THURSDAY: Comedy, Music & Queer Culture

Important documentary film making. Hilarious comedy. Original musicals. We’re bringing it ALL to you today at NewFest 2010.

Think of New Zealand and you may think of wool sweaters, Lord of the Rings, and mutton. Not after tonight. At THE TOPP TWINS: UNTOUCHABLE GIRLS you’ll meet one of funniest and most original acts in show business today… as these lesbian identical twins from that other land waaaayyy down under yodel, schtick and fight for LGBT rights in a touching new documentary. As a special treat, they’ll also perform LIVE after the screening and take questions from the audience. Oh yes, there will be LOTS of questions. Showtime is 7:30pm.

THE HERETICS continues filmmaker (and Hampshire College film professor, at right) Joan Braderman’s important work, documenting the impact Heresies magazine made and continues to make in the feminist community. That’s at 5pm.

 Bear community impresario, documentary filmmaker and Kevin Smith-protege Malcolm Ingram is on hand LIVE to answer your questions at the screening of BEAR NATION at 10pm. And keep reading this website… we’re previewing the show with an original interview with the director himself.

Musical theater more your style? FRUIT FLY is the coming-of-age story of the world’s most adorable Filipina performance artist in the world’s second gayest city, San Francisco. You won’t call this Fruit Fly a ‘fag hag’ after watching H.P. Mendoza’s (left) musical comedy with its original new score. The soundtrack is already available on iTunes… download it now and sing along with the show at 10:30 tonight.

Didn’t make it to these crowd-pleasers when we showed them the first time? You asked, we listened: Our Thursday slate includes repeat screenings at of ROCK HUDSON: DARK AND HANDSOME STRANGER and CHILDREN OF GOD, both back by popular demand. Check this website for listings and showtimes.

Tickets are available online, or at the SVA Theater box office, 23rd Street at Eighth Avenue in the heart of Chelsea.