Jonathan Groff, Rea Carey and Laverne Cox named Grand Marshals for 2014 New York City Pride
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| Laverne Cox, Jonathan Groff and Rea Carey |
Heritage of Pride, organizers of NYC Pride and the annual New York City Pride March, has revealed the Grand Marshals for 2014’s New York City Pride March are trans activist and Orange is the New Black actress Laverne Cox, Rea Carey, Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and Broadway, film, and television and Broadway actor Jonathan Groff.
Said March Director David Studinski: “Our 2014 marshals are leaders in brilliant forms of activism through which LGBT people and their allies engage. Individually, they represent the diversity within the LGBT community and the various struggles our community members have and continue to face. Collectively, their stories reinforce that no voice is too small nor weak to make change in our world – and it starts with being yourself.”
2014’s March will honor the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots with the theme “We Have Won When We’re One.”
The two-mile march begins in Midtown Manhattan at 36th Street and Fifth Avenue and proceeds down Fifth Avenue to the Village. It begins at noon on Sunday, June 29.
(via press release)
New trailer for HBO’s “The Normal Heart”
HBO has released a new trailer for the upcoming screen adaptation of Larry Kramer’s award-winning play “The Normal Heart.”
“The Normal Heart,” directed by Ryan Murphy, chronicles the rise of AIDS in the 1980s during the earliest years of the epidemic.
The film stars Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons and Jonathan Groff.
Debuts on HBO on May 25.
Jonathan Groff covers Attitude Magazine’s 20th anniversary issue
Broadway and TV star Jonathan Groff lends his uber-handsome face to Attitude Magazine’s 20th Anniversary cover.
And Groff isn’t the only cover boy this issue. Other cover stars for the milestone issue are hunky McBusted drummer Harry Judd, Labour Party leader Ed Miliband, EastEnders’ Danny Dyer and Sam Strike, and pop icon Kylie Minogue.
Highlights from 2014 Broadway Backwards
Broadway’s best filled a sold-out Al Hirschfeld Theatre for the ninth annual edition of Broadway Backwards on Monday, March 24, 2014, raising a record-breaking $423,182 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.
Broadway Backwards (#bwaybackwards) is an annual celebration where gays and lesbians see their stories told through the great songs of musical theatre with performers offering same-sex or reversed gender renditions sung by their favorite Broadway performers. It is produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and was presented this year in the historic Hirschfeld Theatre.
Check out many of the performances below:
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| Michael Berresse and Tony Yazbeck |
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| Cass Morgan and Debra Monk |
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| Jonathan Groff |
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| Kyle Dean Massey and Jose Llana |
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| Rachel Bay Jones and Uzo Aduba |
HBO’s Looking picked up for second season
Variety reports that HBO’s freshman series Looking has been renewed for a second season.
The renewal comes amid some complaints that the show was “boring.” While the series has struggled in the ratings, the numbers have improved due, in part, to the lead-in of Girls.
I’ve liked the show from the debut and continue to like it. I think it’s fresh, honest and doesn’t try too hard to be controversial. And Jonathan Groff is imminently likeable.
And funny enough, I can’t stand to watch Girls. Just goes to show you – something for everyone.
Congrats to Jonathan Groff and company. Here’s “looking” to the second season.
You can check out a sneak peak of this Sunday’s episode below:
HBO’s “The Normal Heart” to debut on May 25th
HBO Films has announced that “The Normal Heart” will see it’s world debut at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT) May 25th on HBO.
The film stars Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons and Julia Roberts. Also featured in the production are Alfred Molina, Joe Mantello, Jonathan Groff, Denis O’Hare, Stephen Spinella, Corey Stoll, Finn Wittrock and BD Wong.
Directed by Ryan Murphy and written by Larry Kramer, adapting his groundbreaking Tony Award-winning play of the same name, “The Normal Heart” tells the story of the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s, taking an unflinching look at the nation’s sexual politics as gay activists and their allies in the medical community fight to expose the truth about the burgeoning epidemic to a city and nation in denial.
Ruffalo portrays Ned Weeks, who witnesses first-hand a mysterious disease that has begun to claim the lives of many in his gay community and starts to seek answers. Matt Bomer plays Felix Turner, a reporter who becomes Ned’s lover. Taylor Kitsch plays Bruce Niles, a closeted investment banker who becomes a prominent AIDS activist. Jim Parsons plays gay activist Tommy Boatwright, reprising his role from the 2011 Broadway revival. Roberts plays physician Dr. Emma Brookner, a survivor of childhood polio who treats several of the earliest victims of HIV-AIDS.
Kramer’s play debuted at New York’s Public Theatre in 1985 and was revived in Los Angeles and London, and off-Broadway. The 2011 Broadway revival garnered five Tony nominations, winning for Best Revival, Best Featured Actor and Best Featured Actress.
HBO’s “Looking” picked up for 2nd season
HBO’s freshman series Looking has been renewed, Variety reports:
“Looking” premiered last month to a small audience, but has grown its audience with each of its last three episodes. The pickup comes as HBO sorts out its comedy slate with a renewal last week for “Getting On,” and cancellations after maiden seasons for comedies “Hello Ladies” and “Family Tree.”
While the show started out with small-ish audiences, the average audience is now up to 519K live viewers. But where the show really shows it’s support is in “gross views.” When you factor in all original run views, previews, On Demand and HBO Go, the average weekly viewership is up to 2million.
Inside last night’s episode of HBO’s LOOKING
I’m personally loving this show.
I read that a lot of people have moved on from the show because in part because it doesn’t move along very quickly, or something like that.
For me the exploration of these characters IS the show for me. And I find it immensely relatable.
Last night’s episode utilized only two characters on a day long “getting to know you.” And the thoughtfulness of the interplay was very honest and not heavy-handed.
I like.
Jonathan Groff of HBO’s LOOKING – Green Room reflections at WWHL
I hadn’t seen this series of YouTube videos – “Green Room Reflections” by celebrities before their appearances on Andy Cohen’s “Watch What Happens LIVE” on Bravo.
I think this is funny. The ADD aspect of Groff’s thoughts made me laugh.
“Do they give Oprah poppers?”
“I was told there would be melon.”