Author: Randy Slovacek

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Just some of Rick Santorum’s outrageous statements

After Rick Santorum’s surprising second-place finish in Iowa, ThinkProgress compiled a list of his top 10 most outrageous claims. Here are just a few:

ANNUL ALL SAME-SEX MARRIAGES: Arguing that gay relationships “destabilize” society, Santorum wouldn’t offer any legal protections to gay relationships and has pledged to annul all same-sex marriages if elected president. During his 99-country tour of Iowa, Santorum frequently compared same-sex relationships to inanimate objects like trees, basketballs, beer, and paper towels and even tried to blame the economic crisis on gay people. As Santorum explained back in August, religious people have a constitutional right to discriminate against gays: “We have a right the Constitution of religious liberty but now the courts have created a super-right that’s above a right that’s actually in the Constitution, and that’s of sexual liberty. And I think that’s a wrong, that’s a destructive element.”

CONTRACEPTION IS ‘A LICENSE TO DO THINGS’: Santorum has pledged to repeal all federal funding for contraception and allow the states to outlaw birth control, insisting that “it’s a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be.”

GAY SOLDIERS ‘CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN CLOSE QUARTERS’: During an appearance on Fox News Sunday in October, Santorum defended his support for Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell by arguing that gay soldiers would disrupt the military because “they’re in close quarters, they live with people, they obviously shower with people.” He also suggested that “there are people who were gay and lived the gay lifestyle and aren’t anymore.”

WE DON’T NEED FOOD STAMPS BECAUSE OBESITY RATES ARE SO HIGH: Speaking in Le Mars, Iowa in December, Santorum promised to significantly reduce federal funding for food stamps, arguing that the nation’s increasing obesity rates render the program unnecessary.

Read more at ThinkProgress

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Hugh Jackman to return to Broadway in 2013/2014

Hugh Jackman will return to Broadway during the 2013/2014 season starring as America’s greatest showman in HOUDINI, an original musical. Making his Broadway debut as librettist, Academy Award and six-time Emmy Award winner Aaron Sorkin will collaborate with three-time Academy Award and four-time Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz.

Directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien, HOUDINI is presented by film and theatre producer Scott Sanders and David Rockwell. Mr. Rockwell will also design the sets for HOUDINI. Additional HOUDINI casting, creative team and design team to be announced at a later date. The show, when previously announced, was to feature music by Danny Elfman and lyrics by David Yazbeck.

One of the world’s most fascinating figures takes center stage in HOUDINI, an original and contemporary look at the life–and death–of America’s first superstar.
“I have been deeply fascinated by the life of Harry Houdini since I was young, and in many ways I’ve been preparing for this role my whole life,” said Hugh Jackman. “I am thrilled to be collaborating with this collection of artists who are all at the top of their game.”

“Rather than being a biography, HOUDINI–told in a contemporary tone–tells the story of an epic battle that took place between the world’s greatest illusionist and a trio of women, known as ‘Spiritualists’, who convinced millions of people, including the editors of Scientific American and The New York Times, that they could communicate with the dead,” said Aaron Sorkin. “The chance to collaborate with Stephen Schwartz, Jack O’Brien and Hugh Jackman on a new Broadway musical is a huge gift.”
(source)

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Darren Criss sings his way through Rolling Stone interview


(via AmericaBlog)

Not only a GLEE star, Darren begins his three week run on Broadway in “How To Succeed in Business” tonight.

Premium tickets prices for How to Succeed…, which most recently boasted “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe in the leading role of J. Pierrepont Finch, have sold for $302. Due to demand, the price for the limited number of premium seating has now increased to $402 for Criss’ three-week engagement in the role, which is scheduled for Jan. 3-22.

Darren’s run, according to sources, is already very well sold.

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Liza back on TV, So You Think You Can Dance reduced to one night a week

Some gay-fave entertainers have been signing dotted lines all over Hollywood since the clock turned on the new year.

First up Liza is set to play with Betty White and company on an upcoming episode of Hot In Cleveland, where she’ll play agent to Wendie Malick’s character.

Deadline.com is reporting that Cybil Shepherd is set to star alongside Jennifer Love Hewitt in Lifetime’s upcoming The Client List. Cybil will play mother to J. Love, who runs a message parlor that offers more than just back rubs…

And finally, the upcoming season of So You Think You Can Dance is going to look very different come May. Judge and producer Nigel Lythgoe has just announced that the former two-night format will be reduced to one!

“Fox [has] canceled the results show so I will have to change the format of #SYTYCD,” the show’s executive producer and judge shared via Twitter.

“I’m certainly not mad at Fox — they have supported SYTYCD FOR 9 seasons,” Lythgoe added. “With the help of Mike Darnell [Fox’s president of Alternative Entertainment]. I think we have some great new ideas.”
(via Instinct)

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The Advocate’s Top 10 NYC LGBT-inclusive plays 2011

from “Go Back to Where You Are”

The Advocate has released their top 10 LGBT-inclusive plays from the 2011 theatrical season:

1. Go Back to Where You Are
2. The Normal Heart

3. Rent

4. The Book of Mormon
5. Priscilla Queen of the Desert

6. Vieux Carré
7. Sons of the Prophet
8. Southern Comfort
9. One Arm
10. Camp Wanatachi

Check out the details at Advocate.com