Oscar
Wilde, Ellen DeGeneres, Billie Jean King
and Alexander the Great will
be performing at the Limelight Theatre this
weekend.
Actually,
Comedy Central's
Jade Esteban Estrada
will play these icons and many more in his
one-man musical comedy, "ICONS:
The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Volumes 1 and
2."
Volumes 1 and 2
will play together each night, Friday and
Saturday, at 7:30 p.m. at the Limelight Theatre,
11 Old Mission Ave. Tickets are $25 for adults
and $10 for students.
Proceeds from
the shows will benefit three local nonprofit
organizations: St. Augustine Pride; JASMYN, or
Jacksonville Area Sexual Youth Minority Network;
and the newly formed SAYWHAT, or St. Augustine
Youth with Harmony and Trust.
Estrada said he
feels a responsibility to support such
fund-raising projects.
"It's a
great opportunity," he said. "I think
it's wonderful."
In "Volume
1" Estrada portrays Sappho, Michelangelo,
Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, Sylvia Rivera and
Ellen DeGeneres. In "Volume 2" Estrada
portrays Alexander the Great, Queen Christina of
Sweden, Susan B. Anthony, Billie Jean King,
Harvey Milk and Mark Bingham. "Volume
2" won the 2004 Audience Favorite Award in
Solo Performance at the Columbus National Gay
and Lesbian Theatre Festival in September.
"Volume 1" sold out at the Limelight
in June during the St. Augustine Pride Festival.
"I had an
incredible show in June," Estrada said.
"St. Augustine ... was absolutely the best
response I've received."
Estrada stays
in character, including dress, until the moment
he puts on the wig for the next character.
"He's
doing all the costume changes on stage,"
said Zachary Addison, board member of St.
Augustine Pride Committee. "He never leaves
the stage the entire performance."
Estrada said he
developed the show out of his love of history
and strong leaders in history. That historical
perspective is especially important for young
people who may feel like outcasts in America.
"This has
happened before. It will happen again," he
said.
©2004 St. Augustine Record
