Big Gay Icon:

By Martin Magee

Actress Christine Baranski has been chosen as this week’s Big Gay Icon for a number of reasons. Oh, you need to know? Ok, how about being an experienced and award winning theater and film actress, whose musical credits includer her Drama Desk Award for “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” and “Rumors” and her Golden Globe for “Cybill” and of course, her hilarious turn as the reporter in “Chicago,” a role she reprised for the movie version.

I first saw Baranski as the comic foil of the television show “Cybill.” She was, of course, the secret comic weapon on the show. Whenever she was onscreen, you had to prepare to laugh, as she was going to surprise you with her skills. She did a memorable impersonation of conservative writer and radio personality Dr. Laura on “Frasier.” That she can work well and shine in an ensemble cast without standing out in a bad way is a measure of not just her talent but her humility.

Of Polish ancestry, she is married to actor Matthew Cowles since 1983, and has two daughters. After making her broadway debut in 1980, she won Best Actress Tony four years later, and after many featured performances.

I’ve never seen her in a dramatic role, although with her kind of traditional musical theater abilities, why would you want to waste it? Her most recent movie, “Mamma Mia,” had her belting out classic ABBA. She can make a seventies pop tune not just enjoyable but a humorous and entertaining point in the movie.

She’s just joined the cast of “Ugly Betty,” and I’m expecting some great things on this show, which is a popular LGBT television show. She deserves our Big Gay Icon award for this week.

CinemaLit
at the Mechanic’s library

ABOUT CINEMALIT: Film lovers and aficionados enjoy an ongoing feast of classic American and international films at the Mechanics’ Institute. CinemaLit programs, which are presented nine months a year, were created to complement and highlight the Mechanics’ Institute Library’s vast collection of more than 2500 videos and DVDs including classics, drama, comedy, foreign films and documentaries.

The CinemaLit Film Series is open to members and the public.
Each program begins with an introduction of the movie, genre and themes by curator Michael Fox or well-known local film writers and critics such as David Thomson, Eddie Muller, Joe McBride and others. The evening concludes with a salon discussion involving the audience and speakers. Films are shown on large screen in the best available format, DVD or video.

The Mechanics’ Institute’s charming meeting room/cafe space, which seats up to eighty people, provides an intimate, informal atmosphere for film viewing, lively conversation and congenial socializing. The cafe offers light refreshments and freshly popped popcorn.

Location: Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post Street (near Market St), San Francisco

Transit: MUNI/BART- Montgomery Station

Time: Every Friday. Mechanics’ Café opens at 6:00 pm. Program begins at 6:30 pm. A salon style discussion follows the film.

Admission: Tickets available at the door. MIL members: free Public suggested donation $10. For more information and reservations: Call (415) 393-0100 or email us atrsvp@milibrary.org / Reservations are required – Limited seating.

Movie Venues in the SF Bay Area

	Artists’ Television Access 992 Valencia Street San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 824-3890
	Balboa Theater 3630 Balboa St. at 38th San Francisco, CA 415-221-8184
	Castro Theater 415-621-6120 429 Castro St. San Francisco, CA
	Mechanics’ Institute 57 Post Street (map) San Francisco, CA 94104 Library: (415) 393-0101 Membership: (415) 393-0105
	The Paramount Theatre 2025 Broadway 510-465-6400 Oakland, California
	Red Vic Theater Red Vic Movie House 1727 Haight Street San Francisco, CA 94117
	The Roxie New College Film Center Roxie Theater 3117 16th Street, San Francisco, CA (415)-863-1087
	Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) 701 Mission Street San Francisco, 94103-3138 tel 415.978.2700 tix 415.978.2787 fax 415.978.9635