Billy Porter's Ghetto Superstar Reviews

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 8:36pm

ALL Raves, so far:

Broadway.com:

" Billy Porter's autobiographical one-man show at Joe's Pub is propelled by music--just as Porter's life has been propelled by music. It's a dynamite evening that peaks whenever the soulful singer unleashes his remarkable tenor voice. .............

from start to finish there's no question that this is Porter's show, and it's a knockout."

http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=507684

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 8:39pm

Talkin Broadway:

"as he explains numerous times during the show, his goal is to sing as high as he can, as loud as he can, for as long as he can; for his sake, and ours, let's hope that's a good long time. Ghetto Superstar proves that, whether for speaking or singing, Porter can never open his mouth often enough."
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/ob/03_06_05.html

[Mattio98]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 10:15pm

Yay Billy! I MUST go and see this soon.

[Corine2]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 10:16pm

I need to see this. Love his voice.
Still hate his commercials on NY1. He needs better copy.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 10:50pm

Any other reviews?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 2:22am

Isherwood in the Times gives it a mostly positive review:

"Midway through "Ghetto Superstar," his roof-raising musical autobiography at Joe's Pub, Billy Porter describes, in hushed tones appropriate only to a profound religious conversion, the moment that changed his life: his teenage encounter, via the Tony Awards telecast, with Jennifer Holliday's galvanizing performance of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," the ear-searing aria of grief, rage and denial from Broadway's "Dreamgirls."

As may be surmised from the confession that this fabulously overwrought showstopper was to be his aesthetic and spiritual lodestar, Mr. Porter is no shrinking violet. Grief, rage and denial play their apportioned roles in his life story, too, as it is detailed in this unabashedly sentimental show, but they ultimately take a back seat to righteous flamboyance."
http://theater2.nytimes.com/2005/03/07/theater/reviews/07ghet.html

Updated On: 3/7/05 at 02:22 AM

[Mattio98]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 2:25am

I really need to get downtown and see this. Have you seen it yet Margo? If so, what did you think?

[TonyaFanatic]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 2:50pm

I saw the show a night ago Mattio and it was phenomenal. his rendition of "and i am telling you" is so perfect. better than some women ive heard sing it. he even does the breathing and growls and stuff Jennifer Holliday does. he's so awesome.very touching, hilarious, and just downright GOOD ENTERTAINMENT. I hope it goes to broadway sometime. EVERYONE should hear his story.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 3:09pm

I saw Billy Porter's Ghetto Superstar Thursday night. All I can say is ...... just ....... DAMN.

I've seen and heard Billy Porter for years and have always been a fan, but, ....... WOW. I'm trying to remember the last time a male singer blew me away like this. Maybe never. I found myself saying out loud at five minute intervals throughout his hour and 45 minute show, "Damn that boy can sang....." Over and over and over again...... A glorious, god-given r&b/gospel/soul instrument he pours out with effortless power and passion.

And his stories of growing up gay in Pittsburgh in a religious family, the son of a woman with cerebral palsy, being sent to a psychologist for being too effeminate at 5, later molested by his stepfather (for FIVE years), coming out proud and gay as a young adult only to have to even later have to go back into the closet for the sake of his record company were fascinating. His eventually coming to terms with all of that and embracing himself as an out, proud, gifted gay artist made for an extraordinary journey to take me and the rest of the audience on.

A truly brilliant show and I give it my highest recommendation.

Updated On: 3/12/05 at 03:09 PM

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 4:15pm

I didn't post since there didn't appear to be much interest here during previews, but I also LOVED this show. I saw last Saturday's matinee and went in feeling a little sick and not really wanting to be at a show so early in the day. Withing the 1st 10 minutes I was completely wrapped up in everything Billy was saying and, even moreso, singing! His story is fascinating and his message, though not totally original, is powerfully and beautifully expressed.

The material is strong enough on its own, but what makes it stellar to watch (and what is easy to forget on CD's) is this reality I have found over and over to be true in my life: NOBODY performs a song better than Billy Porter! There might be better actors and better voices out there, but I defy someone to try and embody a song with more love and more passion than he does. he holds nothing back when he sings and it is something to experience in person. The stage presence of that guy is unreasonably potent, in a good way, and would be overwhelming in a tiny room like Joe's if Porter wasn't fully in control of it. Luckily he is.

sure his voice alone is gorgeous, but that almost just felt like a great bonus. he has shown that he can convey the heart of a song just as effectively on the rare occassions when he has been sick or lost his voice. when you see him onstage, it becomes easy to forget how strong or high or loud he is going, it all fits naturally together as a complete dynamic instrument. One with diva attitude.

Updated On: 3/12/05 at 04:15 PM

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 4:31pm

I LOVED it as well.