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.
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):
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."
Survivor, American Idol, Sexist Man or Woman Alive, are they sterotyping them for looks, the way they wear, how they are and their weight status?
Do they happen to realize that there are millions of ppl out there feeling like shite becuase of the tv personal gain? What is their goal? To increase the onlookers and the interest of Americans and other countries to look onto them and think they are superior than us? Thats full of b.s! Excuse me for swearing kids but its just utterly low and shameful. There should be a tv show for the sexiest fat man on the planet, or somthing with brains and the moxie award for their good acheivements or the good things they did. Them good lookers cant help but showing off for cock and pussies to gain their sexual bias and have ppl drooling for the best!
I feel that I have been neglecting this site, and that makes me sad! Sad in a manic kind of way, but still sad! I've been doing some blogging on my new domain, so check out Stentorian if you'd like. Also, drop me a line on AIM, but I must warn you, I'm not much of an internet talker. I SHALL return and be more active here!
Nothing too exciting is happening on this side. My band, which does NOT suck, will be having a show soonish, and I hope that I can get some sound clips up somewhere on the internet. And I'm actually doing something on Valentine's Day! It's not datish, but at least I'm going to be with other lonely people! I will still wear all greys and blacks and listen to My Bloody Valentine, as always, but I'm also going to see my friend's band play! With people I like! YAY! I had a chance to ask a cute boy, but I chickened out, since we haven't spoken in MONTHS. Ok, I'll end this, and spew my mania on this website more later! No worries:) (and I mean that! NO worries! Or I will find where you live and beat the worries out of your corpse!)
I sit here at my desk and stare at the application in front of me: Standing Committee for Gay and Lesbian Student Needs--Application for Undergraduate Student Members. I also think about the OutreachND club; the unofficial student run support group. They, too need officers for next school year...specifically a female co-chair aka co-president. Could I really do this? Do I want to do this? Why did I print out the appication if I don't?
I am comical, and this has been an adventure in awkward comedy for me.
Tonight. Regardless of how far my foot is down my throat, I'm ending it. Even if that results in making a mockery of myself.
See (or rather remember, cause it was eaten) earlier Oasis entries for a rundown of my suaveness in the flirting department.
I was in class today, and this guy whose always being a jerk, turns to me and says,"Are you a lesbian? Because you're wearing that rainbow button." I turn to him and say,"Yeah, why do you care?" He gives me a strange look like I was supposed to be insulted. I laugh, then he says," Is that that the button means, that you're a Lesbian?" I say back to him smiling, "yep." I sort of lied because I'm only bi, but I didn't care, he's always been a jerk so I needed some humor.
that's all i need to do now.
chill, play ultimate mortal kombat 3 , and read harry potter.
in case you weren't aware .. my arcade stick arrived.. such a fun toy.. been playing street fighter all week.
Well , fare thee well as i mince off into the sunset and go get some well deserved _sleep_