NYC: Video Highlights From Encores' "Songs For A New World"

I know my theater folks are going to go for this.

Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World recently returned to the New York City stage via the Encores! Off-Center production where performances ran through June 30.

Colin Donnell, Solea Pfeiffer, Mykal Kilgore, and a luminous Shoshana Bean make up the quartet of vocal superstars tasked with singing Brown's song cycle, originally produced off-Broadway in 1995.

The central theme of the show underscores the idea that even when everything seems stable and certain, there is "one moment" that can upend and change anyone's life.

The original off-Broadway cast featured now-Tony Award winner Billy Porter, as well as Broadway veterans Brooks Ashmanskas, Andréa Burns, and Jessica Molaskey.

The Encores production featured direction by Kate Whoriskey. You can check out samples from "Stars and the Moon," "I'm Not Afraid of Anything," "I'd Give It All for You," and many more below.

Back in the 90s, this was THE show that all the young theater kids wanted to sing from.

I have to include at least one song from the show.

While Billy Porter, now currently starring in the FX series Pose, was in the original off-Broadway cast of the show, his record label didn't allow him to participate in the original cast recording.

Years later, in his fantastic one-man-show At The Corner of Broadway and Soul at the Public Theater, Porter revived his performance of "King of the World."

Thankfully, Porter released a recording of that concert in full. Singing from some form of prison, either literal or metaphorical, a man demands that he be freed and returned to his rightful place as a leader of men.

Listen below.

Queer Theater: "217 Boxes Of Dr. Henry Anonymous" In NYC

Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Obie Award winner Laura Esterman
as "Katherine Luder" in 217 Boxes of Dr. Henry Anonymous

Three-time Obie award-winning playwright Ain Gordon has written and directed a new play, 217 Boxes of Dr. Henry Anonymous, that chronicles the successful efforts of Dr. John Fyer to declassify homosexuality as a mental illness.

Fryer's testimony at the 1972 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting is considered one of the most significant moments in the history of the gay-rights movement.

As an openly gay psychiatrist who could have lost his medical license, Fryer used a pseudonym, mask and voice modulator to address his colleagues.

The cast includes Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Obie Award winner Laura Esterman (Marvin’s Room), Derek Lucci, and Broadway veteran Ken Marks (Mamma Mia!, Dear Evan Hansen, Dancing at Lughnasa, Hairspray).

Performances begin May 3 at Baryshnikov Arts Center’s Jerome Robbins Theater in New York City (450 West 37th Street).

For more information, head over to the official website here.

Podcast: A Tale Of Two Theatrical Adventures

Join me for "A Tale of Two Theatrical Adventures" as two longtime out actors have separate, but euphoric experiences with New York Theater on the same weekend.

I followed both simultaneously on social media as they shared the elation of their personal milestones, and the journeys made my Grinchy heart swell.

Up first, Stephen Blackwell.

As his 50th birthday approached, Stephen made the decision to venture forth on his own to the Big Bad Apple for the first time and see his first productions on the Great White Way.

We all know New York City can be expensive for visiting fans of Broadway. As he recounts his big adventure, Stephen also has tips that helped him save money along the way, including:

• The app TodayTix (and the website version todaytix.com) helped Stephen buy discounted tickets to Broadway shows in advance without standing in lines or worrying about what his choices would be.

• Instead of pricey hotels, Stephen stayed in an apartment blocks from the theater district and saved hundreds using AirBNB. If you haven't tried the popular travel site, Stephen shares his experience.

• And don't be afraid to reach out to friends you've made on social media. Stephen met up with someone he knew from Facebook, and that friend acted as a guide to what to do after an evening in the theater.

The other gentleman in this dual adventure, Ed Dixon, has enjoyed a long, successful career on Broadway, off-Broadway and beyond. He’s an actor, playwright, composer and author.

After more than four decades of great work, Ed was honored by the Drama Desk Awards for his latest project, Georgie: My Adventures with George Rose, on the same weekend Stephen was experiencing NY theater for the first time.

I interviewed Ed weeks before during the aftermath of his grand rave-review opening, but watching him share his big Drama Desk win on Facebook felt like I was there.

You can listen to my previous interview with Ed here.

At a time when it feels there’s so much doom, gloom and grousing on social media, I loved watching these stories play out in front of me in real time on the Book of Face.

Hit play below to listen to the two men's simultaneous journeys.

Sometimes, it's great to savor the good times :)

SNL: Theater Nerds Get Down At The "Crucible Cast Party"

Ok, I can post this in full disclosure that not only did I know these folks when I was in high school, I WAS this crowd.

Saturday Night Live sends up the always painful to remember "high school play cast party." And they nail it right down to the chaste "back rub" that never went anywhere.

Rock on!

Love Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda's rap in the middle of the segment.

Palm Springs: Victor/Victoria Nominated For 11 "Desert Stars Awards"

Wow. How cool is this?

As regular readers may remember, this past spring I directed and choreographed (theatre is the other half of my career) a production of the musical Victor/Victoria in Palm Springs at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Springs for the College of the Desert. Great experience, wonderful cast and creative team.

Today I got word that the production was nominated for 11 "Desert Stars Awards" by the Desert Theatre League, including two for me for my direction and choreography.

I have to say the best part of the news is seeing so many of my collaborators having their work acknowledged.

Congrats to everyone!

Here's a list of:

• Outstanding Production Musical/Opera/Pageant - Victor/Victoria - College of the Desert

• Outstanding Director of a Musical/Opera/Pageant - Professional - Randy Slovacek - Victor/Victoria - College of the Desert

• Outstanding Musical Director of a Musical/Opera/Pageant - Professional - Darlene Romano - Victor/Victoria - College of the Desert

• The Michele Gaines Award for Outstanding Choreographer of a Musical/Opera/Pageant - Professional - Randy Slovacek - Victor/Victoria - College of the Desert

• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical/Opera/Pageant - Chris Sands - Victor/Victoria - College of the Desert

• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical/Opera/Pageant - Professional - Eliott Goretsky - Victor/Victoria - College of the Desert

• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical/Opera/Pageant - 2 - Chelsey Clime, Kara Masek - Victor/Victoria - College of the Desert

• The Ron Hamm Award for Outstanding Hair and Makeup Design - Professional - Lynda Shaeps - Victor/Victoria - College of the Desert

• Outstanding Lighting Design - Professional - Keith I. Smith - Victor/Victoria - College of the Desert

• Outstanding Props and Special Effects - Professional - J.W. Layne - Victor/Victoria - College of the Desert

New Musical IDAHO! Premieres At Las Vegas' Smith Center

Nate Hackmann (center) leads the cast of IDAHO!
(click pics to enlarge - all photos by Erik Kabik)

For those readers in Las Vegas this weekend, I heartily encourage you to run to The Smith Center where Idaho! The Comedy Musical is killing audiences with tons of laughs and titular tunes.

The new musical, lyrics and book by Buddy Sheffield with co-composer credit to Keith Thompson, is a mashed up/parody version of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical canon with an emphasis on sending up their classic tuner, Oklahoma!. Think applying a healthy dose of double entendre Mel Brooks' The Producers humor, plus hysterical irreverence like that currently trodding the Broadway boards in hits like Book of Mormon and Something Rotten! and you get an idea of what's in store.

Sheffield and Thompson's score is clever and tuneful with plenty of musical inside jokes for the most learned of musical theater fans. Along the way you also get nods to Les Miserables, Fiddler on the Roof and many, many more.

The project got it's initial exposure at the New York Musical Theater Festival back in 2008 when it was honored with "Best of Fest." I mention that to note that this is how long it takes to develop a real, honest-to-goodness Broadway musical. Eight years later the show is finally getting a major production here in Las Vegas.

The fruit of that extended developmental period of time is on full display here. The book is tight, the lyrics smart, and the creative team seems open to honest reassessment. Sources report that between the first preview and opening night the second act was tightened by 5 minutes. This is a team that demonstrates a strong sense of clarity in what they want to deliver to an audience.

The official synopsis goes thusly:

Idaho! The Comedy Musical brings a hilarious new love story to life as Cassie Purdy, a mail-order bride from Ohio, arrives to Idaho to marry the notorious Jed Strunk, a real toad gagger who’s got the personality of a festered wart and enough money to buy every last spud in town. Upon her arrival, Cassie encounters the handsome Whip Masters, falling in love to Strunk’s dismay and setting in motion a whirlwind of events that end in three couples either discovering or re-discovering the loves of their lives.

The handsome "Whip Masters" is played to perfection by handsome, gorgeous voiced Nate Hackmann (recently seen in the Broadway revival of Les Miserables) who is worth the price of admission all on his own. A big, huge, golden voice, and comedy chops to match, Hackmann let's us know up front that, “Heck, it’s a helluva day!” because, after all, “I’m the leading man.”

Jessica Fontana (Broadway's Cinderella)is the object of his affection, and for good reason. Fontana plays "Cassie" with much sass and a winning soprano.

Also featured in the cast are Matt Loehr (Book of Mormon, The Producers) as "Slim Johnson" (careful of the double entendre there) and Alex Ellis (Catch Me If You Can, On A Clear Day) as "Ida Dunham" (another pun there). Think Oklahoma!'s "Will Parker" and "Ado Annie" but with a lot more good, clean sexual punning going on.

Carmen Ruby Floyd, Jen Perry and Jay Rogers all join in to farm the fun and frivolity.

Director Matt Lenz has a firm grasp of the very specific kind of humor he working with here, and he delivers keeping the pace turned up high and the humor constantly center stage.

Choreographer Michelle Lynch continually finds terpsichorean creativity throughout including heaping helpings of humor with her "Twister Ballet" and the "Everything's Up To Date In Kansas City" stand-in "Boise’s Jist as Noisy as Kin Be" led by Loehr.

The audience was clearly happy to take this hay ride as the laughs were constant throughout. This is spud-busting, tater-tickling, home-grown humor here, and the audience was definitely down for the fun.

Myron Martin, president and CEO of The Smith Center who spearheaded the development of the Center as a haven for touring Broadway shows to call home here in Las Vegas, is now taking the Center to the next level hoping to actually create musicals that Las Vegas can send to Broadway.

Idaho! makes for a worthy first effort. Stay tuned to see if the tuner tumbles all the way to the Great White Way.

But in the meantime, head down to the Center's Reynolds Hall and enjoy Idaho!'s fully baked fun with all the fixings.

Idaho! The Comedy Musical performs now through Sunday, July 17. For ticket info, call 702-749-2000 or click over to at The Smith Center.

LA Theater: Betty Buckley & Rachel York Star In "Grey Gardens"

Now you KNOW I'm seeing this in July. Not to be missed.

Via press release:

Broadway's daring musical sensation Grey Gardens — The Musical arrives at the Ahmanson Theatre starring the fabulous Rachel York (Broadway's City of Angels) and the legendary Betty Buckley (Tony Award®-winning Grizabella in Cats).

Based on the cult classic documentary and directed by Michael Wilson, this haunting and often hilarious musical recounts Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' most eccentric relatives' fall from society darlings to notorious recluses in their crumbling East Hampton estate.

Grey Gardens — The Musical was hailed as Time magazine’s number one show of the year and garnered 10 Tony Award nominations when it premiered on Broadway in 2006.

Center Theatre Group’s production at the Ahmanson is the Los Angeles debut of Grey Gardens — The Musical.

2016 Drama Desk Award Winners Announced

The 2016 Drama Desk Award winners were announced last night in New York City.


In a year where Hamilton has dominated so much attention, I think it's important to note Hamilton won Drama Desk Awards last year during it's off-Broadway run, which is why the show is absent among these results.

Outstanding Play

The Humans, Roundabout Theatre Company

Outstanding Musical

Shuffle Along

Outstanding Revival of a Play

A View from the Bridge

Outstanding Revival of a Musical

She Loves Me, Roundabout Theatre Company

Outstanding Actor in a Play

Frank Langella, The Father, Manhattan Theatre Club

Outstanding Actress in a Play

Jessica Lange, Long Day’s Journey Into Night

Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Danny Burstein, Fiddler on the Roof

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Michael Shannon, Long Day’s Journey Into Night

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play

Saycon Sengbloh, Eclipsed, Public Theater

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

Christopher Fitzgerald, Waitress

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

Jane Krakowski, She Loves Me

Outstanding Director of a Play

Ivo van Hove, A View from the Bridge

Outstanding Director of a Musical (tie)

John Doyle, The Color Purple

Bartlett Sher, Fiddler on the Roof

Outstanding Choreography

Savion Glover, Shuffle Along

Outstanding Music

Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Bright Star

Outstanding Lyrics

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Dear Evan Hansen

Outstanding Book of a Musical

John Caird, Daddy Long Legs

Outstanding Orchestrations

Larry Hochman, She Loves Me, Roundabout Theatre Company

Outstanding Music in a Play

Philip Glass, The Crucible

Outstanding Set Design for a Play

Christopher Oram, Hughie

Outstanding Set Design for a Musical

David Rockwell, She Loves Me

Outstanding Costume Design for a Play

Anita Yavich, The Legend of Georgia McBride

Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical

Ann Roth, Shuffle Along

Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play

Justin Townsend, The Humans

Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical

Justin Townsend, American Psycho

Outstanding Projection Design

Finn Ross, American Psycho

Outstanding Sound Design for a Play

Fitz Patton, The Humans

Outstanding Sound Design for a Musical

Dan Moses Schreier, American Psycho

Outstanding Wig and Hair Design

Mia M. Neal, Shuffle Along

Outstanding Solo Performance

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Fully Committed

Unique Theatrical Experience

That Physics Show

Special Awards:

The Humans – Special Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble

The Royale – Special Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble

Sheldon Harnick – Special Drama Desk Award

Camp Broadway – Special Drama Desk Award

Danai Gurira – Sam Norkin Award

An Immersive "Oklahoma!" Set In An Old-Fashioned Community Hall

Lauren Lancaster for The New York Times

I think this sounds terrific.

A new take on the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic "Oklahoma!" unfolds in a theater retrofitted to look like an old-fashioned community hall and features red pots of chili shared by the audience and the actors at intermission.

From the New York Times:

The show was “Oklahoma!,” but the room might have been mistaken for a local hangout, with plaid-shirted 20-somethings leaning against the wall, checking their phones or watching a six-piece retro-Americana band, including a banjo and an accordion, tune up.

Then, after practicing a few quavery high notes, Damon Daunno, the actor playing the lovesick cowboy Curly, stepped into the middle of the room and belted out the first lines of “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” accompanying himself on acoustic guitar until the band kicked in.

Very cool.

The production will run run through July 19 as part of Bard’s SummerScape festival.

BYE BYE BIRDIE - This Summer At Sacramento Music Circus

I'm "Honestly Sincere" when I "Put On A Happy Face" and share that I'll be heading back to Sacramento Music Circus this summer to choreograph BYE BYE BIRDIE!

This will be my 3rd summer dancing with the "Kids" at Sac Music Circus, and we "Got A Lot Of Livin' To Do" before everything is "Rosie."

Definitely looking forward to it. As always when I'm working in the theater, The Randy Report will continue - just means some double duty for a while. But I love doing both. I'll share the backstage process of putting on a show from as many perspectives as I can.

If you're in Sacramento in early July, opening night is July 7th! Come down and say hi :)

The Public Theater Pays Tribute to A CHORUS LINE on 40th Anniversary

Sasha Hutchings, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Baayork Lee, Kay Cole, Donna McKechnie and Phillipa Soo

The cast of the ground breaking off-Broadway show HAMILTON at The Public Theater - currently the hottest ticket in NYC - pays tribute to A CHORUS LINE on the 40th anniversary of its first performance in the Newman Theater at The Public.

Upon the conclusion of curtain calls, the Hamilton cast recreated the finale of the senior show’s opening number, lining up across the stage of the Newman Theater, holding their real-life resume photos in front of their faces and singing, “Who am I anyway/Am I my resume?...”

Led by their composer/star Lin-Manuel Miranda, the cast of HAMILTON then performed “What I Did for Love” in its entirety for the Chorus Liners, who had been invited to attend that evening.

Lin-Manuel Miranda (L), Leslie Odom (C) and Jonathan Groff (R) from the cast of HAMILTON

NYC: Jake Gyllenhaal Set To Star In LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS At City Center

Jake Gyllenhaal is slated to make his NYC musical debut this summer as "Seymour," the nerdy florist in the Encores! Off-Center production of “Little Shop of Horrors” at City Center this summer.

Talk about a tough acting assignment: how you gonna make Jake Gyllenhaal "nerdy?"

Mr. Gyllenhaal will play Seymour, who tries to woo his co-worker Audrey with a carnivorous plant, in a concert production of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s long-running Off-Broadway comedy. Taran Killam, the “Saturday Night Live” star, will also make his musical debut, as the psychotic dentist and romantic rival, Orin Scrivello. (In the 1986 film version, the dentist was memorably played by Steve Martin, opposite Rick Moranis’s Seymour.)

The veteran stage actor Chuck Cooper will voice the blood-thirsty plant, and Ellen Greene will play Audrey, the ditzy love interest, as she did in the original stage production and film.

My PAGEANT buddy, Dick Scanlan, will helm the Encores! production, which will play three performances on July 1-2.

Jake starred opposite Ruth Wilson in the well-received Broadway play “Constellations" this past season.

First "Stumble-Through" Of West Side Story At SDMT

As many Randy Report readers know, my life is split between writing here (a serious passion for me), and my forty year career in the theater.

I'm currently choreographing a new production of West Side Story at San Diego Music Theatre. I was here two years ago doing similar duties with Chicago The Musical (which, btw, resulted in not only a gorgeous production but my first nomination for Best Choreography by the Theatre Critics Association - how cool is that?).

In less than two weeks, we scheduled a "stumble-through" of Act One for today. The good news being that we never really stopped at all. Generally, these things are the first step in running the show, but with stops and starts to figure out details not yet addressed.

But today the cast pretty much went right through with no stops. And, for many, it was a chance to see the material some actors may not be in.

All in all, a terrific day for both cast and creative team.

We were then invited to the producers home for a great evening of relaxing and camaraderie - my favorite part of the arts. Just celebrating this "thing" we are all doing together.

I have a strong feeling that the show, in this cast's hands, will be really great. Not based on my contributions, but the flavors and spice of the entire cast. As we all know, I love diversity and character and individuality. And this cast has all that.

Las Vegas: Looking For Some Splash & Laugh?

Graham Skipper (“Herbert West”) and Jesse Merlin (“Dr. Carl Hill”)

Re-Animator The Musical tells the bizarre story of Herbert West, a young medical student who has discovered a glowing green serum that can bring the dead back to life…with catastrophic results.

Emmy Award-nominee George Wendt, well-known for his role on the hit TV show “Cheers,” has been added to the cast for the two-week engagement at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Troesh Studio Theater, Jan. 6-18, 2015. The starring role reunites Wendt with members of the original production.

Based on the cult classic H.P. Lovecraft’s Re-Animator, this award-winning horror comedy is helmed by Stuart Gordon (who also directed the film) and features a splash zone for those who enjoy a little splatter! Variety wrote “Not since Little Shop of Horrors has a screamfest tuner so deftly balanced seriousness and camp.”

Attending the opening night at The Smith Center, the audience had a great time - especially those who sat in the first few rows ("the splash zone") who enjoyed a rain of faux blood and more.  It seems to be the "in" thing to be up front, but be warned - it gets pretty wet.

Wendt brings a grounding foundation to the shenanigans, while the entire cast buys into the fun and clever "Sondheim-ian" score.

The opening night had a couple of sound issues (hard to hear, missed sound cues) but I'm sure those were technical blips corrected since then.

With the ongoing popularity of zombies on TV and film, it's no wonder the award-winning musical is a hit with audiences.

For more info on the musical head over to the official website here.

Click here for ticket info.

Jesse Merlin (“Dr. Carl Hill”) and George Wendt ("Dean Halsey")

Jessica Howell (“Megan Halsey”) and Darren Ritchie (“Dan Cain”)

AJesse Merlin,Graham Skipper, Marlon Grace,Brian Gillespie

The Theater World Is So, So Small

With the uber-talented Nick Adams of Wicked

The theater world never fails to surprise me.

I dropped off a set of keys at The Smith Center here in Las Vegas today as three cast members of WICKED will be renting my townhouse in LA in December during their LA run.

As I'm walking back to the parking garage, I passed a really good-looking guy and had to do a double-take.

I think I know him.  As I turn to look again, he's done the same.

"Randy?"

"Nick!"

The very handsome, uber-talented Nick Adams has been starring in the national company of Wicked (as the somewhat light-witted "Fiyero") since February.  I've known Nick for about ten years, ever since we worked together in the national tour of Chicago.

Since then he's become a favorite on Broadway appearing in Chicago, A Chorus Line, The Pirate Queen, Guys & Dolls, La Cage aux Folles and most recently (the last place I saw Nick)  in his show-stopping role of "Adam/Felicia" in the hit Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

And so there we were today. Just one of those moments that happen in the theater: walking down the street, thousands of miles and a few years from last seeing each other, and BAM! "How are you doing?"

It was a quick "hey!" as it was two minutes to half-hour call - "How are you? How's the road?" - but made me smile. I love that the theater world works like this.

Till next time, Nick.

You can catch Nick and company in Wicked over the next few months in San Diego, then Los Angeles until March.

Strong Reviews For Blythe Danner In "The Country House" On Broadway

Blythe Danner in "The Country House"

Reviews for the newly opened Donald Margulies' play The Country House are - as expected - quite robust for the production's leading lady, Blythe Danner.

Regular readers will recall that I'm a huge fan of the luminous Ms. Danner's work, and have been for years. I was fortunate to work with her in the 2001 revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies and have remained friends since then.

The Country House, under the auspices of the Manhattan Theatre Club, opened last night on Broadway to strong reviews, especially for Danner.

New York Times:

"The most satisfying and exasperating aspect of “The Country House” is Ms. Danner’s performance.

"Watch Ms. Danner after Anna fails to seduce a handsome, younger houseguest. She deflates and then majestically reinflates, like someone who suddenly remembers that she is, after all, in front of an audience. Anna may describe herself as “a leading lady without a stage,” but that’s nonsense. With Ms. Danner in the role, all the world is Anna’s stage."

Variety:

"(Author) Donald Margulies gets a big, sloppy kiss from leading lady Blythe Danner, who is effortlessly lovely and irresistibly charismatic as the queenly head of a fractious theatrical family in his new play, “The Country House.”"

New York Post:

"Blythe Danner shines in Donald Margulies' "The Country House""

USAToday:

Danner's Anna is a model of rumpled dignity and vanity, at once blowsy and elegant in her fashion. "I am not one whose entrances go unnoticed," she tells Susie early on. Yet House is at its funniest and most poignant when Anna comes to terms — or doesn't — with her fading powers, and the ephemerality of life. Her daughter's absence is, of course, a stinging reminder of the latter, and Danner makes that pain clear, even while delivering a wonderfully relaxed comedic performance.

Young actor has an unexpected "moment in the woods"

Having played "Jack" in INTO THE WOODS, I live for this young actor's response to an unexpected "moment in the woods..."

Bravo!

Post by Mimi Imfurst.

Trailer: Gorgeous video footage of new "Miss Saigon" in London

Check out the gorgeous new trailer for the new revival of Miss Saigon, which began performances at London's Prince Edward Theatre in May.

The stunning production features such familiar Schönberg, Boublil and Maltby tunes as “The Movie in My Mind,” “The Last Night of the World” and “The American Dream.”

Starring newcomer Eva Noblezada as "Kim," Alistair Brammer as "Chris" and Jon Jon Briones as "The Engineer," this looks to be a MUST-SEE in London.

Only question left - when will Broadway audiences get to see this emotionally powerful production?

More info about the show here.

My "temple"

Thanks for indulging me, faithful readers. I'm currently staging A Chorus Line at Sacramento Music Circus.

This is the closest thing to a "temple" in my life.

This is seriously where I love to be.

Actor fired for confronting heckler during performance of "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof"

Actor John Lacy as "Big Daddy" in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

At a performance of Cat On a Hot Tin Roof Saturday at the Repertory East Playhouse in Santa Clarita, California, one of the actors was fired for taking matters into his own hands when a heckler continued to yell "fag" from the audience.

From The Wrap:

John Lacy, who played Big Daddy in Tennessee Williams’ classic play that tackles homophobia among other themes, was fired after jumping off stage and physically confronting an audience member who repeatedly made noise and yelled “fag” during emotionally tense scenes, according to audience members’ accounts of the incident on Facebook.

The show apparently continued following the confrontation and concluded to a standing ovation. Lacy was apparently not let go until after the performance.

Lead actor Anton Troy resigned in solidarity with Lacy, writing on the social networking site that the show's producers should have handled the unruly patron, who had apparently been drinking before the show and returned to the audience after consuming more alcohol during intermission.

“I will not support homophobia or an establishment that doesn't support its talent,” Troy wrote. “Hate in any form is not something I choose to subscribe to. John is a seasoned professional and an honorable man. It should never escalate to a point where the talent has to handle an unruly drunk in the audience themselves regardless of the outcome. Producers dropped the ball, the fish stinks from the head on down.”

John Lacy has issued this statement:

Amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience at the theatre last. Wish I could say it was positive.

An audience member took it upon himself to heckle us all the way thru Act I, when it persisted in Act II and the producers did NOTHING about it, after admitting to me moments before I walked on stage it was "the drunkest audience they ever had," and then he called our lead actor a "fag," I took charge and showed him what was what.

And, get this, the producer, Michael Ovington Michael Owston FIRED ME! Insert laugh track!

Sorry for those who planned on attending. Right is right. Stood up to bullies my entire life, not gonna stop now