Tony Award winner Billy Porter on “Totally Biased” talks on performing on Broadway, staying in shape and, of course, those kinky boots.
Check out Billy’s answer to this question: “What’s harder? Being Black or gay?” Answer at the 4:40 mark.
(source)
Cast for Hollywood Bowl production of CHICAGO the Musical announced
Much of the cast for the Hollywood Bowl production of Kander and Ebb’s Chicago was announced today.
Samantha Barks (“Les Misérables”) will play Velma Kelly, Drew Carey (“The Price Is Right,” “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”) is cast as Amos Hart, with Lucy Lawless (“Xena: Warrior Princess,” Grease) as Mama Morton and Stephen Moyer (“True Blood”) as Billy Flynn.
Stage and screen star Brooke Shields, who appeared in the Broadway and London productions of Chicago, will direct the award-winning musical that will run July 26-28. Rob Fisher will conduct the orchestra.
What the article failed to add was the production will mark the return of moi, Randy Slovacek, to the theatrical stage. I was called by the choreographer of the production, Gregory Butler, a few weeks ago and asked if I would perform in the show. It’s been 8 years since I performed in a full stage production.
And I said “yes.”
I laugh as I type that as I’m currently losing some of my “8 year absence from the stage” weight. Through better eating and working out again I’ve lost 12 pounds in three weeks and have about 6 pounds to go before reaching “dance weight.”
I’m excited to be a part of the show. At this point, I do know that Fosse legend and muse Sandahl Bergman will be taking the stage with us. THAT alone made me say yes. When you can be onstage with Sandahl Bergman, you do it.
Ticket info – for those so inclined – can be found here.
I’ll share the journey of the production here with you fabulous readers.
(I’m excited about this).
Forward.
Neil Patrick Harris will star in Broadway debut of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Playbill reports that Neil Patrick Harris will star in the Broadway premiere of Hedwig and the Angry Inch next year.
“I am simultaneously ecstatic and terrified to be stepping into Hedwig’s heels,” NPH said in a statement. “It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime role and I can’t wait to begin the journey.”
The new adaptation of the musical comedy will star NPH as Hedwig, the fictional transgender rock ‘n’ roll singer-turned-cult-phenomenon after John Cameron Mitchell originated the role both on stage and in film.
John Cameron Mitchell gives his personal blessing saying “Who better to pass the wig to but the finest entertainer of his generation?”, he said in a statement.
Highlights from the 2013 Tony Awards
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
Making Broadway Dance – Broadway choreographers Patti Wilcox and Chet Walker
Listen to internet radio with CandiXRandy on BlogTalkRadio
Candi and Randy welcome the award winning choreographers Chet Walker (PIPPIN) and Patti Wilcox (Motown the Musical) from two of this year’s biggest hits on Broadway.
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.
“Sex Is In The Heel” from Broadway’s KINKY BOOTS
EXCELLENT video from Broadway’s Kinky Boots featuring the fab Billy Porter in his Tony Award-nominated role as “Lola.”
This video gives you performance and “behind-the-scenes” recording studio footage, and a whole lot of excitement!
Original Broadway Cast Recording of Kinky Boots – produced by Cyndi Lauper, Stephen Oremus, William Wittman and Sammy James, Jr.
Music & Lyrics by Grammy Award-winning rock Icon Cyndi Lauper.
Download on iTunes
Download on Amazon.
If on an iOS device, click here to view the video.
Charlotte d’Amboise honored at 2013 Astaire Awards
Pippin star Charlotte d’Amboise and Motown player Eric LaJuan Summers took home the awards for Outstanding Female and Male Dancer in a Broadway show, respectively, at the 31st Annual Fred and Adele Astaire Awards. The ceremony was held June 3 at New York University’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.
Additionally, Pippin choreographer Chet Walker and Motown choreographers Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams tied for Outstanding Choreographer of a Broadway show.
Sidi Larbi Cherkaouit took home the award for Outstanding Choreographer in a Feature Film.
I was fortunate to perform in CHICAGO the Musical many times with Charlotte – my favorite “Roxie.” AND I’d followed and enjoyed her work for many years before and after. MORE than deserving of the honor. What a great, great theater artist.
Congrats to Charlotte and all the honorees!
How Billy Porter becomes the fabulous “Lola” for KINKY BOOTS
Billy Porter, currently starring on Broadway in the new hit musical KINKY BOOTS, welcomed Playbill into his dressing room to document the transformation from “Billy” to “Lola.”
Billy arrives at the theater two hours before a performance to begin the process which includes, makeup, hair, costumes and a whole lot of talent.
Billy has won this season’s Outer Critics Circle Award and Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
Next stop? The Tony Awards!
Everybody say “Yeah!”
NYC: Broadway Beauty Pageant raises $50,000+ for Ali Forney Center
The annual Broadway Beauty Pageant took place on Monday night in New York, and raised more than $50,000 for the Ali Forney Center, the city’s largest LGBT homeless youth shelter.
The winner of the pageant, selected by the audience, was Pippin’s Orion Griffiths. The above video is Orion’s “swimsuit” competition where he first stretches a bit, then strips down to his swim suit.
Pretty impressive.
I saw PIPPIN last month and it was just as hard to not watch Orion as it is here.
🙂
(via Boy Culture)
Nathan Lane on The Daily Show
Nathan Lane drops by The Daily Show to chat on his new Tony Award nominated performance in “The Nance,” his advice to Bette Midler and a few other things.