What Happen To "What's Their Name' From American Idol?"

 

 

Last night American Idol crowned Candice Glover as the 12th American Idol. Glover has the best opportunity in years to break out of the pack and become a major star. It has been a long time since we have seen such an incredible diva and fine, fine singer on the aging show.

Of course, the winners of American Idol are littered with people who have not been able to turn their winning moment into the big time. How many of you even remember last year's winner - Phillip Phillips? Taylor Hicks became a Republican and has been dropped by his label. Can anyone tell me the where we can find winner Lee DeWyze (photograph above)?

How about some of the runner-up's? Do the names Blake Lewis, Justin Guarini, Diana DeGarmo, Bo Bice or Lauren Alaina ring a bell.

The jury is still out (but not looking good) on the long term careers of Jordan Sparks, Scotty McCreery, Chris Allen and David Cook.

Here are the top five contestants who have managed to go from American Idol to being major stars.

1. Carrie Underwood:

The first country-western singer on American Idol has become one of the nations major country-western stars. Her albums and singles shoot to the top of not only country charts but also pop. She has won 6 Grammy's, 16 Billboard Music Awards, 7 American Music Awards and 10 Country Music Awards. In addition, she has won a Golden Globe award for "Best Song". She has sold 30 million singles and over 15 million albums. She was named "Country Music Artist of the Decade" by Billboard.

2. Jennifer Hudson:

Without question Jennifer Hudson has score become a super star. She has starred in film, stage and concert stage. Hudson has won an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, Actor Guild's Award and NAACP Image Award. On film, she starred in Dreamgirls. Hudson was nominated for 4 Grammy's and won 1.  She is highly respected in the entertainment industry.

 

3. Kelly Clarkson:

She is one of America's favorite pop singers. She also has won 3 Grammy's out of 9 nominations. She sang for the President at last year's Inauguration which is always an honored position for major stars. Clarkson has sold over 25 million albums and 40 million singles. She has had 11 singles that have sold over a million copies.

4. Daughty:

Chris Daughty has taken his loss on American Idol and created a major rock band called Daughty. Their first album sold 4 million records. All three of his albums have sold over a million copies. He has had 5 number one hit singles. His digital tracks have sold over12 million copies! They have been nominated for 4 Grammy Awards.

5. Adam Lambert:

A man who can sing almost anything emerged as the first 'glam rocker' in the best tradition of David Bowie from American Idol. Also Lambert became the 'first out gay man' to find success from show. His first album sold two million copies and his singles have sold five million around the world. Lambert has been nominated for 7 Billboard Music Awards, 1 Grammy Award and numerous others. While he has not sold as many records as the others he is a major star.

Who Are The Most Powerful People On Broadway?

 

 

 

Jordan Roth

Backstage.com has picked the twenty-five most powerful people on Broadway. While not an easy task, they have done well in picking the power brokers but have not included the entertainers. The first star/writer to appear on the list is Harvey Fierstein at number twenty-three.

Here are the top ten:

1. Phil Smith (Chairman) and Bob Wankel (President), The Shubert Organization

Phil Smith was bound for Broadway greatness, especially after coming up with the idea of the Telecharge ticketing system. Now, Smith and Wankel are in charge of the largest theater syndicate in America, comprising 17 Broadway houses and one Off-Broadway.

2. Jordan Roth, President, Jujamcyn Theaters (see photograph above)

This year Roth became the primary shareholder of Jujamcyn Theaters when Rocco Landesman sold most of his stake in the company to him. At 37, Roth is the youngest principal owner of a Broadway theater chain. With five theaters, Jujamcyn is home to “Kinky Boots,” “Jersey Boys,” and smash hit “The Book of Mormon.”

3. James “Jimmy” Nederlander and James L. Nederlander, The Nederlander Organization

The father-son duo own and operate nine theaters in New York and 15 other venues around the world, which makes the organization the second-largest theater syndicate of Broadway theaters. Both have made their mark on Broadway and national theater: Jimmy has produced more than 100 shows, and the National High School Musical Theater Awards are named the Jimmy Awards after him. His son is active in the theater community; he serves on the Broadway League Board of Governors as well as the Actors Fund board of trustees.

Thomas Schumacher of Disney

4. Thomas Schumacher, President, Disney Theatrical Group(photograph above)

“Mary Poppins” closed on Broadway this March, but Schumacher’s schedule hasn’t lightened; he will fill that small Disney void with a musical adaptation of “Aladdin,” set to debut on Broadway in 2014. With “Aladdin” joining the successful “The Lion King” and “Newsies,” Disney continues to prove its Broadway prowess—and collect those Tony Awards.

5. George P. Lane, Agent, Creative Artists Agency

Actors who complain about how star-studded Broadway has become can blame Lane. The CAA agent was instrumental in bringing such clients as Tom Hanks and Alec Baldwin to the Great White Way this season.

6. Scott Rudin, Producer

Rudin had a pretty awesome 2012, joining the elite crowd of award winners who have garnered Emmy, Oscar, Grammy, and Tony awards. 2013 looks to be just as amazing for him. Not only is this the producer behind the Tony-winning Broadway powerhouses “Fences” and “The Book of Mormon,” but he produced some heavy hitters this year, including “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” starring Scarlett Johansson, and “The Testament of Mary.” Also, he will produce a revival of Harold Pinter’s “Betrayal” in the fall

7. Todd Haimes, Artistic Director, Roundabout Theatre Company

One of the most successful not-for-profit theater companies in the country, Roundabout has under Haimes’ stewardship become a Broadway mainstay and continues to pull in big names for its shows, such as Bobby Cannavale in this season’s “The Big Knife.”

8. Michael Riedel, Columnist, New York Post

When he wasn’t stealing scenes on “Smash” this season, Riedel proved the power of his pen with influential columns on the infamous “Ghost Skipper” in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and the “Lucky Guy” poster. It’s tough to say whether it’s all because of Riedel, but Skipper disappeared and the poster changed.

9. Nick Scandalios, Executive Vice President, The Nederlander Organization

Scandalios has been the executive vice president of the Nederlander Organization—which owns and operates nine Broadway theaters—for more than 25 years. Scandalios is active in the theater community; last year he was appointed to the Broadway League Board of Governors, and he serves as vice chairman on the board of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

10. André Bishop, Artistic Director, Lincoln Center Theater

With a passionate flair for new works and playwrights, Bishop has made Lincoln Center Theater a creative hotbed that turns new works into classics, such as the Tony Award winners “Contact” and “The Light in the Piazza.” This season Lincoln Center has already put up a few fan favorites, including Holland Taylor’s “Ann” and Douglas Carter Beane’s “The Nance”—along with the recently anointed Pulitzer Prize winner “Disgraced,” which debuted at LCT’s Off-Broadway theater.

SEE THE REMAINDER OF THE TOP TWENTY-FIVE >>>>

VIDEO: Astounding Color Video Of Driving Around London In 1927!

Claude Friese-Greene was a pioneer in British film. He made this astounding color video of driving around London. It appears as if he is shooting it from the top of a double decker bus!

The film is such high quality and makes you feel like you are right there. You will love this video of London that was taken eight decades ago! The music is by Jonquil and Yann Tiersen.

London in 1927 from Tim Sparke on Vimeo.

'Outer Critics Circle Awards' Makes 'Pippin' and 'Kinky Boots' Big Winners

 

 

The Broadway Award season is moving full steam ahead toward the Tony Awards in early June. Last night the critics presented the Outer Critic Circle Awards and made Pippin a big winner with seven wins and presented the coveted 'Outstanding Musical' to Kinky Boots!

There were big surprises among the awards including Nathan Lane defeating Tom Hanks for the 'Outstanding Actor in a Play'. Holland Taylor of Ann defeated both Bette Midler and Michael Urie for 'Outstanding Solo Performance'.

One of the great joys of the announcement of the winners was talented Billy Porter winning for "Outstanding Actor in a Musical" for his astounding acting in Kinky Boots.

Here are some of the major winners announced:   

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY PLAY

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL

Kinky Boots

OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY PLAY

My Name is Asher Lev

OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL

Here Lies Love

OUTSTANDING BOOK OF A MUSICAL (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Matilda the Musical

OUTSTANDING NEW SCORE (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Kinky Boots

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Pippin

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A PLAY

Jack O'Brien The Nance

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL

Diane Paulus Pippin

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER

Chet Walker Pippin

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Nathan Lane The Nance

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Cicely Tyson The Trip to Bountiful

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Billy Porter Kinky Boots

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Patina Miller Pippin

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY

Tom Sturridge Orphans

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Kristine Nielsen Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Terrence Mann Pippin

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Andrea Martin Pippin

OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE

Holland Taylor Ann

TO SEE ALL WINNERS AND NOMINESS JUST CLICK HERE>>>>>

Five Questions For.............Spencer Day

 

 

Over the last decade, Spencer Day has emerged as one of the most exciting and dynamic jazz and pop singers. With his crooner voice, the singer and songwriter has seduced audience after audience with his sexy good looks and charismatic stage presence. To make life just perfect, Spencer Day has been 'out' and proud.

The journey to being one of the nation's hottest upcoming young singers and out was not an easy one.

Spencer was born to a Mormon family in Utah in 1978. His young years were formed by a somewhat turbulent family life which ended in his parents getting divorced. After his father left, he headed to a small town in Arizona to live with this grandparents. To make ends meet, Spencer pumped gas at the local station.

Growing up he taught himself music and was a fixture in the isolated community at piano bars and retirement homes.

His appearance on Star Search in 2002-2203 set into motion what has become a stellar career. Day's first two albums, 'Introducing Spencer Day' and 'Movie of Your Life' were self produced and promoted.

His third album, 'Vagabond', was produced by Concord Jazz and was a hit on the jazz charts. His single 'Til You Come To Me' reached number three on those charts. Day's last album 'Mystery of You' is more autobiographical and also has become a hit.

Day has opened for k.d. Lang and Rufus Wainwright. He has performed at Joe's Pub, Monterey Jazz Festival, the Kennedy Center, San Francisco Jazz Festival, Dave Koz Tour, Craig Ferguson Show and Tanglewood Jazz Festival.

The singer/ songwriter has a huge fan base and pours his joy and heartaches into his lyrics.

Here are 'Five Questions For....Spencer Day'"

1. You grew up Mormon. How was the coming out process for you with your family? -

I think it was a more gradual continuation for me than some people. I find a lot of Mormons generally try to avoid any "unpleasant" conversations so I think a lot was implied before anything was out rightly said. I still feel a distance and am definitely kept at arms length from some of my extended family but my mom and my siblings have been wonderful. My mom actually asked me if I was gay when I was 21. I nodded and she cried and just said, "I love you no matter what. I just want you to be happy and don't want you to get sick". I think in the world she was coming from, that was really about all she had heard about gay men. Thankfully, we both know more now and we have both grown together. She is still Mormon but a big supporter and advocate, as well as being my biggest cheerleader.

2. You have stated that Rufus Wainwright and k.d. Lang gave you advice on coming out and your art. Share with us this important advice. -

More than what they have said (and they have said a lot about the matter) it is the example they have set that really inspired me. I figure, if they can be brave enough to take a chance and live authentically, regardless of whether or not it will "hurt" their career, why shouldn't I? I know my art will be better the more I am true to myself. My good friend Dave Koz has also been very inspirational in this regard. So many people have paved the way for me to be where I am and now it is up to my contemporaries and I to carry on that torch further.

3. You album "The Answer' pays homage to Roy Orbison and the 1960's seem to have influence your music, why is that? -

As a melancholy kid who was always daydreaming, I found myself drawn to any music that was lush and iconic and allowed me to escape into another world. I guess the era's sonic landscape and approach to music making simply makes me happy. I know KD Lang is very inspired by Roy and that era as well. After my last breakup I kept playing Roy Orbison on repeat. There is such an unapologetic drama to it all. I just love it!

4. Where do you want to take your music and composing now? What are your next big projects?

I'm actually working on a one man show as well as a Broadway Musical. Writing for the stage is really one of my biggest dreams and I'm thrilled I'm getting to do it more and more. At the same time, I'm already working on my next record which will focus more on humanity and the crossroads we find ourselves at, politically and spiritually speaking. I'm also planning on completing an album of covers from some of my favorite composers including some songs I never felt free enough to sing before.

5. What is the most funny or embarrassing thing ever to happen to you on stage?

Oh wow. Well there are so many! Well, it's hard to think of just one but I suppose the time I was playing in Indonesia is a pretty good one. I am always trying to learn a little bit of the language wherever I go and try to make the effort whenever I can. However, sometimes that can backfire. We had just taken the stage and I meant to say "Hello Jarkarta! I am so happy to be here with you.", and ended up saying something to the effect of, "Jakarta. Hey! You have a nice anus!". Something like that. I could tell by their reaction that I hadn't said it right. Everybody laughed but nobody left so they must have known I meant well. I laughed too. If you aren't mortified and can lovingly laugh at yourself, then your audience can too.

VIDEO: Britain's Got Talent 72 Year Old Kelly Fox Shocks With Dirty Blues Song 'Kiss My Ass'!!!

 

 

A grand motherly 72 year old Kelly Fox came onstage to sing dressed as an elderly version of Cher. Simon rolled his eyes and you could hear the restlessness in the audience. Kelly shocked everyone with a dirty blues song called 'Kiss My Ass' that rocked the house.

Sunday's Poetry Corner: Rudyard Kipling

 

 

Mother o' Mine by Rudyard Kipling

If I were hanged on the highest hill,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine!
I know whose love would follow me still,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine!

If I were drowned in the deepest sea,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine!
I know whose tears would come down to me,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine!

If I were damned of body and soul,
I know whose prayers would make me whole,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine!

Candice Glover Knocks It Out Of The Ballpark On American Idol

 

 

Thanks to Towleroad.com for alerting us to one of the finest performances that has ever happened on American Idol. Candice Glover sings "Somewhere" from West Side Story. The song is a favorite of some many people you really have to be spectacular to gain attention with it. Candice not only gain our attention she blew us away. A star is born!

Candice Glover 3rd song, Top 3 ~ American Idol... by HumanSlinky

Five Questions For........Harvey Fierstein

 

 

 

Perhaps more than anyone on Broadway, Harvey Fierstein has pioneered the way for actors on the Great White Way to be open about their sexuality. Consistently over the years he has shown great courage and sometimes at great cost. Despite the risks he took being out and proud, he is one of the most successful actors/writers on Broadway.

Harvey was born in Brooklyn to conservative Jewish parents. His mother, Harriet was a school librarian and his father Irving was a handkerchief manufacturer.

The deep voice became a trademark and was perfect for the stage. In 1982, as an out gay man, Fierstein burst unto the stage in a big way writing and acting in the famous Torch Song Trilogy.  For that production, he won two Tony Awards for Best Actor and Best Play. The play was a huge hit and later turned into a movie. The film won him a nomination for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor.

"Tony" loves this man! He won a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical for La Cage aux Folles in 1983. He was also nominated as the writer for the Broadway hit "Newsies". Who can forget this Tony Award winning performance as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray (below)? Currently he has received another nomination this June for Kinky Boots for Best Book of a Musical!

Harvey also has won an Emmy Award for narrating "The Life and Times of Harvey Milk" and an Emmy nomination for his appearance on 'Cheers' Most importantly who can ever forget his role in the hysterical "Mrs. Doubtfire" with Robin Williams?

The list of films, television appearances and voice overs can go on and on. Harvey has never stopped working, acting and writing. For so many people, like myself, Harvey is one of the great heroes of the LGBT community. He stood tall and proud when so few in the entertainment industry were out. He is a pioneer and role model for young LGBT actors. He proved you could be a success and out in show business.

If you need evidence of his articulate bravery watch the interview by Barbara Walters at the end of this article done in 1982!

Harvey is special, a beautiful man and one of the great legends.

Here are the "Five Questions For Harvey Fierstein"

1. You came out at a time when most all performers were deeply in the closet. How do you think it impacted your career for better or worse?

I am more than aware that I fucked a lot of commercial opportunities that may have been available had I been, shall we say, circumspect. However, I never considered money or fame as goals. To me they were by-products of a life in the arts. I can't say that I haven't watched fellow closeted artists getting big gigs and wondered if they did it right and I wrong. But living ingenuously was simply never an option. I guess I was just brought up right. (Or wrong)

2, Do you believe there is any professional reason for an actor to stay in the closet today? What advice would you give someone in the industry who is closeted?

Every career is completely individual. Different for every one of us. I have no crystal ball. I give young gay actors the same bullshit advice that old farts have been handing out since the dawn of time, "You get one life. LIve it, as hard as you can, full out, and with no regrets. Don't leave anything in the locker room."

3.. You are one of the hardest working people in show business as a Tony Award winning Actor and Playwright. What projects have been the most challenging to you over the years?

What you would call challenging I would call joyous. I LOVE to get in there and get dirty and create and try stuff… To me the "challenging" work are the bullshit jobs you take to pay the rent. It's a real challenge to sit around a movie set for twelve hours just to get in front of the camera and say, "Would you like a cocktail?", and then go home.

4. As a living legend yourself, what was it like to work with icon Director Jerry Mitchell and Cyndi Lauper in the new amazing Broadway hit 'Kinky Boots'.

Jerry and I had already worked together on Broadway's HAIRSPRAY and several other incarnations of the same.We knew we wanted to do something new together. Cyndi and I had talked about writing a show together years earlier. So I guess when we finally all got together to work there was some relief that the wait was over. I love them both. We are family. We created a beautiful joyous miraculous baby together that will, I have no doubt, be around years after we are gone. Working don't get better than that!

5. What is the most embarrassing or funny incident to happen to you as an actor?

I was touring as TEVYE in the road company of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. We were in Toronto and I was told, just before the curtain went up, that two of my favorite performers were in the house; legendary Captain Von Trapp himself - Mr Theodore Bikel, and the original star of MAMA MIA! - Louise Pitre. I entered the empty stage to begin the show with the famous monologue to the audience when suddenly I felt something wrong. I put my hand to my face and realized that the dry winter air had given me a very bad nosebleed. So there I stood, center stage, the audience waiting…. I pulled out my handkerchief, held it up to my face and went on with the show making certain that the audience never saw the blood gushing from my nose. Unfortunately, neither did they see much of a performance! Both of my idols left the theater without visiting me. But i could never fault them. They didn't know. Somehow I am both ashamed and proud of that

This is an extraordinary interview with Barbara Walters from 1983! You must watch this amazing man educate a nation when most people were still deeply in the closet! LGBT Americans should never forget contribution in our epic struggle for freedom!

VIDEO: Dame Helen Mirren Tells LGBT Drummers To 'Shut The F**k Up!

 

 

 

Mail Online is reporting that LGBT drummers were outside the theater where Dame Helen Mirren is playing the Queen in "The Audience". The huge number of drummers were promoting an upcoming festival. Evidently the drumming could be heard inside the theater and was bothering the audience.

Dame Helen Mirren would have none of it.

Here is the Mail Online report:

But when Dame Helen Mirren’s latest performance was disturbed by the noise of a drumming troupe outside the theatre, her language was far from regal.

She stormed out of London’s Gielgud theatre – still dressed as the Queen in pearls and tiara – and screamed at them to shut up.

Reports of her exact words differ, but it is clear the 67-year-old was, like Queen Victoria, not amused.

Some said she told the group to ‘shut the **** up’.

Others said she ‘stomped out and shrieked “Quiet! I’m trying to do a play in here!” ’

Dame Helen is playing the Queen in The Audience, a play about the monarch’s private weekly meetings with various prime ministers at Buckingham Palace.

Last week the role earned her an Olivier award for best actress.

The play’s writer Peter Morgan also scripted the 2006 film The Queen, for which Dame Helen won an Oscar.

But Saturday night’s West End performance of the play was disturbed by the sound of drums five minutes before the interval.

A troupe of performers marched past the theatre in a parade designed to promote As One In The Park, a festival for gay and transgender people due to take place in East London this month.

Followed by a crowd of around 200, the musicians and dancers stopped outside a bar to perform a drum crescendo – unaware they were drowning out Dame Helen’s lines.

Audience member Ben Scotchbrook told the Daily Mail that the actress finished the first half without letting the noise affect her performance.

When the second half was interrupted by a lighting blackout, she went on stage and revealed she had dealt with the source of the noise.

‘She was a real pro, she saved the day,’ said Mr Scotchbrook, a 43-year-old communications consultant from Buckinghamshire.

‘The noise was really irritating, but she didn’t get ruffled on stage.

‘In the interval I went out and tried to ask the drummers to move on, to no effect. I don’t think they realised they could be heard inside the theatre.

‘I went back in without realising Dame Helen had also been out. Then in the second half the performance was halted for several minutes by a technical failure.

‘Dame Helen came on stage and said, “We’re having a bad night”.

'She apologised for the noise and said, “I went outside dressed as the Queen and told them, not too politely, to ‘go away’ as they were spoiling the play”.’

Mr Scotchbrook added: ‘I have since heard that she was even less polite than we had imagined.’

Writing on Twitter, Lucy Lumsden said: ‘Brilliant – Helen Mirren, dressed as the Queen, stormed off stage last night and told a bunch of drummers to “shut the **** up”.’

Miss Lumsden could not be contacted to verify whether she heard the exchange first-hand.

One of the parade organisers said: ‘She stomped out and shrieked, “Quiet! I’m trying to do a play in here! People have paid a lot of money for tickets”.’

Yesterday a spokesman for As One In The Park offered Dame Helen a free ticket to the event to apologise for the disturbance.