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Big names center stage at PrideFest:
Khan, Griffin, Jett stepping up to festival mics
from: jsonline.com
by DAVE TIANEN
With its finances on an even keel, PrideFest is now poised to take its place as one of the biggest gay pride festivals in the nation.
The festival has increased its entertainment budget by 50% this year, with name headliners on each of its three nights: comic Kathy Griffin on Friday, Chaka Khan on Saturday and JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS on Sunday.
"There are over 50 Pride Festivals in the U.S.," says David Charpentier, PrideFest's entertainment director. "This year, we're able to claim that we have the largest entertainment lineup.
"We've now surpassed Los Angeles and New York. For example, L.A. Pride's major headliner is JOAN JETT and the Black Hearts. . . . Not only do we have JOAN JETT, we also have Chaka Khan and Kathy Griffin."
The increased emphasis on national acts is part of a deliberate choice by PrideFest, which drew 23,839 people last year, according to festival organizers.
"By diversifying and increasing the size of our entertainment, we branched out to having more crossover appeal to everyone," Charpentier says.
The turn toward bigger names has been building for a while. Last year the festival brought in comedian Margaret Cho. Other previous headliners have included En Vogue, Taylor Dayne, Sophie B. Hawkins and RuPaul.
"We're getting to the point of true legends," Charpentier says of Khan. "She's won eight Grammy awards. She appeals to everyone whether gay, straight, white or black, young or old. . . . She's coming out with a new album that's produced by Janet Jackson's producer."
As the front woman for Rufus, singer Khan was one of the most visible figures in the '70s funk movement. Between 1974 and 1983, the group scored five No. 1 R&B hits: "You Got the Love," "Sweet Thing," "At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)," "Do You Love What You Feel" and "Ain't Nobody."v
Later, as a solo act, Khan continued her chart-topping ways with "I'm Every Woman," "What 'Cha Gonna Do For Me" and "I Feel For You." In recent years she has branched into jazz, recording two collections of standards, most recently "ClassiKhan" from 2004. Last week, she joined Queen Latifah, Natalie Cole, Linda Ronstadt, Michael Bublé, Gladys Knight, k.d. lang and Etta James on the Ella Fitzgerald tribute disc, "We All Love Ella."
PrideFest is also catching Griffin at an opportune moment. In the late '90s, Griffin was a regular cast member on the NBC sitcom "Suddenly Susan," and in 2005 she debuted in her own reality series, "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List."
Recently she has been a guest host on "The View" and has been mentioned as a leading contender to replace Rosie O'Donnell on the daytime talk show.
Jett has been a prominent figure among women rockers since, as a Los Angeles teenager, she helped found the seminal girl band the RUNAWAYS. In the late '70s, Jett launched a solo career with her own band, the BLACKHEARTS. In 1982 they scored a massive hit with "I Love Rock and Roll"; the same year, Jett released her remake of "Crimson and Clover." In 1987 she co-starred with Michael J. Fox in the film "Light of Day."
Besides the headlining acts, PrideFest offers entertainment on four other stages and pavilions.
Other performers include Kirsten Price, who performs "Magic Tree" on the release "L Tunes: Music From and Inspired by 'The L Word,' " dance songstress Cascada, folk-rocker Tret Fure, poet and multimedia artist Rachael Sage, the Benassi Brothers featuring Dhany and "The Queen of Gay Soul," Sade Pendarvis.
Other activities and attractions include the seventh annual Leather Show, the PrideFest Glamour Girl Review (female impersonators) , the Milwaukee LGBT Film and Video Festival, the La Rosa Latino Dance Party, a pet showcase with the Humane Society, ComedySportz for Children, the Pride Idol talent contest and an interfaith service.
"This event isn't just for the LGBT community," Charpentier says. "That's our purpose, that's the reason we do the festival, but we want to bring everyone together to celebrate this. You don't have to be gay to come to PrideFest."
Schedule
Where: Maier Festival Park, 200 N. Harbor Drive
When: 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, 11 a.m. to mid Saturday, 11 to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Admission: $15; free for children 12 and younger with guardian. (Discount tickets available until noon today at www.pridefest.com.)
Admission promotions: Free entry with donation of four canned food items to the ARCW Food Pantry from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free entry with Milwaukee Journal Press Card from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
FRIDAY
Miller Lite Main Stage: 5 p.m. Julie Loyd; 6 p.m. Kirsten Price; 7 p.m. interfaith service; 7:30 p.m. PrideFest opening ceremony; headline show hosted by Miss Foozie and featuring Hedda Lettuce, Cascada; Kathy Griffin.
Dance Pavilion: 5 p.m., Pump! DJ showcase featuring DJ Tyke, DJ Fortune, DJ Kelly.
Rainbow Stage: 5:30 p.m. Cheer! Dorothy, Cheer!; 6:30 p.m. Pride Idol 2007 wild card.
SATURDAY
Miller Lite Main Stage: 11 a.m. Dropmore Scarlet; 12:30 p.m. Tret Fure; 2 p.m. Ronnie Nyles & the Krash Band; 3:30 p.m. Catie Curtis; 5 p.m. Ellis; 6:30 p.m. Rachael Sage; 7:45 p.m. Levi Kreis; 8:30 p.m. to midnight headline show hosted by Peppermint and featuring Sade Pendarvis, the Benassi Brothers featuring Dhany, Chaka Kahn.
Rainbow Stage: 11:30 a.m. MGAC Unity in Harmony CD showcase; 1 p.m. Shoreline-Milwaukee Dancers; 2 to 7:30 p.m. Youth: Young Hearts - Art Project; 3 p.m. Youth: PrideFest scavenger hunt; 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Youth: Post Office of Pride; 4 p.m. Pride Idol 2007 semi-finals; 6 p.m. Cheer! Dorothy, Cheer!; 7 p.m. Pride-Fest Glamour Girl Review; 8:30 p.m. 7th annual Leather Show.
Dance Pavilion: 11:30 a.m. Shoreline-Milwaukee Dancers; 12:45 p.m. Cheer! Dorothy, Cheer!; 2 p.m. Wisconsin's Diva Review; 3:30 p.m. Wind It Up! by Versage Productions; 5 p.m. La Rosa Latino Dance Party; 7 p.m. to midnight Pump! DJ showcase featuring DJ Nate Manic, DJ Plez, DJ Rob Winter.
Stonewall Stage: Noon, Kids' story time with Broad Vocabulary; 1 p.m. ComedySportz for Children; 2 p.m. Children's Service Society of Wisconsin; 3 p.m. TBD; 4 p.m. LGBT History Project / Sage; 5 p.m. Gender Non-Discrimination Presented by F.O.R.G.E. & Center Advocates.
History, Arts & Film Pavilion:12:30 p.m. Milwaukee Gay Arts Center Performance; 12:30 to 7 p.m. LGBT History Project/Sage.
SUNDAY
Miller Lite Main Stage: 11 a.m. Pulsation Band; 12:30 p.m. Divine Maggees; 1:45 p.m. Edie Carey; 3 p.m. Jason & Demarco; 4 p.m. Pride Idol 2007 finals; 6 to 10 p.m. headline show hosted by Vickie Shaw and featuring Boi Toiz on Broadway, Ronnie Nyles & the Krash Band, Gurl Toiz on Broadway; Pride Idol 2007 winner, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS.
Rainbow Stage:11:30 a.m. Emily White; 12:45 p.m. Alliance School graduation ceremony; 1:30 p.m. Black Pride Gay Idol; 2 p.m. The Locals; 3:30 p.m. commitment ceremony; 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Youth: Post Office of Pride; 3:30-7:30 p.m. Youth: Young Hearts - Art Project; 4:30 p.m. Scott Free; 5:15 p.m. Milwaukee Gay Pride Parade awards; 5:30 p.m. Youth: Drag-a-Thon (The Great Race); 6 p.m. Youth: Rock What You Got (fashion show) finals; 6:30 Youth: Changing Faces (turnabout/drag show) finals; 7 p.m. Whitney Gayton Latino Drag Show.
Dance Pavilion:noon Wind It Up! by Versage Productions; 2 p.m. belly dancing featuring Mark Balahadia; 3 p.m. Miltown Kings; 4 p.m. PrideFest tea dance featuring Nicki French, DJ John Murges, DJ Jim Belanger. 8 p.m. Pump! DJ showcase featuring DJ Jerry Griffith.
Stonewall Stage:Noon, Kids' story time with Broad Vocabulary; 1 p.m. ComedySportz for Children; 2 p.m. TBD; 3 p.m. TBD; 4 p.m. LGBT History Project / Sage; 5 p.m. TBD.
History, Arts & Film Pavilion:12:30 p.m. Milwaukee Gay Arts Center Performance; 12:30 to 7 p.m. LGBT History Project / Sage.
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