Q La Cage 1983 TV Tonys

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 12:40pm

Is there an 'older' theatre person out there who could answer a quiry i have regarding the 1983 TV broadcast of the Tonys.
Why was George Hearn not allowed to do 'I Am What I Am' in costume! I hear that CBS forbid him and ordered him to wear a suite. Strange as the number before him is the full Cagelles number all in costume!

Updated On: 8/1/07 at 12:40 PM

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 12:44pm

That is not true - he gave out an award just prior to the performance and there was not time for him to get into Zsa Zsa drag. No scandal - just a timing issue.

[jv92]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 12:47pm

It was simply because right after the performance, Preston and Andrews presented the trophies for Actress and Actor in a musical and there would have been no time for Hearn to change out of his costume.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 12:48pm

Thanks CD, its just something i've heard repeated many many times over the years and while listening to it the other day it crossed my mind again and thought id ask here. Tho, why couldnt he present the award in costume? Thanks again x

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 12:49pm

Thanks JV x

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 12:51pm

It was almost 25 years ago. The idea of a man in drag terrified people. Watch the PBS Broadway documentary to hear people talking about being afraid of catching AIDS by WATCHING the show. I think everyone was eager to see handsome, heterosexual George Hearn singing this gay athem as straightly as possible.

[jv92]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 12:51pm

I'm sure you've seen this clip already, but for those who have not...
Somewhere on that site, there is a clip of the La Cage number directly followed by Chita Rivera winning Best Actress and Hearn winning Actor. (You don't get Hearn's speech though.)
It's worth watching for Chita though. Literally the entire room stands up for her. Even Sondheim jumps to his feet!
Updated On: 8/1/07 at 12:51 PM

[jv92]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 12:55pm

"Watch the PBS Broadway documentary to hear people talking about being afraid of catching AIDS by WATCHING the show."

After Rock Huson died of AIDS, some reporter interviewed Blue-haired matinee ladies outside of The Palace and said that they possibly contracted HIV/AIDS just by watching La Cage that afternoon. Of course, that is an ignorant, stupid thing if we think about it today, but back then, people were affraid AIDS could be transmitted through air.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 12:59pm

'La Cage' was called 'The AIDS Musical' by the national press when it opened in London. It closed under a very dark cloud after just 10mths at the London Palladium. I was in another show in town at the time and it was a horrible atmosphere around the West End at that time. Uuuuaagh!

Updated On: 8/1/07 at 12:59 PM

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 1:02pm

I sat thru 5 or 6 matinees during the run and its given nothing less than 110% by the whole company. Dear Denis Quilley, sorely missed. There were never more than about 200/300 in the audience each time- in a 2200 house.