On spring's first sultry Saturday night, April 25, the crowds came out and braved velvet rope treatment for Dance:208's Studio 54 32nd Anniversary party. It was also Rollerena's birthday and the former "Queen of Studio 54" and living gay legend was in great spirits, as well wishers lavished cards and presents on her!
Designer David Aviles recreated the famous Studio 54 moon-and-spoon backdrop, while go-go dancers Kenn & Greg resurrected the leatherman looks of 70s "debauchery," and DJ Ted Snowdon provided the musical soundtrack! SWISH divas Sue Sena & Jamie Lloyd helped out; gogo god Torez dropped by; and even the cast and producer and director of the hot off-Broadway show "Our Town" showed up, as Ted Snowdon is also the famed theatre producer of "Spring Awakening," Souvenirs, "Reasons to Be Pretty" and "The Elephant Man," among other shows.
Imperial Court member Fannie Fondue once again won the Rollerena look-alike contest, and when Jamie presented the birthday cake to Rollerena, all she could do was blow out the candles and give thanks for her humble Kentucky upbringing, her legendary 70s Studio roller-skating years, and her years of activism for the gay community.
Many, many original Studio fabu-tantes came out, as almost 300 people filled up the Dance:208 space and raised a good chunk of money for the LGBT Community Center. Among those seen were Rollerena, Ted Snowdon and Duffy, Joe La Mattina and Fernando, Ed Getty, Larry Lala, Austin Pendleton, Torez, gogos Greg & Kenn, Peter Lau, Rowan Foley, Andrew Jonas, Jamie, Jamie Lloyd and Sue Sena, Will Clark and boyfriend; Krishna Stone, Brent Nicholson Earle, Ron Lester, Darryl Branch, Mark Schulte, Clover Honey, and Danny Brook.
