The good news is ICONS: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 1 has

been held over in Omaha.

     Warning: Do not miss this if you have not seen it yet. You will be sorry. Jade Esteban Estrada the writer, performer, choreographer of "ICONS" is a professional and award-winning musician, actor and dancer. He comes here to Nebraska, gracing us with this musical jewel about gays and lesbians in history.

     Jade takes on the persona—with singing and dancing-- of Sappho, Michelangelo, Gertrude Stein, Ellen DeGeneres, Harvey Milk, Alexander the Great and others. His slow-motion poetical movement of Billie Jean King winning the “Battle of the Sexes” was jaw-dropping.

     I would have been sated with just his rendition of Oscar Wilde (a personal literary favorite), soft-shoeing it and singing about life “on the wild side.”

     But there was so much more. He transcended sexes with a dead-on Susan B. Anthony and her “politics of inclusion.” The grief of Alexander the Great mourning for Hephaistion was palpable. He stepped into the shoes and psyche of Sylvia Rivera, Puerto Rican “street transvestite action revolutionary” who threw a shoe at the cops at Stonewall.

     I have a personal admission here. I was a bit hesitant to go to the show at first because I have been so disappointed in the past with some New York based acts and that attitude. You know—“I am from New York and you are not.” Having lived on both coasts, I do recognize that snobbery and I guess I just wanted to defend myself and Nebraskans from any patronage. There was no snobbery here toward anyone. If anything, Jade Esteban Estrada is a love-bestowing artist, a modern-day troubadour who graciously brings his vast talent to us. The best of art is that which keeps us going in difficult or dark times. Such is Jade’s art. I am going to remember and savor his Oscar Wilde for a long, long time. In fact, any time I get a little too stressed.

     My advice is to put some gas into the car and get yourself into Omaha for this repeat performance. Miss this and you’ll have to wait until next year when Jade returns with Volume 3 of his “Lesbian and Gay History of the World.”

    

©2005 Prairie Sky Journal