Billy Porter - anyone else a fan?

[showmethetony]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 12:57pm

Okay - so I finally got to see Dreamgirls in Pittsburgh last night. First I will say that Frenchie can sing like nobody's business, but the true star of the show was Billy Porter. Seriously people, this man is so incredibly talented. Anyone else out there a fan of his? I heard a rumor his new show, Ghetto Superstar, may be opening in Pittsburgh. Anybody know if this is true?

[Seany]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 1:57pm

I LOOOOOOVE Billy Porter.

He was absolutely incredible as Jesus in JCS, and I love him as Teen Angel on the Grease revival cast as well. What an extraordinary voice! Quite heavenly, I must say!

Updated On: 8/19/04 at 01:57 PM

[sfs1414]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 2:00pm

I saw Dreamgirls twice in PGH. Billy was brilliant! Norm Lewis also knocked my socks off. Excellent.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 2:05pm

I saw him as John in Miss Saigon a few years ago. He was fabulous (and very nice at the stage door!). I'm glad to hear he's finally receiving a lot of attention.

[chauvelin128]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 2:06pm

I love Billy. He is a brilliant performer and a beautiful person. And P.S. THANKS for that link. I had no idea he played this part, so I listened to Gethsemane with doubts. At first, it didn't sound like him...but then he started screaming the **** out of it, and it is clearly him. What an awesome link!!

[Mattio98]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 2:20pm

<---BIG FAN of Billy Porter. Thanks for the link Seany!

[emssf03]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 2:23pm

Huge fan!!! I especially love his dis of Celine Dion in The Broken Hearts Club after she stole his song off the First Wives Club soundtrack. Shame on you Celine!

[showmethetony]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 2:24pm

sfs1414 - after the show I told my friends "i could listen to Norm Lewis sing the alphabet over and over" He is amazing, at one point I had to remind myself that he was actually on stage, live...his voice is so clear and rich I felt like it was a recording.

I also had no idea Billy played Jesus! I am about to check out the link. Have any of you heard the Myths and Hymns music? Billy singing "Awaiting You" is one of my all time most favorite things on the planet. He really has an amazing talent for interpretation - makes me wish I was a composer.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 2:29pm

I can appreciate Billy's talent, but I did not like him as Teen Angel at all. I saw Ty (last name ??) go on as Teen Angel and I preferred his performance.

[Marquise]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 3:41pm

first saw billy as "teen angel" in the '94 "grease!" revival where he tore the house down..best thing about it. had the good fortune to run into him in person and let him know.

[Fair 2 Middlin]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 3:55pm

The SWEETEST guy. Hangs out at the Duplex on occasion.

He recorded an album called "Untitled" a few years back. Soooooooo Goooooood!
"Love is on the Way" (from the First Wives Club) is on it as is the sweetest version of "Maybe I'm Amazed". Find it, buy it, love it!

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 4:02pm

What link? I want to hear Gethesemane

[showmethetony]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 4:06pm

okay - removed! I wondered where it disappeared to. Thanks Seany!

Updated On: 8/19/04 at 04:06 PM

[thibodeaux]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 4:12pm

Billy Porter is on the Actor's Fund revival of DREAMGIRLS cr and he's phenominal. My dear friend Eric was in the show, also, and has known Billy Porter for years and has told me great stories.

Billy is an amazing talented artist and I love him.

Especially as Little Richard!!

[Seany]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 4:18pm

That link is not allowed on the board anymore --- not my rules.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 4:41pm

He has a great voice.

Updated On: 8/19/04 at 04:41 PM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 4:42pm

*deleted*

Oops. Didn't read a few posts up. MY BAD.

Updated On: 8/19/04 at 04:42 PM

[showmethetony]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 4:45pm

yes spider, he is Jimmy Thunder Early on the most recent Dreamgirls recording - the one with Heather Headley, Audra McDonald, Lilias White, Norm Lewis, etc. If you don't have it then you should get it. The women don't really mesh well for me (though I absolutely LOVE Heather and Audra on their own)but the men are outstanding. Hope you enjoy it!

Updated On: 8/19/04 at 04:45 PM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/19/04 at 4:46pm

I have that cd and I love it. LOVE IT.

[etoile]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 2:37am

There was so much to like about the Pittsburgh CLO production of DREAMGIRLS and Billy Porter topped the list. He was in so much better form than on the concert CD. In fact, to hear him live in person was one of those exciting toe curling experiences. You knew you were witnessing a spectaular performance.

And yes, he is scheduled to return to the City Theatre (where last month he had done TOPDOG/UNDERDOG) in Feb/March 2005 for GHETTO SUPERSTAR. I believe it's a show he's writing.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 3:24am

Is anyone else a FAN?!?

Mr Porter has been put on this planet to be a star. Why it hasn't happened yet is beyond me.

I LOVED the comment about Celine! It's true! When I first got the album / soundtrack / CD......

(What IS the correct term now?)

I stopped and yelled, "SHE'S DOING BILLY PORTER!!!!"

[showmethetony]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 10:49am

does anybody know why Billy isn't on the Songs For A New World recording?

[Trisky]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 11:57am

I saw him in It's Only Life a couple of weeks ago and his voice was incredible. I'd love to see him in a full scale production of a show.

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 2:07pm

Like Trisky, I've only seen him in "It's Only Life" but was so impressed with his beautiful voice. I'm a new fan for sure.

[Speed]

Posted: 8/20/04 at 3:52pm

His performance of "Beauty School Dropout" in the GREASE revival was one of the most sexy, funny, and exhilarating performances I've ever seen on a Broadway stage (I've seen about 85% of all Broadway musicals since 1992.) I will always adore him.