Obama supports marriage equality

President Obama today announced that he now supports same-sex marriage, reversing his longstanding opposition amid growing pressure from the Democratic base and even his own vice president.

Telly Leung: Interview

By Jeff Walsh

Telly Leung is a force of nature.

In Godspell, now playing at the Circle in the Square Theater on Broadway (see review), Leung has turned his role into an opportunity to showcase what seems to be almost too many talents. He acts, sings, dances, does impressions, and even when people are coming in after intermission, he's at the piano playing riffs from A Chorus Line, Wicked, Rent, and others, before launching into an Elton Johnesque reprise of "Learn Your Lessons Well" from Act One to get act two started.

When I recently ran into Stephen Schwartz, the composer of Godspell and Wicked, he had nothing but praise for Leung.

"His performance has become sort of famous. He's unbelievable, and the nice thing is he gets to show, in this particular production, the range of talents that he has," Schwartz said. "People who have seen him do one thing or another before, but here he gets to sing beautifully, he gets to be really funny, he gets to do amazing imitations, he gets to play the piano, you see a real range of just how much this guy can do. He's extraordinary in the show."

For how long Leung has been on my radar, it's amazing I'm just seeing him now. I originally planned to see him in Godspell years ago, but then the production was delayed. I planned to see him in an early version of Lysistrata Jones in Dallas, but I got delayed in Vegas instead. When the Rent tour came through the Bay Area, he had left the tour already.

So, for a while, I figured there was clearly some conspiracy at work here and I just wasn't meant to see Leung onstage. But once I moved to New York City, and he's in a show eight times a week, the odds greatly shifted in my favor, so we recently sat down in his dressing room before show time to chat about Godspell and his amazing path to Broadway (sorry Gleeks, I totally blanked on him being a Warbler during the interview):

Godspell: Broadway Review

By Jeff Walsh

Godspell is an odd mix of things that seemingly shouldn't work together: a series of parables from the Gospel of Matthew, amazing songs by Stephen Schwartz, and a lot of freedom in between on how to present both.

But somehow, the spare book, beautiful music, and lack of structure all combine to make something bigger than the sum of its parts. In its current Broadway incarnation, Godspell is a high-energy experience that barely lets you catch your breath.

Before I saw the show, in December, an elderly woman at the Patti Lupone/Mandy Patinkin show was giving me the rundown on all the new Broadway shows. When she came to Godspell, her demeanor changed and she clutched her chest, like even remembering the manic energy was exhausting her: "They keep running around, trying to make us have fun."

Latest journal entries.

NellyL87's picture

And the Heart-Eating Monsters Struck Down Upon Me...

After all these months of pining away, trying my hardest to catch you... to hold you, just once, and being able to say you were truly mine...

blindlove's picture

Straight until proven otherwise

My freind brought this up in conversation the other day. Everyone assumes that everyone is straight until people prove otherwise, or come out. In the perfect world would straight people have to come out to, or would nobody assume anything and we could just be whatever felt natural?

JB's picture

I'm Bi-Sexual

Its something that has been on my mind for some time now. thoughts that I was too ashamed to admit. BUt after talking with people and watching the documetry link jeff posted, I have decided that I am infact Bi. I cannot deny it anymore. My unexplained fascinatiion of breasts can now be explained! I look forward to exploreing this whole new world, now that I am being oepn about my true feelings!
of course i am just joking!

sneezing gurl's picture

TO BE BI OR NOT TO BE BI *shivers*

I am a GIRL, I feel ATTRACTED to other GIRLS. Some say it is OKAY and some say it is NOT. I like GUYS too, most say it is NORMAL, but few say MAKE UP YOUR MIND. I want to be HAPPY. I am a piece of shitty lard, who is letting her sexual orientation come in her way of her everyday life. What about college? A career? IAMGAYIAMGAYIMAGAYIAMGAY...SO WHAT????? ARE YOU CRAZY?!?! WHAT IF SOMEONE FINDS

alana's picture

"girl problems"

this has been a long week for me. i need a break from my life. even being sick didn't give me any real rest. i had a bit of a moment with my online ex, but she is still too busy for me, even though she says shes still in love with me. so thats not happening. then theres the girl in maryland who also likes me and i can't be with.

i sound all cool with all my girl problems, but its not fun. i'd rather not have any, especially because i'm in in a relationship with any of them.

dazed and confused's picture

Yet another *fun* filled Friday night...

I am sooooo bored and very frustrated at the moment. I wish I knew how to go out and meet people, have fun, etc. I'm not old enough to go to the gay bars/clubs in town, and I don't know of any gay "parties" here on campus, lol. I don't even really have any friends throwing parties or anything. There's NOTHING to do!!! :P I could go to one of the numerous mardi gras parties being thrown in the numerous guys' dorms on campus, but I just don't get much pleasure out of being squished in a room with 30 people I don't know, plus everyone there would assume I was straight. *sigh*

Boygasm's picture

Yikes

Long over due, I finally came out to my religious aunt from Canada. Mother and I were in a group chat on MSN with her. We got along with many gossips and some how she blantly told me to find a girlfriend and get it over with. I sorta told her that I dont ever plan on dating girls at all. She didnt get it for a moment *pauses*. Told me whatever happened to the girl from Midland. Im like we are like best of friends. I sorta like boys, you know. *pause* So? What does it make any differance, she says. *mom imz me on another chat* IM PROUD OF YOU! im like im used to it but it was you that didnt want to tell them, mom. she then told me * I THINK SHE ALREADY SUSPECTED* Well like duh, they should since ive been wearing gay shirts, painting my nails and stuff like that. Isnt that obvious?!


Syndicate content Syndicate content