Gay hits and misses usher in 2003

As the New Year rolls in, gay talents continue to contribute to stellar successes. In television, writer-exec producer Ann Donohue powered the crime juggernaut CSI to winning ratings in a down week for the small screen as a whole. On the big screen, Sir Ian McKellen continues to mow down the box office with his white-on-white look as the reborn wizard Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. On the New York stage, gay stars are facing a more uncertain climate. Daily Variety notes that Tommy Tune: White Tie and Tails closes Sunday, as does Hollywood Arms, cowritten by Carol Burnett and Carrie Hamilton--mother and sister, respectively, of 2002 Advocate Music Issue cover girl Erin Hamilton. Elsewhere in NYC, Imaginary Friends, starring out luminary Cherry Jones and Swoosie Kurtz, took a significant dip at the box office. But Metamorphoses, the haunting evocation of Greek myth by out director Mary Zimmerman, saw a leap in sales. And two gay-driven musicals were boffo: Hairspray broke $1 million at the box office, and Thoroughly Modern Millie came within an eyelash of the million-dollar mark with nearly $974,000.