CurtainUp
CurtainUpTM

The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features, Annotated Listings
www.curtainup.com


HOME PAGE

SEARCH CurtainUp

REVIEWS

FEATURES

NEWS
Etcetera and
Short Term Listings


LISTINGS
Broadway
Off-Broadway

BOOKS and CDs

OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
LA/San Diego
DC
Philadelphia
Elsewhere

QUOTES

On TKTS

LETTERS TO EDITOR

FILM

LINKS

MISCELANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
Writing for CurtainUp NYC Weather
A CurtainUp Review

Ghetto Superstar (THE MAN THAT I AM)
By Jenny Sandman
Billy Porter
Billy Porter
(Photo: Michal Daniel)
"I'm gonna be straight now any minute, y'all!" declares Billy Porter at one point during his solo show, Ghetto Superstar. But we know he won't be. Porter's story is that of many gay performers -- a tortured inner city adolescence, a long period of denial and self-loathing, tinted with a search for God, and a final acceptance and blossoming.

Born in Pittsburgh, Porter realized his homosexuality-and his love of theatre, dance and song-at an early age. He danced his way through a troubled home life and a religious family, finally achieving some limited success as an actor and singer. But his self-denial prevented him from moving forward and nearly cost him his career when he lost his voice due to stress. Only after he was finally able to accept himself was he able to fulfill his dreams.

Despite the familiar story, Porter makes it feel new to us. The magic of the show lies in his music. The songs about his life are very nearly show tunes but are infused with a funk/soul beat and a hint of gospel. There are the obligatory torch songs, but most of them are fast and fierce, full of power and confidence. He can belt them out, too, especially rollicking numbers like "Black Broadway Bitch." In fact, the show is best when he's singing. His energy doesn't translate to narrative, and so the forward momentum of the evening falters when the music stops. Fortunately, this isn't often.

Somewhere between a solo musical and a cabaret act, Ghetto Superstar is funny and full of attitude. Porter quickly enchants the audience as his magnetic presence easily fills the room. What's lacking in story is more than made up for with good music.

GHETTO SUPERSTAR (THE MAN THAT I AM)
Written and performed by Billy Porter
Directed by Brad Rouse
With Sasha Allen and Brandi Chavonne Massey
Costume Design by Miguel Angel Huidor
Lighting Design by Chad McArver
Running time: One hour and forty-five minutes with no intermission
Joe's Pub, the Public Theatre, 425 Lafayette Street; 212-239-6200.
From 2/10/05 to 3/27/05; opening 3/06/05.
Monday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday @ 7pm, Saturday @ 2pm & 7pm

Tickets, $45. Reviewed by Jenny Sandman based on March 15th performance
Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time
Easy-on-the budget super gift for yourself and your musical loving friends. Tons of gorgeous pictures.


Tales From Shakespeare
Retold by Tina Packer of Shakespeare & Co.
Click image to buy.
Our Review


At This Theater Cover
At This Theater


Leonard Maltin's 2005 Movie Guide
Leonard Maltin's 2005 Movie Guide


Ridiculous! The Theatrical Life and Times of Charles Ludlam
Ridiculous!The Theatrical Life & Times of Charles Ludlam


metaphors dictionary cover
6, 500 Comparative Phrases including 800 Shakespearean Metaphors by CurtainUp's editor.
Click image to buy.
Go here for details and larger image.



broadwaynewyork.com


The Broadway Theatre Archive


amazon


©Copyright 2005, Elyse Sommer, CurtainUp.
Information from this site may not be reproduced in print or online without specific permission from esommer@curtainup.com