'Queer' Tour Brings Babylon to U.S. Clubs

03/05/2004 7:49 PM, Reuters
Michael Paoletta

The boys are back in town.

For the second consecutive year, Embrace Productions and Showtime Networks are teaming up for a Queer as Folk tour.

Subtitled the Future Babylon tour, the 20-city trek -- which further increases the branding of the Showtime series "Queer as Folk" -- commences May 2 at Chicago's Crobar club.

The fourth season of the successful series begins April 18.

Like the inaugural tour, the 2004 edition -- which has an estimated budget of $500,000 -- will re-create the series' Babylon disco in 2,000- to 3,000-capacity clubs, but with a twist.

Each venue will be made to resemble Babylon in the year 2050. Assisting with design, decor and performance art is Miami-based production company RKM.

Depending on the market and date, tickets are expected to cost between $20 and $50. The Future Babylon tour is sponsored by 2(x)ist, Orbitz, Interactive Male and Astroglide. Midori is the title sponsor.

In addition to the opening night, other confirmed dates include May 9 at Avalon in New York, May 30 at Space in Miami and July 9 at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver.

According to Embrace president Adam Gill, the audience for the 2003 tour was 80% gay and male. Gill says he was surprised by this, particularly because the show's viewing audience is "50% gay men and 50% straight women."

So, he adds, "one of our biggest challenges this time around is enticing and reaching the other side of the 'Queer as Folk' fan: the female."

Certainly, there is a concerted effort to attract more women to the tour, Showtime senior VP of advertising/promotion Stephanie Gibbons acknowledges. She points to upcoming ads in -- and special promotions with -- such mainstream publications as People, Jane and Cosmopolitan. This will be accompanied by a presence in local and national gay press.

On March 12, Embrace and Showtime will officially announce the tour dates at a press conference at South Miami's Raleigh Hotel to coincide with the annual Winter Party AIDS Benefit Festival in Miami.

DJs Tracy Young and Grammy Award winner Peter Rauhofer, who provided the beats and rhythms last year, will be joined by DJ Manny Lehman this year. Some dates will feature all three DJs, others will spotlight one or two.

Young, who also operates independent dance label Ferosh Records, says it was an honor to be asked to participate again this year. "I am fortunate to be offered such opportunities," she says. "It may open new doors for me."

Young says she will introduce new music during the trek -- including Ferosh's single "Believe in We" by Ceevox.

In addition to the DJs, actors from the show -- Robert Gant and Sharon Gless , for instance -- will make special appearances at various stops along the tour.

March 12 is also the launch of futurebabylon.com, an interactive Web site spotlighting the tour. That site and Showtime's (sho.com) will offer special promotions and tour info. Showtime will tag episodes of the show with Future Babylon tour info.

Reuters/Billboard