Tom Viola, director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS – who I’m proud to have known for over 25 years – writes this:
I had the pleasure of dropping by the stage door of the Hirschfeld Theatre this week to join the cast of Kinky Boots in presenting Cyndi Lauper with a “big check” representing the $150,000 donated to True Colors Fund by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS from the more than $1.2 million in resources raised by the show since it opened in April 2013.
Broadway Cares salutes Cyndi and True Colors Fund for everything they have done to advance equality for all and, in doing so, helping to end homelessness for gay and transgendered youth. “You change the world when you change your mind!” But our voices are stronger and the change embraces us all when we stand together.
Cyndi Lauper is the Tony Award winning composer of the hit Broadway musical Kinky Boots and the founder of the True Colors Fund, which works to end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, creating a world in which young people can be their true selves.
Taking a few months off from his Tony Award winning role as “Lola” in the hit Broadway show Kinky Boots, Billy Porter recently knocked out two fab concerts for Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series.
The performances were taped for a PBS special set to air on April 3rd – “Live From Lincoln Center” – and we get a sneak preview.
Check out Billy, the Broadway Inspirational Voices AND Billy’s now famous thigh-high Kinky Boots in this performance of “Luck Be A Lady” from his latest CD Billy’s Back On Broadway.
Tony Award winning actor/author Harvey Fierstein tweets today: “When High Schools start performing songs from you show you have LANDED!”
The YouTube description reads, “The North Central High School Counterpoints and soloist Terica Anthony perform Land of Lola from Kinky Boots as part of their 2014 show choir set.”
Alright, kids. Change your mind and change the world!
New commercial for the Tony Award winning Broadway show “Kinky Boots” starring Tony Award-winner Billy Porter shows the inspiring side of the stage spectacular directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.
Last night, as the creators and cast of KINKY BOOTS won the Grammy Award for “Best Musical Theater Album,” one of the shows leading men – Stark Sands – was saying goodbye to the cast on the stage of the Al Hirschfeld Theater.
Tony Award-winner Billy Porter says in the video: “We’re co-stars. He’s my brother, he’s my rock, he’s everything. Everything that a leading lady could wish for.”
As the hit musical marches into it’s second year, KINKY BOOTS continues to sell out nightly.
Cyndi Lauper accepts the Grammy Award for “Best Musical Theater Album”
The cast recording of the Tony Award-winning show KINKY BOOTS just won the Grammy Award for “Best Musical Theater Album” featuring Billy Porter and Stark Sands.
So, add “Grammy Award winner” to the list of wins for Mr. Billy Porter 🙂
Congratulations to Billy, Stark Sands, Cyndi Lauper, Stephen Oremus, Jerry Mitchell and everyone connected to the blockbuster show!
And the #Grammy for “Best Musical Theater Album” goes to…KINKY BOOTS! I got a Grammy Y’all. God is good!!… http://t.co/LRCQB0bYws — Billy Porter (@theebillyporter) January 26, 2014
Billy Porter (left) and Stark Sands (right) of the hit Broadway musical KINKY BOOTS celebrate their performance on the Macys Thanksgiving Parade by shopping at Macys
American Family Association media watch-dog One Million Moms (which actually only numbers about 60K) issued an e-blast today, voicing their utter disapproval that the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots was included and PERFORMED in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Right Wing Watch reports.
Via email:
As a parent and a member of OneMillionMoms.com, I am greatly disappointed in your company’s choice to include the “Raise You Up” drag performance during your Thanksgiving Day Parade with millions of children present and watching from home. It is inappropriate to highlight cross-dressing in a sexually charged performance during a traditional family activity. Your blatant agenda and in-your-face message was quite offensive, and Macy’s cannot be trusted. Shame on Macy’s for promoting this behavior.
It is clear that Macy’s does not have my children’s best interest in mind. I can no longer trust Macy’s Dept. Store. Your company needs to know that trust must be earned and once trust is lost it is difficult to get back.
Your decision was irresponsible, especially at an event when families are watching together. Nothing about this particular performance was family-friendly. The ENTIRE parade should be kid-friendly; not 95% of it! Your company can do better than this.
Here are just some of the “sexually charged” lyrics that One Million Moms took offense to:
Celebrate you to elevate you! Instill the truth… learn something new. Accept yourself and you’ll accept others too. Let love shine… let pride be your guide. Change the world when you change your mind. Just be who you wanna be. You’re beautiful; it’s beautiful!
I should note that in his introduction of the performance on air, host Matt Lauer pointed out the theme of the show is celebrating the differences in each other. This clearly went over the heads of those folks over at One Million Moms.
Check out the performance below. Then go support Macys Department store. Go Macys!
Over on Twitchy, a very right-wing/anti-gay website, the folks are losing their minds that the fab “Kinky Boots” from Broadway was included in this years’ Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade.
I’m thinking a lot of these folks could benefit from seeing the show and learning the positive life lessons of the show.
Check out just some of the responses below:
While we’re talking about the 6 time Tony Award winning show, let’s take a look at their performance on NBC today:
