Tag: Broadway

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Excuse Me For A Moment…

I don’t take my fellow LGBTQ media colleagues to task very often, but I have to say I’ve been stunned how little coverage the passing of Tony Award winner Sammy Williams of A Chorus Line fame got in the LGBTQ media.

I’ll admit up front that some outlets like Boy Culture and Kenneth-in-the-212 took time to acknowledge the huge contribution that Williams made with his groundbreaking performance as a gay dancer in the original Broadway production of A Chorus Line as “Paul San Marco.”

But so many – and you know who you are – didn’t take even a few minutes to briefly write or even link to remembrances of the actor.

I even wrote to a few major outlets to point up his passing.

In addition to the Tony Award, Williams was honored with the Obie Award and a Special Theatre World Award for his stunning work.

It’s no exaggeration to say Sammy’s performance in A Chorus Line changed lives.

Audiences gay and straight had rarely seen such a raw, authentic portrayal of a gay man on the Broadway stage before his Tony Award-winning performance. For many gay men it was heart-stopping to see our lives presented without any pulled punches.

Long before we had actors like out actors like Sean Hayes and Jim Parsons put gay life in front of audiences, even before we had straight actor Billy Crystal in the 70s TV show Soap, Sammy Williams had the courage and talent to stand alone in a single spotlight and stun audiences with a 7-minute monologue with no special effects or tricks – just the power of the sound of his voice – wherein he chronicled his character’s difficult journey as a young gay dancer who could only find safety in the company of drag queens.

Drag queens, Tony Awards, Broadway, authentic gay life – these are subjects constantly in the gay press but for the most part Williams’ passing went ignored.

A Chorus Line won not only 7 Tony Awards (one for Williams) but a Pulitzer Prize for Drama – in great part because of Williams’ performance.

He was a courageous artist and trailblazer.

He deserved more.

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Podcast: HIV Diagnoses Drop In NYC; Reviewing “Love, Simon;” Tony Award Winner Sammy Williams Of “A Chorus Line” Passes Away At 69

In this week’s podcast:

• HIV diagnoses hit a historic low in New York City

• A Texas newspaper removes a reference to a gay man’s husband in an obituary due to “religious beliefs”

• RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars 3 finale leaves some fans stunned

• RuPaul get his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

• My review of the new coming-out/coming-of-age movie Love, Simon

• Tony Award-winner Sammy Williams, whose groundbreaking performance of a young gay dancer in A Chorus Line, passes away at 69

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

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Take Two: Actor Lee Pace Comes Out (Again)

Lee Pace

Actor Lee Pace, who plays “Joe Pitt,” a closeted gay Mormon man in the Broadway revival of Angels in America caught some unexpected press last week after he hesitantly came out during a recent interview with W Magazine.

Apparently, Pace is a very private person and was surprised by reporter Brian Moylan’s question about his sexuality.

“I’ve dated men [and] I’ve dated women. I don’t know why anyone would care,” Pace said at the time. “I’m an actor and I play roles. To be honest, I don’t know what to say — I find your question intrusive.”

That answer apparently didn’t sit well with many in the LGBTQ community especially in light of Pace taking on his high profile gay role in Angels In America.

So Pace is giving the question a second take via a string of tweets wherein he says he “happily owns” being part of the LGBTQ community and that he understands “the importance of living openly.”

In a recent phone interview, I was asked questions that I wasn’t expecting and found myself momentarily at a loss for the right words. My privacy is important to me, so I protect it. When interviewed by the media, I keep the focus on my work.

As a member of the queer community, I understand the importance of living openly, being counted, and happily owning who I am. That’s how I’ve always lived my life…just as it’s been important to me to portray queer characters with dignity for my entire career: A Soldier’s Girl (Showtime. 2003). The Normal Heart (Broadway. 2011). Halt and Catch Fire (AMC. 2014-2017). Angels in America. (Broadway. NOW.)

Onward, with Pride.

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News Round-Up: February 22, 2018

Joe Manganiello (via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Talk about #ThrowbackThursday – how about 18-year-old Joe Manganiello’s first professional headshot (above)? #Woof #Handsome

• The acclaimed revival of Angels In America starring Nathan Lane and Andrew Garfield begins performances at Broadway’s Neil Simon Theater tomorrow night. This groundbreaking LGBT-centric play is a “must-see.” Use code “World” to get a discount and see this deeply moving theatrical experience.

• Broadway luminaries Norm Lewis and Brandon Victor Dixon will join John Legend and Sara Bareilles for the upcoming TV presentation of Jesus Christ Superstar on Easter Sunday.

• Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir will share hosting duties with NBC sportscaster Terry Gannon for NBC’s coverage of the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics on Sunday.

• The Kansas Republican Party has endorsed a resolution that opposes any recognition of the transgender community, while still claiming to respect the “dignity” of LGBT people.

• Platinum selling recording artist BØRNS recently released the new video for “I Don’t Want You Back” from his latest album Blue Madonna.

I recently shared his collaboration with Lana Del Rey, “God Save Our Young Blood” here. I like the moody, atmospheric quality he brings to his sonic landscape.

Listen below and let me know what you think.

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Broadway: Alex Newell & Cast Of Once On This Island Slay “Mama Will Provide”

One of my favoritest Broadway musicals ever, Once On This Island, is back on the Great White Way in a gorgeous new revival.

Check out Alex Newell (Glee) as “Asaka,” Mother Earth, singing “Mama Will Provide” with the luminous company on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

The role, traditionally cast as a woman, is sung with vigor and warmth by Newell. Score a point for non-traditional casting that totally delivers.

The show tells the tale of “Ti Moune” who is sent on a journey by the gods of the island to prove the strength of love over death.

If you are in NYC, make sure you see it.

My longtime friends Norm Lewis (Tony Award nominee for Porgy & Bess) and T. Oliver Reid are both in the cast weaving their powerful gifts into the tapestry this is Once On This Island.

Watch below.

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Broadway Stars Ben Platt & Patti LuPone Deliver Powerful Performances At 2018 Grammy Awards

Patti LuPone delivers stunning “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”
at 2018 Grammy Awards

Last night’s Grammy Awards included tributes to Broadway legends Andrew Lloyd Webber and Leonard Bernstein performed by Tony Award winners Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen) and the one and only Patti Lupone (Evita).

Platt delivered a stirring “Somewhere” from Bernstein’s West Side Story, but it was LuPone’s electrifying “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” from the original Broadway production of Evita in 1979 (a true diva who can still deliver like a boss 39 years later) that stunned the Grammy audience.

LuPone quickly began trending on Twitter.

It was also a big night for Platt as the Dear Evan Hansen cast recording took home the 2018 Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album, moving Platt to the halfway mark to EGOT status ― that is, winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.

Watch both performances below.

Two-time Tony Award winner Donna Murphy chimed in with praise as well:

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Music Review: Shoshana Bean “Remember The Day” From Upcoming Album, Spectrum

Stop, drop and scroll down to hear “Remember The Day,” the first single from uber-pop/R&B diva Shoshana Bean’s upcoming album, Spectrum, due out February 9.

Bean’s three independent solo releases have all topped the iTunes R&B and Blues charts in the US and UK in peak positions including #1. Her 2014 release, Shadows to Light, earned her a Hot Shot debut at #10 on the Billboard Blues charts.

Her body of work is as wide-ranging as her voice. She made her Broadway debut in the original cast of Hairspray on the Great White Way; starred as the first replacement for “Elphaba” in the Broadway mega-hit Wicked. In regional theater, she’s won awards and nominations for starring performances in Funny Girl and the pre-Broadway production of Beaches.

She’s performed sold-out concerts around the world, worked on countless voiceover projects for film and TV, and performed with Ariana Grande, David Foster, Postmodern Jukebox, Brian McKnight, and Michael Jackson.

On her fourth studio album, Spectrum, Bean is living large with her fresh collection of standards and newly-penned songs recorded in the classic tradition of big band.

Drawing inspiration from Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, and Frank Sinatra, Spectrum swings and sways the Shoshana way.

Eighteen – count’em eighteen! – big band musicians kill it on ten tracks arranged by Grammy Award-nominated Alan Ferber.

And then there are the vocals. Lord have mercy.

Bean has long been known for her incredible power and visceral, emotional range. And it’s all on display here.

Every track on Spectrum is a gold, and Bean’s song selection is genius in giving you a little piece of everything in her arsenal of vocal weaponry.

You can trust and believe Aretha would be proud to put her name on Bean’s soulful cover of “With A Little Help From My Friends.”

Totally flipping the script, her Streisand-inspired “If Ever I Would Leave You” is a master class in artful musicianship and restrained passion. Ferber’s subtle, moody arrangement percolates to the perfect boiling point for an evocative emotional meltdown that will leave you breathless.

A soulful “I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You;” a swing-a-ding-dinging “I Wanna Be Around;” and an emotionally raw, closing-time take on “How Deep Is The Ocean” all contribute to sonic bliss.

Listen to her Bond-worthy, backbeat-driven “Remember The Day” below. You’re gonna be glad you did.

You can also check out this live music video performance of “Never Loved A Man” below. #Dang

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Nyle DiMarco Books New TV Series “This Close” As He Heads To Broadway

(Nyle DiMarco in “This Close” – image via screen capture)

America’s Next Top Model/Dancing with the Stars champ Nyle DiMarco is one busy, busy man.

First of all, the former Chippendales celebrity host has booked a new TV series for the Sundance Channel titled, This Close.

According to reports, this will be Hollywood’s first series from a team of deaf writers, producers, and creators. Stars/co-creators Shoshannah Stern and Josh Feldman are deaf as well.

From Sundance: The six-episode half-hour series explores the relationship between best friends Kate (Stern), who is newly engaged, and Michael (Feldman), who is attempting to move on from his ex-fiancé.

ETonline also announced yesterday that DiMarco will be a producer on the upcoming Broadway revival of the play Children of a Lesser God.

The revival of the 1980 production follows the story of a deaf student and her teacher.

This new adaptation will feature Joshua Jackson and Lauren Ridloff.

The show will start preview performances on March 22 at Studio 54, with opening night on April 11.

Watch the trailer for This Close below.

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Podcast: America’s 1st Out Winter Olympian, Possible Once-A-Week HIV Pill On The Horizon, Bette Midler Says “So Long” To Hello, Dolly!

In this week’s Randy Report podcast:

• America has it’s first openly gay Winter Olympian – figure skater Adam Rippon

• The Human Rights Campaign released its annual report ranking state LGBT rights and protections

• A possible once a week pill for HIV patients looks promising in testing studies

• A Wisconsin school district is dropping its challenge to a transgender student’s lawsuit for bathroom privileges

• Woofy out Olympic freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy stars in a new Head & Shoulders commercial touting all kinds of pride

• Bette Midler says “So long, dearie” to Hello, Dolly! on Broadway

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

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Cyndi Lauper Reimagines Poignant, Acoustic “Not My Father’s Son” From KINKY BOOTS

With the original stars of Kinky Boots back in the Broadway company of the hit musical for a limited 15-week engagement, it’s no wonder the Tony Award-winning composer of the show Cyndi Lauper would take time to reflect and reimagine one of the most impactful songs in the show.

Via press release:

Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award winning artist and activist Cyndi Lauper today released the poignant music video for “Not My Father’s Son,” the heartbreaking and inspiring song from her smash hit, Tony Award winning musical, Kinky Boots.

Lauper re-imagined the song, producing and arranging a new, acoustic version of the track, which features original cast members Billy Porter and Stark Sands, released today by Sony Masterworks Broadway.

The music video, which Lauper conceived and directed herself, features gives visual to one of the most important songs from the hit show – telling the story of two very different people from wildly different backgrounds who find common ground through their shared trauma. Exploring the pressure of growing up with a parent’s very narrow expectations, the song celebrates finding peace in your own skin. The video, shot in stark black and white on New York City streets, only leaps into color as the two men, who are on a physical as well as metaphorical journey, are reunited in their safe space.

“Now felt like the right time to do this,” Lauper explained. “I wanted to tell the story of two totally different men, from different walks of life, that come together to realize that it’s our differences that should bring us together. That’s inspiring. And I think we could all use some of that these days… It’s also a great way to welcome Billy and Stark back to Broadway!”

Porter and Sand continue in Kinky Boots on Broadway through January 7, 2018.