OUTTAKE VOICES™ (Interviews‪)‬ Charlotte Robinson

Author Rossi talks about her new memoir “The Punk Rock Queen of the Jews” with  Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. “The Punk Rock Queen of the Jews” is published by She Writes Press and filled with fabulous rich characters, hilarious dialogue taking the reader on a ride into a secretive oppressive Jewish Orthodox world and beyond to be released on April 23rd. Rossi grew up in New Jersey where she was expected to just marry a nice Jewish boy and to be a good kosher Jewish girl but by the age of 16 the rebellious Rossi was more interested in exploring the punk rock scene of the 80’s and her sexuality. Then her adventure seeking days came to a screeching halt when her parents kidnapped her and dumped her with a Hasidic rabbi known for reforming wayward Jewish girls in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Rossi was forced to relinquish her pink hair and Sex Pistols T-shirt for maxi skirts and long-sleeved blouses in this repressive, misogynistic culture straight out of the nineteenth century where she endured not only bone-crushing boredom but also outright abuse and violence. Fortunately Rossi knew there was a better future for her as she broke free from her oppressors and made her way to NYC where she thrived. Beginning as a bartender the opportunity arose in the catering industry as she talked her way into any cooking job she could get. Rossi a self-taught chef and self-made entrepreneur ended up launching The Raging Skillet one of the most sought-after catering companies in NYC that Zagat dubbed as “the wildest thing this side of the Mason-Dixon Line”. We talked to Rossi about her inspiration for writing “The Punk Rock Queen of the Jews” and her spin on our LGBTQ issues. 
Rossi is the catering director, owner and executive chef of The Raging Skillet for over three decades. She has earned a reputation as the go-to company for out-of-the-box catering and weddings. The Raging Skillet has been voted one of New York's Top Five Wedding Caterers by The Knot from 2009 through 2023. Her first memoir, “The Raging Skillet: The True Life Story of Chef Rossi” was published by The Feminist Press in 2015 and turned into a stage production “Raging Skillet” by playwright Jacques Lamarre that toured nationally. Currently Rossi has written two full-length plays, a number of one-act comedies, a one-woman stage adaptation of Queen of the Jews and numerous screenplays.       
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Ann Hampton Callaway talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about her upcoming performance with the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus (BGMC) on March 16th at Jordan Hall in Boston, MA at 8P. The concert entitled "Melodies for a Movement" will highlight the "Tyler’s Suite" that sheds light on the devastating impact of cyber-harassment and bullying that our LGBTQ youth continue to face. Tyler Clementi was the accomplished violinist who took his life in 2010 after being cyber-bullied by his Rutgers roommate for being gay. This powerful performance will feature a suite in nine movements for chorus with a solo violin performance dedicated to the memory of Tyler Clementi. The "Tyler’s Suite" was created under the leadership of Composer Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin) and explores the voices and experiences of Tyler and his family through the music of eleven of today’s top composers including Ann Hampton Callaway. "Melodies for a Movement" will also feature a cabaret set by Callaway one of America's most gifted and prolific artists. Through the stirring composition of "Tyler’s Suite" and the mesmerizing performance by Ann Hampton Callaway this fabulous concert event will evoke empathy, foster understanding and promote acceptance. Especially in these difficult times with over 600 anti LGBTQ bills in states across the country, women's rights continue to be on the chopping block, antisemitism and hate crimes on the rise all as we head toward the 2024 presidential election. We talked to Ann about what she hopes to accomplish with her music and her spin on our LGBTQ issues. 
Ann Hampton Callaway is one of America’s most gifted artists in pop and jazz. A leading champion of the great American Songbook she’s made her mark as a singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger, actress, educator, TV host and producer. Voted by Broadway World as “Celebrity of the Year” and two years in a row as “Best Jazz Vocalist” Ann is a born entertainer. She is best known for Tony-nominated performance in the hit Broadway musical “Swing!” and for writing and singing the theme song to the hit TV series “The Nanny.” Her latest CD “Finding Beauty, Originals Volume 1” premiered number 1 in Jazz on Amazon. Currently Ann is working on “Finding Beauty, Originals Volume 2”. The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus founded in 1982 is one of New England’s largest and most successful community-based choruses consisting of over 200 voices. "Melodies for a Movement" honors Tyler Clementi's memory while igniting the flame of positive change to build a world where every individual is cherished for exactly who they are. 
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Jason A. Rodriguez talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ at the 2024 National LGBTQ Task Force Creating Change Conference that took place in New Orleans, LA. Creating Change is the foremost political, leadership and skills-building conference for our LGBTQ social justice movement. There are also fun events especially when Jason A. Rodriguez the talented dancer/actor from the hit FX series “Pose” presented a workshop on the history, importance and elements of Vogue. This year’s conference theme was “Queer Power, Action & Joy” and Jason delivered the joy conducting workshops on New Way Vogue. Jason who played Lamar on “Pose” also served as the movement coach for all three seasons. Currently Rodriguez conducts New Way Vogue classes at the Ailey Studios in NYC. The workshops Jason led at the Creating Change Conference gave the attendees an opportunity to learn the three styles of Voguing. Stretch and precision are key to New Way Vogue allowing the voguers to show off contorted and flexible poses with precision and grace. It’s all accomplished by learning arm controls to show off your control of creating lines, shapes, illusions and face framing movements to the beat of the music in addition to poses, floor work, cat walks, duck walks and dips. Jason also served as one of the judges at the Conference’s “Agents of Change –A Night of a Thousand Stars Mini-Ball” which presented professional and novice Voguers to strut their stuff down the runway. We talked to Jason about his inspiration to carry on the Voguing tradition and his spin on our LGBTQ issues. 
Jason Anthony Rodriguez is a Dominican-American born and raised in Washington Heights in New York City. He was trained in voguing by Benny Ninja, Dorit Koppel and Kevin Wynn. Besides being a series regular on “Pose”, Jason also guest-starred on HBO's The Deuce as Enrico. Rodriguez has taught vogue in various institutions throughout the states as well as internationally in Dominican Republic, Vienna and Japan. Next year’s Creating Change Conference will take place in Las Vegas, NV January 22nd to the 26th, 2025. We want to thank New Orleans and Company for sponsoring our coverage of the 2024 National LGBTQ Task Force Creating Change Conference. 
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Peaches Christ, San Francisco's own drag impresario and filmmaker talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about her upcoming northeast tour of “Idol Worship: An Evening with Mink Stole and Peaches Christ”. Coming off their sold-out San Francisco shows they’ll be kicking off their northeast Queer theatre tour in Salem, MA on February 14th Valentine’s Day at 7:30P presented by Salem Horror Fest and Cinema Salem. If you're a fan of John Waters' films, Divine, drag history or cult movies you don't want to miss this fabulous event. This heartfelt cabaret show starring living legend and cult film icon Mink Stole alongside Christ who have been close friends for 2 decades will include an evening of storytelling, film clips and performance in a wildly entertaining and uncensored exposé that is as hilarious as it is revealing. The tour then continues on to the Columbus Theatre, Providence, RI on February 15th at 8P, NYC at the Green Room 42 570 Tenth Avenue February 16th & 17th, Punch Line Philly, Philadelphia, PA February 18th and concludes in DC at The Comedy Loft on February 20th. Mink Stole is an original Dreamlander the term for John Waters’ cast and crew regulars across his 50+ years as a filmmaker. Mink has co-starred in every single Waters film dating back to his notorious 1967 short “Roman Candles”. She then created the iconic characters of Connie Marble in “Pink Flamingos”, Taffy Davenport in “Female Trouble” and Dottie Hinkle in “Serial Mom” to name a few. Peaches and Mink will share her decades of cult filmmaking on this intimate tour and more. We talked to Peaches about what she hopes to accomplish with “Idol Worship: An Evening with Mink Stole and Peaches Christ” and her spin on our LGBTQ issues. 
Peaches Christ is the alter- ego of writer/director Joshua Grannell whose infamous movie events are self-produced at the Castro Theatre and regularly draw over 1,000 attendees to each new production before they tour. Events have featured special guest stars John Waters, Cloris Leachman, Patricia Quinn, Nell Campbell, Linda Blair, Bruce Campbell, Apollonia, Barry Bostwick, Pam Grier and more. Grannell is the writer and director of the feature film “All About Evil” the award-winning dark comedy gore film stars Natasha Lyonne, Thomas Dekker, Cassandra Peterson, Mink Stole and Peaches Christ herself. Peaches Christ has been featured in the films Milk, I Am Divine, Diary Of A Teenage Girl, Mansfield 66/67, Tura!, Scream Queen: My Nightmare On Elm Street, You Don’t Nomi and more. “Idol Worship: An Evening with Mink Stole and Peaches Christ” tickets prices vary with VIP tickets including a post-show meet & greet in a private room and a photo with Mink & Peaches, priority seating in the front rows of the theatre and a signed commemorative event poster. 
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Cathy Renna, Communications Director for the National LGBTQ Task Force talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about the upcoming Creating Change Conference that takes place Wednesday January 17th to Sunday January 21st at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans, LA. Creating Change is the foremost political, leadership and skills-building conference for our LGBTQ social justice movement. This year’s 36th annual conference theme is “Queer Power, Action & Joy” and Kierra Johnson, National LGBTQ Task Force Executive Director will deliver the opening State of the Movement plenary. Raquel Willis the award-winning activist, author and media strategist dedicated to Black transgender liberation will emcee and host the conference. Creating Change continues its long tradition of presenting compelling keynote speakers, presentations, annual awards and more than 100 workshops and caucuses. This year’s Indigenous Leadership Award Honoree will be presented to Jean-Luc Pierite, scholar, advocate and founder of InDigiFab (Tunica-Biloxi). There will also be fun events including special guest Jason Rodriguez the talented dancer/actor from the hit Fox series Pose who will be presenting a workshop on the history, importance and elements of VOGUE. Other fun events will include Gayme Night, Opening Cruise and the Agents of Change Masquerade Ball. Then Big Freedia the nationally recognized hip-hop artist, TV personality and larger-than-life ambassador of New Orleans Bounce music will be dancing her way to Creating Change to perform at the closing plenary. Since 1988 Creating Change has created networking opportunities and inspiration for thousands of committed people to develop and hone their activist skills. We talked to Cathy about what she hopes to accomplish at this year’s Creating Change Conference and her spin on our LGBTQ issues. 
Cathy Renna has been part of the National LGBTQ Task Force’s extended family for decades. Renna is a veteran in the communications industry and serves as the Principal of Target Cue an LGBTQ+ focused communications consultancy. Since her time at GLAAD through the 1990’s Cathy has executed her particular expertise in crisis and strategic communications. She played a central role in shaping nearly all major issues affecting our LGBTQ community from the beating death of Matthew Shepard in 1998 to the fight for marriage equality and the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”. In her 30 years of media relations and activism experience Cathy has garnered placements in every major media outlet in the U.S. and internationally including The New York Times, USA Today, The Associated Press, BBC and the Washington Post. Renna lives in Montclair, New Jersey with her wife Karen. She is the proud Mom of Mars who attends HSPVA High School for Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, TX. The National LGBTQ Task Force recognizes that COVID-19 remains an ongoing public health concern and complies with all local and federal regulations at their in-person events. 
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Rev. Richard Emmanuel talks to Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about The Church, a non-profit organization established in 1968 in East Gloucester, MA that is dedicated to raising individual and collective consciousness while increasing spiritual awareness. We called on Emmanuel a visionary and dedicated political activist to give us his brutally honest spin on where our world may be headed in 2024. With religious wars raging in Middle East and the war in Ukraine among others, we are faced with a global humanitarian crisis. Emmanuel addresses the fact that Christianity, Judaism and Islam are at war with one another causing a younger generation to become both weary of global conflict and wary of hierarchical institutions. Currently in this country we’re under attack by white national domestic terrorists as we fend off over 600 anti LGBTQ bills in states across the country, women’s rights are on the chopping block and antisemitism is on the rise all as we head into the 2024 election. Since 1968 Emmanuel has questioned the uncomfortable truths that the western religions are for the most part a perpetuation of conformity to the patriarchal myth that males are superior to the females of the human species. Richard also addresses the human experience as a life cycle of four stages. The cycle mirrors the planetary earth seasons consisting of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter as the four phases of being human as in childhood, young adulthood, middle age and elder-hood. We talked to Rev. Emmanuel about how we can regain a sense of humanity in a world spiraling downward and his spin on our LGBTQ issues. 
Rev. Richard Emmanuel is a provocateur who creates both concept iconography and multimedia assemblages in 2d and 3d. His work is an exploration of consciousness with great emphasis drawn from the ancient civilizations on this planet and the “aboriginal dream” which spawned these ancient narratives. The practical use of his concepts and “designed environments” have been used in international corporate communications and exhibits. His work has shown at the Baltimore Visionary Art Museum. As a consultant he has envisioned for major international corporations and has had work installed at the American Visionary Art Museum and the Smithsonian Air-Space Museum. Richard understands that the greatest task is to teach each generation the quest for “what is truth?” Emmanuel sees the path and agrees with the greatest of ancient teachers that “one can only point the way” and above all “know thy self”.
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