Author: Randy Slovacek

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Repeal of Defense of Marriage Act introduced in Congress

From Instinct: “In the House, the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) was introduced by Reps. Jerry Nadler, John Conyers, Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, Jared Polis and David Cicilline, with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer sponsoring that chamber’s bill. The House version also counts 100 co-sponsors.  In the Senate, which is looking at DOMA repeal for the first time, Sens. Dianne Feinstein, Patrick Leahy and Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the legislation.”

At the press conference to announce the repeal bill, House Democrats called on citizens who were legally married in their state but denied rights affording to heterosexual couples under the law. Edie Windsor, 81, spoke about her 44-year relationship with Thea Spyer. When Spyer died in 2008, Windsor paid more than $360,000 in federal estate taxes because the government did not recognize their marriage.

Obviously, there’s more chance of passing in the Democrat controlled Senate. There are about 20 co-sponsors in the Senate. With Republican control of the House and the much more conservative Tea Party freshmen in that chamber, I’m not too optimistic about passage there.

There would be a strange irony in the Tea Party members opposing the repeal of DOMA: Tea Partiers stand for states rights. The basis of their position seems to always be “let states govern themselves.” If that’s the case, and a state decides to allow marriage equality, then the federal government should honor those marriages like any other states’ marriage. I’ll be curious to see how they argue this among themselves.

But – it’s all about steps, kids. Forward. No fear.

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“Carol Channing: Larger Than Life” – a documentary

“Carol Channing: Larger Than Life,” directed by Dori Berinstein, written by Dori Berinstein and Adam Zucker. (United States) – World Premiere, Documentary.

This film will debut at the world famous Tribeca Film Festival. It is a celebration of the life of Carol Channing, whom I love so dearly.

The story of legendary performer Carol Channing’s life is as colorful as the lipstick on her big, bright smile.

Director Dori Berinstein captures the magic and vivacity of the 90-year-old actress and throws it at the screen like roses at the stage during curtain call. You’ll have a grin on your face and a tear in your eye, evidence that the original Dolly Levi is still glowin’, still crowin’ and still goin’ strong.

At this past years’ “Gypsy of the Year” event on Broadway, the men of the last revival of “Hello, Dolly!” were reunited with Carol to perform together once again.

During the rehearsals, the men were invited by Dori to sit down, with cameras rolling, and reminisce about our time doing “Hello, Dolly!” and life in general with Carol. It was a really wonderful, cathartic few hours spent in a room with men I greatly respect, talking about someone we universally admire and love.

I’m really looking forward to seeing this film celebration of Carol’s life and career.

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Beverley Randolph, Broadway Stage Manager, passes away at 59

I was very sad to learn today that Beverley Randolph, Broadway Stage Manager for over 30 years, passed away today.

Beverley stage managed more than 20 Broadway productions over the course of a 30-plus year career. At the time of her death and since 2009, she was production supervisor for the musical The Addams Family. Her credits include the Kander & Ebb musical Curtains, the musical Little Women, the 2002 revival of Into the Woods, the 1998 revival of The Sound of Music, Stephen Sondheim’s Passion, Kander & Ebb’s The Kiss of the Spider Woman, William Finn’s Falsettos, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, plus Follies in Concert at Avery Fisher Hall, the 1987 revival of Cabaret and Neil Simon’s Chapter Two.

I was lucky to get to know Beverley. She was kind, strong and very good at her job.

As I read testaments to her today, I’m reminded of my own friendship with Beverley.

I was – and this is the truth – supposed to be an original cast member of “Jerome Robbins Broadway”. Beverley Randolph was the Production Stage Manager of the show. At the time we all auditioned, it was being called “The Robbins Project.” Spring/Summer of 1988. I flew in from “the road” while performing in the national company of CATS several times to audition for Jerry Robbins. Somehow, in the craziness of the business AND a very very bad phone service at the time, I didn’t get the call that I was cast. When I finally got the message and called in, the casting director said “we wondered what happened to you” but it was gone. They’d gone with the next guy. I ended up being called in about 13 times for replacements spots. Twice I was hired, but the person I was supposed to replace rescinded their notices.

Anyway, at the same time, I was trying to earn a living in NYC. While many of my friends went from one Broadway show to the next, I did odd job after odd job. One job that I did was to clean apartments. Among those was Beverley Randolph’s. She was always gracious and kind, knowing that I had been seen for Jerome Robbins Broadway many, many times.

One day, I got a kind of feverish call from Beverley saying “please call me as soon as possible.” Of course, I called as soon as I could. I was an unemployed actor dying to be in her show.

I so very clearly remember dialing her number and listening to the phone ring. Finally, a voice answered and said “this is Beverley”. I said “this is Randy Slovacek” and she quickly said “can you clean my apartment this Friday? I have to have it clean for some guests…”

Not quite what I was expecting. 🙁

But it wasn’t her fault. Kind of crushing, but we laughed about this later.

I never went into JRB. Many opportunities came up but it just never happened.

But I always remember how classy and wonderful Beverley was. And all my peers spoke glowingly of her work on every production she did.

I remember seeing her backstage at “Kiss Of The Spiderwoman” and “Into The Woods” – she was always kind, warm and wonderful to me.  Even though we never “really” worked together.

True, great, professionals are rare. Great professionals who are kind and polite to the ‘struggling’ are of an even rarer class.

Beverley was in that class.

She will be missed.

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New Poll: Americans oppose Defense of Marriage Act

From The Human Rights Campaign: American voters oppose, by a large margin, the Defense of Marriage Act – the law that forbids the federal government from recognizing legally married same-sex couples – as well as efforts by the House Republican leadership to intervene in court cases defending the law, according to new polling released by the Human Rights Campaign in partnership with Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research.

51 percent of voters oppose DOMA while 34 percent favor it. Independent voters, who were instrumental in the Republican House takeover, oppose the law by a 52 percent to 34 percent margin.

Additionally, when read statements for and against defending DOMA in court, 54 percent of voters oppose the House Republicans’ intervention, while only 32 percent support it.

Given a list of issues important in determining their vote for President, voters ranked the economy and jobs (54 percent), Medicare and Social Security (23 percent) and education (19 percent) as most important with only 5 percent of respondents saying marriage was most important to them.

Finally, when presented with the actual benefits from which married same-sex couples are excluded, voters overwhelmingly support extending those benefits.

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In memory of Thommie Walsh

March 15, 2011. Would have been Thommie Walsh’s 61st birthday. Thommie was a 2-time Tony Award winner, an original cast member of the ground-breaking A Chorus Line, and my dear wonderful friend. Thommie came into my life in so many ways. As a young actor and dancer, I was forever changed by his performance in A Chorus Line. The boy who grew up near Buffalo but “couldn’t remember the name of the town” – he’d blocked it out. His work on Broadway was the stuff wide-eyed young actors or dancers like me only dreamed about. He danced in several Broadway shows – including A Chorus Line – and then graduated to director/choreographer. As Tommy Tune’s partner, he won two Tony Awards: for “A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine” and “My One And Only.” Many, many other accomplishments and awards came Thommie’s way. Too numerous to mention. But my favorite memory of Thommie was as my friend. In 2002, Donna McKechnie was asked to perform her developing one woman show “Inside The Music” in Los Angeles. Thommie was her director and choreographer. The theater was a small theater on a budget, so Donna asked if Thommie could stay with me. Every single day was a holiday with Thommie in the house. Having consulted on some of Donna’s earlier shows, I accompanied Thommie to rehearsals and did what I could to help. But just being around Thommie made life better and funnier and more wonderful. We became very fast friends. He was constantly supportive of my work as a director and/or choreographer. A few years later, when I was choreographing a show off-Broadway he insisted he come to see the show. Then he made a point of meeting me for dinner at Joe Allens (famous Broadway restaurant) to talk about it. I’ll never forget the look in his eyes when he sat down, smiled, and simply said to me “you did good – I loved it.” His sense of humor, his directness in any situation, everything about Thommie worked for me. I honestly loved this man. My wonderful friend. In late 2006, however, he stopped returning phone calls. I worried something was wrong. I reached out to everyone I could. At one point – on a cold Christmas eve – I stood outside a holiday dinner in the cold on the phone with Cynthia Onrubia who had assisted him on some shows. The news was not good. I was distraught. I practically begged this woman who barely understood who I was to keep me informed as his health deteriorated. News was slow to come over the next several months. And then, on a hot summer night, June 16, 2007, he passed away. This boy-wonder of Broadway was gone. I’ll never forget where I was when I heard the news. I was riding in a car in Las Vegas when a friend called me and said “did you hear about Thommie?” I held my breath as long as I could. I didn’t want to know. Several heart-beats went by. Please let it be anything that didn’t manifest in my imagination. I’m dramatic – surely I’m wrong. I wasn’t. My friend on the other end of the call was sad and silent. She was sad to report the news. Gone. But never forgotten. I remember Thommie’s birthday every year. March 15th – the Ides of March. From Julius Caesar – “beware the Ides of March.” Beware indeed. He used his own birthday onstage in A Chorus Line as “Bobby” or “Robert Charles Joseph Henry Mills, III” as his introduction went. Isn’t that funny? I was honored to play his role in A Chorus Line several times and always thought of Thommie when I did. Near the end of his character’s monologue, he had a line that said “I just wanted to see if anyone would notice me.” Boy – did the world notice Thommie. I miss Thommie every time I think of him, which is often. His laugh, his humor, his talent, his friendship… all of it without boundaries. I’d love to regale you with some stories I lived with him, but they may not be suitable for this post. If you knew him, you know what I mean. If you don’t, then please know I hope someday you know someone like him so you will. Except there will never be another Thommie Walsh. Ever. And my eyes tear up with joy and sadness every time I know that. Thommie – how very lucky am I to have known you. I miss you still. I always will. Thommie once advised me if you were going to steal, steal from the best. So, to steal a phrase from Thommie – “love you madly – always”

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Bruno had a tooth pulled

Very tough tonight.  The Bruno had a tooth pulled today and he’s not doing great.  The pain meds are wearing off and he’s anxious and restless.
I tried giving him a pain pill the vet gave us, but he won’t take it.  No matter whether I wrap it in cheese, chicken or peanut butter he licks or chews around the pill and then ultimately spits out the pill.
He just keeps moving from one place to another every five or ten minutes. Very restless.  I know he’ll be better soon, but I want to help.
It’s hard to to be the ‘daddy’ when you can’t fix it.
Ugh.
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Joan Rivers on her gay fans

The ever funny, ever relevant Joan Rivers recently spoke about her gay fans in an interview for Frontiers Magazine:

“I think gay men are brighter and smarter and more open, and they always—even in the beginning—got my comedy. I remember the first one to say, ‘she’s funny.’  The first ones in Greenwich Village to laugh at me were the gays.”

In addition to many, many other things, Joan has been a long-time supporter of God’s Love We Deliver, a leading provider of nutritious, individually-tailored meals to people who are too sick to shop or cook for themselves. The organization began as a way to help those affected by HIV in the NYC area.

We love you too Joan. Thanks for all the laughs and support.

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What happens when a bully just won’t stop…

This happened in Australia.

The larger boy, Casey, has apparently been bullied much of his life in high school. Watching the video, he clearly doesn’t want to fight.

I understand, however, that it is Casey that got suspended.

I’m betting the smaller boy who is the bully thinks twice before picking on someone again.

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“HAIR” National Company joins Chicago actors for marriage equality fund-raiser

The National Tour of the 2009 TONY Award winning Best Musical HAIR will join forces with several local Chicago actors to stage a “Be-In” during their stop in Chicago.

The concert event will benefit the non-profit Broadway Impact, a marriage equality organization founded by original tribe member and TONY Award nominee Gavin Creel.

The National Tour tribe has helped keep the spirit and the legacy of HAIR alive with three hugely successful be-in performances in D.C, Seattle, and Los Angeles and is pleased to welcome some of the Chicagoland area’s finest local actors into their commune as part of their efforts. The night of music will feature cast members singing their favorite tunes to benefit and raise awareness to the fight for equality.

The event will be held from 6:00-8:00p.m. on Monday, March 14, 2011 at Sidetrack Chicago located at 3349 N. Halsted in Chicago. General Admission tickets are $25 and will be available at the door.