CHERRY GROVE

By Jason Michaels

Welcome to an occasional column about comings and goings on in Cherry Grove. 

August 31, 2006

Last Friday night Jumpin' Jack's was jumpin' with the amazing Dan Daly at the keyboards.  The large crowd sang and danced the night away as Dan played a wonderful mix of show tunes and oldies.  It grew so hot that darlin' Dan had to shed his shirt and play topless.  Grove legend Connie Francis couldn't contain himself and stepped back into the spotlight to wow the crowd with the signature "Where the Boys Are".  The enthusiastic crowd then joined in for a rousing "New York, New York".  I don't think I've ever heard that particular chestnut sung so well in Cherry Grove.  Thank you Dan and Jumpin' Jacks for memories that will warm our hearts as we move towards seasons end.

DECLINE & FALL OF THE MIKEY AWARDS: Those looking for their annual laugh at the self serving Rose...er Mikey Awards will be disappointed. In the ultimate arrogance, or is that laziness, there are NO categories, thus no pretense at legitimacy, simply a list of 114 names. Guess Rose is overextended - rehearsing for show, attending enough parties for two columns - too busy to make them up (or give credit to other people's productions) and Mikey too tired to take dictation!

Funny how the publisher has gone belly up (or is that belly down) and turned the paper over to Mme.

Joseph R. Saporito's photo of Sunday night's Mr. Fire Island contest - (left to right) 2nd runner-up Rafael Incarnacion-Kilgore, hostess Miss Sweetie, winner Mikie Sniffen, & 1st runner-up Bruce-Michael Gelbert:

Rain, rain and more rain.  Thanks to Mother Nature the town was empty by early Sunday afternoon.  Those who stayed on were rewarded for their efforts.  First, Richard La France invited a small, select group to attend an (un)dress rehearsal/preview of Island Rep's next production, "Two Boys in a Bed On a Cold Winter's Night".  The report I received was excellent.  Sounds like another big hit for Island Rep.  Congratulations!  Tickets will be going fast so get them now.

 Performances: September 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 15, 16 at 8 p.m. September 10 & 17 at 7 p.m. Tides Playhouse, Ocean Walk, Cherry Grove, Fire Island, N.Y. Tickets:  $25.

Master Charge and Visa credit card sales at TheaterMania.com, Island Rep.org or 631 597-9439.

Sunday evening, The Ice Palace dropped the cover charge for the "Great Balls of Miss Fire Island" show.  A fairly large crowd was treated to one of the best Drag shows of the season.  Each and every performer was in top form.  One spectacular number after another.  These hard working girls went on even though there was no pay to speak of since the cover charge was dropped.  Kudos to Bella, Charity, Angela Mercy, Viva Sexx, Porsche, Dakota Sue, Nikki Starr, Ariel Sinclair, Ginger Moore and Chelsea Raynes.

The hot ticket for this weekend will definitely be "Panzi and Philomena Meet Frankenstein", final show for the Arts Project.  Written and directed by the ever multi-tasking and talented Sal Piro, advance word on this show is unbelievable.  With only a limited run of four performances two on Saturday and two on Sunday this will definitely be a sell out.  Top-lining two of Cherry Groves biggest favorites, this will be the hottest ticket of the summer.  Get in line early for tickets.  Box office is open at 12 noon on Sat and Sun and one half hour before each performance.

COMING UP:

41st Annual Miss Fire Island Contest

Saturday, September 9, 2006
12:00 PM to 6:30 PM

Telephone: 631-597-6600

Website: MissFireIsland.com

E-mail: missfireisland@grovehotel.com

This will be the sell-out event of the summer season, and for one day only, boys will be girls, and the girls will be glamorous. With over 50 contestants competing for over $3,600 in prizes, critics have called it female impersonation at its best...it's sure to surprise you! This event draws a standing room only crowd of well over 1,000 people. To accommodate everyone, there are seats inside and out, the difference being the contestants perform inside first, then come outside to repeat their performance for more adoring fans. If it's a nice day, outside seats will be lovely, but if it's icky, you'll wish you were inside. (There is no rain date, the contest will take place rain or shine.)

The doors open at Noon, the show starts at one, and the crowning take place around 6:30. No one under 21 will be admitted Make sure to get your tickets soon, 'cause getting them later can be a drag...

APCG Ball- Brokeback Cherry Grove
Come join the Arts Project of Cherry Grove for our end-of-season party. This year we are back at the Ice Palace which provides us a venue for planning a big blast! We are involving our membership in shaping the theme and format of this year"s event. We expect it to be a memorable event in the tradition of the APCG history.	Date: Saturday Sep 30, 2006      9PM Venue: Ice Palace    Theme:  BROKEBACK CHERRY GROVE Dress code:  Theme appropriate attire mandatory. Tickets; $40 in advance, $60 at the door Advance sales; APCG ticket booth September 16,17,23,24, 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm. Payment; Master Card, Visa, American Express, Discover, cash, checks made to the order of APCG.

DON'T FORGET! GROVE COLUMNISTS WANTED FOR POSSIBLE PRINT PUBLICATION NEXT YEAR! Contact: editor@FireIslandSun.com

Editor's note: (In response to a reader's distress over some of the items reported in this column) Would that the inspiration for such reflections never occurred - but they did and they do - and journalism is a reflection of truth however displeasing
As editor I allow free reign to my columnists, as apparently do the print papers
Let us hope that there are happier things to report next summer...and happier people to inspire them