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A “concerned citizen” is trying to decide what is "Art" for the people of the City of Ocala. Should we let that happen? Of course not!
Both our production of The Marion At Midnight burlesque variety show at the Marion Theatre(after hours) & the production of "The Vagina Monologues" at the Reilly Arts Center have come under attack. If you are supporters of either theatrical event, their art forms, or their prospective venues then we suggest you don’t overlook this particular situation. If you LOVE our burlesque show, Listen up! This single person would like our stage productions to no longer be allowed in the two city owned venues we private third parties rent from the 2nd party renters due our productions being “inappropriate” and against his personal and religious believes. He wishes to have the city council shut us down, censor art & thus censor women & LGTB in our own community and our own media of choice: Performance Art. And it's not a joke anymore that we will have protesters....It's now very serious. A formal protest & speaking at City Council on March 1st has been requested. His request was granted. This man his co-speakers will present their case before council that day on our "unwholesome," "unchristian" and "inappropriate" productions. His issue is the sexual nature of both shows and even the involvement of particularly trans of the lgtb community & subject matter. Myself & others will also be allowed to comment and speak in our defense after his public comment. If you would like to attend, please do. Please keep it civil and polite as we represent an elegant & professional art, let’s keep it that way! This man seeks to take away something from Ocala. The right to do any art uncensored and to have a voice as women, as artists. This single person is trying to redefine what art is and isn’t and what should or shouldn’t be allowed due to his personal preferences. Will you allow that? We are defending a LOT here. Not only our own production & right to work as performers in our own venues that we rented and hometown for our audience, but so much more. All provocative art is objectionable to someone. The fact that a person who has not even seen the show has decided to object does not make the show objectionable. A free society is based on the principle that each and every individual has the right to decide what art or entertainment he or she wants -- or does not want -- to create & share. We are defending the right for females & artist to have a voice, to exercise their voice/art. This isn't rumor anymore for us to scoff and laugh at. This is very serious. I hope we can all pull together as a community in this time and do our best to keep our production, The Marion At Midnight (and The Vagina Monologues as well) very much alive and protect art, a historical art form, & female empowerment from being censored. If you’d like to be involved, grab a glittery counter protest sign and let your voice be heard please don’t hesitate to contact me & attend on March 1st 2016. “Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble” applies to all women & all arts too! -Lady Mekaella DeMure #ocala #cityofocala #downtownocala #womenofocala #burlesque#flburlesque #ocalaburlesque #vaginamonologues #marionatmidnight#ocalafl #showgirlsunite #artists #ocalaarts #ocalanightlife #flarts#freedomofspeech #ocalalgtb #artistsunite #womensvoice #artistsvoice
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*Excerpt from Lady M's Tumblr*
I have a file on my computer filled with screenshots of newspaper articles/flyers & press releases, website features & blogs plus pictures I was given or purchased rights to of me performing. I have a portfolio book I picked up somewhere that’s almost empty except for two prints two photographers gave me(Ralph Demelio & Sidney Wallace, Both were very kind & very talented) that I intend to fill with print outs of the blogs and these newspaper clippings & articles i’m featured in under my stage name. I’ve decided I’m going to write down some antidotes of escapades and experiences I’ve had the privilege to enjoy as a performer & all the ridiculous rubbish I do & all the crazy, non-conservative “unladylike” feminist, unoppressed, showbizzy, gay & sparkly things my family rolls their eyes at.Then, When I’m old & grey & the sleeve pages are filled with some of the clippings and prints are faded or yellowing. I will track down my young niece’s address…and send this collection of proof of her eccentric Auntys colourful life to her. & hopefully my brother has to listen to “HOLY CRAP MY AUNT WAS FUCKING CRAZY & COOL! Why didn’t you tell me about her? Why did you never let us meet?!” & When I’m a dying old lady with obnoxiously dyed hair, blue eyeshadow, red lipstick,vampire nails, and black fringed shawls, in my bedazzled Victorian style black wicker wheelchair, She’ll track me down and I won’t have to die feeling alone, because I’m probably going to outlive the rest of my ultra conservative family & my friends will all have been long buried after partying too hard, or doing too many dangerous stage stunts. We’ll drink wine & I’ll tell her funny stories until I finally kick it. & that’s how I plan to spend my final hours if I make it to “old” lol. |
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May 2020
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