher’s Club, Dublin), Arden of Faversham (The Rose Theatre), Beautiful Thing (BAC).

Peter is a recipient of the prestigious BBC Carlton Hob’s Award.

Other awards:

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STELLAR REVIEW FOR JOAN’S BOOK: “…this is one summer read you don’t want to miss. I purchased this book last night and couldn’t put it down. Sleep eventually won out, but not before I finished half of the book. It’s a riveting and hilarious read examining exactly what is wrong with what we currently consider celebrity status. Fame is no longer based on accomplishments or talent, but rather, looks and reality star appeal. (Seriously, if someone can tell me why the Kardashians are famous I’d love to hear it).

Even non-fans of Joan Crawford will get a kick out of this autobiography.”

Music by John Kander

Abbey Crawford (Director) is an award-winning vocalist, and Spokane’s only trained cabaret singer. Recently, she has directed Assassins, Boeing Boeing and is gloriously happy to be back for All is Calm, all for The Modern Theatre. Her onstage credits include Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd and The Witch in Into The Woods for Lake City Playhouse. Most recently, she was seen as Madelaine True in The Wild Party. As always, her favorite role is that of “Mama” to Mason, Amelia & Isaac.

Angela Rose Pierson (Velma) is grateful to be performing and choreographing on the Modern stage once again. Last season, she choreographed The Wild Party and Rock of Ages, which she was also in. Most recently, she choreographed The Music Man for CDA Summer Theatre and played Arista in their production of The Little Mermaid. Angela was previously an instructor at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center in NYC and has choreographed all throughout California. Enjoy the show and all that jazz!

Quinn Vaira (Roxie) could not be more excited to be back on The Modern Theater’s stage. You may have seen Quinn last year as Sherrie in “Rock of Ages” on the CDA stage or Queenie in “The Wild Party” in Spokane. This past year she played Shy in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” at the Arizona Broadway Theatre and was most recently Mary Poppins at The Fort Peck Summer Theatre, opposite her favorite leading man, Andy. She is so grateful for this opportunity, and thanks her family and friends for always believing in her.

Jerrod Galles (Fred Casely/Ensemble) has been itching to get back on The Modern stage since closing Anything Goes! Some of his favorite shows have been Rock of Ages, Nunsense, Avenue Q, Grease, and The Wild Party. Jerrod wants to thank the Modern team involved for creating such a great show and giving us the opportunity to show it to all of you! Special thanks to all the incredible support from my family and friends.

Scott Worley

Andy Meyers (Amos) is the Artistic Director of Fort Peck Summer Theatre in Montana, and a frequent guest director/actor at Arizona Broadway Theatre, recently being named ‘Best Director of a Musical’ for Broadway World Phoenix Awards. He was previously Managing Director for Performing Arts at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, NYC. He has appeared in the national tours of ANNIE and BUS STOP and played Dick in the 35th Anniversary NY Revival of DAMES AT SEA. He a graduate of Wagner College in NYC and holds a Masters from University of Montana. Andy is thrilled to be playing one of his ‘dream roles’ opposite his favorite leading lady, Quinn!

Nick Bailey (Ensemble) is a Spokane native and Whitworth alumni. Recent credits include Eddie in The Wild Party and Hertz in Rock of Ages, both with the Modern Theater, Dan in Next to Normal a coproduction between the Modern and Coeur D Alene Summer Theatre and Equus at Stage Left Theater. Nick has previously performed with Spokane Civic Theater, Spokane Opera, Coeur d Alene Summer Theatre, Whitworth University and the Spokane Symphony Chorale. Nick wishes to thank his family and friends for their continued support, but especially his late Mother, who was always his loudest fan.

Joshua Fox (Mary Sunshine/Ensemble) is very excited to be a part of another Modern show. Past roles of his include: Bernstein (Dogfight), Featured Ensemble (Anything Goes), and Jimmy Smith (Thoroughly Modern Millie). Joshua would like to thank you for supporting The Modern Theatre and hopes you enjoy the show!

Jessi BeJesi Be (Matron Mama Morton) is thrilled to be playing her dream role as her first on the Modern Spokane stage! A native of Coeur d’Alene, after years of work on and off stage with the Lake City Playhouse (circa 1999), Jesi has been singing and sitting in with bands for the last 10 years locally. Her decade long break from theater ended pleasantly in last season’s production of Rock of Ages in CDA. She wishes to thank her dashing husband for the push to chase this crazy dream and the entire Modern family for the opportunity.

Nichole Dumoulin (Ensemble) is a theatre artist and educator from the Northwest. She graduated with honors from EWU with a BA in Theatre and since graduation has been acting and teaching in the Spokane area. Some of her favorite roles include Catherine in A View from the Bridge at EWU, Jill Mason in Equus at Stageleft Theater, and Viola in Twelfth Night at The Modern Theater. Her most recent work was as the assistant director and voice coach for The Crucible at SFCC’S Spartan Theatre. She is thrilled to be in this talented cast and greatful to be a part of another Modern production.

Alli Talmage (Annie/Ensemble) is delighted to be a part of her dream show! Having graduated from Gonzaga University last May as a theatre major, she would love to thank her peers and professors who continue to support her crazy aspirations. Last seen in The Fox on the Fairway at Spokane Civic Theatre, her last Modern Theatre credits include the It’ll Come to You Workshop Piece and The Wild Party.

Kelsi Blaser (June/Ensemble) is thrilled to be in her first production at The Modern Theatre! She loves to perform, choreograph, stage manage, and assistant direct. Favorite roles include: Amy in “Little Women”, Enid in “The Christmas Schooner”, Mary in “It’s a Wonderful Life”, and Lucy in “13! The Musical”. She would like to thank the creative team for giving her the opportunity to jump into such a fun show with a stellar cast!

Cloey Lantrip (Hunyak) is ecstatic to be in her first production here at The Modern Theatre! She is entering her sophomore year at CWU where she is earning her BFA in Musical Theatre. Recent roles include Molly Aster in “Peter and the Starcatcher” at The Warehouse Theatre, and Louise in “Carousel” at the 5th Avenue Theatre’s: Rising Star Project. She thanks her family and friends for all their love and support!

Sarah Dahmen (Ensemble) is honored to return to the Modern after appearing as Dory in “The Ladies Foursome,” Brooke in “Other Dessert Cities,” and Gretchen in “Boeing, Boeing” the last 2 seasons. Other recent credits include CDA Summer Theatre “Lombardi,” “Great Gatsby,” and “On Golden Pond” readers theater productions. She is grateful for her dear friends and loving family and to you for supporting live theater!

CJ Lorentz (Ensemble) is excited to be in another Mondern Theater production after being in the Modern CDA’s Anything Goes! He is currently attending Joel E. ferris High School where he is involved in the music program. His most recent roles have been Donkey in Shrek the Musical with Joel E. Ferris and the Bullfrog in HONK with CYT Spokane. He would love to thank the Modern for giving him an amazing opportunity and thank his friends and family for their love and support.

Paisley DuPuis (Ensemble) is currently a freshman studying music at North Idaho College. She studies ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical at Northern Dance Academy and Verve Studio 8 along with teaching dance at Verve Studio 8. Paisley is excited to be back on the Modern Stage after being part of the ensemble in last season’s production of Rock of Ages. She would like to thank God, her family and friends for all of their love, encouragement and support through the years.

Rena Strober (Rita) made her Broadway debut in Les Miserables (Cosette) and went on to perform in numerous show in NY and across the country. She toured with Topol & Harvey Fierstein in Fiddler on the Roof playing their eldest daughter Tzeitel. Rena also stared opposite Betty Buckley & Peter Scolari in the Off-Broadway comedy White’s Lies. Rena also performed her 1-woman show Spaghetti & Matzo Balls to sold out audiences Off-Broadway. After an illustrious stage career in NY, Rena moved to Los Angeles where she has worked on both the stage & screen. She is a recurring guest star on Disney’s Liv & Maddie, she plays Emily Knowland on Shameless for Showtime and has lent her voice to the Big Bang Theory. On stage she starred opposite French Stewart in Stoneface: The Rise & Fall of Buster Keaton and worked with Jason Alexander on When You’re in Love the Whole World is Jewish. Rena made her movie debut in Waiting in the Wings and couldn’t be happier to have brought Rita to life. Rena also lends her voice to DisneyXD’s Penn Zero, Mattel’s Ever After High and over a dozen video games for Nintendo, and other gaming platforms. When she’s not singing or voicing a 5 year old for a cartoon, Rena teaches voice at the Academy of Music for the blind where she works with blind children ages 4-18 years old. www.renastrober.com

Synopsis:

Waiting in the Wings Trailer:

Making of “Waiting in the Wings”

Awards

WEBSITE LINK: http://www.witwthemusical.com/

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Floor pic 2015Marcus was born and raised in Spokane, graduating from Mead High School (’96) and Gonzaga University (’00). He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. In 2007, he received a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Washington.

After graduating from UW, Marcus served as U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell’s Eastern Washington Director, from 2007 to 2010. He served as Senior Policy Advisor to Washington State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown from 2010 to 2012. As a state representative, Marcus serves as Vice Chair to the Health Care & Wellness Committee. He also serves on the Capital Budget and Transportation committees, andwas elected by his colleagues to leadership role of Deputy Whip. He is an appointed member of the Community Economic Revitalization Board and the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program Committee. Outside his duties with the legislature, Marcus recently served as the Operations Manager for the Northeast Community Center. He is also an adjunct professor at Eastern Washington University’s College of Health Science and Public Health

Marcus is active in Spokane’s downtown Rotary 21, and he is deeply committed to fostering opportunities for young people in Spokane. He has served as a Big Brother with Big Brothers and Sisters of Spokane, and he is actively involved with the Spokane YMCA Youth Legislature Delegation. He serves on the Spokane advisory board for Daybreak Youth Services, and has served as a City Plan Commissioner.

Marcus believes strongly in building relationships and working across the aisle. He was the 2013 organizer of bi-partisan legislative basketball and co-founder of the bi-partisan under-forty legislative caucus. He lives in Spokane with his wife, Amanda, and their two young children.

Community Involvement:

Chair, Children’s Health One Table

Awards and Honors:

2013 Washington State Housing Finance Association Proud Partner Award

Official website

Banker–turned–singer, reality TV celebrity and social activist Ivan Wilzig has led a life that Hollywood movies are made of. After twenty years of working in his family’s multi-billion dollar commercial banking business and serving on the bank’s Board of Directors, Ivan left the banking world, reinvented himself as recording artist Sir Ivan, and against all odds became a Billboard Magazine Top Ten Recording Artist and philanthropic “superhero” of the LGBT community. His aim is to use his music and influence to demonstrate the importance of acceptance and understanding, especially of those who have been persecuted or who are different.

His Music Career

Since childhood, Ivan had dreams of becoming a pop star. Once his family sold the bank, he couldn’t wait to pursue his love of music. Sir Ivan chose as his first single the iconic John Lennon song “Imagine,” as the lyrics and message closely mirrored his own beliefs of creating a world without violence and hatred, where everyone is welcome and accepted for who they are. The reason these lyrics resonated so strongly with Ivan is because his father was an Auschwitz concentration camp survivor and 59 Jewish family members had been murdered during the Holocaust. The single was signed by Tommy Boy Records, released on September 4, 2001, exactly one week before the horrendous September 11th tragedy, and broke the Top 40 on the Billboard Club Play Chart.

Peaceman’s LGBT Support

As mentioned above, Sir Ivan (and his Peaceman Foundation) has been a staunch advocate and ally of the LGBT community for many years, because he supports those who have been persecuted for being different.

Over the last few years, he has given more than a quarter of a million dollars to many LGBT and anti-bullying organizations, including:

⦁ The Trevor Project

In addition, in late 2015, Sir Ivan kicked off a transgender awareness campaign, to support transgender people in need. This campaign started with a large donation to the Trevor Project, and continues with a portion of the net proceeds from his 2016 re-release of “Imagine” pledged to the Anti-Violence Project, because transgender women are disproportionately affected by violence. Later in 2016, Sir Ivan and his family, who run the World Erotic Art Museum in Miami Beach, which was started by his mother, the late Naomi Wilzig, will launch the world’s largest virtual transgender visual arts show.

Sir Ivan’s Quirky Fame

Because of his music success, charitable work and fabulous medieval-style Castle in the Hamptons, he has been featured on TV shows all over the world, and is very popular in France and Germany. Stan Lee, the most famous superhero creator of all time, personally selected Sir Ivan to star as a finalist on the NBC Sci Fi Channel hit series called Who Wants to be a Superhero. Sir Ivan has also made featured appearances on VH1’s The Fabulous Life of the Hamptons, Discovery Channel’s Epic Castles and Bravo’s Chef Roble & Co. His movie experience consists of a major part in a full length documentary, King of the Hamptons, and, a minor role in an independent SAG film, called The Gold and the Beautiful.

Visit  Sir Ivan website – www.sirivan.com

ROXY SESSIONS Available Everywhere on September 9th

The First Single, YOU & ME to Exclusively Premiere via Brightest Young Things on July 19th

“ANGELA McCLUSKEY !!!  She is a singer/songwriter of pathos, beauty, sadness, tempest,magic, love of life and joy,…..she is the voice of all things” —  Michael Stipe

“McCluskey eases emotion and soul out of her most personal obsessional ballads with an effortless cool.” – Alan McGee, Co-Founder of Creation Records

(New York City — July 19, 2016)  The new single from chanteuse Angela McCluskey, You and Me, premiered today exclusively at Brightest Young Things. The complete album entitledThe Roxy Sessions will be released on September 9th via Angela’s own imprint, Bernadette Records.  Recently, Angela was heard on KENDRICK LAMAR’s  Is it Love ; onAZALEA BANKS’ supreme Ice Princess; with BIG GIGANTIC on the smash hit – The Little Things ;with TELEPOPMUSIKon several cuts including the worldwide #1 hit Breathe, and now the ‘featured’ vocalist behind those massive hits is stepping into the light with a new album, The Roxy Sessions.  On this project Angela shares songwriting duties with her producer and collaborator, Kiran Shahani (Bitter:sweet, Supreme Beings of Leisure.) Leading up to the September 9th album release Angela will be ‘Artist in Residence’ at THE ROXY HOTEL in NYC.

Angela McCluskey’s world is orbited by a diverse array of cultural superstars that both influence and inspire her works, disrupters  and collaborators; Morgan Page, Michael Stipe, Cyndi Lauper (whom Angela’s guested with for years) Paul Oakenfold and Robbie Robertson.

Prior to her solo career, Angela was signed to Geffen Records and toured extensively with her LA band the Wild Colonials, before joining French electronic trio, Telepopmusik with whom she wrote and recorded the world-wide hit Breathe as well asDon’t Look Back, the oft-sampled track most notably by Kendrick Lamar. During this period she caught the ear of legendary music producer Arif Mardin at BLUE NOTE RECORDS, who signed her to a solo deal and was instrumental in developing Angela’s sound and releasing her first solo album The Things We Do,co-written and produced by the inimitable Nathan Larson.  Her dance track, In The Air, with Morgan Page, went to number #1 on the Billboard Dance charts and she collaborated with Electro Swing King, Parov Stelar, on Don’t Believe What They Say andPaul Oakenfold on the dance trackYou Could Be Happy.

Today Brightest Young Things exclusively premieres the retro/electro cut You & Me.  The track was produced by  Kiran Shahani (Bitter:sweet, Supreme Beings of Leisure.) The full length ROXY SESSIONS features a wide range of styles and genres from vintage James Bond themes to surf guitar good vibes to post-modern trip-hop chill outs.  Cuts such as Paris to Hollywood, a bright & breezy carefree intercontinental romance, Hit & Run a trip groove laden gem, Lets Get Lost - a jaunty dance track that will make flappers drop their champagne flutes and hit the dance floor and Electric Sky a cinematic monster of a chill-out track.

The idea for the album was inspired by Time Warp, and event that Angela created, where she picks a decade and recreates a night around that theme. After recording a track for the HBO hit show Boardwalk Empire, Angela was excited to do a night around the ‘20s. It was an enormous success. Angela immediately realized the music appealed to just about every age group. Angela and her producer Kiran penned 10 original songs at the Roxy in 3 weeks.  Using  the roaring ’20s  as inspiration, the pair added a modern beat and fashioned an addictive blend of electro swing that propels listeners to the dance floor in a feel good frenzy.

Of THE ROXY SESSIONS, Angela recalls “In many ways, the theme of the album was inspired by the events surrounding it. It is a record that celebrates coming through it all—the success, the failure, the heartache and despair— and finding yourself being a little less dramatic about love and intent on just enjoying your life and being thankful for what you’ve got— and that’s something worth celebrating.”

Many of Angela’s previous works have been chosen for placement in major studio films, hit television shows and high profile national ad campaigns.  Her distinct sound and talent is striking and eminently memorable. Angela’s voice and artistry has appeared in pop culture juggernauts such as: HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, Nike, American Express, Mercedes, ESPN, MITSUBISHI,Chicos, Fox TV’s Empire and countless  more…

THE ROXY SESSIONS         will be released on September 9th.  Angela and her band will be performing  at the THE ROXY HOTEL  in downtown Manhattan July 27 and through September.

“Angela has the voice of an angel…completely commands the room and draws you in…mesmerizing.  She once sat me down and sang to me, and I was instantly in love.” ~Norman Reedus

Dr. Jim Kublin, M.D., M.P.H.

Dr. Jim Kublin is currently Executive Director of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network based at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.  He is also the Medical Director of the Seattle Malaria Clinical Trials Center, a translational research center established by Fred Hutch and the Center for Infectious Disease Research (CIDR) to test experimental malaria vaccines and drugs in human clinical trials. Jim is also a faculty member in the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington.

Jim has conducted extensive research on HIV and malaria in South America, SE Asia, and Africa, including clinical trials of novel therapies and vaccines. The Gates Foundation awarded Jim a Grand Challenges Exploration award to apply high-throughput system analyses to malaria vaccine development. Before moving to Seattle, Jim was Director, HIV Vaccines – Infectious Diseases, for Merck & Co., Inc where he played a key role in the development and implementation of HIV vaccine studies, overseeing the coordination of clinical assays, site identification and development, government and ethical approvals and providing guidance on vaccine policy issues. Jim completed his B.S. and M.D. at Georgetown University and received his M.P.H. and completed a residency in Preventive Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. Jim continued work in vaccine development and molecular epidemiology while attending the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine for his fellowship in Vaccinology at the Center for Vaccine Development.

Article By By Mary Engel

Many paths led Dr. Jim Kublin to where he is today: executive director of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), based at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. A good place to start is the 16 days he spent struggling to finish the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest sled-dog race — the lesser known and more demanding cousin to Alaska’s Iditarod.

“You talk about the long haul, and the incredible patience that’s required to really see it through to the finish, and the perseverance,” he said recently.

Kublin was recalling the 1992 race from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Whitehorse, Yukon, when he was 30 years old. But he could have been talking about leading the world’s largest clinical trials network in the marathon quest to develop and test an HIV vaccine. Finding a vaccine can seem less like a race than a slog through blowing snow, sub-zero temperatures and more darkness than daylight.

Kublin’s been there. On average, a third of the mushers who attempt the Yukon Quest scratch. Kublin finished, but for the first half of the race, he was dead last.

With up to 300 miles between checkpoints, he had plenty of time to face — and accept — his vulnerabilities, an experience he described as “enormously humbling.” He used the same words to describe the bond he established with lead dogs Woodrow, Aspen and the rest of his team as he knelt in the snow every couple hours, checking their feet, making sure they rested and ate.

“If I were to say, ‘I can’t do this anymore, these dogs can’t do it, we need help’ — there wasn’t any,” he said. “[The dogs] knew they were entirely dependent on me, and I knew I was entirely dependent on them. And it was just beautiful.”

TURNING POINT

Kublin grew up in a blue-collar iron-ore mining town on Michigan’s harshly beautiful Upper Peninsula. The son of an ophthalmologist (who at age 80 is still practicing), he found both work and role models in the town’s iron-ore mine warehouse and foundry during high school.

“I was surrounded by people who hadn’t had a lot of advantages growing up,” he said. “It just gave me an appreciation of the struggles that many people experience in this country.”

Moving from the sparsely populated, hardscrabble U.P. to Washington D.C.’s Georgetown University added to the Camus-reading teenager’s sense of bridging two worlds. He dropped out after his first two years to accompany a college group going to Nicaragua to do public health work. If growing up in a job-depressed mining town exposed him to disadvantage, Nicaragua showed him true poverty. To this day, he keeps a photo on his bedside table that he took there of a malnourished child.

But Nicaragua in 1981-82, just after the 1979 revolution, was also a place of excitement and idealism. The new government was launching programs to improve literacy, education and health care. Inspired by Liberation Theology’s ideas on social justice and galvanized by his first foray into epidemiology, Kublin, then 20, worked on the country’s malaria eradication campaign — only to come down with the disease himself.

Anyone who knows that curiosity is a vital part of being a scientist will recognize his response to enduring malarial rigors and hallucinating that his reflection in the bathroom mirror was his face in a coffin. “That’s when I first learned about malaria,” he said, “and became fascinated by just the elegance and biology of this parasite life cycle.”

It was to become a lifelong love affair. In addition to his work heading the HVTN network, Kublin is medical director of the Malaria Clinical Trials Center at Seattle Biomed.

Nicaragua proved a turning point. Returning to Georgetown to focus on biology and pre-med, Kublin went from uninspired student to the dean’s list. He did his undergraduate thesis on how parasites attach to the liver cell. Entering medical school, he continued to do malaria research on the side, dissecting the salivary glands of mosquitos to collect the parasite. He was in his first year at Georgetown’s School of Medicine in 1984, the year HIV was found to cause AIDS.

Jim Kublin provides pediatric care as a volunteer medic at a Cambodian refugee camp on the Thai-Khmer border in 1988.

FROM MALARIA TO HIV

Kublin’s internship at New York’s St. Vincent’s Hospital in 1988 put him in the AIDS epidemic’s West Village epicenter. The hospital was filled to capacity, with gurneys in hallways and a cadre of young doctors who felt both energized and besieged by the challenge. Despite their dedication, in the years before antiretroviral therapy, AIDS was essentially a death sentence.

Still, Kublin found a lesson in the madness.

“I learned in that year that some of the most honorable work out there is hospice care,” he said, “and was fortunate myself to do some of that, helping people with their unfinished business, even if it’s just calling somebody they needed to talk to before they die.”

But even that did not prepare him for sub-Saharan Africa. He and his wife, Zara, and their young sons Gus and Henno moved to Malawi in 1998, where he ran a research program and worked as scientific coordinator for an initiative sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Malawi Ministry of Health and Population. Once there, he found whole villages decimated by HIV, with no one left but elders and orphans.

Antiretroviral treatment, by then resurrecting patients from near death in developed countries, was not yet available in Africa. So Kublin started doing what other U.S. and European workers were doing — getting colleagues back home to send expired but still usable drugs. Then came wrenching decisions on who should get his tiny stash of pills. The drugs were no match for the immensity of HIV in Malawi. The hospital morgue overflowed daily.

Like Nicaragua, Malawi was transformative for Kublin. Having come to work on malaria, he left to help find an HIV vaccine.

STAYING THE COURSE ON THE ROAD TO A VACCINE

In 2004, after a three-year stint working on an HIV vaccine at Merck Research Labs, Kublin was lured by Dr. Larry Corey, a world-renowned virologist and now Fred Hutch’s president and director emeritus, to coordinate operations across the HVTN.

The HVTN conducts all phases of clinical trials, from evaluating experimental vaccines for safety and the ability to stimulate immune responses to testing vaccine efficacy. A model for collaborative global research, its vaccine trial units are located at leading research institutions in more than 30 cities on five continents.

The road to an HIV vaccine has proved challenging. One of the deepest disappointments came in 2007, just before Kublin took over as executive director. A major trial had to be halted when it was found that the vaccine neither prevented HIV infection nor reduced the amount of virus in the blood among vaccine recipients who became infected with HIV. In some cases, it could make the recipient more susceptible to the virus.

The trial was the biggest one in the field at the time, and the vaccine being tested had been considered the best hope. Despite an effort at scientific detachment, the HVTN staff was devastated.

“We designed the trial correctly because it delivered an answer very quickly,” said Niles Eaton, HVTN director of site operations. “But it wasn’t the answer we wanted.”

Kublin too was caught short by how much he had emotionally invested in that vaccine. He was home when the call came, and the news brought him to tears. When he told his children what had happened, his then 9-year-old-son, Gus, after a pause, replied, “But you’re not going to give up, are you? It’s too important.”

The next day, Kublin called the team together and told them what Gus had said.

“He conveyed that to us to keep us going,” said Eaton. “We needed to hear that.”

Kublin takes a dog team, led by Woodrow and Storm, on a run near Skandia, Michigan, in 1994.

RENAISSANCE MAN

For his 50th birthday three years ago, Kublin’s colleagues made a word cloud of phrases used to describe him. Renaissance man topped the list, though “brilliant” and “approachable” — traits not always seen together — were not far behind. So was “steady leadership” and “calm in the storm,” qualities that turn out to be as useful for leading a team of researchers through the ups and downs of vaccine clinical trials as for getting a rookie musher to the finish line.

“In science, an experiment doesn’t fail, it informs us. He reminds us of that,” said HVTN project manager Sue Ferguson, Kublin’s assistant. “There have been rough waters, but he’s a phenomenal leader. He gives you so much room to bring your best every day.”

Last October, the HVTN opened a new, state-of-the-art laboratory in South Africa, which has the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the world. Next year it will launch a series of clinical trials there. One will test a modified version of a vaccine that prevented about 32 percent of new infections in a six-year trial involving more than 16,000 adult volunteers in Thailand. The study, published in 2009, was the first to show that a safe and effective HIV vaccine is possible.

A vaccine may be the prize at the end of the marathon, but the man described as driven to make a difference savors interim victories as well. The huge effort that goes into setting up trials provides humanitarian benefits that often go unrecognized.

“Large trials require formidable infrastructure and training and raise standards of clinical care—a lasting resource,” he said.

THE LONG HAUL

The first time Kublin got on a sled behind a team of dogs was on May 12, 1990. Yes, he remembers the exact date. A late spring snowfall had dumped 12 inches on the Upper Peninsula, where he had returned after his internship intending to practice medicine, pay off school loans and recover from a tumultuous year. The friend who had invited him along chose six dogs to harness from the dozen spinning, yipping and pleading to go.

Kublin stepped onto the sled runner, and up a hill they flew, like an elevator on speed. The cacophony of the dog yard gave way to the whistle of wind and his friend’s soft “gees” and “haws” directing the dogs left or right around one treefall after another. Kublin was transfixed.

He still is.

View article – http://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/hutch-magazine/2014-06/quest-to-develop-an-HIV-vaccine.html

Glover was born in Salisbury, Maryland, the son of Cade (née Mullins) and John Soursby Glover, Sr., a television salesman.[1][2] Glover attended Wicomico High School and acted at Towson University.[3] Glover began his career at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, and later studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse under Milton Katselas.[4] Aside from his theatrical endeavours, Glover is also actively involved with the Alzheimer’s Association. His inspiration for joining this cause was his own father’s experience with Alzheimer’s disease.[5] He is openly gay and has been in a relationship with sculptor Adam Kurtzman since 1993.[5]

Career:

Glover began his career in television, playing a mentally disturbed kidnapper who kidnapped Joanne, the heroine on Search for Tomorrow. One of his early film performances was a small but pivotal role as a U.S. diplomat in White Nights. Other notable roles include Alan Raimy in 52 Pick-Up, Bryce Cummings in Scrooged, Daniel Clamp in Gremlins 2: The New Batch, a mobster in Payback, an advertising spokesman in RoboCop 2, Derek Mills in Night of the Running Man, the Riddler in Batman: The Animated Series, Doctor Jason Woodrue in Batman & Robin, Verad in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “Invasive Procedures”, the Devil in the series Brimstone, and a recurring role in The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd as Cousin Jerry, from Bal’mer, a relative whom no one actually seemed to know.

He appeared in one episode of Miami Vice. He also appeared in two episodes of Murder, She Wrote, the first one being “One White Rose for Death” in which he played East German Franz Mueller. Mueller wishes to defect to the United States, but his sister is a celebrated concert violinist. They both become caught up in a case of murder at the British Embassy. The other episode was “When Thieves Fall Out,” where he played Andrew Durbin, a man wrongly accused of stealing bonds.

He appeared in the TV movie An Early Frost in 1985, the first TV film to confront the issue of AIDS, and received an Emmy nomination for his performance as a gay AIDS patient. In 1986, he appeared in the TV film Apology with Lesley Ann Warren. He appeared in the role of Max Brodsky, an inmate in concentration camps and later a fighter for Israel’s independence, in Ian Sharp’s 1989 TV miniseries Twist of Fate (also known as Pursuit). Also in 1989, he played a hard driving, low on morals District Sales Manager in HBO’s Traveling Man. He also received a 1994 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his appearance in Frasier.

Glover in the 1991 Emmy Awards

He had a small appearance in the Woody Allen film Annie Hall in a flashback in which he tells the title character, “Touch my heart. With your foot.” He had a recurring role in Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Declan Gage, an old friend and mentor to Detective Robert Goren. On ABC’s Brothers & Sisters he played Henry (the boyfriend of Saul Holden) in 2009. In Heroes he had a brief appearance as Samson Gray, the father of Sylar.

He had made notable appearances on stage, winning a Tony Award for Featured Actor in a Play for his dual roles in the Broadway play Love! Valour! Compassion!, which he reprised in the film version. He also appeared as “man in the chair/narrator” in The Drowsy Chaperone on Broadway during summer 2007. He played the role of “Lucky” in a new Broadway production of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, for which he earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play. In 2014 he appeared as Leonato in the Shakespeare In the Park production of Much Ado About Nothing.[7]

He played Telemachus in Yuri Rasovsky’s Peabody Award-winning radio dramatization of The Odyssey of Homer and has played in several radio plays of the LA Theatre Works. Glover is receiving increasing recognition for narrating audiobooks. In 2011, he performed the audiobook version of Ghost Story, the thirteenth novel in Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files series. In October/November 2011, he performed in David Bar Katz’s drama The Atmosphere of Memory at the Bank Street Theatre in NYC, co-starring with Ellen Burstyn in a LAByrinth production. He most recently played the role of “Uncle Ben” in the 2012 Broadway production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, directed by Mike Nichols. He is seen rehearsing the role of John Kreese in behind-the-scenes pre-production footage from The Karate Kid, indicating he may have been considered for that role.[8] In 2013 Glover starred in the horror anthology Sanitarium. Glover guest starred in Agent Carter.

Glover has done various voiceovers for several projects related to Tron: Legacy: villainous character Abraxas in Tron: Evolution, and Dyson in Tron: Uprising. He guest starred on The Blacklist on May 5, 2014 in the episode “Berlin.”

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Sam LaFrage is a 2012 graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, and was selected as a member of the 2013 New York Academy Company. As an actor, his Off-Broadway credits include “Palm Tree in a Rose Garden” (Jim Strong), “Happy in the Poorhouse” (Stevie), “The Rivals” (Bob Acres), and “Improbable Fiction” (Brevis). Other NYC credits include: “Blithe Spirit” (Charles). “The Wake of Jamey Foster” (Wayne), “Am I Blue?”(John Polk), “The Bear” (Smirnov), “The Loveliest Afternoon of the Year” (He), among others. Sam has worked along side of and collaborated with Douglas Carter Beane, George Heslin (Founder of the Origin Theatre Company, NYC), director/playwright Derek Ahonen (Founder of The Amoralists Theatre Company, NYC), Barbara Rubin (Market Theatre in Joannesburg, South Africa) and Denis Reid (Yale School of Drama). He has written and directed two plays (“The Commedia Cinderella” and “The Commedia Rapunzel”) both of which premiered at Columbia Children’s Theatre in South Carolina.

Ragtag Theatre Company is a Commedia dell’ Arte troupe dedicated to bringing fresh and unique live LGBTQ theatre designed for the entire family! In short, we do fairytales. But not yo mama’s fairytales. We do fractured fairytales that spoof and riff off of pop culture… (much like Animaniacs or Shrek), and we do it all in the style of Commedia dell’Arte, which is an early style of Italian street theatre that incorporates big funny characters, improvisation, and direct audience involvement all in one. Our shows are audience interactive and the kids are integrated into every performance, making them feel uniquely important in this theatrical experience. Ultimately, our goal is the make you laugh and create a safe space where you can be yourself and #beweird with all of us. Through our crazy camp and comedy, we hope to empower and inspire all youngins and grown folk alike to embrace what makes them different.

www.thecommediarapunzel.com | https://www.facebook.com/ragtagtheatre/ |https://twitter.com/RagtagTheatre