LGBTQ news and entertainment
Guest post by Lawrence Pfeil Jr. In 1992 when the first Broadway Bares was put on, or rather “taken off,” at Splash bar in New York City by Jerry Mitchell and the company of The Will Rogers Follies. Continue reading “Celebrating XXX Broadway Bares: A Fundraising Video Tribute”
I meant to share this weeks ago, and I’ve been looking for more uplifting content to post. This certainly fits the bill. Alumni of the hit Broadway musical, Hairspray, created this virtual reunion performance of the show’s finale “You Can’t Stop the Beat” to raise money for the Actors Fund of America. While the word ‘actor’ is used in the name of the organization, the group actually helps all people who work in the theater including ushers, musicians, wardrobe folks, and more. The super-infectious, feel-good video is simply pure joy. Beginning with three Tracy Turnblads – Ricki Lake (from the original John Waters’s original 1988 classic), Marissa Jaret Winokur (who created the role on Broadway), and Nikki Blonsky (from the musical film version in 2007) – stars including Harvey Fierstein, Andrea Martin, Matthew Morrison, Kristin Chenoweth, Andrew Rannells, Laura Bell Bundy, Alex Newell, Sean Hayes, and Randy Rainbow all take part alongside the ensemble alumni. Bet you can’t keep from bouncing 🙂
L-R Lisa Brescia, Christiane Noll, Jessica Phillips, and Jennifer Laura Thompson
The Broadway producers wisely took advantage of the show’s terrific score to come up with unique spins on the songs. In the past, I’ve shared two ‘Evan Hansens’ singing “Only Us” to each other for Valentine’s Day and four actors who’ve taken on the title role from the Broadway, National Tour, Toronto and West End productions singing “For Forever.”
Larry Kramer in 2010 (photo: David Shankbone – CC License)
Larry Kramer, the noted writer whose raucous, antagonistic campaign for an all-out response to the AIDS crisis helped shift national health policy in the 1980s and ’90s, died on Wednesday morning in Manhattan. He was 84.
His husband, David Webster, said the cause was pneumonia. Mr. Kramer had weathered illness for much of his adult life. Among other things he had been infected with H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, contracted liver disease and underwent a successful liver transplant.
An author, essayist and playwright — notably hailed for his autobiographical 1985 play, “The Normal Heart” — Mr. Kramer had feet in both the world of letters and the public sphere. In 1981 he was a founder of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the first service organization for H.I.V.-positive people, though his fellow directors effectively kicked him out a year later for his aggressive approach. (He returned the compliment by calling them “a sad organization of sissies.”)
He was then a founder of a more militant group, Act Up (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), whose street actions demanding a speedup in AIDS drugs research and an end to discrimination against gay men and lesbians severely disrupted the operations of government offices, Wall Street and the Roman Catholic hierarchy.
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, credits Kramer with playing an “essential” role in the development of drug regimens that could help those living with HIV, and in urging the FDA to streamline its process for vetting and approval of new drugs.
Kramer’s play, The Normal Heart, opened at the Public Theater in April 1985 and ran for nine months. The play chronicled the early years of the HIV/AIDS crisis and his often aggressive activism to get people engaged in solving the epidemic. In 2011, The Normal Heart was revived on Broadway winning the Tony Award for Best Revival. And in 2014, Kramer wrote a television adaptation for HBO (directed by Ryan Murphy) which won the 2014 Emmy for outstanding television movie. In his review of the revival, Ben Brantley of the New York Times wrote, “By the play’s end, even people who think they have no patience for polemical theater may find their resistance has melted into tears. No, make that sobs.” I encourage you to read the full profile by the New York Times here.
Rest in power to our fighter Larry Kramer. Your rage helped inspire a movement. We will keep honoring your name and spirit with action. In the spirit of ACT UP, join us and chant this (three times). #ACTUPFightbackENDAIDS #ACTUPFightbackENDAIDS #ACTUPFightbackENDAIDS pic.twitter.com/4fAqeO6STW
— ACT UP NY (@actupny) May 27, 2020
Larry Kramer valued every gay life at a time when so many gay men had been rendered incapable of valuing our own lives. He ordered us to love ourselves and each other and to fight for our lives. He was a hero.
— Dan Savage (@fakedansavage) May 27, 2020
He was fierce, he was important, he never backed down. He criticized the homophobes and the community itself. He wouldn't tolerate complacence or "thinking with your d**k". If he made you angry, yeah, well, that's what he did. RIP to a true legend.https://t.co/FeMX6N862f
— michael musto (@mikeymusto) May 27, 2020
Don’t know a soul who saw or read The Normal Heart and came away unmoved, unchanged. What an extraordinary writer, what a life.
Thank you, Larry Kramer. pic.twitter.com/M3hA0cNrCU— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 27, 2020
RIP Larry Kramer, a true American hero, an angry prophet, a founder of GMHC and ACT UP, a great playwright and a proud gay man. Known for his completely justified rage, he was also a savior, a husband and someone who made a difference in so many lives pic.twitter.com/05zmQxudkD
— Paul Rudnick (@PaulRudnickNY) May 27, 2020
Rest in power to an icon and true fighter until the very end. We thank you, Larry Kramer. https://t.co/arggtehkYx
— Janet Mock (@janetmock) May 27, 2020
When Americans tried to ignore the AIDS crisis, Larry Kramer and his allies in ACT UP forced the nation to reckon with the public health emergency head-on. His work remains a model for aggressive activism in the face of a pandemic. https://t.co/WWBecap6Oq
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) May 27, 2020
Broken heart. (Not covid) https://t.co/2Ro6nHd5yJ
— Peter Staley (@peterstaley) May 27, 2020
Larry Kramer has died, at 84 years old. “There is no question in my mind that Larry helped change medicine in this country,” Anthony Fauci said in a 2002 Profile of the activist and author. https://t.co/Z3BshxhN7p
— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) May 27, 2020
Guest post by Lawrence Pfeil, Jr. You can turn off its bright lights, lock up its stage doors, and silence the “Lullaby of Broadway,” but you’ll never take away a gay man’s dreams of being a musical theatre star! But while the rest of us wait for theatre marquees across America to light up again, we can follow Anthony on his journey in the new movie musical comedy, Still Waiting in the Wings is set for its worldwide release May 15, 2020, on DVD and all digital platforms, including Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play. Still Waiting in the Wings is a light-hearted musical tale following the triumphs and trials of actors dreaming of the Great White Way, mixing sweet aspirations with bitter drama. Our stars sing and dance while living the reality of slinging hash under the florescent lights at Times Square’s famed “Café Broadway.” There are truly no people like show people and there’s no telling what can happen when they’re pitted against each other. Sprinkled along the way are special appearances by Nick Adams, Ed Asner, Carole Cook, Lee Meriwether, Patricia Richardson, Chita Rivera, Seth Rudetsky, Sally Struthers, Bruce Vilanch, and Cindy Williams. 
Jeffrey A. Johns and Chita Rivera in ‘Still Waiting in the Wings’
Lawrence Pfeil, Jr., is a freelance writer/playwright who has reviewed film and theatre, both on and off-Broadway, for media outlets including The Randy Report, the New York Blade, and Edge Publications. You can follow him at TheOUTfront.com.
(photo: Ludovic Bertron/Flickr)
With the ongoing suspension of Broadway performances due to COVID-19 continuing until further notice, the Broadway League is updating information regarding performance cancellations and ticketing protocol. While a date to resume performances is yet to be determined, Broadway theatres are now offering refunds and exchanges for tickets purchased for performances through September 6, 2020.
“While all Broadway shows would love to resume performances as soon as possible, we need to ensure the health and well-being of everyone who comes to the theatre – behind the curtain and in front of it – before shows can return. The Broadway League’s membership is working in cooperation with the theatrical unions, government officials, and health experts to determine the safest ways to restart our industry,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League.
“Throughout this challenging time, we have been in close communication with Governor Cuomo’s office and are grateful for his support and leadership as we work together to bring back this vital part of New York City’s economy – and spirit.”
Those holding tickets for performances through September 6, 2020 will receive an e-mail from their point of purchase with detailed information regarding refund and exchange options. Any customers holding tickets through September 6, 2020 that have not received an e-mail by May 18th are advised to contact their point of purchase for assistance after this date.
With a return date still to be determined, Broadway productions will remain dark through September 6. https://t.co/BeXrwkHUaK
— Playbill (@playbill) May 12, 2020
Lincoln Center Theatre will stream (for free!) it’s Tony Award-winning 2015 production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I (2015) tonight, May 8, at 8PM ET on BroadwayHD. Directed by Bartlett Sher, starring Kelli O’Hara, Ken Watanabe, and Ruthie Ann Miles, the production was honored with 4 Tony Awards including Best Revival. If you can’t make it tonight, don’t worry – the show will be available to stream for free for 48 hours following the viewing party. If you like to do the Twitter participation thing, use the hashtag #RNHMovieNight to watch along with other Broadway fans. This screening is being presented in support of The Actors Fund, an organization near and dear to my heart 🙂 To donate, visit: ActorsFund.org/TheKingAndI
Billy Porter (photo: Santiago Felipe)
And speaking of change, Porter is also keeping an eye on November when U.S. citizens will be voting for a new president. “While we’re all stuck at home, now is a great time to make sure you’re registered to vote,” he said. “The election is comin,’ y’all. Let’s get ready and stay ready.” Register to Vote! https://linktr.ee/TheeBillyPorter “For What It’s Worth” is the follow-up to Porter’s recent single, “Love Yourself,” which hit #1 on the Billboard Club Play Songs Chart in summer of 2019 and was timed to World Pride/Stonewall50. The video for “Love Yourself” was a celebrity lip-sync extravaganza featuring cameos by Porter’s Pose co-stars along with Cyndi Lauper, Kelly Ripa, Debra Messing, Lin Manuel Miranda, and designer Christian Siriano, among many others. 
Billy Porter covers iconic protest song, “For What It’s Worth”
Nick and his mom before the quarantine
Please stop and enjoy the musical goodness… From Good Morning America, nine current and former Disney on Broadway cast members virtually perform Alan Menken’s “Go the Distance” to honor food bank workers, volunteers and struggling families on ABC’s “Day of Hope.”
The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 400,000 people and killed at least 13,000 in the United States so far.
Another serious consequence of the outbreak: food insecurity.
With sky-rocketing unemployment and millions of children unable to receive free or reduced-price school lunches, more people are now facing hunger because of this crisis, according to Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the U.S.
Due to this crisis, ABC is launching Day of Hope, in partnership with Feeding America, to highlight food banks and food pantry personnel working on the front lines, and to share food resources with all Americans who need it.
Feeding America officials report they are seeing a massive increase in demand. Approximately 37 million people are food insecure, including 11 million children and 5.5 million seniors.
Learn more about Feeding America’s work and get involved at FeedingAmerica.org/FeedTheLove. They are all exquisite talents, but I do love me some Heather Headley…
(h/t to Larry at TheOUTfront.com)