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Throwback Thursday: Backstage At Broadway’s FOLLIES

My dear friend and former castmate Joey Sorge (currently killing it in the hit Bway production, A Bronx Tale) recently sent me this pic from my first performance in what was arguably one of my happiest experiences on Broadway from the 2001 Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s brilliant FOLLIES. This was taken as I was getting “mic-ed up” for the show. Wow, time flies. Who is that guy? I’ve written before about this incredible experience and the ensuing reunions of this amazing cast here. If you’re a Broadway fan you may be interested in the backstory here 🙂

Stephen Sondheim, legendary Broadway composer and lyricist, has died at 91
With Sondheim backstage during the 2001 Broadway revival of ‘Follies’

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News Round-Up: December 7, 2017

Some news items you might have missed:

• Fitness guy Ben Zerbst posts on Instagram he thought he heard a dog. Actually, it was just me woofing.

• One of the gay men Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis denied a marriage license has announced he will run for her office.

• Actor/athletes Terry Crews is suing his former William Morris Endeavor agent, Adam Venit, alleging Venit grabbed Crews by the balls at a party.

• Folks were wondering about Donald Trump’s unusual speech impediment during his announcement that the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel. Many suspect his dentures came loose. Take a listen and decide for your self.

• Pot meet kettle: Steven Bannon criticized 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney saying he avoided military service by serving his Mormon mission during Vietnam. Ironic since Bannon shepherded Donald Trump to the presidency. Trump famously received deferment after deferment for “bone spurs” during Vietnam.

• For the first time in history, a cast member of the Broadway production of CATS was involved in an incident with a dog during a performance.

• Retired pro soccer star Robbie Rogers married TV and film producer Greg Berlanti. The twosome have been a couple since 2013 and became engaged last December. They are parents to adorable Caleb, who they had via surrogate in February 2016.

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Sen. Al Franken Slaps At Donald Trump & Roy Moore In Resignation Speech


 “I, of all people, am aware that there is some irony in the fact that I am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the Oval Office and a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls campaigns for the Senate with the full support of his party,” 

-Sen Al Franken on the floor of the U.S. Senate in his speech announcing his resignation amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

While the Democrats in Congress take the proverbial “high road” in callng for Franken’s departure based on allegations, the Republicans show no such leaning as they remain silent on Donald Trump’s 13 accusers of sexual misconduct and Alabama Republican Roy Moore seems headed to a Senate win even as a dozen women allege sexual impropriety on his part.

Hypocrisy much?

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Anti-Same-Sex Marriage Couple Renege On Divorcing On Passage Of Marriage Equality

I’ve posted in the past about a married couple of haters in Australia who “threatened” to divorce should marriage equality come to the land “down under.”

Back in June 2015, Nick and Sarah Jensen of Canberra swore to divorce in protest if the government legalized same-sex marriage.

It will come as no surprise the threat was an empty one as Parliament has resoundingly approved marriage equality.

From The Daily Mail:

And after Parliament finally passed the law to cheers on Thursday afternoon, Mr Jensen announced his position in a statement to Daily Mail Australia. “My previous public comments regarding civil divorce never envisaged me separating from my wife, but rather our marriage from the State,” he wrote.

“The legislation currently makes it untenable for us to do this under the law. The point we were highlighting and that still stands however is the fact that a redefinition of marriage changes the agreement under which we were originally married. We will be making no further comment.”

Here’s Nick Jansen’s statement from 2015:

“My wife and I just celebrated our 10-year anniversary. But later this year, we may be getting a divorce. The decision to divorce is not one we’ve taken lightly. And certainly, it’s not one that many will readily understand. And that’s because it’s not a traditional divorce. Our view is that marriage is a fundamental order of creation. Part of God’s human history. Marriage is the union of a man and a woman before a community in the sight of God. And marriage of any couple is important to God regardless of whether that couple recognises God’s involvement or authority in it.” 

(h/t JoeMyGod) 

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Australia Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

Australia’s House of Representatives has legalized same-sex marriage by a wide margin.

Only four MPs voted no to make marriage equality the law of the land.

The Senate had already approved the legislation last week by a vote of 43-12.

After the Governor-General gives the legislation official approval in a formality known as “Royal Assent,” marriage equality will become the law of the land. Australia will become the 25th country to recognize same-sex couples’ right to marry.

Congratulations, Australia!

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Two Teens Arrested For Allegedly Forcing Victim To “Apologize” For Being Gay

Image via Flickr – Annie Mole

Two sixteen-year-old boys have been arrested in connection with the assault of a 19-year-old man who was attacked and forced to “apologize’ for being gay.

Via NewsTalk:

The victim, a 19-year-old man, was travelling on a westbound London Underground Jubilee line train between West Ham and North Greenwich with his friends.

They were dressed in fancy dress for an event they were going to on October 21st at around 11.10pm.

Two other men boarded the train at West Ham and began verbally abusing the victim and his friends, using homophobic language.

When challenged, police say they became more aggressive.

The first offender then pulled the victim from his seat into a headlock, strangling him.

The second man took the victim’s phone and verbally abused him again, and threatened to stab him.

They demanded the victim apologise for being gay which he eventually did as he was struggling to breathe.

They then let him go and handed back his phone – a fight then broke out between the victim’s friends and the offenders.

One of the victim’s friends, a 25-year-old woman, was punched and pushed to the ground. She sustained bruising.

Police say the original victim did not sustain any injuries.

Officers had launched an appeal to find the people shown in images as they may have information which could help the investigation.

In a statement, British Transport Police say: “Hate crime will not be tolerated… We believe that everyone has the right to travel safety.

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Gay-Themed Animated Short Film “In A Hearbeat” Makes Shortlist For Oscars

Ten films have made the shortlist out of 63 that qualified for this year’s Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

One of those ten is the acclaimed In A Heartbeat chronicling the charming tale of a schoolboy who’s heart leads him to face his same-sex school crush.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences will vote to select five nominees in January.

Watch the charming animated short below.

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TIME Magazine Recognizes “The Silence Breakers” Of The #MeToo Movement As “Person Of The Year”

This morning, TIME Magazine announced “The Silence Breakers” of the #MeToo movement as the publication’s “Person of the Year.”

Truly, this is worthy recognition for one of the fastest cultural shifts seen in modern history.

Donald Trump, an accused sexual predator himself, was runner-up. Trump is mentioned in the piece as both a harasser and a motivation to speak out.

From the TIME Magazine article:

We’re still at the bomb-throwing point of this revolution, a reactive stage at which nuance can go into hiding. But while anger can start a revolution, in its most raw and feral form it can’t negotiate the more delicate dance steps needed for true social change. Private conversations, which can’t be legislated or enforced, are essential.

Norms evolve, and it’s long past time for any culture to view harassment as acceptable. But there’s a great deal at stake in how we assess these new boundaries—for women and men together. We can and should police criminal acts and discourage inappropriate, destructive behavior.

At least we’ve started asking the right questions. Ones that seem alarmingly basic in hindsight: “What if we did complain?” proposes Megyn Kelly. “What if we didn’t whine, but we spoke our truth in our strongest voices and insisted that those around us did better? What if that worked to change reality right now?” Kelly acknowledges that this still feels more like a promise than a certainty. But for the moment, the world is listening.

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Pennsylvania: GOP Lawmaker Flips Out Over Being Touched On The Arm By Another Man

Ok. Umm, wow.

Wait until you get a load of Pennsylvania state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe.

Metcalfe, a Republican, felt the urge to confirm for everyone attending a meeting of the Penn State House Government Committee that he is indeed heterosexual.

During the meeting ranking Democrat Matt Bradford touched his arm to underscore a point he was making.

Metcalfe stopped all traffic to admonish Bradford saying, “I’m a heterosexual. I have a wife. I love my wife. I don’t like men as you might so stop touching me all the time. Keep your hands to yourself. If you want to touch somebody, you have people on your side of the aisle that might like it. I don’t.”

Metcalfe has a history of anti-LGBT behavior.

As you can see in the clip below, the touch was very innocent.

(I wonder if Metcalfe feels like he’s now been sexually harassed???)

By the way: Bradford is married. Married to a woman.

Paranoia much, Mr. Metcalfe?

(Check the response by the woman to Bradford’s left).