Tag: George Takei

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Video Highlights From The Upcoming Broadway Musical “Allegiance”

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Check out George Takei and Lea Salonga in ALLEGIANCEGeorge Takei, Lea Salonga & Telly Leung pledge ALLEGIANCE to Broadway!Posted by Broadway.com on Thursday, November 5, 2015

Directed by my friend Stafford Arima and starring George Takei in his Broadway debut, alongside Lea Salonga and Telly Leung.

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Matt Zarley Romances Film Festivals with Musical Short Film “hopefulROMANTIC” Co-Starring George Takei

I was thrilled to have the chance to interview TV legend and LGBT icon George Takei for Queerty’s exclusive on the new musical short film, “hopefulROMANTIC,” by award-winning singer/songwriter Matt Zarley.

After spending months romancing audiences on the film festival circuit, the short film and the film’s soundtrack are available today on iTunes.

To read my interview with the two “romantics,” head over to Queerty.

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George Takei Explains Much Of The Star Trek Lore & Metaphors

Star Trek star, LGBT activist and soon-to-be Broadway actor (in the upcoming ALLEGIANCE) George Takei chats with Big Think regarding the creation, thinking and ideas behind the now iconic TV series STAR TREK.

Takei explores Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry’s ambitious and progressive vision for the future: “Roddenberry felt that the Enterprise was a metaphor for starship earth and the strength of this starship lay in its diversity.”

We also learn that Takei’s character, Sulu, represented a united Asia free of the many strifes Roddenberry witnessed during the 20th century. Takei tells us how the name “Sulu” came about; it’s an incredibly inspirational story.

Finally, Takei explains the now-glaring omission of gay and lesbian characters from Roddenberry’s progressive Enterprise.

In short, it was the 1960’s and the biracial kiss between Uhura and Kirk nearly sank the show. Roddenberry knew there were limits to what the public would tolerate and he couldn’t risk losing his platform for social commentary by testing them. Thankfully, as Takei notes, times have changed quite a bit since then in so many ways. And Star Trek and Gene Roddenberry are partly responsible.

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Broadway Web Series: “Allegiance: Trek To Broadway”

The creators of Allegiance, a new musical based on Star Trek star (and LGBT elder statesman) George Takei’s real life experience as a child in Japanese internment camps during WWII, have launched a 10-part bimonthly online web series following the musical’s journey to opening night.

Titled Allegiance: Trek To Broadway, you can follow the series on George Takei‘s Facebook page:

It’s not quite like “Smash.” Few things are as difficult and complex as taking a show to ‪#‎Broadway‬. It’s a long road–a trek, if you will–paved with uncertainty, risks, and challenges. It’s both thrilling and terrifying.

Since we began this journey, the fans consistently have been our biggest supporters. As a thank you, and with our friends at ‪#‎Facebook‬, we want to give you all a first row seat to an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what it has taken to make this lifelong dream of mine a reality. Please pass it along to any one you know who has a Broadway dream of their own.

Previews begin October 6th with an official opening on November 8th at the Longacre Theater.

The first episode makes it’s debut today. Check it out below:

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George Takei Apologizes For Clarence Thomas “Blackface” Comment

On Thursday, George Takei raised eyebrows for comments he made regarding Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Thomas’ dissent on the recent marriage equality ruling.

Among other things Takei referred to Thomas as a “clown in blackface.”

Via The Hill:

Actor and gay rights advocate George Takei is slamming Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas after his dissent to last week’s decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide claimed that the government can neither give nor take away human dignity. “He is a clown in blackface sitting on the Supreme Court. He gets me that angry,” the former “Star Trek” star said in an interview with Fox 10 this week in Phoenix, standing alongside his longtime partner and husband. “For him to say slaves had dignity … I mean, doesn’t he know slaves were chained? That they were whipped on the back?” Takei asked.

Today, Takei apologized for his “regrettable” choice of words:

I am reminded, especially on this July 4th holiday, that though we have the freedom to speak our minds, we must use that freedom judiciously. Each of us, as humans, have hot-button topics that can set us off, and Justice Thomas had hit mine, that is clear. But my choice of words was regrettable, not because I do not believe Justice Thomas is deeply wrong, but because they were ad hominem and uncivil, and for that I am sorry.

I often ask fans to keep the level of discourse on this page and in comments high, and to remember that we all love this country and for what it stands for, even if we often disagree passionately about how to achieve those goals. I did not live up to my own high standards in this instance. I hope all of you have a wonderful, safe and joyously free July 4th, the first where all married couples in the U.S. can enjoy the full liberties of matrimony equally. It is truly a blessing to be an American today.

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It Takeis Two Episode 2: “Seriously Part 2?!”

Episode 2 Seriously Part 2: Frustrated after learning that his husband George was responsible for a “mean meme” circulating on the Internet, Brad takes matters into his own hands and visits Google Headquarters, searching for the head of the company to have him take the meme down.

But the intelligence Brad encounters surprises him with its response.

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Web Series: “It Takeis Two” Starring George Takei

New web series from actor and activist George Takei (Star Trek’s Sulu) and husband Brad Takei as they navigate their daily lives, from the internet and Broadway, to jetpacks and human hamster balls.

Synopsis for Episode One:

Brad Takei discovers a “mean meme” of himself on husband George Takei’s Facebook page and launches a mission to get it taken down. George tries to help Brad realize that the internet is a “wild west” that must be accepted for what it is, but Brad remains unswayed.

His adventure takes him all the way to Google headquarters in NYC, where he encounters a surprise form of artificial intelligence. Will Brad succeed in his meme quest? Tune in to find out!

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Indiana: George Takei Calls For Boycott Over SB 101

As anti-gay legislation in Indiana – SB 101 – heads to Gov. Mike Pence’s desk, George Takei called for a boycott of the state should the bill become law:

The Governor of Indiana has indicated that he will sign SB101—a law that allows businesses to discriminate against customers based on the proprietors’ religious beliefs. This bill is strikingly similar to one proposed—and vetoed due to public outcry—in Arizona. Such laws harken back to a time where our society was divided, and people of color were banned from white establishments. That is not our nation any longer, and those are not our values.

To the governor and to the legislators in Indiana who support this backward-looking and divisive bill, I say to you this: If it goes into effect, Indiana will be marked as a state where certain people are not welcome, and so we will not visit. We will not spend. And we will not attend events, including GenCon, the world’s largest gaming convention, held in Indianapolis each year. Many fans here are gamers, Governor Pence, and we will demand the convention move out of your state.

Fans, friends and especially you gamers, let Governor Pence know how you feel about this bill. Give him a call: 317-232-4567.

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George Takei Gives Alabama The (Wedding) Finger

Star Trek icon and social media darling George Takei took to his Facebook page today with husband Brad to send a message to Alabama and it’s currently “in flux” state of marriage:

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Post by George Takei.

I join George and thousands on Twitter today with my own#LuvUAlabama:

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New Music: Matt Zarley “hopefulROMANTIC”

After a successful crowdfunding campaign, a concept that went from music album to musical short film, plus film festival awards, Matt Zarley’s new album hopefulROMANTIC is finally available.

hopefulROMANTIC is a universal story about loving, letting go, and holding onto faith that
there’s somebody for everybody.

And it’s not only a new album – it’s two! Zarley has released a “pop versions” CD of the songs that comprise his award-winning short film of the same name, and a movie soundtrack with the film versions of the songs.

Check out the new albums on iTunes and Amazon.

And check out his latest music video (taken from the film) featuring the iconic George Takei in his role as “George O’Mei” who helps Zarley’s character find renewed hope on his journey to romance.

Plus – check out part of my interview with George Takei from the red carpet at the LA preview of hopefulROMANTIC:

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Post by Matt Zarley.