At a party, we often dread that one person who considers him or herself a comedian and utters the line "It's kind of a funny story."  But then once the punch line comes you find yourself starring like a deer in headlights having not gotten the joke.  With the October 8th opening of the film version of Ned Vizzini's book It's Kind of a Funny Story, the laughs will come fast and easy. Keir Gilchrist, who plays Toni Collette's Gay son on The United States of Tara, stars in the tale of a clinically depressed teen seeking help by checking himself into an adult psychiatric facility. No! Lindsay Lohan doesn't co-star! Already being called the One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Next for the 21st Century, the ensemble cast includes Emma Roberts (Valentine's Day,) Lauren Graham (Parenthood,) Jeremy Davies (Lost,) and Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover.) ***

Scott Lowell (Queer as Folk) will be appearing in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit at Glendale's Noise Within Theatre Company from October 2 through December 17. ***   If you watched the first episode of the new NBC series The Event you may have noticed Wes Ramsey of the film Latter Days playing a long-haired surfer with a broken arm, whose girlfriend was saved from drowning by Jason Ritter. ***  This years unofficial Gay Days at Disneyland are Oct. 1st – 3rd.  You can get details at www.gaydays2.com. Let's increase our numbers, and by our appearance show the world that there is nothing Mickey Mouse about equal rights. *** 

If you follow ABC soap operas you might want to get tickets to a brief revival of  Kander & Ebb's The World Goes Round at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center's  Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center on McCadden.  The October 7, 9 & 10 performances will feature Bobbie Eakes and Natalie Hall of All My Children with Brandon Barash and Branford Anderson of General Hospital.  Net proceeds will go to help fund the Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic. A previously scheduled show, at the center's Renberg Theatre, The Golden Guys, was canceled at the last minute. Such a shame as it was a male cast reading of a Golden Girls episode featuring Tom Lenk (Buffy the Vampire Slayer,) and Sasha Ruiz (Caprica.) Fans of Ruiz, who plays Sam Adama the Gay brother of Esai Morales character on Caprica can catch him in new episodes that begin airing on the Syfy channel October 5th. *** 

Long Beach Q Film Festival graces two venues this year, the Historical Art Theatre and the Center Long Beach, from October 7 - 10. Among this year's screenings are Swimming with Lesbians, a documentary that details efforts in an upstate New York community to create a LBGT historic archive.  Role/Play is about the after effects of a heart throb soap star being outed. A Marine Story looks at former Marine Alexandra who finds a calling in helping a troubled teenager prepare for boot camp. And Thy Will Be Don which details the Male-to-Female Transsexual Sara Herwig's journey to ordination in the Presbyterian Church. ***

The reality series of Real Housewives of (insert city here) bug has bitten the people at Logo.  October 4th brings the premiere of their Gay version, formally known as Gay Housewives, then Kept and now The A-List. Produced by True Entertainment, the people behind Real Housewives of Atlanta, this same-sex couple version features The Amazing Race alum and former Lance Bass boyfriend Reichen Lehmkuhl, celebrity photographer Mike Ruiz and former Marc Jacob's boyfriend Austin Armacost. The rest of cast are virtual unknowns outside the big apple and their own egos. ***

A  friend to gays everywhere and no stranger to Gay roles, James Franco (Milk) plays Allen Ginsberg in the film Howl, which is scheduled for an early October release. For those unfamiliar with the story, Howl centers on the famous 1957 obscenity trial in the wake of publication of Ginsberg's poem.  Oscar winners Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, wrote, directed and produce with a cast that includes Jon Hamm (Mad Men,)  Treat Williams (The Ritz,) Mary Louise Parker (Angels in America,) and Bob Balaban (For Your Consideration.) ***  Franco also appears in William Vincent which will open October 16 at the Mill Valley Film Festival. Playing the title role, Franco's character returns to New York after 4 years in exile to rescue a woman from a crime family. Additional cast member include Julianne Nicholson (Law & Order: Criminal Intent,) Josh Lucas (Wonderland,) and Martin Donovan (The Opposite of Sex.) The project was written and directed by Jay Anania who is the younger brother of Elizabeth Edward's, wife of former presidential candidate and philanderer John Edwards.

Downtown LA's Pershing Square is the place to be on Friday nights this month, if you want to catch free scary movies. It's called 'Friday Night Fright Flicks' and if you bring your own blanket to sit on you can catch the original Carrie and her "plug it up!" tormentors on October 1.  The cross-dressing and meat carving talents of Norman Bates in Psycho on October 8.  The funniest zombie movie ever made with Shaun of the Dead on October 15.  Sinister Vincent Price welcomes audiences to his House of Usher on October 22 and it's certain to be audience participation with every line read in unison when the camp classic Whatever Happened to Baby Jane screens at the park on October 29th. Are you going?  But you are! You are Blanche! You Are in that chair!  But dont' bring chairs, as only blankets are allowed. Just consider it a day at the beach with your demented sister dancing in circles.  ***

And lastly, run - do not walk - to see Celebration Theatre's current production of Richard Greenberg's 2003 Tony Award winning play Take Me Out.  It's been a long time since I've seen a play that had me captivated within minutes and lamenting its conclusion. Not because of how it ends but because I had become addicted to Greenberg's masterful creation and the Broadway caliber performances of the cast. The play focuses on how the coming-out of a major league baseball player, played impressively by Ary Katz, affects him and the people around him. Though I'm not a sports fan, I felt the opposite of feeling alienated by the sport terms and references used. Thanks to Greenberg's talent Take Me Out has a universal appeal with it's intelligence, humor and though provoking dialogue.  ***

That's all for this issue. Until next time, I'm Nathaniel Grey and I was born this way.
 

Previous Entertainment Features:
Eye On Entertainment - September 15, 2010
Eye on Entertainment - September 1, 2010
Eye on Entertainment - August 2010
Eye on Entertainment - July 2010
Eye on Entertainment - June 2010
AP Tour 2010 Rocks The Sunset Strip
L.A. Radio Trio Gets West Hollywood Welcome