Seeing the announcement of a new Broadway show this fall recreating one of Liberace’s Vegas showroom concerts, I got to thinking: Doesn’t the Great White Way have a gay-enough reputation without a show starring a man in a gold-sequined tuxedo? Not that there is anything remotely gay about Wladziu Valentino Liberace, of course. This truly gifted pianist, who once described himself as a "one-man Disneyland," died of complications from AIDS in 1987 after repeated denials that he was gay (and successful lawsuits against papers that implied he was anything but heterosexual). Sure, he could lisp his way through an episode of Batman as a piano-playing villain or camp it up with Phyllis Diller on his short-lived TV show (see the clip below), but there weren’t enough gay fans at that time to pay for all those rhinestones and candelabras. So he did what he could to keep the swooning house fraus happy.
Aside from Broadway, though, have things changed all that dramatically for performers vying for stardom in the American mainstream? Consider the string of American Idol contestants who, for whatever reason, have chosen to remain closeted while on the show (or sidestep questions about their sexuality). What do you think, PopWatchers? Is Liberace too gay even for Broadway? And could a sequin- and guyliner-loving performer like Liberace still be embraced by middle America today?
Liberace gay? Hah! I bet you think Adam Lambert’s gay too.
If you want to know if mid America is ready for this gay Broadway show, ask Carrie Prejean, the Miss America runner-up. Let Adam Lambert play the role on Broadway!
Is this supposed to be some sort of response to “The Boy from Oz?” Take that, Hugh Jackman! Nobody out-gays America, pal!
There have been many gay actors, shows, and themes on Broadway. I mean, come on it’s BROADWAY! To have a Liberace show would not be unusual. Was the story of Peter Allen too gay for Broadway?
As for Liberace,
I think that back in the sixties, no one cared because the media did not mention it. I am sure that A LOT of people knew and did not care. However, when th eighties came about and AIDS was plastered all over, it became a witchunt to see who was gay. It was a shame because Liberace was very talented and funny.
The only worse than being told to gay it up by a straight man is to be told to gay it up by a fellow queer. Listen, I don’t like rhinestones, I don’t like camp and I don’t like Cher! And no I will not take this stick out of my behind, I’m gay and I like it there!
Oh Puhleze! He’s not gay, he’s just “flamboyant”. Next you’ll be telling us that Elton John’s…….
WHAAAAAAAAT??????!
Liberace’s late-’60s TV show may have been short lived, but his 1950s show was enormously popular. (Although, as Howard Stern used to like to rib Milton Berle, his only competition was the test pattern. But STILL…)
I grew up in the 50′s and 60′s and we never missed Liberace’s show. Who cares if he is/was gay. He was a hell of an entertainer. And, in 2009, nobody should care either. I heard that The Boy From Oz went over quite well and everyone knew it was about a gay man. Hugh Jackman hosted the Tony’s that year and I never realized how talented he was either. Then, of course. everyone had to say he was gay too, just because he was a good entertainer. What’s up with that!
Playwright larry Myers’ play
“Liberace’s Hospitalization” previews on May 16 at Westbeth Art Gallery at aparty for Dr. Myers book signing of “Twitter Theater” & “Mary Anderson’s Encore”
Well The Boy From Oz pretty much showed that Broaday is ready to embrace gays, especially if they have incredible talent and personality. Lee was loved by just about everyone for his generosity and kindness. He had a marvelous time poking fun and being flamboyant and we had fun watching him. I will definately go and see this show. Lee, long may your rainbow banner wave above the Great White Way.
When I was around 11 or so, my grandmother had a tape of some Liberace something. Since I took piano lessons, I was told to watch and aspire. My grandparents and father ‘appreciated’ the music and laughed at the unbelieveablely lame jokes. Later, I asked my Dad if anyone noticed the guy was, ah, gay. He laughed and said they weren’t stupid. He ‘explained’ to me that Liberace was a performer so people ignored it. I’m still like, wtf? Why would my judgemental elders be okay with him but hate Elton John? I still don’t get it. Is it ok if you don’t mention it? Or pretend really hard?
So have things changed for performers? Neil Patrick Harris and TR Knight are openly gay and play hetros. But Clay Aiken and Rosie O’Donnell took forever to acknowledge their sexuality and it may have changed their fan base. In a perfect world, no one should care, but I still don’t know why the judgement squad considers it okay for some but not for others.
hey whatcha- i agree with you completely… i always wondered why when Ellen came out there was a backlash- finding nemo came out and that was her resurgance… rosie hasnt been quite that lucky- i think its because Ellen never seemed like a fake and Rosie did- Rosie came out and became angry lesbian as opposed to this wholesome image she was spewing out daily on her show… i think the “hate” comes when you vehemently deny it cause nobody likes a fake…
Well, The Boy From Oz, Rent, and Angels in America did just fine on Broadway, so I don’t see why this would not.
I saw a reading of Dr. Larry Myers in his own play
“Liberace’s Hospitalization’!
wow!
This is sort of a post-cyber postmodern deconstruction of LIBERACE & Myers’ acting & writingremind me of Jeff Weiss
Myers plays 3 Liberaces at once! Not to be believed!!!!!!!!!!!!