The New York Times: I was 24 and starring, along with a bunch of marquee names, in the 1994 Broadway revival of “Grease,” prancing around like a Little Richard automaton on crack in 14 inches of clownish, neon-orange rubber hair; a white high-collared spacesuit; cha-cha heels; glittered face — and singing as high and as loud as I could.
6 comments:
This article about a CMU alum is really inspiring to hear, and also opens a new light on Billy Porter that I had not known before. This article gives Billy Porter's life from the point of view of Billy Porter, where he talks about his childhood, from sexual abuse to coming out, and then about making at as a stereotype, but realizing that that was not what he wanted in life. He didn't want to simply pay the bills by taking on roles he didn't like, so he changed his path. He set out on a mission and hearing about how he slept on people's couches and ran out of money, really humanizes this man. A lot of celebrities are seen as people that have it all, but just because they have fame now, doesn't mean their life has been easy the whole time. Billy Porter is a man that wouldn't accept the stereotypical role, and so he took a chance and followed his heart, and luckily for him, it worked out really well.
I am so uplifted to be reading some positive news for the first time in what feels like ages. I absolutely love hearing tales of people who persevered, refused to cut corners, and eventually achieved what they had been trying for for so long. It is really unfair that great actors like Billy Porter have to work so hard to find work that is meaningful for them, but the fact that he was able to do so in a world that seems so against that idea is great. Sometimes that is just what we have to do. We have to fall down a few times before we are able to truly get up and stand on our and do something we are proud of. The world will not just open up for you. To get good opportunities you have to work hard for them. You can not simply sit by and wait for the chance of a lifetime to come be. That simply does not happen.
It makes me very proud, not because Billy Porter is a successful alumni from the school of drama, but because of his elegance and truthfulness when speaking about issues that are this important. He brings to light one of the most mind boggling and painful questions that actors of color have to formulate an answer to everyday, is it okay to sacrifice integrity and dignity for the sake of making money and being paid. Often times, people of color and other minority groups are subject to playing a ridiculed version of themselves in any show whether it be television, theatre, and movies, and actors like Billy Porter are very vocal and very influential in creating environment and resources for actors to create forums like this. We as a community need to create an environment whee we demand more from directors, playwrights, and producers, because actors of color like Billy Porter are tired of having to put their dignity aside in order to get paid in this industry.
I. Love. Billy. Porter. I was in Chicago during the out of town try outs of kinky Boots, when my friend said she herd of this new show coming out i might like. When I herd Billy sign ‘Hold me in your Heart’ for the first time, I damn near lost my shit with emotions. It was so powerful I saw the show 2 more times in New York on broadway! I finally got to meet him after waiting for almost an hour after one of his shows. He apologized, say he got caught up watching a RuPaul episode and drinking some kind of whisky. We took the most adorable picture and ever since then he has been my musical inspiration. That fact that he had to struggle, and his struggle also lead him to CMU, just like me gives me all the hope and confidence that I made the right choice in coming here. He demonstrated the importance of standing up for what you believe in and one day it just may pay off. Ill cherish that thought forever.
It is inspiring to see a CMU alum stand up for what he believes in so strongly. I think it can sometimes be very tempting to cave in to pressure, or money, or a job, at the cost of your dignity and values, and seeing Billy Porter act as such a refutation of this is extremely encouraging. We need more artists like Billy Porter, who are willing to draw the line, and turn down a job that goes against what they believe in or diminishes their dignity. If all actors, and all theater workers really, were willing to do this, it would likely lead to inciting positive change in the industry to reflect our changing times. I simply have to applaud Billy for standing up for what he believes in, and I feel inspired to follow the example he has set.
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