So Long, Dearie! CAROL CHANNING, 1921 – 2019

by MK Scott &
B. Harlan Boll

This past week we lost an Broadway icon and Gay ally, Carol Channing, who died this past Tuesday, at home in Rancho Mirage, CA of natural causes at age 97.

Upon reading her tribute that was sent to me from her publicist, B. Harlan Boll, I had not known that Ms. Channing was, in fact, born in Seattle on January 31, 1921, and later moved to San Francisco and attended one of the best schools in that area, Lowell High School.

(When I was in high school, my school’s choir from Beaverton, OR, which I was a part of, performed at Lowell High School every two years.)

According to Boll, Carol was raised, schooled and eventually found work as a model. Through determination, hard work, and her family’s support (not to mention a mandatory IQ test for which she scored one of the highest recorded results), Carol was able to attend Bennington College in Vermont that had one of the few existing arts programs in the country, majoring in drama and dance.

(OUTview NW) EXCLUSIVE: Broadway and TV star Jeremy Jordan to appear in Seattle Symphony's 'Broadway Today' Seattle Pops concert January 12-14!

by MK Scott


Hard to believe it was a year ago when I had the opportunity to meet Megan Hilty backstage at Benaroya Hall after her 'Luck Be a Lady' concert with the Seattle Symphony as part of their Seattle Pops concert series.

Next week (1/12-14) Seattle Symphony presents another Seattle Pops concert as Steven Reineke leads the Seattle Symphony and Broadway stars Betsy Wolfe and Jeremy Jordan in a concert of today's greatest Broadway hits.

Hits will include selections from The Phantom of the Opera and Cats as well as showtune modern classics 'Falling Slowly' from Once, 'You and Me (But Mostly Me)' from Book of Mormon and 'Suddenly Seymour' from Little Shop of Horrors.

I have been following Jeremy Jordan's career since 2011 when he was cast in the lead role of Jack Kelly for the Broadway production of Disney's Newsies. He then hit TV in the second season of NBC's Smash and is now appearing as office geek turned government techie, Winn, in The CW's hit series 'Supergirl.'


I had to chance to chat with Jordan by phone last month and following is our conversation.

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE: Catching up with Broadway, TV star, and musician, Reeve Carney at Steamposium 2017

by MK Scott 

Six years ago, Reeve Carney had just started out on Broadway in title role of the much-talked about Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark musical with the sensational score by Bono with The Edge which was originally directed by Julie Taymor (The Lion King). The show was plagued with a high-budget and the dangerous aerial stunts that even injured a stunt man. In August 2011, I was lucky enough to attend and review Spider-Man and the music and the leading man was what made the show. I met Reeve Carney after the show and he was very gracious. I later learned that his band, Carney, had performed as part of the pit orchestra for the show. I also learned that he is the grand-nephew of TV legend, Art Carney ('The Honeymooners'). In recent years, Carney left Broadway for the starring role of omnisexual, Dorian Gray on Showtime's Penny Dreadful (2014-16) and last year as Riff-Raff in the FOX TV remake of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. So, it was a delight to catch up with Reeve at Steamposium 2017 (also known as Steampunk-Con) at Seattle's Bell Harbor Conference center on October 28.

(OUTview AMERICA) RE-view: Powerful performances and rough passion bring intensity to Afterglow, currently making a splash Off-Broadway

by MK Scott

 I don't get to New York often, but when I do I see as much theater as I can. I saw the musical, Bandstand (Sept. 5) during its final week but instead of another musical like Hello Dolly, Dear Evan Hansen, or even Hamilton, I had much anticipation for an Off-Broadway show (Sept. 6) that is now the talk of the country and which has now been extended for two more months.

As the synopsis on the Afterglow website states: 'Afterglow is a raw, one-act play exploring the emotional, intellectual, and physical connections between three men and the broader implications within their relationships.

'Josh and Alex, a married couple in an open relationship, invite Darius to share their bed one night. When a new intimate connection begins to form, all three men must come to terms with their individual definitions of love, loyalty, and trust as futures are questioned, relationships are shaken, and commitments are challenged.'

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Super busy, Bernadette Peters hits Benaroya Hall this weekend and chats about her new TV roles, Sondheim and more!

by MK Scott

On Saturday, November 26, Broadway Diva, Bernadette Peters, 68, takes the Benaroya Hall stage in a solo concert performance with a 12 member-orchestra as part of the Seattle Symphony's 2016-17 season.

Throughout her illustrious career, Bernadette Peters has dazzled audiences and critics with her performances on stage and television, in concert, and on recordings.

Ms. Peters currently stars in Amazon Prime's hit TV series, 'Mozart in the Jungle,' which won the 2016 Golden Globe for Best TV Comedy or Musical series.

Who could forget her in Annie Get Your Gun, Gypsy, Follies and even Into the Woods? It was a real honor to chat with her by phone.

MK Scott: Bernadette, I know you are busy on the set of your new CBS show, 'The Good Fight' (which we will get to later) and gearing up to come to Seattle this weekend with a command performance. Can you tell us what songs will be included?

Bernadette Peters: Yes, yes, I'm coming to Seattle! I'm singing on Saturday after Thanksgiving. Hopefully, I won't eat too much on Thanksgiving, and also on the next day, and then we'll do the show Saturday. I'm looking forward to it. I love Seattle. I love to go to Fisherman - it's called Fisherman's Pike or Fisherman's Wharf. What's it called? Pike's Peak?

MK: Pike Place Market? (Laugh)

Peters: I know, I'm making a joke. It's cool! I do all kinds of music basically, but I will also do Rodgers and Hammerstein - I sing Peggy Lee's 'Fever,' but I sing a lot of Sondheim - it's enjoyable for me.

MK: You've performed songs by some of the best - from Irving Berlin to Marvin Hamish - but you are known as Sondheim's go-to star. Is there any show you haven't done of his, but would like to do?

Peters: I guess I haven't done Sweeney Todd. I like going to see Sweeney Todd. Everything he writes has such, you know, depth to it that it's just wonderful - neat. There are so many layers to it. That's why I like to sing his music. It's always a place - an amazing place to go!

MK: You have been very busy of late with your appearance in the Globes-winning, 'Mozart in the Jungle.' Talk about your character, Gloria?

Peters: Yes, this is our third season and it's available on Amazon Prime - premiering on December 9th. Gloria runs the symphony - and does the hiring, the firing, and the fundraising - and it brought in the two Golden Globes we won for my character - so basically this season we start with the symphony's been on strike and we lost Rodrigo - that's our conductor. He goes off and I find that he's in Venice [Italy] so I go to Venice to try to bring him back and - and I tell you it's so beautiful there! So the show opens in Venice and we're there for about five episodes and you'll never see - it's just a beautiful place - magical and - romantic and we shot in San Marcos Square and it's a great season.

We have to take the orchestra to Rikers Island [in New York City] - to the prison. We actually go to the prison - and we perform for some of the inmates - in the yard. Yes! But they were handpicked prisoners - some of them were getting out the next day. And they were great - they loved being on camera. They loved the acting and being a part of this. We actually played the symphony music that was written by someone when he was in prison in Nazi Germany. So he listened to birds outside his window and he wrote music, you know - it really is wonderful!

MK: Also, you have a new role in 'The Good Wife' spinoff, 'The Good Fight' debuting in February. Tell us about Lenore.

Peters: Yeah, she's like a Bernie Madoff wife. So she's a very interesting character to play. And they keep you evolving; I keep seeing what they have in mind, what the scripts are bringing - quite interesting. And you don't know if they're guilty or not guilty. Is she blaming somebody else? And so I'll let you know what happens.

MK: Who in today's musical theater world reminds you of yourself, when you were starting out?

Peters: Oh, I don't know, the shows are so different - I mean, of course, you know, I played Megan Hilty's mother on 'Smash' and I just think she's an amazing talent. And I adore her. And I used to love watching her in the show and watching her, she just got fantastic!

MK: One of your iconic roles was in Into the Woods. What did you think of the film version?

Peters: I really like it. I was so happy that it was so well done. You know, it was written for the stage, so I still think I prefer that. There's some comedy that gets a little lost in the movie that can only work, I think, when it's on the stage, so I miss that. But otherwise, I think it's a wonderful version of a musical from the stage to transform it onto the screen.

MK: I know you are passionate of your Broadway Barks project. Tell us more?

Peters: Oh my god, yeah, I mean that's my passion - is to help and shelter animals - and, I mean, we're finding out more and more how valuable they are. They're finding out now that dogs can sniff out cancer - not in stage one, two or three, four - stage zero! So a dog can sniff out a teaspoon of sugar in two Olympic size swimming pools - that's how strong their sense of smell is. So they're teaching these dogs to sniff out ovarian cancer and breast cancer and different kinds of cancers. So I think it's very important to just keep our eye on this, because, I think, if we can catch it really early - it's very hard - if they can catch that - I mean, look what a life-saver that would be! So not only do they save us emotionally - that they save our lives emotionally - but actually save our lives physically.

MK: You have also devoted lots of time and money to AIDS charities.

Peters: Oh, yes. Yes! I'm on the board of Broadway Cares. They're great! The head of that, Tom Viola, has such a big heart and he's there to help people when they need it. Not only there. you know, like when the hurricane hit, Katrina - you know, he would send money there and he sends money to places that need it.

MK: As an icon who has a large LGBTQ fan base, what advice can you give to them, what now with the new administration, and scary future?

Peters: I think we have to stay listening and keep our eyes opened and I think we have to say no, no, no, that won't do! And I - I think we just have to speak up. I think we do. It's just we can't let - I mean they have to remember in this new presidency that's coming up that they are - they are the leaders of all the people. They have to take care of everyone in the country. So, I think it's something to - and there should be no hate crimes. We can't go backwards like that. I think that would be really awful - is to start promoting hate and - discrimination and racism - all those things. It's just not acceptable. Isn't that amazing? It's like people are given permission now. It actually breaks my heart that people actually have that in their hearts - and the hate. Now usually it comes from them feeling, I guess, less than, and they have to make themselves feel more important, and so you know things happen that way. But however it happens, it's not good. And it's, it's - you know, that this is happening is pretty sad.

MK: Of course, you must have heard what happened at Hamilton, when VP-elect, Mike Pence was addressed by the cast?

Peters: Well, you know, it wasn't like they stopped the show to - no, but even so; it wasn't like even at the end of the show - it was the time of the year, they were actually making curtain speeches because they were collecting for Broadway Cares. It wasn't like they said well at the end of the show we have an announcement - but they actually used that time to speak to the guests in the audience and they were not rude. They just said I hope that you will be the administration for all the people in this country - all the people. So I think that's one thing - that's what they told them. And it wasn't anything rude. It was just - we're in the show, we are a diverse integrated cast - we are playing, you know, famous American people in history and politics - we're playing them, and if we're an interracial cast - and look at us and we won a Pulitzer Prize and we're a big hit show. And people love us. And so I hope that you will be the administration for all the people.



Bernadette Peters will be performing on Saturday, November 26 @ 8pm at Benaroya Hall, 3rd Ave. & University St. For more information and tickets, go to seattlesymphony.org.

Watch Peters in the 3rd season of 'Mozart in the Jungle,' starting on December 9th on Amazon Prime. And in 'The Perfect Fight' on CBS starting in February 2017.

'Mozart in the Jungle' Season 3 Trailer: Gael García Bernal and Lola Kirke Return To The Orchestra - http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/20/arts/television/mozart-in-the-jungle-placido-domingo.html?_r=0

(92nd Street Y) George Takei with Jordan Roth!

We know George Takei for his role as “Star Trek”’s Mr. Sulu, and for his 8.6 million Facebook followers, and for his LGBT advocacy—but when he was a child, he and his family were forced from their Los Angeles home into an internment camp for Japanese Americans thousands of miles away in the swamps of Arkansas, as a “security” measure during World War II.

Hear how his story has become the inspiration for Allegiance, the new Broadway musical in which Takei also stars, as he talks with Jujamcyn Theaters president and owner Jordan Roth.

This event was recorded on September 20, 2015 at 92nd Street Y.

(92nd Street Y) Elisabeth Moss, Jason Biggs and Bryce Pinkham on The Heidi Chronicles

Mad Men star Elisabeth Moss returns to Broadway as Heidi Holland—a woman willing to do what it takes to take on the world—in the new production of Wendy Wasserstein's era-defining, Pulitzer- and Tony Award-winning play, The Heidi Chronicles.

Join Moss, who embodies the intrepid feminist Heidi from the ‘60s to the ‘80s, in conversation with cast members Jason Biggs and Bryce Pinkham. Lincoln Center Theater artistic director André Bishop, a Wasserstein intimate and the producer of Playwrights Horizons’ initial Off Broadway run of The Heidi Chronicles, rounds out a panel moderated by another close friend of the late playwright, fellow Yale Drama alum Christopher Durang.

Recorded March 29, 2015 at 92nd Street Y.

(92nd Street Y) Neil Patrick Harris with Jonathan Tisch!

Star. There’s no other way to describe Neil Patrick Harris.

From “How I Met Your Mother” to his iconic performance in Hedwig and the Angry Inch; from the beloved Doogie Howser, M.D. to Dr. Horrible; from Gone Girl to the Harold & Kumar movies; he’s won multiple awards and gained a massive and devoted following. Irreverent, sharp, witty and completely charming, he’s hosted the Tonys, the Emmys and the Oscars, and written a bestselling memoir, Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography. He’s also an accomplished amateur magician, and the father of twins. Join him as he talks about it all in a career interview with moderator Jonathan Tisch.

(TONYS 2015) Winners, Live from the Press Room!

Press-room moments with Kelli O’Hara, Annaleigh Ashford, and more of the 2015 Tony Award winners.

The victors are announced, the trophies distributed, and celebrations are under way. But before the newly christened 2015 Tony winners could thank and run, TheaterMania caught up with them in the press room just minutes after their names were called before all of America. Take a look at what a few of them had to say under the influence of Broadway ecstasy.

Courtsy of Theater Mania

(SPOTTED) Hedwig Reunion!

CLASSIC: The four men who have played the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway in the past year are all together with the next man to take over the role.

In the center, of course, is John Cameron Mitchell who is currently inhabiting the role he wrote, originated Off-Broadway and on film. Flanking him (L-R) are Darren Criss who is soon to take over the role, Neil Patrick Harris who won the Tony Award as Hedwig, Andrew Rannells who took over for Harris and Michael C. Hall who replaced Rannells.

(Tony 2014): List of Winners!

Sunday night marked theater's biggest night, with the exception of every night at the actual theater, as the 68th annual Tony Awards aired on CBS.

The biggest winner of all last night? And ever, for acting Tonys?

Broadway record-breaker Audra McDonald, winner of best dramatic actress for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, took home her SIXTH Tony.

McDonald, 43, bested Angela Lansbury and Julie Harris' previous records of five acting Tony Awards each, and gave an emotional speech to the crowd.

The Radio City Music Hall audience acknowledged the significance of the achievement with a prolonged standing ovation, bringing her to tears.

McDonald cried openly, and acknowledged Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll, Ruby Dee, Maya Angelou and Billie Holiday, whom she plays in the drama.

(TONYS 2014) A Gentleman's Guide, Hedwig Top List of 2014 Tony Award Nominees!

 

Jonathan Groff and Lucy Liu announced the nominations for the 68th annual Tony Awards at the Paramount Hotel’s Diamond Horseshoe April 29, with Tony host Hugh Jackman also popping up to remind theater fans to watch the telecast live on CBS on June 8. The new musical A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder led the pack with ten nominations, with the revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch trailing closely behind with eight nominations. The new musicals After Midnight and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical each received seven nominations, as did the revivals of The Glass Menagerie and Twelfth Night. As for new plays this season, Act One garnered the most nominations, with five. A complete list of this year’s nominees follows.

OVTV: (SUPER FUNNY) Andrew Rannells heads all-star cast in musical parody protesting Russia’s anti-gay law!

In the video, the Russian government cites the propaganda law in outlawing theatrical performances on ‘The Great Red Way.’

The Russian Broadway community responds in the only way they know how – they put on a show called Love and Punishment.

Andrew Rannells, in thick Russian accent, anchors a musical parody that also features Harvey Fierstein, Michael Urie, Jonathan Groff, Joanna Gleason and original Annie star Andrea McArdle, among others.

The musical includes such scenes as a young Vladimir Putin losing his first girlfriend to another woman then later ripping his shirt off, two female astronauts falling in love in space in 1969, and two modern day Olympic male athletes in love with one ending up dead.

(OUTscene TV) CLASSIC: MK chats with Broadway's Original Felicia as"Priscilla', hits Seattle this Week!

By MK Scott

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the musical hits Seattle's Paramount this week. In 2011, I chatted with Broadway's original Felicia.

Nick Adams, who is known as the 'Bod of Broadway' took some time to speak with me right in front of the Broadway Palace Theater and home to 'Priscilla, queen of the desert, the Musical' in NYC. Nick was wearing a tank to show off his famous BIG Guns and he confessed he wouldn't mind being the 'Broad of Broadway' for as long as the show runs. What will he do next?"

(SHOWcase) RYAN LANDRY'S "MILDRED FIERCE"!

For close to twenty years Ryan Landry and his theatrical troupe, The Gold Dust Orphans, have been playing to packed houses in Boston and Provincetown, Massachusetts. They have a strong and dedicated audience of thousands who have followed Ryan and the gang religiously from one hilarious play to another – all of them based on classic films, time honored theatrical works and of course, high camp pop culture. The Orphans always take their audiences on an amazing, hallucinogenic trip through dozens of familiar themes - Everything from Dr. Seuss, ("How Mrs. Grinchley Swiped Christmas") to Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf", ("Who's Afraid of the Virgin Mary?"). Landry's take on Euripides, "Medea"played to rave reviews as well as his award winning nod to Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" ("Pussy on the House"). The Orphans love to tackle vintage classics such as Hitchcock's, "The Birds" ("The Gulls") and high minded gems like Lillian Hellman's "The Little Foxes", ("The Little Pricks"). The list goes on and on! ... Over 50 spectacular productions in nearly 20 years! Wow!

One thing is for certain however, no matter how high the hurdle or how tight the girdle ... The Gold Dust Orphans NEVER stop working! AND The Gold Dust Orphans ALWAYS deliver! Now is their chance to hit New York City for the very FIRST time! ... Won't you come onboard? 

Deadline is September 6th.

(OUTscene TV) A Preview of This Year's Broadway Bares!

The 23rd legendary take-it-off benefit for Broadway Cares/Equaity Fights AIDS returns in June with a road trip across this great land of ours.

(SPOTTED) Gays and gay icons show up at opening of Cyndi Lauper’s “Kinky Boots”!

Miss Lauper with the ageless Joan Rivers

 Congratulations to the fabulous Cyndi Lauper – one of the greatest allies the LGBT community has ever had – on the opening of the new musical Kinky Boots.

Lauper wrote the songs for the musical about a shoe factory owner who meets a drag queen.
The show has a book by Harvey Fierstein and is directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.

(SPRING HUNKS) Jeremy Jordan from SMASH!

Jeremy Jordan, 28, is an American actor and singer. He has performed on Broadway and in television and film, as well as in other theatrical productions. He is best known for the roles of Jack Kelly in the 2012 musical Newsies and Clyde Barrow in the 2011 musical Bonnie & Clyde. Jordan is now in the cast of NBC's Smash for season two playing Jimmy. He initially filmed episodes for Smash while simultaneously performing in Newsies. Sorry Folks, he is straight and married.

(POP NEWS) Crashed; Repent; Order; Embarrassed; Issues; Not Yet; Torture; Show The Money; Punk'd; Wicked; Fantasy; Lez Hero!

• CRASHED: Lead Cop Dropped From Pistorius Case!

• REPENT: 'Gay Lobby' Within Vatican Influenced Pope's Resignation!

• ORDER: President Obama Considering Filing Brief in Prop 8 Case!

• EMBARRASSED: Laura Bush Requests Removal from Marriage Equality Ad!

• ISSUES: GLAAD President Wants to Know 'What the Hell is Going On' at AP with Guidance on Gay Married Couples?

• NOT YET: Puerto Rico Supreme Court Upholds Gay Adoption Ban!

• TORTURE: Bullying Can Take Toll Beyond Childhood!

(POP NEWS) Safer NY; Penalized; Blamed; Daddy; Witness; Rejected; Trash; Easy Out; Exhibition!

• SAFER: New York State Passes Nation's Toughest Gun Law!

• PENALIZED: Olympics May Ax Cycling Over Armstrong Scandal!

• BLAMED: Widow of Aurora Victim Sues Holmes' Psychiatrist!

• WHO's the DADDY? Elton John and David Furnish Welcome Second Child!

• WITNESS: Carrie Underwood Speaks Out Again for Gay Marriage, as a Christian: 'I'm in Favor of Acceptance'!

• REJECTED: Swift Sidles Up to Cooper, Gets Shot Down!

• TRASH: Honey Boo Boo's Uncle Poodle Says He is HIV-Positive, Pressed Charges Against Boyfriend!

• EASY OUT: Mindy McCready's Boyfriend Kills Self!

• EXHIBITION: Sebastian Stan's Torso Warrants Above-the-Line Billing!