LGBTQ news and entertainment
Tune in as I share my “Top 5” lists of the best in LGBTQ music, film, theater and more from the year that was 2016. • Top 5 songs from out musicians Ty Herndon, David Hernandez, Jeb Havens, Halsey and Tegan & Sara • Top 5 LGBT themed movies: Moonlight, Retake, Other People, First Girl I Loved and King Kobra • Highlights from Broadway including The Color Purple, Falsettos and Dear Evan Hansen All that and much more. Hit the play button and enjoy!
Some news items you might have missed:
• The brilliant indie film Moonlight received 6 Golden Globe nominations which means even more of the world will be exposed to one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. If you haven’t seen it yet, GO!
• Scientists are downloading and copying government climate data as quickly as possible out of fears a Trump administration might destroy any info showing the reality of climate change.
• Politico is reporting that upwards of 20 GOP Electoral College members are considering not casting their votes for Donald Trump on December 19th. The most EC members to change their votes in one year was 6 in 1808.
• More from the Electoral College – 40 members have asked for an intelligence briefing before December 19th regarding information that Russia actively moved to help elect Donald Trump.
• Oklahoma lawmakers have approved a bill that would require businesses to post anti-abortion signs in their bathrooms.
• Following an acclaimed 4 night concert production at City Center this past October, Jake Gyllenhaal heads back to Broadway in Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday In The Park With George for ten weeks at the Hudson Theater.
NBC gives us this sneak peek “Countdown to Hairspray Live!”
From Entertainment Weekly:
Hairspray might be set in the ’60s, but the stars of NBC’s upcoming live version of the film and Broadway show think it has a lot to say about modern times, too. “The subject of Hairspray is very current to today,” Jennifer Hudson, who plays Motormouth Maybelle, says in a new featurette. She later explains, “To me, the power in Hairspray is no matter your size, your color, where you’re from, what type of lifestyle you live, it celebrates everyone.”
Hairspray got its start in 1988 as a film, written and directed by John Waters. That version starred a young Ricki Lane as Tracy Turnblad, a plus-size teen girl determined to dance on a local television show, redefine their beauty standards, and desegregate the cast. It then became a Broadway musical, and Adam Shankman directed a feature film adaptation in 2007. Now, Hairspray is the latest in NBC’s slate of live musical broadcasts.
Watch Hairspray Live! on Wednesday, December 7 at 8/7c on NBC.
Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein as “Edna” and that fab Jerry Mitchell choreography – this will be great!
Jennifer Hudson as “Motormouth Maybelle?” -Not so sure she’s got the vintage to sing “I Know Where I’ve Been.” But I am a fan.
Hairspray Live! debuts on Wednesday, December 7 at 8/7c on NBC.
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| Soccer star Christiano Ronaldo |
Some news stories you may have missed:
• Hunky soccer star Christiano Ronaldo, called a faggot during a recent match, delivers awesome comeback: “A faggot, yes. But a rich one.”
• Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean called Donald Trump’s newly named Chief Strategist, Steve Bannon of Breitbart fame, a “Nazi.” If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck…
• North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory is laying the groundwork to have his state legislature hand him re-election.
• Melania Trump and son Barron will not be moving into the White House any time soon, choosing to stay in NYC for Barron’s private school. This could mean an added $1 million/day for NYPD – or rather, for the American taxpayer.
• Donald Trump summoned several news executives and leading news anchors from CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and more to Trump Tower for an off-the-record meeting. Still no press conference since becoming President-elect.
• Dear Evan Hansen, the critically acclaimed off-Broadway musical about an achingly lonely, high school misfit, opens on Broadway to strong box office numbers.
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| The cast of Dear Even Hansen |
Broadway legend Carol Channing gives you her take on the classic role of “Tevye” from Fiddler on the Roof. Continue reading “Carol Channing As “Tevye” In FIDDLER ON THE ROOF”
Some news stories you may have missed:
• The first episode of woofy web series WHERE THE BEARS ARE Season 5 is here – watch below!
• Logo’s “Finding Prince Charming” star under fire for his past work as a male escort.
• New study delivers promising results for new Alzheimers treatment.
• Guess who’s hitting the dance floor for the next season of DANCING WITH THE STARS?
• Moulin Rouge The Musical heading to a Broadway stage in the near future.
• 9th Circuit Court of Appeals tells medicinal marijuana card holders: “No guns for you!”
Very sweet moment as Barbra Streisand visits her Funny Girl dressing room on Broadway for the first time in 50 years.
I visited that very dressing room 30 years ago when I was rehearsing for the national touring company of CATS and the Broadway production was playing at the Winter Garden Theater.
Via CBS’ “Sunday Morning:”
In this web exclusive, the singer who became a superstar in the 1960s Broadway musical “Funny Girl” visited her old haunts at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City, including the dressing room now occupied by “School of Rock” star Sierra Boggess.
Tony Award winner Jennifer Holliday, who shot to fame in 1981 for her scorched earth performance as “Effie White” in the original Broadway company of Dreamgirls will return to the Great White Way in the celebrated Broadway revival of The Color Purple beginning October 4th.
Taking over the role of “Shug Avery” from Heather Headley, this engagement marks Holliday’s first return to Broadway since a two month run as “Matron ‘Mama’ Morton” in the long-running revival of Chicago the Musical in 2001.
From Playbill:
“I was deeply moved by this truly uplifting production of The Color Purple and I am highly honored and absolutely thrilled to be joining this extraordinary cast,” said Holliday in a statement. “Nothing compares to performing before a Broadway audience and I can’t wait to return to the Broadway stage, where I started my career over 35 years ago.”
Director John Doyle added, “There is a rich and significant legacy to the line of women who have been part of The Color Purple, and I am very honored and excited to work with another major actress as she assumes one of its iconic roles. I am very taken with Ms. Holliday’s approach to the character of Shug and I look forward to sharing how her integrity and experience will enrich this production of The Color Purple.”
The Houston-born Holliday made her Broadway debut at age 19 in Vinnette Carroll’s 1980 gospel musical Your Arms Too Short To Box With God as a featured soloist. After Dreamgirls she returned to Broadway just twice as replacement Teen Angel in the 1994 revival of Grease, and as a replacement Matron “Mama” Morton in the long-running revival of Chicago for two months in 2001. This is her first return to Broadway since then.
I recently saw Holliday at the terrific 35th anniversary concert of Dreamgirls in Los Angeles where she appeared for the first time in over three decades with co-stars Sheryl Lee Ralph and Loretta Devine. I can attest that Holliday is still a powerful force to be reckoned with onstage.
From Idina Menzel’s upcoming album Idina., set for release September 23, everyone’s favorite Broadway/Frozen diva drops this new music video for “Queen of Swords.”
On her official website, Idina calls the new collection “The most personal introspective album I’ve made.”
Listen for that last note!
You can pre-order the album on iTunes here. Both “Queen of Swords” and “I See You” are available for immediate download.