The Gay Agenda

Monday, December 15: Gay men worth their weight in acerbic wit wouldn't be caught dead anywhere tonight except Lincoln Center to catch a reading by David Sedaris, arguably the funniest gay writer alive. Check out this clip of Sedaris's appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, in which he showcases his trademark sardonic humor through a personal essay on the Stadium Pal, a portable bed pan of sorts for sports fans. For the ladies (and only for the ladies), Manhattan's Jewish Community Center (JCC) hosts 1990s infomercial maven, New York Times best-selling author, and motivational speaker Susan Powter as she talks "The Politics of Stupid," her stream-of-conscious manifesto encouraging women to take control of their lives. Tickets for Sedaris's 8:00 PM EST show are available through Lincoln Center (the reading takes place at Avery Fisher Hall), while tix for Susan Powter's 7:00 PM talk can be snatched up through the JCC. Tuesday, December 16: If you find yourself in Washington, D.C.'s Dupont Circle today, head to The Phillips Collection to check out Christo and Jeanne-Claude's latest work, "Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Over the River, A Work in Progress." The exhibition includes more than 150 photographs, collages, drawings, and maps chronicling the pair's attempt to assemble and suspend massive silvery fabric panels over the Arkansas River in Colorado. As with their other elaborate orchestrations -- like "The Gates" in Manhattan's Central Park -- the artists' intent is to call attention to natural beauty and foster new ways of interpreting a familiar landscape. Wednesday, December 17: Written, produced, and narrated by Madonna, the documentary film I Am Because We Are draws new attention to the millions of children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa (UNAIDS estimates that 20 million children in sub-Saharan Africa will have lost at least one parent to AIDS by 2010). The work highlights the efforts of the megastar's charitable organization Raising Malawi, which has worked to improve the living conditions of AIDS orphans and others in the southeast African nation. Check local listings to catch the documentary, which originally aired on World AIDS Day (December 1) and is being rebroadcast this evening on the Sundance Channel. Thursday, December 18: If you're in the mood for some fairies of the sugar-plum variety this holiday season, check out The Nutcracker: Rated R, a trippy, tricked-out version of the classic ballet that uncovers drugs, sex, and family secrets. (After all, nothing says Yuletide cheer like a good sex scandal.) In this version a modern-day Upper West Side princess is transported back in time to the 1980s New York City club scene. Catch a peak of her bohemian adventures at the cast's MySpace page and go to the Theater for the New City for tickets to the show, which starts at 8:00 PM EST. Friday, December 19: Tonight's a tough call for Manhattan homosexuals. Singer-songwriter and 2008 Out 100 honoree Our Lady J performs The Gospel of Dolly at The Zipper Factory at 9:30 PM and 11:30 PM EST. Known for her personalized gospel style and her ability to tickle the ivories and your funny bone (yes, we said it), the trans chanteuse showcases some of the most beloved music from Dolly Parton with support from the Pink Champagne Orchestra. Tonight is also 2008's last Boys' Night performance of Fuerza Bruta -- you know, that powerhouse show boasting ripped performers who grind and groove together in a giant mylar pool above the audience. It's been described as an "Argentine nightclub on acid," which, if you've ever been to Argentina, is certainly saying something. Tonight's Boys' Night performance begins at 10:30 PM EST (get there early) with tickets available through the Fuerza Bruta site. And expect to do some grinding of your own. Saturday, December 20: The New England premiere engagement of The Receptionist at Providence's Trinity Repertory Company holds special meaning for gay playwright Adam Bock, who spent more than ten years living in the Ocean State and actually worked at Trinity Rep as a receptionist. The tale begins with a look into the life of said cheerful receptionist as she gleefully fields phone calls, but then takes a sudden turn, shifting into a dark, high-gear mystery. Details and tickets for tonight's 7:30 PM EST show are available through The Trinity Repertory Company.Sunday, December 21: Bostonians have an opportunity to jump down the rabbit hole by catching an unconventional take on another fairy tale classic. This time it's Alice's Adventures Underground, an adaptation of Lewis Carroll's iconic Wonderland stories. The show, put on by the Underground Railway Theater, was written by the playhouse's artistic director, Deborah Wise, draws many uncanny parallels between human behavior and Carroll's characters, and features outrageous puppetry and virtuoso performances from a dynamic ensemble of actors. More information and tickets are available here. Performances are at 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM EST.