Tag: Jerry Mitchell

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Tonight in NYC – “Broadway Bares 23: United Stripes of America”

Broadway’s sexiest night of the year has arrived: The 23rd annual edition of Broadway Bares, entitled Broadway Bares 23: United Strips of America, is presented at Roseland Ballroom June 23 at 9:30 PM and midnight to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

United Strips of America, according to press notes, “celebrates America’s fruited plains and mountains majesties. A bi-coastal couple will set out on separate, sexy journeys through a dozen states – encountering scantily clad inhabitants along the way – in hopes of reuniting in the heartland.” Max von Essen (Evita) and Michael Cusumano (Chicago) appear throughout the show as the couple. Guest stars also include two-time Tony nominee Christopher Sieber (La Cage aux Folles), 2013 Tony nominee Charl Brown (Motown The Musical), Lesli Margherita (Matilda The Musical), Kate Rockwell (Rock of Ages) and Eric LaJuan Summers (Motown The Musical).

Roseland Ballroom is located at 239 West 52nd Street. Although the 9:30 PM show is sold out, tickets for the midnight show can be purchased online at broadwaycares.org or by calling (212) 840-0770, ext 268. A limited number of tickets also may be available between 3 PM and 7 PM June 23 in the lobby of Roseland Ballroom.

Through 22 editions, Broadway Bares has raised more than $9.8 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

(via Playbill)

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Finale of KINKY BOOTS on The Today Show

Actor Billy Porter talks about his best actor Tony win and joins his fellow “Kinky Boots” cast mates for a performance of the finale number of the show, which won six Tony awards.

Drag queens and folks in thigh-high, high heel boots. One Million Moms will be writing a letter in 3, 2, 1…

“Change your mind and you change the world.”

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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“Girls Just Want To Have Fun” (New York Version 2013)

Fun! Everybody say “Yeah!” And get down to see KINKY BOOTS on the Broad-Way!

So many folks in this video: Mika Brzezinski, Katie Couric, the cast of Kinky Boots, Kathie Lee Gifford, Whoopi Goldberg, Samantha Hill, Hoda Kotb, Rosie O’Donnell, Kelly Ripa and many many more.

The video commemorates the 30th anniversary of Lauper’s chart topping hit.

Congrats to Cyndi Lauper for her long, long, fab career AND her big fat Broadway hit, KINKY BOOTS!

Kathie Lee and Hoda from The Today Show

Kelly Ripa

Mika Brzezinski

Whoopi Goldberg

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Broadway: Original Cast recording of KINKY BOOTS coming May 28th

Kinky Boots opened on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on April 4, 2013 to RAVE reviews, and now the Original Broadway Cast Recording is coming!

In case you’ve missed a beat – USA Today called the show “a sizzling, high-spirited new musical that’s bound to put cheer in your heart!” KINKY BOOTS has also been chosen as the critic’s pick by The New York Times, New York magazine and Time Out New York, as well as Entertainment Weekly’s “Must List.”

In Kinky Boots, Charlie Price (Tony® Award nominee Stark Sands) has suddenly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola (Billy Porter). A fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man he’s meant to be. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible… and discovers that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.

Inspired by a true story and based on the Miramax motion picture, Kinky Boots features a book by four-time Tony® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage, Torch Song Trilogy, Newsies) and a musical score from Grammy® Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper. The production is directed and choreographed by Tony® Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, La Cage, Broadway Bares), with music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Stephen Oremus (Book of Mormon, Wicked).

bad iPhone pic of me with the fab Billy Porter backstage at KINKY BOOTS on Broadway

I was recently in NYC and had the chance to see what the much-deserved ballyhoo is all about. And all of it is true. Tony® Award nominees Stark Sands and Billy Porter lead a cast of thirty-two that left me breathless and exhilarated. It’s truly “must-see” theatre.

On a personal note, I’ve known Billy Porter (nominated for every award he can be this season) for 20 years, and it’s oh-so-very gratifying to watch his work be oh-so-celebrated at this point of his already fab career.

You can purchase the CD or download at Amazon.

You can download on iTunes by clicking here.

Follow KINKY BOOTS on Facebook here.

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Sneak peek at Broadway Bares 23

From the YouTube description: Broadway Bares, the unrivaled evening of sexy striptease that benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, will return for its 23rd edition on Sunday, June 23, 2013.

This year’s theme will be announced on Thursday, March 28 at broadwaybares.com and broadwaycares.org.

This always sold-out annual event combines the naughtiness of burlesque and the razzle-dazzle of Broadway. More than 200 of the hottest male and female dancers in New York City take to the stage for two sensational shows at 9:30 pm and midnight.

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Previewing the upcoming Broadway Bares 2013 season

Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell’s fun and fab fund-raising event shares this one minute video previewing upcoming Broadway Bares events.

 If you haven’t been to Broadway Bares, you’re seriously missing out on a lot of fun. And all monies raised goes to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Upcoming Broadway Bares:
Las Vegas hits Sin City – April 20
Broadway Bares: Solo Strips – returns to XL Nightclub on May 5
Broadway Bares: Fire Island – in the Pines on June 1
Season Grand Finale – Broadway Bares 23 – Roseland Ballroom for two spectacular performances on June 23

For more information and tickets, visit broadwaycares.org.

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Broadway-bound Kinky Boots opens in Chicago

Kinky Boots, the new musical by Cyndi Lauper & Harvey Fierstein, opened last night at the Bank of America Theatre in Chicago.

Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, the show appears to be headed in the right direction as Chicago gives the creators the opportunity to fine tune the piece.

A couple of the reviews from opening night:

Hedy Weiss, Sun-Times: While no one would mistake this new musical, which celebrated its pre-Broadway opening Wednesday night at Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre, as groundbreaking in any way, it is an ideally crafted, altogether feel-good show — something of a “La Cage aux Folles” for the recession-plagued, anti-bullying, “it WILL get better” generation. And its solid if predictable storytelling (Harvey Fierstein’s take on the popular little British film comedy of 2005), its accomplished and varied score (an impressive first Broadway effort by Cyndi Lauper, that petite paragon of pop, who has penned several numbers that are sure to become keepers), its conveyor belt-smooth flow (courtesy of director-choreographer Jerry Mitchell), and its strong, winningly genuine cast, all conjoin to make it an engaging entertainment.

Michael Roberts, Showbiz Chicago: Kinky Boots has something unique going for it that will add to its success; that is Billy Porter…I would venture to say that Kinky Boots will do for Mr. Porter what Hello, Dolly did for Carol Channing, Funny Girl for Streisand; Phantom for Michael Crawford and Evita for Patti LuPone. This is will become a show and role that will be forever synonymous with Mr. Porter, and rightfully so…Alongside Mr. Porter is the equally engaging Stark Sands as Charlie Price. Though his character could stand a little more development in the second act, Sands has remarkable stage presence and chemistry with his co-star…The book for Kinky Boots is classic Harvey Fierstein, who always has the innate ability to create an environment where his characters can be bigger than life one minute, then intensely internal the next…The material at hand is perfect fodder for [Jerry] Mitchell to develop the environment to allow his actors to find their truth…A musical would be nothing without the music, and for this, Cyndi Lauper is a revelation…Not since Rent has there been a musical that is poised to have at least three numbers cross over to the pop charts.

The marquee of Kinky Boots in Chicago

Jerry Mitchell, Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein celebrate the opening of Kinky Boots in Chicagp

Pictures via Broadway.com
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Behind the scenes at Broadway Bares XXII

I’m always so proud of dear Jerry Mitchell and his mind-blowing, super-successful annual fundraising event Broadway Bares.

As longtime readers of The Randy Report know, for most of my life I worked as an actor and dancer in Broadway musicals.  This community always has an important place in my heart for how much they give and give and give.

You want fun?  You want sexy?  And you want to help people all at the same time?  Have I got the event for you!

Go behind the scenes of the fairy tale photo shoot for Broadway Bares XXII: Happy Endings.

The hotly anticipated Broadway Bares will pay tribute to favorite childhood fairy tales as only the modern-day burlesque show could as this year’s edition of the immensely popular event becomes Broadway Bares XXII: Happy Endings.

June 17th at Roseland Ballroom in New York City.  I promise you, it’ll be the hottest – and I mean that every way I can – ticket in town.

Tickets can be purchased online at by clicking here or by calling 212.840.0770, ext 268.