Shira Lazar To Debut The Updated Prize in Meet the Dorian at the Dorians TV Toast 2020 on Revry

Shira Lazar is the Founder/CEO of the Emmy Nominated digital media brand, What’s Trending.  In October 2018, she became the host of the afternoon drive show “Lets Go There” weekdays on the first national LGBTQ+ station Channel Q syndicated and on Radio.com. In her spare time, she loves sharing her passion for curiosity, joyful living and mindfulness on her own social platforms @shiralazar. While in quarantine in April 2020, Shira launched PeaceInside.Live, a platform with FREE live zoom classes daily around mindfulness, meditation and movement.

Previously, Shira hosted the weekly pop culture Facebook live show, Circa Pop Live! for Circa.com and was a West Coast contributor for HLN’s “The Daily Share”, where she covered all things social media and digital trends for the network. As the leading broadcaster and interviewer in the digital space, Shira has been the face of the biggest live-streams on the web from awards show to red carpet premieres including, The Oscars, The Grammys, Tony Awards among many others.  Lazar is a Webby Awards Honoree, Streamy Awards and IAWTV Winner For Best Web Series Live Host.

She has also been named one of Fast Company’s Most Influential Women in Technology, Huffington Post’s “Women in Tech to follow on Twitter”, honored on the Variety Women of Impact list and Cynopsis Top Women In Digital.

Enfant Terrible Josh Thomas Bestows the Wilde Wit Award from Lockdown at the Dorians TV Toast 2020 on Revry

In 2007, Thomas’ first solo show, “Please Like Me” debuted at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, where it received the Melbourne Airport Award for Best Newcomer.^[7] His live shows have toured both nationally and internationally, appearing in both Edinburgh and Montreal‘s comedy festivals.^[8] In 2010, Thomas toured his coming-out themed stand-up show “Surprise”, taking it to the Adelaide Fringe, Brisbane Comedy Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival

2011 saw him touring Everything Ever at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, among other locations

Thomas has a podcast called Josh Thomas and Friend, available from iTunes, which features Thomas and his comedian friends Mel Buttle and Tom Ward. In November 2009 a second series of the podcast was released on iTunes, and the first series was deleted. The third series was released in 2011, and the second series was deleted as well

In 2009, Thomas became a regular and Generation Y team captain on Network Ten‘s Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation.^[11] He also competed in Celebrity MasterChef Australia, but lost in the first heat to Kirk Pengilly of INXS

In February 2013, the television series Please Like Me, written by Thomas, debuted on ABC2. Participant Media‘s television network Pivot acquired the series for the US and premiered all six episodes as a binge marathon on 1 August 2013 to celebrate the channel’s launch after premiering the first episode online.^[13] The initial six-part series is based on his stand-up comedy shows and stars Thomas as himself.

In 2014, the series was nominated for an International Emmy Award for Best Comedy Series.^[14] For his work on the series, Thomas has won various accolades, including an AACTA Award for Best Television Screenplay in 2015.In 2015 it was short-listed for the Betty Roland Prize for Scriptwriting, New South Wales Premier’s Literary Award.

In 2018, Thomas created Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, a television comedy about a single guy (played by himself) in his twenties who stays in the United States, after his father dies, to take care of his teenage half-sisters. The show was given a pilot order by Freeform,^[16] and was picked up to series.^[17] The show premiered in January 2020, with Thomas starring, writing, and serving as the showrunner in the series.

Groundbreaking Comic, Singer and Actress Lea DeLaria Honors The LGBTQ Shows at the Dorians TV Toast 2020 on Revry

We all got a big kick back when she was playing Carrie “Big Boo” Black on the groundbreaking women-in-prison dramedy Orange is the New Black. But there’s more to Lea DeLaria’s repertoire than getting feisty in an orange jumpsuit. Sure, she was the first openly gay standup comic to perform on a late-night talk show – 1993, Arsenio Hall, people! – but did ya know she’s a wildly popular jazz singer with six albums under her belt!

In fact, Ms. Delaria  seems to have achieved overnight stardom with her two time, SAG Award winning, stand-out role as ‘Carrie ‘Big Boo’ Black’ in the Netflix hit series “Orange is the New Black.” However, DeLaria’s multi- faceted career as a comedian, actress and jazz musician, has in fact, spanned decades.

Lea holds the distinction of being the first openly gay comic on television in America which led to countless Television and Film roles portraying Police Lieutenants, PE Teachers and the Lesbian who inappropriately hits on straight women. Selected TV credits: “Broad City,” “Baroness Von Sketch,” “The Jim Gaffigan Show,” “Awkward,” “Clarence,” “Californication,” “The Oblongs,” “One Live to Live,” “Law and Order: SVU,” “Will and Grace,” “Friends” & “Matlock.” Selected Film credits: Cars 3, Support The Girls, First Wives Club, Dear Dumb Diary, Edge of Seventeen.

She’s received Obie & Theater World Awards, and a Drama Desk nomination for her portrayal as ‘Hildy’ in the Public Theatre’s revival of On The Town, an Ovation nomination for The Boys From Syracuse, and has played both Eddie & Dr. Scott in the gender-bending Broadway musical The Rocky Horror Show.

Lea was the featured vocalist at the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival, and has performed in some of the most prestigious houses in the world including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Chicago Symphony, Hollywood Bowl, The Royal Albert Hall and the Sydney Opera House.

Lea has five records on the Warner Jazz and Classics label and her book “Lea’s Book of Rules for the World” is in its third printing at Bantam Doubleday and Dell.

Her sixth record, House Of David delaria+bowie=jazz, was released in the Summer of 2015 to critical acclaim.

Rafael Casal to Honor the Actors at the “Dorians TV Toast 2020 on Revry”

Sexy big and small screen actor Rafael Casal will next be seen in the Blumhouse/Showtime limited series “The Good Lord Bird,” opposite Ethan Hawke, premiering in October. He can currently be seen in Cory Finley and HBO’s Emmy Award-nominated film “Bad Education,” opposite Hugh Jackman. Rafael made his feature film debut in “Blindspotting” in which he wrote, produced and starred. It premiered to critical acclaim at the Sundance and SXSW Film Festivals. It was bought by Lionsgate after a major bidding war. He’s adapting the film into a Series for Starz.

He is also currently writing and preparing to direct the feature “First Sight” for Lionsgate and a Pilot for FX.

Rafael is also well-known to audiences for his work on HBO’s Def Poetry. His digital content and music albums have garnered millions of views and listens. His theatre-in-verse works have been presented at venues across the country and his music has been featured on MTV and Showtime series as well as at the SXSW and the Sundance Film Festivals.

Rafael is the Co-Founder and the Artistic Director of the landmark Bars Workshop at the famed New York City’s Public Theater. He served as the Creative Director for the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s First Wave Undergraduate Arts Program and as the Curator for the Line Breaks Festival.

Sexy Liberal Stephanie Miller to Talk-up Best TV Drama at the “Dorians TV Toast 2020 on Revry”

Hot off her wildly successful “Sexy Liberal Tour” out proud Talk Radio legend Stephanie Miller will be honoring the Best TV Drama  at the Virtual Pub for the Dorians TV Toast 2020 on Revry.

Her radio and TV show can be seen and heard daily on Free Speech TV as well as all streaming services and many terrestrial radio stations throughout the United States. Prior to going nationwide, Stephanie pulled #1 ratings at KABC and KFI in Los Angeles and other radio stations in New York and Chicago.

You know her from tons of exposure on TV, and on comedy’s prime stages: host of CNBC’s Equal Time, Oxygen TV’s I’ve Got a Secret, and many others. Stephanie has also appeared on CNN’s Joy Behar, Larry King Live, Reliable Sources, as well as MSNBC’s The Ed Show, Hannity and Colmes and Neal Cavuto on Fox News, the Today Show, the Tonight Show, Good Morning America, among many others.

Stephanie comes to the left, from the right. She’s the daughter of William Miller, Barry Goldwater’s 1964 Republican presidential running mate.

Her humor and snappy political wit draws listeners from all sides and makes her the perfect antidote to cantankerous conservatives.

The Stephanie Miller Show is produced and syndicated by WYD Media Management, LLC.

Shangela’s Here! DragRace Superstar Raises a Glass to TV Movie / Limited Series at the Dorians TV Toast 2020 on Revry

“We’re Here” on Netflix is breaking down barriers but that’s nothing for D.J. Pierce, aka Shangela. Shangela rose to fame as the only contestant to compete on three separate seasons of the Emmy-award winning reality series Rupaul’s Drag Race (seasons 2, 3 and All Stars 3) and has gone on to feature films, tv series and more.

As an actor, Shangela (aka D.J. Pierce) has guest starred on network television shows like “2 Broke Girls,” “Glee,” “Bones,” “The Mentalist,” “X-Files,” and more. She has appeared in films including “Hurricane Bianca” (2016), ”Kiss Me, Kill Me” (2015), “Hurricane Bianca 2” and “A Star Is Born” with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. In 2012, she co-starred with Jenifer Lewis in a four-part scripted YouTube series called “Jenifer Lewis and Shangela.”

Pierce continues to climb in notoriety. He has been named one of OUT Magazine’s “100 Most Compelling People” and in 2015 was featured on Forbes.com for his drag management company Say What Entertainment. In 2018, Shangela was honored with the Rising Star Award by the LGBT Music Festival for his global contributions in performance and music.

He has written and released music (including the smash hit “Werqin Girl”), performed alongside Miley Cyrus on the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, co-produced the successful Werq The World tour as creative director and will tour his newest self-written stand up comedy show “Shook” in 2018. As Shangela, he has performed on six of the seven continents, and has sights set on Antarctica next!

A native of Paris, Texas, Pierce graduated with honors from Southern Methodist University and currently resides in Los Angeles. He is involved in various charity work and remains a member of the SAG-Aftra Union.

Star of Revry’s “To Be Me” Lends Support to “Dorians Toast TV 2020” Supporting Actress Honorees

Kate is a trans female, non-binary sophomore Dance and Design Tech major at Rowan University in South Jersey. Kate Wilburn is also known for their past roles such as: Audrey 2 in Little Shop of Horrors, Lucky/Boy in Waiting for Godot, Ensemble Member in Under the Hood. They are so blessed to have such a supportive family and friend system. They would love to thank the director and producers for giving them this amazing opportunity. Being able to work with an award winning cast and crew is a dream come true for this small town actor. They are so honored to bring the role of Jordan to life and hope that they can make everyone proud.

Legendary Jazz Saxophonist Dave Koz Presents Best Unsung at the Dorians TV Toast 2020 on Revry

A new Day

DAVE KOZ 

A New Day

Throughout his decades long, multi-faceted career as one of contemporary jazz’s premiere showmen, recording artists, cruise hosts and all-around entrepreneurs, Dave Koz has adhered to a mantra of rarely looking back and always navigating forward towards fresh horizons. Once he wrapped his 22^nd annual Dave Koz and Friends Christmas tour at the end of last year, the nine-time Grammy nominated saxophonist knew 2020 was going to be a pivotal year of reflection and celebration, marking an incredible three decades since the release of his genre-defining self-titled debut album. 

Feeling flush with a burst of creativity in the months before COVID-19 changed our lives, and realizing he had a lot more to say musically, he put aside all thoughts of releasing a nostalgic retrospective or another all-star Summer Horns or holiday project. Instead, working digitally and with social distance protocols in place, he embarked on A New Day, one of the most purposeful, empowering and exhilarating albums of his career. 

Set to drop exactly 30 years and one day after the release of Dave Koz, it’s a deeply comforting yet forward-thinking 11-track collection (with one bonus track on the physical CD) that marks his 20^th album overall – and first full set of original material in 10 years (since Hello Tomorrow in 2010). If it were written, produced and released in so called “normal times,” fans could focus solely on the extraordinary interactions between Dave and his incredible roster of guests, including Brian McKnight, Bob James, Marc Antoine, Rick Braun, Paul Jackson Jr., Jeff Lorber and several longtime “wish-listers” he had not previously recorded with – his all-time saxophone hero David Sanborn, legendary Earth, Wind & Fire percussionist Ralph Johnson, neo-soul great Meshell Ndegeocello, saxophone and flute player David Mann and R&B singer Antwaun Stanley (of funk band Vulfpeck). 

Yet they’re not the biggest part of the story. From his gold-selling Lucky Man (1993) and The Dance (1999) to the Phil Ramone-helmed At the Movies (2007) and the two Summer Horns extravaganzas this past decade, Koz has mastered large-scale productions throughout his career. Yet to create such a bold, expansive project like A New Day while every participating musician and producer was essentially in quarantine, speaks powerfully to the musical and human spirit of all involved, and the sense of purpose each collaborator brought to the party. COVID-19 has wreaked havoc with our health, the economy, and our day to day lives – but as Koz and friends prove over and over again, it can’t stop the flow of determination and creativity, specifically as it’s meant to help us wade through this extremely intense period.

“When the pandemic hit, I was already in the space to be creative and it immediately pushed me into that zone where I found myself turning to music for comfort,” Dave says. “I instinctively thought, I’m in a position to do that for others. It boils down to this – we all just need a hug. I wanted to provide that hug of a musical kind to people who have looked to my music as a source of joy and a way to feel better. I wanted these new songs to convey the sense that we’re all in this together and it’s hard, but we are going to be okay. 

“Even as we were making very universal thematic statements about this unusual moment in history,” he adds, “I realized that A New Day is also a very personal statement about where I am in my life. There’s a full-circle poeticism about looking back at a career I could never have expected when I recorded my first album. I’ve been doing this a long time but I still feel I have something meaningful to express and still feel extremely passionate about playing the saxophone. This led me to write songs that will hopefully help people through these difficult times and provide some inspiration. Whether we’re ready for it or not, this is a new day for human beings on this planet.”

Key tracks include the buoyant and bright, playfully grooving anthem “Summertime in NYC,” a tribute to the city and the resilience of its people featuring infectious vocals by Brian McKnight; the silky and romantic, mid-tempo and electronica-tinged tenor gem “The Closer We Get”; and the tight, percussive brass-heavy funk jam “Dr. Norm,” an ode to Dave’s late father, Dr. Norman Koz and the new cannabis-based apothecary cookie and edibles company (also called Dr. Norm’s) created by the saxophonist’s sister Roberta Koz Wilson, brother Jeff Koz and Dave to honor their dad and late mother Audrey, whose recipes they use. In addition, Koz and Ndegeocello team up for a dreamy and wistful alto version of The Beatles’ “Yesterday” – included as a reflection of the intense way life has changed during the pandemic, and a reminder that just yesterday, everything was very different. 

Creating an album under the current protocols was uncharted territory for Dave, whose projects always thrived on the live interaction of musicians feeding off each other in the studio. To ensure maximum efficiency, he had various producers on the case at the same time, creating foundational tracks, and compiling and overlaying submitted digital tracks in their different studios. These included longtime collaborators Evan Rogers & Carl Sturken (who co-produced with Dave “Summertime in NYC” and “Long Goodbyes”), Darren Rahn (“The Closer We Get,” “Still Got It”), Rick Braun (“Side By Side,” “Barcelona”) and Jeff Lorber (“Dr. Norm,” “All the Love in the World,” “High Wire”). Koz also collaborated with producers Matt Cusson (“Yesterday”) and David Mann (“A New Day”). The bonus track was also produced by Darren Rahn and features multiple Grammy nominee Chris “Big Dog” Davis. 

Without the luxury of time for extensive overdubs, the other key was hiring top veteran studio musicians who could deliver without much extra coaching – including drummers John JR Robinson and Gary Novak, bassists Nathan East, Alex Al and Mel Brown, guitarists Michael Thompson, Paul Jackson Jr., Adam Hawley and keyboardist Philippe Saisse. In most cases, the instrumentation on the original rudimentary track was replaced by live playing, especially in the case of synth bass and drum machines being switched out for the trademark grooves of East, Al, Brown, Novak and Robinson. 

“Ironically, recording an album during this time didn’t have the usual roadblocks,” Dave says. “Everything flowed and came into place very easily. Working to our advantage was the fact that because our touring has been sidelined this year, these musicians were all home looking for new projects to sink their teeth into. They not only had the time but brought all of their passion and unbridled energy to create something beyond what I could have envisioned. The pandemic forced us to find a different way to record, and the result is an intimate, personal album where you really feel a sense of warmth. “When he was mastering A New Day,” he adds, “the legendary engineer Bernie Grundman told me he felt with this album we’d created a special, sort of secret private place of comfort where the listener can be at one with the music as it washes over you. That struck me as the perfect musical antidote to dealing with the prolonged chaos and significant trials of 2020 – the opportunity to feel protected and nurtured – something that most, if not all of us need right now.”

With no guarantee or way of knowing how our lives will change or what the future holds, more than ever before we find ourselves looking to the people and things we trust, love and can make us feel better. Once again providing music that comforts and uplifts us during challenging times, Dave Koz meets our collective, anxiety-filled moment with a beautiful vision and the hopeful promise of A New Day. 

Barrier-Breaking Broadcaster Thomas Roberts To Toast Best Current Affairs At The Dorians TV Toast 2020

Thomas Roberts, host of Gay Good News on Facebook Live as well as show on Daily Mail TV is going to drop in to the virtual pub from his terrace in NYC!

Roberts is an openly-gay award-winning journalist who anchored MSNBC Live with Thomas Roberts on MSNBC. Roberts also served as a fill-in host on NBC’s TODAY, and was formerly the host of MSNBC’s Way Too Early and a contributor on Morning Joe. Roberts was made an official member of MSNBC’s dayside team in December 2010, after having served as a freelance anchor for several months.

Prior to his addition to msnbc’s team, Roberts served as a correspondent for CBS News. He also contributed to several entertainment shows including “Entertainment Tonight” and “The Insider.” Prior to that, Roberts was a news anchor for CNN Headline News.

Roberts is an award-winning journalist, having received a 2002 Emmy nomination and a Virginia Associated Press award for his work on the documentary, Parvo Puppies. He also received an Edward R. Murrow award in 2001 for a documentary that he produced titled, When Parents Don’t Pay. In 2014 his report on “Gay Rights at Work” was honored with a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Journalism Segment.

Roberts has also been honored for his work as an advocate in the LGBT community, and is the recipient of the prestigious Visibility Award from the Human Rights Campaign in October 2011. He was also honored by the Stonewall Community Foundation, Marriage Equality USA and The National Crime Victim Bar Association.

In the fall of 2012, Roberts married his longtime partner, Patrick Abner in New York City.  The service was officiated by Gavin Newsom the Lieutenant Governor of California.

Roberts is a graduate of McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College). He resides in New York City with his husband and their two dogs.