THAT Holly Hughes

Seen
In Chicago, this flock of birds, riding around town on bikes 
Dark wings strapped to
Their backs
They were pierced and tattooed
Why read a book
If you could read one of them? 
I asked them to put Ann Arbor on their migrations
They said I could do it myself
I could buy wings
But I’m
Already that person
Even without the wings
It’s about the flock

Tonight! Weekend Three of STANDING HEAT! Links Hall, Chicago. 
Kim Marra’s “Horseback Views: A Queer Hippological Performance” Friday and Saturday at 8! Sunday at 7, new work by Amy Chavasse, and myself AND ACTUAL DOGS!

Last chance for STANDING HEAT, Chicago!

Friends, one more chance to see Kestutis Nakas in a fabulous new show, “No Bees For Bridgeport,” tomorrow, Friday 8 pm, Links Hall, and Saturday and Sunday, a brand spanking new show from Kevin Kling 8 on Saturday, with a conversation afterward, lead by Carrie Sandahl and the artists, then a 7 pm Sunday show. The work is really strange, funny, moving and ridiculous. Don’t miss it.

Is Mittens a ‘Mo?

The scariest part about Romney’s gay bullying past?
Other than he could be president, let’s not go there, k?
If we believe the new research that most homophobes are twisted closet cases… 
Does that mean Mittens is a ‘Mo? 
Are we going to have the Phillip Seymour Hoffman of the future play him all tarted up in a biopic fifty years from now?

I actually don’t buy the latest hooey that all homophobes are closet cases.

As we discussed this on Facebook, Mark said Please don’t let him be gay!

Mark, your wish is granted.

I have decided that it is high time we restored some standards to the whole gay thing, entirely too many republican wingnuts are being caught with a wide stance and I’ve had enough. 

So I’ve appointed myself to this task, I will not let him be gay, he can’t come out and go into rehab after he LOSES in November, and end up headlining Pride in some forgotten city so he gets our love… No, Mitt. You can’t be President I hope, and I will not let you be gay, either.

STANDING HEAT at Links!

Looking forward to “Standing Heat” at Links this weekend! http://www.linkshall.org/12-aa-May.shtml Friday night, Kestutis Nakas with a new monologue, “No Bees for Bridgeport,” and Saturday and Sunday, Deke Weaver with “Other Animals.” On Saturday, hang around for a discussion with Deke, Kestutis, Joshua Chambers-Letson, me and hopefully… you! Tickets at Links are a steal, $15/general, $10 for students and always, pay what you can!

In the first part of the movie, we find our heroine, Jennifer Lawrence, still trapped in her last movie, Winter’s Bone…

Hunger Games Spoiler Alert: In the first part of the movie, we find our heroine, Jennifer Lawrence, still trapped in her last movie, Winter’s Bone. When her younger sister is chosen as a Tribute and thus doomed to almost certain death, Lawrence volunteers to take her place. We are encouraged to believe she’s motivated by altruism; but isn’t it possible she’s tired of crouching in the same Appalachian mud for a movie and a half? Okay, so probably she’s going to die and all that for the amusement of the one percent, but at least she could lose the family she’s also had for a movie and a half - useless mom, helpless youngsters, dead dad… at least she gets a chance to briefly be in a few movies, a bit of Star Wars, a touch of Avatar, the Truman Show. 

If you didn’t know the Capitol was a place of evil already, you get some strong signals these are bad people - too much hair dye (WTF!) and bad public sculpture.

I hope Lenny Kravitz and his eyeliner are back in the sequels…

Quote from one of my sophomores,

from the gospel according to John Waters: “We have to make reading sexy again. If you go home with someone and they don’t have any books, don’t fuck him.” A+

Interarts Performance @umich

I’m very excited to announce that my new program at Michigan, Interarts Performance, which allows undergrads to build a BFA from classes in Art and Design, Theatre and Drama, Dance and Performing Arts Technology, will welcome five new students this fall! That’s been our target, we want to keep it small. http://art-design.umich.edu/programs/undergraduate/interarts 

This will be our third full year. These students are so great. I’m always happy to see them and work with them.

National Library Week was April 8-14, and someone had the sense to make this billboard. Which I saw on Facebook.

“When my brother fell/ I picked up his weapons

& never once questioned

whether I could carry

the weight & grief,

the responsibility he shouldered.

I never questioned/ whether I could aim

or be as precise as he./ He had fallen,

& the passing ceremonies

marking his death/ did not stop the war.”

What a wonderful writer: Essex Hemphill. And a great human being lost way too early. Happy birthday. Wish you were here to celebrate. Your work is well loved and remembered.