JKTS Chat: GIDEON GLICK Part 2: Out and Proud

When we last left actor Gideon Glick, he discussed how acting became his passion, and the genesis of Spring Awakening.  (To catch up on Part I, click HERE.)  This time around, he talks about a couple of plays he's appeared in, as well as being an openly gay actor.  From playing gay students to a supportive family to being featured twice in OUT Magazine, today's chat covers a lot of ground!

Part II: Gideon Glick: The Plays and OUT Magazine

Jeff: Was leaving Spring Awakening a difficult decision?  What was that final show like?  Do you still stay in touch with the original cast?

Gideon: Leaving was very difficult. I moved to NYC from Philadelphia and graduated high school doing the show Off-Broadway. The cast and the people associated with Spring Awakening were the first people I had met in the city. At the time of my departure, they were my oldest friends in New York. Consequently, the final show was very moving. It was hard to keep from crying. We still stay in touch and check in.

Speech and Debate

Jeff: You have also done a couple of high profile plays, Speech and Debate and Wild Animals You Should Know, that deal with similar themes.  For those who didn't see them, tell us about each of the characters you played, and what each play is about.

Gideon: Speech and Debate told the story of three misfits finding and needing each other, for better or for worse, in Salem, Oregon. My character was named, Howie. He was an out and proud senior who had just moved for his final year of school from Portland to the more conservative city of Salem.

Wild Animals You Should Know told the story of a golden boy named Matthew who tests the boundaries of his attraction and sexuality to dangerous degrees. I played Matthew’s best friend, Jacob. Jacob had come out at an early age was terribly enamored with Matthew. Their relationship was predicated on Jacob’s subjugation until, one night, Matthew pushed the boundaries too far with their closeted Boy Scout leader.

Jeff: What are the challenges of performing plays that deal with such controversial material?  Despite the challenges, why do you think these plays were important enough for you to do?

Gideon: Both of the characters were what drew me to these plays. They are both characters who are not dealing with issues of coming out or are plagued by demons of their own sexuality. They are both strong and individualized. I came out an early age, like both characters, and I felt a desire to tell their stories.

Wild Animals You Should Know

Jeff: In all three shows we've talked about, you've played characters struggling/dealing with being gay and what that means in everyday living.  Still, each are unique.  As an openly gay actor, how does this inform decisions you make for these characters?  Have you drawn on personal experiences? 

Gideon: Ernst was questioning who he was. Jacob and Howie were not. They knew who they were. Because I came out an early age I knew what it was like to be in high school and middle school and not have doubts or qualms with the fact that I was attracted to the same sex. It made understanding Jacob and Howie much easier.

Jeff: One of the "perks" of playing these roles has to have been being named one of the OUT 100 - congrats!  How did that come about?  Tell us about the photo shoot.

Gideon: Thank you! I’ve known the OUT staff since I moved to the city. They simply asked! The photo shoot was very fun. It was originally advertised as a group shot with Jordan Roth, Jon Robbie Baitz, Walter Bobbie, and Terrence McNally. I was just trying not to feel tiny in a room with men I not only admire, but also who have made a far larger stamp in the theatre community than I have.

Jeff: I read that you have been out since seventh grade.  Looking back on it, how did your family react to the news?  Do you think being out has affected your career?  With all of the recent news about bullying and suicide and gay teens, do you participate in events and charities that support these issues? (Like the "It Gets Better" campaign and the like).  What responsibility do you think high profile openly gay people like you, and every day openly gay people like me, have in speaking/acting out against gay bullying and discrimination?

Gideon: I have been blessed with a very supportive family. I’m quite lucky. I’ve always been out so it was never a question to hide it. I’m sure it’s affected my career to some extent. I’ve played a lot of gay characters, and it’s easy for people to box you in. My main concern in life has always been to be honest with myself, my friends, my family, and to make my characters honest. I’ve done some volunteer work for the Trevor Project. I’d like to do more. I’d like to start training so I can man the phones for Trevor’s suicide hotline. I think everyone has a responsibility to better society. Being gay connects us to a cause easily. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE TREVOR PROJECT GO TO: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Coming Soon: Part 3: Spider-Man and Into the Woods and Part 4: Gideon on Film and the Internet

BEFORE YOU GO... Be sure to vote in this week's HOT or NOT Poll!  Click on the logo at the top right of the page!

Jeff

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Happy/Sad: A Sad Loss

BE SURE TO VOTE IN THIS WEEK'S ALL NEW "HOT OR NOT" POLL!

CHECK OUT THIS MONTH'S MR. AND MS. BROADWAY 

FOR FEBRUARY (TO YOUR LEFT)!

WHAT MAKES ME SAD:

The passing of Kevin Gray: It is never happy news when someone has died, but it is especially sad when someone dies at the prime of their life.  Such is the case with actor and teacher Kevin Gray, who passed away on February 11, 2013 at the age of 55.  He is known to Broadway and national theatre audiences as The Phantom of the Opera.  He also played Raoul on Broadway.  Gray also appeared on Broadway in Chu Chem, The King and I, and the 2000 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar in which he played Pontius Pilate.  I was fortunate enough to have seen him as the Phantom and as Miss Saigon's Engineer, both on tour.  He was terrific both times.  He last appeared on Broadway at the 25th Anniversary Celebration on January 26th.  He is survived by his wife, actress Dodie Pettit, who he met while both were in The Phantom of the Opera.

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

Broadway Stars in Magazines I: Adding fuel to the fire of the "Is he gay?" debate, Daniel Radcliffe appears on his second cover of OUT Magazine, looking amazing and growing up to be a great looking adult.  Who cares if he is or isn't?  He's an advocate for gay rights, is a spokesman for the Trevor Project, and lights up Broadway every time he is in a show.  Either way, I'm glad he's on our side.

The logo for the latest Broadway "Scottish Play": Alan Cumming is a great actor who can definitely pull off Macbeth (even by himself).  But I love the bloody logo and Cumming sporting that creepy-as-Hell Emcee look.  LOVE IT!

Broadway Stars in Magazines II: OUT Magazine also published its annual list of the 101 Most Eligible Bachelors, many of whom are on the Broadway scene!  Here are a few (though I thought Matt Doyle and Ryan Steele were a couple - granted they aren't married...yet) I'd love to have a date with... if any of you are reading this, email me!

TAKEN: The Book of Mormon's Matt Doyle

and Matilda's Ryan Steele

The History Boys' Sam Barnett

The Book of Mormon's Gavin Creel

Spring Awakening's Gideon Glick

The Normal Heart's Luke McFarlane

Wicked's Kyle Dean Massey

Another reason to love Newsies and The Book of Mormon: As if the hit shows themselves aren't enough reason to love them, how about the seemingly endless supply of hot actors they hire?  Here are but two of the latest: John Michael Fiumara, (left) who will be taking over the role of Specs (from the scorching hot Ryan Steele),  and Jeff Heimbrock, (right) who has joined the Broadway company of The Book of Mormon.

Broadway Stars in Magazines III: And I LOVE the bi-annual pictorial in Time Out New York of the season's hottest chorus boys and girls.  A Chorus Line never looked this good!  To see all 20 hotties, click HERE.  And here's a sample: John Arthur Greene (Matilda), Andy Mills (Cinderella), Philip Rosenberg (Pippin), Ariana DeBose (Motown), Betsy Struxness (Matilda), and Molly Tynes (Pippin).  I love spring!

John Arthur Greene

Andy Mills

Philip Rosenberg

Ariana DeBose

Betsy Struxness

Molly Tynes

Jeff
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The 2012 OUT 100: The Broadway Connection, Part 2

The Covers

Well, it's the end of November, and at last the rest of the 18th Annual Out 100 list is out!  The initial roll out featured 8 gentlemen with Broadway connections (read about them HERE).  Here are 8 more - 16 out of 100, not bad!  And the rest of the list is equally full of veterans of the stage and the new generation of theatrical movers and shakers.  Best of all, though, these artists represent the very best of their craft, and as people who lead and live by example.  They are role models, envelope pushers, champions and heroes.  Together, they (and all of the 100) move us even closer to a day when we might celebrate the 100 greatest people of the year - gay, straight or whatever.



Here are the rest of the theatre people celebrated on this year's Out 100!

Jon Robin Baitz: Playwright

Theatre Connection:  Well, he writes plays (and TV that more resembles theatre than television).  Most recently, he stunned with Other Desert Cities, his first play to make it to Broadway.

Walter Bobbie: Actor, Director

Theatre Connection: There are those of us old enough to remember know Bobbie was in the original cast of Grease, and we were probably old enough to have actually seen him in the much-beloved 90's revival of Guys and Dolls.  But I can almost guarantee that if you are reading this you have probably seen his directorial work - last year, he made sure the stage was smoking hot with David Ives' erotic thriller, Venus in Fur.  And for as long as most of us can remember... a little show called Chicago.

Boy George: Singer, Song Writer, Actor (OUT Magazine's Legend of the Year)

Theatre Connection: It's been awhile, and we'd love to have him back!  He was the star, the composer and lyricist and subject of Taboo.

Simon Callow: Actor, Director

Theatre Connection: Though this Brit is a living legend in his native country, Broadway has had the pleasure of his company twice: as director of Shirley Valentine and as performer in The Mystery of Charles Dickens.  Come back soon, Simon!

Jane Lynch: Actress (OUT Magazine's Entertainer of the Year)

Theatre Connection: The former Love, Loss and What I Wore star is probably best known as Sue Sylvester, the terror of McKinley High in the theatre-friendly Glee, but a better friend to the arts would be hard to find in real life.

Andrew Rannells: Actor (OUT Magazine's Ingenue of the Year)

Theatre Connection: Hello!  The Tony-nominated star of The Book of Mormon is now wowing the country in the hit TV series The New Normal.  I hope we haven't lost him completely to Hollywood...

Michael Urie: Actor

Theatre Connection: Since his acclaimed stint in TV's Ugly Betty, Urie has been no stranger to the New York stage, including equally acclaimed turns in The Temperamentals and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Matthew Wilkas: Actor

Theatre Connection: This fine slice of beefcake (like you don't see it...) currently stars in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark as bad boy Flash, and several ensemble roles.  He also understudies the web-slinger himself, Peter Parker/Spider-Man!

To see the full 2012 OUT 100, click HERE.  All photos by M. Sharkley.


Before you go... (Click the blue links!)
Check out these reviews: 

• The Mystery of Edwin Drood
• A Christmas Story
• Scandalous

Check out these Broadway Babies:

• A Christmas Story's Erin Dilly (Ms. November)
• The Mystery of Edwin Drood's Will Chase (Mr. November) 
• Eric Sciotto (JKTS Chat) 
• Spencer Plachy (Face of the Future)

PLUS: Don't forget to VOTE in this week's "HOT or NOT": Bare Cast! (Please do BOTH parts!)  CLICK HERE!

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Jeff

The OUT100 2012: The Broadway Connection Part I

If it is the start of November, it must be time for OUT Magazine's "100 List."  Each year, the magazine comes up with the 100 most influential LGBT people and straight allies of the gay community.  They come from all aspects of life: politics, sports, business, and, of course, the entertainment business.  As usual, they roll out the list in burst, building the anticipation for finding out who will receive this year's honors.

Last Year's 100 covers, featuring Larry Kramer,
Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Kathy Griffin

As you might expect, the Broadway is once again well represented.  Of the 22 names revealed so far, eight have connections to the New York Theatre scene.  If these first honorees are any indication of what's to come, there is a nice representation of long standing members and activists of the community, and an emphasis on the new generation of young up and comers who represent a new kind of activism: they live their lives openly and lead by example.

Here at those first 8 that made the 2012 OUT100:

Elton John and David Furnish (Photo by M. Sharkey)

Elton John and David Furnish: Legendary Singer/Composer and Filmmaker, Theatrical Producer

Known for: Elton: Rock 'n roll legend, Broadway composer, AIDS activist; David: Filmmaker, theatre producer and AIDS activist
Theatre Connection: Furnish and John produced the play Next Fall on Broadway.  John has written the scores for AIDA, Lestat, Billy Elliot and a little show called The Lion King.
Activism:  John and husband Furnish run the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which distributes millions of dollars worldwide in support of AIDS prevention and education programs.  They have raised some $275 million for this worthy cause.

Terrence McNally (Photo by M. Sharkey)

Terrence McNally, Playwright

Known for: writing plays and musicals with gay characters, thees and stories for mainstream culture
Theatre Connection: Where to start?  I'll just list a few of his works: The Ritz, Lisbon Traviata, Lips Together Teeth Apart, The Full Monty, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Love! Valour! Compassion!, and Corpus Christi, not to mention Ragtime and Master Class.
Activism: He has, for decades, been a prominent voice for bringing gay issues to the widest possible audience.

And now that younger generation...

All of these talented young men lead by example, as out, proud leaders of their profession and role models for future generations of youth, LGBT AND straight.

John Tiffany (Photo by M. Sharkey)

John Tiffany, Director

Theatre Connection: He won a Tony for directing his Broadway debut musical, Once.  Up next: The Glass Menagerie with Cherry Jones and Zachary Quinto.

Gideon Glick (Photo by M.Sharkey)

Jonathan Del Arco (TV actor), Jason Moore, Andy Mientus
and Michael Arden (Photo by M. Sharkey)

Jason Moore, Director

Theatre Connection: Tony-nominee for Avenue Q, Steel Magnolias

Michael Arden, Gideon Glick, and Andy Mientus, Actors

Theatre Connecton: Michael: Big River, The Times They Are A-Changin', bare (the original New York production); Gideon: Spring Awakening, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Wild Animals You Should Know, Into the Woods (Public Theater's revival in the Park); Andy Mientus: RENT, Spring Awakening (regional), off-Broadway's Carrie, TV's Smash (upcoming Season 2)

More of the list will be published as the month goes on.  To read about each honoree, click HERE.

Before you go...

...have you VOTED in this month's THEATRE POLL?  It is in the left column!
...have you VOTED in this week's HOT or NOT?  It's DROOD, PART 2: THE PRINCIPALS!  CLICK the show logo in the upper left column!
...have you ENTERED to WIN tickets and the OBCR to NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT?  CLICK that show's logo in the left column to enter by Wednesday, November 7!

...have you checked this week's INTERVIEW with CHAPLIN's WAYNE ALAN WILCOX?  He's a pretty amazing guy!  CLICK his picture in the right hand column to find out more!

Jeff

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Comments? Questions? @jkstheatrescene (Twitter); jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com (Email); or leave a comment below and check a box!

OUT Magazine's Most Eligible Bachelors: The Broadway Boys

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO VOTE IN THIS MONTH'S BROADWAY POLL

AND IN THIS WEEK'S ROUND OF "HOT AND HOTTER."  

LOOK TO YOUR LEFT FOR ACCESS TO BOTH!

OUT Magazine has come up with its list of the 100 most eligible bachelors.  It probably isn't too big of a shock to know that the New York theatre scene is well-represented on this list of gay celebrities.  But I have to admit that I am shocked at some of the guys on this list.  Why are they "eligible"??!!   (Note to Wesley, Kyle Dean, Jonathan, Nick and Rory: I'd be thrilled to have even one date... you don't have to marry me!)


The full list can be found HERE.  And vote for your favorite bachelor by clicking the "VOTE NOW" link on any of the 100 pictures!

Here are some of the Broadway guys on the list:

Nick Adams (A Chorus Line, Priscilla Queen of the Desert)

Clay Aiken (Monty Python's Spamalot)

Gavin Creel (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hair)

Matt Doyle (Spring Awakening, Bye Bye Birdie, War Horse)

Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening, The Submission)

John Benjamin Hickey (The Normal Heart, Love! Valour! Compassion!)

TR Knight (Noises Off, A Life in the Theatre)

Tom Lenk (Rock of Ages)

Seth MacFarlane (The Normal Heart)

Kyle Dean Massey (Xanadu, next to normal, Lucky Guy)

John Cameron Mitchell (Hello, Again, The Secret Garden, Hedwig and the Angry Inch)

Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee)

Wesley Taylor (The Addams Family, Rock of Ages)

Zachary Quinto (8, Angels in America)

Other Broadway Boys not pictured: John Waters (Hairspray, Cry-Baby), Lance Bass (Hairspray), Mo Rocca (Spelling Bee, Don't Quit Your Night Job), Patrick Healy (Theatre reporter for The New York Times), Russell Tovey (The History Boys) and Randy Harrison (Wicked)

As of 8PM on February 23, 6 of the top 10 vote getters are Broadway Boys!  #2: Clay Aiken, #4: Nick Adams, #5: Randy Harrison, #6: Zachary Quinto, #8: Jonathan Groff, and #10 Tom Lenk.

I wonder if Wesley and Kyle Dean would do better with these pictures:

   

I'm just sayin'...

Jeff
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