Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Since Pittsburgh last saw Billy Porter onstage at the Benedum Center, Downtown, he has traded in his “Kinky Boots” for tap shoes in “Shuffle Along,” explored “The Soul of Richard Rodgers” and made progress on a new play, in its early stages at New York Public Theater.
He also has seen the world beyond New York City, including working cruises in Asia and the Mediterranean.
“I’ve been vacationing and working on my relationship with my boyfriend,” he said by phone last Monday, a week before two sold-out Trust Cabaret concerts Monday night.
3 comments:
It was great that Billy Porter came back to visit Pittsburgh because he is a hometown hero here. It was great to hear him talk yesterday about his life. I think it is very interesting, like he said, how someone like him could be the hometown hero of a place like Pittsburgh. It really shows how our world is changing that a black gay man is viewed as someone people look up to and that he was able to sell out his 2 concerts. I like how Billy Porter took himself out of the business because it was not healthy for him. A lot of people push themselves too hard and then burn out early in life because they do not take care of themselves. He was able to see that he was not getting the parts that he was meant for and did not want to play the typical parts that are meant for someone like him. He should be a role model for more young artists because he is a very strong person who knows what he wants in life.
Billy Porter has been one of my favorite performers since I found his rendition of "Beauty School Drop Out" from the wildly unsuccessful 1994 production of Grease. His voice is simply obscene and inhumane. Seeing him on our campus this past week was one of the coolest things for me because every day on my way to class I walk by his dot on our walk of fame. He captures audiences both vocally and physically. His tony award winning performance of Lola in Kinky Boots was unreal. I loved watching him zealously strut across the stage with confidence and swag. I cannot wait to see what he does next.
It's always exciting when a successful CMU alum comes back to Pittsburgh. Billy actually being raised and from Pittsburgh makes his homecoming even more exciting. In his talk with the School of Drama he spoke to being a "home town hero." He also touched on the progression of Pittsburgh and the theater community as a whole. It makes me thankful for where I am and what I'm doing.
Billy Porter is such a force in the theater industry. After winning his Tony for the lead role of Lola in "Kinky Boots" he has truly taken his fame platform and run with it. Truly to the benefit of the theater community. He is a human rights activist: campaigning for Secretary Clinton. But also making strongly evocative and relevant theater. A few years back I have the fortunate opportunity to see Billy's production of "The Colored Museum" at the Huntington Theater. I also had the opportunity to stay for the talk back at the conclusion of the performance. Though I wasn't bold enough to add my two cents to the conversation then, it was so incredible to witness and listen to people react to such a powerful piece of theater. I believe because Billy Porter, a man with such a strong point of view, directed it the production grew in power and affect. I and many others were seriously moved.
A side note, Billy performed his cabaret in a theater space with such poor lighting and draperies. He's Billy Porter for godsakes, who didn't fix the staging?! Though its a small thing, and didn't seriously detract from his performance. The venue could have been more glamorous and make Billy shine even more.
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