LGBTQ news and entertainment
Tony Award-winner Lea Salonga’s critically acclaimed Café Carlyle cabaret concert, Back to Before, filmed live at The Allen Room, Jazz at Lincoln.
This is a voice, kids.
New York Times music critic Stephen Holden wrote: “Ms. Salonga is a performer whose formidable talent is matched by her unstoppable drive and keen intelligence. As Broadway divas go, she is a cut above most.”
On April 15, 2014, Tony Award-winner Billy Porter will release his debut CD on Concord Records, Billy’s Back on Broadway.
Featuring ten classics made famous on the Great White Way that focus on inspiration, empowerment and hope, the album’s title is a nod to Sammy Davis, Jr.’s recording Sammy’s Back on Broadway.
“The canon of great Broadway songs is so vast and I have so many favorites that the only way I could narrow them down was to choose a theme,” Porter says of the songs on Billy’s Back on Broadway. “Once I settled on what I wanted to say and the journey I wanted the listener to take, the songs made their presence known rather quickly.”
While Porter grew up as a gospel singer, he transitioned to theater, making his Broadway debut in the original cast of Miss Saigon. “Seeing Jennifer Holliday from Dreamgirls perform on the Tony® Awards telecast and later discovering Barbra Streisand by listening to her albums at the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh really changed everything for me,” Porter says of his career path. “When Barbra released her first Broadway album I was about 15 years old, and I thought, ‘One day, I’m going to make my own Broadway album – just like Babs!’”
Joining Billy on one track will be pop music legend and fellow Tony Award-winner Cyndi Lauper, dueting with Porter on “Happy Days/Get Happy,” a tune made famous by Streisand and Judy Garland. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Cyndi is one of the godmothers of individuality,” Porter explains. “She forged a path for so many of us that didn’t fit into the status quo. I learned so much and have felt so inspired by her journey as an artist and human being before I even knew her. She’s a blessing and a gift, and I’m so thrilled she said ‘yes’ when I asked her to sing on this album.”
Porter continues to star on Broadway in Kinky Boots in his award winning role as “Lola.” The show, based on the 2005 British movie of the same name, tells the story of a drag queen who helps to rescue a floundering shoe factory. Kinky Boots celebrates its one year on Broadway anniversary in April 2014.
Now the winner of every major theater award, including the 2013 Tony® Award for Best Actor in a Musical, Porter is truly living the dream.
The CD is available for pre-order on Amazon.
Track Listing for Billy’s Back on Broadway
1. But The World Goes Round
2. Everything’s Coming Up Roses
3. Don’t Rain On My Parade
4. On The Street Where You Live
5. I’ve Gotta Be Me
6. I’m Not My Father’s Son
7. Happy Days/Get Happy (w/Cyndi Lauper)
8. Luck Be A Lady
9. Take The Moment
10. I Am Changing
(via press release)
Thinking best and most beautiful thoughts to the cast of “The Bridges of Madison County” tonight as they open on Broadway.
I was fortunate to work with leading lady Kelli O’Hara in the first Broadway revival of FOLLIES, and she’s just a dream. All the accolades, and the praise – it’s all well-earned.
And mark my words – this show will mark a star out of leading man Steven Pasquale.
Listen below to some of the fab music. It’s really glorious.
More info on the show – click here.
Celebrating the 17th anniversary of Maury Yeston’s Tony Award winning TITANIC, Manhattan Concert Productions is producing a one-night-only concert staging on February 17 at Avery Fisher Hall.
The evening will reunite much of the original cast, including Michael Cerveris, Brian d’Arcy James, Martin Moran, David Garrison, and Becky Ann Baker, backed by a chorus of 250 and the New York City Chamber Orchestra.
At a rehearsal studio press event, the cast shared a few selections for the cameras.
Watch below as Moran and d’Arcy James sing their gorgeous rendition of “The Proposal/The Night Was Alive.” And watch as the cast begins to lose it at the 2:30 mark.
For ticket info for Titanic in Concert, click here.
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| Oprah Winfrey (L) and Audra McDonald (R) |
Ok. If you REALLY want to sell out the run of a play, you need to get a big star.
Even better – TWO big stars.
Two BIG stars.
And that just may happen.
The New York Times has the story:
Oprah Winfrey is in talks to make her Broadway debut in a revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “’night, Mother,” starring opposite Tony-Award winner Audra McDonald as a mother struggling to stop her daughter from killing herself, according to two theater executives familiar with the plans.
The Tony winner George C. Wolfe (“Lucky Guy”) would direct the production, which is being aimed for the 2015-16 Broadway season.
Read more at the New York Times.
From last night’s Saturday Night Live cold open.
Not all THAT funny, but the entrance of CATS’ “Mr. Mistoffelees” at the end got a chuckle out of me.
Don’t forget, however, that Broadway’s real live Tony Award-winning KINKY BOOTS is performing in the pre-game show. You won’t want to miss that.
Commercials, pre-game show, half-time show, the game itself… And don’t forget the costumes!
Lots to watch at the Super Bowl today!
Everybody at the Super Bowl say “Yeah!”
From the Facebook page of Broadway’s hit musical KINKY BOOTS:
Tune in to FOX on Sunday at 2pm ET to see the cast of Kinky Boots on Broadway in the pre-show opener.
Can you imagine the Million Moms folks heads exploding when THIS happens?
Last summer, I was flattered and thrilled to be asked to step back into CHICAGO the Musical (which I was fortunate to perform in on Broadway, National and International companies) at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
It was a fun, fast and fantastic experience to be onstage again in a show I always loved being a part of.
Today it was announced that the production of CHICAGO the Musical at the Hollywood Bowl won a Broadway World Award for “Best Special Theatre Event.”
Congrats to the whole cast, crew and especially Gregory Butler who handled the choreographic duties and Brooke Shields who directed the production with insight and professionalism.
You can check out some “behind the scenes” blog posts from the rehearsal period here, here, here, here and here.
The experience was one of the very best of my career onstage. Everyone was great to work with – some old friends, some new.
Glad to see this chapter close on such a high note.
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| Hollywood Bowl cast of CHICAGO the Musical with the fab Brooke Shields |
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| For the month of April/May: Sidney Erik Wright, Matt Anctil, Patrick Boyd All photos by Daniel Roberts |
The 24th season of Broadway Bares began Sunday raising $32,781 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Take two-time Tony Award nominee Christopher Sieber, two-time OutMusic Award winner Matt Zarley and 25 talented, sexy New York dancers and you get “Calendar Girl” – this year’s edition of Winter Burlesque by Broadway Bares.
Watch video highlights below.
Tickets for Broadway Bares 24 are on sale now at BroadwayBares.com and BroadwayCares.org.
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| Mr. September Matthew Rossoff |
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| Matt Zarley in the finale of Winter Burlesque “Calendar Girl” |
BroadwayWorld has the details:
“We’re very pleased to be underway on ‘Peter Pan’ as our next live holiday musical for the whole family,” said NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt. “We were all delighted to see how ‘The Sound of Music Live!’ struck such a chord in December and brought nearly 19 million people to the live telecast plus another several million viewers over the weekend. In the hopes that lightning strikes twice, we think we’ve landed on another great Broadway musical – which ironically also starred Mary Martin – that is a timeless classic for all audiences, young and old, who just never want to grow up.”
“We’re thrilled to be reteaming with NBC and Bob Greenblatt in bringing ‘Peter Pan’ back to its roots as a live television event,” said Zadan and Meron. “We hope to create the joy that has made this musical so beloved. We would like a whole new generation to experience ‘Peter Pan’ and for families across the country to share the magic.”
Featuring the iconic songs “I’m Flying,” “I’ve Gotta Crow,” “I Won’t Grow Up,” and “Never Never Land,” and a book full of magic, warmth, and adventure, PETER PAN is the perfect show for the child in all of us who dreamed of soaring high and never growing up.
The broadcast is scheduled for December 4, 2014.
Casting is currently underway although no names have been attached yet.
Post your opinions here – who would you cast in the leading roles? Good choice for the next “live” TV musical?