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MenAliveSTRIKE A POSE


ich Cook is an important citizen in the LGBT community, impact- ing lives in many wonderful ways. He founded MenAlive in


September 2001, making use of years of di- rectorial experience via the Christian/Gospel music world, including Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), Pat Robertson’s Political Ral- lies and Melodyland in Anaheim back in the day—he is also an accomplished composer with numerous published works. The seed for MenAlive was planted


in the early ‘90s, after Cook attended a performance of the Turtle Creek Chorale, the prominent gay men’s chorus based in Dallas. Inspired by the performance, he saw the need for a similar organization in Orange County. In the summer of 2001, after attend- ing a concert of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, he realized it was a necessity. That winter he assembled two-dozen


singers and MenAlive was founded, per- forming their first concert in a local church to a standing-room only audience.


In your wildest dreams, did you imagine that MenAlive would become what it is today? Frankly, I started it off with high expectations; I had


a feeling that it was going to go well. I’d had excite- ment like I’ve had a few times in my life when things worked out. I’ll tell you what though; I really didn’t imagine the impact that we would actually have on the community. Why do you think it turned out to be such a huge success? There is an old adage, “find a need and fill it.” I felt


there was a need for this in the Orange County gay community, it is just so scattered. In Los Angeles and other urban communities, there seems to be more of a center for gay life; in Orange County there is not. So I think we helped bring focus on where the gay com- munity is, other than just the few random bars. Our shows are a way to bring everyone together


and that is a huge part of the success. They come out and support the chorus, before it was something that didn’t exist. Back in the ‘80s there was an O.C. Gay Men’s Chorus, but it wasn’t the right time, now it is. What do you consider the most important accomplishment that you and MenAlive have achieved? The impact for a better life for gay people that live


in Orange County. We are now a part of the fabric that helps everyone understand who gay people are. I preach to the guys that while we don’t always sing about the issues, we are relevant to the issues of gay life, gay acceptance and gay equality. Every time that curtain rises it’s a positive testimony for the gay community.


A CELEBRATION OF POP GODDESS MADONNA by tony reverditto


I am a huge Madonna fan, so I love the theme of the show. Can you give readers a preview? People have said, ”how can you do Madonna with


a choir?” We did a show a few years back called Rock Star—rock and roll with a choir—we had a huge response. Abba Queen was a similar kind of thing; people came by the droves and sang along. It’s that way with Madonna; she was our soundtrack for the ‘80s and ‘90s and she is still going strong. The challenge was selecting favorites; our opening number is 15 minutes long because it encapsulates some of her iconic hits. We are doing full versions of “Vogue” in black and white like the video, “La Isla Bonita,” which has incredible harmonies. We also do a naughty “Hanky Panky” from Dick Tracy and many more that illicit the memory of Madonna. Your very first guest artist was Michael Feinstien in 2006. Since then you’ve hosted, Bernadette Peters, Debbie Reynolds, Sam Harris, Leslie Jordan, Nicky Blonsky and most recently Liza Minelli. If you could have any singer in the world perform with MenAlive, who would it be? Oh come on now. It depends on what day it is, you


are putting me on the spot. I think of what would excite the guys and audience and of course, Barbra Streisand comes to mind. But, my personal choice would be Neil Patrick Harris—what a show that would be.


MenAliveStrike A PoseMadonna Musical Madness takes place Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23 at Irvine Barclay, 4242 Campus Drive in Irvine. For tickets and more info call 949.854.4646 or go tothebarclay.org. For more info on MenAlive/The Orange County Gay Men’s Chorus go tomenalivechorus.org.


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RAGE monthly | MARCH 2013


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