For Immediate Release:
WHAT: "Institutionalized" the first benefit party for shanestar Production's,(Wrong Bathroom, 2005), newest film: "America's Most Unwanted: Stories of Hope and Survival from Former Foster & Group Home Youth"
WHEN: Friday, November 2nd, 2007, Doors 9pm/Show 10pm
WHERE: El Rio, 3158 Mission Street, at Mission & Precita Sts (http://www.elriosf.com)
WHO: Drag Kings, Burlesque Dancers & the band, Origami, & DJ Jenny Hoyston
21 & Up/ $7-10 donation & Raffle Prizes
http://www.shanestar.org/Americas_Most_Unwanted.html
America’s Most Unwanted will reveal the other side of growing up in state care: strength, courage and endurance. In addition to changing our view of foster and group home kids by hearing of their successes as adults, America’s Most Unwanted will also expose the additional challenges gay youth face to succeed under state care. Blending interviews with historic and recent footage of the interview subject’s lives, America’s Most Unwanted will show former foster and group home kids who are healthy and reveal their methodology for survival.
About the Performers:
Penny Whistle began as a wee little drag king, when she co-founded the Bay Area's first boybands: first with BoyWonder, and then later The Transformers. In 2004 she decided that she'd rather perform on the femmier side of things, so she joined up as an original member of Diamond Daggers for a few years, before heading off with fellow dancers Cherry Lix and Daisy Delight to start their dream troupe: all-queer, all-femme, all-mischief, all-fun, all the time! Twilight Vixen Revue is known for being the most low maintenance troupe in the business, and they plan to keep it that way!
the infamous Penny Whistle, darling theatrical taskmistress extraordinaire (also found on past stages with local drag troupe The Transformers, and currently found about town as Hermione in Hogwarts Express).
**Drag King POONIE JONES Poonie is a lifetime cross-dresser who was THRUST upon the San Francisco stage, to lip-synch and make adept costume changes, by his devoted drag mom, Landa Lakes. He comes from the tiny Metis village of Tacoma, Washington, where they make Almond Roca candy, boxcars, and paper. He was CONVENIENTLY born in a US Army hospital where they asked Baby Poonie to join the military service, but he politely declined. But he DOES have tidy clothes.
**Twilight Vixen Revue Best of the Bay, 2007! These ladies dazzle audiences with a repertoire of classic Broadway favorites, jazz standards and showgirl glamour. Sharp dancing and exquisite costumes come together with an unforgettable line-up of all-queer starlets who always entertain.
**high powered, sensual dancing. by STEVEE Y
**Live Music w/ ORIGAMI: 2006 saw Origami transplanted to San Francisco from Melbourne, Australia where, with a rejuvenated line up, they are currently finalizing their upcoming release LOVERS IN AMERICA mixed by Alex Newport (engineer for Mars Volta, At the Drive In etc.). Combining the raw energy of punk rock and no wave with the pop sensibilities of 60’s surf Origami’s front woman Rhonda Simmonds has gained a reputation as one of the most dynamic performers around, passionate ‘call and response’ vocals with angular tag-team guitar / bass lines of Natalie White and Ilana Goldbag backed by the incredible driving beats of drummer Matthew Snyder, Origami love making the kids dance. Origami released their debut album Please Exit Quietly in late 2003, the first single 'She's got the Rhythm' received national and international radio play the band followed this with an extensive four-month tour of the USA, Australia and Europe. During those four months the band supported and toured with the Breeders, Sleater-Kinney, the Von Bondies, Mates of State and The Gossip to name a few around the globe. Origami then released Cruising for a Bruising a little over a year later This EP contained the single, "Frisco Disco" which received high rotation on Australia's biggest youth radio station Triple J, their second single ‘O Beach Party’ (also received high rotation on music video show 'Rage'). The band packed its bags and did a whirlwind tour of Japan ending the tour in Tokyo alongside Melt Banana. The touring schedule did not let up and when the band returned home they were asked to support The Organ (Canada) on their tour of Australia and then invited to play the biggest touring festival the Big Day Out alongside other Australian bands such as Wolfmother and international acts The Beastie Boys. In July-August 2005 during the relocation and drummer search the band were invited to support Le Tigre alongside Electrelane in the USA. Since relocating to San Francisco, Origami have played alongside bands including Be Your Own Pet, The Grates and Erase Eratta and are busy earning themselves a growing following in their new hometown.
Award Winning DRAG KINGS, Delicio Del Toro & Jay Walker doing some hot fagalicious dancin.. He's a tall, dark, and handsome café con leche heartthrob who was kicked out of Menudo for one too many pelvic provocations. A recovering catholic school boy who once dreamt about moonlighting upon bended knee, Delicio Del Toro, has a weakness for culo shaking, uniforms, and gay-ass music. He's shaken his well-endowed bon-bon throughout the Trans Francisco Gay Area having a flabulously fagtastic time with Jay Walker & The CockRockers, CHUBB, The Transformers, Citizen Kings, and Girlz 2 Men.
DT will dance for food or drink . . . anytime, anywhere. In addition to being a big sucio homoqueer, he's also a Bruiser bad boi, butt rock serenader, flagging aficionado, stubborn bull, rump roaster, dork-er out-er, and devoted faggy flaco fan.
DJ JENNY HOYSTON: Not only does Hoyston front one of the best bands to come out of the Bay Area: Erase Errata and run her own project, Paradise Island she has outstanding taste in a wide range of music. Hoyston always plays everyone's favorites no matter what the crowd; be prepared to dance-off!
Jay Walker made his debut in the San Francisco drag king scene after spending time performing in Eugene and Portland, Oregon and St. Louis, Missouri. Originally from Miami, Florida, Jay Walker co-founded the St. Louis-based drag king troupe, The Bent Boyz, while attending graduate school. Recently crowned SF Drag King 2005 & Mr. Trannyshack 2004, Jay Walker is best known as a flamboyant, genderfucking faggot with an edgy, sexy stage presence and a penchant for tear-away costumes that he can rip off during performances. When he is not performing, Jay's alter ego Jeannie devotes time to research on transgender health issues, intersex activism, bikram yoga, and learning the art of trapeze.
Shanestar Productions has produced all types of events since 1995. We no longer produce monthly or even quarterly events, instead we focus on projects and curatorial employment. For fundraisers, we take a percentage of the door and require payment for all performers involved.
Currently, we produce Film Fundraisers and Short Film Screenings. And therefore, only book bands for fundraising events.
Down N Dirty, Behind the Scenes of Queer Filmmakers developed and curated by Shani Heckman is currently on hiatus. We are planning a short film event soon, however so please contact us to send us films 15 minutes and shorter from the queer diaspora. We appreciate all genres of filmmaking and all styles, we are very tight about the time constraint, so if you have a longer version do make a shorter cut for our festival.
Contact me here for the mailing information.