In honor of the wonderful sisters of show tunes in St. Louis, meeting at the Motherhouse Convent a/k/a the Loading Zone in St. Louis' Central West End, I’m back for week three of Open Thread Show Tunes Tuesdays. We were up against heavy odds last week what with ye old debate 'n all, but I think we have a great selection in store for you tonight. Comeon up to the gay bar and order a Bud Light, won't you?
Tonight’s lineup of musical excitement is geared towards the fabulous leading men. Chock full of eye and ear candy, lets get down and rumble over who is the hands down Broadway musical leading man of all time.
As a traditionalist, I like my musicals full of can-do fellas with a little hint of softness and a wicked good tap dance. That doesn’t narrow it down a lot, but here are a few conversation starters and explanations as to why I just loves me my leading men!
#1 Fred Astaire
Fred and his sister Adele were the darlings of Broadway in one of my all time favorite musicals, Lady Be Good! The Gershwin Brothers first ever full length collaboration, which broke the mold of old-time vaudeville and forever changed the face of Broadway by introducing fully realized characters who faced modern problems. He was and is still my favorite dancer of all time.
Here’s the title song From Top Hat = scroll up to 1:49 and see Fred's moves!
Leading Man candidate #2 is a guy I have been fantasizing about for years. The unbearable beauty of his voice and his eyes in Sunday in the Park with George has haunted me since I first saw the show. A Sondheim- only STT is certainly in the works, but I wanted to share this with you tonight, because it is the essence of beauty in my book.
Finally, Leading Man #3 is one of my favorite all time actors – and I’m sort of obsessing on him right now because I’m directing La Cage Aux Folles, but that’s another story. Anyway, I’m talking about George Hearn. A marvelous singer, a dynamic actor and a great guy, he has won two Best Actor Tonys for LaCage and Sunset Boulevard and has been nominated several other times. I just really dig him! Here he is singing a concert version of the song most jammed into my head right now, "I Am What I Am."
So there ya have it folkz. Who’s your favorite leading man? Video, pix? Bring em on!
Thanks for joining us, see you next week for another edition of Show Tunes Tuesdays!