Month: March 2018

Zeitgeist Stage Company presents Steve by Mark Gerrard

Zeitgeist Stage Company continues their current season with Steve by Mark Gerrard from March 2nd through 24th at the Plaza Black Box Theater at the Boston Center for the Arts.

As Steven, a former Broadway chorus boy turned stay-at-home dad, celebrates yet another birthday, he finds himself filled with fear and uncertainty. Is his partner of 16 years, Stephen, cheating on him? Is his best friend really dying? And what, exactly, has he done with his life? As the play progresses, we see him grapple with infidelity, polyamory, child-rearing, and looming death. Midlife ennui has never been so simultaneously dramatic and hilarious. A new Wicked comedy about Being Alive, What I Did For Love and All That Jazz!

The show features Adam Boisselle, Mikey DiLoreto (ZSC’s The Boys in the Band), Alex Jacobs, Mike Nilsson, Jenny Reagan (Good Television), and Victor Shopov (Bent).

Reviewing the premiere production at the New Group in New York City in 2015, The New York Times noted, “Steve holds up a clear but compassionate mirror to anyone who’s been part of a post-passion long-term relationship. It earns both its laughs and its tears with uncommon honesty.”

Steve performances are March 2nd through 24th at the Plaza Black Box Theater at the Boston Center for the Arts. Performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 PM, Friday at 8:00 PM, Saturday at 4:00 and 8:00 PM, and Sunday at 4:00 PM with talkbacks following the Sunday matinees.

Single tickets are on sale for Steve here or call (617) 933-8600. Subscriptions and more information can be found at Zeitgeist Stage Company’s website.

March President’s Message

[Harry Fullerton]Hello Gentlemen,

Spring has just about sprung. I am looking forward to the warmer weather and longer days. Our new location for meetings has been very successful. This coming meeting will feature a traditional Irish boiled dinner served by Club Café. The regular menu is available to those who may wish an alternative meal. In the next few months, we will be organizing the Ogunquit Trip. We are continuing to work with the Rhode Island and Connecticut chapters to organize a BBQ/Clambake at one of the state parks.

We will be marching in the Pride Parade this year and will have a bus to seat 15 people also. The theme is #Rainbow Resistance. For more info on Pride, see the bostonpride.org website. If you have any ideas and/or wish to participate in decorating the bus please let me know ASAP.

Jim Morgrage (from Club Café) participates in the annual Harbor to the Bay Bike ride to raise money for HIV prevention, research and education. Please see him if you wish to help in any way. Remember, he has been very good to us, so we should certainly return the favor. It is also a very important cause. See harbortothebay.org to learn more about the event.

Gary Gropman is holding his annual Mardi Gras-themed potluck at the Gropman museum and estate on March 24th. Please see the listing on page 5 for more details. Philip and I will be hosting a BBQ as soon as the weather is more agreeable. (Philip will do all the work, of course). Contact Norman Pelletier if you wish to host a potluck at your home. Our Host(ess) will help you every step of the way.

Each month in the Prologue we will feature a member who will share with us a story about their life and experiences. Some have written about their time with the Prime Timers and others are sharing more in-depth life experiences. All have been very interesting and some very surprising. Norman Pelletier’s article is featured this month (on page 2). If you wish to participate, please contact me.

Elections are upcoming in April, so look for the biographies and don’t forget to vote!

2018 Election Notice & Bios

Reminder, the Board elections will be held after April’s monthly meeting on the 21st. See below for candidate bios and this page for absentee voting. Please join us to cast your ballot and let your voice be heard!

Election Profiles

David Bachofer

[David Bachofer]

David Bachofer worked in IT, supporting large mainframe data storage systems for the medical and education sectors. After retiring in 2014, he became more involved with LGBT activities including the various meal sites, joining the Prime Timers and participating in more of the group’s events. He has enjoyed this time and has met many interesting people along the way. He feels it’s time to participate more actively and believes he would be able to help the group, proposing more activities.

Michael Ferrara

[Michael Ferrara]

My name is Michael Ferrrara, an Army Veteran born in Boston, who has returned home after 20 years overseas. I would be honored to serve the membership as a member of the BPT board. You can find out more about me and my professional experience on my LinkedIn profile or feel free to call me at (718) 663-1907. I ask for your support. In return, you will receive a dedicated, hard-working and friendly man who will advance the mission of the Boston Prime Timers. Thank you for welcoming me into your organization.

Harry Fullerton

[Harry Fullerton]

Harry Fullerton is your existing and would like to continue serving you as your president. He would like to use his energy, skills and knowledge to continue our agenda to increase membership, create a more lively and active and involved membership by adding more activities and events. He would appreciate your vote in the April election.

John Kinsherf

John Kinsherf grew up in South Boston. He attended B.C. High and UMass/Amherst. He lived in New York City for many years. He is an actor/director and has a background in both arts and retail management. He has served on the Boston Prime Timers’ Boad of Directors as the Recording Secretary for the last ten months.

Mark Roy

[Mark Roy]

Mark Roy offers quite a bit of experience to help run the Prime Timers board. He has worked as the Executive Director in Public Housing for over 20 years. Outside of this, he has been a member of the Monday Night Bowling League for 30 years, and served on the Executive Committee/as President for over 20 years.

In the Beantown South Bowling League, he has been a member for over 15 years and served on the Executive Committee/as Vice President for 5 years. In the Beantown Softball League he has been on the Bubbles Team for 7 years and has served as Team Rep. & Division Rep. to the Executive Committee for 2 years. He has participated in a number of Statewide Committees for many of those years, including a Governor’s Task Force.

SpeakEasy Production, “Every Brilliant Thing”

I am trying to organize a group to see Every Brilliant Thing, a Speak Easy Production, on Thursday March 29th, at 2 PM. I am able to obtain a community discount of 10 tickets at $20 each. This will be performed at the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont St. in the South End.

The first ten people to RSVP via the Tear Sheet will receive the discount. I will notify you when I receive the tickets. The deadline is March 15th. Last month, three members attended Shakespeare in Love. I hope that more members would like to join us for an afternoon of fun at the theater.

To quote their website:

1. Ice cream 2. Water fights 3. Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed to watch TV. These are just a few items on a list of things worth living for compiled by a young girl trying to ease her mother’s depression at the start of the charming and miraculous new play EVERY BRILLIANT THING. Through adulthood, as the list grows, she learns the deep significance the list has on her own life, as she goes to college, falls in love, and builds a home. A tribute to the irrepressible resilience inside all of us and the capacity to find delight in the everyday, EVERY BRILLIANT THING is a very funny and moving new play that enlists members of the audience to help tell its story.

RUN TIME: Approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes with no intermission.

For more information, view Speak Easy’s website.

Member Stories

If you have a story that you would like to tell, either about being a member or about what the Prime Timers have done for you, feel free to submit it Harry by e-mailing it to everharry@aol.com or mailing it to 3 Vale View Road, Wakefield, MA 01880. If it would be difficult for you to type this up, Harry can help you by recording your story; just give him a call at (781) 587-1429.

Below is one sent in by longtime member, Norm Pelletier.

“Hospitality” my middle name!

My story begins after my partner of 25 years passed away and a few years after I began to look for ways to connect with men. I did not want to go to Bars or to stand at the corner of Comm. Ave. (known as the Block) and Arlington St. (did I really do that?)

Then I saw an ad in the Bay Windows about Gay men meeting in a safe place in Boston, so I called. The next event they were planning was their 7th Anniversary Party at the Claddagh, today known as Cleary’s. At that time, their meetings were at the Lindemann Center on Staniford St.

Soon after I started to attend the monthly meeting, they needed help with hospitality. Well, the rest is history. Up until last year I hung up my Apron over 20 years. Of course, only with the help of Jim Garrity who I met at Club 119 after a PT meeting and we have been together ever since.

We do not live together because I have too many outfits in my closets!!! I can’t imagine my life without all the P.T. friends thru these years that I cherish dearly. And I am thankful that Harry Fullerton has taken the role of President to keep or club going strong.

Remember, just don’t sit there, become involved!

Inman Sq. LGBT Luncheon [March Update]

The first luncheon is finally upon us and will be Monday, March 19th, 2018, at S & S Deli (not Ryles) from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The cost of the luncheon will be $11 (or you may order from the menu). Future dates will be the third Monday of each month, March through December. S & S Deli is at 1334 Cambridge Street.

Please RSVP with Bob Kingston-Parrott by calling (336) 324-9256 or e-mailing sslunch2018@gmail.com. You can also sign up with Bob at one of the other community meals.

Should you need to get there by T, take the Red Line to Central Square, then catch either the 83 or the 91 at the bus station on Magazine St. just south of Mass. Ave. Both buses stop on Hampshire St. between S & S and Ryles (just before the intersection with Cambridge St.). Alternately, you can take the Green Line to Lechmere and take the 69 bus down Cambridge St. to the intersection with Hampshire St. S & S Deli also has off-street parking.

Join us and bring a friend!

Nunch – the Nun Brunch

The Boston Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are happy to announce the date for Nunch – The Nun Brunch. This year the event will take place on March 11th, 2018 from 11 AM to 2 PM at Club Café. This event features hours of live entertainment from local performers while raising funds for the annual grants the Boston Sisters give. For further information, please visit the event Facebook page which will continue to be updated about the event and ticketing details.

March Mt. Vernon Dinner

On Wednesday, March 14th at 6 PM, we will be dining at the Mount Vernon Restaurant & Pub. From now on, rather than sending in a Tear Sheet, just come and order off the menu.

The restaurant is at 14 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145 and you can view their website here. It’s located just a short walk from Sullivan Station (Orange line, buses) or the following buses stop in front of the restaurant: 89, 89/93, 90, 92 and 101. For more information, you can call them at (617) 666-3830.

Want a Florida Vacation?

Would you like to take a break from winter and enjoy some sun in good company? You can spend the week (Sunday to Sunday) of April 22nd-29th in comfortable resort-style accommodation in Orlando. There are two deluxe units each containing a bedroom & bath. Both suites include a living room, dining area, balcony, refrigerator, microwave, cookware, dishware, utensils and a fully-equipped kitchen. Good for eight guests with a king & queen-sized beds, and a sleeper sofa. The resort is minutes from Orlando’s theme parks like Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios and Sea World, and has seven pools, along with hot tubs and barbecue grills. All within short driving distance, you can explore historic St. Augustine, Kennedy Space Center, Busch Gardens and Silver Springs. Please contact Chase if interested at (617) 378-8234.