a documentary short by Jonathan
McNeal
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Winner!
Audience Award - Best Documentary
Fire Island Film Video Festival
Audience Award - Best
of Festival
Out on Film, Atlanta, GA |
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Who
would believe that in the conservative Midwest, a
group of gay men in their 30’s and 40’s attract sold-out
crowds to their charity-driven, comedic drag performances?
Known throughout Ohio as The Rubi Girls, this dynamic,
close-knit troupe of professional men has been performing
since the late 1980’s. Comprised of elementary school
teachers, an occupational therapist, a clinical counselor
and business owners, the group began performing for
one another in an attic during college. What started
on Rubicon Street has grown into a frenzy for seating
arrangements upon the announcement of a show.
City Officials
have even recognized the Rubis. With over $150,000+
raised for various AIDS and gay-related causes, the
group was recently honored by the City of Dayton with
its honorable Community Service Award.
Combining
live performance, interview, and archival footage
from “the early days”, this documentary not only traces
the history of the “Girls” and their madcap antics,
but also attempts to redefine the term “family values”.
After shooting
miscellaneous footage while in film school, Jonathan
McNeal (the filmmaker) became a member of the Rubi
Girls’ extended family and a regular performer. Due
in part to his presence, the cameras were able to
catch many of the girls in raw form without inhibitions.
The piece captures both the charisma of the men and
the excitement of their adoring fans. The performance
footage has a fresh, vigorous energy with a smart
edge, and test audiences called this portrait both
“uplifting” and “full of life”.
The
finished cut of THE RUBI GIRLS made its world premiere
at the San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay
Film Festival on Friday night, June 20th, 2003.
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Upcoming Rubi Girls Film Screenings:
Rubi Girls Live Performance Dates:
- Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010 - A NIGHT OF DIVINE DECEDANCE (for Human Race Theatre) - @ Gilly's - Dayton, OH
- Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 8pm - DGMC Benefit Musicale - 2010 Huffman Ave, Dayton, Ohio
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Previous
Film Screenings & Shows:
- Nov. 3, 5:30-8PM - Carmel's on Shroyer Road - Meet the Rubi boys!
- Nov. 7 - Aquarius in Downtown Dayton - Opening for Nina Flowers
- Nov. 28 - Club Masque - Dayton, Ohio
- Aug. 8, 9PM - Club Masque - Dayton, Ohio
- Monday, April 27 - Evening Screening Time TBD - Ohio Northern University - Ada, Ohio
- Sunday, May 17, 4PM - Film Dayton Film Festival - THE NEON - Dayton, Ohio
- June 20, 7PM - DRAGAPALOOZA - Axis - Columbus, Ohio
- Saturday, March 28 - 6:30 - Special Guests at Gay Men's Chorus "Benefit Musicale" » click for details
- Feb. 6, 2009- Ohio Northern University - Ada, OH
- Feb. 19, 2009 - Laugh OUT Loud - Indianapolis, IN
- October 18, 2008- MASQUERAGE visit www.masquerage.org for details
- November 29, 2008 - Annual ARC Benefit - Dayton location TBA
- December 31, 2008 - Rubi New Year at the Loft Theatre (benefits Human Race & ARC)
- March 26, 2008 7PM - Wright State University, School of Medicine - White Hall
- April 19, 2008- Benefit for "Earth Month" - Club Masque - Dayton, Ohio
- May 16, 2008 - Wright State University, Student Union - Dayton, Ohio - 7:30PM
- June 21, 2008 - Dayton PRIDE Dinner & Monte Carlo Night - Ponitz Center
- March 19, 11:30AM - THE NEON - Downtown Dayton, Ohio - $5 Admission
- May 14, 2007 at 7pm - Friends Care Center - Yellow Springs, Ohio (Open to the public)
- May 27, 2007 - Therapy Cafe - Dayton, Ohio - 4pm and 7pm
- Wright State University - Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 7 P.M. White Medical Center - Room 101
- Sunday, August 13 at 3:00 - Therapy Cafe, Dayton, Ohio
- July 7, 2006 – Movie & Live Show (Return Engagement!) – Club Masque, Dayton, Ohio
- May 13, 2006 – Movie & Live Show (Return Engagement!) – Hanover College, Indiana
- November 5, 2005 – Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival, Indianapolis, IN
- September 16, 2005 – Movie & Live Show - Club Masque, Dayton, Ohio
- June 6 and 7, 2005 – Cincinnati Fringe Fest, Cincinnati, Ohio
- May 14, 2005 – Movie & Live Show - Love Out Loud at Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana
- January 28 & 29, 2005 - PRIDE Film Festival, Bloomington, IN (Audience Award Winner!)
- October 8, 2004 - Out in Akron – Queer Shorts, Akron, Ohio (Audience Award – Best Short!)
- August 21, 2004 - Movie & Live Show, Celebrity Nite Club, Dayton, Ohio
- August 13, 2004 – North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Durham, NC
- April 27, 2004 - Athens International Film Festival, Athens, Ohio
- April 23, 2004 - Wright State University, Presented by UAB & Lambda Union, Dayton, Ohio
- March 20, 2004 - 28th Cleveland International Film Festival, Cleveland, OH (Honorable Mention – Best Ohio Short)
- March 18, 2004 - 42nd Ann Arbor Film Festival, Ann Arbor, MI
- February 15, 2004 - Arena Grand, Columbus, OH
- November 22 & 23, 2003 - Neon Movies Return Engagement, Dayton, OH
- November 21 & 22, 2003 - Dallas OutTakes, Dallas, TX
- November 19, 2003 - FilmFeast 03, Adelaide, Australia
- November 16, 2003 - Long Island Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, Long Island, NY
- November 15, 2003 - Out on Film, Atlanta, GA(Audience Award – Best of Festival!)
- November 7, 2003 - Chicago Reeling Film Festival, Chicago, IL
- November 6, 2003 - GAMMA IndieFest, Reno, Nevada
- October 19, 2003 - Three Dollar Bill Cinema, Seattle, WA
- Sept. 7, 2003 - 2nd Annual Fire Island Film Video Festival, Fire Island, NY (Audience Award – Best Documentary!)
- July 18-20, 2003 - The Neon, Dayton, OH
- June 20th, 2003 - San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, San Francisco, CA
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