The holiday season is a time of many traditions, of habits and celebrations that many people consider almost sacred. From The Nutcracker to It's a Wonderful Life, people gather to celebrate family, giving and goodwill.
And then there's the Unicorn Theatre.
Don't misunderstand me - the Unicorn Theatre is also about tradition and community. But their holiday offerings follow more in the vein of A Christmas Story than A Christmas Carol. The Unicorn often offers stories this time of year that skewer favorite Christmas traditions (as in The Santaland Diaries), or religious attitudes in general (such as Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You). Last year they even had the uniquely entertaining A Very Joan Crawford Christmas.
One of the more interesting traditions about the Unicorn's Christmas shows is that they usually star Kansas City's comedy savant, Ron Megee. Well, it's the holidays again, and Megee is back. But this time he's brought his spiritual sister, Missy Koonce.
Megee and Koonce were two of the masterminds behind the goofily subversive Late Night Theatre, which provided Kansas City with over-the-top, scandalous entertainment from 1997 to 2007 (I still have a reel of pornographic film that I won in a raffle in their early days at the Chelsea Theater). Ever since Late Night Theatre closed up shop, their pairings have been relatively rare. But this month, they are back together, taking on nobody less than Charles Dickens.
The Salvation of Iggy Scrooge is a rock 'n' roll update of A Christmas Carol. It was written in 1994, and the Unicorn first produced it in 1997, under the direction of Cynthia Levin (who is now enjoying her 33rd year as producing artistic director of the Unicorn). Eleven years later, Iggy Scrooge returns, with an updated look and new focus.
Upon arriving at the theater to discuss the past and present Scrooge with Koonce, Levin and Megee, I am greeted by a cheerful and dapper Megee. He reminds me of Jimmy Stewart - the exact opposite of his lewdly madcap female impersonations that made him famous. As we sit down, Levin appears, almost as if by magic, from behind a curtain. Levin exudes a friendly, warm confidence that can only come from someone who, well, owns the place - not only the physical theater space that she has run for three decades, but also her own skin. Levin has an almost physical wisdom that permeates everything she does.
After Levin greets me, Megee announces that Koonce is running late - she is trapped in her driveway. I am slightly puzzled by this sentence, but Levin just nods understandingly. Apparently such events are natural consequences of being Missy Koonce.
Every time I have ever met Koonce, she has seemed to make an entrance with a small gust of wind, even if she's already indoors. Sure enough, about five minutes after we begin the interview, Koonce gusts through the door, a mysterious breeze blowing in from the hallway behind her.
"One-way streets are hard when there are airplane shuttle buses," Koonce announces by way of apology. She flips off her coat, gives us all a kiss, pulls up a chair and jumps right in to the conversation. That's the other thing about Koonce - she seems to need almost no transition time between activities.
Levin says that when she directed The Salvation of Iggy Scrooge 14 years ago, the focus was on the acting - the musical aspects took a back seat. However, Koonce, whose strength is ensemble musical productions, is directing the current production. Megee is caught between them: In Levin's production of Iggy Scrooge he played the Ghost of Christmas Past, Roy Orbison. In Koonce's version, he is playing the Ghost of Christmas Present, Elvis Presley.
Being in both productions of the show gives Megee a unique perspective on the differences in directing styles between Koonce and Levin. (I found it interesting that during the interview, Megee was actually sitting directly between the two.)
Megee tells me that the directors have opposite approaches. Levin starts with the details and then fits all the pieces together in the big picture toward the end. Koonce, however, finds the big picture first and then helps the actors fit into that. Or, as Megee summarizes it, "Cynthia nitpicks at the beginning of rehearsals. Missy nitpicks at the end."
But he says the differing styles don't change the quality of the end piece. "They both know how to get to the root of the characters and the issues. And they both understand my quirks, so I don't look like a fool."
When I ask Levin whether she had to grit her teeth watching the new production because she would have made different choices, she takes it in stride.
"As directors - and even as actors - we naturally compare what we see with what we would have done. The thing is, I make sure to surround myself with people I trust to do a good job, even if it's not the same way I would do it. It all works out that way."
Koonce agrees. "I mean, Cynthia is the artistic director of the theater. I depend on her to catch things I miss. Ultimately, she's in charge of making sure the show doesn't suck."
I ask Megee which character of this Scrooge story resonates with him most, now that he's played two of the ghosts. Megee pauses. When he speaks, his voice has dropped a bit. He says that while he does enjoy playing the ghosts, he really does relate best to the Scrooge character.
"I've been an ass in my life," Megee conceded. "It finally took friends and other people to show me the light. I've worked over the past few years to become a better person, so I can really relate to Iggy."
This insight gives Megee a certain emotional punch when portraying the ghosts that teach Scrooge his lesson. "At first you find the humor in these characters, but then you realize that they really are trying to shine a light on the situation."
Another new element for this production of Iggy Scrooge is that the Unicorn has partnered with UMKC students to help put it on. Koonce says she was excited to have so many designers working on the production; she's not used to such a big supporting crew.
However, this also has its challenges. "I usually work with the same people over and over, and after awhile they start to "get" me. I usually go on emotion and feelings. I know I won't need to explain myself - everybody just knows what I'm thinking and goes with it. But working with UMKC students has been a challenge, and it has been good for me. Because it makes me reassess my communication skills and I realize that not everybody can read my mind."
It's not just a new crew that Koonce is working with, but new actors as well.
"Since I have the same group of people I always go to, I enjoy the synergy we have. I can say, 'Ron, do that thing that I like that you do that would be appropriate in this place' and he'll say 'Oh yeah.' Or sometimes Ron will say 'Do you want that one thing, that I did in the...' and I'll just say, 'Yeah, that thing, but mix in a little bit of that other thing.' He'll understand. But I can't do that with the other actors."
Megee nods sagely at Koonce's description of their relationship. "The other day," he said, "some of the UMKC students were watching us intently, and a little later they asked me, 'What language were you two speaking?'" Megee laughs. "I replied, 'You know, brother-sister language.'"
Their "brother-sister language" is evident to anybody that watches them for more than five minutes. They are so in tune with each other that some people in Kansas City really do believe that they are siblings. And when I ask them when they actually met, they are not completely sure.
Officially, Koonce and Megee met in the mid-1980s, when they were students at Tarkio College in northwest Missouri. But having both grown up in the Kansas City metro area, they suspect that they actually met in high school, during one of the many parties that gay high school kids would throw themselves.
"We were the young '80s gays," Koonce explains. "We didn't have anywhere to go, so we would have parties in our parents' houses when they were gone, and people would drive from a 30-mile radius to get together."
Although Megee-Koonce pairings are depressingly rare, there are signs of coming changes. Koonce says that recently they have been talking about projects that they could start working on together again. Megee has a twinkle in his eye, but says they aren't ready for any official announcements yet.
And as for Levin, she's got her own plans for the future, other than her continuous hunting for the next season's plays. As readers may remember, the Unicorn completed a multi-year fundraising effort that resulted in the construction of a secondary stage on expanded Unicorn property in 2008. Despite the fact that it is only three years old, Levin is ready to tear out the seats and redo it.
"It needs to be more flexible," she says, with a sense of urgency in her voice. "We need to be able to set it up differently every time, in order to keep it exciting."
As Levin describes her vision for the next evolution of the Unicorn, Koonce suddenly leans forward in her chair and begins talking about how she wants to do a cabaret show there. The two visionary women talk about the possibilities of a more flexible theater space, throwing ideas back and forth to each other.
As they're doing this, I look over at Megee. He is sitting calmly between them, following their conversation with a small, amused smile on his face. Whatever they decide to do next, he knows he's also flexible enough to be a part of it.
WhistlePig and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Wind Tunnel-Trialed Whiskey Is a Ryed You Don’t Want to Miss
SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.
The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.
Like Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s signature C43 racing vehicles, trial barrels were tested in the team’s wind tunnel in Switzerland before hitting the track. Select barrels then endured varying levels of G-Forces at the WhistlePig farm and distillery for the finishing touch, accelerating the interaction between the whiskey and the wood, staying true to the physical nature of Formula 1.
“Partnering with WhistlePig has been a very exciting experience. Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake is dedicated to being the best on the track, and the crew at WhistlePig is fearless in their pursuit to create the best whiskey out there,” said Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “We’re really looking forward to fans tasting our custom Rye Whiskey and raising a glass to the rookies, veterans, legends and the exhilarating sport of F1.”
"Joining forces with WhistlePig to release a Single Barrel Rye Whiskey that represents my culture and team has been an honor,” said Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “Formula 1 brings together fearless, thrill-seeking motorsports professionals, and WhistlePig has a shared passion for boundary-pushing innovation. Together, we’ve selected something alarmingly good for fans to enjoy this season when the cars are not on track.”
The Limited Edition Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel will be available for purchase online starting around September 13 for $49.99 MSRP per 750ml bottle and sold in select stores across the U.S. Consumers can win VIP merchandise by scanning the QR code on the back of each bottle.
"We're taking our third Legends Series release on a ryed like never before,” said Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig Head Blender. "Our experiments with dynamic aging went full throttle during finishing trials at the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake wind tunnel, in turn inspiring new ways to expose barrels to G-forces back at the WhistlePig Farm. The herbal and floral notes of the lychee and tea barrel selected with the team create a new, podium-topping experience for PiggyBack Rye."
Fans and collectors have followed WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series, celebrating those who give 100% in the name of greatness, since its launch in March 2022 with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, David Ortiz (“Big Papi”), followed by Country Music Duo Brothers Osborne in November 2022.
To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About WhistlePig Whiskey
Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey distillers and blenders driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of Rye whiskey. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimenting and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand for innovation. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process. For more information, head to whistlepigwhiskey.com.
When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.
I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.
If you don’t have a primary care physician who specializes in LGBTQ+ care in your community, you may need to educate yourself (and your provider). But, before you seek such therapy, here are five things you should know!
- Monitor closely. At Spectrum Medical Care Center, we screen patients for certain risks before starting anyone on hormones. We frequently monitor patients in the first year to ensure there are no adverse reactions and lab results are within safe ranges. Follow-up care is also important to assess your comfort with the transition as well as the social impact and social support you’re experiencing.
- Some changes are permanent, some temporary. For transmasculine individuals going on testosterone, they’ll experience these permanent changes: deepened voice, clitoral enlargement (also known as bottom growth), more body, facial hair, and male pattern baldness. Reversible changes include cessation of menses, increased muscle mass and strength, body fat redistribution, and skin oiliness or acne. For those going on estrogen therapy, the most permanent change is breast growth. Feminizing hormone therapy can also cause atrophy (shrinkage) of the genitals and loss of erectile function that may not be reversible. Estrogen will thin body hair, soften the skin, can increase scalp hair, and decrease muscle mass and strength, all of which are reversible.
- You can’t pick and choose results. Unfortunately, you can’t pick and choose the physical changes you want, which may feel challenging. Some of my patients will say, ‘Okay, ‘I’ve seen the permanent changes I want, and I don’t want it to go any further,’ and so at that point, we stop therapy. Low-dose hormone therapy can slow down the rate of changes, allowing for a more gradual physical transition. We counsel patients in advance about the common changes, and it’s up to the individual as to when they’d like to scale back and determine whether some benefits are worth the potential risks.
- Be aware of risks. Like any medical treatment, there are potential risks involved. Some risks with testosterone therapy include increased red blood cell mass, acne, hypertension, sleep apnea, weight gain, and dyslipidemia (increases the chance of clogged arteries). Cardiovascular disease is likely increased with additional risk factors for testosterone and estrogen therapy. Transfeminine patients going on estrogen therapy may experience weight gain, thromboembolic disease (when a blood clot breaks off and blocks another blood vessel), and a high level of triglycerides in the blood.
Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!
Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.
"Our entire team is honored to be named Best of the Best. To be the only gay men's resort recognized in the Top 1% is incredibly humbling," said Kent Taylor, General Manager at Descanso. "We appreciate Tripadvisor and we're grateful to all our guests who gave us such high marks and reviews to help us reach this achievement."
“Ranking among the Best of the Best demonstrates that you have provided exemplary experiences to those who maZer most: your guests,” said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor. “With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am con6nually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt.”
Santiago Resort was once again honored by Tripadvisor with a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award, placing it among the top 10% of travelers’ top reviewed des6na6ons. Twin Palms will become eligible for ranking in 2024.
Check out all the reviews, and discover more about Descanso Resort on Tripadvisor here. We have an excellent library of resort imagery available to accompany editorial and additional resources on our press page. Please contact Descanso Resort’s General Manager, Kent Taylor, at kent@descansoresort.com for further information.
About Descanso Resort
Inspired by Palm Springs’ history as a des6na6on for Hollywood stars to unwind in privacy, Descanso offers guests a casual yet modern take on the legendary style of that 6me. Created by the same hospitality team that revitalized Palm Springs’ much-loved San6ago Resort and recently launched the all-new Twin Palms Resort, the Descanso property opened in 2022 featuring 15 spacious guest rooms with custom-designed furniture, dreamy King-size beds, and luxe details. Ameni6es include continental breakfast, poolside lunch, welcome snack basket, and lots of special touches. For guests who need to stay connected, the entire property is equipped with blazing-fast Wi-Fi. Mul6-speed bikes are available for exploring the surrounding midcentury neighborhoods and public art installations. Like the Hollywood stars before them, guests at Descanso are encouraged to unwind, relax, and rest in style.
About Tripadvisor
Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.