Review: The Perfect Christmas Gift

By Michael Block

Tis the season for the good tidings and gay apparel. Alongside her closest pals, Showbiz Spitfire Paige Turner rings in Christmas with her newest holiday extravaganza. Hoping to put on her twisted rendition of A Christmas Carol, Paige and friends run up against a plethora of obstacles while searching for the true meaning of Christmas. The Grinch May have stolen Christmas, but Paige Turner defiled it. Paige Turner’s Christmas Carol is a perfect stocking stuffer.

photo by Michael Block

Back at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, Paige Turner has fantastically twisted Christmas and in turn, created quite possibly one of the best Paige Turner shows to date. The show tells the tale of Paige’s attempt to put on her spin of the Dicken’s classic. Her uber long and twisted version casts her slurp as Tiny Twink and the beloved Jackie Cox as an old hag, among others. And to give this show a boost, Dante invites his Grandma CC into the fold. CC being of course Carol Channing, as portrayed by James Mills. As they hit roadblock after roadblock, we learn just how ridiculous Paige’s adaptation is while sprinkling in some of her best-written parodies yet. Phylicia Rashad is all you need to know. This holiday show worked because it didn’t attempt to be more than it was. It moved along fluidly while maintaining its comedic integrity. The more we ingratiate ourselves in the mind of Paige Turner, the more her world becomes realized and comes to life before our eyes. The stakes are certainly low here, but Paige commits to giving each individual a purpose and an arc. Dante, effortlessly played by Remy Germinario, gets one of his biggest moments yet. He’s so lovingly stupid that you just want to pinch his cheeks. In the other shows, Jackie Cox is the butt of the jokes. We see how it bothers her, but, like a good side kick, she brushes it off and doesn’t bother her. To now see a different side of Jackie, through her animosity with Carol Channing, offers depth to the character. Mills plays upon the wackiness of the Carol we know and love, while being completely out of touch to the world. The Paige Turner persona, in this theatrical setting, is just a bit out of touch, but the moments of real world self awareness are brilliantly funny. The digs, jabs, and references bring the audience inside the jokes and keep things fresh. Like any great drag show, the quartet turned out look after look. Special recognition should be given to Gloria Swansong for the stunning dress Paige donned at the top of the show.
The holiday cheer was in full gear at Paige Turner’s Christmas Carol. Paige Turner is a staple in New York City and the drag community at large. If there’s one holiday show to check out this season, this one’s probably it.

Review: Paige Turner's Gay Adventures

By Michael Block

If the fabulous drag queens and colorful rainbow outfits didn’t sell it, the title certainly will. Paige Turner’s This Show is Gay does not falsely advertise what you’re about to see. Returning to the Laurie Beechman after a recent Pride engagement, This Show Is Gay celebrates the community in the funniest of fashions.

photo by Michael Block

Paige Turner takes the audience on a fabulous journey as she, and her special guests Jackie Cox and Remy Germinario, spread the gay all over the land. Using magical transporting taboo buzzers, Paige, Jackie, and Remy travel from LA to Orlando as they bring impeccable impersonations, musical parodies, and an abundance of crude humor to everyone they gross. With gay culture infiltrating the script, Paige pokes fun at everything from coming out (as vegan) to Grindr at the happiest place on earth. If you’re familiar with Paige and her whimsical world, This Show Is Gay highlights her character’s traits and antics by giving her some scene partners to rib and play off of, all while showcasing her friends. She offers some easy jabs that are instant crowd pleasers, all while inserting inside jokes that are less than 24 hours old. The trio’s ability to adapt and play off of one another continues to confirm how Paige’s vision can easily transcend the stage. If nonsensical plotlines leave you uneasy, it’s likely you will be grunting and groaning from start to finish. But if you’re willing to dive deep into the camp, Paige has crafted something that captures the ridiculous and the sentimental.
This Show Is Gay had everything. Song and dance. Looks upon looks. A rainbow megamix finale. This show is full of pride and love. If you haven’t heard by now, Paige Turner, alongside seven of NYC’s finest queens, are a part of a stellar new television show “Shade: Queens of NYC.” Perhaps this will give the added boost to bring Paige and her world to a new media frontier.

Review: A Silly, Goofy, Campy Easter

By Michael Block

Spring is here! And Paige Turner is here to welcome it! Throw your winter blues away as Paige Turner and her friends, Jackie Cox and Remy Germinario, fill your Easter basket with enough sweetness to last the whole year in Paige Turner’s Easter Egg-stravaganza.
Back at the Beechman, Paige Turner gives a revisionist Easter as she tries to share the joy of the holiday with her agnostic friend Jackie Cox. On the journey toward Easter understanding, they perform a show for kids thanks to a rapping bunny, learn from a blonde twink why spring is important for the gays, and of course take a lively trip to a gay church. It's right for Paige to joke that there used to be a plot because the story seems to fall to the wayside in return for more gay inside jokes, silly songs, and rousing comedy. Paige Turner’s Easter Egg-stravaganza isn't meant to be a well-made theatrical piece. It's a celebration of holiday fun. Filled with double-entendres and gay jokes out the wazoo, the show has that child-like aura, similar to Pee Wee’s Playhouse, that is simply made to entertain. Filled with some easy recurring jokes and hidden Easter eggs, Paige makes them obvious. And that’s part of the humor. For the theater lovers, you will get your fill of industry jabs as well. Since the trio have pipes for days, Paige Turner’s Easter Egg-stravaganza has a full basket of  musical numbers, many of which are riffs on showtunes. From “Little Known Facts” from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown to a couple of numbers for Godspell, some of the songs get the full parody treatment while others remained nearly in tact. And that’s not fun! But since this is drag, expect a lip sync for your salvation.

photo by Michael Block

This show is a dazzling character showcase. Paige Turner is a star among stars. Her comedic timing is on point, but it’s made brighter next to her co-star Jackie Cox. The pair is unstoppable. Paige Turner may look like a dumb blonde but it’s her zippy reads hurled at Jackie that prove she’s quite brilliant. And every jab toward Jackie makes you want to give her a sympathy aw. Jackie may be the sidekick but it’s time for her turn in the limelight. Thanks to silly costumes and ridiculous wigs, Remy Germinario was the scene-stealer of the night. Putting on goofy voices, Germinario held his own in-between the drag dynamos.
Paige Turner’s Easter Egg-stravaganza is nowhere near perfect but it’s perfectly endearing. You’re bound to leave with a full stomach thanks to all the sugar Paige and friends serve.

Spotlight On...Remy Germinario

Name: Remy Germinario

Hometown: Tampa, FL (Or as I like to say...Trampa. Gotta love it!)

Education: BFA in Theatre from NYU TIsch School of the Arts (CAP21/Strasberg Studios)

Select Credits: Bradley Cole (Fringe NYC); Bunnicula (Toby, TheatreworksUSA), Two Gentlemen of Verona the Musical (Speed, NYU), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour, NYU), The Who's Tommy (Mr Simpson/Local Lad, NYU), Hairspray (IQ, Greater Ocean City Theatre Co), "The Feast of Stephen" (Stephen, A film directed by James Franco) 

Why theater?: Because I'd be a terrible doctor or businessman! But in all seriousness, I couldn't imagine doing anything else with my life. I think that's why most actors have the drive to do this despite it being the highest rejection rate of any job. We work hard because this is IT. The thought of doing something besides performing is actually terrifying. It's a part of us. Theatre has been the central part of my life since i started acting at age 5. I love entertaining; whether I'm making people laugh or cry, I enjoy changing an audience. I hope to work in both theatre and Film/TV, but there is no greater high than performing live. You get to leave your reality behind for 2 hours and get to PLAY. It's a shame people who aren't actors don't get to experience the adrenaline rush of putting your creative self before an audience. I'm the luckiest guy alive to have this privilege!

What is it like being a part of Bradley Cole?: Bradley Cole has been one of my favorite projects to work on. I did a workshop of the show last summer at NYU, and was fortunate enough to get the offer to do it all over again! The show is about Ian Maxwell (yours truly), who is a socially awkward computer geek. Ian has created this false online persona via a blog named Bradley Cole. This fake glamorous life that Ian has created through Bradley get's national acclaim. But his life unravels as people begin to find out who he really is.  I think this is such an important story for our day and age: the age of social media. The show raises the question of "Is your online self really you?" and truly explores the extreme impact of social media  as well as the themes of a crumbling friendship, betrayal, devotion, sexual orientation and the idea of celebrity. And of course there is a little bit of a love story thrown in there as well (But I won't give too much away!)   This relevant show is absolutely hilarious with a lot of heart. It features an amazing book/lyrics by Jason Young and score by Bomi Lee. Directed by Geoffrey Goldberg and produced by Nickey Frankel/Preview of the Arts. I truly love playing this role because I can relate to Ian a lot. So as I'm discovering things about Ian, I'm also discovering things about myself as a person. 

What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: A show that has no boundaries or censors that turns a mundane aspect of every day life into a masterpiece. And it doesn't hurt if a show makes me laugh at something inappropriate. Collaboration. Optimism. Spontaneity.

Any roles you’re dying to play?:  For now I'd love to play Alan Strang in Equus, Boq in Wicked, Mark in Rent or give Seymour in Little Shop another try. Even though I'm 23, I mostly play teenagers (not complaining!) but, when I look older I'd love to play Louis in Angels in America, Pippin in Pippin, and Robert in Company (I played this role in high school, but I'd like to play this 35 year old again when I’m not 16)

What’s your favorite showtune?: Without a doubt, it is "Cabaret" from Cabaret. Secret: My ACTUAL dream role that will probably never happen (but one can always hope) is to do the male version of Sally Bowles in Cabaret.  Sal Bowles, if you will. It would be different but I'd have such a good time. I'm obsessed with her journey through that show.

If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I always have day dreams of doing a sitcom where Lisa Kudrow plays my mom. I have a deep love for sitcoms and it all started with watching Lisa on "Friends" when I was a kid. She is definitely my comic inspiration, and if I ever got the chance to work with her, I'd be a happy fella.

Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Daniel Radcliffe and it would be called “I'm Not Harry Potter: The Remy Germinario Story”. 

What show have you recommended to your friends?: My two favorite shows this season have been Pippin and Vanya and Sasha and Masha and Spike.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Donuts. I have a crazy appetite and have been known to eat quite a few donuts in one sitting. NO SHAME.

What’s up next?: After Bradley Cole is finished, I'll be back at the audition scene of course. I also work as a NYC Tour Guide, so I'll be doing that a lot (Best survival job EVER). Finally, I'm writing a web series with my dear friend, Anthony Ritosa, called "Just Two Bros", which follows the story of two gay best friends dealing with life immediately after college and the scary year that follows graduation.

For more on Remy, follow him on twitter @RemyGerminario and visit www.remygerminario.weebly.com. For more on Bradley Cole, visit www.bradleycolethemusical.com and follow them on twitter @BColeMusical.