PSA: Matt Bomer, Billy Porter, Michael Urie, Harvey Fierstein & More #EraseHate

Matt Bomer for the #EraseHate campaign

Twenty years ago, in the aftermath of the horrific murder of 21-year-old college student Matthew Shepard outside Laramie, Wyoming, The Tectonic Theater Project traveled to the town to conduct interviews with the people of the town.

Those interviews evolved into The Laramie Project, which premiered in 2000 and has become one of the most performed contemporary plays in the world.

On September 24, 2018, the Matthew Shepard Foundation and Tectonic Theater Project will present a benefit reading of The Laramie Project to honor the progress made over the last two decades to erase hate.

As part of the company's #EraseHate campaign, a stellar collection of stars came together to help create a new music video set to a new original song, "Love Is Love."

Directed by Sue Kramer, the PSA features Matt Bomer, Billy Porter, Harvey Fierstein, Zachary Quinto, Michael Urie, Mary Louise Parker, Bridget Moynahan, Annaleigh Ashford and Michael Benjamin Washington.

Learn more by visiting laramiealegacy.org.

Tony Award-winner Billy Porter for the #EraseHate campaign 

(h/t TheOUTfront)

Podcast: Broadway, Conversion Therapy, Transgender Soldiers, LGBT Workplace Discrimination, Out Oscar Winners

In this week's podcast:

• Harvey Fierstein’s iconic play Torch Song is heading back to Broadway

• California aims to make so-called “ex-gay therapy” illegal

• Georgia lawmakers are trying to legalize discrimination against same-sex couples wanting to adopt

• South Carolina looks to label same-sex marriage as “parody” marriage

• Defense Secretary James Mattis has given Donald Trump his recommendations for transgender soldiers

• The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals says Title VII of Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects LGBTs from workplace discrimination

• Anti-gay bakers in Oregon take their case to the state Supreme Court

• How many out LGBT Academy Award winners can you name?

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report podcast.

LogoTV Set To Serve "Cocktails & Classics" With Michael Urie

Logo today announced that actor Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty") and a group of his most pop culture-minded friends will serve up a new twist on classic films with “Cocktails & Classics,” a new film series premiering this Sunday, April 19 at 7pm ET/PT.

Each week Michael Urie and his guests will gather to dish about behind-the-scenes gossip during breaks of one of their favorite movies. Together they will re-watch iconic and hilarious scenes and reenact their most beloved quotes from classics including “Cabaret,” “Sunset Boulevard,” and “Valley of the Dolls.”

The series launches with a screening of “Steel Magnolias.” In the episode, “Steel Magnolias” star Olympia Dukakis and screenwriter Robert Harling share how Meg Ryan, Winona Ryder, Laura Dern and Julianne Moore were all in talks to play the iconic role of Shelby, the part which ultimately went to Julia Roberts.

“Cocktails & Classics” guests include actors like Lea DeLaria (“Orange is the New Black”), Olympia Dukakis (“Steel Magnolias”) and Joel Grey (“Cabaret”), as well as journalists Jess Cagle (People, Entertainment Weekly), Michael Musto (OUT), Jessica Shaw (Entertainment Weekly) and Michael Ausiello (TVLine).

Upcoming films include “Auntie Mame,” “Barbarella,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Private Benjamin.”

“Everyone remembers the first time they saw and fell in love with these classic films,” said Chris McCarthy, General Manager of Logo. “We’re thrilled to bring them to a new generation with Michael Urie and a cast who share their own unique and hysterical perspectives on these iconic films and the Hollywood legends who starred in them.”

Get More:
Cocktails & Classics, Logo TV

Michael Urie's off-Broadway hit "Buyer & Cellar" recoups in only 9 weeks

I love theatrical successes.  And I really love it when it happens to completely deserving projects and artists.

Michael Urie (of Broadway and "Ugly Betty" fame) has had a big success with his new play "Buyer & Cellar" off-Broadway at the Barrow Street Theatre where the production has recouped it's initial investment of $500,000 in only 9 weeks!

Urie stars in the the play as a struggling actor who goes to work for Barbra Streisand.

From the New York Times:

Few Off Broadway shows ever turn a profit, and even fewer do it this quickly. But “Buyer & Cellar” received strong reviews last spring in its first production at the 99-seat Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, then transferred to its current 199-seat house in late June. The show recouped in late August, according to the lead producer, Darren Bagert, and has grossed more than $1 million at Barrow Street, which has a strong track record of profitability.

Mr. Urie is set to perform “Buyer & Cellar” next year in Los Angeles and Chicago, the producers said, and talks are under way for productions in San Francisco, Toronto, and Dallas.

New CBS series "Partners" to star Michael Urie of "Ugly Betty" & "How To Succeed..."

From Playbill: CBS has announced its new primetime lineup for the 2012-13 season. The new comedy "Partners," starring Ugly Betty/How to Succeed's Michael Urie and David Krumholtz (Conversations with My Father), will air Monday nights at 8:30 PM ET.

Based on the lives of creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, "Partners," according to CBS, is "about two life-long best friends and business partners whose 'bromance' is tested when one of them is engaged to be married. Joe (Krumholtz) is an accomplished architect who leads with his head and not his heart, especially in his love life. That's in stark contrast to his gay co-worker, Louis (Urie), who is spontaneous, emotional and prone to exaggeration. Both have found joy in their love lives: Joe is newly engaged to Ali (Sophia Bush), a beautiful and sophisticated jewelry designer, while Louis is dating Wyatt (Brandon Routh), a vegan nurse who Louis insists is just a promotion away from becoming a doctor. As news of Joe's engagement settles, time will tell if their business and personal bond can adapt to the addition of two other important relationships." James Burrows directed the pilot.

Ugly Betty reunion: Vanessa Williams backstage on Broadway with Michel Urie at "How To Succeed..."

"Ugly Betty"s Michael Urie to join Broadway's HOW TO SUCCEED...

The producers of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING announced today that Michael Urie (“Ugly Betty,” The Temperamentals) will make his Broadway debut as Bud Frump, beginning Tuesday, January 24, 2012, for 6 months through Sunday, July 1, 2012.

Urie will co-star with Nick Jonas and Beau Bridges. Tickets for Urie’s engagement in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are now on sale.

Michael Urie is currently starring as Yepikhodov in the Classic Stage Company’s production of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard. He also recently starred in the Signature Theatre Company’s revival of Angels in America as Prior Walter, as well as the 2009’s The Temperamentals, in which he originated the role of Rudi Gernreich and received a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor. Also in New York, Michael has worked with The Nerve Ensemble at HERE, The Foundry, HB Playwrights, and in WTC VIEW during the Fringe Festival, which went on to become a film from director/writer Brian Sloan.

Michael was seen opposite Vanessa Williams for four seasons on ABCs hit series UGLY BETTY as 'Marc.'

I saw Michael in the Angels In America revival and he was perfection.  As I'm certain he will be in HOW TO SUCCEED.  Make sure you see him in the show.

HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING began previews on Saturday, February 26, 2011 and opened Sunday, March 27 at Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street).

Read more at BroadwayWorld.com