Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

OFF-BROADWAY 'Sylvester' musical: Serving realness
by Lawrence Ferber
2014-11-26

This article shared 5498 times since Wed Nov 26, 2014
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


Anthony Wayne has appeared in fantastic, Tony-winning Broadway shows including Pippin, The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, and Anything Goes. Yet the openly gay, African-American Harlem resident admits there aren't a lot of roles out there for people of color his age, despite his formidable talents as a dancer, singer and actor.

So, in collaboration with his boyfriend, celebrity fashion stylist Kendrell Bowman, Wayne decided to create a role and show entitled Mighty Real: A Fabulous Sylvester Musical to spotlight his range of abilities—and resuscitate a groundbreaking gay pop culture legend in the process.

"Sylvester was against the grain," said the Virginia-born Wayne. "He was a man who stood in his truth and who was able to pursue and do great things no matter what he went through. This was a chance to do something outside of the box. To do a leading role, to bring something to life, and celebrate the man at the same time."

Dubbed "The Queen of Disco," Sylvester ( born Sylvester James Jr. in Los Angeles ) performed some of the '70s most enduring and recognizable disco tunes and gay anthems including "You Make Me Feel ( Mighty Real )," "Do Ya Wanna Funk," "Dance ( Disco Heat )," and a soulful cover of Patti LaBelle's "You Are My Friend." In fact, June 25th saw a CD and double pink vinyl 12" release of Mighty Real: Greatest Dance Hits, featuring a new Ralphi Rosario dub remix.

More factoid realness: Sylvester performed with San Francisco's legendary The Cockettes troupe during the early '70s, while big-voiced divas Martha Wash and Izora Rhodes flanked him during the late '70s as backup singers Two Tons of Fun ( the ladies later went on to form The Weather Girls, of "It's Raining Men" fame ). He gender-bent with flamboyant clothing and makeup, helping pave the way for RuPaul ( and, surely, so much "realness" being served today ). In 1988 he died from AIDS-related complications, but not without leaving a legacy and oft-covered music catalog behind.

In the show, which recently ran off-Broadway's Theatre at St. Clement's ( 423 W. 46th St. ), Wayne channeled Sylvester, taking us through his life's highs and lows via monologues and favorite songs. For even those familiar with Sylvester, the show is rich with in-depth, little known information. "And everything is fabulous," adds Bowman, who designed the glam outfits.

The show entails a first artistic collaboration between the romantic couple, who first met online circa 2010 while Wayne was appearing in Broadway's Priscilla as Jimmy … although meeting offline almost didn't happen, Bowman admitted.

"I was kind of skeptical," Bowman said. "He was on Broadway and wanted to meet after his show, and I wasn't sure why he wanted to meet after 11:30 at night. I'm like, honey, Central Park after 11:30 at night, nothing's gonna happen."

However, not only did they finally meet, but Bowman showed up to see Wayne sing a number from RENT at a Town Hall event and was struck by his talent. Right then, the seed for Mighty Real was sown. "Kendall turned to me and said, 'we need to do something, people need to hear your voice,'" Wayne recalled. "The idea of the show was already bouncing around, and we went from there."

A 2010 episode of VH1's music biography series, Unsung, devoted to Sylvester proved an invaluable inspiration and wellspring of facts and information. More details were culled from research and talks with Sylvester's surviving friends and colleagues. Wayne got to work writing the show, while Bowman, who has styled the likes of Kanye West ( "He's laid back, he's not as crazy as people make him out to be," he attests ), re-created some of Sylvester's actual costumes, including the open-front white jacket seen in publicity materials.

"Sylvester would ride around on a moped with a fur mink coat on," Bowman said. "It was always about fur and diamonds and glamorous things. We tried to incorporate all that into the show. Not only with him—we did the same thing for the Two Tons of Fun. Every outfit is a recreation."

To portray Two Tons' Izora and Martha, the couple enlisted two of Wayne's Priscilla co-stars, Anastacia McCleskey and Jacqueline B. Arnold. One could say this was serendipity, as the pair performed "It's Raining Men" in that show, giving them a sort of warm-up for the roles. Priscilla served as a sort of warm-up for Wayne as well, since offstage he tends to be introverted and quiet. "Being around all the personalities at Priscilla, all the over the top-ness helped me create the Sylvester image and essence," he said. "It was the glitz and glamour and bigness of who he was. This is me and you're gonna love it."

An early, concert-style version of the show—titled "Fabulous, One More Time: A Sylvester Concert"—was performed in September 2012 at NYC's ( le ) Poisson Rouge. Further pre-runs took place in Washington, D.C. and in Miami at the Versace Mansion. "We slept in the Versace beds, too!" Bowman added. "It was fabulous—gold everywhere." The Off-Broadway incarnation of the production is now fleshed-out narratively, less a concert than full-bodied musical, with "more story, more songs, and more fun."

Of course, the people connected with the show hope everyone will come see the show, and savor a dose of essential disco realness. "People who love music, who want to see fabulousness," Bowman said. "It's not a traditional theater setting. After the overture everyone is standing up. It's like a party!"

Mighty Real: A Fabulous Sylvester Musical will hit New York City again Jan. 18, 2015, and then will be in San Francisco. Visit www.FabulousSylvester.com or www.Ticketmaster.com .


This article shared 5498 times since Wed Nov 26, 2014
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

City Lit Executive Artistic Director Brian Pastor talks theater, comics, queerness
2024-03-26
City Lit Theater has announced its programming for the 2024-25 season—which will be the company's 44th. It will also be the first season to be programmed under the leadership of Brian Pastor (they/them), who will assume ...


Gay News

The Jeff Awards announces the 50th anniversary awards for non-equity theater
2024-03-26
--From a press release - A complete list of recipients can also be found online in the Non-Equity and News and Events sections at www.jeffawards.org. (March 25, 2024 - Chicago) — Celebrating its 50th anniversary awarding recognition for Non-Equity theater, the ...


Gay News

'Rumors' performers create alternative drag playground
2024-03-24
At first glance, Dorian's Through The Record Shop (1939 W. North Ave.) looks like a brightly-lit shop with a handful of records on the wall, but there's a secret world behind those unassuming shelves. Visitors are ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Queer musicians, Marvel situation, Elliot Page, Nicole Kidman
2024-03-21
Queer musician Joy Oladokun released the single "I Wished on the Moon," from Jack Antonoff's official soundtrack for the new Apple TV+ series The New Look, per a press release. The soundtrack, ...


Gay News

THEATER Chicago's City Lit has anxiety on tap with 'Two Hours in a Bar'
2024-03-21
Two Hours in a Bar Waiting for Tina Meyer by Kristine Thatcher with material by Larry Shue Text Me by Kingsley Day (Book, Music and Lyrics). At: City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.. Tickets: ...


Gay News

Lollapalooza announces lineup; SZA, Skrillex among headliners
2024-03-19
Lollapalooza has released its line-up for the event that's taking place Aug. 1-4 at Grant Park. Headliners include SZA, Blink-182, Skrillex, The Killers, Hozier, Melanie Martinez and Stray Kids, among others. Some of the other acts ...


Gay News

Jamie Barton brings nuances of identity to her Lyric Opera 'Aida' performance
2024-03-18
Chicago's Lyric Opera is currently featuring a production of Giuseppe Verdi's Aida starring Michelle Bradley as Aida, Jamie Barton as Amneris and Russell Thomas as Radamès. The opera runs through April 7, 2024, with Francesca Zambello ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Lady Gaga, 'P-Valley,' Wendy Williams, Luke Evans, 'Queer Eye,' 'Transition'
2024-03-15
Lady Gaga came to the defense of Dylan Mulvaney after a post with the trans influencer/activist for International Women's Day received hateful responses, People Magazine noted. On Instagram, Gaga stated, "It's appalling to me that a ...


Gay News

House-music festival on Aug. 30-Sept. 1; icons, Idris Elba to be part of it
2024-03-13
The ARC Music Festival—an event celebrating house music—will take place Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at Chicago's Union Park, per WGN-TV. This will mark the fourth year that the festival will celebrate the genre at Union Park—less than ...


Gay News

COBRAH slithers into Chicago and brings Feminine Energy
2024-03-08
COBRAH snaked her way into Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St., for two nights March 7 and 8 for her Succubus Tour. This Swedish-born talent has a way with naughty words and ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Jinkx Monsoon, Xavier Dolan, 'Frida,' Lena Waithe, out singer
2024-03-08
Two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon is headed back to the New York stage, joining off-Broadway's Little Shop of Horrors as Audrey beginning April 2, according to Playbill. The casting makes Monsoon the first drag ...


Gay News

Queer Eye's Jai Rodriguez is set to slay at The Big Gay Cabaret
2024-03-05
Out and proud performer Jai Rodriguez is set to play at The Big Gay Cabaret this March for three days. Presented by RuPaul Drag Racer Ginger Minj, this monthly series highlights the wide world of cabaret ...


Gay News

THEATER 'R & J' puts a female, queer spin on Shakespeare
2024-03-05
Romeo and Juliet is the theatrical gift that keeps on giving. It's been reworked for the masses numerous times, whether in direct adaptations or musicals such as West Side Story. Shakespeare's plotline points have even inspired ...


Gay News

Center on Halsted hosts 6th Annual Intergenerational Talent Show
2024-03-03
On the evening of Feb. 29, Center on Halsted held its 6th Annual Intergenerational Talent Show in front of a packed audience at the Hoover-Leppen Theater. The event brought together participants of the Center's youth and senior ...


Gay News

THEATER When growth is paramount: Jim Corti helps fuel Aurora theater expansion
2024-03-01
Out actor/director/choreographer Jim Corti made his Broadway debut in 1974, in the ensemble of Leonard Bernstein's musical Candide. Director Harold Prince's acclaimed Tony Award-winning revival is often cited as a ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.