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![]() I then shared that one of her former high school classmates had suggested that song on Facebook. Jessie mentions Once Upon A Mattress, I ask her to sing “Shy.” We hear a lone “Whoo!” from the audience. So, we’re at The Wallis, talking about Jessie’s early theatre roles. ![]() Someone commented, suggesting “Shy," and writing that he knew she was great in that role because he was in Once Upon a Mattress with her so many years ago when they were seniors in high school. Separately, I had posted on my Facebook asking people what Jessie should sing during our concert. As a way of raising money for the arts in NYC high schools, I gather Broadway stars reprise the roles they played during their formative teen years. I was talking to Jessie about her high school roles and told the audience about a fundraiser I do called Not Since High School. Our first show was at the Wallis in Los Angeles. Speaking of Tony Award winners, I did three concerts with Jessie Mueller over the weekend. If you want just a taste of Billy’s brilliance, here is my very first online deconstruction. I’m happy to report that he is, as the kids say, “living his best life.” He just completed a giant tour and, not surprisingly, got rave reviews. As a matter of fact, he began our texting exchange by telling me I had to deconstruct Alex Newell’s song in Shucked.īilly texted that he’s so proud of our generation for opening door, doors which he is now walking through triumphantly. I was texting with Billy and, even though I go into blind rage about these historical injustices, he’s so not bitter. He was this walking ball of talent that was being completely unused because there were no opportunities for him. He was shut out of so many opportunities for how he was perceived and there weren’t roles being written for him to show off all of his unbelievable gifts. Billy was basically begging for jobs for the first 25 years of his career. Harrison Ghee, I actually cried afterwards thinking about the brilliantly talented Billy Porter. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell winning Tony Awards. From that moment, I became a giant fan of hers! Here’s an Obsessed! I did with her a few years ago that highlighted the amazing riff she did in Head Over Heels. Brava to Bonnie for not listening to those who doubted her and for continuing to push for her place in the spotlight on Broadway. Amazingly, and thankfully, things are changing. Bonnie knows these comments weren’t intended to hurt her they were from well-meaning people who were assuming that their experience would also be Bonnie’s. Someone else told her it would probably be prudent to pursue writing instead. Someone had told her that she would be able to get work after she was 40. I remember talking to her on my Broadway cruise when she told me she was discouraged from pursuing theatre because of her size. So, I was thrilled that she won for Kimberly Akimbo. I flipped out when I saw her in Head Over Heels and was decidedly not happy when she wasn’t nominated for a Tony Award. One of my guests made me cookies with the Tony Awards on some of them and the cover of my book on others. ![]() I hosted my third Tony Award Watch party which was super fun. Here’s a little promo I put together from one of my past appearances: Yes, there will also be the flip side of brilliance, what I call “interesting choices,” like Bea Arthur singing (speaking?) “Don’t Rain On My Parade” and The Osmonds funking out to Fiddler On The Roof-for rizzle. I’ll be deconstructing the brilliance of Barbra Streisand, Billy Porter, Betty Buckley, Gavin Creel, Melba Moore, and so many more. Immediately after that, I’m performing at the White Plains Performing Arts Center. My Dad had just shaved off his mustache, and when an adult saw me wandering around and asked me what my Dad looked like, my amazing description was, “He looks like someone who used to have a mustache.” I guess that even back then I was always thinking both “outside the box” and “outside actual common sense.”īack to the present! Next week, I leave for my Broadway Alaska cruise. I got lost a few times, including once at North Woodmere Park. Let’s just say I was a smart child in other ways. I still don’t quite understand what happened, but I remember the door opened in, towards the toilet, and I kept pushing out, towards the sinks. Turns out, I was stuck in a bathroom stall. Speaking of fathers and bowling, my Dad always reminds me about the time I got “lost” at the bowling alley when I was a kid. In case you were wondering, James, Julie, and I haven’t made any specific plans yet, but we usually go bowling at Chelsea Piers. I’m writing this on the flight home from out west. ![]()
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