LGBTQ news and entertainment
In case you missed it last night, here is Billy Porter’s acceptance speech after winning the Tony Award for “Best Actor in a Musical” for his role of “Lola” in the 6 time Tony Award winning Broadway hit, Kinky Boots.
I’m beyond thrilled for Billy. Well deserved.
Just a few of my favorite moments from last night’s 2013 Tony Awards hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. Complete list of winners at the end of this post, but first, some fab performances.
The show started out great with this terrific (and BIG) opening number with NPH:
Winner of 6 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Billy Porter), Best Score (Cyndi Lauper), Best Choreography (Jerry Mitchell) – Kinky Boots:
The cast of “Best Revival” Tony Award winner, Pippin:
Funny original material “Television Sucks” with NPH, Andrew Rannells, Megan Hilty, and Laura Benanti.
And the Tony Awards went to:
Musical – Kinky Boots
Musical Revival – Pippin
Actress (Musical) – Patina Miller
Actress (Play) – Cicely Tyson
Actor (Play) – Tracy Letts
Actor (Musical) – Billy Porter
Lighting Design (Play) – Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer
Play Revival – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Lighting Design (Musical) – Hugh Vanstone
Play – Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Featured Actress (Musical) – Andrea Martin
Scenic Design (Play) – John Lee Beatty
Scenic Design (Musical) – Rob Howell
Score – Cyndi Lauper
Choreography – Jerry Mitchell
Direction (Play) – Pam MacKinnon
Direction (Musical) – Diane Paulus
Book of a Musical – Dennis Kelly
Featured Actor (Musical) – Gabriel Ebert
Sound Design (Play) – Leon Rothenberg
Featured Actress (Play) – Judith Light
Sound Design (Musical) – John Shivers
Featured Actor (Play) – Courtney B. Vance
Costume Design (Play) – Ann Roth
Costume Design (Musical) – William Ivey Long
Orchestrations – Stephen Oremus
CP says the move came following a request from Master Warrant Officer John McDougall, a 23-year veteran of the armed forces.
“This is a huge turnaround from what used to be,” he told CP. “When I first joined, I would never even consider telling anyone that I was gay. It just wasn’t macho.
“To be at the stage now where it is not only recognized and accepted and tolerated, but the base commander of the one of the largest bases of Canada is willing to have that flag put up, it is just an amazing feeling.”
Both were honored this week by the annual Fred Astaire Awards in a rare tie for excellence in dance on Broadway; and both shows have been nominated for awards across the theater spectrum.
Listen as they discuss the process of creating the dances for these box office blockbusters on Broadway.
What’s universal in their approach is the process and artistry of “story-telling” in theater. If you are a fan of Broadway or dance, you will want to listent to these two great artists chat on how successful theater happens.
We also share music from the newly released Cast Recordings of each show.
Openly gay NBA player Jason Collins marched in Boston’s pride parade yesterday.
From Sports Illustrated:
Delivering on a promise he made in an essay for Sports Illustrated in which he revealed that he was gay, Wizards free-agent center Jason Collins marched in Boston’s annual pride parade on Saturday.
Wearing a black Nike shirt with rainbow lettering that read “#BETRUE”, Collins joined his former college roommate and current Massachusetts congressman Joe Kennedy at the event, which drew thousands of attendees and is in its 43rd year.
WCBV.com reported that Boston’s parade drew 230 groups this year, making it the second-largest such event, trailing only New York City.
(via JMG)
The uber-sexy and handsome Joe Manganiello stars in this 3 minute “epic heist” for Magnum Ice Cream.
Oh. My. Gawd.
The short film also stars Caroline Correa and features Zac Posen.
Happy 80th birthday to the always fab and proud LGBT ally, Joan Rivers!
Joan shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. Her reality show, “Joan & Melissa,” in which she stars with her daughter, heads into its fourth season on WE and she’s even appearing on ABC’s “Celebrity Wife Swap.”
“I truly love the business. It’s not a chore,” she said. “I’m always either writing or performing and I like every aspect. I even love set decorating, which annoys the people at E! For me it’s a big sandbox that pays.”
Rivers is asked if she’s bothered that E! is so publicly trumpeting her 80th birthday. “Age means nothing to me,” she said. “Everything is working, everything is going. I’m up, running, taking the stairs, and my concerts are 90 minutes long.”
Sadly, Joan canceled an elaborate 80th birthday celebration after learning of her sister’s death earlier this week.
Here’s just a bit of classic Joan Rivers standup going all the way back to 1967:
And from 1982 on The Tonight Show:
Nike goes a step further in it’s support for the LGBT community. Presenting the Gay Pride Sneaker – the #BeTrue Free Run 5.0 – inspired by and supporting the LGBT community, released in time for gay pride season.
From the Advocate:
Profits of #BeTrue sales will go to the LGBT Sports Coalition, which has set the goal to end the practice of anti-LGBT discrimination in sport by 2016.
The sneaker promises a glove-like fit, with a barefoot running feel.
In addition to the shoe, the collection includes sandals, graphic t’s and tanks, and an iPhone 5 case.
Check out the entire #BeTrue Collection by clicking here.
Nike is the sponsor of the second annual LGBT Sports Summit next week in Portland, Ore., which brings together leaders from across the LGBT sports movement to figure out how we can all work together toward common goals.
Nike, in addition to its 15-year relationship with LGBT organizations and supporting equality in sport, sponsors top WNBA draft pick and out athlete Brittney Griner and out NBA veteran Jason Collins.
Mitt Romney sat down with CNN’s Gloria Borger this week to reflect on his failed Presidential campaign and episodes along the way such as the 47% video and Hurricane Sandy which proved to be major factors in the election outcome.
Mitt Romney: “And there were other things that didn’t help my campaign, either. Obviously a hurricane with a week to go before the election stalled our campaign.”
Gloria Borger: “Do you blame Chris Christie as much as some other people..?
Mitt Romney: “No, no, no… No. No, no…I — I wish the hurricane hadn’t have happened…when it did, because it gave the President a chance to be presidential, and to be out showing sympathy for folks. That’s one of the advantages of incumbency. But, you know, you don’t look back and worry about each little thing, and how could that have been different. You look forward.”
He wishes the hurricane didn’t happen when it did?
I personally wish it never happened but maybe that’s me.
Still thinking good thoughts for all the people affected by the tragedy of the storm.